Shhhhhh...

The wind rustled the leaves, the towering ancient tree, a single tree forming a forest.

An ancient and desolate murmur, the green grass swayed like waves in the wind.

Shhhhhh...

Jiang Yuebai suddenly opened her eyes and sat up from the bed. She chatted with the Little Monk last night before returning to her room for cultivation and actually fell asleep?

Her head itched so much, her whole body itched!

Jiang Yuebai pulled off her hairband to scratch her head, only to be shocked to find that the Little Ganoderma, which was just a stem, had grown to the size of a walnut overnight.

White powder fell softly, glowing, Jiang Yuebai couldn’t help but scratch her arm and found a thin layer of Ganoderma spores covering her skin.

She kept scratching, inexplicably panicked, with a very bad premonition.

A refreshing scent wafted from the Bodhi Wood Token at her waist, calming Jiang Yuebai, who took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and used the Dust Cleaning Technique to sweep over her body, making the spores disappear.

Recalling the scene she saw in her ’dream’ just now, was that the Divine Wood of the Demon Clan or the true body of the Ancient Rong Demon?

Was it calling her to the Demon Clan?

Jiang Yuebai lowered her gaze; the Demon Clan was determined, but she couldn’t set off at once. Carefully calculating, she set herself a three-year deadline.

Within these three years, she would stabilize her Golden Core cultivation, learn the Artifact Refining Technique and the Green Dragon Spear Technique, and foster Spiritual Artifacts. Only after achieving something in these areas could she set off for the Demon Clan.

After all, this journey would not only pass through the Ancient Thunder Marsh and the Ten Thousand Mountains but also cross the Extraordinary People Country and traverse the Illusionary Wave Sea.

The Demon Clan has always had little contact with the outside world, and no one knew the situation there; she had to be fully prepared.

Retying her hair, Jiang Yuebai got up and pushed open the windows.

As the morning light faintly rose, the spring breeze carrying the fresh scent of grass and wood wafted toward her.

Jiang Yuebai walked out of her courtyard. Looking up, she saw Danggui on the giant rock between the two waterfalls at Heavenly Cry Peak, lying on the head of Mountain Lord Qionglin, absorbing the first ray of Golden Crow spiritual energy of the morning together.

Jiang Ziying, with her hair styled in twin topknots, sat nearby, cultivating earnestly with her heart oriented toward the sky.

Scree!

Jixiang popped its head out of the wicker basket at Jiang Yuebai’s waist, smelled the scents of Danggui and the Mountain Lord, and immediately shrank back in fear.

Jiang Yuebai extended a thread of Golden Spiritual Energy toward it, "Ah, when it comes to cultivation, you’re on par with Mountain Lord Qionglin. It’s normal for you to be afraid as its size far surpasses yours. But Danggui is so small; even an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment little Cat Demon can’t endure a paw from you. Why are you afraid of it?"

Squeak squeak!

Jixiang trembled, remaining scared.

A streak of red light shot rapidly from the sky. Jiang Yuebai’s expression tensed, and surrounding her body was instantly condensed Protective Gang Qi.

The red light dispersed upon striking the Gang Qi, leaving a bright red "Battle" character in front of Jiang Yuebai.

"Jiang Yuebai of Heavenly Cry Peak, do you dare to battle me, Fang Yuxing of Heavenly Sword Peak! If not, I shall await beneath Heavenly Cry Peak each day!"

Fang Yuxing’s exuberant battle intent reverberated from within, echoing around Heavenly Cry Peak, attracting the attention of even the three beings above, who peered down curiously.

Jiang Yuebai waved her sleeve, dispersing the battle character in midair, and shouted to the three above, "Focus on your cultivation, this is no business for children."

Jiang Yuebai swiftly departed, heading out of the mountain.

Passing by the newly constructed Disciple Courtyard at the foot of the mountain, Jiang Yuebai saw Qii Ming leading a group of servants to clean and renovate.

"What’s going on here?"

Upon seeing Jiang Yuebai, Qii Ming hurriedly saluted, "Greetings, Master Wangshu. True Monarch Jiuchuan instructed us to tidy up the Disciple Courtyard, as he plans to assess the Five Spirit Root disciples at Heavenly Cry Peak today, intending to take a hundred into Heavenly Cry Peak."

Jiang Yuebai nodded. Her master is indeed diligent, considering that teaching Jiang Ziying alone or a hundred disciples is the same.

After all, carrying on the patriarch’s legacy requires taking on more disciples.

"All right, you carry on; I’m heading to the Library."

"Please wait, Master Wangshu," Qii Ming stopped Jiang Yuebai, "True Monarch Jiuchuan instructed that you, as the Senior Sister of Heavenly Cry Peak, must set a question."

Jiang Yuebai raised her eyebrows, thought for a moment, and took out her little notebook from her sleeve, tearing off the latest page and handing it to Qii Ming.

"Use this one. Anyone who can solve it is surely suited for Heavenly Cry Peak."

She had come up with this problem last night on a whim, breaking down every component of the Ice Arrow Technique into numbers according to the referencing method in the Great Derivation Scripture and attempting calculation using the Great Derivation Fifty Numbers, without arriving at a correct result, still unsure where the issue lay.

As stated in the Great Derivation Scripture, for a spell to be performed, its internal structure must be stable, adhering to the Great Derivation Fifty Numbers.

This is why she needs to go to the Library to study some Calculation Scriptures.

Looking at the jumbles of yin-one yang-two and various other random symbols on the page, Qii Ming’s forehead twitched but dared not comment, only accepting it respectfully while thinking that the Five Spirit Root cultivators attending the assessment today might all end up crying.

"Master Wangshu, here are invitation letters from the masters of each peak, inviting you to discuss the Dao together. Additionally, the one from Heavenly Sword Peak is waiting for you at the mouth of the mountain path. If you do intend to spar, it’d be best to do so at the arena on Heavenly Killing Peak."

Jiang Yuebai took the thick stack of invitation letters, "Got it, I won’t damage our Heavenly Cry Peak, rest assured."

*

At the mouth of Heavenly Cry Peak’s mountain path, Fang Yuxing sat cross-legged on a nearby boulder, with eyes lowered, suppressing his battle intent, slowly wiping the cold long sword in his hands.

For the suffering endured by Heavenly Sword Peak disciples these two years, he was determined to reclaim it all today!

As activity emanated from the mountain path, Fang Yuxing’s eyes flashed with a fierce brilliance, as he stood, sword in hand, observing Lii Jiuchuan descending the steps, deep in thought.

Fang Yuxing quickly jumped off the boulder, clasped his hands, and acknowledged.

"Greetings, True Monarch Jiuchuan."

"Waiting for someone, huh? Take your time; I’m heading off first."

"Farewell, True Monarch Jiuchuan."

"...The calculations weren’t wrong, what exactly went amiss..."

Fang Yuxing watched Lii Jiuchuan depart before straightening and returning to the boulder beside the path, closing his eyes for meditation.

Moments later, Fang Yuxing abruptly opened his eyes, swiftly glancing in Lii Jiuchuan’s departing direction, pressing on with sword drawn.

On the wooded path to the Library, Lii Jiuchuan’s figure in green robes flashed with light, transforming back into Jiang Yuebai’s form.

She raised her hand to touch the Crescent Pendant on her neck, enchanted by its function, especially since after forming her Core, she learned to manipulate spiritual energy precisely as taught by her master to create illusions sufficiently realistic.

"Jiang Yuebai!"

Fang Yuxing’s furious shout came from behind, causing the corners of Jiang Yuebai’s lips to curve into a smirk as she turned.

A fierce, chilling Sword Intent enveloped Jiang Yuebai instantly.

Fang Yuxing stepped through the air, slicing down with his sword, instantly causing her form to burst in a flurry of scattered feathers.

Seeing this, Fang Yuxing clenched his fist tightly, "Damn it!"

Overhead, a wave of Spiritual Energy signaled Fang Yuxing to look up, catching sight of Lii Jiuchuan riding a Tunneling Light swiftly overhead, prompting Fang Yuxing to immediately give chase with sword in hand.

Reaching Lii Jiuchuan’s back, Fang Yuxing struck with a killing move without hesitation, determined to force Jiang Yuebai to engage in battle with him.

But...

When Fang Yuxing’s killing strike was lightly flicked away by Lii Jiuchuan’s sleeve, and a burst of Nascent Soul Stage pressure immobilized him instantly, Fang Yuxing was stupefied.

"Why did you suddenly attack me?" Lii Jiuchuan asked, puzzled, with furrowed brows.

Fang Yuxing: ......

Meanwhile, Jiang Yuebai leisurely entered the Library, holding her Token to ascend to the top floor, preparing once more to comprehend the four-lineage legacy left by Patriarch Lu Xingyun.