Among the junior disciples of the sect, a rumor began to spread:
"Have you heard of Li Xun?"
"You mean that little prince who just joined the sect?"
"That's him! Apparently, he's gone off the deep end lately!"
"Gone off the deep end? That serious?"
"Not like that—what I mean is, the way he's been training lately, it looks like he's gone mad! It's like he's punishing himself!"
"Wait, seriously? It's not even time for his Opening the Mountain Trial yet, is it?"
"Exactly! But Lingji said that Immortal Qingxu scolded him pretty harshly, and ever since, he's been like this—completely shaken!"
"Still, he's taking things way too seriously, isn't he?"
"Seriously? More like he's gone nuts! I've seen Li Xun before—he used to be this mild-mannered, friendly kid. What happened to him? And Immortal Qingxu just shut himself away in seclusion right after that lecture, leaving Li Xun to torture himself… Wait, isn't that him right there?"
Li Xun ran past, gasping for breath, carrying two heavy iron buckets. It was already his fifth trip up and down the mountain today. The massive water vat near his dwelling had long been filled, but he didn't stop. He dumped the water and turned right back down the slope.
There weren't many people on the mountain to begin with, and even when he did pass someone, he didn't care. He still greeted others politely, but acted as if he didn't even notice their curious or pitying stares.
But really, when your life's on the line, what's a little humiliation?
He even changed his water source to one much farther away—steeper, riskier. He used this grueling method to forge his body, to toughen his will.
Even though he knew this kind of self-torture was ultimately pointless, it was the only way he could keep up a calm exterior while burying the despair that raged inside.
Despite everything, he hadn't given up. Quietly, he tried to use every connection he had on the mountain to gather any information he could about the Lingxi Art.
He only had a year left. However slim the chance, he'd cling to this last thread of hope with everything he had.
But his social reach only went as far as people like Shan Zhi—a fellow newcomer.
Dealing with Shan Zhi was exhausting. He couldn't be too proud, nor too deferential—it was a constant balancing act.
Li Xun didn't enjoy his company, but ever since their brief meeting by the pond, Shan Zhi had taken a liking to him, often dropping by to brag about the day's happenings or some new technique he'd learned.
When Li Xun occasionally brought up the Lingxi Art, Shan Zhi's responses were always vague and contradictory—clearly trying to act like he knew more than he did, but offering nothing useful in the end.
It irritated Li Xun to no end. He came to dread Shan Zhi's visits, which had become even more unbearable than his brutal training.
And so, the days crawled by. Before he realized it, two months had passed.
In that time, Li Xun had grown over half an inch taller. His body had become significantly stronger. Carrying full buckets up and down the mountain was now effortless. He still looked pale and delicate, but his strength told a different story—evidence of how internal cultivation could quietly reshape a person.
With his age now reaching the threshold, Lingji had begun preparing for his Opening the Mountain Trial. Maybe because his carefree days were numbered—or perhaps because he felt sorry for Li Xun—Lingji had become more talkative lately. Each night, he would pull Li Xun into long conversations that stretched past midnight.
That evening, Li Xun had just washed up and collapsed into bed, completely drained, when Lingji bounced onto the bed beside him with a heavy sigh.
Li Xun turned away, pretending to be asleep, but Lingji started speaking with heartfelt emotion:
"Junior Brother Xun, watching how you've been training…how do you even endure it? Just thinking about the ten years of suffering I'm about to face makes me want to run away!"
As if I had a choice? Why don't you try the agony of Blood Nightmare devouring your heart and see how it feels? Li Xun muttered to himself, but of course, he didn't say it out loud.
Instead, he forced a calm reply: "Suffering is just something you get used to. It's rough at first, but with time, it becomes routine."
He paused. "Honestly," he added. "I may not even get to suffer much longer, even if I wanted to."
Lingji fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Is there really no way to change Immortal Qingxu's decision?"
That caught Li Xun's attention. He turned back slightly, curious.
"Actually…" Lingji spoke slowly. "Ever since the day Immortal Qingxu ordered you to leave, I've been trying to find a way… it might sound silly, but I really felt like we were fated to be fellow disciples. I wanted to help you stay."
Li Xun felt a lump rise in his throat. Even though Lingji's voice was soft and hard to hear, the emotion behind it warmed his heart.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Lingji," he said hoarsely.
Lingji quickly tried to lighten the mood. "Oh, come on now! Since we're brothers in fate, it's only right we help each other out… Where was I? Oh right—the method!"
"It was something Immortal Mingyan mentioned, and it's got everything to do with you."
In the darkness, Li Xun's eyes glimmered faintly.
Lingji chuckled quietly. "It was Sun Wan who brought you up, saying how hard you've been working. Immortal Mingyan laughed and said you had more raw grit than even us poor kids. He wondered if maybe—just maybe—you'd be able to reach Zuowang Peak."
"Zuowang Peak? Me? Not a chance." Li Xun laughed bitterly. He knew himself too well.
Legend had it there were three realms: the Mortal World, the Tongxuan Realm, and the Immortal Realm.
It was said that Zuowang Peak of Lianxia Mountain was one of the Four Pillars of Heaven that linked the Tongxuan Realm to the Immortal one. It was said to contain unimaginable secrets.
Things like so-called "mystical secrets" were far beyond the reach of junior disciples like them, but they had seen how towering Zuowang Peak truly was.
It was said that even the Sect Master Qingming, flying with his sword, would need an entire day and night just to make a round trip to the summit!
Some of the senior immortals had even carved out caves atop the peak for cultivation—rumor had it that training there brought unique advantages.
Li Xun had once considered going up there to cultivate, but the disciples' living quarters were dozens of miles away by treacherous mountain paths. The round trip would cost him two to three hours each time. In the end, he put the idea aside.
When Lingji heard Li Xun downplaying his interest, he sighed. "I figured as much. But listen, here's the real point: Immortal Mingyan mentioned that there's an old sect rule—if a junior disciple can climb to the summit of Zuowang Peak with sheer determination and bare hands, they can become the Sect Master's personal disciple. Even making it halfway up earns them a place among the sect's inner lineage!"
Li Xun sat up with a jolt, whispering, "Is that... true?"
Lingji, startled by the reaction, sat up too. "Whoa now, my little prince—don't tell me you're really thinking of climbing it? That wasn't my point! I didn't bring this up so you'd go get yourself killed! I just figured... if Immortal Mingyan knows about this rule, there might be other similar paths for you."
"We could keep pestering him, see if he slips some advice that's useful. But Zuowang Peak? Even halfway up is tens of thousands of li! You'd spend eight or ten years just climbing it—and you'd probably die a thousand deaths on the way!"
Lingji continued, more seriously now, "Mingyan even said that rule was basically a death trap. Since the sect's founding, quite a few have tried it, but only one ever made it back alive."
"Who?" Li Xun asked.
"Who else? Our sect's third-generation master, the ascended Immortal Qi Zhong! Legend says he spent seventeen years climbing to the summit. Along the way, he inherited the legacy of an immortal—gained several powerful techniques, and his cultivation skyrocketed."
"Tsk tsk… Back then, the whole realm acknowledged him as the strongest in the Mystical World! It's thanks to him that our Mingxin Sword Sect became the top sect in the East. That's why so many immortals still flock to the peak—trying to soak up whatever traces of luck he left behind."
But as Lingji spoke, he noticed the gleam in Li Xun's eyes—and smacked himself in the face. Grabbing Li Xun by the arm, he pleaded, "Junior Brother, please, listen to me—don't do anything foolish! You're a nobleman by birth. Even if you never become an immortal, you'll still live in luxury and glory."
"But if you really make up your mind to climb that peak, it's a death sentence. Not just one death—no chance of survival! If anything happens to you, I'll carry that guilt for the rest of my life!"
But by then, Li Xun was no longer listening. He responded half-heartedly, saying just enough to pacify Lingji—but in his mind, a plan was already beginning to form. A reckless, fragile plan that still needed work…
Over the next few days, Li Xun was on his best behavior. At least to Lingji, it seemed like that night's moment of madness had passed, and he no longer intended to throw his life away on the peak.
Eventually, Lingji let his guard down. He still visited Immortal Mingyan often, trying to sniff out any other possible ways to keep Li Xun in the sect.
But that peaceful stretch only lasted about ten days. It was time for Lingji to undergo his own "Opening the Mountain" ceremony. He was moving to Ten Thousand Immortals Terrace, hundreds of miles away, to begin a ten-year foundation-building cultivation process. After that, the chances of seeing Li Xun again would be slim to none.
Before he left, he hugged Li Xun tightly, forcing out a smile. "Hope I get to see you again on Ten Thousand Immortals Terrace…"
Li Xun smiled too. He had to admit—this big, naive kid who was barely a year older than him had left a good impression. Maybe… this really counted as friendship?
He replied, "If you don't see me there, then wait until you finish your training and come find me in the human world. By then, I might not even remember you—but you'd better bring me spirit pills and elixirs so I can live forever and enjoy the good life."
Lingji couldn't hold back his tears. He looked back at every step as he walked away, leaving behind the innocence of his youth—and, for now, a friend who would forever shape his path.
Watching Lingji disappear down the mountain trail, Li Xun lifted his gaze to Zuowang Peak, rising into the clouds far above. The smile faded from his face.
His expression turned solemn.
"Now… it's all up to you."
From the next day on, the disciples noticed something: the already "possessed" Junior Brother Xun had changed his training once again.
He no longer made dozens of trips up and down the mountain carrying water. Instead, he lugged two heavy buckets across dozens of miles to the base of Zuowang Peak—and only returned at dusk, exhausted and silent.
The physical toll was even more intense than before. Those who saw it couldn't help but exclaim, "If Li Xun isn't allowed to formally start cultivation, it's such a waste of talent!"
Because of this change, Li Xun began drifting further from his old circle. Though he was still polite as ever, he no longer joked or played around with them. A greeting was the most they'd get. Naturally, distance grew.
But Li Xun didn't care anymore.
There was only one thing left in his life now.
Zuowang Peak.
That unreachable Zuowang Peak!