Visiting Fire Maple Mountain

Cloud Dwelling Hall.

"This is a Storage Ring. I've placed your True Disciple robes and jade pendant inside it."

Li Zhōujūn took out a Storage Ring and handed it to Sū Nán.

Sū Nán looked at the ring in her hand, and her little face immediately turned bitter. "No way, Master. I don't have any cultivation or Spiritual Sense—I can't take anything out of it!"

"What are you panicking for? As my disciple, of course I can ensure that your first cultivation session lets you break through to Qi Refining Layer One and awaken your Spiritual Sense." Li Zhōujūn said proudly.

With that—

Li Zhōujūn raised a finger and tapped Sū Nán between the brows, transmitting the Profound Nether Heart Sutra into her mind.

At that moment, Sū Nán only felt her head go blank. Then, a cultivation technique called the Profound Nether Heart Sutra appeared in her mind.

"This technique is, without question, one of the finest techniques in the world today. It complements your Saint-grade Ice Spirit Root perfectly," Li Zhōujūn said with a smile.

"Thank you, Master!" Sū Nán said excitedly to Li Zhōujūn.

Li Zhōujūn waved a hand. "You silly girl, why be so polite with your master? As they say, a teacher for a day, a father for life. I count as your father too, so there's no need to be so formal."

Sū Nán: "..."

At the same time, Li Zhōujūn fished out the top-grade Qi Condensing Pill rewarded by the system and handed it to Sū Nán. "When you cultivate according to the technique later, take this pill. Together with all those nourishing things you ate yesterday, it'll be enough to break through Qi Refining Layer One."

"Thank you, Master!" After accepting the pill from Li Zhōujūn, Sū Nán asked curiously, "Master, what if I don't break through Qi Refining Layer One today?"

"If you don't break through Qi Refining Layer One..."

Li Zhōujūn rubbed his chin. "Then you simply haven't been nourished enough. I'll prepare some more highly nourishing things for you."

At those words, Sū Nán's little face changed color at once. "Rest assured, Master—I'll definitely break through Qi Refining Layer One today!"

"Good, good. As expected of this Mountain Lord's disciple—full of lofty ambition," Li Zhōujūn said, nodding in satisfaction.

Sū Nán was on the verge of tears. What lofty ambition? I don't have any damn lofty ambition!

Wasn't I forced into this by you, Master?!

I pass out every time I eat that stuff—who can withstand that?!

"Alright, begin your first cultivation here. Your master will stand guard for you." Li Zhōujūn pointed at the meditation cushion nearby and smiled.

"Alright." Sū Nán nodded. She then sat cross-legged on the cushion, swallowed the top-grade Qi Condensing Pill, closed her eyes, and began cultivating according to the Profound Nether Heart Sutra.

In less than half the time it took an incense stick to burn—

The Spiritual Qi around Sū Nán, seated on the cushion, had initially been invisible to the naked eye. Now it gathered together, swirling like clouds and mist, making Sū Nán seem like an immortal exiled from the heavens and fallen into the mortal world.

Seeing this, Li Zhōujūn nodded. "This little girl truly deserves her Saint-grade Ice Spirit Root. With such a commotion, once she develops Qi sense, she'll probably be far beyond Qi Refining Layer One."

Finally, two hours later—

Sū Nán slowly opened her eyes, and the Spiritual Qi swirling around her gradually dispersed as well.

What a wondrous feeling!

After opening her eyes, Sū Nán could clearly sense a warm energy gathered within her Dantian. This must be the spiritual power cultivators condensed within their bodies, right?

And that was not all.

Sū Nán also discovered that, compared to two hours ago, her body seemed much lighter, and she had grown considerably stronger.

"Not bad. In your very first cultivation session, you broke through to Qi Refining Layer Three."

At that moment, Li Zhōujūn slowly spoke.

"It's all because Master taught me so well!" Sū Nán replied with a sweet smile.

Looking at the little girl's expression, Li Zhōujūn rubbed her head. He smiled indulgently before saying, "Alright, stabilize your cultivation here. Your master has some matters to attend to outside."

If you can't find it by searching the book title, try searching for the author instead. It may simply have been renamed!

The matter Li Zhōujūn spoke of was the task issued by the system: find Fire Maple Mountain Lord Liǔ Yán, have a chat about life, and exchange a few moves.

"Alright, Master. Go without worry," Sū Nán said obediently, nodding.

"Mm." Li Zhōujūn answered, and his figure abruptly vanished from where he stood.

When he appeared again, he was already at the foot of Fire Maple Mountain.

The moment Li Zhōujūn arrived, he noticed that even at the foot of Fire Maple Mountain, the temperature was frighteningly high.

He then surveyed Fire Maple Mountain. Everywhere he looked, there were crimson-red maple leaves.

At the same time—

The Inner Disciples on duty at the entrance to Fire Maple Mountain today—simply put, the gatekeeping disciples—also noticed Li Zhōujūn.

"Who is that senior?"

"No idea, but if he can appear here out of thin air, he must at least be in the Nascent Soul Realm."

"Are you all blind? Didn't you see the Mountain Lord jade token hanging at Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord's waist?"

"What? Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord? That good-for-nothing?"

"You idiot. You spend all day cooped up in your room playing cards, and now you've turned stupid, haven't you? Let me tell you—in the day before yesterday, Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord defeated Murong Mountain Lord, whom even our Mountain Lord couldn't defeat."

"What? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! You're lying to me, aren't you?"

"I'm not lying to you. The Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord really is an incomparably powerful expert. We were all deceived by the Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord's disguise before."

"Pfft, then what are we still standing here chatting for? Hurry and pay our respects to the Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord!"

After the gatekeeping disciples of Fire Maple Mountain came to their senses, they hurriedly bowed to Li Zhōujūn. "Greetings, Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord!"

"No need for such formality," Li Zhōujūn said with a smile.

In truth, every word of the disciples' earlier conversation had fallen clearly into Li Zhōujūn's ears.

But as a mountain lord, he could hardly stoop to arguing with a few gatekeeping disciples.

"Please trouble yourselves to inform your mountain lord that the Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord has come to visit," Li Zhōujūn said with a smile.

"This disciple will report it at once," one of the gatekeeping disciples said respectfully to Li Zhōujūn.

"Thank you," Li Zhōujūn said with a smile.

Afterward, he stood beside Fire Maple Mountain's gate with a genial smile, making the other gatekeeping disciples break out in cold sweat.

Fire Maple Mountain.

Fire Maple Hall.

At that moment, Liǔ Yán was teaching cultivation knowledge to Yè Yǔ, the True Disciple he had recently accepted.

Suddenly, the voice of the gatekeeping disciple who had rushed over sounded from outside the hall. "Mountain Lord, the Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord has come to visit!"

The moment Liǔ Yán heard this, his expression changed sharply.

That old sixth Li had really come knocking, intending to settle accounts after the autumn harvest!

At that thought, Liǔ Yán began to panic.

Back then, Murong Xue had beaten him until he had no power to fight back, yet Murong Xue had lost to Li Zhōujūn.

Didn't that basically mean he was no match for Li Zhōujūn?

Thinking this, Liǔ Yán hurriedly instructed the gatekeeping disciple waiting outside the hall, "Go tell the Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord that I am currently—"

"Oh, Mountain Lord Liǔ, the sun at the foot of the mountain was too harsh, so I came up on my own. You won't blame me for that, will you?"

Suddenly, Li Zhōujūn's voice rang out from outside the hall, cutting Liǔ Yán off.

Then Li Zhōujūn, dressed in azure robes and wearing a refined, easygoing smile, walked into Fire Maple Hall.

The instant Liǔ Yán saw Li Zhōujūn's smiling face, his mind went blank. Damn it, that old sixth has come up here. I'm screwed...