Flowing Cloud Peak

Dong! Dong! Dong!

In the early morning, a sudden tolling of bells echoed through the Nine Palace Mountain, the melodious sound resonating between the nine peaks for a long time. Nine Palace Mountain boasted nine distinct peaks, each with its unique characteristics, and one of them remained veiled in perpetual mist and clouds, aptly named Flowing Cloud Peak.

Perched upon Flowing Cloud Peak were a dozen or so buildings. At the moment the bells chimed, the door of one on the left slowly creaked open, and a young man in azure robes emerged. He stood at his doorstep, yawning and stretching lazily, and then casually picked up a broom nearby to sweep the courtyard.

This young man had an attractive appearance, looking about sixteen or seventeen, with a slightly gaunt face, yet his eyes gleamed with a sharp intelligence. His name was Shi Feiyu, and he had arrived at Flowing Cloud Peak three years ago, where he had stayed and worked.

Shi Feiyu had been brought to Flowing Cloud Peak by the Peak Leader after a life-threatening injury. Despite this, during these three years he never spoke of what had happened to him. However, those familiar with him knew that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't channel the Source Qi into his body.

Source Qi of heaven and earth was fundamental for cultivation, as it had to be channeled into the body to refine oneself. When the Peak Leader discovered that Shi Feiyu couldn't cultivate, he assigned him to assist with chores.

As he swept, the broom suddenly paused. He glanced towards the mountain from where the sound of the bell came. He sighed and muttered, "The peak isn't that big, but there are so many rules. Morning bells, evening drums, it's like endlessly pushing one to work. Do they really consider me just a laborer here?"

Nine Palace Mountain was considered a significant sect within a distance of ten thousand miles. With thousands of disciples, the regulations here were strict. The morning bells signified the start of a new day, and all disciples had to wake up for cultivation. In the evening, at sunset, the evening drums would be struck, and disciples from various peaks would gather at the mountaintop to discuss their progress and insights from the day's cultivation.

Despite that there were only three individuals on Flowing Cloud Peak, Shi Feiyu had to clean the courtyard daily and, in his spare time, venture down the mountain for hunting to sustain himself. These oppressive days often made him contemplate quitting and escaping down the mountain, but every time he remembered the life-saving grace of his master, he clenched his teeth and endured.

"Old man, if it weren't for you, I would've left long ago!"

He abruptly swung the broom but the door behind him opened suddenly. Although nobody appeared, an ear-piercing laugh echoed, "Junior, are you secretly cursing the master behind his back?"

"So what if I am, Pizza Face? Don't think I'm an easy target; you guys are relentless!"

Hearing this distinctive laugh, Shi Feiyu knew without looking that it was his fellow disciple. He didn't even bother to turn around and merely grunted.

The door that had just been opened sent a muddy boot flying towards him, aiming for the back of his head. As if anticipating it, Shi Feiyu slightly shifted, avoiding the projectile, and retorted, "What, you've been bossing me around for three years, and I can't even say a few words?"

However, a round of laughter emerged from inside the room, "Junior Brother Feiyu, if you could cultivate, I'd serve you tea and food every day!"

With the laughter, a young man emerged from the room, standing at the door with an arm crossed, a mischievous expression on his face. This person, also dressed in azure attire, appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen years old, and was quite tall. Yet, a large red mole adorned his right cheek.

"I, Zhou Lian, the chief disciple of Flowing Cloud Peak, offering to serve you tea and food is a mark of respect, hehe..."

The young man with the red mole on his face arrogantly stood there, chuckling.

"You're only saying this because you know I can't cultivate!"

But Shi Feiyu didn't pay any attention to his provocation, simply retorting lightly. Over the past three years, Zhou Lian had gotten used to ridiculing Shi Feiyu every morning; only then could he start his cultivation refreshed.

Feiyu, feeling somewhat helpless about this, had a needle-like feeling in his heart, even though these jibes weren't malicious.

"Don't get angry, junior. I've got something to show you!"

Seeing Shi Feiyu's face darkening, Zhou Lian immediately changed the topic. From his chest he took out a piece of yellow paper about the width of a palm and retrieved a brush from his waist.

Recognizing the familiar motions, Shi Feiyu knew what he intended to do and propped the broom on his shoulder before turning to leave.

But Zhou Lian didn't intend to let him go. As Shi Feiyu tried to walk away, Zhou Lian quickly dipped his brush into his mouth, and with a deft stroke, drew a crooked line on the yellow paper.

"Junior, take a look; this is a talisman I just learned a couple of days ago!"

After tucking his brush back into his waist, Zhou Lian waved the talisman, then took a brisk step towards Shi Feiyu.

Blocked by the oncoming disciple, Shi Feiyu's expression grew a shade darker. Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Lian tossed the talisman toward him.

A gust of wind abruptly materialized out of nowhere, blowing Shi Feiyu a couple of meters away and causing him to crash to the ground. The wind continued, sweeping up a pile of dry branches nearby.

The wind came swiftly and departed just as quickly. When the wind subsided, the ground Shi Feiyu had just swept was covered with leaves and twigs.

"This was intentional, absolutely intentional!"

Observing the chaos, Shi Feiyu couldn't help but roar in frustration.

However, at this moment, Zhou Lian laughed, "Ahem, I only learned this Wind Talisman yesterday; I'm still having trouble controlling it. Please forgive me, junior!"

As his laughter echoed, Zhou Lian didn't pay any attention to Shi Feiyu's increasingly grim expression. He whistled and hurriedly departed, but not before telling Shi Feiyu that he needed to go hunting today.

"Pah, what an annoying fellow, showing off in front of me every day. If my cultivation were still intact, I could have crushed you with one finger!"

Watching the figure gradually disappear on the mountain path, Shi Feiyu suddenly gritted his teeth and muttered angrily. It was one thing to be assigned to do menial tasks, but having to endure this guy's bullying every day – what kind of life was this?

"Senior Brother Feiyu, who provoked you?"

Just as Shi Feiyu was about to return to his room, a soft laughter reached his ears. When he turned to look, he saw a girl approaching.

This girl was around the same age as him, about sixteen or seventeen. However, her age couldn't hide her ethereal and extraordinary beauty.

Her jet-black long hair was tied with a pale blue ribbon, giving her an effortless yet elegant appearance. But what attracted people the most were her charming, enchanting eyes.

"Mengyu, why are you here?"

Looking at the girl who had suddenly appeared next to him, Shi Feiyu's eyes were filled with surprise.

In the few years on Nine Palace Mountain, she was the only one who came to visit him regularly. However, at this time, all the disciples should be practicing.

"Why? Senior Brother Feiyu doesn't welcome me?"

The girl's adorable face revealed a hint of playfulness, and she stared at him with an indignant expression, crossing her arms. However, when Shi Feiyu unconsciously touched his nose, it made the girl burst into giggles.

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore!"

Sensing his awkwardness, Mengyu quickly changed the topic. "I came here this time because I have something to consult with you."

As soon as she mentioned the word "consult," a sly smile appeared on Shi Feiyu's face. But this teasing smile made Mengyu slightly uncomfortable, so she quickly turned her head and continued, "This time I came to ask for your help with a problem in my cultivation."

"You seem to have found the wrong person, haven’t you? I'm just a useless person who can't cultivate. For this kind of thing, you should ask your own master."

Unexpectedly, Shi Feiyu shook his head slightly and turned to go back to his room. The girl behind him had reached the mid stage of the Qi-Infused Realm at the age of sixteen, and her talent was truly amazing. However, Shi Feiyu couldn't help but feel annoyed, since he couldn't stop thinking about the fact that he couldn't absorb Source Qi from heaven and earth.

Seeing his mood suddenly down, Mengyu had to follow him into his room. She took out two spiritual herbs from her chest and placed them on the table. "Calm down, we've known each other for a long time. Do you really want to hide your insights about cultivation from me? Will you teach me or not?"

As soon as Shi Feiyu saw the two spiritual herbs on the table, his eyes lit up. In the territory of Nine Palace Mountain, spiritual herbs were extremely hard to find, let alone powerful medicinal plants. With thousands of disciples gathering here, people were searching for various spiritual herbs in the forests outside the mountain every day. Over time, even the lowest-level spiritual herbs had become scarce.

Mengyu noticed his intense gaze fixed on the two spiritual herbs, so she gently pursed her lips and smiled. "Now, will you promise to teach me?"

"You got it!"

Afraid that she might change her mind, Shi Feiyu quickly took the two spiritual herbs in his hands, nodding eagerly.

This action made Mengyu laugh sweetly. She then decided to tell him about the problem she encountered in her cultivation. Thanks to the spiritual herbs in her hands, Shi Feiyu patiently answered her questions for half an hour.

"Senior Brother Feiyu, next time I come, you mustn't extort me!"

With her cultivation bottleneck resolved, Mengyu smiled and pinched his left cheek before getting up to leave. But Shi Feiyu was worried, so he repeatedly told her not to disclose his issues to anyone.

"Soon, as long as I collect a few more, I'll be able to break the seal and gradually restore my lost cultivation."

Watching the girl's lively departure, Shi Feiyu took out a gray-white spherical object from his pocket, and his eyes gradually turned cold. "Everything you did to me, I will return it all someday!"

The spherical object he held in his hand was a Demonic Sphere passed down in the Shi family. Its surface was covered with small holes like wormholes. Shi Feiyu had carried it with him ever since he escaped from the family, and now three years had passed.

On the mountain path, Mengyu had a smile on her face as she descended, but her heart was full of curiosity. Ever since she had encountered a bottleneck in her cultivation some time ago, she had gone down the mountain alone to find spiritual herbs to help her break through. There, she had met Shi Feiyu while he was hunting. Perhaps it was because Shi Feiyu was in a good mood that day. He casually gave her some advice. Mengyu had followed his advice and soon experienced a breakthrough in her cultivation.

From then on, whenever she encountered difficulties in her cultivation, she would go to Flowing Cloud Peak to seek guidance from him. However, Shi Feiyu would always take the opportunity to extort her, much to her annoyance.

But as they continued to interact, Mengyu's curiosity grew. How could someone who couldn't cultivate at all have such profound insights into cultivation?

Every time Mengyu couldn't help but ask, Shi Feiyu would give various excuses to dodge the question and would often playfully tease her when pressed.

After several unsuccessful attempts to unravel the mystery, she stopped asking, but the enigma only deepened her interest in him.