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

Chapter 525 The Supreme Grandmaster, the Feng Shui of Little Green Peak?

"Old man, how come you look so refreshed today!"

Your eyes flickered, and you noticed a young woman in green robes in the spirit garden—Lü Qingyu.

"Senior Sister Lü is here too!"

[When Lü Qingyu saw you come in, she deliberately didn't look at you or answer.]

The old man grinned, "Of course, it's because something wonderful has happened."

[You understand now. The topic that's been making headlines today is that an elder from Little Green Peak overpowered nine cultivators of the same Dragon Court realm.]

Not only Xiaoqingfeng, but even Fangcun Mountain is known to everyone.

[Ordinary disciples might not know, but among the true disciples and various lineages, Nian Wubei's reputation was naturally "renowned."]

[Your eyes gleamed with a jade-like light as you looked again at the old man, only to see that the crimson murderous aura within his dantian had been suppressed and greatly diminished.]

[It seems the Marrow Cleansing Pill he took last night had a remarkable effect.]

You smiled and said, "It seems my disciple will have to benefit from your old age from now on."

"Though old, he remains vigorous and possesses the potential to attain the Golden Elixir of the Great Dao."

Although I see you offering heartfelt congratulations in my old age, I always feel something is off; there seems to be a veiled criticism.

"Go away, I always feel like you're hiding something, like you're holding back a grudge."

[Lu Qingyu, standing to the side, could tell that the elderly man was in a very good mood.]

Yesterday's battle, which shook Fencun Mountain, was described by Elder Nie as "like killing a chicken." But everyone knows how terrifying it is to suppress nine cultivators of the same realm single-handedly.

In the cultivation world, strength is revered. Although the old man was unpretentious, as a great cultivator at the Dragon Court realm, Lü Qingyu couldn't help but feel a sense of awe, speaking cautiously and not daring to engage in casual conversation.

However, Zhou Jing seemed unaffected by old age; their interactions remained natural.

The boy seemed to have come from the mountain looking exactly like this, giving off an indescribable feeling of being both ordinary and extraordinary. Even though he stood right in front of you, you always felt as if there was an inexplicable veil between you and him, making you want to explore further.

However, Zhou Jing... he's really annoying.

Thinking of this, Lü Qingyu let out another cold snort.

Nian Wubei raised his eyes slightly. "Young Jing, Elder Nie is looking for you. Just go with Qingyu."

[Lü Qingyu quickly said, "Elder Nie, I'm here to inquire about the trial with Junior Brother Zhou. Please don't misunderstand!"]

The old man hummed in response, closed his eyes to rest, and the reclining chair creaked gently as it rocked.

After quickly tidying up the spirit garden, you followed Lü Qingyu out the door. As the morning light streamed in, the two walked one after the other towards the back of Little Green Peak.

A thin mist drifted across the back of Xiaoqingfeng Mountain in the early morning.

[You follow behind Lü Qingyu, your mind replaying last night's "Seven Treasures Mystic Manual," trying to figure out where the essence of these seven true spirits can be found, or rather, where their corpses can be located.]

[Among the four continents, the overseas regions of the heretical sects have the most true spirits, with even several true spirits residing among the nine streams of Buddhism.]

[This is a problem? Perhaps we really should go to the Easternmost Azure Continent overseas to find the Old Ant and investigate?]

[Old ant, don't go back to your nest and turn your back on us. What kind of 'Young Master Nian' is this? Don't tell me you're some 'You surnamed Nian'!]

Lü Qingyu walked ahead alone, sometimes fast, sometimes slow.

The boy behind him, however, was lost in thought and didn't utter a single word of casual conversation.

[As she walked along, Lü Qingyu grew increasingly angry and aggrieved. Suddenly, she stopped and turned to look at you.]

"You bastard, Zhou Jing!"

"I've treated you so well all this time, and now that you have a junior sister, you've forgotten all my kindness! You heartless bastard!"

You looked up in surprise and saw a young woman in green with her eyebrows raised and her almond-shaped eyes filled with reproach.

You paused for a moment, then asked, "Senior Sister Lü, what's wrong?"

This "ingratitude" is so cryptic it's hard to even begin to describe, leaving you completely bewildered.

Seeing you like this, the girl felt a lump in her throat, her eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and she stomped her foot hard.

[You're not stupid. Thinking back to yesterday's trial, you were so focused on dealing with the pests in the spirit field that you forgot to visit Lü Qingyu. Two days have passed in the blink of an eye.]

After all, she had worked hard to secure this opportunity for you.

Just as you were about to speak, a familiar fluctuation of spiritual energy emanated from within the bamboo forest.

[What a coincidence! Amidst the swaying bamboo shadows, that fellow disciple You unexpectedly appeared once again.]

This time, however, he didn't wait outside the bamboo grove as usual; instead, he strolled out along another path.

The short, stout Taoist priest frowned as he sized you up.

[Lü Qingyu immediately composed herself, sniffed, and said normally, "Senior Brother You."]

You Sanfeng's expression softened, and he said gently, "Junior Sister, no noise is allowed on the back mountain."

You greeted him, but the short, stout Taoist priest walked straight past you without giving you a second glance.

Lü Qingyu and You Sanfeng walked forward side by side.

You lagged behind, slowly walking into the back of the mountain.

Upon reaching the stone archway at the entrance to the back mountain, the three stopped simultaneously.

Although you were granted special permission by Nie Qingzhu to freely enter and exit the back mountain last time, you always kept to your proper place and never overstepped the bounds.

[Lü Qingyu went in alone to report.]

[Only you and You Sanfeng remain.]

[You might as well keep your eyes down and your mind at ease. Since this Senior Brother You clearly doesn't like you, there's no need to embarrass yourself. With a calm mind, you immerse yourself once again in the profound mysteries of the *Seven Treasures of Physiognomy*.]

Within a few breaths, he had entered a state of complete absorption in the world around him.

[You Sanfeng glanced at you briefly, noticing your calm and even breathing with your eyes closed, and his pupils narrowed slightly.]

[About the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.]

Suddenly, you felt your mind clear and sensed Lü Qingyu's presence approaching from afar, so you opened your eyes.

"Senior Brother You, please follow me," said Lü Qingyu.

[You Sanfeng was taken aback upon hearing this, a glint of light flashing in his eyes before disappearing again. He clearly hadn't expected such special treatment; he had assumed you would be the one to enter first.]

He straightened his clothes and followed the girl in blue inside.

At the mountain gate, you stand alone.

[You, however, seemed unconcerned, and closed your eyes again to regulate your breathing. Your spiritual energy flowed like a stream around a stone, seamlessly blending with the mountain's spiritual energy.]

Morning dew clings to your brows and eyelashes, glistening like pearls in the sunlight.

[For you, spiritual practice has no fixed abode.]

[In the past, working the fields in Qinghe County was a form of spiritual practice; today, standing here and waiting is also a form of spiritual practice.]

You couldn't help but smile, seemingly understanding the meaning behind the name of this Fangcun Mountain, the blessed land of Xieyue Sanxing Cave.

If one's heart is set on seeking the Way, then everywhere is a small mountain to climb.

[During these two months of trials, although you did not deliberately strive for a breakthrough, your Dragon Court Realm has already reached perfection.]

[At this moment, you are using the secret technique of the "Primordial Fire House Suppressing World Diagram" to seal your spiritual apertures for the ninth time. With each layer of restriction, the visualized fire house suffers an additional calamity.]

[You are not in a hurry to break through your cultivation level. Above the Dragon Court, there is currently only the Golden Core stage of the Great Dao.]

Within Fangcun Mountain, those who achieve the Great Dao Golden Core are invariably either lineage leaders or reclusive Supreme Elders. Across the Four Continents, such figures are extremely rare, truly among the elite of this era. The Great Dao Golden Core represents the pinnacle of cultivation; there is no higher realm in this world. However, even among Golden Core cultivators, the difference in strength is far greater than that between those at the Dragon Court Realm—

The Great Dao Golden Elixir is divided into three realms.

[First, the Golden Core has reached its peak after nine transformations, the physical body is perfectly cultivated, the Nine Heavenly Tribulations have been overcome, and the individual briefly entered the realm of merging with the Dao, a state known in the cultivation world as the "True Lord" realm.]

[Secondly, upon reaching the Golden Core stage and achieving perfect cultivation, having found the method to enter the Dao and survived the Twenty-Nine Heavenly Tribulations, one is known in the cultivation world as the "Great True Lord" realm. This realm is the level of the sect leaders of the nine righteous sects.]

[Third, by destroying inner and outer demons and passing through the Three Nine Heavenly Tribulations, one can successively perfect the three paths of Heaven, Earth, and Man, and be known as the "Supreme Grandmaster." The most powerful true spirits in the world can briefly possess this realm during their peak period.]

The reason why the four continents can stand in a tripartite balance between righteousness, evil, and heretics is—

Each of the three families possesses a supreme grandmaster.

[It could also be said that, openly, only these three people in the world have reached this level.]

These three "beings" have long since retired from the world, all dedicated to comprehending the elusive concept of "ascension."

[You suddenly recall the ancestral master of the Imperial Capital, whom Xiao Qingfeng worships. Ancient texts record that he reached the pinnacle of the Golden Core realm, and after creating the all-powerful sword technique "Taiyuan Yiyang Sword," he was able to leave it freely within Fangcun Mountain.]

This detached and otherworldly demeanor makes you vaguely feel that this patriarch's realm is probably more than just simple.

What intrigues you even more is the white-clad woman you encountered during the trial, a "reappearance" of the woman in the painting. If this is true, her cultivation level is likely even more unfathomable.

You look up at the sky and suddenly realize that this world, seemingly bright and clear, actually holds too many secrets.

【"Um!?"】

Suddenly, your pupils contracted, and your gaze pierced through layers of mountain mist, catching sight of a wisp of black, malevolent energy, thinner than a hair, winding its way into the air like a snake within the spiritual veins of the back mountain.

[That aura—!]

[You channeled all your magical power to its limit, your eyes bulged, and three feet of purple energy billowed from your pupils.]

[The fourth level of the Jade Emperor's Art of Observing Qi—"Observing the Pivot of Mountains and Rivers"—allows one to see the entire landscape, its origins and course, all within sight.]

After a few breaths, your aura subsided once more.

[You've seen this aura many times before; it's the "Seven Killing Sword Intent" that lingers on the old man.]

However, this sword energy is more condensed, almost merging with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Unless you are extremely familiar with this energy, you would hardly be able to detect it.

There's only one explanation for this!

Is someone practicing the Seven Killings Sword Manual on the back mountain of Little Green Peak?

As for who it is, it seems quite easy to guess. The back mountain is a forbidden area, and the peak master is currently in seclusion.

[No way, the peak master of Little Green Peak is going to switch to demonic cultivation?]

The former peak master went mad from practicing the Seven Kill Sword Manual and slaughtered the entire Xiaoqing Peak.

Now, is the second-generation peak master going to do it again?

You rubbed your temples, and suddenly many of your doubts made sense. Previously, you'd thought the various factions were targeting Xiao Qingfeng because of old grudges, and you'd even felt indignant about it.

Looking back now, I really did cry at the wrong grave.

[Someone within Fangcun Mountain had already noticed this, which is why nine people came to Xiaoqing Peak together yesterday.]

[The most noteworthy thing is!]

The sword energy, like a fishing line, stretched out into the unknown. Even with the keen eyesight of the "Viewer of Mountains and Rivers," which could travel thousands of miles, its end remained unseen.

This "Seven Killing Sword Manual" is strange in every way.

The current peak master is likely at the first level of the Great Dao Realm, and has not yet reached perfection.

[You learned from your old age that the peak master of that time had already passed the Nine Heavens Tribulation and become a Great Dao Lord, but he was still affected and suffered a backlash from the sword technique.]

This is clearly leaving a sharp sword hanging over Xiao Qingfeng's head, ready to fall at any moment!

[Xiao Qingfeng truly embodies the saying, "One's character is shaped by the environment."]

[This is indeed a troublesome matter. A madman at the Golden Core stage of the Great Dao, who cultivates the Seven Kill Sword Manual, possesses top-tier combat strength. With your current cultivation level, you're probably in trouble.]

It seems that cultivation cannot be slow either.

[Refocus your attention and continue to study the precious skill you acquired yesterday.]

Unbeknownst to many, the sun had quietly climbed to its zenith. Warm sunlight filtered through the bamboo groves, casting dappled patterns of light on the ground.

The chirping of cicadas adds a touch of life to the tranquil mountain forest.

[When You Sanfeng emerged from the back mountain and saw you still waiting outside, his furrowed brows relaxed.]

"Junior Brother Zhou, you are truly fortunate. I never imagined Elder Nian would be so unassuming, possessing such profound cultivation."

The short, stout Taoist priest suddenly stopped, brushed past you, and transmitted a profound message to you, imbued with spiritual energy.

"Zhou Jing, an elder at the Dragon Court realm can be a powerful backer. But as I said before, don't provoke Qingyu, or no one can protect you."

After saying that, he left.

You frowned, not because of You Sanfeng's words, but because when he spoke, his gaze had been subtly fixed on the wisp of sword energy rising into the sky behind the mountain.

[Does it seem strange?]

[With your cultivation level, even without the Jade Emperor's Qi Observation Technique, it would be difficult to detect. How could this Senior Brother You, who is only at the Dao Embryo Realm, possibly detect it?]

At this moment, Lü Qingyu had already walked out.

"Junior Brother Zhou, Elder Nie requests your presence."

[You noticed that Senior Sister Lü glanced away, ignoring you.]

Your grandfather told you that although women are troublesome, you shouldn't ignore them, otherwise the trouble will only get worse.

You walked up to Lü Qingyu, took a brocade box from your sleeve, and placed it in her hand.

"Senior sister, this is a gift I brought back for you from the mountain."

"A gift? What gift? Who wants your gift? You've probably given them to all the junior sisters already. I don't want one."

"One of a kind."

【"real?"】

"Absolutely true."

[When Lü Qingyu opened it, she found a three-inch-tall white snake Guanyin statue, its glaze glowing with a clear luster, its body as smooth as jade, and every detail of the snake's scales clearly visible.]

The girl's eyes, reflecting the compassionate image of Guanyin, seemed to shift and change with the light.

This is what you obtained in the Xu family's porcelain house.

[The work of a heretical demon is naturally no ordinary piece; it can be considered a masterpiece of Southern Kiln.]

[Lü Qingyu's eyes lit up. "So beautiful."]

You aptly remarked, "Not even a fraction as good as my senior sister."

[Lü Qingyu snorted, "Smooth-tongued."]

She then turned around and asked with concern, "I was terrified when I heard what happened during your trial. I'm so glad you're alright."

"Thank you for your concern, senior sister."

"Junior brother, go see Aunt Zhu, we'll talk later."

(End of this chapter)