Tianling Peak was, naturally, the foremost summit among the seventy‐two peaks of the Tianling Sect. Amidst cascading gorges filled with the cry of pine winds and peaks adorned with exotic clouds, its scenery was said to be unsurpassed in beauty throughout the world.
Unlike Xiaohe Peak—the mountain where Fang Jinyu resided—this peak had at its foot a grand sect gate. Around it, strict prohibitions were set; not even a Golden Core Grandmaster could simply leap over these defenses but had no choice but to enter through that very gate. It was said that Tianling Peak was the true gateway of the Tianling Sect.
The other seventy-one peaks had been acquired bit by bit during the rapid expansion of the sect—from what were once independent immortal sects that occupied those mountains. Some of these acquisitions were incidental, such as Xiaohe Peak, which had come under the fold along the way. After all, any organizational structure needs not only a stable, reliable pathway for advancement but also a chain of benefits. Lacking either, even the strongest sect would soon crumble.
Fang Jinyu arrived wielding his talisman device, but as a Foundation Establishment cultivator his look was impoverished—admittedly, one who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage was expected to wield a spirit instrument. Even if his gear appeared modest, it was a mark of his current status!
At this moment, two ninth-level disciples of Tianling Peak, stationed here to guard the entrance, hurried to greet him.
"Greetings, Senior Uncle!" they cried.
The Tianling Sect boasted nearly a thousand ninth-level disciples. Although these two were themselves at the ninth level, they did not know Fang Jinyu personally.
"One word for us, please: report that the new Foundation Establishment disciple from Xiaohe Peak—Fang Jinyu—has come to request an audience with the Sect Master."
At these words the two disciples' eyes glimmered with envy. Becoming a new Foundation Establishment cultivator meant that Fang Jinyu had only recently broken through. In other words, just days earlier he had been like the rest of them—a mere ninth-level cultivator.
"Understood, Senior Uncle."
It was their duty, and so the two promptly complied.
Fang Jinyu had assumed that he would have to wait a while, for although the Sect Master was not himself a Golden Core Grandmaster, his affairs were busy. Unless a Golden Core cultivator arrived, one was not allowed to cut the line. However, those two ninth-level disciples soon informed him that the master wished him to hurry along.
This instruction was somewhat odd, but Fang Jinyu did not hesitate. After all, he had come for more urgent business—resolving the troublesome matter of the Lingdu Secret Realm's entry quota. Although the secret realm housed many treasures that could greatly boost one's Qi fortune once refined, compared to one's life, such treasures were hardly worth a mention! Having read that book, Fang Jinyu already knew of three locations where such treasures could be hidden. The awkward part was that aside from one semi-finished treasure, while he might have a chance of obtaining the other if he dared try, his mere Foundation Establishment level—just the first layer—would render him nothing more than a sacrificial pawn should he venture further.
Upon entering Tianling Peak, Fang Jinyu did not dare wander about aimlessly. Instead, he strode directly to the main hall.
Inside, he immediately saw the Sect Master seated alongside a young man standing with his hands clasped behind his back. Although the youth appeared mortal at first glance, the master treated him with utmost reverence.
Without delay, Fang Jinyu bowed and said, "Disciple Fang Jinyu pays his respects to both the forefathers and the Sect Master."
Even though Fang Jinyu himself had never witnessed a Golden Core cultivator from Tianling Sect in person, the youth before him was indisputably a Golden Core Grandmaster—one whose aura suggested that he might soon shatter his Golden Core to become an infant of the Yuan Ying realm. After all, what other reason would the master have for showing such deference? According to the texts, when the Sect Master met with the master of the female protagonist, Su Yier, he spoke to him as an equal, for the master's status was special and benefitted from an inherent seniority.
"Tell me, what is it that you need?" the Sect Master finally inquired.
"Reporting to the Sect Master: by a stroke of luck, I have attained the true essence of my method. I have broken through my bottleneck by steadily accumulating Qi and thereby achieved Foundation Establishment. Consequently, I no longer require the Lingdu Secret Realm entry quota provided by the sect…" Fang Jinyu hurriedly began to speak. Before he could finish, however, the young man interjected, "Take this. For you, the Lingdu Secret Realm is an invaluable opportunity. If fate smiles upon you, you might even bypass twenty years of arduous cultivation. But before you venture in, you must carry with you a Discipline Pearl."
At that moment the Sect Master added, "Hurry and thank our Ancestor!"
Only then did Fang Jinyu understand the true identity of the young man before him. He was none other than the Yuan Ying Ancestor of Tianling Sect.
Recall the hierarchy in cultivation: a Foundation Establishment cultivator has a lifespan of roughly two hundred years; a Golden Core cultivator might live five hundred years; and one in the Yuan Ying realm is fated to live at least fifteen hundred years. Gazing down upon the countless dynasties that had risen and fallen, such beings were indeed the ethereal immortals of the mortal realm!
Thanks to the presence of this Yuan Ying Ancestor, Tianling Sect had been able to soar to become one of the nine vast and six immortal sects. Even if half of the seventy-two peaks were not forbidden, no one would dare step beyond the established boundaries.
Instantly, Fang Jinyu bowed deeply in salute. "Disciple humbly thanks the Ancestor for his grace!"
"Mm." The Yuan Ying Ancestor of Tianling Sect nodded in acknowledgement, then added, "You remind me of your parents—but if you wish to journey far in the realm of cultivation, do not be too honest or meek."
In that instant, Fang Jinyu understood why the master had urged him to hurry upstairs. It turned out that his previous incarnation's parents had once known this very Yuan Ying Ancestor! They might not have been extremely close, but that relationship was sufficient.
Immediately, Fang Jinyu continued, "Thank you for your guidance, Ancestor. I shall keep your teachings always in my heart. Sect Master, I have another matter to report."
"Speak," the master prompted.
"It is that previously, Chen Baxing sent someone to demand that I relinquish the Lingdu Secret Realm entry quota. Naturally, I refused. But they said that if I gave it up willingly, they would settle all ensuing issues—and there was also a junior apprentice, Lu Shaojun, whose father supposedly was an alchemist, and who promised to help you refine a Foundation Pill," Fang Jinyu explained.
Since the Yuan Ying Ancestor was present, Fang Jinyu dared not divulge every detail and mentioned only the two key individuals; as for Lu Yifang, he left him unmentioned.
Before the Sect Master could reply, the Yuan Ying Ancestor's expression darkened and he snorted in anger, "What nerve!"
Fang Jinyu was momentarily stunned. Why was this venerable ancestor even angrier than he was?
"That matter—you know what you must do, do you not?" the Yuan Ying Ancestor turned his gaze toward the Sect Master.
"Disciple shall act in accordance with the sect's rules!" the Sect Master quickly assured him. He was well aware that certain rules had been set personally by this Ancestor. To violate them would be tantamount to provoking him! For example, among fellow disciples the rule stands that a Golden Core cultivator must not harm a Foundation Establishment cultivator without cause. Likewise, whoever holds the Lingdu Secret Realm entry quota must be the one to enter it!
The Yuan Ying Ancestor nodded, then shimmered into streams of light and, in the blink of an eye, vanished without a trace. This was the unique ability of the Yuan Ying realm—a body that could shift between illusion and substance at his whim, gathering or dispersing as he pleased.
Once the ancestor departed, the Sect Master visibly exhaled a sigh of relief. Then, flashing an amiable smile, he turned to Fang Jinyu and said, "Fang, my junior brother, go and obtain a Discipline Pearl. Before you enter the Lingdu Secret Realm, activate it. I will explain the remainder of the details to you shortly."