The middle-aged cultivator is Lü Master, from the Shangde Peak of the Third Peak of Qingshan Sect. Now he has reached the Perfected Intent Realm; however, after two unsuccessful attempts to breach the Unmarked Realm, he has been forced to temporarily pause his advancement. He currently serves as the headmaster at Nan Song Pavilion, responsible for training new Outer Gate Disciples. By his standing, it was not necessary for him to personally come out and recruit disciples—yet in recent years, the quality of disciples at Nan Song Pavilion has been rather ordinary, falling far short compared with other branches. This has placed significant pressure on him. Now he does not expect any grand achievements; merely wishing to produce a few capable disciples or receive an herbal medicine gift from his senior master, so that he may attempt one final breakthrough into the Unmarked Realm. When he hears news from among the Nine Peaks of this small village, which seems worth observing, he quickly arrives. He remains hidden within the dense green trees, watching the boy who is about ten years old. He confirms that the information is accurate—merely by distant observation, one can already sense the boy's exceptional potential. When his sword awareness sweeps over him, he is utterly amazed—the boy is truly a naturally gifted cultivator! Such rare gems are not only hard to find in the surrounding Da Qing Shan region, but even within bustling prefectures and Chao Ge City—such as those areas—only one such individual might appear every few years. Lü Master now hardly considers how to not startle the boy; he steps fully into the night atmosphere, yet before he has had time to speak, another occurrence captures his full attention. The boy, startled by this sudden appearance, hides behind a young white-clad boy. Lü Master feels alert—because during his initial observation of the boy, he did not notice this young man at all. The boy is seated on a bamboo chair by the pool’s edge. At first, Lü Master's sword awareness settles upon him and finds that the young man is merely an ordinary layperson with no inherent cultivator potential—this is surprising. When his gaze falls upon the white-clad boy’s face, he is even more astonished. After years of cultivation, he has never seen such a beautiful youth in the entire domain. Even the noble descendants from Chao Ge City or the renowned female disciples at Qing Rong Peak cannot compare to this beauty. In the world of cultivation, there exists a fundamental principle: the most extreme are always exceptional. Regardless of height, figure, or any outward traits—those who stand out possess something extraordinary. A simpler expression is often used: "When things reach their peak, they become supernatural." As for beauty—a quality that has long been highly esteemed in cultivation circles—is considered particularly significant. Whether it be the jade-green pines on cliff sides or the luminous flying swords—when something is absolutely beautiful, it must possess exceptional inner essence. Upon seeing the white-clad boy’s flawless face, Lü Master cannot help but feel stirred by emotion—he reinforces his sword awareness and discovers that while the young man's cultivation heart is still youthful, there is no evident presence of a cultivator seed. The white-clad boy is significantly older than the child, yet possesses far less maturity in cultivation; thus, their innate talents differ even more profoundly. Lü Master feels somewhat disappointed and turns away from the youth, turning to Liu Shi'ai, asking: "Do you know my identity?" Liu Shi'ai, startled by this sudden stranger's appearance, is unable to lift his head. As he listens to the question, he dares not speak—only tightly gripping Jing Jiǔ’s sleeve. From Lü Master’s attire and posture while drawing his sword, Jing Jiǔ senses that he is a third-generation disciple whose cultivation level still falls short of the Unmarked Realm—he simply does not know his name. This is entirely natural. Among the thousands of Inner Gate Disciples at Qingshan Sect, aside from the elderly masters on Shangde Peak and the women from Xi Laifeng, who could possibly recognize every single one? "Nothing," Jing Jiǔ replies. For some reason, upon hearing this statement, Liu Shi'ai feels a great deal more reassured—but still retains some nervousness. Standing up, he looks at Lü Master with trembling voice: "Then perhaps you are…" Lü Master speaks gently: "Indeed—I am one of the cultivators from Qingshan—the so-called Immortal Masters that you usually refer to." As he hears the term 'Immortal Master,' Liu Shi'ai subconsciously glances at Jing Jiǔ. Lü Master thinks he is too tense and offers a smile: "You may simply call me Lü Master." Liu Shi'ai, still uncertain, says: "Lü Master… what do you come here for?" "I ask you—do you wish to pursue the Great Way of Cultivation and seek immortality?" Hearing these words, Jing Jiǔ feels deeply moved—he has long heard this very message repeated over decades, unchanged in a single word. After a moment’s silence, Liu Shi'ai is finally able to respond, stammering: "…Of course—I do wish. But… only…" For generations, the village has passed down the story of an ordinary country boy being discovered and taken away by a Qingshan Immortal Master—this tale has been a beloved tradition throughout his life. Now that he is personally encountering it, he feels utterly stunned, unable to imagine any resistance, merely as he has said: only… His gaze drifts toward the small courtyard, where a sense of hesitation and inner struggle appears on his youthful face. Lü Master does not show displeasure—he rather finds this reassuring: "Though cultivation is beyond ordinary life, we are not monks who live isolated from the world. We remain rooted in the mortal realm—we will never sever our ties with family." Liu Shi'ai asks timidly: "Is that true?" Lü Master smiles and says: "I shall inform your parents soon. From then on, I will allow you time to return home for visits. Even if you are unable to enter the Inner Gate, you will be entrusted with managing mundane affairs of the sect—there will be no shortage of income, nor will you have to miss opportunities to care for your hometown. It is only a minor effort… though I believe such an opportunity may not arise for you." Clearly, he holds strong confidence in Liu Shi'ai's talent and potential. Liu Shi'ai turns to Jing Jiǔ. Lü Master is somewhat surprised. Jing Jiǔ stands up and says: "If you wish, go then." Liu Shi'ai’s face brightens: "Yes, Sir." Lü Master’s surprise deepens into wonder—how could such a beautiful young nobleman exist in this remote village? He looks at Jing Jiǔ and suddenly asks: "And what of you? Do you also wish to pursue the Great Way and seek immortality?" ... ... From across one wall, the voices and sounds of conversation and weeping from the Liu family continue to echo. Though mindful of the Immortal Master’s instructions not to disturb the village, they keep their voices low. Jing Jiǔ sits by the window, gazing at the stars in the night sky—silent and thoughtful. Until now, no one has noticed that there is a half-cube of pale green elixir slowly dissolving inside the water tank behind the guest room—the elixir gradually melts into the water until it vanishes completely. Lü Master does not choose to summon his sword and fly back to Qingshan Sect—instead, he walks. Liu Shi'ai has no idea—because he never imagined anyone could walk while flying a sword. Jing Jiǔ clearly understands—the third-generation disciple of Qingshan Sect now holds the Perfected Intent Realm, so in theory, should be able to move effortlessly with his sword—even carrying two people would not pose difficulty. Then why does Lü Master insist on walking? Is it because he is concerned that other cultivators might notice traces of flying swords and thus cause trouble? Jing Jiǔ finds this puzzling—though the Qingshan Sect has seen a gradual decline in generations, such hesitation seems excessive. The distance between the village and the main gate of Qingshan Sect does not exceed one hundred li. For disciples of Qingshan Sect to remain so cautious at such a distance appears to be a sign of cowardice. Lü Master is unaware of Jing Jiǔ’s thoughts—continuing quietly with his journey toward the misty peaks, accompanied by two young students, both in silence and humility. On the third day, as they pass through a thick fog, their view suddenly becomes clear. Before them rise countless green mountain peaks—some graceful, some majestic, others with smooth stone walls like mirrors, completely impassable for climbing, yet each summit is inhabited by human settlements. Are these the famed Nine Peaks of Qingshan? Liu Shi'ai marvels repeatedly; Jing Jiǔ pays no attention. The three continue along a path paved with compacted stones, soon arriving at a stone gate. The gate structure is simple, adorned with moss that gives it an ancient charm. The inscription on the horizontal plaque reads faintly: "Nan Song Pavilion." This is indeed the southern entrance of Qingshan Sect. Upon seeing this gate, Lü Master’s face brightens—clearly relaxing. The gate is serene and quiet; birdsong in the forest is neither distracting nor intrusive. Below the gate stands a wooden table with ink, brush, paper, and scrolls. A man dressed in gray sword robes lies sleeping on it. (End of Chapter 8: The First Lesson)