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

After the Huashan Secret Realm was sealed off, all the outside strife and covetousness were kept outside the protective array, and Qinglan Peak enjoyed a peaceful and serene existence. Zhang Bufan completely let down his guard and lived a life of ease that most Core Formation cultivators in the cultivation world envied, yet he never lost his ambition to improve, refining himself according to a fixed rhythm every day. Just as dawn was breaking, he sat upright in the spirit-gathering array in the courtyard of his cave, with a jade pot of spiritual spring water and a brocade box of immortal peaches placed in front of him.

Circulating the Xuanqing Inherited Technique, Zhang Bufan flicked his fingertips, and the spiritual spring water transformed into fine streams that flowed into his throat. He then bit into a large mouthful of immortal peach flesh, and the sweet spiritual energy instantly dissolved within his dantian, intertwining with the gentle aura of the spiritual spring water. This method of cultivating with the aid of rare and precious materials was more than a hundred times more efficient than that of ordinary cultivators. In just two hours, the spiritual energy around him became so dense that it almost turned into white mist, his meridians were saturated with spiritual energy, and the mixed spiritual liquid of the five attributes within his dantian became increasingly mellow.

Having finished his cultivation, Zhang Bufan turned and headed to the sect's alchemy room. Thanks to the formulas for the Core Formation Pill and Youth Preservation Pill he obtained during his trip to Kunlun, coupled with the vast amount of spiritual herbs in the Xuanqing Secret Realm, he no longer needed to worry about resources and could focus on studying alchemy. Inside the alchemy room, he skillfully lit the earth fire, adding spiritual materials such as the Marrow Cleansing Lotus and Youth Preservation Flower into the furnace in the correct proportions. He precisely controlled the heat with his fingertips, his divine sense subtly perceiving the refining process of the spiritual materials within the furnace. His alchemy skills were already far superior to those of his peers, and with the insights left by the Xuanqing Daoist, he had become proficient in refining the Youth Preservation Pill in just half a month. The refining of the Core Formation Pill was also progressing steadily. A rich medicinal fragrance often wafted from the furnace, attracting the frequent glances of passing disciples.

Between daily cultivation and alchemy, Zhang Bufan would spend time with Yue Ling'er and Ye Qingxue. The nights on Qinglan Peak were tranquil; the three would occasionally sip tea and chat in the courtyard, sometimes embracing tenderly. However, each time he was intimate with Yue Ling'er, Zhang Bufan inevitably felt "suppressed"—Yue Ling'er possessed the physique of the early Core Formation stage, her body incredibly resilient after being reshaped by spiritual energy. Even with deliberate restraint of his spiritual power, Zhang Bufan, at the peak of Foundation Establishment, could never truly contend with her. Yet, he was always more determined than ever, finding joy even in exhaustion. This slight difference in their intimacy became a unique charm between them, further solidifying his resolve to break through to Core Formation as soon as possible. Ye Qingxue, gentle and kind, would always silently stand by, bringing Zhang Bufan nourishing spiritual food after their intimate moments. The tenderness in her eyes could melt away all his fatigue.

Such a carefree life was the immortal existence countless cultivators dreamed of, but Zhang Bufan was never content with the status quo. In the stillness of the night, he would often stand atop the peak, gazing into the distance, his divine sense sweeping across the mountains of the Huashan Secret Realm, his mind always clear—although he now held a transcendent position within the Immortal Sword Sect, in the entire Pangu cultivation world, his peak Foundation Establishment cultivation was still considered low-level. If he encountered cultivators above the Core Formation stage, or faced retaliation from a powerful force like the Myriad Laws Sect, he would still be utterly powerless to protect himself. These ten years of seclusion were a buffer period that Yue Buwei had secured for the sect, and even more so, a golden period for him to catch up and solidify his foundation; he could not afford to waste it.

As his thoughts wandered, Zhang Bufan would often find himself unconsciously conjuring up images of Liu Yan'er, especially her captivating eyes, so different from Yue Ling'er's lively and charming nature, exuding a unique allure of a mature woman. Liu Yan'er and Yue Ling'er were known as the twin beauties of the Immortal Sword Sect, yet they possessed completely opposite temperaments: Yue Ling'er was like a newly blossoming bud in the mountains, lively and spirited, with a touch of childlike naiveté; Liu Yan'er, on the other hand, was like a plum blossom in a secluded valley, alluring yet aloof, every movement radiating the charm of a mature woman.

As a mature and normal man, Zhang Bufan naturally felt a fondness for Liu Yan'er. Moreover, polygamy was prevalent in the Pangu cultivation world, and Yue Ling'er and Ye Qingxue were open-minded and sensible, never showing any resistance to it. This was also the reason why he unhesitatingly gave Liu Yan'er the Core Formation Pill and also gave her ten catties of spiritual spring water—there were quite a few senior brothers in the Immortal Sword Sect who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and he had never been generous enough to give away even a drop of spiritual spring water. Only with Liu Yan'er did he have special feelings, wanting to help her break through her cultivation level, while also secretly trying to win her over and curry favor.

At this moment, on Yanbo Peak, Liu Yan'er sat alone in the pavilion at the summit, her gaze fixed blankly in the direction of Qinglan Peak. Yanbo Peak and Qinglan Peak were more than fifty kilometers apart; amidst the verdant peaks, only the indistinct outline of Qinglan Peak's summit could be vaguely seen, yet she stared intently, completely absorbed. As a core disciple of the Immortal Sword Sect, her Yanbo Peak was also located in the core area surrounding the main peak, rich in spiritual energy and serene in scenery. However, since returning from Kunlun, the tranquility here had become a torment.

Liu Yan'er was known throughout the Immortal Sword Sect for her aloof and cold nature. Born with dual wood and fire spiritual roots, her aptitude was second only to Yue Ling'er's Heavenly Spiritual Root. From the moment she entered the sect, she devoted herself entirely to cultivation, coldly rejecting all attempts to curry favor from fellow disciples and even elders, never giving them a chance. Male cultivators of the Immortal Sword Sect, either coveting her beauty or drawn to her talent and background, showered her with countless gifts, including rare resources such as centuries-old spiritual herbs and Xuan-rank magic artifacts. Yet, she remained unmoved, returning them all untouched. Over time, no one dared to easily provoke one of these two aloof beauties.

With her innate talent of possessing both wood and fire spiritual roots and her diligent cultivation day after day, Liu Yan'er successfully broke through to the peak of Foundation Establishment at the age of forty-five, far surpassing the progress of her peers. For the next three years, she devoted herself to refining her cultivation and strengthening her foundation. Ultimately, she stood out in the selection process for the Kunlun Gathering, securing third place and earning the qualification to participate. She thought she could give it her all in the gathering and earn a chance to break through to the Core Formation stage, but unexpectedly, the sect arranged for Zhang Bufan to fight in her place. Even more shocking was that this junior brother, much younger than her, not only won the championship in one battle but also gave her the Core Formation Pill, which Foundation Establishment cultivators would fight tooth and nail for, free of charge.

That was the first time she hadn't refused a gift. She knew the value of the Core Formation Pill better than anyone; it was a priceless treasure that could increase the probability of Core Formation by 30%. Even in a first-rate sect, it required a tremendous price to obtain. To acquire even one in this lifetime was already a stroke of luck, and she simply couldn't refuse. The moment she received the pill, her heart, frozen for many years, was gently stirred for the first time, and a sense of gratitude and goodwill arose within her towards this junior brother.

What moved her even more was that before her breakthrough in seclusion, Zhang Bufan personally delivered ten catties of spiritual spring water, calmly instructing her to cultivate diligently to aid her breakthrough. She could tell at a glance that the purity of that spiritual spring water surpassed the resources distributed by the sect; ten catties was enough to sustain her through several bottleneck breakthroughs. This generosity completely overwhelmed her—she knew she and Zhang Bufan weren't particularly close, merely ordinary fellow disciples, yet he had given her everything he had. This kindness was so profound that she felt even selling herself wouldn't be enough to repay it.

She had been full of hope, believing that with the help of the Core Formation Pill and the spiritual spring water, she would surely be able to break through to the Core Formation stage smoothly. However, after a day and night of seclusion, exhausting her spiritual energy several times, she ultimately failed to break through that barrier; the threshold of the Core Formation stage remained a hurdle before her. Looking at the gradually calming spiritual energy within her dantian, Liu Yan'er was filled with disappointment and despair—the Core Formation Pill was far too precious; given her status, she would likely never obtain a second one from the sect in her lifetime. Was she destined to remain at the half-step Core Formation stage for the rest of her life?

Just as she was sinking into despair, Zhang Bufan's gentle promise echoed in her ears once more: "When junior brother gathers all the materials in the future, he will refine another Core Formation Pill for senior sister. At that time, senior sister will definitely be able to advance to the Core Formation stage smoothly!" There was no perfunctory tone, only sincere certainty. At that moment, all the defenses in her heart completely collapsed. The aloofness and calmness she had maintained for many years were completely replaced by surging emotions. Her entire heart was filled with the image of Zhang Bufan. That young, handsome, and incredibly talented junior brother, who was so generous to her, became an inescapable concern in her mind.

Upon returning to Yanbo Peak, Liu Yan'er intended to go into seclusion to refine her cultivation and quickly solidify her half-step Core Formation stage, but she couldn't concentrate no matter what she did. While meditating, her mind was filled with images of Zhang Bufan's spirited demeanor on the Kunlun Arena, his gentle smile as he handed her the Core Formation Pill, and his resolute gaze as he promised to give her more pills. In her spare time, she would unconsciously go to Wanglan Pavilion, gazing blankly in the direction of Qinglan Peak, sometimes standing there for an entire day, unaware even of the mountain birds landing on her shoulder.

A gentle evening breeze carried the fragrance of mountain herbs, ruffling Liu Yan'er's robes and causing her hair to flutter in the wind. Her alluring face was filled with bewilderment and trembling. In her forty-eight years, she had never felt so restless, never had she been so attached to any man. She knew her heart had completely fallen, but because of her status as a senior sister and her long-standing aloof persona, she didn't know how to face these feelings. She could only let this longing grow in her heart, gazing daily in the direction of Qinglan Peak, entrusting her heart full of yearning.

On Qinglan Peak, Zhang Bufan had just finished a day of alchemy and was enjoying tea with Yue Ling'er and Ye Qingxue in the courtyard. As if sensing something, he looked up towards Yanbo Peak, his divine sense vaguely catching a lonely yet slightly agitated aura. He raised an eyebrow slightly, understanding the situation, but didn't reveal it. He simply picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and a hint of amusement and anticipation flashed in his eyes. Liu Yan'er's defenses had already crumbled; it was only a matter of time before things escalated.