Lu Yuan, having obtained these ten top-grade spirit stones, burst into laughter! "Thank you very much, Jian Zhi Xing Wen Hao." With that, he brazenly began cultivating right in front of Jian Zhi Xing, setting up the Spirit Sealing Array. He then pierced one of the top-grade spirit stones; these stones were incredibly hard, requiring fifty percent of one's magical power just to crack them open.

Once broken, an instant deluge of boundless magical power surged into the small, circumscribed area.

The flow of spiritual energy within this space became, for a moment, like dragons descending and swimming through the depths.

This place seemed to transform into a legendary immortal realm.

This was no longer ordinary spiritual energy, but energy imbued with sentience—what should truly be called Utmost Pure Spiritual Energy. It was far purer than common spiritual energy. Rumor had it that higher still were the Nine Yang Spiritual Energy and Nine Yin Spiritual Energy, where 'nine' represented the ultimate limit, signifying the absolute pinnacle of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy.

Lu Yuan’s body began to absorb this intensely concentrated Utmost Pure Spiritual Energy, feeling his entire reservoir of magical power surge upward again. Having only recently attained the sixth layer of the Great Dao Realm, the Nascent Soul Sovereign, his meridians seemed to widen slightly, his bones grew denser, and his physical body became more compact, as if undergoing a transformation toward an entirely different form of life.

This was the metamorphosis of a lower life form evolving into a higher one.

The continuous, river-like torrent of Utmost Pure Spiritual Energy was drawn into his body, causing his internal magical power to climb relentlessly. However, after only a short ascent, it halted. Lu Yuan paid it no mind, having grasped the limit of his current capacity. He clapped his hands and shattered the remaining nine top-grade spirit stones, allowing the countless streams of Utmost Pure Spiritual Energy to fully integrate into his being.

A cultivator at the sixth layer of the Great Dao Realm normally wouldn't require such vast amounts of energy, but Lu Yuan’s magical reserves were inherently denser than those of the average person, allowing him to contain this immense influx.

Every cell in his body seemed to greedily devour this spiritual essence.

Upon reaching the sixth layer of the Great Dao Realm, Nascent Soul Sovereign, even the slightest incremental increase in magical power represented a colossal gain to the outside world. For Lu Yuan to accumulate this much through his own efforts would have taken an indeterminate time—several years, at minimum. But by winning the wager against Jian Zhi Xing, he had suddenly claimed that accumulated wealth.

Normally, progressing from the early stage to the middle stage of the sixth layer of the Great Dao Realm was exceedingly difficult.

Advancement was always easiest in the initial phase, becoming exponentially harder thereafter.

But now, aided by the ten top-grade spirit stones—a colossal fortune, an overwhelming resource—his magical power surged forward unstoppably.

From the early stage of the sixth layer, through the middle stage, to the late stage, and finally reaching the very peak of the sixth layer of the Great Dao Realm.

Exhilarating!

However, by this point, the spiritual energy was almost entirely depleted, and his magical power had surged to the absolute peak of the sixth layer, where it stalled, unable to breach into the seventh layer of the Great Dao Realm. The seventh layer required the formation of the Celestial Cloud above the crown of the head—the beginning of the Minor Thousand World—a feat not achieved so easily.

That’s it for now. Wait, let's check on the state of his Cloud Dragon. Lu Yuan extended his right hand into the void, and immediately a Water Mirror materialized before him.

This Water Mirror solidified in the air.

Looking behind him through the reflection, he saw the Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations still in full bloom. Behind him hovered a Cloud Dragon several zhang long. This dragon was exquisitely detailed: a body entirely white, rolling gently in the air, its snowy scales shimmering, sharp, pale white claws, a waving snow-white tail, and a massive head adorned with white whiskers—all present.

Except for the eyes!

A Dragon without Eyes!

This was the Eyeless Dragon.

In truth, this signified his power had reached the strength of 'One Dragon,' but lacking the final push to the seventh layer of the Great Dao Realm, he could not fully manifest the Cloud Dragon Ten Transformations. If he could, this cultivation technique would be perfected.

Though the Eyeless Dragon was imposing, it ultimately lacked the majesty of the Dragon With Eyes.

Never mind. Within a few years, he vowed to ascend to the seventh layer of the Great Dao Realm and form the Celestial Cloud above his head, manifesting that glory as well.

Lu Yuan took a deep breath, drawing in the last vestiges of spiritual energy lingering in the Spirit Sealing Array.

Then, with a wave of his hand, he dissolved the array, turning to Jian Zhi Xing with a beaming smile: "Thank you, Jian Zhi Xing, truly, I am exceptionally grateful."

These words were a slap to Jian Zhi Xing’s face. Jian Wenhao felt fire blazing in his eyes. Lu Yuan had won the duel, won the bet, and then proceeded to use the spoils won from him to cultivate directly in front of Jian Wenhao. How could Jian Wenhao not feel the urge to vomit blood? He screamed internally:

Lu Yuan, enjoy your moment of triumph!

But your joy will not last long.

You will ultimately die by my hand.

Indeed, Jian Wenhao had developed a lethal intent toward Lu Yuan. Beating him was deeply irritating; doing so while openly mocking him provoked a murderous desire. However, the Jian Sect’s rules were strict, making it impossible to act rashly within the sect grounds. But should an opportunity arise outside, Jian Wenhao was determined to strike fatally.

"Lu Yuan, did you just break through the sixth barrier?" At some unspecified moment, Xuanyuan Shi'er arrived. He was the supervising instructor for this cohort. He smiled, "Very good, it seems you have broken through. In that case, you are now eligible to become a direct disciple and qualify for apprenticeship."

"Direct disciples are quite common in the Jian Sect. The sect's population exceeds your imagination, and so does the number of Elders. Most Elders are only authorized to take on ordinary disciples."

"Those qualified to take direct disciples are called Direct Elders; there are only about one hundred of them in the Jian Sect."

"Congratulations, you are now a direct disciple qualified to be taken by a Direct Elder." Xuanyuan Shi'er smiled, "However, perhaps because you achieved enlightenment by observing the two characters of the Jian Sect—though the enlightenment failed, it still stirred the Dao—and because you crossed the sixth barrier within twelve hours, a Supreme Elder has issued an order: you are to become a Core Disciple."

The moment those four words—Core Disciple—were uttered, a wave of astonishment swept through the onlookers.

Core! Disciple!

Countless people dreamed of becoming Core Disciples, yet never dared to hope for it.

Because Core Disciples were appointed by the Supremes themselves.

Jian Zhi Xing’s face was contorted with suppressed rage. Damn it! Why was Lu Yuan becoming a Core Disciple? He, Jian Zhi Xing, was the brother of the Sword Son, and upon becoming a Direct Disciple, he was guaranteed to become a Core Disciple eventually. But he knew the benefits of being a Core Disciple; he certainly didn't want Lu Yuan to attain that status, as the rewards were too immense.

Core Disciples were significantly higher in rank than Direct Disciples.

The gap between a Core Disciple and a Direct Disciple was even greater than the gap between a Direct Disciple and an ordinary disciple.

Lu Yuan, meanwhile, was perplexed by the reactions around him, as if becoming a Core Disciple was an extraordinary achievement.

Seeing Lu Yuan’s confusion, Xuanyuan Shi’er began to explain, "A Core Disciple is a disciple taken by a Supreme.

"Under the current Sword Master of our Jian Sect, there are precisely nine Supremes."

"Those who have reached the seventh layer of the Profound Cave Realm or above can be addressed as Supremes."

"Supremes represent the zenith achievable by human cultivation. Once one surpasses the Supreme level and reaches a higher state, they become an entirely different life form, no longer categorized as human."

"The end of the path of human cultivation is the Supreme."

"And in the Jian Sect, there are only nine Supremes in total. This time, the Supreme of Emptiness is ordering that you become his disciple. Each Supreme commands an Iron Law and possesses strength exceeding the seventh layer of the Profound Cave Realm."

"To be accepted as a Core Disciple by a Supreme means you will become a major figure within the Jian Sect in the future."

"So, congratulations, you are now the Core Disciple of the Supreme of Emptiness, Lord Taishi Kong, one of the nine Supremes." Xuanyuan Shi’er genuinely offered congratulations. Becoming the Core Disciple of the Supreme of Treasure was a status that even elicited envy from Xuanyuan Shi’er. The surrounding crowd glared at Lu Yuan with murderous envy.

What incredible luck! To be accepted by one of the Nine Supremes.

Xuanyuan Shi’er sent a sound transmission only Lu Yuan could hear: "You must also be careful. Having offended Jian Zhi Xing, you have indirectly offended the Sword Son. Several Supremes maintain close relationships with the Sword Son; this might cause you trouble. Those Supremes are likely not to look favorably upon you, for instance, the Supreme of Profundity."

Below the Sword Master, the Nine Supremes—this was the political landscape of the Jian Sect.

Now, Lu Yuan hovered on his sword, examining the jade token in his hand. He projected his divine sense into it and discovered a new point of light on his personal token, labeled 'Mountain of Emptiness.' It was said that the Supreme of Emptiness, Taishi Kong, resided on this mountain. When he was in the Jin State, every Sword Immortal occupied a single room, but a Supreme, being tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of times more powerful than a Sword Immortal, commanded an entire mountain range for residence. Furthermore, it was rumored that no one could reside on the several mountain ranges adjacent to a Supreme’s domain—such was the authority of a Supreme.

Although the Jian Sect spanned three stars in size, land was reportedly quite scarce due to the sheer multitude of its inhabitants. Yet, a Supreme was a Supreme, entitled to vast living quarters.

After flying for a considerable time, he finally arrived at the Mountain of Emptiness.

It was a colossal mountain range, likely hundreds of thousands of zhang high, dwarfing Mount Hua by far. Heavy restrictive formations permeated the mountain, making intrusion impossible. Lu Yuan stood before the mountain gate of the Mountain of Emptiness and shouted clearly, "Newcomer from the Jian Sect, junior Lu Yuan, requests an audience with Supreme Taishi."

After shouting three times, a delicate Daoist boy with rosy lips and white teeth emerged. The boy looked at Lu Yuan: "You are the new Core Disciple the Supreme intends to take? Please follow me." Even this Daoist boy viewed Lu Yuan with a measure of envy; his position near a Supreme granted him a higher status than most Direct Disciples, but it could not compare to a Core Disciple like Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan followed the Daoist boy into the Mountain of Emptiness.

He wondered now, what kind of existence was a Supreme—the pinnacle of human achievement?

And why had this Taishi Supreme suddenly singled him out to be his Core Disciple?