I tamed beasts and achieved immortality in the world of cultivation.

Time flies, and another year has passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the sky was high and the clouds were light, and a refreshing autumn breeze was blowing.

On the mountainside of Jianming Peak, a small courtyard is nestled among green pines and cypresses.

In the courtyard stands a jujube tree that Xiao Chunan transplanted from Danxia Peak. It is lush with branches and leaves, laden with green fruit. Under the tree are a stone table and several bamboo chairs.

At this moment, a steaming earthenware pot was placed in the center of the stone table, containing a stewed spirit sheep and chicken. Next to it was a steamed blue carp, several side dishes, and a pot of spirit wine, filling the table to the brim.

Chen Qing, Xiao Chunan, Xu Gui, and a young woman sat around a stone table under the moonlight.

The girl looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, with a baby face and a petite figure. She wore the same blue disciple robe as Chen Qing, but the material was clearly a level higher than Chen Qing's. The cuffs were embroidered with a circle of silver thread, a privilege reserved for disciples personally taught by a Golden Core cultivator.

It was Xiao Chunan's younger sister—

Xiao Chunu.

At this moment, Xiao Chunu was puffing out her cheeks, looking angrily at her brother.

"Brother! What's wrong with you?!"

Xiao Chunu slammed her hand on the table, making the plate of steamed carp jump. Her voice was crisp and clear like a series of bullets. "I'm your own sister! My own sister! Not an outsider! My master gave me more pills than I could use, so what's wrong with sharing half with you?"

"Can't you use it all?"

Xiao Chunan didn't even lift her eyelids, picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks and stuffed it into her mouth, mumbling, "You call that having too much? Last month you bought five bottles of Qingyuan Pills in one go, and then you turned around and stuffed three bottles into my hands. Do you think I didn't know?"

"Well, that's because my master said that taking too much Qingyuan Pill can cause poisoning, and I should wait a while before taking it again!"

Xiao Chunu said matter-of-factly, her face flushed red, "I just don't need it right now, it's just sitting there anyway, what's wrong with giving it to you?"

"Is it just sitting there anyway?"

Xiao Chunan looked at her younger sister speechlessly, "Then why don't you give them to someone else? Your senior brothers and sisters also have suitors, don't they?"

"They're not my brothers!"

Xiao Chunu pouted, her voice tinged with grievance, "My master is Lingyun Zhenren, a direct disciple of a Golden Core Zhenren. He's never lacked resources. If you were willing to accept these pills, you'd already be at the sixth level of Qi Refining!"

Lingyun Zhenren.

The Golden Elixir Master of Danxia Peak, whose Daoist name is Lingyun, has been studying alchemy for over two hundred years and is considered a prominent figure among the Golden Elixir Masters of Lingyun Sect.

Xiao Chunu was chosen by her when she entered the sect at the age of eight and was taken in as her last disciple. She was pampered and never lacked resources.

Xiao Chunan put down his chopsticks, straightened his expression, looked directly at Xiao Chunu, and said, word by word, "Chunu, I've told you many times. I, Xiao Chunan, am an upright person and will never accept help from others, not even my own sister."

He raised his hand and placed it on the hilt of his sword, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance:

"I, Xiao Chunan, stand tall and upright! I cultivate the way of the sword, and I walk the righteous path! My sword, when drawn, will be as clear as the bright sun in the sky, untouched by a speck of dust!"

"If I even need my sister's support to cultivate, how can my sword remain upright? How can my heart remain righteous? How can I continue practicing my swordsmanship?"

He spoke these words with unwavering conviction and resounding force, and coupled with his dignified demeanor, he truly possessed the spirit of a swordsman.

Chen Qing and Xu Gui exchanged a glance and silently shook their heads.

Again.

Every time the brother and sister meet, they put on this show.

One person tried desperately to force the food in, while the other, concerned with saving face, refused to budge. After a long tug-of-war, neither could convince the other.

Chen Qing glanced at Xiao Chunan, speechless.

Not a speck of dust on it?

Why didn't you say that when we were eating chicken and fish together?

Xiao Chunan had his own reasons for this: How is it not the right way to earn a living through one's own abilities?

Of course it won't be stained by dust!

Thinking of this, Chen Qing couldn't help but laugh out loud. Xiao Chunan happened to catch him and asked, "Chen Qing, what are you laughing at?"

"No, no, my teeth are just a little hot, I'm taking them out to cool down!"

Chen Qing quickly stopped smiling and turned his gaze to Xiao Chunu. Speaking of which, this Xiao Chunu was truly gifted.

She possesses dual spiritual roots and is the same age as Chen Qing. At twenty years old, she reached the eighth level of Qi Refining a month ago. At this rate, Chen Qing estimates that she will be able to break through to Foundation Establishment in at most ten years.

This is definitely considered outstanding among the younger generation of Lingyun Sect.

Not only is he highly talented in cultivating immortality, but he's also skilled in alchemy, and with a Golden Core cultivator as his backer, he never lacks cultivation resources...

Then look at yourself...

Chen Qing silently sensed the shallow pool of spiritual energy in his dantian. After a year of arduous cultivation, he had only just broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refining three days ago.

"At times like these, thinking too much will only bring tears."

Chen Qing silently complained to himself, then pulled himself out of his thoughts and continued munching on the green dates.

Over there, Xiao Chunu's face flushed red and then turned pale after her brother's words. Her mouth opened and closed repeatedly before she finally managed to utter:

"But, but..."

"But what 'but'?"

Xiao Chunan flicked her forehead, and Xiao Chunu cried out "Ouch!" while covering her forehead. "I'm not a good-for-nothing, why do you need to worry about me? I can manage on my own."

"Ouch!" Xiao Chunu rubbed her forehead. "You're just too proud! I'm not an outsider!"

"It has nothing to do with saving face."

Xiao Chunan shook her head, her tone unusually gentle, "Chunu, you have your path, and I have mine. Wouldn't it be better if we each went our own way?"

"But I just want to help you..."

Xiao Chunu muttered softly, her voice growing softer and softer until it became a mosquito's hum.

"Alright, alright," Xu Gui interjected at the right moment, smiling as he smoothed things over. "Little Chu girl, you know your brother's stubborn as a mule. Why are you arguing with him? Come on, eat your food. This fish won't be fresh if it gets cold."

"That's right, that's right." Chen Qing chimed in, and casually picked up a piece of fish for Xiao Chunu. "Sister Chunu, try this. It's the fattest one that Xiao Chunan caught from his fishpond. The meat is much better than what you get in the canteen."

Xiao Chunu glared at Xiao Chunan, then angrily picked up a piece of fish and stuffed it into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster.

Xiao Chunan shook her head helplessly, said no more, and took a sip of the spirit wine.

The atmosphere gradually eased.

The group ate and chatted, discussing everything from anecdotes about their sect to cultivation experiences, from the habits of spirit beasts to pill formulas and pharmacology, creating a lively atmosphere.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Xiao Chunan finished his drink and suddenly said, "By the way, there's something I want to tell you."

He put down his wine glass, a sharp glint in his eyes:

"I expect to break through to the sixth level of Qi Refining within a year at most."

Chen Qing's eyes lit up: "So fast?"

"Hmm." Xiao Chunan nodded. "My cultivation has been exceptionally smooth these past six months, and my understanding of swordsmanship has deepened considerably. Breaking through to the sixth level is only a matter of time."

He paused, his voice now carrying a hint of pride:

"Moreover, I am confident that I will reach the seventh level of the late stage of Qi Refining within five years! At that time, I will also compete for the position of one of the Three Sword Heroes."

"The Three Heroes of Sword Cry?" Xu Gui became interested.

"That's right." Xiao Chunan explained, "This is a private title we at Sword Echo Peak have given. The three strongest among the more than three hundred Qi Refining disciples are called the Three Heroes."

"The three outstanding talents of this generation are Sun Wei, Gao Fu, and Xie Kun. They are all at the ninth level of Qi Refining, and they are not far from the perfection of the tenth level of Qi Refining. These three are extremely strong. Even if there are more than a dozen senior brothers at the perfection of Qi Refining on the peak, they are no match for the three of them in a one-on-one situation."

Chen Qing listened silently without interrupting.

He wasn't interested in these fighting and killing. The disciples of Beast Taming Peak relied on spirit beasts to fight, and he only needed to command and coordinate from behind. Why would he need to personally go into battle?

No matter how famous the Three Sword Heroes are, it has nothing to do with him.

"What's wrong? Are you tempted?" Xiao Chunan teased with a smile when he saw that he didn't speak.

"No." Chen Qing shook his head. "I'm fine with Beast Taming Peak. All that fighting and killing on Sword Echo Peak isn't for me."

"You," Xiao Chunan shook her head helplessly, "you have no spirit at all."

"I call it composure," Chen Qing said seriously.

Xu Gui laughed heartily: "Being steady is good; being steady means living a long life."

Xiao Chunu couldn't help but laugh out loud, and her previous displeasure vanished.

A gentle night breeze rustled the leaves of the jujube tree, and a few ripe jujubes fell from the branches, landing on the stone table with a crisp sound.

Chen Qing picked up one, took a bite, and the sweet and sour juice burst in her mouth. She then picked up two more and handed them to Qingtian and Danyu behind her. Qingtian squeaked and quickly took them; Danyu, however, turned her head slightly and refused Chen Qing's kindness.

Chen Qing thought for a moment before realizing that it was picked up from the ground, and then silently handed it to Qingtian.

In the distance, the Twelve Peaks of Lingyun appeared and disappeared in the moonlight, with occasional flashes of sword light streaking across the night sky like shooting stars.

In this world, the path to immortality stretches far and wide.

The four people and two beasts sat around the stone table, chatting, laughing, eating, and drinking, quite content.