Raise a sword!

Two months later.

Early morning, on Biwu Peak.

Jiang Peng sat in a secluded spot on the back mountain, facing the rising sun, with bursts of firelight rising and falling around her.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, his eyes reflecting purple flames.

The Xuanyuan Sword hidden in the sleeve seemed to sense its master's progress, letting out a soft hum, as if congratulating him, or perhaps expressing its dissatisfaction at still only being at the first level.

Jiang Peng exhaled a long breath.

"After more than three years, the foundation for the second floor was completed naturally."

Since switching to the "Spirit Flame Technique," Jiang Peng's cultivation progress has accelerated dramatically.

This breakthrough was unexpected even for Jiang Peng herself; it was a natural breakthrough that occurred naturally during her Qi absorption cultivation when she was blessed with good fortune.

"Is this the benefit of having a self-established Dao foundation? The road ahead is smooth and without any bottlenecks. If it weren't for the increase in my spiritual power and the closer I got to the Dao of Spiritual Fire, I wouldn't even have felt the breakthrough."

Speaking of the Way of Spirit Fire.

As Jiang Peng became more familiar with the "Lingyan Technique," he vaguely sensed the existence of a "Dao."

The second stage of this technique focuses on the application of the supernatural power of transforming spiritual energy into fire, but the third stage focuses more on the understanding of fire.

Jiang Peng could sense that this was the author of the cultivation technique, that unknown Nascent Soul True Monarch, expounding his own "Dao".

However, she did not use abstruse language to describe it, but instead materialized her "Dao" into one mysterious spell after another that could be cultivated and cast.

When a cultivator has mastered these spells, that is, the various transformations of spiritual energy into fire, they may have already unknowingly embarked on the same path as this Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Jiang Peng didn't seem to have any objections to this.

The "Tao" in his heart is the most complex, yet he is carefree and unrestrained, and his mind is clear and unobstructed – this is his Taoist heart.

Other paths are merely means for him to follow and uphold his own Daoist principles; nothing more.

There's nothing wrong with following the path others have taken; the "Tao" is not such an inconvenient thing.

...

A few days later, Elder Changyu visited Biwu Peak.

Elder Changyu's injuries have healed, and he seems to be recovering well. He may even continue to increase his cultivation in the future.

Upon seeing Jiang Peng, he bowed deeply.

"This time, my senior brother was able to turn danger into safety entirely thanks to my junior brother's miraculous medicine."

"Senior brother, you're too kind. We're all from the same sect, so we should help each other out," Jiang Peng replied politely.

At noon, Jiang Peng personally cooked a meal to entertain Elder Chang Yu.

At the dinner table, Elder Changyu spoke of the current war between the three sects of Beilu and the State of Chen.

"Yesterday, Master Qi of the Chen Clan appeared on the north side of the Chen Kingdom and recaptured a city that our sect had already occupied... The sect had anticipated this, but unfortunately, Master Shen was only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm and was no match for Master Qi, so the sect was defeated."

"I heard that the Golden Core cultivator from Feiyan Tower has also arrived in Chen Kingdom, but has not yet shown his face."

Elder Changyu shook his head slightly.

"This great battle has been going on for almost three years. Both the Chen family and the sects are starting to falter... But the Chen family is clearly more anxious, eager to send Golden Core cultivators into battle, which shows that they have reached their limit."

"The outcome of this battle will be decided within six months."

...

As evening fell, after seeing Elder Changyu off, Jiang Peng received another message from the front lines.

The letter was delivered by Lan Yingying.

"I ran into my junior brother who was delivering the letter on the way, and just took it from him."

As Lan Yingying spoke, she placed one hand on Jiang Peng's shoulder, tiptoed slightly, and breathed softly into Jiang Peng's ear.

"My love, I have reached the seventh level of Qi cultivation."

"I know, I could tell at a glance." Jiang Peng was still opening the letter.

The letter was sent by Mei Jinhe, and it described some of her experiences at the front lines.

The Qi Refining disciples fought alongside the Foundation Establishment elders against the Chen clan, experiencing both victory and defeat, life and death.

In her letter, Mei Jinhe said that she had also experienced several close calls and learned about the cruelty of the war.

When Jiang Peng put down the letter, she found that she had unknowingly been led back to her bedroom by Lan Yingying.

Even his elder's robes were removed.

Jiang Peng was dissatisfied. How could this vixen be so ignorant, with her mind filled with such trivial matters?

Just as he was about to reprimand her, he saw that Lan Yingying in front of him had changed into a light veil.

Only light gauze.

It's hard to go into the specifics, but it's true that Jiang Peng's eyes were glued to her.

"I never found seclusion boring before, but I just happened to meet you, my nemesis, which ruined my resolve... Jiang Lang, you must take care of this matter."

Hearing that meow-like soft murmur, Jiang Peng knew he couldn't argue with himself. He could only blame his own charm for making the girl think about him day and night.

This is indeed my responsibility.

So all I could do was go up to her, pick her up, and throw her onto the bed.

He fulfilled his responsibilities for quite some time.

...

In April, the Cangshan Sect opened its gates wide.

The sect had originally planned to open its doors to disciples two years ago, but due to the war with the State of Chen, this matter was delayed for two years.

As soon as the news came out, countless families around the northern foothills responded, and the Cangshan market was filled with school-age children from various families.

In the market, Jiang Peng and Qian Laosi were sitting in the main hall of Yutanglou, drinking and chatting.

Jiang Peng was wearing the plain-colored long robe she often wore when she frequented the market, while Qian Laosi was still dressed as a rogue cultivator. Neither of them were particularly noticeable.

Jiang Peng was wearing the plain-colored long robe she often wore when she frequented the market, while Qian Laosi was still dressed as a rogue cultivator. Neither of them were particularly noticeable.

In Yutanglou, the most expensive restaurant in the market, the two people sitting in the corner of the hall were hardly noticeable.

"My son only has a low-grade spiritual root, what a pity." Old Qian looked worried.

Back then, Qian Laosi once mentioned his hope that his child would become Jiang Peng's apprentice.

He was newly married at the time, full of youthful vigor, and wholeheartedly hoped that his child could break free from constraints and leave the northern foothills.

But in the blink of an eye, Jiang Peng became a Foundation Establishment cultivator, just as he had predicted.

But his own child was disappointing, possessing only a low-grade spiritual root.

"If you really want to join the Cangshan Sect, it won't be difficult with Brother Jiang's connections, but my child only has a low-grade spiritual root. It would be better for him to inherit the Qian family's secret techniques and continue to hang around in the market."

Jiang Peng offered a few words of comfort.

Qian Laosi was a worldly-wise man. His complaints were just an outlet for his feelings in front of his friends, and he didn't actually need any comfort from others.

Sure enough, Qian Laosi soon began to recount interesting stories from the market, as well as some observations he had made at the Song family's residence.

Jiang Peng listened with great interest.

As they talked, their conversation turned to the Cangshan Sect's recent decision to open its gates to the public.

At this time, many of the guests at Yutanglou were young talents from various families.

So the two of them secretly discussed what the young disciples were like.

"That person has good aptitude, but his appearance is too rugged. It's no surprise that he'll be accepted into the sect, but he'll have a hard time gaining favor from senior and junior sisters in the future," Jiang Peng said, pointing to a person with certainty.

"Brother Jiang, you are mistaken. As the saying goes, 'He may have the heart of a tiger but the delicate touch of a rose.' This man may be quite shrewd, and he might just manage to win over a whole harem with just a few words."

"How could I, a dignified elder of a sect, be so mistaken?" Jiang Peng put on airs.

Qian Laosi chuckled.

"You're so arrogant, senior. You resort to bullying when you can't win an argument."

Jiang Peng's imposing manner vanished instantly, and he raised his glass to lightly clink glasses with Qian Laosi.

"You've put on airs, but I haven't seen you show any fear."