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「Half a month later.」

At the Wuji Holy Sect, the mountain gates stood as always.

Qi Yun appeared on a familiar path within the Sect. He was travel-worn, yet that could not conceal the divine light gleaming in his eyes.

He had been away for nearly a year.

When he had left the mountain, he was only at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, ranking among the lowest in the Inner Mansion.

Upon his return, however, he was already a Qi Refining Eighth Layer Cultivator, his Hundred Acupoints all connected and his aura profound and deep.

If word of such cultivation speed got out, it would be enough to leave everyone speechless.

Even the direct scions of so-called Masters would likely pale in comparison.

Upon returning to the Holy Sect, Qi Yun didn’t hurry back to his residence, nor did he go to the Task Hall to report on his mission. Instead, he headed straight for the quiet and secluded Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple.

The temple was as tranquil and desolate as ever, with gnarled ancient trees and the faint, sparse scent of incense.

The Elder Master looked just as he always did, sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard. It was as if he were eternally confined to that small space, quietly watching the clouds drift and scatter.

The Elder Master showed little surprise at Qi Yun’s return, reacting as if a junior member of his family had merely come home from a long journey.

He lifted his eyelids, his cloudy gaze sweeping over Qi Yun. With a slight nod, he pointed to the stone bench opposite him.

"You’re back? Sit."

Qi Yun bowed respectfully and sat down as instructed.

A set of coarse pottery tea ware sat on the stone table, and on a small red clay stove, spring water simmered with a soft GURGLE.

The Elder Master personally lifted the kettle, performing the ritual of rinsing the cups and preparing the leaves with slow, natural movements.

Finally, he pushed a cup of clear, emerald-green Spirit Tea toward Qi Yun, steam curling gracefully from its surface.

"It seems your gains from this trip down the mountain were quite substantial," the Elder Master said, his voice calm and unreadable.

In just one year, he had broken through two layers of his Realm, advancing from the Qi Refining Sixth Layer straight to the Eighth Layer.

Such a rate of advancement was something that not even the direct bloodlines of Masters, who were painstakingly nurtured and bolstered by countless resources, could necessarily match, let alone ordinary Inner Mansion True Cultivators.

But the Elder Master’s heart was like a Bright Mirror; he saw things with perfect clarity.

On the path of cultivation, gains never came from nowhere.

To achieve something so astounding, this seemingly calm young man must have experienced unimaginable perils amidst the turbulent events in the Northwest Land.

He must have walked the line between life and death countless times, perhaps even thrown himself into hopeless situations only to emerge victorious.

Only then could he have earned his current level of Cultivation.

Qi Yun accepted the teacup with both hands, feeling its gentle warmth in his palms. His tone was humble as he spoke.

"I did make some gains, but I owe my safe return to your discreet protection, Master."

"Oh?" The Elder Master took a light sip from his own cup, raising his eyes to look at Qi Yun with a faint, unreadable smile.

"Then you are mistaken."

"I reside deep within the Sect and am usually too lazy to even leave this mountain. I have no great ability to watch over you from afar."

Hearing this, Qi Yun lowered his head to blow on the steam rising from his tea, but the corner of his mouth curled into a knowing smile.

"You jest, Master."

He lifted his eyes, his gaze clear and bright, and looked directly at the Elder Master.

"Though I may occasionally consider myself extraordinary, I’d like to think I still have some self-awareness."

"The Pot Valley Yin Ruins have been open for more than half a year."

"In that time, at least one or two hundred of our fellow Holy Sect disciples have entered."

He paused, his tone even but firm. "So why was the crucial mission to seize the core of the Earth Temple, a task vital to the Sect’s grand strategy, placed squarely on the shoulders of an obscure disciple like myself, a mere Qi Refining Seventh Layer at the time?"

"If you say it was all a coincidence... well, that would be far too much of a coincidence, wouldn’t it?"

The Elder Master’s hand, holding his teacup, paused mid-air. He remained silent for a moment.

He stared into Qi Yun’s clear, faintly glowing eyes.

There was no accusation in them, no discontent.

There was only the calm and frankness that came with understanding the truth.

After a long moment, the unreadable expression on the Elder Master’s face slowly softened into a faint smile, one tinged with a hint of resignation and an undercurrent of approval.

"You rascal..." He shook his head and drained his cup. "Still as sharp as ever. You don’t let a single detail slip by you."

He set down his cup, his gaze turning distant as he admitted frankly,

"That’s right. Regarding the matter of the Pot Valley Yin Ruins, it was I who informed Qian Xin to reserve that task for you."

His tone then grew more serious.

"But this wasn’t merely a favor. It was a test."

"The core of the Earth Temple is no small matter. The task could only be accomplished by someone with the right temperament, methods, and fortune."

"If you had failed to complete the task, or had died within that Earth Temple..."

"...then it would have proven you were not the one I was looking for, and I... would have simply chosen another."

His words were understated, yet they spoke to a cruel truth of the path of cultivation.

Opportunity and risk always coexist, and those who can seize the opportunity are always the ones who are prepared and strong enough to survive.

The Elder Master had given Qi Yun a golden opportunity to rise above his station.

But at the same time, he had pushed him to the edge of a cliff.

Survive, and you return laden with rewards.

Fail, and you vanish like dust, forgotten by all.

Qi Yun was not surprised by the Elder Master’s frankness. Instead, he simply nodded, his expression calm.

"I understand."

’The Elder Master seems to have given me a dangerous test, but isn’t this also a form of acknowledgment and investment in its own right?’

’On the path of cultivation, risk and opportunity always go hand in hand.’

’If I don’t have the courage to accept such challenges, how can I even dream of reaching greater heights?’

"Mm," the Elder Master said, the satisfaction in his eyes deepening as he noted Qi Yun’s composed expression. "You’ve grown a great deal during your time away, both in your Cultivation and your temperament."

"For the time being, you should remain in the Sect to consolidate your foundation."

"The Qi Refining Ninth Layer, the Realm of Divine Soul, is the most crucial and perilous step of the entire Qi Refining Stage."

"It is when the Three Souls converge to condense the Divine Soul."

"If there is the slightest misstep, the best-case scenario is a damaged Divine Soul and a halt to your cultivation journey. The worst-case scenario is your soul scattering to the winds, your life’s work turning to smoke."

"This is a step that cannot be rushed, nor can your heart be in disarray."

"You must be exceedingly cautious."

He paused, then made a promise that would be a dream come true for any Qi Refining Disciple:

"While you are cultivating in the Sect, should you encounter any difficulties or have any questions about the Realm of Divine Soul, you may come find me at any time."

"Though I myself may have gone astray in my own path, I still have some insights to share on the fundamentals."

Personal guidance from a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Master!

This was undoubtedly a tremendous stroke of Creation, enough to make countless Inner Mansion True Cultivators burn with envy.

This also meant that when Qi Yun faced the great chasm of the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, he would be able to avoid many pitfalls and countless potential risks.

With the Elder Master’s weighty promise, the solemnity that had settled in Qi Yun’s heart after learning of the dangers of the Qi Refining Ninth Layer eased slightly. He bowed respectfully once more.

"Thank you, Master!"

The two continued to chat amiably over tea, discussing Qi Yun’s experiences outside and other minor matters concerning the Sect.

A short while later, Qi Yun rose, clasped his hands in a salute, and took his leave.

He turned and walked toward the ancient threshold of the Daoist Temple.

Sunlight streamed in through the doorway, casting a long shadow behind him.

Just as he was about to step over the threshold, the Elder Master’s voice, flat yet tinged with an almost imperceptible hint of finality, drifted from behind him.

"Qi Yun."

Qi Yun stopped in his tracks.

The Elder Master’s voice remained steady, yet it held a certain weight.

"My time... is short."

"Fifty years, at most."

"Within fifty years, I will have to undergo Corpse Liberation, enter the cycle of reincarnation, and begin anew."

These words were like a soft clap of thunder, exploding in Qi Yun’s Heart Lake.

He spun around to look at the Elder Master, who was still sitting on the stone bench, his figure appearing hazy in the interplay of light and shadow.

Fifty years... for a mortal, that was half a lifetime, perhaps even an entire one.

But for High Tier Cultivators, especially one facing the end of their lifespan, it was but the blink of an eye.

The Elder Master was making it clear that his protection and guidance would not last forever.

After the initial shock, resolve quickly returned to Qi Yun’s eyes.

He faced the Elder Master, straightened his robes, and performed a deep, solemn bow. His voice was clear and firm.

"Rest assured, Master!"

"I will do everything in my power. I will not fail to live up to your expectations!"

Seeing the resolute fighting spirit in Qi Yun’s eyes—a spirit born not of blind impulse, but of careful consideration—the Elder Master slowly nodded, a faint, gratified smile gracing his lips.

"Your temperament is mature and steady, far surpassing your peers. I trust you can grasp the right balance," he said, his tone gentle. It was both a warning and an encouragement.

"Remember, fifty years is the deadline I have given myself, not a shackle to bind you."

"Do not let this make you anxious or impetuous, and do not let it disrupt the rhythm of your cultivation."

"Cultivate with a peaceful mind, solidify your foundation, and proceed one step at a time. That is the correct path."

These words were both a pressure and a release.

He had told Qi Yun of the urgency, yet warned him not to be reckless because of it.

Qi Yun etched these words into his heart. He bowed once more, then finally turned and strode out of the Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple, stepping into the bright, real sunlight beyond.

His figure, seen from behind, stood taller than when he had arrived, yet it also seemed to bear a greater, invisible weight.

The next fifty years would be a crucial race on his path of cultivation.

...