28: Complete Xuanyuan Gong and reach the peak of Ningqiao

True Man Xuanlun raised his hand, gesturing. Xiao Zhuo understood and quickly stepped out of Xuan Yuan Hall.

Seven figures, accompanied by laughter and chatter, approached from a distance, their staggered shadows lengthening on the bluestone steps.

“Cough!” True Man Xuanlun let out a light cough, and the laughter ceased abruptly. Seeing the person on the steps, the Disciples hastily bowed in greeting.

After everyone had paid their respects, Xuan Lun turned sideways, revealing the young man behind him: “From now on, this is your Junior Brother, the Disciple your Revered Master has newly taken in, Xiao Zhuo.”

Xiao Zhuo stepped forward, cupped his fists in salute, and his voice was clear: “Xiao Zhuo greets all Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters.”

Everyone smiled and returned the greeting, their gazes filled with scrutiny and curiosity.

After everyone had met, Xuan Lun waved to an unusually tall and robust young man: “Zifeng, you are the Senior Brother. It’s getting late, take Junior Brother to dinner and let him familiarize himself with the Peak’s environment.”

“Yes, Revered Master!” Li Zifeng’s voice was like a booming bell as he responded.

Li Zifeng, around thirty years old, had an eight-foot stature that made his moon-white Daoist robe bulge, and the knotted muscle lines beneath his coarse linen clothing were faintly visible, making him look like a body-tempering martial artist at first glance.

But with a slight movement of Xiao Zhuo’s Divine Sense, he clearly perceived that the other party’s Nine Revolutions Profound Essence Art Qi, which originated from the same source as his own, had astonishingly reached the eighth revolution of the fourth layer!

The Cultivation Technique Qi of the other six, though varying in strength, all came from the same source.

Xiao Zhuo suddenly understood: No wonder Xuanyuan Peak was sparsely populated; this Cultivation Technique was time-consuming and labor-intensive. Even if its combat power in the same Realm was outstanding, the slow progress of its cultivation was enough to deter most seekers of the Dao.

On the way to the dining hall, everyone enthusiastically introduced themselves.

Xiao Zhuo officially got to know all seven personal Disciples under the Xuanyuan Peak Revered Master:

Senior Brother Li Zifeng: True Essence Realm eighth layer, steady and reliable, meticulous in his actions.

Second Senior Brother Zeng Shujing: True Essence Realm sixth layer, true to his name, gentle and refined, a man of few words, with the demeanor of a gentleman.

Third Senior Sister Yao Hongxue: True Essence Realm sixth layer, with a fiery and straightforward personality, her prestige among her Senior Brothers was no less than Li Zifeng’s.

Fourth Senior Brother Yang Jinghong: True Essence Realm fifth layer, with a fiery temper, he and Fifth Senior Brother Zhang Rulie were both battle maniacs, their conversations never straying far from sparring and competing.

Fifth Senior Brother Zhang Rulie: True Essence Realm sixth layer, also hot-tempered, currently arguing fiercely with Third Senior Sister about the details of a spar from yesterday, their faces flushed.

Sixth Senior Brother Su Mingyuan: True Essence Realm second layer, with a cool and aloof demeanor, he nodded to Xiao Zhuo and then remained silent.

Seventh Senior Sister Shui Wuyi: True Essence Realm first layer, with a beautiful but indifferent expression, she quietly accompanied them after exchanging greetings.

The group, chatting and bustling, arrived before a huge rock cave carved into the mountain — this was Xuanyuan Peak’s dining hall.

The cave was spacious, furnished with over a dozen sets of sturdy redwood tables and chairs. Several Disciples were already dining quietly inside.

“Senior Brother, besides us, are there other Disciples on Xuanyuan Peak?” Xiao Zhuo asked in a low voice.

“Naturally,” Li Zifeng explained with a smile, “There are still two Junior Martial Uncles overseeing things, and their Disciples also cultivate on the Peak. Including you, our Xuanyuan Peak lineage has exactly twenty Disciples.”

Xiao Zhuo nodded thoughtfully and took a celadon jade bowl and chopsticks with the others.

The spirit rice grains in the bowl were plump and lustrous like jade, emitting a faint fragrance and Spiritual Qi.

Although they had already reached the stage of Bigu (abstaining from grains), no one would refuse this spirit meal that replenished Qi and blood and nourished True Essence.

Xiao Zhuo chewed on the chewy Dragon Tooth Rice, his ears filled with the intense debate between Third Senior Sister Yao Hongxue and Fifth Senior Brother Zhang Rulie about the details of yesterday’s spar.

As dusk settled, Li Zifeng led Xiao Zhuo to a small courtyard nestled in a pine forest at the Peak’s summit.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, the fresh scent of pine resin mixed with the cool mountain air wafted over them.

The room’s furnishings were simple, with a square table carved from a single piece of fir wood placed in the center, and natural light filtering through the window lattice.

Li Zifeng’s fingertip brushed over the bed frame, which had a thin layer of dust: “Bedding and daily necessities will be delivered shortly. From now on, this will be your residence.”

Xiao Zhuo cupped his hands in thanks. Li Zifeng then gave a few more instructions about the Peak’s rules and taboos before leaving.

After seeing off the Senior Brother, Xiao Zhuo went directly to the Peak Revered Master’s courtyard — right opposite Xuan Yuan Hall.

Just outside the courtyard, he heard a voice from within say, “Enter!”

True Man Xuanlun had clearly sensed his arrival.

“Disciple greets Revered Master.” Xiao Zhuo stepped into the front hall, seeing Xuan Lun seated cross-legged on a meditation cushion, eyes closed in meditation.

“Xuanyuan Peak doesn’t have so many formalities; just be casual,” Xuan Lun said calmly, without opening his eyes.

“Yes, Revered Master.”

“You’re here for the next part of the Cultivation Technique, aren’t you?” Xuan Lun immediately saw through him.

“Precisely,” Xiao Zhuo replied.

“Your Revered Master has already carved it for you.” Xuan Lun maintained his cultivation posture, lifting his chin slightly towards a wooden table nearby. “The Jade Slip is there; take it. Study it well and hasten your Breakthrough. The Five Peaks Grand Competition is in a month, and your Revered Master is counting on you to bring honor to Xuanyuan Peak!”

Xiao Zhuo picked up the warm Jade Slip on the table and was slightly startled to hear “Five Peaks Grand Competition.”

“Just do your best. Although the other Peaks have some promising talents, besides Dongfang Bai of Zhenyang Peak, no one should be your opponent.” Xuan Lun’s tone was certain, as if stating an established fact, completely disregarding Xiao Zhuo’s confusion. “Go.”

Xiao Zhuo could only tuck away the Jade Slip and take his leave.

Returning to his desolate wooden house, Xiao Zhuo eagerly pressed the Jade Slip to his brow.

As his consciousness sank in, a binding force of a Heart Demon vow quietly descended — it must not be leaked!

As Xiao Zhuo swore in his heart, a massive flood of Cultivation Technique information, like a bursting dam, surged into his Sea of Consciousness!

The panel instantly refreshed:

Name: Xiao Zhuo.

Race: Human Race.

Realm: True Essence Realm ninth layer.

Divine Sense: Elementary (Coverage: three hundred meters in radius)

Cultivation Techniques: Tiger Subduing Fist (MAX); Eight Directions Demon Slaying Saber (MAX); Nine Revolutions Profound Essence Art (fourth layer, ninth revolution, 842 years of cultivation); Lesser Primordial Pile Stance Perfection (100 years of cultivation); Wind and Thunder Fleeting Shadow Steps (MAX); Heavenly Thunder Quenching Gold Art (MAX); Great Void Bright Palm (MAX); Golden Serpent Coiling Silk Hand (Initiation);

Unique Skills: Extreme Tiger Killing Fist; Eight Extremes Return to Void Slash; Floating Light Instant Shadow; Heavenly Thunder Hegemon Body; Space Shattering Mark;

Secret Arts: Purple Extreme Burning True Method third layer;

Traits: True Essence Enhancement LV36; Qi Recovery Speed Increase LV9; Qi and Blood Enhancement LV5; Heterogeneous Energy Resistance LV4;

Talents: Danger Perception; Innate Divine Strength;

Attribute Points: 1648

The Realm layers of the Nine Revolutions Profound Essence Art were enclosed in parentheses, and a prompt appeared in the panel information.

“Acquired subsequent content for Nine Revolutions Profound Essence Art. Accumulated cultivation can be used to advance Cultivation Technique progress. Confirm conversion?”

Xiao Zhuo did not hesitate, his thoughts racing: “Confirm!”

Boom—!

The True Essence within his body, accumulated for over eight hundred years and as rich as mercury, instantly boiled!

It no longer lay dormant but, as if guided by an invisible will, surged violently into the new cultivation path of the Nine Revolutions Profound Essence Art’s fifth layer!

There was no need to enter that mysterious White Mist Space, nor was there any need to consume Attribute Points.

At this moment, his inner potential was completely ignited by the Cultivation Technique itself!

Chii! Chii! Chii!

One after another, acupuncture points were forcibly lit up under the violent Impact True Essence’s scouring!

The Eight Extraordinary Meridians and one hundred and eight key acupuncture points, like stars ignited in the night sky, successively bloomed with dazzling light!

Pure and refined True Essence roared as it poured into these newly born “stars,” filling and solidifying them!

Om—!

A powerful and irresistible aura suddenly erupted from Xiao Zhuo’s body!

His green robes billowed like sails, the wooden windows rattled from the impact of the invisible Qi wave, and the few simple pieces of furniture in the room also trembled slightly!

Fortunately, the room was empty, otherwise it would have been a mess.

When the profound cultivation accumulated over eight hundred and forty-two years was completely converted to zero, Xiao Zhuo’s body was a different sight: one hundred and eight acupuncture points, like the stars of the cosmic week, flickered with light, and True Essence flowed ceaselessly within them, a cohesive whole.

On the panel, the Realm of the Nine Revolutions Profound Essence Art had astonishingly jumped to —

Fifth layer, ninth revolution!

Ascending in one step, reaching the Peak of Condensing Acupoints!