The Eighth Generation of Mount Hua was truly the Golden Generation. It was precisely because of Mount Hua's Eighth Generation that the sect held such formidable sway in the cultivation world of the Great Jin Kingdom. Consider this: in terms of sword technique profundity, none of Mount Hua's styles surpassed the Tai Chi Sword of Wudang; historically, they paled next to Kunlun; and in terms of resources, they couldn't compare to the South Sea Immortal Sect hidden in the vast ocean.

To seize the top position was no easy feat. And among this Golden Generation of the Eighth Lineage, the top five were all individuals of unparalleled renown. Foremost was Yan Cangtian of Mount Hua, about whom little need be said; one man, one sword, he reigned supreme and unchallenged.

While he lived, any demons, devils, or members of the heretical path were nothing more than scurrying clowns, daring not show their faces until after his ascension. Third in the Eighth Generation rankings was Yan Liangge. This man possessed the very spirit of Yan and Zhao—magnanimous yet steeped in tragic grandeur.

He loved wine most dearly, acted with unparalleled boldness, and was brimful of lofty spirit—truly a Heroic Immortal. He once battled the former Demon Lord, Ren Du, for over a thousand fierce exchanges. That battle was legendary for its sheer, shocking heroism.

Yet, this Immortal of Great Spirit ultimately perished in the South Sea—a vast, nearly endless expanse where a demise was almost inevitable. Ranking fourth among the Eighth Generation was the current new Sect Master of Mount Hua, Chu Duan. His moniker revealed everything: "Sword that Slices the Heavens!" His sword sought to cleave the firmament.

This man had always been supremely self-assured, possessing formidable strength and an overbearing manner. Even after years in seclusion among the Mount Hua Elder Council, his reemergence showed no softening of his character. The fifth-ranked member of the Eighth Generation, Shi Qingchen, contrasted sharply with Chu Duan's temperament.

Where Chu Duan was domineering and arrogant, Shi Qingchen, the foremost master of the Qi Faction now, was remarkably easygoing. It was rumored that he treated the Tenth Generation with no airs and possessed a playful nature, often cracking jokes. Having covered the first four, we must now speak of the second-ranked of the Eighth Generation: the former Second Sword of Mount Hua, now its reigning First Sword, Zhou Qingxuan.

It was said that Zhou Qingxuan was, in his youth, an amazingly gifted Sword Immortal, blessed with numerous fortuitous encounters—far more than even Yan Cangtian enjoyed. Nevertheless, he remained ranked second, never claiming the title of Mount Hua’s First Sword. However, this was hardly a great setback for Zhou Qingxuan, who was never an overly ambitious man.

But his undoing lay in matters of the heart. In his younger years, Zhou Qingxuan encountered a Saintess from the Demon Faction and fell deeply in love with her—a truly monumental event. The Mount Hua Immortal Sect belonged to the Righteous Path.

And the Demon Faction, naturally, stood in opposition. On Mount Hua, or indeed across the Five Great Immortal Sects, there was an unbreakable maxim: "Encounter a demon, draw your sword and kill." Yet Zhou Qingxuan dared to involve himself romantically with a Demon Saintess. This was an unforgivable offense, a supreme sin.

Those of the Seventh Generation attempted to persuade him, but Zhou Qingxuan disregarded all their pleas. Under duress, the Seventh Generation of the Mount Hua Immortal Sect confined him to Reflection Peak—yes, that very Reflection Peak where he remained. This confinement was meant to last a hundred years.

However, halfway through, fifty years in, Zhou Qingxuan's cultivation advanced dramatically. He forcefully broke through the path leading from Reflection Peak, leaving the Seventh Generation elders screaming in agony. At that time, aside from a few elders unwilling to interfere in such matters, no one could subdue the Eighth Generation Zhou Qingxuan.

In truth, Yan Cangtian of the Eighth Generation could have easily overpowered Zhou Qingxuan, but Yan Cangtian never concerned himself with such trifles. Thus, Zhou Qingxuan and the Demon Saintess remained together, flagrantly violating Mount Hua’s ancient statutes. If the matter had ended there, it might have been acceptable.

But confound it all, the few decision-makers of the Seventh Generation were excessively rigid in their thinking. They concocted a scheme: lure Zhou Qingxuan back to Mount Hua, then dispatch hidden masters to secretly assassinate the Demon Saintess. They succeeded in this plot, believing that once the Saintess was dead, Zhou Qingxuan would obediently return to Mount Hua's embrace.

The result? Zhou Qingxuan was enraged! This fury was no small thing.

Wielding his Clear Wind Immortal Sword, he slaughtered his way back to Mount Hua in his wrath, wiping out every single Seventh Generation member who had participated in that scheme. Since the affair had implicated so many people, countless members of the Seventh Generation perished beneath his blade. After slaying the Seventh Generation leaders involved, Yan Cangtian finally intervened and captured Zhou Qingxuan.

The prevailing opinion within Mount Hua at the time was to execute Zhou Qingxuan. According to sect rules, execution was mandatory; the transgression he committed was too heinous, too egregious, to merit anything less than death. Yet, Yan Cangtian completely ignored their counsel and tossed Zhou Qingxuan back onto Reflection Peak, where Zhou Qingxuan swore not to leave for a millennium.

The matter was thus concluded. Naturally, some voices rose to accuse Yan Cangtian of disregarding sect rules. But Yan Cangtian was never one to care for rules.

He allowed the accusations to mount, and when the criticism grew too sharp, he merely tapped his Flying Swallow Immortal Sword lightly. This single action terrified the Seventh Generation elders, who vividly remembered Zhou Qingxuan single-handedly killing multiple Seventh Generation elders recently. Zhou Qingxuan, normally refined, could become utterly ferocious when provoked.

And Yan Cangtian, usually nonconformist and dismissive of everything, if he truly wished to kill someone, who could stop him? And so, the matter settled as it was. Over six hundred years have passed since then.

In the cultivation world, everyone knows Yan Cangtian, and everyone knows Chu Duan, but save for the few who actively search, who now remembers Zhou Qingxuan or the events of six centuries ago? Zhou Qingxuan’s attitude toward Mount Hua has always been peculiar. He generally ignores sect affairs, but should Mount Hua face true annihilation, everyone knows that the current, true First Sword of Mount Hua, Zhou Qingxuan, would intervene.

After all, those deeds were committed only by a few elders of the Seventh Generation, who have since been largely purged as relics of a decaying era and stripped of power. However, after six centuries, is Zhou Qingxuan even still alive? Is he wandering the world?

Did he commit suicide out of devotion? No one knows. After all, few believed the restrictions on Reflection Peak could truly hold the current First Sword of Mount Hua.

It was precisely because of this uncertainty that Yuan Ling devised a plan. If Zhou Qingxuan appeared, it would confirm that the First Sword of Mount Hua was still alive. If Zhou Qingxuan did not appear, eliminating everyone on Reflection Peak would also be a satisfactory outcome.

———————— The past events had mostly dissipated like smoke. Although Zhou Qingxuan had dismissed Yuan Ling with a single gesture, he had not yet materialized. The restrictions on Reflection Peak tightened once more, and everyone returned to their respective Reflection Cliffs.

A barren, small expanse known as Reflection Cliff. Lian Nian, Nangong Zhe, and Lu Yuan occupied the three corners. Nangong Zhe remained silent; he rarely spoke.

Lian Nian, usually flippant and cheerful, was equally still, not uttering a word. Shame—this was a profound humiliation. Lian Nian had longed to avenge himself against Yuan Ling for past slights, only to realize from the very beginning that he had been manipulated by Yuan Ling.

This entire incident on Reflection Peak had caused hardship for almost everyone present. Had Senior Uncle Zhou not intervened at the last moment, everyone might have been killed as a result. Lian Nian felt immense disgrace, his hatred burning like an internal fire.

His fists were clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh. Lu Yuan observed Lian Nian’s distress but felt it was Lian Nian’s personal struggle, making it inappropriate for him to comment. Never mind.

Stop dwelling on it. Focus on elevating one's own magical power first. In this world, without strength, one holds little voice.

Lu Yuan held the Black Calamity Cloud Pill. After a brief preparation, he drew a deep breath and swallowed the dark pill. As soon as the Black Calamity Cloud Pill entered his abdomen, a wave of heat dispersed internally.

He felt as if he had plunged into absolute darkness. This darkness abruptly dissolved, transforming into streams of ripples centered on the ingested pill, spreading outward. Lu Yuan immediately stilled his mind, knowing the spiritual energy of the Black Calamity Cloud Pill was beginning to take effect.

The Cloud Dragon Heart Method began to circulate, slow and steady, ceaselessly absorbing the watery essence released by the pill, merging water and cloud. His cloud-attributed spiritual power began to ascend relentlessly. Breakthrough!

Break through for me! Faintly, Lu Yuan felt as if he had grasped some secret of the heavens and earth. How does one achieve longevity?

A portion of the universe’s profound mysteries flooded into Lu Yuan's mind at that very moment. Lu Yuan laughed heartily, understanding. He truly understood: he now grasped what the Two-Thousand-Year Realm meant.

It was at this instant that he reached the second stage of the Longevity Period: the Two-Thousand-Year Realm. In fact, Lu Yuan had been at the peak of the first stage of the Longevity Period initially, and now, aided by the Black Calamity Cloud Pill, he had advanced to the second stage. Reaching the Second Longevity Stage granted him a lifespan of a full two thousand years, affording him ample time for the long journey of immortal cultivation.

Lu Yuan felt a slight joy at advancing another layer to the Second Longevity Stage. However, this was not the time for such reflections; he needed to continue enhancing his internal power. The energy from the Black Calamity Cloud Pill had not been entirely spent, as the pill itself offered a massive infusion of power.

The Cloud Dragon Heart Method continued to flow, circulating through his body like water and mist. After an unknown passage of time, Lu Yuan noticed his spiritual power had advanced further, reaching the very apex of the Second Longevity Stage, the Two-Thousand-Year Realm, leaving only one barrier before the Third Longevity Stage: the Condensation of the Divine Soul. Truly, his strength had advanced greatly!

After entering the Longevity Period, the power gained from the first layer was immense, and Lu Yuan's current advancement was not trivial. Lu Yuan opened his eyes. Reflection Cliff remained the same!

(Ugh, this chapter included some introduction to Zhou Qingxuan; this exposition was necessary. The three living members of the Eighth Generation hold significant influence over Mount Hua's future trajectory and the protagonist's development.)