Hou Niao stayed at Dushan, as he must adapt to this relatively fixed cultivation environment because the Quanzhen Sect already has a mountain gate.
Over the course of a year, there's been a significant change in the strength of mid-level sword cultivators of Quanzhen, as almost all Nascent Soul Masters, and thirty percent of the Golden Core cultivators, have grasped their own unique way of sword emission. When the flying swords transform from solid to void swords, the division of sword light achieves a qualitative improvement.
However, Foundation Establishment cultivators are not progressing as much, as they find it difficult to understand the Dao Realm, making it impossible for them to carve out their own void flying swords in the Purple Mansion. This only heightens their desire for the Upper Realm, and though they can't achieve it now, there is hope, and thus they have a goal to strive for.
