Star Sword Peak, the Path to Heaven

In Jiang Xuan's eyes, the Gourmet's advancement quest would soon be complete—of course, he had such confidence only because he was in the cultivation world.

If this quest had been placed in the mortal world, even without needing to eat every dish he had appraised, it would still have been as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

Leaving aside how hard it would be to gather every dazzling variety of delicacy, just one mandatory requirement would have been enough to plunge the finest mortal chefs into utter despair—more than half the Gourmet's advancement requirements called for rare-grade dishes, while the grand finale required him to personally taste a delicacy-grade meal.

In the mundane world, every such exquisite flavor was an heirloom treasure that could only be encountered by chance.

"But I'm not in the mortal world. This is the cultivation world, and I have friends to help me... To me, Dong Hao is practically a power-leveling service."

Thinking this, Jiang Xuan did not immediately seek out Dong Hao. Instead, he first returned to the general store beside the academy and used the Spirit Stones he had earned from being rated Excellent to purchase the various ingredients needed to become a Gourmet.

"Grains... spirit rice, blood rice, and bamboo rice should count too. This is fragrant rice, hmm, and pearl rice..."

"For alcohol, there's monkey wine, Hundred-Blossom Brew, bamboo wine, tiger bone wine, snake blood wine..."

The goods at Star General Store were truly comprehensive. Jiang Xuan spent only thirty-three Spirit Stones to fulfill over half of the Gourmet's advancement requirements—it could only be said that the gap between the mortal world and the cultivation world was enormous. Rare treasures scarcely seen in the mortal realm were merely ordinary goods scattered across the shelves here.

At the same time, Jiang Xuan's mind worked quickly. Take tiger bone wine, for example: he merely dripped two drops onto a boiled egg, and that simple food immediately met the requirements for one of the Eight Mountain Delicacies—ordinary methods naturally could not achieve this, but the tiger bone wine of the cultivation world was simply of high enough quality.

Likewise, one of the Eight Sea Delicacies could be completed with an egg steeped in snake blood wine.

With these little tricks, coupled with Spirit Stones paving the way, Jiang Xuan soon completed eighty or ninety percent of the various dishes needed for the Gourmet's advancement.

Still, this was ultimately only a general store beside an academy. Many rare-grade ingredients, as well as that final delicacy-grade dish, could not be found here at all.

Fortunately, none of that was a problem.

"It's time for Dong Hao to make his move." Putting away his profession panel, Jiang Xuan smiled faintly. "Since you want me to cover for you during the Dharma Branch assessment, there's no need for me to be polite about taking a few things from you."

"Besides, you said it yourself. The stronger I am, the better I can help you pass smoothly."

"Delicacy-grade food and some wines?" Jiang Xuan's request left Dong Hao dumbfounded. It was not that Jiang Xuan was making things difficult for him; he was simply surprised and confused. "Brother Jiang, what do you need those things for?"

"For the assessment." Jiang Xuan shrugged and calmly gave his reason. "Star Sword Peak has only given me a chance to participate. There's no guarantee I'll pass, so I plan to try my luck at Four Seasons Valley afterward. Didn't you say that Four Seasons Valley's assessment requires one to taste the corresponding grains and sense the Four Seasons Dao Resonance? I thought I'd give it a try beforehand and gain some experience."

"So that's it."

Dong Hao found nothing inappropriate in Jiang Xuan's explanation.

He had never believed Jiang Xuan could steadily pass Star Sword Peak's assessment—Spirit Root aptitude had deep-rooted effects. Jiang Xuan would have to work ten times harder than an ordinary person before he could possibly earn Star Sword Peak's recognition.

Though he had confidence in Jiang Xuan, he did not believe Jiang Xuan's talent in the sword could be ten times greater than that of ordinary people.

Even for Four Seasons Valley, he did not think Jiang Xuan could gain entry.

It might have flaws, but it was still a genuine mid-tier Dharma Branch, not somewhere one could enter easily.

Though that was what he thought, Dong Hao understood social etiquette and naturally would not say it aloud. He readily agreed to every one of Jiang Xuan's requests.

"Only delicacy-grade food and some rare-grade spirit wine? You don't need anything else?"

"No. This is enough."

"Fine, I'll have Nan Zhi fetch them right away." As soon as he finished speaking, he instructed Nan Zhi beside him, "Go back using a Wind-Riding Divine Movement Talisman. Go quickly and return quickly. Don't delay Brother Jiang's important matter."

"Yes, Young Master."

Whoosh—

Thus, with a gust of clear wind sweeping up, Nan Zhi's figure shot away like a swift-flying swallow, racing from the mountainside toward the Dong Household residence.

While Nan Zhi was away, Jiang Xuan and the others took out some food and simply filled their stomachs. Seeing that Jiang Xuan did not need anyone to attend to him, Cheng Xiu prepared to step aside and seize the time to cultivate.

But just before he entered meditation, Jiang Xuan called him over.

"My family has a calming incantation that can help one eliminate distracting thoughts. Feel it for yourself."

Before his words had faded, Jiang Xuan formed a hand seal and chanted an incantation. A Purifying Heart Incantation descended upon Cheng Xiu.

Buzz—

The instant the incantation fell, Cheng Xiu immediately felt an entirely different change. His previously restless heart settled in an instant. Now, he felt only Clarity of the Spirit Platform, with all distracting thoughts swept away.

With his mind firmly settled, even guiding spiritual energy through his body became exceptionally smooth and effortless.

What delighted him even more was that the turbid energy which had previously shrouded his acupoints like smog had thinned considerably as his mind became clear, lowering the difficulty of locating the acupoints throughout his body severalfold.

With all these changes stacked together, Cheng Xiu clearly sensed that his cultivation efficiency had increased by more than fifty percent.

The discovery made his eyes shine at once.

"My choice was not wrong! Following a heaven-blessed genius is far easier for breaking through realms than shutting myself away to cultivate alone!"

"Thank you, Young Master! Thank you for your great kindness!"

Even the Purifying Heart Incantation could not suppress the gratitude and excitement surging in his heart. Indeed, perhaps precisely because his mind was so clear and untainted, that gratitude seemed all the more sincere.

Jiang Xuan's expression remained calm and unruffled.

"This is what you deserve."

Talking with Cheng Xiu had not taken Jiang Xuan much time. After waiting for another quarter of an hour, Nan Zhi, who had used the Wind-Riding Divine Movement Talisman, returned.

However, Xie Hanyan and Zeng Jun had also happened to finish resting by the time she returned.

Jiang Xuan naturally would not make them wait for him. Seeing this, he could only appraise and swallow all the dishes that were inconvenient to carry, then place the remaining items into his bag and head toward the academy gates with them.

"Splash..."

The moment they reached the academy entrance, several flying boats tore through the sky and landed steadily before them.

These were the Divine Firmament Sect's standard flying boats. The Divine Firmament Sect was vast, and there were countless Outer Disciples with shallow cultivation, so the sect had established many such flying boats for disciples traveling and handling business.

Jiang Xuan and the others would now take one of these flying boats to the peaks they favored.

Dong Hao was heading in another direction, so they parted ways here.

"Brother Jiang, now that we part, may we both obtain what we desire."

"Mm."

"Whew..."

Before long, the flying boat slowly rose into the air, and Jiang Xuan and the others gradually drifted farther and farther away from Dong Hao.

During the journey, people constantly boarded and disembarked, but none of it had anything to do with Jiang Xuan's group of three.

Xie Hanyan was naturally cold and taciturn. Since she did not speak, Jiang Xuan and Zeng Jun had nothing to say either.

In that silent atmosphere, the flying boat soon arrived beneath Star Sword Peak.

It was a majestic peak thrusting straight into the clouds. Looking at it from afar aboard the flying boat, what Jiang Xuan found most novel was that a clear lake had actually been embedded atop Star Sword Peak's cloud-piercing summit. Thousands upon thousands of longswords stood within that lake. Many of them even danced through the air above its surface like living creatures, and some were actually clashing with one another, their sword intent sharp and awe-inspiring.

"So this is the foundation of a mid-tier Dharma Branch. It truly is extraordinary."

As he stuffed food into his mouth, Jiang Xuan inwardly marveled. But before he could look a few more times, the flying boat had already landed steadily at the foot of the mountain.

"So this is Star Sword Peak. How magnificent!"

"Today, I must join Star Sword Peak and become an Inner Disciple!"

"I heard Star Sword Peak ranks among the foremost mid-tier Dharma Branches of the Thirty-Three Mountains. It may even have a chance to challenge the Nine Upper Branches!"

"Ancestors, bless me! I must get into Star Sword Peak!"

Many disciples had come to Star Sword Peak for the assessment. All kinds of discussion buzzed endlessly in the air.

Once they arrived here, even Zeng Jun, who had always been flamboyant, reined in his arrogance. Jiang Xuan said even less, quietly walking beside Xie Hanyan.

Along the way, listening to the conversations around him, Jiang Xuan quickly figured out Star Sword Peak's assessment method—climbing the mountain.

The elders of Star Sword Peak had set up an array at the mountain gate. Under the array's suppression, the higher students like Jiang Xuan climbed, the higher their status within Star Sword Peak would be.

"I heard that anyone who reaches the three hundred and sixtieth step is guaranteed an Inner Disciple spot!"

"That must be difficult, right?"

"Of course! Reaching one hundred and eight steps qualifies one to remain at Star Sword Peak. Three hundred and sixty steps is not merely three times harder, but more than ten times harder... The difficulty afterward does not rise by a little at a time; it rises linearly. Not to mention, Star Sword Peak tests more than the body. There is also the dual suppression of sword intent and the soul. But it is precisely because the difficulty defies the heavens that Star Sword Peak dares declare that anyone who reaches the summit will definitely be accepted as an Inner Disciple."

"Oh, right. The assessment is not valid only today. The results count for an entire month from now on!"

"As long as you reach the summit, you become an Inner Disciple"—those words made countless disciples present feel their blood surge, and Jiang Xuan was no exception.

"One month, three hundred and sixty steps, with sword intent and the soul as the core tests... I have a chance!"

Being able to secure an Inner Disciple position in a mid-tier Dharma Branch ahead of time, especially at a powerful peak like Star Sword Peak that had hopes of challenging the Upper Branches, naturally tempted Jiang Xuan greatly.

But just as he was secretly stirred with excitement, an accident that made him sigh appeared.

"Whew..."

With a rush of wind tearing through the air, another flying boat descended from the sky.

Unlike the ordinary standard flying boat Jiang Xuan and the others had taken, this vessel was enormous, with carved beams and painted rafters, extravagantly luxurious.

The young men and women who stepped down from it were all richly dressed and brimming with spirit.

That noble aura, so distinct from everyone else's, made many Star Sword Peak disciples instinctively step aside.

"Those are... people from Daozi Academy."

"Why would they come here?"

"It's normal for them to come. Do you really think everyone from Daozi Academy can steadily enter one of the Nine Upper Branches?"

From the murmurs around him, Jiang Xuan quickly learned that this group came from Zi Dao Academy.

At first, Jiang Xuan felt nothing in particular about it. He merely glanced at them before withdrawing his gaze—he believed these favored children of heaven would have no intersection with his current self.

Yet just as he thought this, a young girl in a goose-yellow dress walked directly toward them from the group that had descended from the luxurious flying boat.

Naturally, she was not looking for Jiang Xuan, but for:

"Hehe, Sister Hanyan, you favor Star Sword Peak too?"

The instant Xie Hanyan saw the girl, her already frosty expression grew colder still.

"Where I wish to go has nothing to do with you."

Hearing those cold, distancing words, Xie Lianxing did not become angry in the slightest. Instead, she showed a few traces of grievance. "Sister, you think too badly of me. Naturally, I cannot control where you want to go, and Star Sword Peak has its own rules and assessments for accepting disciples. I merely happened to come here for the assessment as well."

"I wanted to get along with you properly too..."

Though she said that, anyone with eyes could clearly see the tense, sword-drawn-bow-bent hostility between the two.

The scene gave Jiang Xuan quite a headache. He vaguely had a feeling that his entrance assessment this time would likely encounter unforeseen twists and turns.

And indeed, events did not escape his expectations.

Within Star Sword Peak's territory, neither woman intended to fall out on the spot. They remained peacefully uneventful along the way, and Jiang Xuan's group of three successfully reached the registration area. In only a few minutes, it was their turn to submit their information.

After Xie Hanyan handed over the information for all three, the pre-assessment registration process for Star Sword Peak officially began.

During this process, Xie Hanyan naturally had no issues—her Supreme Earth-Grade Spirit Root was top-tier talent even across the entire Divine Firmament Sect. Star Sword Peak would never reject such an excellent seedling.

Zeng Jun passed smoothly as well. His upper Earth-Grade Spirit Root ranked above average among the disciples who had come to try out for Star Sword Peak.

But when it was Jiang Xuan's turn, the situation instantly took a sharp turn for the worse.

His mid-tier Profound-Grade Spirit Root stood out like a sore thumb among all the information. Not only was his aptitude the worst among the three, it was also nearly the lowest among all the disciples participating in the selection.

After reading Jiang Xuan's information, Hua Xuan, the young disciple responsible for recruitment, immediately frowned.

If Xie Lianxing had not been present, Hua Xuan might have given Jiang Xuan a chance to take the assessment if Xie Hanyan spoke for him a little.

But Xie Lianxing's cold snort from the side, followed by a young man beside her abruptly stepping forward, sent Jiang Xuan's situation plummeting.

"Cousin, has Star Sword Peak fallen this far already? You accept cultivators with talent like this?"

"Exactly. Doesn't this lower Star Sword Peak's standing far too much?"

"If even someone with a mid-tier Profound-Grade Spirit Root can enter the peak for assessment, anyone unaware would think Star Sword Peak was some lowly, third-rate Dharma Branch."

Hua Xuan had never thought much of Jiang Xuan to begin with. The fact that he had not immediately driven him away was already out of consideration for Xie Hanyan's reputation.

But now, on one side stood several geniuses from Zi Dao Academy, while only Xie Hanyan stood on the other. Moreover, Xie Lianxing had entered Zi Dao Academy, while Xie Hanyan could only remain at Star Daoist Academy to cultivate. The difference in their statuses had long spoken for itself.

In the end, Hua Xuan, who was responsible for recruitment, unsurprisingly sided with Xie Lianxing's group.

"Of course not. Earth-Grade Spirit Roots are the bottom line for recruitment at Star Sword Peak."

"Hahaha, I knew it, Senior Brother Hua! You're the most reasonable one!"

Whoosh! Before the people ahead could finish speaking, Jiang Xuan shrugged and turned away.

Xie Hanyan naturally saw that scene. For the first time, she took the initiative to speak to Jiang Xuan, her tone carrying a trace of apology. "Sorry."

"It's fine. This is not your fault, and it does not affect me much."

Glancing back at Star Sword Peak and Hua Xuan, who was recruiting disciples, Jiang Xuan's state of mind was as calm as he had said.

"If this place won't keep me, another place will... Besides, being unable to enter Star Sword Peak may not necessarily be my loss."

Whoosh.

Jiang Xuan left cleanly and decisively, without the slightest hesitation. His manner made many people nearby sigh inwardly. "He didn't pester them. At least he has some self-awareness."

"Hah, if he truly had self-awareness, he should never have come here. Star Sword Peak is simply not a place someone like him should be."

"Why are all of you gathered here instead of taking the assessment?" Just as Jiang Xuan walked out of Star Sword Peak's gates, another young woman slowly emerged from within Star Sword Peak.

The instant Hua Xuan saw the young woman, all cold arrogance vanished from his face. He hurriedly went forward to greet her respectfully.

"Miss, why have you come too?"

"To take Star Sword Peak's assessment." The young woman answered blandly, her beautiful brows faintly furrowed. "Also, do not call me Miss. Here today, I am the same as everyone else—just an ordinary student here for the assessment."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

Facing the most outstanding direct descendant of this generation under the peak master, Hua Xuan could only nod repeatedly in agreement. At the same time, he wanted to quietly let the matter from earlier pass and muddle through it.

Unfortunately, someone at the scene stepped forward and did not let him have his way.

And the one who stepped forward was none other than—Zeng Jun!

Naturally, he had not stepped forward because he came from the same academy as Jiang Xuan and wanted to seek justice for him. Nor was he foolishly dreaming of currying favor with Su Xingying; he could clearly sense the vast gulf between them.

Before stepping out, he secretly glanced at Xie Hanyan.

Clearly, he had done this because he wanted to stand up for Xie Hanyan and win her favor through it.

And to a certain extent, his approach truly succeeded.

The earlier incident had ended with Jiang Xuan leaving, but in everyone's eyes, Jiang Xuan was merely one of Xie Hanyan's followers. Driving him away in public had, in truth, disgraced Xie Hanyan.

Amid this atmosphere where everyone was watching for entertainment, Zeng Jun's willingness to step forward and say a fair word naturally made Xie Hanyan view him more favorably, and her attitude softened slightly as well.

Of course, doing so came at a price. Hua Xuan's gaze at him was now filled with displeasure, and the students from Zi Dao Academy beside him looked at Zeng Jun with traces of hostility as well.

Zeng Jun clearly felt all of this, but he did not care in the slightest.

"I never had much chance of entering Star Sword Peak in the first place. There is no point in currying favor with the people here. Instead of worrying about that, I should first preserve my relationship with Miss Xie."

"Besides, with Miss Su here, they would not dare do anything to me."

Just as he had expected, after Zeng Jun laid out the entire sequence of events in full detail, no one else had the mind to trouble him.

Seeing the anger gradually rise on Su Xingying's face, Hua Xuan immediately looked awkward and hurriedly lowered his head. "That Jiang Xuan has a mid-tier Profound-Grade Spirit Root. He had no hope of entering our Star Sword Peak at all. I drove him away for his own good... Sorry, I overstepped."

Under Su Xingying's gaze, Hua Xuan ultimately lowered his head and admitted his mistake.

After suppressing Hua Xuan, Su Xingying coldly glared at Xie Lianxing and the others. "Within Star Sword Peak's territory, you are not permitted to stir up trouble."

"Understood, Sister Su."

As a direct descendant of Star Sword Peak's peak master, she was not his biological daughter, but the peak master had personally kept Su Xingying by his side and taught her for a period of time. This gave her an extremely high status. Even Xie Lianxing and the others, who also came from Daozi Academy, did not dare offend her lightly.

After bringing everyone present to heel, Su Xingying walked over to Xie Hanyan's side, solemnly apologized to her, and gently comforted her.

"Sorry, it was our peak's disciples who handled things improperly and made you suffer such grievance."

At the same time, she specifically asked about Jiang Xuan's situation. It was clear that she was a girl with a strong sense of justice who also placed great importance on Star Sword Peak's reputation.

Unfortunately, Jiang Xuan had already gone far away. Even if she wanted to make amends, she had nowhere to begin.

Yet as she defended Star Sword Peak's reputation, the discussion below gradually took on a strange turn.

"That man was called Jiang Xuan, right? What a pity—he left too early..."

"His luck really was rather poor. If he'd waited just a moment longer, he would have seized this opportunity."

"Hehe, this wasn't bad luck. He was simply putting on too much of an act."

"Exactly. A poor cultivator with a Mystic-Grade Spiritual Root—what was he acting so free and unrestrained for? Well, now the opportunity's gone, isn't it?"

As for Jiang Xuan, whether those present felt regret and pity for him or found him laughable, everyone tacitly agreed on one thing—he had missed a heaven-sent opportunity.

But was Jiang Xuan truly the one who had missed that opportunity?