Main Peak, dawn was just breaking.
Jiang Lishan sat cross-legged on a cattail mat. With every breath, he seemed faintly connected to the aura of the entire Main Peak's earth vein, each pulse stirring tides of Yuan Qi within the hall.
This was the Grandmaster realm: heaven and man resonating, one's body merged with the earth vein.
He was refining his own Martial Dao Golden Core, which had already reached perfection.
The Golden Core slowly rotated within the dantian Qi Sea. Nine profound patterns flowed endlessly across its surface. With every revolution, it absorbed an immense amount of Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi and fed it back into him, making his aura ever more unfathomable.
Suddenly, faint footsteps sounded outside the quiet room. "Master, Vein Master Li requests an audience."
Jiang Lishan slowly opened his eyes.
He did not answer at once. Instead, he gradually calmed the surging aura around him.
"Have her wait in the side hall for a moment."
"Yes!" Luo Ping answered and withdrew.
Jiang Lishan remained seated on the cattail mat, meditating and regulating his breath for roughly the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Only once the true essence within him had become completely smooth and unobstructed did he rise and push open the door.
The side hall lay on the east side of the main hall. It was somewhat smaller and more simply furnished, generally used for the Sect Leader's private meetings with the peak and vein masters or for handling sect affairs not meant for public knowledge.
When Jiang Lishan entered the side hall, Li Yujun was already waiting quietly.
Upon seeing Jiang Lishan enter, she stepped forward two paces and clasped her fists in salute. "Sect Leader."
"Junior Sister Li, no need for such courtesy."
Jiang Lishan raised a