Li Yan stood atop the flying device that resembled a giant unfurled scroll. As he gazed at the enormous mountain drawing ever nearer, his heart was stirred by a mix of anticipation and bewilderment. He wasn't sure what kind of life awaited him here.
The mountain loomed closer and closer, its entire surface a deep ink-green. It was covered in bamboo—but these were not the lush, vibrant jade bamboos he recalled from his days at Daqing Mountain. Instead, their color bordered on blackened ink, yet along their slender stalks tiny crystalline specks of green light shimmered and flowed, slowly traversing the surface. The sight evoked in him not only a profound sense of gravity and tranquility but also an otherworldly, almost magical feeling.
As he admired the gently flowing green glimmers, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind: "Could these bamboos possibly harbor gu insects—or even spirit bugs—inside?" At this notion, his face lit up in excitement while his heart pounded in his chest.
It seemed as if his senior brother knew exactly what he was thinking. Casting him a knowing glance, the elder smiled and said, "Are you wondering if there might be some spirit insects or gu pests lurking in these bamboos?"
Li Yan's mind raced—he couldn't believe he was being so transparent. Before he could reply, his senior went on, "Hehe, it's an understandable guess. Every cultivator who has seen the Three Peaks, or who is new to Xiao Zhu Peak, has entertained such thoughts at first. I myself once wondered the same. But rest assured, these bamboos are merely bamboos; they do not shelter any spirit insects. In fact, they are prized as spirit plants and are excellent material for fashioning cultivation implements. I'll explain the details to you when we have a spare moment."
Even as the conversation drifted, they had already descended onto a grassy clearing halfway up the mountain.
Li Yan stepped down from the scrolllike flying device and looked forward. Before him, the mountain stretched, a dark mass piercing into a sea of clouds. Its inky facade rose upward, while waves of bamboo swayed like undulating tides. Throughout the dark bamboo forest, intermittent green specks flickered and drifted, as if the scene were a dreamlike palace from another world. From where his feet had touched the ground, a winding path snaked upward into the bamboo expanse, disappearing amid the surging green waves. The air itself was alive—pulsing with spiritual energy that brushed against his skin and seeped into him, making every pore seem to dance with life.
When he turned his gaze downward toward the mountain's base, Li Yan noticed there was no obvious trail for descent from where he stood. Instead, his view was filled with rippling, shifting ink-green leaves—sometimes visible, sometimes veiled by mists. Unlike other peaks that boasted a grand entrance at their foot, here it appeared that one typically ascended and descended from the middle of the mountain.
"Junior Brother, let's go up the mountain," said Li Wu Yi. At that moment, his senior had already gathered the flying device and strode toward the narrow path. Li Yan rose to follow him.
As the two traveled along the winding stone path, the dense bamboo formations above and on either side created a shadowy corridor. Along the stalks, those mesmerizing green crystalline specks danced and drifted, making Li Yan feel as though he were walking through a realm of shifting, surreal light.
"Junior Brother, once we get higher up, we'll find a spot for you to freshen up a bit, and then we'll go pay our respects to the Master. After that, we'll get you settled in with your quarters, all right?" Li Wu Yi said while walking ahead. His long robe flowed behind him, and occasionally little flashes of green glimmer would flicker across his face and hair—a strange, almost otherworldly beauty that was hard to ignore.
"I'll follow your lead, Senior Brother," Li Yan replied serenely. He well knew that his current state and tattered appearance were hardly appropriate for such formal occasions.
"Mm, not far ahead is the dormitory for the menial disciples, and a little farther back is the main hall of Xiao Zhu Peak. Beyond that, along the mountainside about halfway up, is where our cultivation quarters lie. Our Master should be inside the main hall right now. We're not meant to bypass it and wash up in the rear—instead, you'll clean up at the menial disciples' quarters ahead. Please bear with it, alright?" Li Wu Yi said, his tone gentle and apologetic as he looked at Li Yan.
Li Yan didn't care much about these formalities. Having grown up in a mountain village, even though he'd spent half a year with Military Strategist Ji, his humble nature remained unchanged. "Of course," he answered calmly.
The corridor of interwoven darkness and drifting green lights took them about half the time of a cup of tea. Soon, the path opened into a bamboo-fenced courtyard. Within the enclosure spread a vast open space, encircled by a sea of ink-green bamboo outside the fence. Inside the courtyard stood a dozen or so small dwellings, resembling the forecourt of an estate. A short stony path snaked through these houses and led off toward the far side of the mountain. Compared with the grand pavilions and ethereal streams of the other peaks, the setting here was rather modest—but it exuded a quiet, refined elegance.
Looking back at the mottled, luminescent path he had trekked, Li Yan felt as though he had just been part of a dreamlike journey.
As Li Wu Yi led him into the fenced compound, about a dozen young men and women—menial disciples all clad in yellow—bustled about. The men wore form-fitting, short garments while the women sported elegant, long palace-style dresses. On seeing the pair arrive, they hurried over to offer respectful greetings: "Greetings, Master!" Some even stole curious glances at Li Yan.
Li Wu Yi then addressed the group, "This is your Eighth Uncle. Xiao Yi, please take Uncle Bai with you so he can get a quick wash." He pointed to a young man of around eighteen or nineteen years old.
The dozen or so young servants, upon hearing that this new arrival was addressed as "Uncle," couldn't help but be curious. After all, some had worked here for a long time and others had joined more recently—and it had been quite a while since a new disciple was inducted. They glanced at Li Yan repeatedly. His ragged, filthy clothes were especially conspicuous; his spiritual energy was noticeably weak—so much so that, by their standards, even they seemed more potent. The curious looks passed among themselves as they wondered silently what to make of him.
At that moment, the young man named Xiao Yi made his way forward and stood before Li Wu Yi. With a refined look about him, Xiao Yi was no less courteous as Li Wu Yi extended his hand toward Li Yan. "Hand me your storage sack," he said. Li Yan immediately understood that this was so his senior could extract a change of clothes, and he was equally curious to see how it worked.
Li Wu Yi took the sack and tapped it lightly. In an instant, brilliant multicolored light flared—and floating in midair appeared a set of long robes, a set of undergarments, and a pair of boots. They hung suspended as if by magic.
Now Li Yan had a clear view of the storage sack's display process. His eyes shone with amazement before he quietly shook his head. He chastised himself for knowing so little about the basic principles of cultivation; even the most elementary immortal techniques were a mystery to him.
Xiao Yi then reached for the garments and, with a courteous bow directed at Li Yan, said, "Please, come with me, Uncle." He then led the way toward a nearby building.
Li Yan, now fifteen years old yet nearly seven chi tall—almost as tall as a grown man—followed closely. After about half a cup of tea's time, Li Wu Yi glanced at Li Yan—dressed in a flowing, ink-green robe—and nodded approvingly. Although Li Yan's features were ordinary, at that moment he exuded a freshness and youthful vitality that no man in his fifties or sixties could mimic, no matter how youthful he might appear.
Li Yan found the new clothes rather strange. They fit him perfectly—neither too tight nor too loose—and felt remarkably comfortable. The boots, in particular, were astounding; with each step he took, it was as if he were gliding effortlessly forward.
"Hehe, let's be on our way," Li Wu Yi said. "This set of clothes is a simple spirit device—it protects you against both cold and heat, and the boots enhance your agility. They're even able to resist attacks from cultivators below the fourth tier of the Condensation Period." Knowing that Li Yan was unfamiliar with such nuances, Li Wu Yi explained briefly before leading him along a stone path winding between several rows of small buildings.
The stony road wound upward along the mountainside. Every so often, Li Wu Yi pointed out various objects on either side and explained a few details, and Li Yan asked his own questions in turn. After what felt like half a meal's time, the path opened into view a bamboo house constructed entirely of ink-green bamboo. Standing amidst a dense bamboo grove, the building exuded a subtle gleam of green as if twinkling like stars on a dark night—clearly built using the mountain's bamboo. Without pause, Li Wu Yi led Li Yan straight to the entrance of this bamboo dwelling.
Li Yan followed him with a calm expression, his robe flowing as he moved. The two of them, one in front of the other, seemed to glide with an ethereal grace—almost as if they were wandering through a celestial realm.
"Master, your Eighth Junior has arrived," Li Wu Yi announced as he stopped before the door and gave a slight bow toward the inside.
"Please, come in," came a warm, gentle voice from within.
At these words, Li Yan's brow furrowed slightly. Yet Li Wu Yi, seemingly oblivious to his confusion, inclined his head and said, "Junior Brother, let us enter." With that, he led Li Yan into the bamboo house.
Inside, Li Yan's first impression was that the interior was entirely unlike what he had expected. Outside, he had assumed that a house built entirely of bamboo would be riddled with gaps—and he had wondered if it wouldn't leak when it rained. But upon entering, he realized he had been mistaken. The room spanned over thirty zhang, and was truly spacious. The walls were a soft blue-white—a hue reminiscent of the inner surfaces of natural bamboo. The walls formed one uninterrupted whole, softly glowing with a gentle radiance, a clean luminous blend of white with hints of green and blue. Several large windows punctuated the walls, allowing the occasional chirp of birds to drift in and heighten the sense of tranquil spaciousness.
There were six people in the room—four men and two women.
At the head of the room sat a young couple. The young man, slightly on the plump side, had thick eyebrows and large eyes; he appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Dressed in an ink-green robe, his expression was gentle and composed as he smiled at the new arrivals. Beside him sat a young woman in court attire—her features delicate and her figure gracefully curved. Her fair, smooth skin seemed to glow subtly, and her oval face and smiling "phoenix eyes" exuded refinement. Clad in a white palace gown, her hair cascaded elegantly with a jade-inlaid phoenix hairpin holding it in place. Together, they seemed not at all imbued with any aura of spiritual power, but rather resembled the refined scion of a wealthy family and his lady.
In the next row sat four individuals—two men and two women. Closest to the head of the room was a robust, middle-aged man of about forty. Broad-shouldered and with a fierce, determined expression, he was nearly as tall as Li Yan, and his imposing presence was unmistakable. Yet the ink-green robe he wore was stretched taut by his muscular frame, robbing him of any semblance of elegance and endowing him instead with a weighty, mountainous quality. At that moment, he fixed his sharp, leopard-like gaze upon Li Yan.
Below him sat a slender young man, around eighteen or nineteen years old, also clad in an ink-green robe. His build was lean and athletic, his face long with small, dark eyes, and his skin had a slightly sun-kissed tone. What was most striking about him were his exceptionally long arms, almost disproportionate to his body, and his eyes darted about with keen alertness—evidence of a nimble mind.
Beneath that, two young women were seated—one shorter and one taller, both appearing to be in their early twenties. One wore a long canary-yellow skirt while the other still donned the sect's standard ink-green robe. The girl in the yellow skirt had a round face and big eyes; though petite, her jet-black hair fell loosely over her shoulders. Her skin was flawless and luminous, and her eyes frequently glanced at Li Yan—but even more often at Li Wu Yi. Her delicate, jade-like hands would occasionally reach up to smooth back a stray lock of hair, and now and then she whispered something to her companion. A faint blush would sometimes tinge her cheeks, enhancing her charming appearance.
Lastly, a tall young woman with brilliant eyes and dazzling white teeth sat quietly. Her skin was that of golden wheat, and her short hair framed a face exuding an intense, heroic air, yet her overall demeanor was tinged with a cool detachment. Her robe clung tightly to her form, accentuating a high, proud bearing at the chest, while the fabric below fell in neat, natural folds that hinted at a firm, toned midsection. Even at rest, one could clearly make out the graceful lines of her long legs. While the yellow-clad young woman occasionally drew near to speak with her, the tall woman only murmured occasionally, her tone measured and reserved.
Each of these individuals radiated a palpable aura of spiritual power that made Li Yan—newly inducted into the main hall—feel as though his very breath was short. They regarded him with eyes that were at once curious and coolly assessing. In particular, the young man with the long, slender arms kept shifting his gaze, his body occasionally swaying slightly in his chair as if lost in thought.
They scrutinized Li Yan, and he, in silence, observed them in return. At this early stage he experienced little true awe—after all, he was as naive as a newborn calf. Yet, as his journey in cultivation advanced over time, he would come to understand that such scrutiny was a matter of life and death. Fortunately, within the sect the Master had already informed the disciples of his unconventional background. In this world of immortal cultivation, respect for hierarchy is paramount; otherwise, many would never grasp the true nature of events unfolding around them.
When Li Yan finally caught the intense, analytical look of the young man in the front row, he suddenly realized the cause of his earlier discomfort. That piercing gaze—and the gentle, measured tone accompanying it—reminded him unmistakably of one person: Military Strategist Ji.
"Junior Brother! Junior Brother! Quickly go and pay your respects to Master—and Mistress!" a voice suddenly rang out by his ear, interrupting his thoughts.
At once, Li Yan snapped to attention. His face flushed with embarrassment at his earlier lapse, and deep in his heart he sighed bitterly. His very first impression of the Master had been unfavorable, and it stirred memories of the similarly humble yet gentle Military Strategist Ji, bringing with them unpleasant reminiscences.
At the same time, Li Yan couldn't help but wonder how it was that this Master appeared so young—only a few years older than Li Wu Yi. Could this be the renowned Golden Core cultivator? But now was not the time for further pondering; he quickly lifted his robe, knelt down, and kowtowed in deference.
"Master, as your disciple, Li Yan respectfully greets you—oh, Master… Mistress," he managed, his voice faltering. Only then did he recall Li Wu Yi's earlier mention of a Mistress. He had been so absorbed by the corpulent Master that he nearly forgot his senior's words.
At that moment, the young woman in the white palace gown at the front smiled mischievously toward the stout youth, remarking, "It seems this little fellow does not yet show proper regard for our Mistress, does he?"