Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 509 All personnel have arrived. First Peak, Qiyun Peak, is ready to descend the mountain!

First, they gathered at Xiaoqing Peak, then Nie Qingzhu led them to Qiyun Peak.

You arrived at Shoujing Hall 15 minutes early as agreed.

Unexpected!

A graceful figure stood quietly before the hall.

Qi Ling stood gracefully in the breeze, dressed in a flowing, smoky purple gown. Her features were exquisite, with a touch of vermilion at the corner of her eye. She was gazing at the couplet above the "Hall of Tranquility."

The first line reads: "If every step is difficult, then stand firm on your feet."

The second line reads: "When one is high in the sky, it is even more advisable to have a calm and peaceful mind."

This couplet is said to have been inscribed by a patriarch of Xiaoqingfeng.

A misty spiritual aura swirled around Qi Ling, with faint crimson light flickering within, like the morning glow reflecting off snow, making her beauty even more radiant.

[His aura was harmonious and clear, and every gesture exuded a natural Daoist charm—he had clearly achieved the unity of his primordial spirit and reached the early stage of the Dao Embryo realm.]

In the past two years, Qi Ling's reputation among the senior disciples of Xiao Qingfeng has been virtually unquestionable, even surpassing that of Lü Qingyu at one point.

The girl sensed something behind her, her aura vanished, and she suddenly turned around, greeting him with a smile, "Senior Brother Zhou, long time no see."

"Junior Sister Qi."

You were somewhat surprised, not only by this woman's cultivation level, but also by the fact that she knew you; the last time you met was two years ago.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they had nothing more to say and waited quietly for the rest of their fellow disciples.

A moment later, three more disciples arrived—two men and one woman.

[You know two of your fellow students who entered the sect at the same time.]

[One of them was as burly as an iron tower, carrying a broadsword on his back, with a kind and honest face; his name was Haojie.]

This young man has mastered the secret technique "Surprising Cloud and Thunder Control Sword," and his reputation as a "hero" is truly well-deserved. He is known for his generosity and righteousness on Little Green Peak, often standing up for others and fighting against disciples from other peaks, earning him a great reputation.

The other was small in stature, with a shrewd look in his eyes; his name was Tu Ying.

[It is said that this young man possesses extraordinary talent in earth-based magic, having mastered the "Earth-based Technique," a skill few can learn, and is a disciple whom Xiao Qingfeng is focusing on cultivating.]

The remaining woman entered the sect with Shen Qingxue the following year and was the most outstanding among that cohort; otherwise, she wouldn't have been granted such exceptional status. Her cultivation had already advanced to the early stage of the Solidifying Spirit realm.

This girl was extremely beautiful, with skin as smooth as freshly frozen snow, yet her peach blossom eyes held a hint of arrogance. Her name was Jian Susu.

The three of them greeted Qi Ling warmly, "Senior Sister Qi."

Heroes smile at you, Tu Xing merely nods, but Jian Susu "intentionally" ignores you.

You see it all, yet you don't care.

Among the five of you, Qi Ling is undoubtedly the number one person of Xiao Qingfeng, and a disciple of an elder.

Of the four, the lowest cultivation level is the early stage of the Solidifying Spirit realm, while yours, at the mid-stage of the Body Shaping realm, seems somewhat out of place.

Moreover, you were the last person to join, and the other four had already met you several times, so they inevitably have some different feelings towards you.

Although the decision was made by the elders, there were still those who disagreed.

[It's precisely Chen Shi (7-9 AM)!]

Nie Qingzhu arrived gracefully, leading you to Qiyun Peak.

Qiyun Peak is the head of the eighteen branches of Fangcun Mountain. All three sect leaders came from this peak, and even the current sect leader of Fangcun Mountain, Daoist Zihua, who is renowned throughout the cultivation world, is from the Qiyun Peak branch.

[You didn't use an ordinary flying artifact, but instead formed a hand seal, causing the clouds beneath your feet to surge and condense into a cyan sword shadow. This is your improved "Sword Escape Technique," which not only boasts astonishing speed but also contains the subtlety of spatial teleportation, allowing you to traverse thousands of miles in the blink of an eye.]

Qi Ling's eyes flickered slightly, her gaze falling on your unique escape technique. The others either rode swords or magical artifacts, all relying on external objects to fly, but you alone transformed your technique into a sword, your escape light as bright as a rainbow.

[Flying with magical artifacts consumes no mana and is even faster!]

That's strange!

Qi Ling has a deep impression of you because two years ago, when Dragon Head Peak and Yaohua Peak were paying homage to each other, you defeated the disciple of Dragon Head Peak, showing your talent for the first time.

I thought that after this battle, you would surely make a name for yourself, but unexpectedly, you disappeared from the public eye for the next two years without any further activity.

[Qi Ling noticed your gaze and quietly looked away, saying nothing more.]

[Jian Susu looked at your sword-flying technique with some disdain. In the cultivation world, only rogue cultivators use spells to fly.]

Tu Ying smiled slightly upon seeing this.

The hero sat directly on the broadsword behind him.

A moment later, the group of six flew into the sea of ​​clouds.

As you gaze into the distance, Qiyun Peak appears like an ancient, colossal sword, piercing the sea of ​​clouds and pointing straight to the heavens.

The summit, perpetually covered in snow, gleams golden in the morning sun, standing proudly atop the surrounding peaks, truly deserving of its title as the highest peak of Fangcun Mountain.

[Nie Qingzhu's voice rang out, "At Qiyun Peak, this time I'm leading you through the trials as a true disciple of Fangcun Mountain. It's good for you to see this, so you won't be frogs in a well."]

"However, although our Little Green Peak cannot compare to its foundation, when you're out in the world, don't be afraid of trouble. If anything happens, the peak will cover for you."

All five of you responded in unison.

"You must observe and learn more," Nie Qingzhu earnestly advised. "When we cultivators travel across the four continents and encounter demons and heretics, the key to victory or defeat never lies in the level of our magical power or the depth of our cultivation, but in the word 'caution.' Eight or nine out of ten of those still developing prodigies perish because of carelessness."

[Upon hearing this, you couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. In the Central Plains of Yuzhou, you had encountered quite a few demons, but you had indeed never seen any heretical cultivators.]

[You are no longer the naive disciple who first entered the sect. Over the years, you have read extensively from the library's collection, and the breadth of your knowledge is no less than that of any elder specializing in a particular lineage.]

The origins of the Nine Schools of Heretical Paths are profound and far-reaching, in no way inferior to the Nine Sects of Orthodox Paths. In fact, the lineages of some of these schools can be considered the progenitors of the cultivation world.

For example, the "Star Sect," the leader of the heretical sects, traces its lineage back to the "Starry Sky Sect" of ancient times. Their "Zhou Tian Xing Chen Tu" (Celestial Chart of the Heavens) encompasses everything and is infinitely profound. It is said that upon mastering it, one can draw upon the power of the nine heavens' stars, truly a manifest and profound Daoist art.

[For example, the "Golden Turtle Island" of the unorthodox sects has been the abode of banished immortals since ancient times, shrouded in mystery. Even the "Records of Grotto-Heavens" from Fangcun Mountain lists it as the first of the seventy-two blessed lands, demonstrating its exalted status.]

[However, the paths taken by unorthodox sects are mostly miscellaneous and unorthodox. Among them are many strange techniques such as "invoking gods," "driving corpses," and "burying swords."]

Although there are three thousand methods of cultivation, all of which can lead to enlightenment, in the eyes of those self-proclaimed orthodox cultivators, unorthodox paths are ultimately considered lowly and unworthy of respect.

[While he was pondering this, Nie Qingzhu had already led everyone to a cloud platform on Qiyun Peak.]

[Dozens of people were already waiting on the jade-paved plaza. As soon as the six of you landed, all eyes converged on you like swords, their gazes mostly scrutinizing.]

[At the center of the cloud platform.]

A tall, middle-aged man stood like a sword planted in the square, his aura deep and unwavering.

It's hard not to attract attention!

[You only sensed it slightly, but you're at the late stage of the Heavenly Gate realm, and your cultivation is solid. It seems your three flowers on the top of your head have already gathered, and you're only one step away from advancing to the Dragon Court realm.]

The heroes were all overwhelmed by his imposing presence. An elder who had casually arrived from Qi Yun Peak possessed a cultivation level far exceeding that of all the elders from Xiao Qing Peak, and their expressions became somewhat restrained.

Seeing this, the man's sharp brows relaxed, and he quickly stepped forward to greet him: "Elder Nie, you've come from afar, it must be tiring."

Nie Qingzhu simply nodded.

The five of you followed them into the main hall, where thirty-six majestic dragon pillars stood tall, each adorned with a lifelike stone dragon, its eyes inlaid with luminous pearls that emitted a soft, clear light.

[Tall and imposing!] [Inside the main hall, a dozen or so disciples with extraordinary bearing stood quietly on either side, each with a restrained divine aura, and a subtle glint of light flowing between their robes—presumably the disciples from Qiyun Peak participating in the trial.]

The four members of Xiao Qingfeng were all taken aback. These ten or so people were about their age, and should all be newly initiated disciples, yet their cultivation had already reached the Dao Embryo realm, with some even at the mid-stage of the Dao Embryo realm.

Despite the disparity in their abilities, Qi Ling remained composed, while the other three looked rather somber.

Qi Yun Peak truly lives up to its reputation as the number one peak among the eighteen peaks of Fangcun Mountain.

Only then did you learn from the whispers of others that this guiding elder was named Hong Tao, and held the high-ranking position of Deputy Hall Master of the Transmission Hall on Qiyun Peak.

The two elders sat in the seats of honor, while Hong Tao, as the "host" of the place, seemed somewhat awkward, refilling Nie Qingzhu's teacup with hot tea.

"This is Jade Heart Ice Tea, freshly picked this morning from the summit of Qiyun Peak. Elder Nie, please try it and see if it suits your taste."

[Nie Qingzhu took a small sip, and as the tea entered her throat, a faint light flashed between her brows: "Excellent tea. Legend has it that this tea grows on a towering ice cliff, yielding only one harvest every five years. Drinking it can aid a cultivator's spiritual connection and may even trigger a state of sudden enlightenment."]

Upon hearing this, Elder Hong Tao of Qi Yunfeng smiled and said, "If Elder Nie likes it, I've prepared a few pounds of tea leaves here for you to take back and enjoy at your leisure."

Nie Qingzhu's gaze swept over you almost imperceptibly, and she nodded slightly, acknowledging your acceptance.

Although this elder from Qi Yunfeng was trying his best to maintain a composed expression, he couldn't quite suppress the corners of his mouth.

Hong Tao said, "Elder Nie, is this chair comfortable? If not, I'll have someone replace it."

【"fine!"】

Hong Tao hurriedly took out a plate of spiritual fruits from his Qiankun bag: "These are specially prepared Azure Cloud Fruits, kept in ice, and they are still fresh."

Nie Qingzhu raised an eyebrow slightly: "Elder Hong." The teacup paused lightly on the table. "It's time to get down to business."

"Okay, okay, okay!"

The four members of Xiaoqing Peak exchanged bewildered glances, and even the disciples of Qiyun Peak looked surprised.

Elder Hong, who is usually known for his seriousness, seems... somewhat different today.

Hong Tao's expression suddenly turned serious, and he summoned his four disciples: "Tao Ziming, Yang Chen, you two will lead the team this time. You must protect our junior brothers and sisters from Xiaoqing Peak."

"Be extremely careful and avoid any mistakes."

Two people stepped out of the queue, a man and a woman, with strikingly different demeanors.

The girl appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, with arched eyebrows and full cheeks; her figure looked slender but was actually quite plump.

Her brows furrowed slightly, her expression cool and aloof, her gaze lingering only briefly on Qi Ling.

The boy was obese, his round body stretching his sect's Taoist robes to a tighter fit. His face was covered in acne, and his features were crowded together, yet he appeared quite kind.

At this moment, he looked at you with some surprise in his large, beady eyes.

As for why?

[You quickly realized that the young man's physique was too easily recognizable, and that he consistently went to the library every day; you had seen him there many times before.]

Seeing this, Hong Tao asked, "Yang Chen, do you know this junior brother?"

The portly disciple, Yang Chen, respectfully replied, "Reporting to the elder, I don't recognize him, but I've seen him several times in the library, so I have a strong impression of him."

The boy's name is Yang Chen, and the woman should be Tao Ziming.

Hong Tao seemed to trust Yang Chen completely, simply nodding without saying anything more.

He looked at Nie Qingzhu again and said in a gentle tone, "Elder Nie, is there anything else you would like to say?"

[Nie Qingzhu looked at Tao Ziming and Qi Yunfeng, a satisfied expression on her face. She had assumed that only the four of them would be traveling with the other disciples, but Hong Tao had unexpectedly arranged for two disciples at the mid-stage of the Dao Embryo realm to lead the group.]

"Thank you so much, Elder Hong. I'm truly flattered."

"Haha, it's alright. Little Green Peak has reopened its gates, and we, Qiyun Peak, should do our part."

"The eighteen meridians are all interconnected... there should be frequent exchanges between the two peaks."

Nie Qingzhu smiled, "Qi Yunfeng is indeed the model and leader of Fangcun Mountain."

She looked at the four of you below and said, "On your journey down the mountain, be careful. In all decisions, you must obey the orders of your two senior brothers and sisters."

The four responded in unison.

[You didn't expect that after Xiaoqing Peak opened its gates, it would face both the selection of disciples and the challenge from the two peaks of Longshou Peak. This trial is unlikely to be easy.]

[Unexpectedly, instead of the cold shoulder he was expected from Qi Yunfeng, he was treated with such courtesy.]

[It's obvious to anyone with eyes that this wasn't due to Xiao Qingfeng's connections, but rather Elder Nie using personal influence.]

However, Elder Hong seemed to be enjoying it as well.

[With the two Qi Yun Peak disciples receiving their orders, your group departed the main hall in the morning light.]

Watching the group's departing figures, Nie Qingzhu thought, "I hope everything goes smoothly this time."

[We've left the main peak!]

Instead of using a magical artifact, Yang Chen produced a command talisman from his sleeve.

[As a flash of light appeared, a jade treasure ship slowly sailed out from the sea of ​​clouds—the ship was over six zhang long, entirely crafted from thousand-year-old spiritual wood, and its prow was carved with a lifelike dragon-like creature.]

The portholes on both sides were inlaid with intermediate-level spirit-gathering arrays, and several flowering star spirit trees had even been transplanted onto the deck, emitting a faint spiritual energy that was refreshing and invigorating.

"This is the Qiyun Ferry Boat; disciples within the peak can use it for any mission."

Yang Chen smiled and pointed to the second-floor observation deck: "Each person has a private quiet room, and each ferry has an array that automatically absorbs spiritual energy and operates; you only need to control the direction."

He specifically showed off the spiritual tea grown in the lower spiritual fields, saying, "If you're feeling weary from a long journey, you can pick some spiritual tea to relieve your fatigue."

The four members of Xiao Qingfeng exchanged bewildered glances, all stunned by Qi Yunfeng's extravagance. Was this flying magical artifact, comparable to a small cave dwelling, merely a standard mission's provision?

There's no harm without comparison.

[Especially the short and thin Tu Xing, whose eyes were full of envy for Xiao Qingfeng.]

On the contrary, the burly and imposing hero paid no heed.

The two disciples of Xiao Qingfeng reacted differently.

After boarding, the green boat began its voyage towards the sea of ​​clouds.

[Two disciples from Qiyun Peak, Su Ziming, with an indifferent expression, merely greeted the others before entering the meditation room to cultivate.]

On the contrary, this chubby senior brother, Yang Chen, was happily explaining things to the four of you.

"Junior Sister Zimo, she just has this aloof personality. Don't take it to heart; she's quite well-known on Qiyun Peak."

[Jian Susu, another woman from Xiaoqing Peak, became more enthusiastic and asked with a charming smile, "Senior Brother, how long has Senior Sister Tao been a disciple?"]

"Junior Sister Zimo, you've been a disciple for four years now."

[This senior brother Qi Yunfeng, however, looked at you, who were admiring the sea of ​​clouds behind you, and asked with considerable interest.]

"Junior Brother Zhou, when did you begin your training?"

(End of this chapter)