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

As dawn broke and the morning mist still lingered over the Huashan Secret Realm, pale golden rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the rolling peaks and casting a warm glow upon the majestic mountains. The mountain herbs, nourished by the morning dew, shimmered with a crystalline luster, and the air was filled with a rich and refreshing spiritual energy; a deep breath was enough to invigorate the mind and spirit.

On Qinglan Peak, Zhang Bufan had already risen. He quickly straightened his sportswear. Although these mortal clothes seemed out of place in a cultivation sect, sect attire wasn't suitable for the mortal world, so he had to make do for now. After consolidating his cultivation last night, his mental state was excellent. His early Foundation Establishment cultivation was becoming increasingly stable, and the spiritual energy within his body flowed smoothly and condensed. The thought of returning to the mortal world soon and seeing his long-missed parents filled him with eagerness and anticipation, even his breathing quickened slightly.

Without further delay, Zhang Bufan's thoughts stirred, and the Xuan Tie giant sword flew out of his storage ring, landing steadily in front of him. Having experienced yesterday's accident, he was exceptionally composed when controlling the flying sword today. With a light tap of his feet, he landed firmly on the blade. "Rise!" With a soft shout, the flying sword slowly ascended, heading towards the sect's main hall. This time, he deliberately slowed his speed, his divine sense firmly locked onto the flying sword, ensuring every movement was precise. The wind whispered softly in his ears, the clouds below rolled like waves, and distant mountain peaks appeared and disappeared in the mist, like a flowing painting. As Zhang Bufan flew, he admired the morning scenery of the Huashan Secret Realm, but his heart remained preoccupied with his parents in the mortal world, hoping only to reach the sect's main hall as soon as possible to complete the departure formalities.

Before long, the sect's main hall came into view. Located atop the main peak of the secret realm, the hall was magnificent, ancient, and solemn. Constructed from massive, dark blue-green rocks, it featured upturned eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters. Rows of ancient bronze bells hung from the eaves, tinkling melodiously in the breeze. In the plaza before the hall, many early-rising inner and core disciples were already cultivating or sparring; sword energy crisscrossed, and spiritual energy fluctuations rose and fell, creating a vibrant scene.

Zhang Bufan maneuvered his flying sword, slowly landing at the edge of the plaza. After putting the sword away, he strode towards the sect's main hall. The two inner disciples guarding the hall's entrance, seeing him approach, first lingered for a moment on his strange tracksuit, then, sensing the Foundation Establishment stage spiritual energy emanating from him, quickly bowed and greeted him: "Greetings, Senior Brother!" Although they didn't recognize Zhang Bufan, a Foundation Establishment stage cultivation level was already considered core disciple or elder level within the sect, so they naturally dared not be the slightest bit negligent.

"No need for formalities." Zhang Bufan nodded slightly and said in a gentle tone, "I have asked Zhang Bufan to speak with the sect leader. Please inform him."

"Senior Brother Zhang, please wait a moment!" one of the inner disciples hurriedly replied, turning around and quickly walking into the main hall.

Zhang Bufan stood patiently at the entrance of the main hall. He looked around at the disciples diligently cultivating in the plaza, his heart filled with countless emotions. In just over a year, he had transformed from an unemployed middle-aged man struggling to survive into a cultivator capable of soaring through the skies, and even become a core disciple of a first-rate sect like the Immortal Sword Sect. Such a transformation was unimaginable to him before. And the starting point of all this was that miraculous encounter after falling off the cliff at Mount Hua. If it weren't for that encounter, he might already be a handful of dust, never to see his parents again.

"Senior Brother Zhang, the sect leader invites you in." A moment later, the inner disciple quickly came out and bowed to Zhang Bufan.

"Thank you." Zhang Bufan nodded and stepped into the sect's main hall.

The interior of the main hall was extremely spacious, reaching a height of several tens of meters. Its ceiling was inlaid with numerous milky-white, luminous stones, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime. On either side of the hall stood thick, dragon-carved stone pillars, the dragons on them so lifelike they seemed ready to take flight at any moment. Deep within the hall stood a massive throne, carved from white jade and covered with thick animal hides, exuding extreme opulence. Yue Shouren sat upon the throne, intently perusing a jade slip in his hand.

"Disciple Zhang Bufan greets Sect Leader!" Zhang Bufan walked to the center of the main hall and bowed to Yue Shouren.

Yue Shouren looked up and saw that it was Zhang Bufan. A gentle smile appeared on his face. He put down the jade slip in his hand and said, "Bufan, no need for formalities. Please get up. You came so early this morning. Is there something important you need?" He had already guessed what was going on. Zhang Bufan had just joined the sect, and what he was thinking about most was probably his family in the mortal world.

Zhang Bufan straightened up and said sincerely, "Reporting to Senior Brother Sect Leader, I have come today to request leave from the sect to temporarily return to the mortal realm and visit my parents. Since I fell off the cliff and went missing last year, I haven't seen them for over a year, and I truly miss them." As he spoke, his tone became increasingly urgent and filled with guilt. He could imagine that his parents must have been worried day and night, unable to eat or sleep, after learning of his disappearance.

Upon hearing this, Yue Shouren slowly nodded, a look of understanding on his face. He already knew everything about Zhang Bufan's fall from the cliff, and naturally knew that his parents in the mortal realm must be anxiously awaiting news of him. "I understand your feelings," Yue Shouren said gently. "The kindness of parents is heavier than Mount Tai. You have been missing for over a year; your parents must be worried day and night. It is only right that you go back to visit them."

Hearing Yue Shouren's words, Zhang Bufan was overjoyed and quickly said, "Thank you for your understanding, Senior Brother Sect Leader!"

"No need to be so polite." Yue Shouren waved his hand and continued, "I grant you a two-month leave. Go back and settle your parents in peace. After you've dealt with worldly matters, return to your sect to cultivate as soon as possible. The path of cultivation is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you'll fall behind. You must not let worldly matters delay you for too long and affect your cultivation progress."

"Disciple understands!" Zhang Bufan bowed and replied hastily, his heart filled with gratitude. "Two months is enough time. Disciple will not delay his cultivation. After handling family matters, I will return to the sect immediately!" For him, a two-month vacation would allow him to spend quality time with his parents without significantly affecting his cultivation progress. Yue Shouren's arrangement was just right.

Zhang Bufan was overjoyed and was about to thank Yue Shouren again before leaving when Yue Shouren suddenly spoke up, "Bufan, wait a moment, I have a few things to tell you."

"Please give your instructions, Senior Brother Sect Leader!" Zhang Bufan stopped and said respectfully.

Yue Shouren's expression turned serious, and he slowly said, "Firstly, your experience is too bizarre. You must never reveal the details of the Xuanqing Secret Realm or the inheritance you received from the powerful Xuanqing Daoist to outsiders in the cultivation world."

Zhang Bufan's heart stirred, and he immediately understood Yue Shouren's intention. Xuanqing Daoist was a powerful figure above the Nascent Soul stage. If his legacy were to become known to the outside world, it would inevitably cause a huge uproar in the cultivation world, driving countless cultivators mad. At that time, he would become the target of everyone's hatred and invite disaster upon himself. This is the principle of "possessing a treasure is a crime."

"Disciple understands!" Zhang Bufan said solemnly. "Sect Leader, rest assured, disciple is well aware of the principle that possessing a treasure is a crime, and will never reveal a single word about the Xuanqing Secret Realm and its inheritance to outsiders."

Yue Shouren nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Very good. All you need to say to others is that you were rescued by Yue Buwei, the patriarch of my Immortal Sword Sect, after falling off the cliff, and were taken into the sect to cultivate. With the patriarch's name on your side, it will be enough to deter most of the petty villains and prevent you from attracting unnecessary trouble."

"Disciple understands!" Zhang Bufan replied. Yue Buwei was a Nascent Soul stage ancestor, a top-tier existence in the cultivation world of Pangu World. Having such a powerful figure as a backer would indeed save him a lot of trouble when traveling outside.

"Secondly," Yue Shouren continued, changing the subject, "your sect's core disciple identity token has been completed." With that, he waved his right hand lightly, and a stream of azure light flew out from his sleeve, rushing towards Zhang Bufan.

Zhang Bufan was overjoyed and quickly reached out to catch the cyan light. It felt warm and heavy in his hand; it was a palm-sized cyan token.

"Thank you very much, Senior Brother Sect Leader!" Zhang Bufan quickly bowed and expressed his gratitude. The identity token is a symbol of a sect disciple's status. Having it makes it much easier to move around, both within the sect and outside.

He carefully examined the token in his hand. It was crafted from an unknown material, neither gold nor jade, with a smooth, delicate surface and a faint bluish glow. On the front of the token was a lifelike sword, its sharp edge gleaming, seemingly imbued with boundless power—the very emblem of the Immortal Sword Sect. On the back, the three characters "Zhang Bufan" were clearly engraved in ancient seal script.

Yue Shouren slowly said, "This token was made by an elder of the sect's weapon-refining pavilion using special techniques and rare materials. It is extremely sturdy and cannot be damaged by ordinary magic weapons. Outsiders cannot even imitate it."

"Moreover, the token contains the exclusive identification information of my Immortal Sword Sect, serving as a credential for disciples both within and outside the sect," Yue Shouren continued. "When you travel outside, if you encounter any matters related to the cultivation world, presenting this token will prove your identity. My Immortal Sword Sect is a first-rate force in the cultivation world of Pangu World, and the status of a core disciple carries considerable weight, saving you a lot of unnecessary trouble."

Zhang Bufan understood and bowed again, saying, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Sect Leader. This disciple understands!" He carefully put away his identity token and kept it close to his body. This token was not only a symbol of his identity but also a guarantee. With it, he could feel more confident when he was out in the world.

Yue Shouren nodded and continued, "There's another matter. My daughter, Yue Ling'er, who is also your junior sister, has reached a critical point in breaking through the bottleneck of the Foundation Establishment stage."

Zhang Bufan was slightly taken aback, then recalled his encounter with Yue Ling'er in her cave yesterday. That girl, dressed in a moon-white Taoist robe, was gentle, polite, and as beautiful as a fairy.

Yue Shouren continued, "Although Ling'er is exceptionally talented, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage requires not only sufficient cultivation but also a calm and focused mind. Having grown up within the sect since childhood, she has never traveled outside, and her mental state is still lacking. Therefore, she needs to travel and adjust her mindset to find an opportunity for a breakthrough."

Zhang Bufan understood somewhat. Yue Shouren was probably saying this to ask him to take good care of Yue Ling'er when he went out. In the short time they spent together yesterday, he had a very good impression of Yue Ling'er. She was gentle and kind, without any of the arrogance of a genius. It would be good to travel with her.

Sure enough, Yue Shouren continued, "When you return to the mortal realm this time, let Ling'er accompany you. As the two of you are both disciples of the Ancestor, you can look after each other. Although Ling'er's cultivation has not yet broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, she has cultivated the sect's secret techniques since childhood and has many ways to protect herself. She will certainly not be a burden to you."

Zhang Bufan was overjoyed and quickly bowed, saying, "Sect Leader, rest assured, it is my honor to travel with Junior Sister. I will take good care of her and ensure her safety!" He had a strong liking for Yue Ling'er, and he naturally wouldn't refuse the opportunity to travel with her and spend more time together. Moreover, traveling together would allow them to exchange cultivation insights, which would benefit both of their cultivation.

Seeing that Zhang Bufan readily agreed, Yue Shouren smiled with satisfaction and said, "Good! With you saying that, I can rest assured."

Just then, soft footsteps sounded outside the main hall, followed by a slender figure entering. It was Yue Ling'er. She was still wearing her moon-white Taoist robe, the lotus patterns on the hem appearing even more ethereal and refined in the dim light of the hall. Her long, jet-black hair was tied up with a cyan jade hairpin, swaying gently behind her with each step. A faint blush graced her face, and her eyes were clear, like a mountain spring.

Clearly, Yue Ling'er had received a message from her father and had come specifically for this purpose. She entered the main hall and saw Zhang Bufan there as well. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she immediately bowed to Yue Shouren, saying, "Daughter greets Father!"

"Ling'er, there's no need for such formalities," Yue Shouren said gently. "I've already spoken with your Senior Brother Zhang. This time, when he returns to the mortal realm, you will travel with him to seek an opportunity to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. On the way, you must listen carefully to your Senior Brother Zhang and not act willfully or recklessly."

"I understand!" Yue Ling'er replied obediently, then turned around, bowed slightly to Zhang Bufan, and said in a gentle tone, "Greetings, Senior Brother Zhang! I will be grateful for your care during this trip."

"Junior Sister, you're too kind." Zhang Bufan quickly returned the greeting with a cupped hand. "It's only right that we look after each other. If anything happens on the road, we can discuss it anytime."

After a brief greeting, the two prepared to leave the main hall. Yue Shouren looked at them and instructed, "Be careful on your journey, and prioritize safety above all else. Bufan, I'm entrusting Ling'er to you."

"Please rest assured, Senior Brother Sect Leader!" Zhang Bufan replied solemnly.

"Father, don't worry, I'm not a child anymore!" Yue Ling'er said coquettishly.

After saying that, the two turned around and walked out of the main hall.

Stepping out of the sect's main hall, the morning sunlight bathed him, warm and dazzling. Zhang Bufan took a deep breath, savoring the fresh spiritual energy in the air, his heart filled with anticipation. Soon, he would be able to return to the mortal realm and see his long-missed parents.

Yue Ling'er followed behind Zhang Bufan, her gaze involuntarily falling on his back. At this moment, Zhang Bufan's appearance had changed again due to his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage. Originally thirty-eight years old, he now looked like he was twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Tall and handsome, with well-defined features, coupled with the composed demeanor characteristic of Foundation Establishment cultivators, he appeared exceptionally handsome. Sunlight shone on him, outlining his clear features, giving him a unique charm.

As Yue Ling'er gazed at him, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. She quickly averted her gaze, her heart involuntarily quickening. When she encountered Zhang Bufan yesterday, she only noticed his somewhat disheveled appearance and hadn't paid much attention. Seeing him again today, she realized that this newly joined senior brother Zhang was incredibly handsome. Moreover, although his spiritual energy was only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, it was exceptionally pure, far surpassing that of ordinary early Foundation Establishment cultivators, clearly indicating an extraordinary background.

In fact, Yue Ling'er also had a good impression of Zhang Bufan. Yesterday, Zhang Bufan had damaged her pavilion, and instead of making excuses, he apologized and offered to pay for the repairs, his attitude sincere and humble. This made her feel quite favorably towards him. In the cultivation world, many cultivators become arrogant and conceited once they achieve a certain level of cultivation. A humble and polite cultivator like Zhang Bufan is rare.

Zhang Bufan was naturally unaware of Yue Ling'er's unusual behavior behind him. He was currently preoccupied with figuring out how to return to the mortal realm. The Huashan Secret Realm was located deep within Mount Hua, protected by the sect's array. To leave the secret realm, one needed to use a special passage set up by the sect. He wasn't familiar with these passages, so he could ask Yue Ling'er for advice.

"Junior Sister," Zhang Bufan stopped and turned to Yue Ling'er, asking, "how do we leave the Huashan Secret Realm and head to the mortal world?"

Yue Ling'er was startled by Zhang Bufan's sudden turn, her blush deepening. She quickly composed herself and said, "Senior Brother Zhang, the passage out of the Huashan Secret Realm is located at the mountain gate halfway up the main peak, guarded by sect disciples. We only need to show our identity tokens to leave through the passage. The other end of the passage connects directly to a valley in Huashan; from there, we can reach the mortal realm."

"I see." Zhang Bufan nodded and said, "Shall we set off now?" He was eager to see his parents and didn't want to waste any more time.

"Okay!" Yue Ling'er nodded in response.

With that, Zhang Bufan's thoughts stirred, and the Xuan Tie giant sword flew out again, landing in front of the two of them. He gestured to Yue Ling'er, saying, "Junior Sister, let's fly on our swords; it'll be faster that way."

Yue Ling'er nodded, and with a light leap, landed steadily on the rear of the flying sword. Zhang Bufan also jumped onto the flying sword and stood at the front. He reminded her, "Junior Sister, hold on tight, we're about to set off."

"Mmm!" Yue Ling'er responded softly, subconsciously reaching out to grab Zhang Bufan's clothes at the waist. Her fingers touched Zhang Bufan's clothes, feeling the texture of the fabric, and her cheeks flushed again, her heart beating even faster.

Zhang Bufan sensed Yue Ling'er's movements behind him and was slightly taken aback, but then he understood her concerns. Although Yue Ling'er's cultivation was not low, she was perhaps a little nervous because she rarely flew on a sword. He didn't say anything, but simply controlled his flying sword, slowly ascending into the air and heading towards the passage on the outer edge of the secret realm.

The flying sword moved steadily and swiftly, the wind whispering softly in her ears. Yue Ling'er stood behind Zhang Bufan, a faint scent lingering around her nose, a scent that belonged to him. This scent was refreshing and calming, gradually soothing her initially tense emotions. She slightly raised her head, looking at Zhang Bufan's broad back, a strange feeling rising in her heart.

Meanwhile, inside the sect's main hall, Yue Shouren stood at the entrance, watching Zhang Bufan and Yue Ling'er leave together, a strange smile appearing on his face.

His reason for arranging for Yue Ling'er to travel with Zhang Bufan wasn't truly because Yue Ling'er needed to travel and seek opportunities to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Yue Ling'er possessed a natural wood-attribute spiritual root, giving her an extremely strong affinity for spiritual energy and allowing her to cultivate at a speed far exceeding her peers. With her current cultivation level and accumulated experience, she only needed to seclude herself for one or two months to successfully break through to the Foundation Establishment stage; there was absolutely no need for her to travel.

His real intention in making these arrangements was to bring Zhang Bufan and Yue Ling'er together. Although Zhang Bufan possessed a mixed spiritual root of five attributes, he had received the inheritance of Xuanqing Daoist, cultivated a top-tier technique, and was able to break through from a mortal to the Foundation Establishment stage in just fifteen months. His cultivation aptitude and potential far exceeded ordinary people's imagination. Zhang Bufan's future was undoubtedly limitless, and he might even break through to the Nascent Soul stage or even higher realms.

Yue Ling'er was his only daughter, exceptionally talented and stunningly beautiful, the apple of his eye. Naturally, he hoped his daughter would find an excellent partner, someone strong to rely on in the future. Within the entire Immortal Sword Sect, Zhang Bufan was the most worthy of Yue Ling'er. If the two could develop feelings for each other during their travels and become Daoist partners, it would be a good thing for both of them, and an immense blessing for the entire Immortal Sword Sect.

"Bufan, Ling'er, I hope you two can have a good marriage," Yue Shouren murmured to himself, his eyes filled with anticipation. He believed that with Zhang Bufan's composure and humility, and Yue Ling'er's gentleness and kindness, the two would definitely get along very well.

Zhang Bufan was unaware of Yue Shouren's thoughts. At this moment, he was completely focused on controlling his flying sword, heading towards the mountain gate platform halfway up the mountain.

Standing behind Zhang Bufan, Yue Ling'er gradually relaxed. She gazed at the scenery below, occasionally exchanging a few words with Zhang Bufan, asking about the mortal world. Having grown up in the cultivation world, she was filled with curiosity about everything there.

"Senior Brother Zhang, what is the mortal world like? Is it very different from our cultivation world?" Yue Ling'er asked curiously.

Zhang Bufan smiled and said, "The mortal world and the cultivation world are indeed very different. The spiritual energy in the mortal world is thin, and most people do not have the aptitude for cultivation and are unaware of the existence of cultivators. They can only live as ordinary people, experiencing birth, aging, sickness, and death, and struggling to make a living. However, the mortal world also has its own charm, with many things that the cultivation world does not have, such as all kinds of delicious food, unique architecture, and rich culture."

"That sounds really interesting!" Yue Ling'er said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I'd love to see what the mortal world is like."

"Once we reach the mortal realm, I'll show you around properly," Zhang Bufan said with a smile. Talking with Yue Ling'er gradually calmed his initially anxious mood.

The two chatted as they flew, their swords moving at a brisk pace. A few minutes later, they arrived at the mountain gate teleportation array platform halfway up the mountain. There stood an ancient stone gate, its surface engraved with intricate array patterns and emitting a faint spiritual light. On either side of the gate stood two inner disciples, guarding the passage.

Zhang Bufan controlled his flying sword and slowly descended into the valley. After putting away the sword, he led Yue Ling'er toward the stone gate.

"Greetings, Senior Brother and Junior Sister!" The inner disciples guarding both sides of the stone gate bowed respectfully upon seeing Zhang Bufan and Yue Ling'er. They could sense the Foundation Establishment stage spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from Zhang Bufan and recognized Yue Ling'er as the patriarch's personal disciple, so they dared not be negligent in the slightest.

"We need to leave the secret realm and head to the mortal world," Zhang Bufan said to the two inner disciples, while taking out his core disciple identity token.

Yue Ling'er also took out her identity token. Her identity token was similar to Zhang Bufan's, with the same sword pattern on the front and the words "Yue Ling'er" engraved on the back.

Two inner disciples carefully checked the two men's identification tokens. After confirming that everything was correct, they quickly said, "Please wait a moment, we will open the passage for you immediately!"

As they spoke, two inner disciples stepped forward simultaneously, placing their palms on the array patterns on the stone door and channeling their spiritual energy into the array. As the spiritual energy was injected, the array patterns on the stone door gradually lit up, emitting a dazzling light.

"Boom—"

After a muffled, loud thud, the ancient stone door slowly opened, revealing a dark passageway entrance. Inside, faint spatial fluctuations emanated, clearly indicating it was a spatial portal.

"Senior brothers, the passage is open, please come in!" Two inner disciples bowed and said.

Zhang Bufan nodded and said to Yue Ling'er, "Junior Sister, let's go."

"Okay!" Yue Ling'er responded and followed Zhang Bufan into the entrance of the passage.

The moment they stepped into the passage, a strong sense of spatial distortion washed over them, causing Zhang Bufan and Yue Ling'er to frown involuntarily. However, both were cultivators of considerable strength, and they quickly adapted to the sensation. The passage was pitch black, with only faint spatial fluctuations lingering within. As they walked side by side, they could clearly sense each other's presence, which brought them a sense of security.

A few seconds later, a glimmer of light finally appeared ahead. Overjoyed, the two quickened their pace and headed towards the light.

The moment they stepped out of the passage, they found themselves in a house. A man and a woman, dressed as villagers from the outside world, appeared to be in their forties, but exuded the aura of early Foundation Establishment cultivators. They were the sect disciples guarding the sect entrance and responsible for communication with the outside world. After exchanging greetings, Zhang Bufan and his companion stepped out of the house. An aura completely different from that of the Huashan Secret Realm washed over them. The spiritual energy in the air was extremely thin, replaced by a faint smell of dust and the fresh scent of grass and trees. The sunlight felt warm and real on their skin.

Zhang Bufan and Yue Ling'er stopped and looked around. They were standing in a secluded valley, surrounded by mountains, lush trees, and filled with the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers—a veritable paradise. Outside the valley, they could faintly hear sounds from the mortal world.

"Finally back!" Zhang Bufan took a deep breath, his heart filled with excitement and emotion. More than a year had passed, and he had finally returned to the world that gave him birth and raised him, finally having the chance to see his parents whom he had missed for so long.

Yue Ling'er looked around at her surroundings, her eyes filled with curiosity. She surveyed her surroundings, sensing the atmosphere of the mortal world, a sense of novelty rising within her. Everything here was completely different from the cultivation world, filling her with a desire to explore.

Zhang Bufan calmed his excitement and said to Yue Ling'er, "Junior Sister, let's leave here first and head to a nearby town, then I'll take you home." His home was in a small village about 500 kilometers away from Mount Hua. From there, it would take about a day to reach it by using mortal transportation.

"Okay!" Yue Ling'er nodded obediently. She knew nothing about the mortal world, so naturally she followed behind Zhang Bufan.

With that, the two walked together out of the valley. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. They walked side by side on the forest path, their shadows stretching long. Thus began an ordinary journey filled with unknowns and anticipation.