The Sword Sect's Second Peak was its Sect Heir Peak, with more than a dozen Sect Heir Manors occupying its slopes. The one in the most prominent position belonged to Beishan Lie. Powerful and always fond of peace and quiet, Beishan Lie had prompted most of the other sect heirs, who knew better than to offend him, to move away. In practice, the Second Peak was no different from his private property.
To display his exceptional taste, Beishan Lie had built a deep pool atop Sect Heir Peak. Its emerald waters reflected the sun and moon, received the rain and gathered the snow. He named it Clear Jade Pool, evoking winter plum blossoms falling upon emerald waters and lotus flowers rising from a clear pool.
That day, Beishan Lie invited young talents from numerous sects across the Northern Plains to gather beside Clear Jade Pool on Sect Heir Peak, melting snow over a fire to warm wine, admiring lotuses and enjoying plum blossoms in a thoroughly elegant mood. Having become a xiu zun in his early twenties made him as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns among the Northern Plains' younger generation. Such an achievement certainly deserved a celebration.
"Brother Beishan, you truly are a model for our generation. Even if you gave us each a Crimson Flame Dragon Steed, we couldn't catch up to you!"
Those attending were dragons and phoenixes among men, though even among dragons and phoenixes there were plenty skilled at stroking whiskers and patting horses' rumps. Wang Qiang, son of the Ice Ruins Flame King, raised his cup in a toast to Beishan Lie, whose ears found his flattery exceedingly pleasant.
"Wang Qiang, you're too modest. We're all talented young men, and sooner or later we'll all become xiu zun. This Sect Heir merely