Chapter 3

Name: Qianqiu Devotion Level: 0 (Has not yet fallen in love) Cultivation: Mortal Spiritual Root: Mutated Fire Spiritual Root (Unactivated) Comprehension: Once-in-a-millennium (Unactivated) Talent Activation Method: Consume a Ten-Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruit, then guide with spiritual qi to activate. Fortune: Boundless Blessings Fate: Empress, breaking the cocoon to be reborn, growing stronger with every challenge Summary: A once-in-ten-thousand-years cultivation genius currently at rock bottom. Once she washes away the dust of the mortal world, she will shine across the heavens! However, her Simp Level is insufficient; she cannot be taken as a disciple yet.

Guliang Yuan looked at the thin, weak, sallow-faced young girl in the corner, then back at the golden interface, his eyes turning red!

Is this what a golden legend looks like? Her talent, fortune, and every other attribute are maxed out!

The hateful part is: why isn't she a simp?!

Guliang Yuan used his divine sense to ask the system: "System, if I force her to become my disciple, what will happen?" "Ding. The host may forcibly take her as a disciple, but it will not trigger disciple-taking rebates, nor can system rewards be claimed."

Guliang Yuan frowned, staring at the Simp Level on the panel, and an idea suddenly struck him: "System, what if I make her fall in love with me, max out her Devotion Level, and *then* take her as a disciple? How will you handle that, Your Excellency?"

System: ......

Guliang Yuan's words completely short-circuited the system! Other hosts were always thinking about how to solve quests, but you're thinking about how to solve the system, aren't you?! If you play it this way, the disciple-taking system is going to be turned into a harem-building system by you!

Yet it was only a piece of code, and everything had to operate according to the system's programming.

After a long silence, two words were spit out: "Feasible."

Guliang Yuan smiled. As long as your thinking doesn't slip, there are always more solutions than problems!

By this time, the surrounding handymen had also noticed Guliang Yuan's presence. Although they didn't know his identity, judging by his otherworldly, immortal demeanor, they could tell he was extraordinary.

Thus, they all bowed to Guliang Yuan: "Greetings, Immortal Master."

Guliang Yuan accepted it calmly: "Rise, all of you."

As the handymen stood up, a short, plump cultivator hurried over. Recognizing Guliang Yuan's appearance, he quickened his pace and came right up to him: "Oh my, Grand Uncle-Master, what kind of wind blew you here?" "This handyman quarters is filthy; I hope it doesn't offend your eyes." "If you have any orders, you only need to say a word. Why bother making the trip yourself?"

The short, plump cultivator changed his expression with astonishing speed. The moment he turned his head back toward the handymen, his flattering smile vanished, replaced by a fierce look: "What are you all standing around for? Back to work!"

Having driven away the onlookers, the short, plump cultivator turned back, bending his waist and lowering his gaze as he stood submissively by Guliang Yuan's side.

Noticing that Guliang Yuan's gaze kept lingering on Qianqiu in the corner, the short, plump cultivator shrewdly introduced her: "Grand Uncle-Master, this handyman is named Qianqiu. She's a fallen princess of a mortal dynasty who ended up here." "Because she has no spiritual root, she cannot cultivate, and with a scar on her forehead, she isn't very pleasing to the eye. So she's often bullied."

Hearing this background, Guliang Yuan felt that familiar flavor. Carrying the hatred of a fallen country and a destroyed family, enduring every humiliation, until one day she washes away the mud, rises straight up, and returns to her former realm to establish a dynasty, becoming an empress of an era. Ah, a very pure trope.

"I find this little girl rather pitiful. Have her transferred to my Forgetful Peak later to serve."

Dropping these words, Guliang Yuan turned and left.

As much as he wanted to take Qianqiu away immediately, he knew that going too far is as bad as falling short. As a dignified peak master, showing too much concern for a handyman would inevitably arouse suspicion. Once or twice might be fine, but as he continued to take in disciples frequently, some sharp-witted person might eventually notice the clues. The system was his foundation for existence. Even if the probability of anyone discovering it was extremely low, Guliang Yuan wanted to nip it in the bud at the root.

The short, plump cultivator didn't ask another question. He simply watched Guliang Yuan's retreating figure and bowed respectfully: "Respectfully sending off Grand Uncle-Master."

Only after Guliang Yuan's figure completely vanished did he raise his head and look toward Qianqiu, who was plain-looking and even somewhat disfigured.

At that moment, Qianqiu was lugging a broom larger than herself as she walked toward the door. Judging by the beads of sweat seeping from her forehead, it wasn't an easy task.

The short, plump cultivator walked up to Qianqiu and with a casual wave, a gentle stream of spiritual qi lifted the broom right out of her hands.

Feeling the sudden lightness on her shoulder and realizing it was the work of the short, plump cultivator, a flicker of envy flashed deep within Qianqiu's eyes. Spiritual root... Must one have a spiritual root to become a cultivator...?

"Greetings, Steward Wang."

Now devoid of the flattering demeanor he had worn in front of Guliang Yuan, the short, plump cultivator accepted the greeting calmly and nodded slightly.

"Qianqiu, you are in luck." "The person who was just here is the master of Forgetful Peak, Grand Uncle-Master Guliang." "Grand Uncle-Master heard about your situation and, considering you pitiful, wishes to transfer you to Forgetful Peak to serve. Are you willing?"

Hearing this, surprise instantly bloomed across Qianqiu's face! Though she was a handyman, even handymen had their ranks, and those serving inner disciples were the most sought-after. Inner disciples had come to select handymen many times before, but she was always passed over because of the scar on her face. Never had she imagined she would now have the chance to enter Forgetful Peak, and to serve someone of Grand Uncle-Master rank at that! Though she knew she lacked a spiritual root and could hardly expect progress in cultivation, simply entering Forgetful Peak would at least ensure she was no longer bullied.

At this thought, Qianqiu immediately replied: "Qianqiu is willing."

The short, plump cultivator patted the storage pouch at his waist, took out a Forgetful Peak pass token, and handed it to Qianqiu: "Go on your way." "Yes."

...

After leaving the handyman quarters, Guliang Yuan wandered around a bit more, inspecting the vast majority of the holy land's disciples. There were a few whose Devotion Level met the criteria, but he didn't encounter anyone else with suitable talent.

"The path of disciple-taking is long and arduous." "If I run into another suitable disciple, I'd gladly become invincible and gain eternal life right this second!"

With this sigh, Guliang Yuan enthusiastically continued his quest for disciples.

Meanwhile, Meng Yao's mood was not nearly as pleasant as Guliang Yuan's.

Inside the Meng family's main hall, a middle-aged man dressed as the clan head sat in the seat of honor, with the elders of various branches seated on either side. These people were either tapping the wooden tables, frowning slightly, or gazing toward the door, all looking somewhat restless. The younger generation serving nearby didn't even dare to breathe heavily, feeling the oppressive atmosphere inside the great hall.

Suddenly, footsteps from outside broke the tension.

Everyone stood up and looked toward the entrance. Under everyone's gaze, Meng Yao walked into the main hall, looking somewhat absent-minded.

Seeing Meng Yao in this state, everyone's heart skipped a beat. The situation seemed rather ominous...

The clan head was the first to speak: "Yao'er, how did it go?"

Frowning, Meng Yao recounted truthfully what had happened today on Forgetful Peak.

Hearing this, everyone's expression changed drastically!

The clan head beat his chest and stamped his feet: "Yao'er, you have been foolish!" The rest of the clan members likewise directed accusations at Meng Yao: "Indeed! No matter how lacking Guliang Yuan's strength might be, he is still a peak master!" "Your affair with Ye Fan—understated, it loses Guliang Yuan's face; overstated, it loses the face of the entire holy land!" "I used to think you were quite sensible. How could you be so foolish when it comes to Ye Fan?" "Outside, everyone is saying you're a fickle woman now." "Who knows what kind of bewitching soup Ye Fan fed you? A penniless brat with a mixed spiritual root—how could he possibly compare to Guliang Yuan?" "We originally sent you to apologize. Now look at it—you've driven the Meng family into a desperate corner."

A woman in the clan who was jealous of Meng Yao seized the opportunity to hurl venomous remarks now that Meng Yao had caused a disaster: "In my view, Meng Yao simply thought too highly of herself, truly believing Guliang Yuan would do anything for her. Look at her now—she overplayed her hand." "Elder Sister is right. Frankly, I don't blame Guliang Yuan for going too far. I imagine not a single man present could endure watching the dao companion he pursues lying in another man's bed." "Not to mention that after the incident happened, Meng Yao even made a special trip to humiliate him. If this had happened to any of you, your reaction would probably have been even more extreme than his."

At these words, the men in the hall fell silent.

Chapter 5: I Love Telling the Truth

Listening to her clansmen's words, Meng Yao felt as though knives were carving away at her heart. It made her body tremble with rage. Their attitude in the past hadn't been like this! In the old days, she had repeatedly made Guliang Yuan lose face in public. Yet when she returned, they still pampered her. One could say that the reason she treated Guliang Yuan with such an attitude had plenty of fuel added to the fire by them. And now, just because of a minor mishap, they shifted all the blame onto her! It was utterly disheartening!

Meng Yao opened her mouth to retort when the head of the Meng clan slammed his hand onto the armrest!

"Enough! Stop arguing!" "The issue right now isn't who is right and who is wrong, but how to obtain Guliang Yuan's forgiveness!"

As the clan head's voice fell, a sarcastic, mocking voice rang out: "How to obtain his forgiveness? Marry him, of course." "I don't know why someone's body is so precious that after three years, she hasn't even shown a shred of sincerity."

As soon as these words came out, all the clan elders' eyes lit up. That's right! Guliang Yuan loved Meng Yao so deeply; the things he said must have been spoken in anger. Wasn't Guliang Yuan drooling over Meng Yao's body anyway? Just give it to him. Not just Meng Yao, but even these clan elders didn't truly believe Guliang Yuan would have the heart to deal a fatal blow to the Meng family. After all, Guliang Yuan's previous persona as a devoted simp was deeply rooted in people's minds.

Thus, the gazes of all the clan elders turned uniformly toward Meng Yao. The meaning they wished to convey went without saying.

Meng Yao had already felt somewhat absent-minded upon returning from Forgetful Peak, and under everyone's gazes, her mind spun into a daze. It shouldn't be like this! She still remembered that before going to Forgetful Peak, she hadn't wanted to apologize at all. It was her group of clansmen who had coaxed and flattered her, leading her to reluctantly agree to go and apologize. Yet now, the behavior of the clansmen before her made her feel utterly alienated!

She fixed her gaze on the clan head: "Father, what do your views say about this?"

The head of the Meng family turned his head away and remained silent. By that attitude, he tacitly agreed.

Meng Yao didn't know why her clansmen held this attitude, but she knew it crystal clear. Meng Yao, who possessed Guliang Yuan's affection, was a treasure. Meng Yao, who lost Guliang Yuan's affection, was nothing at all. The only reason he could become the head of the Meng family was because of the Guliang Yuan standing behind Meng Yao. From his perspective, marriage alliances between large families were the most normal thing in the world. Meng Yao's temperament had been unstable before; if this incident could make Meng Yao truly submit and marry Guliang Yuan, it would be a good thing for both the family and Meng Yao herself.

Knowing her father well, Meng Yao guessed his thoughts. She smiled bitterly: "Fine, I understand."

With that, as if she had lost her soul, she walked toward the door.

A clansman spoke up: "Meng Yao, if you aren't going to Forgetful Peak, where else are you going?"

Meng Yao paused her departure, turned around, and spoke without looking back: "Staying with you all only makes me feel sick. I'm going out to clear my head, and I'll go over when the time comes."

Without waiting for a reply, Meng Yao's figure vanished from their sight.

Meng Yao didn't know, nor did she care to know, what kind of ugly expressions her clansmen wore after she left. Once out of the Meng family, she summoned the mid-grade flying sword Guliang Yuan had given her and sped all the way toward the teleportation array of the Yaochi Holy Land.

In the Dongzhou continent, there were four great holy lands: Taishang, Yaochi, Du'e, and Taiyi, situated respectively in the southeast, northwest, and center of the continent. Although separated by tens of millions of miles, the four holy lands were connected by grand teleportation arrays; as long as one could afford the fare, a round trip could be made in a single day.

Meng Yao felt her heart was in turmoil, so she wanted to return to the holy land for some peace and quiet.

However, she had barely flown far—not even reaching the vicinity of the teleportation array—when beams of light descended from the sky.

The streams of light landed and transformed into the appearance of the Thirteenth Elder of Forgetful Peak, blocking Meng Yao's path: "Where are you going, Miss Meng?"

Looking at the dozen-plus figures that had appeared, Meng Yao's brows knitted together: "What? I'm going back to Yaochi to clear my mind, and you intend to stop me?"

Elder Wang, who was at the lead, flipped his hand and tossed out a token.

Meng Yao caught the token and took a look, realizing it was none other than her master's personal token.

Elder Wang said: "Fellow Daoist Gongsun just sent me a message. Your affair with Ye Fan has completely disgraced her, and today she is expelling you from Yaochi." "In consideration of our Junior Uncle, your cultivation base will not be crippled. But from now on, you must take care of yourself." "Didn't you tell Junior Uncle in the main hall this morning that you wanted to quit the Yaochi Holy Land? Well, this just fulfills your wish, saving you a trip to Yaochi."

Listening to Elder Wang's words and looking at the token in her hand, Meng Yao stood in a daze, as if she couldn't believe everything she was hearing. Just a few days ago, she had received the news that she had become a candidate for Saintess. Just this morning, she was still fantasizing about what she would do once she became the Saintess. One could say she had treated the identity of the Saintess as her stepping stone to the future. Yet now, she was suddenly told that all of this was gone... To her, this was simply like the sky collapsing.

Dazed and crazed, she seemed to be asking a question, yet also talking to herself: "Impossible, you must be lying to me." "Master cares for me so much; how could she expel me from the holy land?" "Clearly, just a few days ago, she was still helping me campaign for the Saintess position. How can this be..."

Seemingly recalling something, she suddenly raised her head and looked at Elder Wang: "All of this is just Guliang Yuan trying to scare me, right?!" "He just wants to force me to submit using this method, doesn't he?" "Despicable! Shameless!" "To think that previously..."

"Silence!"

Before Meng Yao could finish, her words were cut short by Elder Wang's furious shout: "Considering our Junior Uncle treats you like a precious treasure, do you have the slightest self-awareness of what kind of virtue you possess?!" "An almighty being of the Deity Transformation realm like Fellow Daoist Gongsun—even disciples with Heavenly Spiritual Roots fight to apprentice under her!" "If it weren't for the sake of our Junior Uncle and Forgetful Peak, would she ever take you, someone with a dual spiritual root, as a disciple?" "I love telling the truth!" "You entered the inner sect through the back door to begin with, and with the Saintess selection right at hand, every move of yours was being watched by others." "You were acting intimate with that Ye Fan on the first night, and by the next day, the news had already spread throughout Yaochi." "It was precisely because of this that it reached the ears of our Junior Uncle." "Whether this was deliberately orchestrated by some rival Saintess candidate, I do not know." "What I *do* know is that the Holy Sons and Saintesses of the great holy lands represent the face of their respective holy land!" "I love telling the truth!" "For a woman of such loose morals to become a Saintess candidate not only brings shame upon Fellow Daoist Gongsun, but even makes the Yaochi Holy Land lose face!" "Merely expelling you from the sect is already showing mercy for our Junior Uncle's sake."

Meng Yao tried to argue: "I..."

Elder Wang sternly interrupted: "You what you!" "Junior Uncle treats you like this, yet you call him despicable at every turn, shameless at every turn—your conscience has been eaten by dogs." "I have never seen such a brazen and shameless person!"

Having vented it all in one breath, Elder Wang felt refreshed, his cultivation base even showing faint signs of advancement! The grievances of the past three years had finally been spat out. The other elders behind him also nodded along in appreciation, as if they weren't listening to a scolding, but rather to some wonderful celestial music. This feeling was simply too right!

"Brother Wang's words truly speak right to our hearts." "Indeed, indeed! Elder Wang's words are like drinking ice in midsummer—so thoroughly satisfying to hear!"

Elder Wang cupped his fists to the left and right: "Flattery, flattery."

Chapter 6: My Might Relies Entirely on Others' Imaginations

Hearing Elder Wang's words, Meng Yao felt her mind and spirit destabilize, nearly causing her magic power to spin out of control and making her plummet from her flying sword.

On one hand, it was because Elder Wang had stripped away her last shred of decency, completely exposing the petty thoughts in her heart. On the other hand, she was simply furious. In the past, this group of elders had always spoken to her with utmost respect; how could they possibly utter such venomous remarks?!

Recalling all the grievances she had suffered today, Meng Yao couldn't help bursting into loud tears. Yet after crying, she suddenly broke out in loud laughter.

Watching Meng Yao alternate between crying and laughing, the group of elders felt a drum beating in their hearts: could this Meng Yao have gone mad...?

After a long while, Meng Yao stopped her laughter, her expression terrifyingly calm: "Go back and tell Guliang Yuan: within ten days, I will go to Forgetful Peak."

With that, she resolutely turned and departed.

What a fine Guliang Yuan—playing me like this, are you?! Isn't it just for my body? I'll give it to you! Just wait. Once I have you completely in the palm of my hand, I will return every bit of humiliation I suffered today tenfold! I'll make you wish you were dead and unable to die!

The elders knew nothing of what Meng Yao was thinking. As they watched her wretched figure leave, they burst into hearty laughter. Their laughter shook the mountain forest, startling flocks of birds into flight.

...

Taishang Holy Land, inside the grand hall of Wuji Peak.

A woman dressed in a purple-cloud and gold-stamped robe sat diagonally on a gilded long chair. Her hair was piled high, her eyebrows and eyes as picturesque as a painting, displaying utmost grace and luxury.

This woman was none other than the sect master of Taishang, Lü Qingmei.

In the seat below Lü Qingmei, a female disciple was giving a torrential, continuous report.

If one listened closely, the contents of her report were precisely Guliang Yuan's actions on Forgetful Peak today.

After listening to the disciple's report, Lü Qingmei let out a light laugh: "Little girl, do you think your Grand Uncle-Master has truly seen the light, or is he just trying to get Meng Yao's body?"

The disciple pondered slightly and said, "Based on my past impression of Grand Uncle-Master, I feel he must be trying to use this to intimidate Meng Yao and make her completely submit." "After all, he loved Meng Yao so deeply. To say nothing of executing her like a traitor, he probably wouldn't even bear to see her suffer the slightest injury."

Lü Qingmei shook her head: "Today, I observed the fluctuations of the holy land's fortune converging toward Forgetful Peak; it has the signs of a great flourishing." "Combining this with Guliang Yuan's actions today, I realize I had somewhat underestimated this Junior Uncle."

Seeing the puzzled look on the disciple's face, Lü Qingmei explained: "My Taishang Holy Land has seven peaks coexisting. Right now, our Wuji Peak is the main peak, governing the holy land." "Prior to this, however, Forgetful Peak was always the main peak." "The Taishang Forgetful Dao is renowned throughout the world." "There are three methods of cultivating this Forgetful Dao. The first is to sever emotions to enter the Dao: first making oneself deeply infatuated with someone, and then severing those emotions in a single stroke to enter the Forgetful Dao." "The second is to attack emotion with emotion, using secret arts to brew one's feelings for a specific person into emotional poison, swallowing it day and night to aid one's cultivation and enter the Supreme Emotional Dao." "The third is to halt emotions through slaughter, preserving heavenly principles while extinguishing human desires, aligning oneself with the Great Dao to enter the Heartless Dao." "Although these three differ in their entry methods, they ultimately return to the same origin: refining the heart through nature, enlightening the mind, seeing one's true nature, and acting as one pleases." "The specific methods elude me, and they have long since been lost." "However, looking at Guliang Yuan's recent actions, he is clearly on the path of entering the Forgetful Dao." "He is trying to rely on incomplete scriptures and his own comprehension to recreate the Forgetful inheritance!" "Enduring humiliation for three years, only to astonish everyone with a single cry!" "Great perseverance! Great comprehension!" "If he truly succeeds, it will be a tremendous blessing for our holy land!"

The disciple listened in a dazed, uncomprehending manner: "Grand Uncle-Master, is he really that formidable?"

Lü Qingmei shook her head again: "Not certain, but it's possible." "Originally, I only intended to keep him around as a mascot, but now it seems I need to change my attitude." "Go to my private treasury and fetch a top-tier Heavenly-grade magic artifact to send to him. Tell him I saw that his cultivation resources over the years had all been wasted on Meng Yao and felt it was a pity, so I am privately gifting him a magic artifact in hopes that he will no longer be weighed down by matters of the heart."

"This disciple obeys!"

Watching the disciple's departing figure, Lü Qingmei's clear eyes flashed: "Guliang Yuan, I hope you won't let me down..."

No matter what, Guliang Yuan could never have imagined that before he even began his rise, someone had already thought up the reasons for his impending ascension.

My might relies entirely on your imagination!

At this moment, Guliang Yuan had already circled the Taishang Holy Land once. Aside from disciples in closed-door cultivation or away on missions, he had probed the vast majority of them.

Pity that in such a huge holy land, apart from Qianqiu, he had only encountered one disciple whose qualifications met the requirements, and that one wasn't a simp. Moreover, that disciple was the senior brother of Wuji Peak, possessing a Golden Core Peak cultivation base. For such a case, even if Guliang Yuan had the heart, he lacked the power.

Finding no disciples and seeing that it was growing late, Guliang Yuan returned to Forgetful Peak.

As soon as he arrived at the foot of Forgetful Peak, he found Qianqiu waiting outside the mountain gate.

At this moment, Qianqiu had a floral-patterned bundle slung over her emaciated right shoulder. Although she wore coarse cloth garments, they could not hide her slender figure. Looking closer, however, her hair was yellowish and dry, her complexion slightly dark, making her look much like a farm girl. A small patch of burns remained on her forehead, rendering a face that might otherwise have been passable somewhat unsightly.

Qianqiu had been waiting here for quite some time, and she spotted the approaching Guliang Yuan at a glance.

Her heart fluttered with subconscious joy, but upon sensing Guliang Yuan's otherworldly, immortal demeanor and striking appearance, a wave of deep inferiority welled up within her. Using the motion of tucking back her bangs, her right hand lightly brushed across the scar on her forehead, deepening her sense of inferiority all the more.

Sensing that Guliang Yuan had drawn near, she dropped to her knees with a thud and kowtowed respectfully: "Greetings, Immortal Master."

She kept her head lowered thereafter, able to see only the tips of Guliang Yuan's shoes through her peripheral vision, not daring to look at him at all for fear that her appearance would arouse his disgust and cause her to lose this hard-won opportunity.

Guliang Yuan accepted it calmly: "Rise and speak."

He wasn't like those transmigrated holy mother types who constantly shouted about everyone being equal and doing away with bowing etiquette. Could an emperor be equal to a beggar? That was sheer nonsense. Not to mention that the rules of this realm were precisely thus; he had no desire to stand out as an outlier everywhere.

Hearing Guliang Yuan's words, Qianqiu raised her head timidly, subconsciously using her heavy bangs to cover the ugly scar on her forehead.

Guliang Yuan smiled, stepped forward, and gently lifted Qianqiu's bangs.

Qianqiu wanted to dodge, but forced herself to endure it.

At that moment, she kept her eyes tightly shut, not daring to meet Guliang Yuan’s gaze, terrified that she might see an expression of disgust in his eyes.

It takes immense courage to expose one’s most insecure self to another.

Just as Qianqi felt a tremor of anxiety, a voice as gentle as a spring breeze reached her ears:

"It’s just a burn; it’s easily treated. I’ll go to the Pill Peak and get some medicine later."

Chapter 7: The Gears of Fate Begin to Turn

Qianqi snapped her eyes open, her gaze filled with longing as she looked at Guliang Yuan:

"Master, are you speaking the truth?"

Guliang Yuan smiled and turned to walk up the mountain:

"For an immortal, it is a simple matter."

Watching Guliang Yuan turn away, the insecure Qianqi felt a sudden pang of anxiety. *What did Master mean? Did he turn away because I asked too many questions? Is he angry? Is he going to abandon me?*

As her mind spiraled into chaos, Guliang Yuan’s voice came again from ahead:

"Let’s go, silly girl."

Only then did Qianqi snap out of it. A beautiful smile bloomed on her face as she chirped, "Oh, coming!"

Guliang Yuan led the way, with Qianqi following closely behind. The setting sun stretched their shadows long, merging them into one. Qianqi stared at Guliang Yuan’s sturdy back, etching the scene deep into her memory. For the next hundred thousand years, this moment would appear in her dreams time and again. That one phrase, "silly girl," was something she found impossible to forget.

It was in this very moment that the gears of her destiny began to turn.

Meanwhile, Guliang Yuan, walking in front, had his consciousness immersed in the system interface, feeling satisfied as he saw his Infatuation Points rise to 20. Reaching the threshold of eighty points to successfully take on a disciple was proving quite easy to farm.

By the time the sky had dimmed, the two reached the peak of Forgetful Peak. As they walked, Qianqi noticed that Forgetful Peak was not only beautiful, but also filled with numerous halls. Some were built into the cliff faces, bizarre and exotic; others featured carved beams and painted pillars, showing exquisite craftsmanship. The layout resembled stars surrounding the moon, all guarding the Forgetful Hall at the center. However, these halls appeared uninhabited.

Sensing Qianqi’s confusion, Guliang Yuan explained:

"Forgetful Peak was once the head of the seven Taishang lineages, but it has since declined. These are dwellings left behind by our predecessors. You may choose any one of them to live in."

Qianqi blinked: "Where does Master live?"

Guliang Yuan pointed to the Forgetful Hall: "That is my residence."

Qianqi pointed to a side hall next to it: "Then I shall live there. It will be convenient if you need me for anything, Master."

"Very well."

Just as Qianqi was about to settle in, the great formation of Forgetful Peak suddenly trembled. Guliang Yuan flipped his hand and produced a bronze mirror. The reflection in the mirror showed the gate of Forgetful Peak. Outside the gate stood a woman in a green Daoist robe, performing a respectful bow:

"Chu Xingyue of the Wuji Peak, acting on my master’s orders, requests an audience with the Martial Uncle-Grandmaster."

Guliang Yuan performed a series of hand seals, and the mountain-guarding formation opened. Chu Xingyue entered, flickering through the air until she arrived before Guliang Yuan.

"Greetings, Martial Uncle-Grandmaster."

"Rise."

Chu Xingyue looked up, but upon seeing Guliang Yuan, she felt a momentary trance. Although his features remained unchanged, he seemed incomparably more handsome than before. The aura of the Dao flowing around him gave him an ethereal quality, as if he were no longer of this mortal world.

"What business has your master, Junior Niece Lü, sent you here for?"

Hearing his voice, Chu Xingyue regained her composure, inwardly cursing herself for her lack of decorum. She patted her storage bag, and a long, exquisite sword appeared in her hand. She bowed slightly and raised it above her head with both hands:

"My master says that previously, you were troubled by affairs of the heart and wasted much of your resources, and she finds it hard to watch. Thus, she ordered me to deliver this sword to you, hoping you might break through your emotional barriers."

Guliang Yuan swept his divine sense over it and felt a slight surprise. To his shock, the sword was a top-grade Heaven-tier Dharma artifact. Dharma artifacts were divided into Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow ranks, corresponding to the Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul realms. Beyond that, until one reached immortality, they were considered Spiritual Treasures. In the outside world, a top-grade Heaven-tier artifact could serve as a sect’s treasure; even in a Holy Land, they were extremely precious. Many elders went their entire lives without obtaining one.

In Guliang Yuan’s memory, Lü Qingmei had always been cold toward her junior master. Why was she so generous today? Still, he had no reason to refuse a gift. He took the sword, gave it a slight flick, and it rang with a resonant chime. On the blade, the characters "Autumn Water" were inscribed.

"The Autumn Water Sword—a fine sword and a fine name. Thank your master on my behalf."

Chu Xingyue bowed again: "I shall convey your words, Master."

Watching Chu Xingyue depart on her sword, Guliang Yuan looked at Qianqi, who was gazing at the receding figure with longing. Clearly, she yearned for the ability of cultivators to traverse the heavens and the earth. Guliang Yuan flipped his hand and handed her a few pills:

"Focus now. Practitioners of the Dao do not eat the five grains, and there is no hearth on Forgetful Peak. But as a mortal, you must eat. Take these Inedia Pills; one pill will keep you from hunger for half a month."

Qianqi accepted the pills, her heart brimming with emotion. She had lost her mother young; though a princess, she was born to a concubine and never favored by the Emperor. After her forehead was burned, she barely saw her father for years. In the deep palace, the Emperor’s whims were everything. Seeing her lack of favor, even the servants had cut her food and clothing rations. As a girl, she had suffered in silence. At fourteen or fifteen, her country was destroyed, and she only escaped the tragic fate of the other palace women because her scars made her appear ugly, beginning her life as an exile.

She had no memory of ever being cared for. Especially after arriving in the cold world of cultivation, she had been bullied relentlessly. She never imagined that Guliang Yuan—a high and mighty Immortal Master—would show her such concern. *Was he really going to find medicine for me at the Pill Peak? How could this be? How could anyone be so kind to me? Do I even deserve this?*

Qianqi wanted to cry. When she finally looked up, she realized Guliang Yuan had already vanished. She sniffed, wiped her reddened eyes, and looked at the morning star on the horizon, a strange feeling blooming in her heart.

Not long after, Guliang Yuan returned. Seeing Qianqi waiting in the wind, he beckoned:

"Come along. The wind is cold outside; let us go into the hall and apply the medicine."

"Yes," Qianqi replied softly. With a mix of trepidation and anticipation, she followed him into the great hall.

Half an hour later, Qianqi checked herself in a mirror repeatedly, unable to control her joy. The scars that had haunted her for so long were finally gone! Her complexion remained sallow, but without the hideous scars, she appeared delicate and refined. Guliang Yuan knew that since Qianqi had not yet awakened her spiritual roots, this was not her true appearance. Only when the lead was washed away would her true brilliance be revealed.

Qianqi wept with joy, kneeling to kowtow repeatedly: "Thank you for your great kindness, Master! From this day forward, even if I must work like an ox or a horse for you, I will have no complaints."

Having experienced discrimination due to her looks, Qianqi knew exactly how important beauty was to a woman. She felt that Guliang Yuan’s favor was a debt of rebirth. Seeing her Infatuation Points reach 70, Guliang Yuan was shocked at the rapid growth. *Just by removing a scar, I'm almost there?*

Chapter 8: Taking an Empress as a Disciple, Ten-Thousand-Fold Critical Hit!

Knowing that too much of a good thing could be counterproductive, Guliang Yuan used a gentle surge of Dharma power to lift her up. Qianqi looked up, her forehead now flushed a bruised red from the force of her kowtowing. Though she felt the burning sensation, she was so immersed in her gratitude that she paid it no mind.

Guliang Yuan flicked his finger, and a gentle aura brushed over her forehead. Qianqi felt the stinging heat replaced by a soothing chill. Guliang Yuan said softly:

"It was hard enough to heal; don't go breaking it again."

Hearing this, Qianqi’s heart felt as though it might overflow with warmth. *How could he be so gentle?*

Guliang Yuan decided to quit while he was ahead. "That’s enough. I don’t need you to work like an ox or a horse, just serve me with sincerity. You may go."

Qianqi floated out of the Forgetful Hall, looking at the moon, feeling as if the day had been a dream. A mountain breeze made her shiver, gradually bringing her back to reality. She resolved to serve Guliang Yuan well to repay his kindness. "It’s a pity I have no spiritual roots and cannot cultivate; I am of little use to him. He does not eat, so how can I repay him?"

The night passed in silence. The next morning, Guliang Yuan woke from his meditation and exhaled a breath of turbid air.

"This Void Spiritual Root is truly extraordinary; one night of effort is worth a month of my previous toil. It’s a shame my cultivation technique is holding me back, or I could have done even better."

As he pondered, Qianqi entered with a towel over her shoulder and a wooden basin in her hands. "Master, let me help you wash."

At Guliang Yuan’s level, his body was pure and free of filth; there was no need for washing. But Qianqi was not a cultivator and did not understand this. Seeing her expectant eyes, he did not refuse and went through the motions. Watching her Infatuation Points reach 75, he knew that reaching 80 would just be a matter of time.

During the day, Guliang Yuan toured the Holy Land again but found nothing of note. However, he accidentally learned that on the ninth day of the ninth month, the four Great Holy Lands would open their gates to recruit disciples. This surprised him; normally, the Holy Lands only held recruitment drives every eight years. It had only been five years since the last one. Furthermore, all four were opening simultaneously—there was clearly something he didn't know about.

"Whatever. That’s too far removed from me. I should focus on increasing my strength first. Perhaps I can take in more disciples during the recruitment."

Four days passed in the blink of an eye. That evening, Guliang Yuan sat on his bed and looked at Qianqi below him, his eyes lighting up with joy—her Infatuation Points had finally reached 80!

Qianqi was kneeling before him, gently washing his feet. Her expression was solemn and earnest, as if she were cradling a precious treasure, fearing she might displease him. Suddenly, his voice entered her ears:

"Do you want to cultivate immortality?"

Qianqi’s hands froze, then resumed: "I would love to, but I was born without spiritual roots. I cannot cultivate."

After a few days together, Qianqi had become more relaxed, which was perhaps why her Infatuation Points had hit 80. However, she remained clear about her position and never overstepped.

"What if I could awaken your spiritual roots?"

Qianqi looked up sharply, her grip on his feet tightening involuntarily. She asked, her voice trembling: "Master, what do you mean?"

Guliang Yuan smiled, making her feel as though she were bathed in a spring breeze:

"Through these few days, I have observed that you have a firm will and a pure nature. I wish to take you as my disciple, help you awaken your spiritual roots, and pass on the Dao of Forgetfulness to you. What do you say?"

Though his words were soft, they rang in her mind like a great bell! She opened her mouth, a thousand words clamoring to be said, but she didn't know where to start. In the end, it became:

"Can I really?"

Guliang Yuan’s expression became stern and earnest: "If I say you can, you can!"

Qianqi took a deep breath, her eyes resolute, and performed the grand master-disciple rite: "Disciple greets the Master!"

She didn't know if she could truly cultivate, but she knew this was her only chance to defy her fate. Even if she couldn't cultivate, spending this mortal life with her master would make her life worthwhile.

*Ding! Congratulations to the host for accepting the first disciple. Initial mission complete. Reward: Nascent Soul cultivation granted.*

With the chime, Guliang Yuan felt a formidable surge of spiritual energy churning within his dantian. His "Forgetful Scripture" began to spin uncontrollably, as if it were on the verge of a breakthrough. At the same time, the winds and clouds in the sky shifted; a black cloud appeared, covering the bright moon, with lightning faintly crackling within.

Guliang Yuan’s expression changed. He hadn't expected the system reward to be so swift and violent. It didn't just manifest; it forced his cultivation to increase naturally through spiritual infusion. Seeing the signs, he realized he would have to face a lightning tribulation, and he was completely unprepared.

Looking at Qianqi kneeling before him, he had an idea. He retrieved the incomplete "Forgetful Scripture" and two spell manuals:

"Qianqi, I have here the 'Forgetful Scripture' and two spells. I grant them to you today. As the master of Forgetful Peak, according to sect rules, my head disciple must be announced to the heavens, and other Peak Masters must be invited to witness it. In a few days, I will formally accept you as my disciple."

Qianqi looked at the glowing books, her heart racing. *Are these Immortal scriptures? I, Qianqi, have a chance to cultivate too!* She accepted them with trembling hands and kowtowed again: "Thank you, Master."

At this moment, her Infatuation Points hit 90. But Guliang Yuan was focused on the system prompts.

*Ding! Host taught the disciple the 'Three-Turn Profound Technique' and the incomplete 'Forgetful Scripture'. Triggered 10,000-fold return. System rewarded: Supreme Technique, 'Taishang Forgetful Scripture'!*

*Ding! Host taught the disciple the Mysterious-tier spell 'Small Geng Metal Art'. Triggered 400-fold return. System rewarded: Heaven-tier spell, 'Geng Metal Sword Art'.*

*Ding! Host taught the disciple the Mysterious-tier spell 'Fire Dragon Palm'. Triggered 1,000-fold return. System rewarded: Minor Supernatural Power, 'Nine Dragon Li Fire Palm'.*

The rewards appeared directly in his mind, requiring no study—only realization. Guliang Yuan was overjoyed.

Chapter 9: Facing the Lightning Tribulation, Seven Peaks Watch!

Having comprehended all the information, the joy in Guliang Yuan’s eyes deepened. Everything from the system was high-quality! Spells were divided into five tiers, with the top four being Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow. Above the four tiers were Supernatural Powers, divided into Greater and Lesser. As far as he knew, a typical Deity Transformation cultivator only had a few Heaven-tier spells to protect them. As for Supernatural Powers, the entire Taishang Holy Land had only accumulated eighteen Greater and seventy-six Lesser powers over hundreds of thousands of years. The emergence of any Lesser Supernatural Power would spark battles among the powerful!

To have blasted out a Heaven-tier spell and a top-grade Lesser Supernatural Power from a casual teaching session—how could he not be happy?

Then there were the techniques, divided into nine turns corresponding to the nine realms of immortality: Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Deity Transformation, Void Integration, Integration, Mahayana, and Tribulation Transcendence. Each realm had nine levels. The foundation of the Taishang Holy Land was the seven volumes of the Nine-Turn Profound Technique, with each peak guarding one. The former "Forgetful Scripture" had been one of them. He realized the "Taishang Forgetful Scripture" was at least a level above the Nine-Turn Profound Technique—a true Immortal-level technique!

All this flashed through his mind in an instant. At the same time, his cultivation level, pushed by the surge of energy, rose directly to the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm. The lightning clouds above were almost fully formed.

With the Lesser Supernatural Power now in his grasp, Guliang Yuan was no longer panicked. He told Qianqi, "Master is going to transcend the tribulation," and flashed to an open space on Forgetful Peak. Gazing at the clouds, he shifted his internal circulation from the incomplete scripture to the "Taishang Forgetful Scripture." The moment he did, he had an epiphany: the incomplete version was merely a redacted excerpt of the true supreme scripture. All his past doubts were cleared in an instant.

He had no time to ponder further, for the lightning tribulation had arrived!

*BOOM!*

A bolt of heavenly lightning lit up the void, striking straight down at Guliang Yuan from the heavens!

Guliang Yuan did not dodge. With a surge of Dharma power, a faint blue light enveloped him. He intended to tank the blow! He knew the Core Formation tribulation consisted of eighteen lightning strikes. He estimated he could handle the first nine. Indeed, when the lightning hit, his protective light only flickered slightly. Confident, he waited for the second.

The sudden lightning drew the attention of all the great powers in the Taishang Holy Land! On Wuji Peak, Lü Qingmei, who had been meditating, opened her eyes. Sensing the aura of a Core Formation tribulation, she frowned: "Which junior is so reckless? Why transcend on the main peak instead of the Tribulation Forest?"

She vanished and reappeared outside Forgetful Peak. With a wave of her hand, she deployed a wooden compass, casting an isolation barrier over the entire peak so the commotion wouldn't spread. Shortly after, a dozen figures arrived, all looking at her.

"Greetings, Sect Master," they said.

"Rise."

Lü Qingmei looked at them—all Peak Masters and several Void Integration realm elders. The Holy Land’s top combat power was all here. She smiled: "I recall the last time the peaks gathered was five years ago at the disciple recruitment. I didn't expect my Junior Martial Uncle’s Core Formation tribulation to bring you all here."

Mentioning "Junior Martial Uncle" drew varying expressions of disdain, curiosity, or indifference. In a Holy Land, seniority was paramount, but these individuals were all at least in the Void Integration realm and had lived for thousands of years. Calling a Foundation Establishment cultivator "Uncle" stuck in their throats. Most viewed Guliang Yuan as a disgrace to the sect.

Lü Qingmei ignored them: "Since you are here, let us observe."

Just as she finished, a red-haired elder spoke loudly: "I thought some junior was being foolish. What is there to watch in a Core Formation tribulation? I’m going back to refine pills."

Lü Qingmei remained calm: "Elder Wan, remain. I also wish to take this opportunity to discuss the opening of the mountain gates on the ninth of September."

Hearing this, the elders grew interested. For this early opening, they didn't know the inside story. As they began to question her, Guliang Yuan’s tribulation reached the tenth bolt. His protective light had been shattered. As the twelfth bolt prepared to strike, Guliang Yuan patted his storage bag.

*CLANG!*

The Autumn Water Sword was unsheathed!

As he gripped it, his aura changed instantly. His back straightened, and he stood like a sword that would rather break than bend, pointing defiantly at the heavens! With a thought, he unleashed the Geng Metal Sword Art!

With a wave of his hand, a sharp, quintessential Geng Metal energy shot out from the Qiushui sword, hurtling straight toward the heavenly lightning!

"Oh?"

This scene drew a sound of surprise from one of the elders.

The other elders turned their heads at the sound and began to discuss:

"That sword technique is quite impressive."

"It's used well enough; it’s barely any different from my own direct disciples."

"Tsk tsk, I didn't expect the Forgetful Peak to still possess the inheritance of a Heaven-grade sword technique."

"Wait, this is… Sword Intent!"

Chapter 10: Nine-Turn Golden Core, the Bearing of an Immortal!

Lü Qingmei was also somewhat surprised: "I didn't expect it to be a Great Success-level Geng Metal Sword Intent."

Sword Intent is different from cultivation. It cannot be increased through practice; it can only be grasped through enlightenment, and every person's Sword Intent is unique. Some powerful experts can use a sword for a thousand years and never grasp it. Those with exceptional aptitude can grasp it while still at the Qi Condensation stage. And there are those with extraordinary talent who can grasp multiple types of Sword Intent!

Although Sword Intent does not aid in cultivation, it significantly enhances the attack power of sword techniques. Generally speaking, a Minor Success-level Sword Intent is enough to make a cultivator invincible among their peers. A Great Success-level Sword Intent can even allow one to fight against those of higher ranks! In the perilous world of cultivation, this is a life-saving skill.

There were no shortage of sword-wielding elders on the scene, but only two or three had truly grasped Sword Intent. That was why they were so astonished to see Guliang Yuan demonstrate it. What they didn't know was that the Sword Intent they craved was, for Guliang Yuan, merely a side effect of the system helping him master the Geng Metal Sword Technique.

Under the watchful eyes of the elders, Guliang Yuan walked amidst the flashes of heavenly lightning as if he were taking a leisurely stroll. The Qiushui sword hovered above his head, rising into the air from time to time, darting left and right, accompanied by trails of light, intercepting every bolt of lightning and preventing them from coming within a yard of him.

Seeing that the Tribulation Transcendence was coming to an end, Lü Qingmei said, "It seems this lightning tribulation poses no pressure to him at all. I hope he can break the curse of the Forgetful Peak's inability to reach Deity Transformation."

The atmosphere on the scene turned solemn as Lü Qingmei brought this up. Since the Forgetful Peak lost its inheritance, it had passed through over a dozen generations. Yet, among them, the highest cultivation was only at the early Nascent Soul stage; no one had ever been able to break through to Deity Transformation. It was as if they were cursed by the Heavenly Dao; even switching to other cultivation methods failed. Although the Forgetful Peak still had successors, the severing of its inheritance seemed to be a foregone conclusion.

The red-haired elder spoke up again: "In my opinion, Lü, you expecting him to revitalize the Forgetful Peak is harder than going into the demon clan’s lair to snatch back the inheritance."

"So what if the kid grasped Sword Intent?"

"With his Three-Spirit Root talent, it’s already a stroke of luck that he managed to reach the Golden Core realm."

"Five hundred years from now, won't he just be another pile of bones?"

"Not to mention, this kid is a lovesick fool with no heart for cultivation. He even squandered the last bit of the Forgetful Peak's legacy for a woman."

Hearing the red-haired elder talk about Guliang Yuan’s romantic affairs, another elder added: "I heard his methods improved this time; he cut off all financial support for Meng Yao to force her to submit."

Some elders agreed: "Although that’s a bit unethical, it’s still an improvement over his previous behavior."

Clearly, they didn't believe Guliang Yuan would actually wipe out the entire Meng family as he had claimed in the main hall. After all, the image of Guliang Yuan as a 'simp' was too deeply ingrained in their hearts.

As they spoke, Guliang Yuan finished his tribulation. A Golden Core the size of a chicken egg hovered above his head, casting down golden light that completely enveloped him. Nine faint, mysterious Dao patterns surrounded the Golden Core, making it look extraordinary!

Lü Qingmei, who had been keeping a close eye on the situation, narrowed her eyes and whispered four words: "Nine-Turn Golden Core!"

Hearing this, the elders, who had previously been dismissive, turned their heads in unison. Although it was the dead of night and they were tens of miles away, every one of them possessed superhuman vision. Upon seeing the Nine-Turn Golden Core above Guliang Yuan's head, they were all struck with horror!

Some who were stroking their beards pulled them so hard they felt pain, yet they didn't react. Some who were staring into the distance had their eyes wide open in disbelief. Even those who had remained silent before were gasping for air!

It really was a Nine-Turn Golden Core!

The Golden Core realm is the process of condensing one's internal magic power into a single Golden Core. This core is also known as the Internal Elixir; once swallowed, it takes root in the Dantian, becoming the source of magic power. The saying "Once the Golden Core enters the belly, I know my fate is in my hands, not heaven's" refers precisely to this.

Depending on one's aptitude, the grade of the Golden Core varies. Golden Cores are divided into nine turns based on their size and the number of patterns on them. One turn is the weakest; nine turns is the strongest. As the number of turns increases, besides the capacity for storing more magic power, it also reflects a person's aptitude and future potential.

A Nine-Turn Golden Core corresponds to the nine realms of cultivation. Ordinary cultivators usually forge a three or four-turn Golden Core, which means they can usually only reach the third or fourth realm—Golden Core or Nascent Soul—unless they encounter great opportunities. Those with Heaven-grade Spirit Roots might forge a six or seven-turn Golden Core, corresponding to the sixth realm (Void Refining) or the seventh (Integration). The elders present, including the Sect Master Lü Qingmei, were all at this level when they reached the Golden Core realm.

Those with peerless talent and access to supreme cultivation methods might reach the eight-turn level. There were only three such prodigies in the entire Taishang Sacred Land. In the outside world, they were once-in-a-century occurrences!

A Nine-Turn Golden Core—it is the bearing of an Immortal!

It had been thousands of years since anyone was heard to have reached this level! They never expected that Guliang Yuan, whom they had always looked down upon, could forge a Nine-Turn Golden Core! With such a gifted disciple in the Sacred Land, as long as he didn't die young, the Sacred Land could flourish for another ten thousand years!

But how could this be? Wasn't Guliang Yuan's talent terrible? And he was a massive simp who didn't even practice.

Lü Qingmei looked at the astonished elders with a serious expression: "Regarding this matter, for his safety, I must ask you all to keep the secret of the Nine-Turn Golden Core for our Junior Uncle."

Lü Qingmei’s words pulled the elders back to their senses. That’s right, keep it secret! A genius who dies young is no genius at all! The Taishang Sacred Land was not the only power; there were plenty of rivals and hostile forces in the cultivation world. The red-haired elder who had been marginalizing Guliang Yuan now had a complicated look on his face. He was genuinely happy for the Sacred Land to have such talent, but why did it have to be Guliang Yuan? It wasn't that he looked down on his talent; he just couldn't stand the guy’s simp behavior!

Someone frowned: "Wait, isn't Junior Uncle a three-element Spirit Root? How could he form a Nine-Turn Golden Core?"

Before anyone could answer, more anomalies erupted from Guliang Yuan’s direction! He swallowed the Golden Core, and his aura surged once more!

Early Core Formation! Mid Core Formation! Late Core Formation! Golden Core Peak!

BOOM!

A thunderclap erupted from thin air, and the lightning clouds, which hadn't yet fully dissipated, gathered again and expanded madly! A fierce wind swept across the world, snapping pine trees and uprooting ancient oaks!

Guliang Yuan hovered between heaven and earth, sword on his back! His azure robes snapped in the gale! An otherworldly, immortal aura shimmered around him; even with the sky collapsing, his expression remained unchanged!

The others noticed the change in Guliang Yuan’s demeanor and appearance. Aside from Lü Qingmei, who felt a spark of interest, the other elders didn't pay much attention—not because he wasn't striking, but because they had something more important to focus on!

You just finished the 2-9 Golden Core Tribulation, and in the blink of an eye, you're about to face the 3-9 Nascent Soul Tribulation? Crossing two tribulations in one day is unheard of in history! What is going on?

Chapter 11: Entering Nascent Soul in a Day!

Looking at the pensive Lü Qingmei, the red-haired elder asked, "Does the Sect Master happen to know the reason for this?"

Lü Qingmei shook her head: "I have a guess, but let us observe a while longer."

"If my guess is true, the Forgetful Peak is truly going to rise!"

The other elders didn't understand the Forgetful Peak's inheritance as well as Lü Qingmei did, so they were confused by her cryptic words. Seeing that she didn't intend to explain, they stopped asking and turned their attention to Guliang Yuan beneath the thunderclouds. Although they didn't know how he was doing this, they realized that with his Nine-Turn Golden Core and this feat of crossing two tribulations in one day, his future was bound to be extraordinary! It was no longer ten thousand years—now it looked like the Sacred Land could flourish for thirty thousand years!

If only he weren't such a simp...

Lü Qingmei suddenly rose into the air: "Everyone, the 3-9 Nascent Soul Tribulation is far more ferocious than the Golden Core Tribulation. Please join me in protecting our Junior Uncle."

"It’s hard enough for the Sacred Land to produce such a prodigy; if he were to fall under our watch, we would truly be sinners of the Taishang Sacred Land."

Everyone nodded and flew into the air, surrounding Guliang Yuan outside the range of the lightning, ready to intervene. One had to know that heavenly tribulations grow stronger when challenged. If they entered the range of the tribulation, even if they rescued Guliang Yuan, the lightning would evolve into a 6-9 or even 7-9 tribulation. But for the sake of the Sacred Land, no matter their previous impression of Guliang Yuan, no one chose to retreat at this moment. This was the importance of inheritance, and one of the reasons the Taishang Sacred Land had always stood firm.

Guliang Yuan was immersed in the tribulation and unaware of the situation outside. The rolling clouds had spread across an eighty-mile radius, encompassing the entire Forgetful Peak. Guliang Yuan’s expression was calm, his Qiushui sword pointing directly at the clouds as if expressing his battle intent.

RUMBLE!

A bolt of lightning shimmering with green light struck down! It was as if it traveled from afar to reach him in a blink! Guliang Yuan remained unhurried; with a flick of his Qiushui sword, he diverted the lightning elsewhere. Then, the second, third, and fourth bolts followed. Guliang Yuan held the sword with one hand, moving back and forth within the thunder, occasionally slashing, dodging with ease.

The 3-9 lightning tribulation consisted of twenty-seven bolts. Every nine bolts marked a threshold, and the power would double! With the support of the Geng Metal Sword Technique and his Great Success-level Sword Intent, even though his control over his internal magic power was still a bit raw, Guliang Yuan passed the first eighteen bolts easily. But when it came to the final nine, each was stronger than the last, putting immense pressure on him.

Just as only three bolts remained, Guliang Yuan, slightly out of breath, suddenly laughed. To the astonishment of those watching, he sheathed his Qiushui sword. Everyone recognized the Qiushui sword; it was a top-tier Heaven-grade artifact that Lü Qingmei had used in her early years. The most powerful weapon at his disposal was his Sword Intent, and the Qiushui sword was the perfect medium to amplify it. Without it, his strength would surely be weakened by thirty percent. Sheathing his sword now was clearly unwise. Did he have a hidden trump card? They weren't sure; they had to keep watching.

The Peak Masters and elders began to move their magic power, ready to intervene and rescue him. Under their gaze, Guliang Yuan’s palms moved rapidly. The fire-elemental energy of the world gathered at his movements, forming three fire dragons in the air! The three dragons bared their fangs and brandished their claws, circling behind Guliang Yuan. Each dragon possessed a pressure no less than that of an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator!

Feeling two-thirds of the powerful spiritual energy in his body being drained, Guliang Yuan frowned. If he had fully executed the Nine-Dragon Li Fire Palm, nine dragons should have appeared. It seemed that with his current strength, he wasn't yet capable of fully executing this minor divine ability. However, these three dragons were enough!

Looking at the final three bolts of divine lightning gestating in the clouds, Guliang Yuan roared and slammed his right palm toward the sky! The three fire dragons followed, accompanied by high-pitched dragon roars, and charged straight at the clouds!

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Three explosions rang out. Before the final three bolts could even fall, they were shattered by Guliang Yuan’s palm! The shockwaves from the collision of lightning and fire directly dispersed the eighty-mile-wide clouds!

The wind stopped. The clouds vanished. The waves calmed. The moon was revealed, and starlight returned to the world. If not for the broken trees and the scorched marks on the ground, one would think nothing had ever happened.

The onlookers praised him in wonder: "Our Junior Uncle is truly deep-hidden. Shaping spiritual energy into form—if my old eyes aren't mistaken, that was a minor divine ability."

"Indeed. If we had known he possessed a divine ability, we wouldn't have been worried at all."

"Breaking two realms in one day—I’ve certainly learned something new today."

"It’s a good thing the clouds dispersed, or I was worried he’d go straight into the 4-9 Deity Transformation Tribulation."

"Hahaha, I was scared too."

"With such a prodigy in our Taishang Sacred Land, the future is bright."

The group relaxed, withdrew their magic power, and gathered together. Lü Qingmei retracted the barrier and spoke seriously: "I think our Junior Uncle has grasped the essence of the Forgetful Dao. He spent three years entering the world of emotions, only to slash through them in one moment, achieving great enlightenment and stepping into the Nascent Soul realm!"

Hearing this, and combining it with the historical records of the Forgetful Peak and Guliang Yuan’s recent actions toward Meng Yao, the elders and Peak Masters suddenly realized!

What a kid. To think he was such a simp—it turns out it was all for his cultivation.

The red-haired elder looked ashamed: "So that’s it. I was so disdainful of him. Thinking back, I’ve wasted over three thousand years; my state of mind is not even as good as our Junior..."

"Hmm?"

The elders turned to look at the red-haired elder in unison, their eyes filled with warnings. Don't say it.

The red-haired elder swallowed the word "junior" and changed it to "...Junior Uncle."

Lü Qingmei added: "Now that the recruitment is approaching, the news of the Forgetful Peak’s inheritance resurfacing comes at just the right time. We need to spread it quickly. We can mention the Junior Uncle’s sudden enlightenment to the Nascent Soul realm, but the Nine-Turn Golden Core must be kept a secret at all costs. I will go to see the Junior Uncle later and explain why."

The elders nodded, having no objections. At this moment, the red-haired elder shouted again, drawing everyone’s attention: "It's... it's so damn big!"

Everyone followed his gaze and saw Guliang Yuan’s Golden Core shatter, with a Nascent Soul emerging from within. Only then did they understand what he meant. An ordinary Nascent Soul is only the size of a fist. A powerful one is the size of a baby. But Guliang Yuan’s Nascent Soul was almost as large as he was!

Generally speaking, after the Nascent Soul comes Deity Transformation. The process from Nascent Soul to Deity Transformation is the growth of the infant-like Nascent Soul into an adult-like Divine Spirit. Guliang Yuan was currently only in the early Nascent Soul stage, yet his Nascent Soul was already as large as an ordinary Divine Spirit. If he reached Deity Transformation, what would that look like?

They could only sigh; as expected of someone with the bearing of an Immortal, truly extraordinary. Lü Qingmei, however, looked at the naked, identical-looking Nascent Soul, and her expression turned slightly unusual...

Chapter 12: A Greeting Gift? What Kind of Greeting Gift!

Guliang Yuan flicked his mind, and the Nascent Soul entered his body. Feeling the surging spiritual energy within and his powerful divine sense spanning eighty miles, he was satisfied. For a cultivator, divine sense is like an extension of their limbs. Wherever the divine sense reaches, every movement is known! It also corresponds to the range at which a cultivator can manipulate magical treasures. A divine sense of eighty miles meant that from now on, Guliang Yuan could guide a flying sword eighty miles away to take a person's head. Ordinary early Nascent Soul cultivators only had a sense of about ten miles. Guliang Yuan’s was more than eight times stronger!

Just as Guliang Yuan was about to retract his divine sense, he let out a soft exclamation. As soon as he did, Lü Qingmei led the elders and Peak Masters before him. Their eyes revealed surprise; they hadn't expected him to have such a vast divine sense range immediately after reaching the Nascent Soul stage, allowing him to discover them. Of course, this was also because they hadn't deliberately hidden themselves.

Seeing them, Guliang Yuan’s guard dropped. He cleared his throat and assumed the posture of an elder: "Junior disciples, what are you doing on my Forgetful Peak in the middle of the night?"

The corners of their mouths twitched. They were all monsters who had lived for thousands of years; it had been a long time since anyone had spoken to them like that. Fine, you have seniority, you have a Nine-Turn Golden Core, you’re the best. I’ll endure it!

Lü Qingmei looked at the elders' expressions, then at the posturing Guliang Yuan, and covered her mouth to chuckle. She usually looked dignified, but now, a hint of charm appeared in her expression as she moved closer to Guliang Yuan. Her breath was like orchid fragrance, alluring but not tacky: "The Junior Uncle caused such a stir in his tribulation that we were naturally attracted."

She emphasized the word "Junior" clearly. At this moment, Lü Qingmei was only a half-step away, and Guliang Yuan could clearly smell the fragrance on her. He felt a bit dizzy, and heat rose in his belly. Looking at her breathtaking face, he subconsciously wanted to retreat. But seeing the elders watching for a show, he realized what was happening: Lü Qingmei was trying to make him embarrass himself by playing the elder.

Instead of retreating, he stepped forward, his body almost pressing against hers. Operating the Taishang Forgetful Scripture, his aura merged with the heavens and earth. Lü Qingmei’s Integration-stage pressure and charm no longer affected him in the slightest. Relying on his height of 1.9 meters, he looked down at her with a playful smile: "Why did my dear junior disciple emphasize the word 'Junior' so clearly? Let me tell you, where I am 'large,' I am truly large."

Lü Qingmei was surprised to see him completely unaffected by her charm. Although she wasn't a master of it, her cultivation was two realms higher than his. She hadn't expected Guliang Yuan to be so resistant. Feeling his body nearly against hers, she stepped back a half-step and rolled her eyes at him: "Junior Uncle, you are so unseemly. You really say anything."

Guliang Yuan looked puzzled: "I was talking about my Nascent Soul growing larger; how is that unseemly? Unless you thought I meant..."

Lü Qingmei immediately interrupted: "I thought you were talking about your age."

Guliang Yuan looked at her with a half-smile, deliberately drawing out the tone: "Oh~"

Watching Guliang Yuan—who possessed such an ethereal, immortal temperament—behave this way, the intense contrast made Lü Qingmei’s heart flutter slightly. But she quickly regained her composure. Seeing that she couldn't tease him, she returned to her Sect Master persona: "Junior..."

"We all witnessed your tribulation today. I assume you reversed the Forgetful Scripture and grasped the inheritance of the Forgetful Peak."

Seeing her confident expression, Guliang Yuan nodded. He hadn't expected her to come up with a reason for his sudden jump in cultivation for him! It was perfect!

Lü Qingmei thought as much. "I want you to keep the Nine-Turn Golden Core a secret. But I want to announce the resurgence of the Forgetful Peak’s inheritance."

Fearing he wouldn't understand, she explained: "Breaking two realms in one day or a Nine-Turn Golden Core—either one is enough to make you famous. But if both are in one person, I fear some people won't sleep well at night. Breaking two realms can be attributed to aptitude, but the Nine-Turn Golden Core is the literal bearing of an Immortal. This is for your own safety."

Guliang Yuan nodded in agreement.

Lü Qingmei continued: "The reason I’m announcing the inheritance is to help you build your reputation before the recruitment ceremony. That way, you can take in some disciples so the Forgetful Peak’s inheritance won't be broken. What do you think, Junior Uncle?"

Guliang Yuan’s eyes lit up. He had been worrying about how to take in more disciples—after all, the critical hit rate for multiple disciples would be higher than for one. He hadn't expected Lü Qingmei to arrange it all!

He nodded firmly at her: "Only with the passing of the torch can civilization endure! Whether for the Sacred Land or the Forgetful Peak, I am duty-bound to ensure the inheritance continues!"

Watching Guliang Yuan’s righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor, Lü Qingmei and the elders felt a sudden surge of respect; their impression of him had completely shifted. Just as they were about to say something sentimental, Guliang Yuan changed the subject:

"For example, I took on a disciple today, but I haven't had time to announce it. You don't know, but cultivating a disciple isn't simple. It’s not just about artifacts and cultivation methods; it requires rare materials to nurture them. Alas, my dear junior disciples, the Forgetful Peak is poor! I can barely afford one disciple, let alone several."

Lü Qingmei waved her hand: "Is it just cultivation resources? I’ll provide them!"

She looked around at the other Peak Masters and elders: "Because the Forgetful Peak is undergoing a revival, the situation is special. From now on, the Junior Uncle’s monthly allowance will be doubled. Each of our other seven peaks will contribute half a percent of our income to support the Forgetful Peak for five years, effective immediately. Everyone, what do you think?"

They looked at each other and had no objections. At their level and status, they were not short on spirit stones.

The revenue generated by the businesses under each lineage merely served to cover the operational costs of each peak. To them, this was a mere drop in the ocean, let alone a mere half percent, so there was nothing to feel pained about.

Yet, this income that they looked down upon was nothing short of a colossal fortune for Guliang Yuan at this moment.

Now, all the magical treasures and spirit stones needed to reward his disciples in the future were finally accounted for.

Though overjoyed on the inside, Guliang Yuan deliberately put on a moved expression on the outside and said, "You guys are truly... I'm crying to death."

Seeing such a united scene, Lü Qingmei suddenly felt a sense of pride welling up inside her as well.

Such unity within the Holy Land was undoubtedly inseparable from the credit of her governance.

Lü Qingmei looked at Guliang Yuan again and said, "Logically speaking, an apprenticeship ceremony ought to be held for Grand Uncle-Master's eldest disciple. I wonder if Grand Uncle-Master..."

Before Lü Qingmei could finish her sentence, Guliang Yuan suddenly shouted sharply, "Shut your mouth! What kind of welcome gift could you possibly want?!"

"As a Grand Uncle-Master myself, I am already deeply ashamed just taking things from you lot! And now you still want to give a welcome gift to the little junior sister? Isn't this just trying to shame me to death!"

Lü Qingmei was somewhat stunned by Guliang Yuan's sudden outburst...

Did I say anything about a welcome gift?