The sounds of tea and wind reached the ears, one after another. More disciples noticed the commotion at the rear, unable to help but be astounded. Lü Master observed the scene before him, his brows slightly raised, with an undertone of displeasure. With his right hand resting behind his back, he lightly tapped his finger. Crunch! A clear and cold sword sound rang out throughout the hall. The disciples felt a subtle tremor in their hearts and instantly regained awareness, turning to see what was happening. The plateau was utterly silent—even the bird calls from the trees far away had vanished. Lü Master’s gaze swept among the students, lingering slightly longer on Jing Jiǔ and Liu Shi'ai before settling on the distant peaks. "Pay close attention," he said. "Regardless of your talents, aptitudes, or insights, each of you must strive to break through the *Youyi* Realm within three months. Only then will you have a chance to reach the full *Bao Shen* Realm within three years—only then can you hope to be invited into the Inner Gate and become true Qing Shan Disciples. Our sect emphasizes the principles of straightforwardness and vigor in cultivation. The initial stages may not seem difficult; even those who are less gifted, if they devote time and energy, will eventually succeed in making breakthroughs. But how vast is the path toward enlightenment? As one progresses further along this road, it becomes increasingly arduous—peaks grow steeper, terrains more rugged, and at last, over hundreds of feet, reaching the summit feels like climbing into the heavens. So if, within three years, you still haven’t reached the Inner Gate, then perhaps it would be better to simply walk away from this path." He spoke with a sense of deep reflection—these words were meant for the students, and they echoed his own personal experience. Already at the *Shengyi* Full Realm, he could freely ride and soar on his sword, kill someone within ten paces while remaining untouched by blood. To ordinary people, he appeared like a celestial swordsman. In the official households of Chao Ge City, he would surely be honored as a revered guest. Yet within Qing Shan Sect, he had never been able to reach the *Wuzheng* Realm—his lifespan thus limited, with no prospect of progressing beyond it. Consequently, he was not considered a top priority for cultivation within the sect. Just like now—he could only teach these students who barely understood anything, though such teaching work remained vital to the sect’s operations... A somewhat naive voice pulled Lü Master from his thoughts. "Master, if we make steady progress in our practice, won’t there be an opportunity to take part in the *Sword-Bearing Ceremony* three years from now?" The young disciple had gathered some information about Qing Shan Sect through various channels and understood that the Sword-Bearing Ceremony was the most significant trial for young disciples. Lü Master paused slightly, then smiled—his response delayed because, in his view, this question seemed utterly naive. Gradually, murmurs and chuckles began to emerge. After explaining it to her peers, the young disciple realized that only those who achieved full mastery of the *Shouyi* Realm were eligible for participation in the Sword-Bearing Ceremony. After *Youyi*, came *Bao Shen*—that was the Initial Realm; following that was *Zhi Tong*, and then finally *Shouyi*. For newly admitted Outer Gate Disciples, there were still four levels to reach the *Shouyi* Realm. "Can we achieve full mastery of the *Shouyi* Realm within just two years?" A peer laughed aloud. "Do you think you’re on par with Senior Sister Zhao?" "I hope you can make it by the end of winter," a voice rang out, startling everyone present. Yet no one dared to mock this person. Because the speaker was Lü Master himself. But Lü Master’s words were not directed at the young disciple who had just asked about the Sword-Bearing Ceremony. Following his gaze, the disciples turned their attention toward the rear of the group and settled upon a single figure. Liu Shi'ai blinked several times before coming to her senses, pointing at herself. "Are you referring to me?" Lü Master confirmed: "Indeed. I hope you will be Qing Shan Sect’s next great surprise." ... ... The young Outer Gate disciples gradually dispersed—some reading their entry handbooks intently; others gazing into the sunlight between leaves and drifting naturally into small groups. This scene had already occurred many times since they entered Qing Shan Sect. Now, regardless of whether they hailed from wealthy families or humble backgrounds, everyone was observing a particular spot in the distance. Even those who were diligently reviewing their texts or simply staring at sunlight would occasionally glance toward that direction with their peripheral vision. Jing Jiǔ and Liu Shi'ai stood there. Some looked at Jing Jiǔ; others observed Liu Shi'ai. No one had forgotten Lü Master’s final words. Who could have imagined that the disciple most esteemed by the master was not the strikingly handsome white-robed youth, but rather a boy who seemed so much like his personal attendant? What made this young boy truly extraordinary? The young man who earlier mocked his peers was Xue Yonge—of the E-Zhou County noble family. His great-uncle was currently practicing at the Sixth Peak, Adapting Peak. Soon, confirmation arrived: This young boy was born with a *Natural Dao Seed*! The disciples’ gaze upon Liu Shi'ai was now filled with astonishment—not just surprise, but also without any trace of envy or even admiration. Their disparity was simply too great—far beyond the same level of existence. How could admiration be meaningful? How many naturally gifted young talents had Qing Shan Sect seen over the years who carried a *Natural Dao Seed*? Besides Senior Sister Zhao, there was only one other such figure—the highly distinguished Zhuo Brother, personally adopted as an apprentice by the Master at Tian Guang Peak. Now, such a person had appeared among them—how could they help but be stunned? Xue Yonge, having received the news first, awakened from her initial astonishment most quickly. She paid no attention to the still dazed peers and walked directly toward Liu Shi'ai, smiling gently. "Liu Brother, each of us will have a small courtyard for rest. Which one would you prefer? If you don’t mind the sound of night streams, Room Alpha-4 is excellent—it’s close to the Sword Hall, allowing frequent consultations with Master, and outside it grows a patch of Zhengyang—a fragrance clear and serene—beneficial for mental calmness and concentration in our practice. I believe this will greatly help us all." Some peers had not yet caught on—thinking that such an unusually warm and eager demeanor from the usually proud and reserved Xue Master was something entirely new. Others chuckled, admitting that Xue Master responded with remarkable speed, even if they were unsure of the actual benefits of Zhengyang for cultivation—but certainly, living adjacent to a naturally gifted disciple would be immensely helpful. Xue Yonge did not wait for Liu Shi'ai’s response—because Liu Shi'ai knew Jing Jiǔ would not choose this courtyard. Liu Shi'ai offered a grateful smile to Xue Yonge and then picked up her luggage, walking toward the Sword Hall. She requested a courtyard from the staff. At the same time, she carried a serving of mountain fruits that had been pre-distributed, placing it on the small table before Jing Jiǔ. Noticing Liu Shi'ai’s slightly uneasy expression, Jing Jiǔ said: "Go back to your courtyard and enjoy your book whenever you wish." Liu Shi'ai lifted her face, her cheeks flushed. "I’m not in a hurry to leave to read that handbook." Jing Jiǔ understood—he had heard the remarks from his peers criticizing him and thus felt uneasy. He smiled but said nothing. ... The gentle wind brushed against the mountain walls, white frost grasses drifting slowly downward. Jing Jiǔ gazed at the cave wall, reflections of thoughts forming in his heart. Turning around, he asked himself—how long had it been since he last witnessed such a scene? How many years had passed? He sat by the window frame and opened the thin handbook in his hands—the *Entry Handbook* of Qing Shan Sect. Simple and familiar—it was nearly identical to what he remembered from before—with only two extremely subtle revisions. These changes were quite interesting, yet they seemed unlikely to last long. Jing Jiǔ’s eyes began to close. The handbook rested gently on his legs. As the wind entered the cave, it softly brushed against his clothes and fluttered the pages of the book—first swiftly moving forward, then backward. Pages turned rapidly—the text blurred into a blur—only one small figure kept moving. That little figure sometimes crouched in an odd horse stance, at other times stood upright like a pine tree, and most often executed a full sequence of martial movements—dynamic, vigorous, tireless in its efforts. Jing Jiǔ had already fallen asleep. ... When he woke up, the setting sun had dipped below the peaks. A lingering blush of pink painted the sky. The plateau nearby was now dimly lit, making it difficult to see clearly. A soft creak—the door opened, and Liu Shi'ai burst into the courtyard, her face flushed with excitement, shouting: "Master! Master! Master!" Jing Jiǔ recalled many years ago—reminding him gently: "From now on, outside, don’t call people ‘Master’ so casually—you’ll be scolded." Liu Shi'ai wiped sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. She nodded repeatedly, eager to speak but unable to find the right words. Jing Jiǔ asked: "Understood?" With a snap of her sleeves, Liu Shi'ai knelt before him and bowed twice firmly. (End of Chapter 10) 10. Chapter 10: Follow Your Own Path