Countless majestic peaks rose and fell in the hazy distance, converging into a dragon-shaped terrain that quietly guarded a supreme and magnificent palace.

Atop the Dharma Platform in the main hall, a young man with an unremarkable face, dressed in a Xinghuang Daoist Robe with sleeves that flowed like clouds, spoke in a leisurely tone:

"You may return. Since you have come on the Sect Leader’s orders, I will no longer concern myself with that junior."

This young Daoist was none other than True Monarch Luo, who resided in the Gen Peak Grotto-heaven.

Standing opposite him was a white-haired old man carrying an eight-foot bronze drum on his back—the Artifact Spirit of the Great Kui Xuan Drum.

The Artifact Spirit said in a deep voice:

"The Sect Leader’s intention is that the matter of the Daoist is settled, and he does not wish for any more disputes to arise.

Although Daoist Hechu hailed from Gen Peak and was always highly regarded by you, True Monarch Luo, he ultimately failed to secure his position. Even if he reincarnates to cultivate anew, he may not be able to bear the great responsibility of a Crown Prince."

True Monarch Luo remained silent. With a mere wave of his sleeve, he teleported the Artifact Spirit of the Great Kui Xuan Drum out of the Gen Peak Grotto-heaven.

’Tacitly allowing Luo Qingya to plot against the Daoist, and even attempting to get rid of Gu Changling, wasn’t to make way for Luo Xuanming.’

’A mere True Inheritance disciple isn’t worth such an elaborate scheme.’

’Gen Peak Grotto-heaven spent centuries of its destiny betting on Daoist Hechu, only for the Sect Leader to abandon him at the drop of a hat.’

True Monarch Luo’s gaze was dark, his tone laced with resentment. But the Sect Leader had spoken, and he had no choice but to obey.

’So what if he has top-grade True Qi? Thinking he can cultivate five techniques to Perfection in a mere sixty years... it’s a fool’s dream.’

’Even if the flow of time in the Qian Peak Grotto-heaven is different from the outside world, it’s not enough to make up for the lengthy process required for cultivation and Refining Techniques.’

’Besides, that Daoist Jiang still has the Mortal Shell Barrier to overcome.’

’A chokepoint forged from a foundation of top-grade True Qi and a Supreme Dao Foundation is not something that can be overcome in just a few years.’

True Monarch Luo sighed softly and summoned the serving Daoist Child.

"Pass down my orders. Have the Luo clan present Spiritual Materials and Resources to Changming Heavenly Lake to atone for their offense and quell the aftershocks of this matter."

...

...

Luofeng Mountain, Fuyin Manor.

The youthful-looking Shao Guansu received a flying message. After reading it carefully, his expression changed dramatically.

"Luo Qingya of Nanheng Ridge? That elder of the Luo clan was actually visited and killed by the Daoist?"

He couldn’t help but gasp, the usual cynical and carefree look on his face completely gone.

That was a Grand True Master at the Fifth Layer of Foundation Establishment!

’This Daoist Jiang is not only ruthless but also has the means to deal with a Grand True Master...’

A chill rose in Shao Guansu’s heart. If the Daoist could kill Luo Qingya, then taking the heads of the True Inheritance disciples from the Innate Sect’s Eight Peaks would surely be just as easy.

He pondered for a moment, then called out:

"Attendant, where are you?"

The formation spirit of Fuyin Manor appeared at his call, prostrating itself respectfully before him.

Shao Guansu narrowed his eyes.

"Go fetch the Five Bud Treasure Pill from my collection, and also the Wuming Fire gathered from Flowing Glow Cave. Get them both ready."

The formation spirit was confused. It looked up and asked:

"Master, are you attending a True Monarch’s birthday celebration?"

Both items were incredibly valuable, the most precious treasures of Fuyin Manor, reserved for only the most important occasions.

"I am going to pay my respects to the Daoist, to personally present a gift at Changming Heavenly Lake."

Shao Guansu waved his hand, urging the formation spirit to hurry.

He had previously used He Shouzheng of Jieyun Hall to probe the Daoist’s strength. Instead, He Shouzheng had voluntarily resigned from his position as a hall master in the Lower Courtyard and immediately gone to Changming Heavenly Lake to pledge his allegiance to the Daoist.

It was a classic case of shooting himself in the foot.

Now that even Luo Qingya had suffered obliteration of both body and soul, with no chance of reincarnation, it was clear this Daoist was no pushover. On the contrary, he was swift and ruthless, giving his opponents no quarter.

’One must go with the flow. It’s no great shame for an Upper Courtyard disciple like me to bow my head and apologize to the Daoist.’

Shao Guansu understood perfectly. If he didn’t take the initiative to yield and make the proper conciliatory gestures now, he feared he would be the one to suffer in a few years.

...

...

Inside Changming Heavenly Lake, Jiang Yi had just arrived when the artifact spirit, Chang Jing, approached and presented several golden message swords.

"Messages from the Luo clan of Gen Peak, Shao Guansu of Zhen Peak’s Upper Courtyard, and from Kan Peak."

Jiang Yi glanced at the golden swords and said calmly:

"Go and welcome the disciple from Kan Peak first. The others can wait."

’Those two True Monarch-level Taixuan True Law Talismans weren’t used for nothing.’

’With Luo Qingya dead, the Eight Peaks of the Innate Sect are bound to be shaken. I imagine those who’ve crossed me in the past won’t be sleeping easy.’

Jiang Yi smiled faintly.

"Throw one punch to avoid a hundred more. The sages of old were right."

The artifact spirit Chang Jing acknowledged the order and quickly withdrew.

Jiang Yi immediately sat in meditation, entering a trance to consolidate his cultivation.

He had collected a great deal of Gang Sha in [Dragon Subduing Gorge]. Leveraging the profound wonder of his top-grade True Qi, he had already nurtured Killing Power within his Inner Mansion. Infusing this into his Daoist Skills would further increase their might.

As he performed a full Circulation, absorbing Spiritual Energy, the golden Daoist lotus inside him glowed brilliantly—a sign of its Aerial Roots growing strong.

The Foundation Establishment Pill suspended above his Inner Mansion had shrunk, having been completely refined into Great Grotto-Profound Supreme Qi.

Time becomes meaningless during cultivation. When Jiang Yi opened his eyes again, three days had passed.

"Cat Master, do you think I can reach the Foundation Establishment Realm within five years?"

The answer he had received from the Celestial Book was that, with his current accumulation, he would likely remain at the Twelfth Layer of Qi Cultivation for seventeen years before he could forge a Perfect Dao Foundation.

True Master Xuanmiao, who had been chasing a golden-winged flying insect he’d found in the Changming Heavenly Lake treasury, stopped at Xiao Jiang’s question. He considered it seriously and said:

"My former master was stuck at the Mortal Shell Barrier for twenty years. Only after finding the Ziwu Fire did he step into the flawless Realm of Perfection."

"The more profound your accumulation, the harder it is to reach the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm. This is an immutable law, throughout all ages."

Jiang Yi was secretly astounded. Even with the original [Shao Yang]’s peerless Dao Wisdom and monstrous talent, he had been held back at this stage for so long.

’Ziwu Fire...’

He pondered this. It was one of the ten types of True Fire, possessing the divine ability to refine one’s mortal nature and purify the six roots of sensation.

Unfortunately, all of it had long since been taken by the [Immortal Dao] and was now nearly impossible to find.

"If you want to get a step ahead, Xiao Jiang, it’s not entirely impossible."

True Master Xuanmiao was, after all, a veteran among Foundation Establishment True Masters. Having traveled far and wide with the original [Shao Yang], his experience and knowledge were no less than that of a True Monarch.

"I’ve heard that the Dharma Lineages of the Eight Sects of the Nanzhan Continent jointly control a primordial grotto-heaven named [Juku Continent]."

"Many Spiritual Materials and Resources that have vanished from the Yanfu Vast Land can be found there."

Jiang Yi silently committed this to memory, then summoned Chang Jing, the artifact spirit who managed the internal affairs of Changming Heavenly Lake. He briefly inquired about the matter of placing the Jiao and Chi into the Water Veins.

"They are all being raised in the ’Lotus Water’ and ’Zhao Water’."

Chang Jing answered truthfully, then immediately followed up with another report:

"Reporting to the Daoist, Qu Liu’er, the True Inheritance from Kan Peak, has sent a message. She says that since you have condensed top-grade True Qi and your cultivation has greatly advanced, you are required to proceed to the Upper Hall for an examination."

True Monarch Lu had previously mentioned to Jiang Yi in the Hall of Instruction that as the sect’s Crown Prince, the Daoist’s cultivation must never be neglected.

Each time he advanced his cultivation and reached a new level, he had to go to the Upper Hall.

This measure had a twofold purpose. First, to check for any flaws in the Daoist’s cultivation and prevent any irremediable shortcomings.

Second, it was a public display to win over the sect and set a cultivation benchmark for the Eight Peaks True Inheritance.

"I understand."

Jiang Yi calculated the dates and found he still had a few days before the examination.

He had True Master Xuanmiao fetch the *Great Divine Fire Escape* he had previously selected, intending to use this time to study it.

His current Magical Combat methods were still rather one-dimensional. When he had previously fought Ji Fuyao—who was at the Qi Cultivation Realm—atop the summit of Dragon Head Mountain, he had been deeply impressed. His opponent’s three great immortal arts were perfectly balanced between offense and defense, leaving almost no openings.

If he hadn’t used his top-grade True Qi to overwhelm his opponent with sheer power and forcibly break through the immortal arts, he might not have succeeded in collecting the Kanxia Water.

’Master Lu said that Magical Combat is inseparable from three elements: Spell, Method, and Momentum. I am still sorely lacking in the Spell department and must improve.’

Jiang Yi’s eyes swept over the *Great Divine Fire Escape*, committing the dense, obscure text on the scroll to memory. He mulled over it word by word, sentence by sentence, slowly grasping its profound meaning.

Once he had a general grasp of its meaning, he would then beg the Celestial Book for a detailed explanation, and use the deductive power of the second golden paper, directly expending his lifespan to receive an empowerment.

Combining the two, he actually managed to cultivate the extremely difficult *Great Divine Fire Escape* to the level of Great Success in just a few days.