The punch on the Dao Discussion Platform not only crushed Zhao Wuji, but also shattered Seventh Peak's unshakable prestige in the True Disciple ranks for the past twenty years.
The moment the Enforcement Elder announced the result, Zhao Wuji's name dimmed and vanished from the True Disciple stone stele. Replacing it, the two words "Qin Yuan" struck into the hearts of every onlooker like a heavy hammer.
Seventh Peak's elder turned livid, swept up the unconscious Zhao Wuji with a flick of his sleeve, and departed in a streak of light.
According to sect rules, any disciple who lost their True Disciple status had to move out of the spiritual mountain assigned to True Disciples within three days—the luxurious cave residence Zhao Wuji had enjoyed for five years now had a new owner.
Under the complicated gazes of the crowd, Qin Yuan stepped down from the Dao Discussion Platform without pausing and headed straight for Zhao Wuji's mountain.
The residences of True Disciples were located among the thirty-six subsidiary peaks surrounding the Sect Master's peak.
A mid-grade spirit vein ran through every peak. The concentration of Spiritual Energy was ten times that of the Outer Sect and five times that of the Inner Sect.
The "Blazing Peak" occupied by Zhao Wuji ranked near the bottom among the thirty-six peaks. Even so, when Qin Yuan stepped onto the mountain path, he could still clearly sense the dense Spiritual Energy in the air, so thick it was almost impossible to disperse.
"A fine place," he murmured.
At the mountaintop, a palace-like complex spanning dozens of acres came into view.
Flying eaves and interlocking brackets, carved beams and painted rafters, white jade paving, pillars adorned with gold lacquer—the extravagance far exceeded Qin Yuan's imagination.
A spirit spring flowed before the halls, while medicinal gardens spread behind them. There was even a separate enclosure for raising spirit beasts.
Several maidservants dressed in thin gauze knelt trembling outside the palace gates. When they saw Qin Yuan arrive, they hurriedly kowtowed.
"This servant greets True Disciple Qin."
Qin Yuan swept his gaze over them. They were all female cultivators at the Qi Refining Stage, with lovely appearances. Clearly, Zhao Wuji had gathered them to serve him.
"Rise," he said indifferently. "You were originally Zhao Wuji's maidservants?"
The leading maidservant in red said softly, "Yes... we were all selected by True Disciple Zhao from the various peaks. Now that True Disciple Qin has taken charge of Blazing Peak, we are willing to continue serving a True Disciple."
The other maidservants behind her also raised their heads, hope in their eyes. Serving on a True Disciple's mountain not only meant receiving a fixed amount of spirit crystals each month, but also cultivating amid the abundant Spiritual Energy here. It was a position many female cultivators from the Outer Sect and even the Inner Sect dreamed of.
Yet Qin Yuan shook his head. "No need. Pack your things and return to your respective places."
The maidservants froze.
"True Disciple Qin..." The maidservant in red still wanted to plead.
"Three hours." Qin Yuan cut her off. "After three hours, I do not wish to see any of you here."
His tone was calm, yet it allowed no doubt.
The maidservants' faces turned pale. Knowing there was no room for negotiation, they could only bow and withdraw to pack their belongings.
Qin Yuan entered the main hall. Its furnishings were extravagantly lavish: tables and chairs fashioned from spirit jade, screens carved from sandalwood, all manner of calligraphy, paintings, antiques, and curios hanging on the walls. In one corner was even a small Spirit Gathering Array, drawing together the Spiritual Energy of the entire mountain.
He walked to the center of the array and sat cross-legged. Releasing his Spiritual Sense, he instantly covered the entire mountain.
Everything within a thousand zhang fell within his perception. Aside from the maidservants packing their belongings, there were also several Labor Disciples tending the medicinal gardens and feeding the spirit beasts. At that moment, they were gathered uneasily in a small courtyard halfway up the mountain, quietly discussing their new master's temperament.
Qin Yuan withdrew his Spiritual Sense. After a brief moment of thought, he rose and left Blazing Peak.
Half an hour later, he returned to Fifth Peak.
Outside Listening Bamboo Garden, Zhou De, Zhao Tiezhu, and several other Inner Sect disciples who had followed Qin Yuan into the secret realm were gathered together cultivating. Seeing Qin Yuan return, they all rose in delighted surprise.
"Senior Brother Qin! No, I should call you True Disciple Qin now!" Zhao Tiezhu grinned broadly. "That punch of yours was too domineering! Zhao Wuji usually strutted around with his eyes on top of his head. This time, he finally fell flat on his face!"
Zhou De also smiled. "Congratulations, Senior Brother Qin, on becoming a True Disciple."
Qin Yuan nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "I now have a place to stay on Blazing Peak. The Spiritual Energy there is abundant and suitable for cultivation. If you are willing, you may come with me."
Everyone was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.
A True Disciple's mountain! It was a place they would never have dared even dream of visiting.
"Willing! Of course we're willing!" Zhao Tiezhu was the first to leap to his feet.
Zhou Ming nodded forcefully as well. "It is our good fortune to follow Senior Brother Qin."
The others also voiced their agreement.
Qin Yuan then looked into the distance—Lin Qing'er stood beneath an old locust tree, watching him with a somewhat complicated look in her eyes.
"Qing'er." He walked over. "You too."
Lin Qing'er bit her lip. "Brother Qin Yuan, I... I'm only an Inner Sect disciple. If I go to a True Disciple's mountain, wouldn't that be..."
"It does not matter," Qin Yuan said. "If I say you can, then you can."
Lin Qing'er's eyes reddened as she nodded heavily.
Before long, the group packed up and followed Qin Yuan to Blazing Peak.
The moment they stepped onto the mountain path and felt the rich Spiritual Energy rushing toward them, everyone wore an intoxicated expression.
"This... this concentration of Spiritual Energy is three times stronger than my seclusion chamber!" Zhou Ming said in shock.
Zhao Tiezhu took a deep breath, his face full of enjoyment. "Cultivating here for one day is worth ten days outside! No, twenty days!"
Lin Qing'er's eyes widened as well, feeling the Spiritual Energy actively burrow into her pores. So this was the treatment True Disciples received?
Qin Yuan arranged everyone in several courtyards halfway up the mountain. Those courtyards had originally housed Zhao Wuji's lackeys and maidservants. Now that they stood empty, they were perfect for settling Zhou De and the others.
"From now on, cultivate here," Qin Yuan said. "Zhou De, you will be responsible for managing the mountain's affairs. If you need any resources, you may apply to me."
Zhou De respectfully accepted the order.
After settling everyone in, Qin Yuan returned to the main hall at the mountaintop. Standing on the platform before the hall, he overlooked the cloud-wreathed mountains below and the more distant peaks belonging to the other True Disciples.
There were thirty people in the True Disciple ranks, corresponding to thirty of the thirty-six peaks. The higher one's rank, the better the spirit vein beneath their peak and the denser its Spiritual Energy.
Qin Yuan was currently ranked twenty-seventh. The spirit vein of Blazing Peak could only be considered ordinary.
"The top five..." he muttered.
Elder Xu's words echoed in his ears. "For the Hundred Sects Competition, every sect has only five slots. If you want to secure one for certain, you must rank among the top five in the True Disciple ranks."
The top five.
According to Elder Xu, even the weakest among those five was at the late Golden Core stage, while the strongest had already touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul realm. With Qin Yuan's current early Golden Core cultivation, the gap was indeed still vast.
"No rush." Determination flashed in his eyes. "First stabilize my realm, then seek a breakthrough."
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