One day, a disciple from Big Bamboo Peak arrived at Morning Sun Peak, swaggering with pride and bearing several exquisitely crafted invitations.
The invitations were for the outstanding disciples of each branch, inviting them to Big Bamboo Peak to attend the coming-of-age ceremony of Tian Buyi's daughter, Tian Ling'er.
Anyone with eyes could see what this was about.
What kind of coming-of-age ceremony was this? It was plainly Tian Buyi holding a disguised "husband-selection gathering" for his exceptionally gifted daughter.
He wanted to announce to the entire Green Cloud Sect that his daughter, Tian Buyi's daughter, deserved a man among dragons and phoenixes—a pillar of the future.
Several of Morning Sun Peak's more accomplished disciples, including Chu Yuhong, received invitations.
Even Shen Tiandou, who had just been defeated and thoroughly humiliated, received one.
Only the newly appointed senior brother—and Tian Ling'er's former fiancé—Li Xiaoyu was "forgotten."
The meaning behind this was obvious.
It was a humiliating provocation from Big Bamboo Peak.
As if to say: Even if you're a returned genius, even if you've become Morning Sun Peak's senior brother, we at Big Bamboo Peak still don't think you're worth our notice!
You're not worthy!
As soon as word got out, Morning Sun Peak erupted in heated discussion.
"This is too much! Tian Buyi has gone too far!"
Holding the invitation, Chu Yuhong flushed with anger and was the first to stand up for Li Xiaoyu.
"Our senior brother has made a stunning comeback, and his future is limitless. What gives them the right to humiliate him like this?"
"Exactly! Breaking off the engagement was one thing, but now they're pulling this stunt too. What a despicable move!"
Many of the disciples who had recently come to admire Li Xiaoyu chimed in, voicing their contempt for Big Bamboo Peak's behavior.
Of course, not everyone was on his side.
A few disciples led by Shen Tiandou took pleasure in the situation from the sidelines.
"Hmph, so what if he's senior brother? In Big Bamboo Peak's eyes, he's still nothing but a discarded nobody."
"Exactly. Junior Sister Tian is already at the fourth layer of the Jade Purity Realm, and they say she'll soon break through to the fifth. She's also highly favored by Senior Brother Qi Hao of Dragon Head Peak. How can Li Xiaoyu possibly compare?"
All kinds of gossip reached Li Xiaoyu's ears.
Everyone assumed that after suffering such a humiliating disgrace, the newly appointed senior brother would fly into a rage and perhaps even do something rash.
But to their utter astonishment, Li Xiaoyu barely reacted.
He was frighteningly calm.
When Chu Yuhong, fuming with indignation, told him what had happened, Li Xiaoyu was in his little courtyard, wholly absorbed in sword practice.
The Autumn Water Sword in his hand flashed like a streak of light. Its sword momentum flowed without end, imbued with the rhythm of the Dao.
As he listened to Chu Yuhong, his moves never faltered, and even the rhythm of his breathing remained steady.
Only after completing the entire sword form did he slowly lower his sword and stand at ease.
He looked at the fuming Chu Yuhong and smiled.
"Let him be strong as he will; the breeze brushes the mountain ridge. Let him be fierce as he will; the bright moon shines on the great river."
"Old Chu, why let your peace of mind be disturbed by people who have nothing to do with you?"
Chu Yuhong stared at him in disbelief. "Old Li, you're not even angry?"
"Why should I be?"
Li Xiaoyu countered. "A past I've long since severed ties with, a spectacle that has nothing to do with me—it's no more than wind passing my ears or clouds drifting past my eyes. How could it leave even the slightest mark on my heart?"
His tone was so calm, so detached.
As Chu Yuhong gazed into Li Xiaoyu's tranquil eyes, he found himself entranced.
While they were still raging over worldly face and dignity, their senior brother's heart had already risen above such things, focused solely on his own Dao.
That was the heart of a true powerhouse!
"Old Li, I understand now."
Li Xiaoyu smiled and said nothing more.
He truly didn't care.
Because he knew that the best response was never words, but strength.
When the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament arrived, he would make everyone who looked down on him pay for their foolishness today.
Shang Zhengliang had naturally heard about it too.
In his study, he was so furious that he smashed a teacup he had cherished.
"Tian Buyi! You short, fat liar! You've gone too far!"
He roared, itching to storm over to Big Bamboo Peak and give his old rival a piece of his mind.
But in the end, he held himself back.
He knew that going over now would only make a bigger mess of things and put him at a disadvantage.
He went to Li Xiaoyu's courtyard and quietly peeked inside.
When he saw his disciple still practicing his sword with a placid heart, unmoved by the outside world, the anger in him miraculously faded as well.
All that remained was pride.
"Good child. Such a fine temperament."
Shang Zhengliang nodded silently. "With a heart like that, what great undertaking could you fail to accomplish?"
He slipped away, already making plans for Li Xiaoyu's next step.
The day before Tian Ling'er's coming-of-age ceremony, all of Green Cloud Mountain grew lively.
Disciples from every branch took to their swords and flew toward Big Bamboo Peak, ready to attend the grand celebration.
Morning Sun Peak was no exception.
Before leaving, Chu Yuhong and the others made a point of coming to bid Li Xiaoyu farewell, their faces awkward and sympathetic.
Li Xiaoyu simply smiled and reminded them to drink in moderation and not embarrass Morning Sun Peak in front of the other branches.
His calm composure only earned him even greater admiration from Chu Yuhong and the others.
Amid all the excitement, Shang Zhengliang summoned Li Xiaoyu alone to a cliff at the back of the mountain.
Clouds churned below, and mountain winds howled. It was the very place where Li Xiaoyu's engagement had been broken off.
"Xiaoyu, I know you've risen above worldly matters and don't care about such things."
Shang Zhengliang gazed at the distant sea of clouds and spoke slowly.
"But out of sight, out of mind. Tomorrow, Big Bamboo Peak will be packed with guests. If you stay on the mountain, people are bound to gossip, and it may disturb your cultivation."
"After giving it a lot of thought, I've decided to arrange somewhere else for you to go."
Li Xiaoyu's heart stirred. He bowed respectfully. "I'll follow your arrangements, Master."
Shang Zhengliang studied him, a testing look in his eyes.
"You've now entered the Object-Driving Realm. According to the sect's rules, it's time for you to go down the mountain and gain experience."
"True powerhouses aren't forged through seclusion under the sect's protection. They're tempered in the blood and fire of the mortal world."
He took a letter and a map from inside his robes.
"Half a month ago, a small city on the frontier of the Central Lands, called Nameless, sent a plea for help to the Green Cloud Sect."
"The letter says demonic creatures have been causing trouble in the city lately. At first, it was only livestock going missing, but in recent days, people have begun disappearing as well. The whole city is in a panic."
"Our sect sent two outer disciples at the third layer of the Jade Purity Realm to investigate. Neither returned, and we've heard nothing from them."
Shang Zhengliang's tone grew grave.
"This matter is likely more complicated than it appears. That creature is at least at the middle levels of the Jade Purity Realm, perhaps even higher."
"I'm officially assigning this mission to you."
He handed Li Xiaoyu the letter and the map.
Before you continue