Master and Disciple

For three straight days, Li Jiusheng did nothing but cultivate continuously.

He was extremely diligent, cherishing the final opportunity life had granted him.

The next day.

Dawn broke, distant mountains layered one upon another. In the forest, dew moistened everything, mist curled gently, and the waterfall crashed down relentlessly, sending up great clouds of spray that surrounded the Scripture Repository Pavilion, making the place seem like a celestial realm.

Li Jiusheng wore a purple Daoist robe, his white hair flowing behind him, soft and elegant. He sat cross-legged in a corner of the Scripture Repository Pavilion, continuously absorbing spiritual energy, circulating the Grass and Wood Sword Technique, channeling it through his entire body to nourish his flesh, bones, and marrow.

The spiritual energy entered his body, passed through his extraordinary meridians, flowed through his limbs and hundreds of bones, nourishing Li Jiusheng's aged frame and helping him complete the cultivation of the Houtian Realm.

For these three days, Li Jiusheng did only one thing.

Muscle Tempering, Bone Tempering, Marrow Tempering.

The three barriers of the Houtian Realm—Li Jiusheng had walked this path for decades and knew it better than anyone, understanding exactly how to temper, refine, and strengthen.

Finally, the energy gathered in his Dantian, completing a full Heavenly Cycle and becoming Li Jiusheng's own power.

Over these three days, his cultivation had returned to the peak of the Houtian Realm, more vibrant than ever before, infinitely close to the Innate Realm.

Li Jiusheng opened his eyes and saw the dawn breaking, the first ray of sunlight piercing through thousands of mountains and valleys. Layers of white mist intertwined, shrouding the dark green peaks like brows, just as he had shed his old appearance and welcomed new life.

Then he exhaled a mouthful of turbid qi, which directly transformed into a sword energy. With a clang, it shot straight ahead, crossing ten zhang before slowly dissipating.

"My body has shed its decay and decrepitude. If this continues, longevity is within reach." Li Jiusheng felt the vitality in his body and was very satisfied.

Now, the wrinkles on his face had faded, and his bearing was like an evergreen pine. Compared to three days ago, he was reborn.

These three days, Li Jiusheng hadn't read any books or rushed to comprehend the methods and truths within them. Instead, he settled down, bit by bit forging his body and solidifying his cultivation foundation.

Only with a solid foundation could one go further.

"The Grass and Wood Sword Technique and the Innate Sword Body are truly formidable. Three days of cultivation have matched decades of past effort, and I've even gone a step further. I'm not far from the Innate Realm now." Li Jiusheng rose to his full height, standing at a corner of the octagonal Scripture Repository Pavilion, gazing at the mountains and rivers, deeply moved.

"Congratulations, Uncle-Master! Congratulations, Uncle-Master! Withered Wood Meets Spring—you're sure to go even further!"

At that moment, a crisp, cheerful voice came from the entrance of the Scripture Repository Pavilion, drawing Li Jiusheng's attention. He turned his head and saw a proper young man in white robes, his face still youthful, waving his hands and jumping for joy. A smile naturally spread across Li Jiusheng's face.

The youth was his grand-nephew in the sect, named Yu Chaoyang. He had spent a few years by Li Jiusheng's side as a child, but as he grew older and Li Jiusheng could no longer teach him much, he had returned to his own Master's side to cultivate.

Thump, thump, thump.

Yu Chaoyang quickly ran into the Scripture Repository Pavilion. Seeing Li Jiusheng, he bowed with a beaming smile: "Uncle-Master, it's been years, and you've found a second spring! Your cultivation has also improved—this is wonderful!"

Li Jiusheng looked at his only junior and smiled: "What brings you to my place? Did your Master actually let you out?"

Yu Chaoyang's Master was Li Jiusheng's junior brother, a famous cultivation prodigy of Shangqing Palace. He had joined the sect very late, when the old Daoist's health was already failing, so Yu Chaoyang had been raised by Li Jiusheng as a child and held great respect for him. When he himself took a disciple, he followed his own Master's example and entrusted the boy to Li Jiusheng for a few years.

Unlike Li Jiusheng, Yu Chaoyang's Master, Li Qingshan, had extraordinary talent—breaking through the Houtian Realm in three months, the Innate Realm in eight, and reaching the Grandmaster Realm in three years, comparable to Li Tianxian in her time.

But this time, Shangqing Palace's higher-ups had learned their lesson. They no longer made a big show of it, carefully protecting Li Qingshan and regarding him as the hope of Shangqing Palace's revival.

Yu Chaoyang affectionately helped Li Jiusheng sit down in the tea room, then smoothly brewed and poured tea. He offered the first cup to Li Jiusheng before grinning: "Uncle-Master, I've already broken through to the Grandmaster Realm. My Master has allowed me to go down the mountain for training. I've come to say goodbye."

Li Jiusheng looked at Yu Chaoyang, who was only seventeen, and said in surprise: "You broke through to Grandmaster so quickly?"

Houtian, Innate, Grandmaster.

These first three cultivation realms—for ordinary people, climbing them could take a lifetime. Yet Yu Chaoyang had reached Grandmaster at seventeen.

"I still didn't break Li Tianxian's record. She reached Grandmaster at sixteen. I was only a few months behind." Yu Chaoyang said regretfully.

Li Jiusheng admonished him: "Cultivation isn't a short-term race. It's about who lives longer and goes further. When you go out this time, keep your wits about you."

Yu Chaoyang said proudly: "Uncle-Master, don't worry. I'll make a big name for myself out there, and I'll bring back a niece-in-law for you!"

Li Jiusheng chuckled and said: "Alright, if you have the skill, go and steal away the Saintess of the Thousand Year Holy Land. Then I'll preside over your wedding."

Yu Chaoyang said firmly: "Deal, Uncle-Master. Just wait. I'm off now. Take good care of yourself."

Li Jiusheng stood up to see Yu Chaoyang off. The youth was eager to leave, leaping and darting through the forest, quickly vanishing from sight.

Li Jiusheng watched until he could no longer see his figure, then turned back to the Scripture Repository Pavilion.

But to his surprise, when he turned, he saw a black-robed Daoist, his face like polished jade, his aura ethereal. Though he stood right before him, Li Jiusheng felt as if he were a celestial being among the clouds, not of the mortal world.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother, for comprehending the essence of the Evergreen Technique. Withered Wood Meets Spring and blooms again." The black-robed Daoist said with a faint smile.

The black-robed Daoist was Li Jiusheng's junior brother, Li Qingshan. He was an orphan, raised by the kindness of many, and had no name when he joined the sect. Li Jiusheng had given him the name Li Qingshan, meaning to be as solid and long-lived as a green mountain.

He believed Li Jiusheng's renewal came from understanding the essence of the Evergreen Technique. Li Jiusheng didn't explain, saying instead: "You've been in seclusion for five years now, haven't you? Coming out now—are you reluctant to part with your disciple?"

"Yu Chaoyang has grown up. He has his own path, and I can't stop him, so I'll let him go. The main reason I came out of seclusion was to see you, Senior Brother." Li Qingshan said.

"Let's talk inside." Li Jiusheng invited Li Qingshan into the room, poured a cup of the tea Yu Chaoyang had brewed, and handed it to him.

Li Qingshan sat directly on the bed, took a light sip of tea, and nodded: "The outside world is full of noise and chaos, too many distractions that disturb the mind. It's much quieter here at your place, Senior Brother."

Li Jiusheng noticed the worry between Li Qingshan's brows and asked: "What's happened?"

Li Qingshan set down his teacup and said: "Senior Brother, I'm about to take over as Sect Master of Shangqing Palace."

Li Jiusheng frowned. His first feeling wasn't joy, but confusion: "The Sect Master is the face of the sect. You'd have to constantly appear in public, handle all kinds of trivial matters—it's a huge hindrance to cultivation. The elders shouldn't have asked you to take this role."

It would impede Li Qingshan's cultivation. In the past, Shangqing Palace's elders had never interfered with Li Qingshan, precisely because they didn't want to hinder his training. Why now?

Li Qingshan's face darkened: "A few days ago, a disciple of Emperor Wu of Zhou from the Luochuan Sect killed our Shangqing Palace's Sect Master. He openly declared that Shangqing Palace has no capable people and doesn't deserve to occupy this Blessed Land. He gave us one month to move out and cede this place to Emperor Wu of Zhou as his Daoist sanctuary."

Li Jiusheng's brows shot up in anger, and he roared: "This is too much!"