Five Years!

Tian Buyi's acceptance of Bai Ye as a true disciple was not publicized within the Qingyun Sect. Only those of Dazhu Peak knew about it.

After learning the news, Song Daren and the others were quite delighted and held a small celebration for Bai Ye.

Bai Ye did not refuse.

The senior brothers of Dazhu Peak were all kind-hearted people. Though their talents were not outstanding, their character was good.

And so, time slowly passed.

Bai Ye's cultivation returned to its proper course.

Other than Tian Buyi occasionally coming to check on him and offer guidance, there were no great disturbances.

Tian Buyi did not interfere too much with Bai Ye's cultivation.

He knew very well that Bai Ye's talent for cultivation was terrifying. Since he could master the Divine Sword Lightning Control True Art in a single day, there was little Tian Buyi could teach him.

All he could do was guide him onto the right path and keep him from going astray.

Time galloped by like a whipped steed, while the sun and moon flowed away like falling blossoms.

Five years passed in the blink of an eye.

Over those five years, Bai Ye continued checking in and cultivating.

Though he did travel to other places from time to time, he spent most of his days at Dazhu Peak.

As for cultivation, things remained much as before.

Through the endless nights, wine was his only companion.

Before long, many Qingyun Sect disciples learned of it.

There was a disciple at Dazhu Peak who spent every day with wine by his side.

This disciple drank all day long and was nearly always dead drunk, yet he received no punishment whatsoever. Many disciples reported him to the Qingyun Sect's leader.

Yet every report vanished without a trace.

Because this disciple had become a direct disciple of Dazhu Peak and the successor to its next peak master.

The news truly enraged many disciples from the other main branches.

A disciple who drank and made merry all day without any ambition could actually become Dazhu Peak's direct disciple—and even its future peak master?!

How could they remain calm?!

To investigate the matter, Qingyun Sect Leader Dao Xuan directly summoned Tian Buyi and Bai Ye to question them.

Tian Buyi offered little explanation.

He merely confirmed it before countless disciples and head seats.

Bai Ye was his direct disciple and would become the future peak master of Dazhu Peak.

In an instant, countless Qingyun Sect disciples became furious. As they looked at that handsome young man reeking of alcohol, they wished they could swallow him whole.

Countless disciples voiced their dissatisfaction and demanded to challenge Bai Ye.

They believed that such a disciple was utterly unworthy of becoming Dazhu Peak's future head seat. He was so undisciplined that he disgraced Qingyun, and some even demanded that he be expelled from the Qingyun Sect.

Among them, Cang Song Head Seat of Longshou Peak was the most enraged. He nearly came into conflict with Tian Buyi.

The two were at daggers drawn, as though they might settle the matter by force at any moment.

Seeing this,

Sect Leader Dao Xuan directly rebuked them, then punished both sides equally.

He also hinted to Tian Buyi that the position of next head seat required careful consideration.

However, Tian Buyi did not yield because of this.

Even Sect Leader Daoxuan could do nothing about it. Within the Qingyun Sect, the head seats of every branch held great authority. Even the sect leader could not interfere too deeply in each branch's line of succession.

In the end, the matter was dropped.

Bai Ye successfully gained the attention of every branch's head seat, as well as the fury of countless Qingyun Sect disciples.

Yet Bai Ye did not take it to heart and continued living as he pleased.

He still drank and ate meat every day, living as freely as could be.

Sometimes, when he became too drunk, he would even stumble into the central square and make a drunken scene.

Many disciples could not stand the sight of it and attacked him, only to discover that even their full-strength assaults could not defeat this drunken disciple. Whenever danger came, he was always barely able to block it.

Since Bai Ye was tall and handsome, always carrying a wine gourd and reeking of alcohol,

many people eventually began calling him the Drunken Sword Immortal.

Bai Ye was not angered by the teasing title. Instead, he burst into laughter and composed a poem.

With sword in hand, I stand atop the mortal world; with wine, I stride into the azure sky. I roam among stars, toy with constellations, and mock the sun and moon; drunk upon the clouds, I laugh at mankind.

Dazhu Peak.

At this moment, Tian Buyi and Su Ru looked with great satisfaction at the disciple before them, who was overflowing with drunkenness.

"Good! Very good!"

"In just five years, Little Ye, you have not only cultivated the Divine Sword Lightning Control True Art to mastery, but your strength has not lagged behind either. Looking across Qingyun's younger generation, you are already invincible."

Su Ru was also very pleased as she looked at the disciple before her, dressed in white as snow yet steeped in the scent of wine.

"Hahaha!"

"Martial Mother, I am the Drunken Sword Immortal—the disgrace of the Qingyun Sect, cursed by everyone."

Bai Ye's face flushed slightly. He lifted his wine gourd, poured down a mouthful of wine, then flopped onto a huge boulder in an utterly carefree manner.

Tian Buyi and Su Ru did not mind his lax manner. Instead, they were immensely satisfied.

Bai Ye's talent was truly terrifying.

In only five short years, his strength had grown incomparably powerful. He appeared to drink and enjoy himself every day, yet his cultivation advanced at a startling pace without falling behind in the slightest.

By now, even they no longer knew the extent of Bai Ye's true strength.

They only knew that he was very powerful. Among the younger generation, perhaps no one could match him.

As for that teasing title, only the two of them truly understood that perhaps one day, it would become real.

The name Drunken Sword Immortal would one day become reality.

"Father, Mother, I'm back!"

Just then, a light and lively girl's voice rang out.

A young little girl skipped over to the three of them. Her cheeks were plump and rosy, and she was utterly adorable.

"Hmph! You drunken madman, you drink every day, and you act like this even in front of my father and mother. You're awful!"

"I really don't know why Father and Mother spoil you so much. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were their illegitimate son!"

Tian Ling'er wrinkled her delicate nose as she looked at the wine-scented, utterly carefree Bai Ye, her expression indignant.

"Hahaha!"

"Little Ling'er, you used to love following me around every day. Now that you've grown up, you actually speak of me like this. I'm truly disappointed."

Bai Ye laughed as he looked at Tian Ling'er.

Tian Ling'er's face reddened at once. Her little face was embarrassed and angry as she pointed at Bai Ye. "You're not allowed to bring that up again."

"You've become less lovable the older you get!"

Bai Ye shook his head, looking deeply disappointed.

"Ling'er, you must not treat your Senior Brother Bai Ye this way." Su Ru looked directly at Tian Ling'er. "You will understand your senior brother's circumstances in the future."

"And didn't you go to Xiaozhu Peak? Why are you back already?"

Only then did Little Ling'er come back to her senses. She said joyfully, "Mother, Xiaozhu Peak accepted a disciple a few days ago. I heard her talent is extraordinary, and Senior Shui Yue intends to take her as a direct disciple."

At those words, Tian Buyi and Su Ru's expressions shifted slightly.

Anyone whom Shui Yue would accept as a direct disciple was clearly exceptionally talented.

"She's much better than Dazhu Peak's direct disciple, at least. She isn't someone who drinks all day."

"Father, Mother, Senior Shui Yue asked us to attend the ceremony."

Tian Ling'er made a face at Bai Ye before speaking to Tian Buyi and Su Ru.

"Senior Sister Shui Yue has accepted a direct disciple?"

"Very well. In that case, I'll take you to have a look in a few days. Little Ye, you should come as well. It's not good for you to stay at Dazhu Peak all day."

"It would be good to meet the new junior brother or junior sister. They may become powerful allies for you in the future."

Su Ru smiled at Tian Ling'er and Bai Ye.

"Huh?! This drunkard senior brother is going too?" Tian Ling'er pouted unhappily upon hearing Mother's words.

But a glimmer flashed through Bai Ye's eyes, and he agreed as well.

Xiaozhu Peak's genius disciple?

There could only be that person.