Chapter 33 — Seven Days Is a Long Time

Three days passed quietly on Cloudveil Peak.

Quietly, in this case, meant Lu Chen had only caused two explosions.

The first destroyed a chair.

The second destroyed nothing.

Shen Yuan considered the second one significant progress.

Chen An did not.

"The wall moved."

Shen Yuan looked at the Chaos Body Refinement Chamber.

It had.

Slightly.

"Is it still a wall?"

"Yes."

"Then we've improved."

Chen An stared at him.

Six years of service had perfected that stare.

Shen Yuan drank his tea.

"Put it on my account."

"Everything on this mountain is already on your account."

Right.

There were disadvantages to ownership.

Three days.

Nothing invaded Cloudveil.

No Guardian Seal collapsed.

No ancient corpse woke.

No Immortal descended.

No mysterious authority whispered from somewhere beyond perception.

The mountain simply—

cultivated.

And Shen Yuan discovered that three quiet days were surprisingly dangerous when all three of his disciples possessed absurd talent.

Lin Yue spent every morning inside the Nine-Yin Lunar Pool.

By afternoon, she practiced with Moonfrost.

At night, she circulated the Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture until Chen An reminded her that humans occasionally slept.

Jian Wuchen divided his time between the Sword Intent Tempering Hall and the Primordial Sword Stone.

Shen Yuan had imposed mandatory rest.

Jian obeyed.

Technically.

Apparently meditation while lying down counted as sleep if one was sufficiently dishonest.

Lu Chen repeated the same circulation exercise until even Mo Tian stopped counting his failures.

Every day—

gray Primordial Chaos Qi entered his body.

Every day—

it traveled farther.

And every day—

it returned.

That last part mattered most.

On the third morning, Shen Yuan inspected Lin.

[Name: Lin Yue]

[Cultivation Technique: Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining — Fourth Stage]

[Cultivation Progress: 73%]

[Nine-Yin Immortal Body: Initial Awakening]

[Nine-Yin Lunar Channels: 2/9 Awakened]

[Third Lunar Channel: 14% Resonance]

[Self-Derived Circulation Variation: Developing]

Her cultivation speed had slowed.

Which was reassuring.

Slightly.

The first stages of Qi Refining had come almost unnaturally quickly.

But there had been reasons.

Lin had already reached Perfect Body Tempering.

Her damaged spiritual root had been restored and elevated into an Immortal-grade Nine-Yin Lunar Root.

Years of blocked potential had finally gained somewhere to go.

Then Shen Yuan had placed her inside an Immortal-grade cultivation environment while giving her a scripture nearly perfect for her constitution.

Qi Refining First Stage had barely been a barrier.

Neither had the second.

Or third.

Even the fourth had broken quickly once Lin began adjusting her circulation.

But now—

her cultivation was beginning to settle into something resembling progression rather than accumulated potential being released all at once.

Resembling.

For an ordinary Azure Origin disciple, moving through most of Qi Refining Fourth Stage in three days would still be ridiculous.

For Lin—

it was apparently moderation.

She sat at the center of the Lunar Pool.

Moonfrost floated before her.

The Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture circulated.

Spiritual Qi entered.

First Lunar Channel.

Second.

Normally—

the scripture would deepen.

Gather.

Condense.

Become increasingly still.

Increasingly cold.

Lin changed it.

The Qi advanced.

Then withdrew.

Not dispersed.

Not wasted.

It receded like water leaving a shore.

A moment later—

it returned.

The pool rippled.

Frost spread across its surface.

Then withdrew.

Then returned.

Moonfrost trembled.

Lin opened her eyes.

The sword spirit had spent several days watching.

It had stopped saying wrong.

That alone was progress.

Lin circulated again.

Advance.

Recede.

Return.

The third Lunar Channel pulsed faintly.

Moonfrost moved.

A voice entered Lin's mind.

Weak.

Distant.

But clearer than before.

"Why?"

Lin's circulation stopped.

She looked at the sword.

The spirit had finally asked something different.

Lin thought for several breaths.

Then looked at the reflection on the water.

A pale moon remained visible despite the morning sky.

"The moon changes."

Moonfrost became still.

Lin continued.

"It grows."

"It fades."

"It disappears."

"And it returns."

The sword spirit did not answer.

Lin closed her eyes.

The Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture moved again.

This time—

Moonfrost moved with it.

Not perfectly.

But willingly.

Across Cloudveil, Shen Yuan saw the system react.

[Self-Derived Nine-Yin Lunar Circulation: 6%]

[Moonfrost Sword Spirit Awakening: 3% → 5%]

[Previous Dao Imprint remains present.]

[Conflict decreasing.]

Shen Yuan dismissed the notification.

Good.

No answer yet.

Just progress.

Jian Wuchen's progress was less peaceful.

Thump.

Sword Heart.

First Sword Meridian.

Return.

Second.

Return.

Third.

Return.

Fourth.

Sword Qi entered.

Fifty-three percent.

Fifty-four.

Fifty-five.

Resistance.

Jian withdrew.

Again.

Fifty-six.

Return.

Again.

Fifty-eight.

Again.

Sixty.

The Ninefold Heaven-Severing Sword Scripture circulated endlessly.

Jian had learned something important over the past several days.

The Fourth Sword Meridian did not care how much Sword Qi he possessed.

It did not care how sharp his Sword Intent became.

It did not care that the Primordial Sword Stone could provide enough pressure to temper him for days.

The problem was structural.

The first three Sword Meridians had stabilized relatively naturally.

Heart.

Bone.

Blood.

Each had emerged alongside things Jian already understood.

But the fourth resisted repetition.

Every time he tried to cultivate it exactly as he had cultivated the first three—

progress slowed.

By the fourth day—

it stopped entirely.

[Fourth Sword Meridian Stability: 81%.]

Jian opened his eyes.

He tried again.

No change.

Again.

Nothing.

Again.

Still eighty-one.

Jian stared at the notification only his own senses could not see.

He did not need the system to know he had stopped progressing.

He could feel it.

He stood.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

Clear Wind entered its sheath.

Then Jian left the Sword Intent Tempering Hall.

Lin Yue was leaving the Lunar Pool when she found him waiting.

"Spar with me."

Lin stopped.

"Why?"

"My cultivation stopped."

"So you want me to hit you?"

"Yes."

Lin considered.

"Lu has been influencing you."

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

A distant explosion came from the other side of Cloudveil.

Jian remained expressionless.

Lin looked toward it.

Then back at him.

"Fine."

Shen Yuan found them in the training courtyard.

He did not interfere.

At first.

Lin stood with Moonfrost.

Jian held Clear Wind.

Neither drew immediately.

Lu Chen sat on a wall nearby.

Mo Tian sat beside him.

Xuankong had somehow acquired wine.

Guest Nine stood beneath a tree.

Chen An had already moved everything breakable.

Experience.

"Who wins?" Lu whispered.

Mo Tian shrugged.

"Depends."

"On what?"

"Whether they stop before the mountain loses another wall."

Reasonable.

Shen Yuan folded his arms.

"Begin."

Jian drew first.

Clear Wind whispered from its sheath.

No wasted movement.

One step.

One cut.

Lin moved sideways.

Moonfrost appeared.

CLANG.

Frost exploded.

Jian's sword changed direction immediately.

Second cut.

Lin blocked.

Third.

She retreated.

Moonlight-colored Qi gathered around her feet.

Her movement changed.

Advance.

Recede.

Return.

Jian's fourth strike passed through empty air.

Lin appeared beside him.

Moonfrost descended.

Jian turned.

Too slowly.

He abandoned the original technique.

Clear Wind reversed.

His Sword Qi changed route.

Inside him—

the Fourth Sword Meridian reacted.

Jian's eyes sharpened.

Lin struck.

Jian redirected.

Not blocked.

Redirected.

His Sword Qi moved through the Fourth Meridian differently from the first three.

Not farther.

Sideways.

A second route.

A different response.

[Fourth Sword Meridian Stability: 81% → 84%.]

Jian understood.

He attacked again.

Lin's frost spread across the courtyard.

Jian's first route closed.

He changed.

The Fourth Meridian opened.

[84% → 88%.]

Lin noticed.

Her eyes narrowed.

She stopped following the Nine-Yin Lunar Scripture exactly.

Her Qi advanced.

Withdrew.

Returned.

The frost around Jian vanished.

For half a breath—

he lost track of her presence.

Then it returned behind him.

Jian turned.

Moonfrost met Clear Wind.

BOOM.

Sword Qi and Lunar Qi erupted.

Lu stood.

"Now we're getting somewhere."

Shen Yuan looked at him.

Lu sat back down.

"Quietly."

The fight continued.

Lin had more raw spiritual energy.

Her Nine-Yin Immortal Body made every strand unnaturally pure.

Her movement was becoming increasingly difficult to predict.

Jian had less conventional Qi.

But every unit of Sword Qi existed for one purpose.

Cut.

His Sword Heart adapted faster than his body.

Lin changed rhythm.

Jian changed route.

Again.

Again.

Again.

The Fourth Sword Meridian opened completely.

For one instant—

Jian could have forced Sword Qi through it.

He didn't.

He remembered the scripture.

A path wasn't stable because Qi could enter.

It was stable when Qi could return.

Jian redirected Lin's blade.

Stepped back.

And withdrew his Sword Qi.

Fourth.

Third.

Second.

First.

Sword Heart.

Thump.

Complete.

The Fourth Sword Meridian remained open.

[Nine Sword Meridians: 4/9 Stabilized.]

[Fourth Sword Meridian: Complete.]

[Ninefold Heaven-Severing Sword Scripture — Second Fold progress increased.]

[Innate Sword Heart Awakening: 49% → 52%.]

Jian stopped.

Lin's sword stopped one inch from his throat.

Clear Wind rested half an inch from her shoulder.

Lu leaned forward.

"Who won?"

"Neither," Shen Yuan said.

Lu frowned.

"They both have swords on each other."

"Exactly."

"Then let them finish."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I prefer disciples with the same number of limbs they started with."

Lu considered.

"Reasonable."

Jian lowered Clear Wind.

Lin lowered Moonfrost.

Jian looked at her.

"Thank you."

Lin nodded.

"Did it work?"

"Yes."

"What was wrong?"

Jian looked at his sword.

"I was trying to make the fourth path behave like the first three."

Lin understood immediately.

"It wasn't supposed to."

"No."

She looked at Moonfrost.

That answer sounded familiar.

Lu Chen's cultivation was less elegant.

On the fourth day—

his Chaos Qi reached his shoulder.

On the fifth—

his chest.

That attempt ended with him coughing smoke.

Mo Tian assured everyone this was not normal.

Lu asked whether anything about his cultivation was normal.

Mo Tian withdrew the statement.

By the sixth day—

the gray Qi could travel from Lu's palm—

through his wrist—

forearm—

elbow—

shoulder—

across his upper torso—

then return.

Stable.

Undefined.

No fire.

No earth.

No lightning.

No explosion.

Usually.

The system tracked every improvement.

[First Anchor Stability: 26%.]

Then:

[43%.]

Then:

[61%.]

Lu expanded the route.

Both arms.

Chest.

Spine.

Lower meridians.

The first time Chaos Qi reached his leg, Lu fell over.

The second time—

he made it three steps.

The third—

he accidentally kicked through a reinforced training post.

Chen An added it to the account.

By the evening of the sixth day:

[Primordial Chaos Spiritual Root: 21% → 24%.]

[Primordial Chaos Body: 9% → 11%.]

[First Anchor Stability: 78%.]

[Internal Primordial Chaos Circulation: Near-Complete.]

[Disciple Foundation Mission: 96%.]

Lu sat cross-legged inside the chamber.

Sweat covered his body.

Gray Qi moved through him.

Arm.

Chest.

Spine.

Waist.

Leg.

Return.

For the first time—

the route nearly connected completely.

Lu smiled.

Then someone outside dropped a cup.

The sound was tiny.

His concentration shifted.

The Chaos Qi trembled.

Every meridian in his body reacted.

Mo Tian entered instantly.

Shen Yuan was faster.

The Qi dispersed before it could differentiate.

Lu opened his eyes.

Silence.

He looked annoyed.

"That was almost it."

Shen Yuan did not answer immediately.

He had noticed the problem.

So had Mo Tian.

Lu's First Anchor worked.

But only while Lu actively maintained it.

The principle remained:

I am the anchor.

That recognition stabilized the Chaos.

But the moment Lu's attention left it—

the recognition weakened.

Shen Yuan inspected him.

[First Anchor: Self.]

[Stability: 78%.]

[Critical flaw detected.]

[Anchor currently dependent upon conscious recognition.]

[A true cultivation foundation must remain stable during distraction, unconsciousness, injury, sleep, and spiritual disruption.]

Lu read Shen Yuan's expression.

"There's another problem."

"Yes."

"Big?"

"Useful."

Lu groaned.

Mo Tian laughed.

Shen Yuan continued:

"Your First Anchor exists."

"But you're still holding it."

Lu frowned.

"If I stop thinking about it—"

"It weakens."

Lu became silent.

Mo Tian sat opposite him.

"A foundation shouldn't need permission to exist every breath."

Lu looked at his hands.

"So I need to make it permanent."

"Not permanent," Shen Yuan said.

Lu looked up.

"Natural."

That was harder.

Lu knew immediately.

Which meant—

it was probably correct.

Not everyone on Azure Origin had remained still while Cloudveil cultivated.

On the sixth afternoon, Qin Feng returned.

This time—

he brought Zhao Tianming.

Lin recognized him immediately.

So did Shen Yuan.

The Heavenly Sword Peak disciple had changed.

His presence was heavier.

More settled.

The spiritual energy around him no longer behaved like Qi Refining.

Shen Yuan inspected him.

[Name: Zhao Tianming]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment — First Stage]

Good.

The rest of the sect was moving too.

Zhao bowed.

"Peak Master Shen."

Then to Lin.

"Junior Sister Lin."

Lin returned the greeting.

"Senior Brother Zhao."

Zhao smiled.

"I heard you've reached Qi Refining Fourth Stage."

Lin shook her head.

"Not anymore."

Zhao paused.

Shen Yuan checked.

The breakthrough had happened that morning.

Quietly.

Without incident.

[Qi Refining — Fifth Stage.]

Zhao stared.

"Fifth?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"This morning."

Qin Feng looked at Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan lifted both hands.

"I was drinking tea."

Qin Feng seemed unconvinced.

Zhao had broken into Foundation Establishment two days earlier.

Unlike Cloudveil's cultivation abnormalities—

his breakthrough had been entirely conventional.

Months at Qi Refining Ninth Stage.

Accumulation.

Foundation preparation.

A proper Foundation Establishment Pill.

Three days in seclusion.

Successful breakthrough.

He was exactly the kind of genius Azure Origin Sect understood.

Which made him useful.

Shen Yuan looked at Lu.

"Fight him."

Lu blinked.

Zhao blinked.

Qin Feng blinked.

"Master?"

"Controlled spar."

Lu stood.

"Can I use Chaos Qi?"

"No."

"Then how is that fair?"

"He's Foundation Establishment."

"Exactly."

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"That's why."

Lu slowly grinned.

"Oh."

Zhao stepped onto the training field.

He remembered Lin Yue.

He had lost to her while at Qi Refining Ninth Stage.

Unarmed.

He had taken the defeat seriously.

It had helped him break through.

Now he looked at Cloudveil's third disciple.

"No cultivation realm?"

Lu nodded.

"Apparently."

Zhao looked toward Shen Yuan.

"How should I treat him?"

"Like someone you don't want punching you."

Zhao understood less than before.

They began without spiritual Qi.

Zhao stepped forward.

Lu did too.

Fist met palm.

BOOM.

Zhao slid backward.

His eyes widened.

Lu remained standing.

Physical strength.

Pure physical strength.

Zhao attacked again.

Faster.

Lu blocked.

Countered.

Zhao twisted away.

Lu's fist passed beside his face.

The wind alone stung.

Zhao created distance.

His expression became serious.

"You're strong."

Lu grinned.

"I've been told."

Then Zhao used Qi.

The difference appeared immediately.

Foundation Establishment spiritual energy reinforced his body.

His movement changed.

His footwork became lighter.

His strikes gained technique.

Lu blocked once.

Twice.

Missed the third.

Zhao's palm hit his chest.

Lu flew backward.

He landed.

Rolled.

Stood.

No serious injury.

But before he stabilized—

Zhao was already there.

Lu tried to counter.

Too slow.

A finger stopped at his throat.

Silence.

Zhao withdrew.

Lu stared.

Then smiled.

"Again."

Zhao blinked.

"Again."

This time Lu lasted longer.

Not much.

Third attempt.

Longer.

Fourth.

Shen Yuan stopped them.

Lu was breathing heavily.

Zhao's forehead had begun sweating.

Lu looked disappointed.

"I didn't hit him once after he used Qi."

Zhao shook his head.

"You almost did."

"Almost doesn't count."

"It does in training."

Lu looked toward Jian.

Jian nodded.

Unfortunately, that made it official.

Lu looked at Zhao.

"So that's Foundation Establishment."

"First Stage."

Lu's eyes brightened.

Shen Yuan recognized that expression.

Dangerous.

Not because Lu was discouraged.

Because he had just found something to chase.

Good.

Shen Yuan inspected the comparison.

[Lin Yue]

[Qi Refining — Fifth Stage]

[Estimated Combat Performance: Peak Qi Refining / capable of threatening early Foundation Establishment depending upon matchup.]

[Primary advantages: Nine-Yin Immortal Body, Immortal-grade spiritual root, Lunar Qi purity, Moonfrost.]

Then Jian.

[Jian Wuchen]

[Sword Foundation — Middle Stage]

[Estimated Combat Performance: Foundation Establishment — Middle Stage range.]

[Against Sword Dao cultivators: Potential suppression advantage.]

[Realm equivalence remains approximate.]

Then Lu.

[Lu Chen]

[Conventional Realm: None.]

[Physical Combat Performance: Exceeds ordinary Qi Refining standards.]

[Against Foundation Establishment: Significant disadvantage without stable internal Chaos circulation.]

That was useful.

Shen Yuan's scale had become distorted.

Too many Immortals.

Too many ancient experts.

Too many things that could casually erase mountains.

Foundation Establishment had begun sounding small.

It wasn't.

Not here.

For young cultivators in the Mortal Realm—

it mattered.

Zhao Tianming had spent years reaching it.

He had trained.

Failed.

Accumulated.

Prepared.

Broken through.

And now that difference had been enough to completely change his fight against Lu.

Good.

The Mortal Realm still had teeth.

Shen Yuan wanted his disciples to learn that before they became strong enough to forget.

That evening—

Guest Nine prepared to leave.

There was no announcement.

No gathering.

Chen An noticed a small travel bundle near the gate.

Then Shen Yuan did.

Mo Tian had already known.

Xuankong pretended he hadn't.

Guest Nine stood beneath the old Cloudveil arch.

Their robes moved faintly in the mountain wind.

Mo Tian approached.

"Where?"

"Away."

Xuankong snorted.

"Excellent directions."

Guest Nine ignored him.

Mo Tian crossed his arms.

"For how long?"

"I don't know."

"Useful."

Shen Yuan almost smiled.

Guest Nine looked back at Cloudveil.

"I've stayed too long."

"Because of the Listener?" Shen asked.

"Not only that."

No one pushed.

Guest Nine continued:

"Old traces move."

"Not quickly."

"Not clearly."

"But staying in one place gives them time to become less uncertain."

Shen Yuan nodded.

No dramatic warning.

No imminent catastrophe.

Just risk.

That was enough.

Mo Tian looked at them.

"Come back."

Guest Nine became still.

"Why?"

"So I can remind you of more things."

"That sounds threatening."

"It is."

Guest Nine looked toward Xuankong.

"Third Brother already remembered the shoes."

Xuankong pointed.

"I still want compensation."

"It has been eight thousand years."

"Interest."

Guest Nine turned away.

Chen An approached.

He held out a small jade token.

Cloudveil's mark was carved into it.

Guest Nine stared.

"What is this?"

"A guest token."

"I shouldn't carry something tied to this mountain."

"It contains no tracking formation."

Guest Nine looked at Shen Yuan.

"I checked," Shen said.

"Twice," Chen An added.

Guest Nine took the token.

Slowly.

"What does it do?"

Chen An answered:

"It tells the outer formations not to attack you when you return."

A pause.

Guest Nine looked at the token.

"When."

Chen An remained expressionless.

"Yes."

Something in Guest Nine's posture softened.

Barely.

They placed the token inside their robe.

Mo Tian smiled.

"Come back before I remember anything embarrassing."

Guest Nine stepped through the gate.

"That sounds like a reason not to."

Then they were gone.

No thunder.

No spatial collapse.

No ancient enemy.

Just footsteps fading down the mountain road.

Mo Tian remained there for a while.

Then he turned around.

"What's for dinner?"

Chen An answered:

"Rice."

Mo Tian sighed.

Life continued.

There was one final problem before the Five Peaks Assessment.

Chen An discovered it that night.

He entered Qingyuan Hall carrying three registration documents.

"Peak Master."

Shen Yuan looked up.

"Problem?"

"First Young Mistress is easy."

Lin Yue.

Qi Refining — Fifth Stage.

"Second Young Master is inconvenient."

Jian Wuchen.

Sword Foundation — Middle Stage.

Chen An had eventually added a note:

Special Sword Cultivation Path — Approximate Foundation Establishment equivalence.

"And Third Young Master?"

Chen An placed the paper on the table.

It contained four options.

Body Tempering

Qi Refining

Foundation Establishment

Core Formation

None were marked.

Shen Yuan looked at Chen An.

Chen An looked at Shen Yuan.

Lu Chen leaned through the doorway.

"Can we add one?"

"No," Chen An said.

Mo Tian appeared behind him.

"Write Primordial Chaos."

"No."

Xuankong appeared from somewhere.

"Mortal Transcendent."

"No."

Lu thought.

"Future strongest cultivator?"

"No."

Shen Yuan looked at the form.

"Unclassified."

Chen An closed his eyes.

"That is not an option."

"Special cultivation path."

"Still not an option."

"Pending."

Chen An looked at him.

Shen Yuan nodded.

Several moments later—

Lu Chen's registration read:

Cultivation Realm: Pending Assessment.

Lu looked pleased.

Chen An looked exhausted.

On the final evening before the assessment—

Cloudveil became quiet.

Actually quiet.

Lin stood beside the Nine-Yin Lunar Pool.

Her cultivation had stabilized.

[Qi Refining — Fifth Stage]

[Nine-Yin Lunar Channels: 2/9 Awakened]

[Third Lunar Channel Resonance: 37%]

[Self-Derived Lunar Circulation: Initial]

[Moonfrost Sword Spirit Awakening: 5%]

She was still only in Qi Refining.

There remained Foundation Establishment.

Core Formation.

Nascent Soul.

Soul Transformation.

Void Refining.

Body Integration.

Tribulation Transcendence.

Mahayana.

An entire Mortal Realm stood ahead of her.

Good.

She would climb it.

Not skip it.

Jian sat before the Primordial Sword Stone.

[Ninefold Heaven-Severing Sword Scripture]

[Second Fold — Sword Meridian Tempering]

[Sword Foundation — Middle Stage]

[Nine Sword Meridians: 4/9 Stabilized]

[Innate Sword Heart Awakening: 52%]

[Third Gate — Blood: Developing]

His cultivation did not follow the conventional ladder cleanly.

But the Mortal Realm still existed around him.

Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Core Formation cultivators.

Nascent Souls.

Experts he would eventually have to face without Shen Yuan cutting the problem away for him.

And Lu—

Lu sat inside the Chaos Body Refinement Chamber.

Gray Qi traveled through almost his entire body.

Then returned.

Again.

Again.

Again.

His First Anchor remained stable.

Until his attention slipped.

Then it trembled.

Lu opened his eyes.

Not yet.

[Primordial Chaos Spiritual Root: 24%]

[Primordial Chaos Body: 11%]

[First Anchor Stability: 78%]

[Internal Circulation: Near-Complete]

[Foundation Mission: 96%]

Four percent remained.

Lu smiled.

Four percent sounded small.

He had learned enough by now to know that meant absolutely nothing.

On the seventh morning—

Cloudveil descended into the ordinary life of Azure Origin Sect.

Lin walked first.

White and blue Cloudveil disciple robes moved lightly around her.

Moonfrost rested at her side.

Jian followed.

Clear Wind at his waist.

His presence was sharper than it had been seven days earlier.

Lu came third.

He had been explicitly instructed not to test any new Chaos circulation methods while walking down the mountain.

He had asked why.

Everyone had ignored him.

Shen Yuan followed behind them.

Chen An carried the registration documents.

Mo Tian remained on Cloudveil.

So did Xuankong.

Neither had any reason to attend a junior sect assessment.

That was intentional.

Today did not belong to ancient cultivators.

It belonged to the current generation.

The lower they descended—

the more disciples appeared.

Outer disciples.

Inner disciples.

Young cultivators from the Five Peaks.

Conversation slowed as Cloudveil's group passed.

"That's Lin Yue."

"Qi Refining Fifth?"

"I heard she was Body Tempering last month."

"That's Jian Wuchen."

"Didn't his meridians get destroyed?"

"What's his cultivation now?"

"No idea."

"Who's the third one?"

Lu heard that.

He looked pleased.

Jian glanced at him.

"Why are you smiling?"

"They don't know me."

"That isn't an achievement."

"It can be."

Lin continued walking.

"Ignore him."

Lu looked offended.

"Senior Sister."

She did.

The central arena of Azure Origin Sect had already filled.

Five banners stood around it.

Heavenly Sword.

Jade Lotus.

Vermilion Flame.

Black Tortoise.

And—

for the first time in years—

Cloudveil.

Shen Yuan looked at the final banner.

Someone had cleaned it.

Probably Chen An.

Sect Master Gu Tianhe stood on the central platform.

Grand Elder Mo Qingfeng sat nearby.

Qin Feng was already with Heavenly Sword Peak.

Mu Qinglan stood among the Jade Lotus disciples.

Zhao Tianming noticed Cloudveil immediately.

He nodded toward Lin.

She returned it.

Farther away—

Ye Feng stood among another group of young cultivators.

His gaze found Jian.

He froze.

Jian froze too.

Old friends.

Old rivals.

Different paths now.

Neither spoke.

Not yet.

Good.

There would be time.

Cloudveil reached the registration table.

An elder accepted Lin's slate.

"Lin Yue."

He looked down.

"Qi Refining Fifth Stage."

Stamp.

Next.

"Jian Wuchen."

Pause.

The elder read the additional note.

Then read it again.

"Middle... Sword Foundation?"

Jian nodded.

The elder looked at Shen Yuan.

"Special cultivation path."

Shen said nothing.

The elder sighed.

Stamp.

Then Lu stepped forward.

The elder picked up the third slate.

He read it.

Stopped.

Read it again.

His eyebrows slowly rose.

"Cultivation realm..."

He looked at Lu.

Then the form.

Then Lu.

"...pending?"

Lu smiled.

"It's complicated."

Shen Yuan walked past him.

"It really isn't."

Lu turned.

"Master."

A bell rang.

Deep.

Clear.

It rolled across all Five Peaks.

Conversation stopped.

Hundreds of younger-generation disciples looked toward the central platform.

Sect Master Gu Tianhe stepped forward.

Shen Yuan stopped beside Cloudveil's banner.

Lin stood before him.

Jian beside her.

Lu on the other side.

Seven days ago—

Lin had only just entered Qi Refining Fourth Stage.

Jian had only three stabilized Sword Meridians.

Lu had managed his first partial internal circulation.

Now—

Lin stood at Qi Refining Fifth.

Jian had four Sword Meridians and a stronger Sword Heart.

Lu was four percent away from establishing something that did not fit neatly anywhere on Azure Origin's registration forms.

Seven days.

Shen Yuan looked around the arena.

At Zhao Tianming.

At Ye Feng.

At the disciples of Jade Lotus, Vermilion Flame and Black Tortoise.

At the Mortal Realm his disciples had barely begun to climb.

For the first time in several weeks—

the challenge ahead was wonderfully ordinary.

Gu Tianhe raised one hand.

"The Five Peaks Younger Generation Assessment—"

His voice carried across the arena.

"—begins."

Shen Yuan folded his arms.

Perhaps it was finally time to find out exactly how unreasonable Cloudveil had become.