Chapter 72: This Is the Peak

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: This Is the Peak

"Alright, pack it up. Looks like there’s no chance of getting the Spiritual Cuisine this morning. That Junior Brother knows his stuff."

As soon as Yang Haichen reached an agreement with the senior sister, the True Disciples who had been holding out their Spirit Swords prepared to leave.

They were just trying their luck with these Spirit Swords. If they had actually managed to trade one for Spiritual Cuisine, it would have been a huge windfall. But now it seemed that was highly unlikely; this junior brother wasn’t easy to fool.

"Thank you, Junior Brother."

After completing the trade, the senior sister left immediately.

"Senior brothers and sisters, if no one wants the other serving of Spiritual Cuisine, I’ll take it to the public square."

Yang Haichen narrowed his eyes. ’Although I don’t know why Junior Brother Liu changed his usual style and decided to sell two servings of Spiritual Cuisine at once, my job is just to trade them for the resources he needs, or even Spirit Stones.’

"What are you talking about, Junior Brother? Just tell us which Spirit Sword you’ve got your eye on."

Before Yang Haichen could finish speaking, several True Disciples crowded around him again. This time, however, they didn’t try to undermine each other, instead waiting for Yang Haichen to make his choice.

"A First Grade Profound Jade Bracelet. Infuse it with Spiritual Power, and it can block ninety percent of attacks from the Body Tempering Realm. At its peak, it can defend against one full-power blow from a Meridian Passage Late Stage cultivator, but only for a single strike."

Just as Yang Haichen was struggling to decide, another familiar voice cut in. Before he even had a chance to choose, he saw the other True Disciples tacitly turn and walk away.

"Is he crazy? Trading a Body Protection Magical Artifact that he could use himself for some Spiritual Cuisine."

"That guy is already at the Meridian Passage Late Stage. If he buys a few more servings of Spiritual Cuisine, he’s probably looking to break through."

The True Disciples’ muttering reached Yang Haichen’s ears. He knew he had no choice now. Given Junior Brother Liu’s expressed desire for a Body Protection Technique, if he didn’t bring this Magical Artifact back, someone else would likely be selling the Spiritual Cuisine tomorrow.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Huang."

Yang Haichen took out the other serving of Spiritual Cuisine and handed it to the approaching Huang Haixuan. Hearing the True Disciples’ muttering, he finally understood why the seemingly unreliable Senior Brother Huang had bought the most Spiritual Cuisine in the past.

A Meridian Passage Late Stage cultivator would, at the very least, be an Elder in the Yang Family. A step further, and they could become a Supreme Elder.

If they were from the Direct Lineage, they could even become the Patriarch of the Yang Family.

Although the Yang Family couldn’t compare to the old, established Noble Families, they were no ordinary family either. Within the Great Xia Dynasty, they were still recognized as a Noble Family.

"Junior Brother, do you happen to know what that Junior Brother Liu Chen truly wants?"

Huang Haixuan handed the Profound Jade Bracelet to Yang Haichen. In the past, he hadn’t paid him any mind. It was only after hearing yesterday that Yang Haichen had become an Inner Sect Disciple that he started to take him a bit more seriously. But now, taking a closer look, he realized this guy was a rising star.

After cultivating for five years, he entered Purple Cloud Valley. Now, just half a year later, he had advanced to the Body Tempering Late Stage. He passed the Inner Sect Disciple assessment in seven days to become one, and the Grand Elder of the peak had even made a public announcement about it. It was clear that Yang Haichen would become an Inner Sect Disciple under the Grand Elder.

This was the first time the Grand Elder of Purple Bamboo Peak had ever taken a disciple. ’What is going on this year?’ It was no secret that the acting Peak Master had already accepted three disciples. Although only one was an Inner Sect Disciple officially recorded in the Purple Bamboo Peak’s registry, everyone knew it was only a matter of time before the other two were promoted to the Inner Sect as well.

On top of that, the Grand Elder of Purple Bamboo Peak, who had never taken a disciple before, had now accepted one. ’Why didn’t we get this lucky when we were looking for a master decades ago?’

But after so much time, Huang Haixuan wasn’t one to be jealous. Right now, he just wanted to know what the Spirit Chef truly wanted. Knowing that would surely give him an advantage in acquiring Spiritual Cuisine in the future.

"Besides a Spirit Sword, what Junior Brother Liu wants most is a Body Protection Technique. He might start looking for Swordsmanship techniques later on."

Yang Haichen was very forthcoming. These were the requirements he had received from Junior Brother Liu, after all. He already had a decent Spirit Sword. If Junior Brother Liu was satisfied with it, then Yang Haichen just needed to focus on finding a Body Protection Technique.

As for Swordsmanship, Junior Brother Liu hadn’t specified. However, considering the Cyan Lotus Demon-Slaying Sword his teacher had asked him to pass on, it probably wasn’t a high priority. Still, it would be best to ask around noon.

"Thank you, Junior Brother."

Huang Haixuan nodded and turned to leave. ’Although Yang Haichen seems to have limitless potential right now, it’s still just potential. It remains to be seen if he can even survive the Inner Sect Disciple trial in the ninth month.’

This time was different from previous years. Even those who had just passed the assessment to become Inner Sect Disciples had to participate.

’Perhaps this will be the new normal for Purple Cloud Valley. After all, the Law Enforcement Hall, the strongest fighting force in the Sect, was involved in such a scandal. The higher-ups will definitely not allow the disciples of Purple Cloud Valley to continue living so comfortably.’

* * *

"Disciple Yang Haichen pays his respects to Master."

「In the Bamboo Garden.」 The Grand Elder of Purple Bamboo Peak had returned. Smiling, he helped up Yang Haichen, who had just formally completed the discipleship ceremony. Outer Sect Disciples didn’t have a formal Master, only instructors, but Inner Sect Disciples, as an integral part of the Sect, usually had a formal Master.

Now that Yang Haichen had officially become his disciple, the Grand Elder of Purple Bamboo Peak finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although he knew no one would risk trying to snatch his disciple away, he had grown restless the moment he saw Yang Haichen become an Inner Sect Disciple.

Every breath he took while sitting there had been an agony. He had used the upcoming Inner Sect Disciple trial in the ninth month as an excuse to return directly to Purple Bamboo Peak. Now, that anxiety was finally gone.

"My disciple, let me ask you: do you have any intention of striving for the Peak?"

"Master, I do not know. When I first began to cultivate, I heard about the different Realms. I was told that the Body Tempering Realm alone is divided into the Early, Middle, Late, and Peak stages. Right now, I have cultivated the Purple Bamboo Scripture’s Body Tempering Chapter to Perfection, which corresponds to the Late Stage. So how does one reach the so-called Peak?"

Yang Haichen was being completely honest. Though his master’s sudden return had surprised him, he still voiced his confusion. He knew he was at the Body Tempering Late Stage, but he had already brought his Body Tempering Technique to Perfection. ’So where does the path to the Peak lie?’

"Do not be hasty. Listen to me. Minor Success in a Cultivation Technique corresponds to the Early Stage. Great Success corresponds to the Middle Stage, and Perfection corresponds to the Late Stage. Once you reach Perfection in a technique, you can attempt to practice the technique for the next phase. Reaching the Beginner level of that new technique allows you to step into the next Realm. However, the very existence of a Cultivation Technique means it is a path others have walked before. To take a step beyond Perfection and forge your own path—that is the Peak."

The Grand Elder spoke calmly. The road to the Peak is powerful—everyone knows this. But very few can persist on it. Those prodigies who can fight opponents in higher Realms are all walking the road to the Peak.

But achieving the Peak in a single Realm is one thing. In the more distant lands and among the greater powers, cultivators only begin practicing Meridian Passage Techniques after reaching the Peak of the Body Tempering Realm.

The difficult part is forging your own path and reaching the Peak in every single Realm.