Eyeing My Dao Peak?

Trouble stirred once more in the Outer Academy.

"Hmph, what genius? A dead genius is no genius."

"I knew it! This time, I made it into the top thousand, hahaha! The Grand Tournament is only half a year away—I'll definitely enter the Inner Academy!"

"Hey, the spiritual energy in the Outer Academy is countless times thinner than in the Inner Academy. I was once fortunate enough to deliver a message to a senior brother there. Calling the place a true Immortal Practitioner secret realm, a Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land, would not be an exaggeration."

"I never knew Heaven-grade Aptitude was that formidable before. Now I finally understand what a genius is."

"I'm convinced. By the time of the Grand Tournament, some of those new disciples at the front of their batch will probably enter this year's Outer Academy Grand Tournament."

"What are you talking about? Didn't they say one had to be at least in the Purple Mansion Realm to participate? I admit they're freakish geniuses, but reaching the Purple Mansion Realm in a year—

Even that Dao Child of the Grand Heaven Dao Sect, rumored to be the reincarnation of an Immortal god, took one year and three months to do it."

"No matter how good their aptitude is, can it surpass the innate aptitude of an Immortal god?"

"Exactly. Concern breeds confusion. This Outer Academy Grand Tournament will surely be for the old disciples. The other disciples should honestly wait for the next one."

Lu Qing continued to improve his cultivation and study formations in his daily routine, neglecting neither.

He did not cultivate day and night without pause. Occasionally, he gave himself time to relax.

The messages left through Jade Slips had become his recent amusement.

They were also his feelers for receiving news from the outside.

Having read these messages, he quickly grasped the current situation in the Outer Academy.

Lu Qing remained calm—very calm. He had never expected the sort of protagonist tale where one formed a Golden Core in a year and became an Immortal in three. At most, he hoped to live as long as heaven and earth, enjoying Longevity without aging.

Though he kept an extremely low profile and did not seek fame, that depended on whom he was compared with. Anyone evaluated as possessing Superior Aptitude was, to disciples with poor aptitude, someone with hope of walking the Immortal Path in the future.

And now, because a batch of disciples had fallen, quite a few Dao Peaks nearby had been left vacant.

Lu Qing had not expected anyone to set their sights on his Dao Peak.

Qian Wanan rode the sect's cheapest White Crane spirit beast to the Mission Hall.

He had joined the sect decades ago. Even though he diligently completed missions day after day, he remained only at the Middle Qi Nourishment Realm.

So he wanted to find another Dao Peak to use as his cultivation grounds.

He did not dare set his sights on the Grotto-Heavens, Dao Peaks, and excellent cultivation grounds left behind by the fallen senior brothers.

After looking around, he had taken a liking to Cloudmist Peak. Clouds and mist coiled around it, and when he reached its foot, he discovered that its spiritual energy seemed somewhat denser than that of the surrounding Dao Peaks.

Thus, he hurried to find his cousin. His cousin worked in the Outer Academy Mission Hall. Matters such as Dao Peak registration were overseen by elders, but the specific task arrangements were naturally assigned to disciples.

It counted as a cushy position. Without connections, background, or strength, one might not even have the chance to obtain it.

He wanted to see whether this Dao Peak had an owner.

"Cousin, I've taken a liking to a Dao Peak. Help me see whether anyone lives there."

Qian Wanan explained why he had come.

His cousin gave a soft oh and said irritably, "Those good places were occupied long ago. Even your cousin here can't occupy one, so stop dreaming about it."

Qian Wanan shook his head and fawned, "Cousin, you know me. I know my own limits. Why would I touch those scorching-hot places?"

Only then did his cousin nod. "I'll take a look for you. Where is it?"

"Near a Spirit Plant Garden."

His cousin took out a Jade Slip. Mist swirled within it, and an all-encompassing three-dimensional scene appeared before them, so lifelike that it felt as though they were standing there in person.

"This one." Qian Wanan pointed at the Dao Peak in delight.

"It has an owner. The other party is a disciple who entered half a year ago, named Lu Qing—a genius with Superior Aptitude."

With a push of his palm, information registering countless densely packed Dao Peaks filled their view.

"Ah, this..."

Qian Wanan had originally thought that a place as remote as the Outer Academy could not possibly offend anyone important.

It would have been fine if the other party were a newly admitted disciple, but Superior Aptitude...

"Cousin, could he be...?"

Qian Wanan asked tentatively, worried that this Superior Aptitude genius might have a powerful backer as well.

His cousin's expression turned strange for a moment. "I haven't heard that he took a master."

"But a Superior Aptitude genius cannot be underestimated."

Qian Wanan still did not want to give up.

"How about this? I'll go with you."

And so, it became the scene Lu Qing saw.

The Calamity Avoidance Talent in his mind had not activated, so there was presumably no danger to his life.

"Who are you?"

A voice pierced through the clouds and mist.

Before either of them could speak, it had already reached their ears.

"Junior Brother, we came to discuss exchanging Dao Peaks."

Upon hearing those words, Lu Qing's expression became somewhat subtle.

Exchange Dao Peaks?

His place had neither a Spirit Vein nor any valuable treasures.

What was there to exchange for?

However, one of them was also in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Lu Qing extended his Divine Consciousness and found that the other's cultivation was not unfathomably deep. He was only roughly one or two minor realms above Lu Qing.

After cultivating bitterly on the Dao Peak, Lu Qing's cultivation had now reached Foundation Establishment Third Layer.

Compared with when it had first been born, his Divine Consciousness had expanded several times over. Enveloping his entire Dao Peak was no problem at all.

But he would not touch places far from his Dao Peak.

This was sect territory. There was a Guardian Formation linking heaven and earth, with a layer of membrane above and below. If ordinary Divine Consciousness touched it, it would be like tofu crashing into a wall—impossible to maintain.

That was also why, after Foundation Establishment, certain materials were made available and disciples were required to study them thoroughly.

Otherwise, if they carelessly flaunted and toyed with their Divine Consciousness, the consequences would be quite severe.

"Come up."

The two White Cranes flew upward.

"Cousin, why...?"

Qian Wanan did not understand.

A genius was still only a genius. The other party had not yet grown up.

Besides, this Dao Peak was not some priceless treasure. The other party would surely agree to an exchange, so why be so polite?

Yet his cousin no longer looked as relaxed as when they had first arrived.

Because of that single sentence, a storm had risen in his heart.

He suddenly cursed inwardly, Damn it, have I been in seclusion for too long, or have I been away from the new disciples for too long?

Were those with Superior Aptitude all this monstrous?

What else could it be? He was currently at Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer and also possessed Superior Aptitude, yet he had spent years tempering himself at this level without finding the right state of mind to cross into the next.

But the other party had spoken as lightly as if lifting a weight, dispersing the clouds and mist. His cultivator's instincts gave him an invisible warning.

"Don't speak yet. I sensed the aura of Foundation Establishment."

Why would the other party come to exchange Dao Peaks with him?

Lu Qing did not believe that for a second.

He had been living here perfectly well, and since there was no threat to his life, he naturally would not become a turtle shrinking into its shell.

He would see what they were really plotting.

"Don't speak yet. This junior brother is very likely a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Qian Wanan's mouth fell open, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Though the Outer Academy had many disciples, just as not every mortal could become a high official or emperor, a considerable number of disciples remained stuck in the Qi Nourishment Realm.

Year after year, they wasted away, mostly handling the sect's most basic daily chores.