I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Chen Tianyu trembled.

He could sense that Qin Yuan wasn't joking. This boy, who looked only seventeen or eighteen, possessed a coldness and decisiveness far beyond his years.

"It was...it was me." He finally lowered his head, his voice hoarse. "It was me who had Sun Xing and Wang Meng arrange for people to pretend a misunderstanding, capture Lin Qing'er in the back mountain, and then...then use that opportunity to blackmail you, forcing you to hand over the opportunity..."

"An opportunity?" Qin Yuan narrowed his eyes.

"You went from the seventh level of Qi Refining to the sixth level of Foundation Establishment in just three days, you must have had an incredible stroke of luck..." Chen Tianyu said through gritted teeth, "I've been stuck at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment for three years, I need an opportunity to break through..."

Qin Yuan fell silent.

Looking at the disheveled "senior brother" in front of him, he suddenly felt a little sorry for him.

On the path of cultivation, how many people have resorted to any means to obtain a single opportunity, only to end up like this?

"So, you resort to such underhanded tactics?" Qin Yuan stood up, looking down at him. "Fifth Peak Senior Brother, is this all the grit you've got?"

Chen Tianyu's face flushed red, but he was speechless.

Just then, an angry shout came from outside the hall:

"presumptuous!"

A figure shot into the hall like lightning. It was an old man with white hair and beard, and a gloomy face. He was Chen Changqing, the Fifth Peak Law Enforcement Elder—Chen Tianyu's grandfather.

Upon landing and seeing his grandson's horrific state, his eyes blazed with fury: "You little beast! How dare you hurt my grandson!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and slapped Qin Yuan!

This palm strike was unleashed in anger, with spiritual energy transforming into a giant cyan hand that blotted out the sky and carried the terrifying pressure of an early-stage Golden Core cultivator, aiming to suppress Qin Yuan on the spot!

Qin Yuan's pupils contracted.

Golden Core stage! This is not something he can contend with at his current level!

At this critical moment—

"stop!"

Another voice rang out, and Elder Xu appeared in the hall. With a wave of his sleeve, a gentle yet resilient spiritual energy barrier stood in front of Qin Yuan.

"boom--!!"

A large blue hand slammed onto the barrier, creating ripples, but it couldn't advance an inch.

Chen Changqing glared at Elder Xu: "Senior Brother Xu! Are you going to protect this little beast?!"

"Junior Brother Chen, why rush to take action before we've even gotten the facts straight?" Elder Xu said calmly, his gaze sweeping across the scene in the hall, pausing particularly on Lin Qing'er's wounds and the miserable state of Wang Hu and Li Bao, his brows furrowing slightly.

"What else is there to ask!" Chen Changqing pointed at Qin Yuan, "This little beast just entered the Fifth Peak and dared to attack a fellow disciple so severely in the main hall! If he isn't severely punished, what rules will our Fifth Peak have left!"

"Rules?" Qin Yuan suddenly spoke, his voice calm. "Elder Chen might as well ask your good grandson what he did before we talk about rules."

Chen Changqing was taken aback and looked at Chen Tianyu.

Chen Tianyu's face turned pale, and he lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Elder Xu sighed, "Junior Brother Chen, I heard everything that was said outside the hall. Tianyu... he's such a disappointment."

He briefly recounted what had happened.

Chen Changqing's face grew increasingly grim as he listened, until it turned completely ashen.

"You...you unfilial son!" He pointed at Chen Tianyu, trembling with rage. "I told you to cultivate properly, and you dared to use such methods?!"

"Grandpa...I..." Chen Tianyu still wanted to explain.

"Shut up!" Chen Changqing shouted sharply, then turned to Qin Yuan with a complicated expression.

He remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Qin Yuan, Tian Yu was in the wrong first. But he is, after all, your senior brother. You went too far."

"Heavy?" Qin Yuan looked at him. "If I hadn't arrived in time, Qing'er would already be captured and taken to the back mountain, her fate uncertain. At that point, would Elder Chen still think I went too far?"

Chen Changqing was speechless.

He knew, of course, that if Lin Qing'er were really taken away, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Although the Third Peak is fiercely competitive internally, it is extremely protective of its own members. If it knew that its disciples had been kidnapped on the Fifth Peak, it would definitely demand an explanation.

At that time, not only Chen Tianyu, but even he, as the law enforcement elder, will be implicated.

"This matter..." Chen Changqing took a deep breath, "I will severely punish Tianyu. As for your injury to your fellow disciple, I will let it go since there was a reason for it."

"You don't mind?" Qin Yuan smiled. "Elder Chen is truly magnanimous."

The sarcasm in those words was obvious to everyone.

Chen Changqing's face turned pale and then red, but he couldn't lash out—they were in the wrong in this matter.

Elder Xu spoke up at the opportune moment: "Alright, let's leave it at that. Junior Brother Chen, take Tianyu down to heal his injuries and reflect on your actions in seclusion for three months."

He then looked at Wang Hu and Li Bao: "You two, for aiding and abetting evil, are hereby punished to serve a year in the mines behind the mountain."

Finally, he looked at Qin Yuan, his eyes flashing with admiration: "Qin Yuan, although you were a bit too heavy-handed, there was a reason for it, and you stood up for your fellow disciple, which is commendable. From today onwards, you are my Fifth Peak's personal disciple."

These words shocked everyone in the hall.

A personally taught disciple!

The Fifth Peak only has three direct disciple slots. The first two have already been taken by the other two senior brothers, and the third one has actually been given to Qin Yuan, who has only been a disciple for one day?!

Chen Tianyu suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with resentment and bitterness.

A personal disciple… that was the position he had always dreamed of! He had cultivated diligently for ten years for this position, yet he still couldn't break through to the eighth level of Foundation Establishment. And now, Qin Yuan had obtained it in just one day!

Why should I?!

Chen Changqing's expression also changed: "Senior Brother Xu, isn't this... a bit too hasty? Although Qin Yuan is exceptionally talented, he has only just entered the sect and hasn't made any progress yet. Directly promoting him to a personal disciple might cause resentment among the other disciples..."

"Dissatisfied?" Elder Xu said calmly, "Anyone who's dissatisfied can come and argue with me."

He surveyed the hall, his voice soft yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Qin Yuan, with his sixth-level Foundation Establishment cultivation, defeated Liu Feng, a fourth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, with a single punch, yesterday raising the profile of our Fifth Peak in the grand competition. Today, he exposed a fellow disciple's conspiracy and protected his fellow townsman. Does this strength and sense of responsibility not deserve the position of a personal disciple?"

Chen Changqing was speechless.

Elder Xu continued, "Moreover, the Nine Peaks Personal Disciple Competition is in three days. Our Fifth Peak has been at the bottom for three consecutive sessions. If we are at the bottom again this time, our resource allocation for the next ten years will be reduced by 30%. Qin Yuan is our Fifth Peak's only hope."

He looked at Qin Yuan and solemnly asked, "Qin Yuan, are you willing to represent the Fifth Peak in the personal disciple competition?"

Qin Yuan cupped his hands in greeting: "This disciple is willing."

"Good!" Elder Xu nodded with satisfaction. "Then prepare well. In three days, all the direct disciples of the Nine Peaks will gather for the competition. Most of them are at the ninth or tenth level of Foundation Establishment, and some are even at the peak of Foundation Establishment. Are you... confident?"

Foundation Establishment Level 9, Level 10, Peak?

A glint flashed in Qin Yuan's eyes.

Three days is enough time for him to make another breakthrough.

"Yes." He said it simply, yet it contained immense confidence.

Elder Xu laughed heartily, "Excellent! This is the spirit that disciples of my Fifth Peak should possess!"

He took out a golden token and handed it to Qin Yuan: "This is a personal disciple token. With this token, you can enter the top floor of the Cultivation Technique Pavilion, receive double the resources, and freely enter and exit the Profound Origin Secret Realm. In addition, I will personally give you a bottle of 'Condensing Essence Pill' to help you consolidate your cultivation."

Qin Yuan accepted the token and the pills: "Thank you, Elder."

"Go ahead and prepare well," Elder Xu waved his hand.

Qin Yuan nodded and helped Lin Qing'er leave the main hall.

Behind him, Chen Tianyu stared intently at his back, his fingernails digging deep into his palms, drawing blood.

"Qin Yuan...you just wait..."

Back at Tingzhu Garden, Qin Yuan asked Lin Qing'er to sit down and took out some healing pills for her to take.

"Brother Qin Yuan, thank you." Lin Qing'er lowered her head, her voice choked with emotion, "If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would have..."

"Stop talking," Qin Yuan interrupted her. "I'm the one who dragged you into this. They're targeting me; you're just being implicated."

Lin Qing'er shook her head: "It's not your fault. Those people were just too wicked."

She paused, then suddenly said, "Brother Qin Yuan, I...I want to come to the Fifth Peak."

Qin Yuan was taken aback: "Isn't the third peak good?"

"This is bad." Lin Qing'er's eyes were slightly red. "The atmosphere on the Third Peak is terrible. Everyone is scheming against each other and will do anything for resources. People like me with a single spiritual root are ostensibly being given special attention, but in reality... they just see me as a pawn that might be useful in the future, and they don't genuinely care about nurturing me at all."

She raised her head, her eyes filled with disappointment: "Do you know? In the three years I spent on the Third Peak, my master only saw me three times."

They said that they usually cultivate on their own, and resources are obtained by completing tasks. This is the Third Peak's training method—you have to compete and fight for them; only if you are truly valuable will they truly train you.

Qin Yuan remained silent.

He didn't expect that Lin Qing'er's talent was not considered "valuable" in the eyes of the Third Peak.

"And their personal disciples..." he asked.

"Personal disciples?" Lin Qing'er smiled wryly. "The Third Peak has three personal disciples, each of whom is a monster. Senior Brother Chu Feng is at the peak of Foundation Establishment and is said to have already touched the threshold of Golden Core. Second Senior Sister Su Yu is at the tenth level of Foundation Establishment and is proficient in formations. Third Senior Brother Lu Yun is at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment and is a genius in swordsmanship."

"Those three are the ones the Third Peak is truly focusing its efforts on cultivating. As for us ordinary inner disciples... we're just there to make up the numbers."

Qin Yuan nodded, gaining a clearer understanding of the strength of the Third Peak.

Foundation Establishment Peak, Tenth Level, Ninth Level...

It is really strong.

But that's not enough.

"You want to come to the Fifth Peak, will Elder Xu agree?" Qin Yuan asked.

"Probably," Lin Qing'er said uncertainly. "After all, I only have a single spiritual root. Although the Third Peak doesn't value it, it's still considered a pretty good talent on the Fifth Peak. Besides..."

She glanced at Qin Yuan: "Besides, now that you're a direct disciple of the Fifth Peak, your words should carry some weight, right?"

Qin Yuan chuckled: "I'll give it a try."

He took out a communication talisman and informed Elder Xu of Lin Qing'er's situation.

A moment later, the communication talisman lit up, and Elder Xu's voice came through: "Let her stay. The Third Peak doesn't want geniuses with a single spiritual root, but we do."

Lin Qing'er was overjoyed: "Thank you, Elder Xu! Thank you, Brother Qin Yuan!"

"You're welcome," Qin Yuan said. "However, the Fifth Peak is resource-scarce, so you might want to be prepared."

"I'm not afraid!" Lin Qing'er's eyes sparkled. "As long as I can cultivate in peace, that's better than anything else."

Qin Yuan nodded and took out a bottle of pills for her: "This is a Qi Condensation Pill. Use it first. I'll have someone arrange accommodation for you."

"Um!"

After Lin Qing'er left, Qin Yuan sat alone in the courtyard, gazing at the setting sun on the horizon.

Three days later, the grand competition was held.

All the direct disciples of the Nine Peaks gathered, and the lowest level among them was the ninth level of Foundation Establishment.

He, however, is currently only at the eighth level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

Although the gap seemed significant, Qin Yuan was confident.

The system has forty years of cultivation stored up, plus the twenty years available today, making a total of sixty years. And if this is combined with the time-space acceleration of the Profound Origin Secret Realm…

"Three days," he muttered to himself, "is enough for me to break through to the peak of Foundation Establishment."

He took out the Xuan Yuan Token, a determined look flashing in his eyes.

This time, he wanted everyone to know that Fifth Peak was no longer at the bottom.

And the name Qin Yuan will resound throughout Jiufeng!