This cliff face could hardly be called picturesque. It was mostly bare stone atop the mountain, utterly devoid of even a single blade of grass or a solitary tree.

Mount Hua was usually known for its lush greenery and profound tranquility, but this particular cliff was an exception. No vegetation, no fauna—it was precisely the sort of desolate place suited for deep, solitary penance.

Indeed, this was the Cliff of Contemplation, Siguo Ya.

Upon the not-so-spacious expanse of this cliff, three figures were seated, one at each of the three corners.

One, exceptionally thin, was Lian Nian of the Sword Sect, the ninth generation. Another, stern and imposing, was Nangong Zhe of the Qi Sect. In the last corner sat a man in his early twenties, clad in a simple green robe—it was Lu Yuan of the North Peak. Lu Yuan had already been confined to the Cliff of Contemplation for several hours.

Through his earlier interactions, Lu Yuan had come to understand why only three people occupied the cliff at that moment.

The Cliff of Contemplation wasn't truly limited to three occupants. Rather, this location was designated for meditation and repentance. If too many people were gathered, merriment and conversation would ensue, making true isolation impossible. Thus, the previous great masters had carved the entire mountain into numerous pocket dimensions, effectively separating countless peaks so that the occupants could not communicate or interact.

Each dimension was meant to hold only three people. Furthermore, by established custom, these three individuals were always drawn in rotation: one from the Sword Sect, one from the Qi Sect, and one from the Sword-Qi Sect. It was strictly forbidden for two members of the same sect to share a single cliff face. There was a historical reason for this. The cliff was established by the second-generation Patriarch when the three Sword-Qi factions were intensely competitive. When the masters of the three sects were sent here for penance, they would still engage in constant bickering. The second-generation Patriarch of the North Peak, frustrated, decreed: If you wish to fight, then fight here. He used immense magical power and divine abilities to cleave the mountain’s many peaks into separate pocket dimensions, confining only three individuals—one from each sect—to each small summit or cliff face.

“If you must fight, do so on the Cliff of Contemplation,” the ruling went. “Once you’ve fought your fill here, perhaps you’ll finally be calm enough to talk.”

And so, this strange regulation had persisted to the present day.

Lu Yuan now understood why only three people were present.

Moreover, thanks to the guidance from Martial Uncle Lian Nian of the Sword Sect, Lu Yuan learned that for one month each year, the dimensional barriers separating these spaces would dissolve. During this period, the entire mountain would manifest, no longer just isolated peaks or cliffs, allowing everyone a month for mutual exchange. But it was only one month.

For the rest of the year, most were consigned to silently enduring endless solitude upon their isolated perches.

The Cliff of Contemplation was, fundamentally, a place for isolation and reflection.

Lian Nian had asked Lu Yuan about a few matters concerning the outside world, and then fell silent, showing little inclination for further talk.

The three belonged to different sects, and Lu Yuan was significantly younger than the other two, making sustained conversation difficult. An awkward silence descended. Since interaction wasn't forthcoming, Lu Yuan settled down on his own, hoping to find a spot with a pleasant view. But this cliff was entirely without scenery. He simply sat and began drinking. The other two seemed uninterested in alcohol; they remained deep in their meditation. As Lu Yuan drank alone, moments passed, until he noticed streaks of white energy approaching from the distance.

The white energy surged forward, and only upon nearing did its terrifying nature become apparent.

Lian Nian chuckled wryly, “Kid, that’s the White Tribulation Cloud. You’re in for it now; the Cliff of Contemplation isn’t an easy place to stay.”

White Tribulation Cloud? Lu Yuan was startled. At that moment, the white cloud engulfed the entire cliff. Instantly, Lu Yuan felt as if he were surrounded by countless blades and swords. Alarmed, he drew his Yangwu Sword and instinctively lashed out in every direction based purely on his perception of the surrounding sword intent.

“Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—” A barrage of strikes echoed as Lu Yuan’s sword blurred, but the surrounding white cloud thickened, and the spectral blades within it multiplied. His sword could no longer hold them all back. Lu Yuan glanced over and saw that both Lian Nian and Nangong Zhe were sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, allowing the white arcs of energy to strike their bodies unimpeded.

Lian Nian of the Sword Sect offered a kind warning: “Kid, you only come to the Cliff of Contemplation if you’ve committed a grave fault. This place won't let you sit comfortably. The Five-Colored Tribulation Clouds will arrive regularly, bringing endless suffering. How could you possibly block them with your sword? You must endure it quietly. Besides, the more powerful your cultivation, the denser the cloud engulfs you, and the more pain you suffer. Everyone on this cliff suffers intensely; there is no easy passage.”

So that was it!

Indeed, the Cliff of Contemplation was no comfortable retreat.

After resisting for only a short while, Lu Yuan could hold out no longer. He could only follow the example of Martial Uncles Lian Nian and Nangong Zhe, sitting cross-legged, circulating his internal energy, and bearing the onslaught. The pain on his skin was like being flayed by blades—an agonizing, bone-deep torment.

The Cliff of Contemplation truly was a wretched place. But why had Patriarch Yan summoned him here? He wanted Lu Yuan to practice the Five-Colored Sword Dao.

The Five Elements Sword Dao emphasizes offense; the Five-Colored Sword Dao emphasizes defense.

Five-Colored Sword Dao?

Lu Yuan suddenly paused. Lian Nian had just mentioned the Five-Colored Tribulation Cloud. Was there a connection between the Five-Colored Sword Dao and the Five-Colored Tribulation Clouds?

Amidst the searing, knife-like agony, Lu Yuan abruptly channeled the White Sword technique from the Five-Colored Sword Dao, swinging a strike toward the sky above his head. This was the White Sword. Instantly, countless strands of the White Tribulation Cloud rushed toward that single arc of white sword energy, condensing upon it.

It was just as he suspected; he now understood Patriarch Yan’s intention in sending him to the Cliff of Contemplation.

Lu Yuan felt the white sword energy above his head growing denser and denser. At first, it was a faint illusion, but soon it solidified into an intense concentration of white vapor, seemingly on the verge of forming actual, physical longswords. This state lasted for an indeterminate time until the white cloud finally began to dissipate.

“Another day endured,” Lian Nian said with a grin, looking over. He had expected Lu Yuan to look utterly ravaged, as he himself had nearly passed out upon his first encounter. Yet, seeing Lu Yuan, the young man looked surprisingly refreshed. “Kid, you’ve got some tricks up your sleeve, haven’t you?”

On the other side, the solemn Nangong Zhe also registered a flicker of surprise; Lu Yuan had survived the ordeal without his expression collapsing into deep distress.

For the next three days, a White Tribulation Cloud would appear shortly after noon, enveloping the entire peak in agonizing pressure. Lu Yuan used this time to cultivate the Five-Colored Sword Dao. While the offensive Five Elements Dao was vital, the defensive Five-Colored Dao was equally crucial. Patriarch Yan had stated that once the Five-Colored Sword Dao fully manifested as the Five Emperors Sword Dao, it would be virtually unbreakable unless shattered by sheer, overwhelming magical force. This assertion demonstrated the formidable defensive capability of the fully realized Five-Colored Dao.

On the fourth day, as noon passed, the expected White Tribulation Cloud did not arrive. Instead, the horizon showed streaks of cyan energy. Lian Nian laughed heartily, “Kid, among the Five-Colored Clouds, the easiest to pass, the Cyan Cloud, has arrived.”

Seeing this, Lu Yuan raised his hand and summoned his Cyan Sword Dao, absorbing the incoming cyan energy.

This marked Lu Yuan’s fifteenth day on the Cliff of Contemplation.

The cliff was now shrouded in a heavy, ochreous aura—this was the Yellow Tribulation Cloud. The White Cloud brought a feeling of sharpness; the Cyan Cloud was soothing; the Red Cloud brought unbearable heat; the Black Cloud was oppressive and suffocating; but the Yellow Cloud was immensely dense, pressing down heavily on the body and the heart, making one feel as if carrying a mountain.

On the cliff, both Lian Nian and Nangong Zhe showed faint sweat on their brows. But because the Yellow Cloud was so thick and heavy, despite being close, they could not see each other, and consequently, could not see Lu Yuan’s current state.

Lu Yuan sat serenely. Above his head, a sword qi of deep yellow and gray was constantly collecting the Yellow Tribulation Cloud. Lu Yuan’s Cang Huang sword qi grew steadily more potent, and instead of bearing the crushing weight, the Yellow Cloud was absorbed entirely, leaving Lu Yuan feeling relaxed and comfortable.

After an unknown passage of time, Lu Yuan mused that the time for the Yellow Cloud to pass must be nearing its end.

Now, it was time to test his complete Five-Colored Sword Dao.

Lu Yuan raised his hand and unleashed four other streams of sword energy.

The first was purely white and utterly sharp; the second was cyan and harmless; the third was black as ink, flowing like water; the fourth was scarlet, blazing fiercely. These combined with his current fifth stream, the yellow qi, which possessed a vast, atmospheric quality. The five streams of Five-Colored Sword Qi hovered above his head.

Individually, these five streams were unremarkable. But when combined, they formed a perfect Five-Color Cycle.

White, Cyan, Black, Red, Yellow.

The Five-Colored Sword Dao had finally achieved minor completion. The sword energy above his head cycled continuously. Lu Yuan sensed that any attack that did not exceed his own power level by three tiers—any attack remaining within the bounds of the Five Elements and not leaping beyond them, outside the Three Realms—would be incapable of penetrating the Five-Colored Sword Dao above him, the Five-Colored Canopy.

In truth, the Five Emperors Samsara Sword Dao was more accurately termed the Five Emperors Five Sovereigns Samsara Sword Dao.

The Five-Colored Sword Dao transforms into the Five Emperors Sword Dao, forming the Five Emperors Canopy above the head, rendering all techniques ineffective.

The Myriad Forms Sword Dao ascends into the Five Sovereigns Sword Dao, containing all manner of sword techniques, ensuring no offense fails to strike.

And once the Five Emperors and Five Sovereigns Sword Dao unite in true Great Completion, they can catalyze the Great Wheel of Samsara.

Of course, he had only completed the Five-Colored Sword Dao and the Five Elements Dao; the distance to the Five Emperors Dao and the Five Sovereigns Dao was still vast. But that didn't matter. He still had three years left on the Cliff of Contemplation, ample time to temper this Five-Colored Sword Dao thoroughly. (Three years remain on the Cliff of Contemplation; the cultivation training should conclude here; subsequent plot points on the cliff will not focus on cultivation.)