He fell off a cliff but unexpectedly gained a cultivation inheritance.

The wind carrying a rich spiritual energy rushed towards them as they flew through the air. Ye Qingxue followed closely behind her father, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the misty, secret realm below. Lin Feng maintained a steady pace as he wielded his longsword. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the clouds ahead suddenly dispersed, revealing the towering summit of a majestic main peak.

As the three slowly descended to the summit, Ye Zhentian and Ye Qingxue's pupils constricted, momentarily stunned by the sight before them. The summit was not the rugged, undulating landscape of ordinary mountains, but rather an extremely flat, open area, stretching as far as the eye could see, roughly estimated to be over five kilometers in circumference. The ground was paved entirely with uniform dark blue-green rocks, their surfaces smooth as mirrors, without the slightest imperfection. It was as if some supreme being had slashed off the mountain peak with a single sword stroke and then polished it with great divine power, its perfect order inspiring awe.

Atop the flat peak, ancient-style buildings are scattered in a well-organized manner, each exuding an extraordinary aura. To the left, a pavilion is entirely carved from white jade, with a gilded plaque hanging outside, bearing the three seal characters "Library Pavilion." The characters faintly glow with spiritual light, clearly indicating that they are protected by a special enchantment. To the right is a completely black palace, with two ferocious stone beast statues at its entrance, emanating a chilling aura. The three characters "Divine Weapon Pavilion" on the plaque are written with sharp strokes, seemingly containing endless sword intent. Not far away is another magnificent hall, with dozens of dragon-carved stone pillars standing in the plaza outside—this is the Hall of Transmission of Skills.

Just then, the sun rose in the east, and golden sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating every building on the summit. The glazed tiles shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, contrasting beautifully with the dark blue stone surfaces, creating a solemn yet vibrant scene. Ye Qingxue subconsciously looked up at the sky above the main peak, then looked down at the bottomless clouds below, only then realizing with astonishment that this peak was nearly ten thousand meters high. Standing on the summit, the mountains below looked as tiny as ants, and the clouds swirled beneath her feet, making her feel as if she were in a fairyland.

"What a blessed land! What extraordinary skills!" Ye Zhentian exclaimed sincerely, his voice filled with awe. Although he was the head of the Ye family and had seen much, this was the first time he had ever witnessed a sect's sacred ground of such scale. The sheer skill of leveling a ten-thousand-meter-high mountain peak with a single sword strike was something no ordinary cultivator could accomplish, demonstrating the profound and ancient heritage of the Huashan Immortal Sword Sect.

Upon hearing this, Lin Feng revealed a hint of pride that was barely perceptible on his face, but he did not say much. He simply turned to the side and made a gesture to lead the way: "Patriarch Ye, Miss Ye, please follow me. The Sect Master has been waiting in the main hall for a long time." After saying that, he took the lead and walked towards the main hall in the center of the peak.

Ye Zhentian composed himself, nodded to Lin Feng, and then followed closely behind, accompanied by Ye Qingxue, who was still immersed in shock. Along the way, they frequently saw disciples of the Immortal Sword Sect dressed in white Daoist robes. Some were practicing sword techniques in groups of three or five in the square, their swords flashing and their sharp sword intent spreading in all directions; others were sitting cross-legged on stone platforms, cultivating with their eyes closed, surrounded by a faint aura of spiritual energy; still others were carrying jade slips, hurrying between the various buildings, clearly handling sect affairs. A rough count revealed that there were several thousand disciples along the way, and each of them exuded a considerable amount of spiritual energy. The weakest among them was already at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, and there were even cultivators at the late stage of Qi Refining and the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

Ye Qingxue was secretly astonished. Thousands of disciples, with such high overall cultivation levels—their strength was absolutely top-tier in the cultivation world. In contrast, their Ye family had only a little over a hundred cultivators in total, with just a handful of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Compared to the Huashan Immortal Sword Sect, they were worlds apart. No wonder her father had repeatedly emphasized that they must not be the slightest bit presumptuous in front of the Immortal Sword Sect.

The three traveled swiftly without lingering, quickly arriving at the main hall at the center of the peak. This main hall was the most magnificent building on the entire peak, standing over thirty zhang tall. It was entirely constructed of massive blue stones, its roof covered with glazed golden tiles. At the very center stood a colossal golden pillar with a coiled dragon, its head facing outwards, seemingly inhaling and exhaling the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Eight cultivators in silver robes stood on either side of the hall's entrance. These cultivators all possessed striking features and a calm, refined aura; they were clearly Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. Simply by standing there, they created a powerful aura that deterred anyone from approaching easily.

"Lin Feng greets all senior brothers." Lin Feng bowed to the eight silver-robed cultivators.

The eight silver-robed cultivators nodded slightly, their gazes sweeping over Ye Zhentian and his daughter. Sensing the mid-Foundation Establishment aura emanating from Ye Zhentian, their expressions didn't change much. They simply stepped aside to make way and said in a deep voice, "The Sect Master is already waiting inside the hall. Please go in."

Lin Feng responded and led Ye Zhentian and his daughter into the main hall. The hall was extremely spacious, with dozens of fist-sized luminous pearls hanging from the ceiling, emitting a soft light that illuminated the entire hall as if it were daytime. On both sides of the hall, dozens of stone pillars with coiled dragons were neatly arranged, each pillar carved with lifelike dragon patterns, with spiritual energy flowing between the patterns, as if real dragons were lying dormant.

On the high platform at the very front of the main hall stood an ancient throne, crafted from thousand-year-old sandalwood and inlaid with countless precious gems, shimmering with light. Seated upon the throne was a middle-aged man, dressed in a black Taoist robe embroidered with golden sword patterns. His face was square, his eyes deep and unfathomable, his long, jet-black hair tied back with a jade hairpin, and a wisp of long, black beard hanging down his chest. He exuded an aura of composure and majesty, as if he held the world in his grasp.

As soon as Ye Zhentian stepped into the main hall, he sensed the powerful aura emanating from the middle-aged man and was secretly shocked: "Peak Foundation Establishment! Only one step away from the Golden Core stage!" Such cultivation level is considered top-tier in the entire cultivation world. No wonder he can hold the position of sect leader of the Immortal Sword Sect.

"Junior Ye Zhentian, along with my daughter Ye Qingxue, greets Sect Leader Yue!" Ye Zhentian dared not be negligent in the slightest, and quickly led Ye Qingxue forward to bow respectfully to the middle-aged man on the throne. Ye Qingxue also quickly composed herself and followed her father in bowing, her heart filled with awe.

Yue Shouren, seated on the throne, slowly opened his eyes. His gaze swept over Ye Zhentian and his daughter, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes. Then, a gentle smile appeared on his lips, and he raised his hand, saying, "Patriarch Ye, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise and take your seat." His voice was like a resounding bell, echoing throughout the hall, yet it was not harsh; instead, it brought a sense of comfort to those present.

"Thank you, Sect Master Yue." Ye Zhentian stood up and pulled Ye Qingxue to sit down on the chairs that had been prepared on both sides of the hall. Lin Feng stood respectfully to one side of the hall, head bowed, saying nothing.

Yue Shouren picked up the teacup handed to him by the maid beside him, took a small sip, and slowly said, "The Ye family patriarch has come from afar, and you must be tired from your journey. I have heard that the Ye family has a very large influence in the secular world, and its roots are very deep in the Pengcheng area. Ordinary secular forces have to give the Ye family some face. You are truly young and promising."

Ye Zhentian quickly cupped his hands in humility and said, "Sect Master Yue, you flatter me. My Ye family is merely a small family that makes a living in the mortal world. Compared with a great immortal cultivation sect like the Immortal Sword Sect, which has a history of thousands of years, we are simply insignificant. The Immortal Sword Sect is full of talented people and has a profound foundation. The very aura of the main peak is enough to inspire awe in all cultivators. I am truly unworthy of such praise from Sect Master Yue."

"Patriarch Ye is too modest," Yue Shouren waved his hand and said sincerely, "Although the mortal world has little spiritual energy, it is rich in resources and has a complex web of connections, making it no easy task to establish a foothold. Our Immortal Sword Sect often has disciples traveling outside, inevitably dealing with mortal forces. In the future, when our disciples operate in the Pengcheng area, we will need Patriarch Ye's assistance. If there is anything we can help with, please feel free to ask."

"Sect Master Yue, you flatter me." Ye Zhentian quickly replied, "The disciples of the Immortal Sword Sect are all outstanding individuals. It is an honor for my Ye family to serve the Immortal Sword Sect. If any of your disciples have any needs in the Pengcheng area in the future, as long as they do not violate the laws of Heaven, my Ye family will definitely do our best to help them without hesitation."

The two exchanged pleasantries, their conversation ranging from the state of the cultivation world to the changes in the secular world, from sect traditions to family development—all polite small talk, failing to get to the point. Standing beside Ye Zhentian, Ye Qingxue listened with growing anxiety, her hands clenched tightly together until her fingertips turned slightly white. Her purpose in coming here was to find Zhang Bufan's whereabouts, but now she was being wasted on these trivial pleasantries, her anxiety rising like a surging tide.

She couldn't help but steal glances at her father, her eyes filled with urgency, hoping he could quickly steer the conversation to the important matter at hand. Ye Zhentian felt his daughter's gaze and sighed inwardly. He naturally knew his daughter's anxiety, but interactions between forces in the cultivation world were all about etiquette and propriety, especially when dealing with a top sect like the Immortal Sword Sect. He couldn't be too hasty, otherwise it would easily provoke their resentment.

After exchanging pleasantries for about half an hour, Yue Shouren seemed to notice Ye Qingxue's anxiety. With a slight smile, he took the initiative to speak, "The Ye family head has come to visit in person today, surely not just to reminisce with me? If there is anything important, please speak frankly. As long as it is within my power, I will certainly not refuse."

Finally, when Yue Shouren took the initiative to ask, Ye Zhentian felt relieved and quickly stood up, cupping his hands and saying, "Sect Leader Yue, you are wise. I have indeed come here today with a request, and I hope that Sect Leader Yue can help me."

"Oh? What is it that makes the Ye family head so serious?" Yue Shouren's eyes flashed with curiosity, and he gestured for Ye Zhentian to continue.

Ye Zhentian took a deep breath and slowly said, "Sect Leader Yue is probably already aware that a mortal recently fell off a cliff and went missing in the Huashan area near the entrance to your sect's outer secret realm. The mortal who fell was named Zhang Bufan, my daughter Qingxue's ex-husband. Although the two are divorced, their marriage was deeply intertwined, and Qingxue is still uneasy about Zhang Bufan's unknown fate. I heard that this matter occurred within your sect's territory, so I dared to come and inquire whether Zhang Bufan was rescued by your sect's disciples and where he is now?"

After saying this, Ye Zhentian stared intently at Yue Shouren's expression, trying to glean some clues. Ye Qingxue also instantly perked up, her gaze fixed intently on Yue Shouren, her heart filled with anticipation and trepidation. She desperately wanted to hear a definite answer from Yue Shouren, even just knowing that Zhang Bufan was still alive would be a great comfort to her.

Upon hearing the name "Zhang Bufan," Yue Shouren's face showed a hint of surprise, clearly not expecting that an ordinary man would have such a connection with the Ye family. He frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said, "I am indeed aware of the case of the mortal who fell off a cliff and went missing. This matter occurred within the territory of my Immortal Sword Sect, and it is now widely discussed outside, which has also had a certain impact on the reputation of my Immortal Sword Sect. I take this matter very seriously."

At this point, Yue Shouren's tone became serious: "I have personally questioned the disciples stationed outside, as well as all the disciples who have recently gone out on missions. They all said they had never seen a mortal named Zhang Bufan, let alone saved him. In order to find out the truth, I also specially dispatched several disciples with considerable strength to conduct a comprehensive search of the area where he fell off the cliff and the surrounding hundred miles, but so far, we have not found any trace of Zhang Bufan, not even the traces of his fall."

"What?!" Upon hearing these words, Ye Qingxue was struck dumb, instantly freezing in place. The expectation in her eyes was replaced by disappointment, and tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes. Her worst fears had come true; the biggest clue had been lost. Where was Zhang Bufan? Was he still alive? Countless questions swirled in her mind, making her feel dizzy.

Ye Zhentian's expression instantly turned solemn, his heart churning with shock. He knew the strength of the Huashan Immortal Sword Sect well; with their resources and methods, not to mention a radius of a hundred miles, even a thousand miles would hardly escape their notice. The fact that the Immortal Sword Sect couldn't find any trace of Zhang Bufan meant that things were far more complicated than he had imagined.

He carefully observed Yue Shouren's expression and found that the other man's expression was frank and open, with no trace of evasion in his eyes, suggesting he wasn't lying. Moreover, given the strength and status of the Immortal Sword Sect, there was no need for them to lie to a mere family head like him. The difference in their strength was like heaven and earth; if the Immortal Sword Sect truly wanted to hide something, they wouldn't need to go to such lengths to exchange pleasantries with him; they could simply refuse him entry.

Seeing the reaction of Ye Zhentian and his daughter, Yue Shouren felt helpless and sighed softly, saying, "Patriarch Ye, Miss Ye, everything I have said is true, without the slightest falsehood. This matter is indeed quite strange. A living person fell from a cliff seven hundred meters high without leaving any trace of the fall, as if he disappeared into thin air. This is a strange thing that I have never seen in my many years of cultivation."

He paused, then continued, "Although this matter was not committed by my Immortal Sword Sect, it did occur within our territory, and my Immortal Sword Sect has a responsibility to investigate the truth. I hereby assure you both that I will continue to send more disciples to expand the search area and intensify the search efforts to find Zhang Bufan's whereabouts. Once any discoveries are made, I will immediately send someone to inform the Ye family head."

Ye Zhentian knew in his heart that Yue Shouren's actions were already a great favor to the Ye family. For the Immortal Sword Sect, to go to such lengths for a mere mortal was beyond his expectations. He quickly rose and bowed deeply to Yue Shouren: "Thank you so much for your righteous assistance, Sect Master Yue! On behalf of my daughter, I am deeply grateful! If there is anything the Ye family can do for us in the future, Sect Master Yue, please don't hesitate to ask!"

Ye Qingxue suppressed her disappointment and rose to bow with her father, though her voice was choked with barely concealed emotion: "Thank you, Sect Leader Yue."

"No need for such formalities, Patriarch Ye." Yue Shouren gestured for the two to rise. "It's getting late, so I won't keep you any longer. Lin Feng, please escort Patriarch Ye and Miss Ye out of the secret realm."

"Yes, Master!" Lin Feng, who was standing to the side, quickly responded and stepped forward.

Ye Zhentian bowed to Yue Shouren again, then, with the distraught Ye Qingxue in tow, followed Lin Feng and left the main hall. Outside, the sunlight shone again, but it did nothing to dispel the gloom in Ye Qingxue's heart. Her head was bowed, her steps heavy, Yue Shouren's words echoing in her mind, her heart filled with despair and helplessness.

Without a word, the three quickly passed through the secret realm passage and returned to their contact point in the outside world—an inconspicuous house. Lin Feng bid farewell to Ye Zhentian and then turned to return to the secret realm. Ye Zhentian looked at his dejected daughter beside him, his heart aching, but he was helpless. He could only gently pat her shoulder and comfort her, saying, "Qingxue, don't be too sad. Sect Master Yue has promised to continue the investigation. The Immortal Sword Sect is powerful; perhaps we'll have news soon."

Ye Qingxue raised her head, her eyes filled with tears, and said in a choked voice, "Father, even the Immortal Sword Sect can't find any trace of him. Is he... is he really gone?"

"Don't let your imagination run wild." Ye Zhentian shook his head and said in a deep voice, "Zhang Bufan left no trace after falling off the cliff, which is unusual in itself. Perhaps he encountered some kind of extraordinary event and was rescued by other reclusive masters. The cultivation world is full of wonders, and there is always a glimmer of hope. We cannot give up hope easily."

Ye Qingxue remained silent. Although her father's words made sense, her unease did not lessen in the slightest. She knew that her father was merely trying to comfort her. Finding Zhang Bufan, whose whereabouts were unknown even to the Huashan Immortal Sword Sect, was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

The father and daughter didn't linger. Ye Zhentian used his magic again to carry Ye Qingxue back to the Huashan Hotel. Back at the hotel, Ye Qingxue forced herself to stay awake and followed her father to Zhang Bufan's parents' room, explaining that she hadn't found any clues and would continue to ask others to search. Zhang Guoqiang and Xie Fenglian were also filled with disappointment and worry upon hearing the news, but seeing Ye Qingxue's haggard appearance, they comforted her instead.

Ye Qingxue felt even more guilty and bowed deeply to the two of them: "Uncle, Aunt, I'm sorry, I couldn't find Bufan's whereabouts. I will inform you as soon as I have any news."

"Qingxue, you've done a great job. Thank you for your hard work." Zhang Guoqiang sighed and said, "We all know you tried your best. It's not your fault."

Xie Fenglian, her eyes also red, said, "Yes, Qingxue, don't blame yourself too much. Bufan is a lucky child; he'll be alright."

After bidding farewell to Zhang Bufan's parents, Ye Qingxue left the Huashan Hotel with her father. Looking at the mountains rushing past the window, Ye Qingxue was filled with confusion. She didn't know where Zhang Bufan was, nor where she could possibly find him. Now, she could only place all her hopes on the Immortal Sword Sect's investigation, praying that they would find clues as soon as possible.

Ye Zhentian used magic to conceal himself, carrying Ye Qingxue towards Pengcheng. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, falling upon them, but it couldn't penetrate the gloom filling Ye Qingxue's heart. She silently turned her head, taking one last look at the majestic Mount Hua, and whispered in her heart, "Zhang Bufan, where are you? Please be safe and sound..."