One of the six branches of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, Transcendent Peak.
The Azure Cloud Sword Sect has a history spanning tens of thousands of years, yet the Transcendent lineage has existed for only a thousand years.
That is correct. Transcendent Peak was established merely one thousand years ago, making it the youngest among the six peaks.
Its predecessor was Grave Guarding Peak.
From the name alone, one can understand what kind of place it was.
Here were buried the prodigies of successive generations, spanning tens of thousands of years, from the Azure Cloud Sword Sect and even beyond.
Perhaps it was because countless heavenly talents were interred here that, nourished by time, the medium-grade spiritual vein within Grave Guarding Peak advanced and grew into a high-grade spiritual vein.
And a high-grade spiritual vein could not possibly be left unused.
Thus, the final master of Grave Guarding Peak, the Grave Keeper Chen Wuxin, became the first Peak Master of Transcendent Peak.
Grave Guarding Peak became history. The sixth branch of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, Transcendent Peak, was born.
However, the Grave Guarding lineage had always been passed down singly.
Even after Grave Guarding Peak became Transcendent Peak, this tradition did not change.
In its thousand years of existence, Transcendent Peak has had only one True Disciple of the Sect—Gu Chengxing.
The other peaks typically maintain ten True Disciples and seventy-two inner sect personal disciples, each with rankings.
For example, on Azure Cloud Main Peak, Li Taichu, early stage Nascent Soul Realm, is the first True Disciple. Jiang Chengyu, peak 9th stage Core Formation Realm, is the first True Disciple of Mistveil Peak. Xu Li, peak 9th stage Core Formation Realm, is the second True Disciple of Azure Cloud Main Peak.
Naturally, due to Transcendent Peak’s uniqueness, Gu Chengxing has his own exclusive title within the sect: the sole True Disciple of Transcendent Peak.
Transcendent Peak, back mountain, Grave Guarding Forbidden Ground.
Dark clouds gathered overhead. Thunder roared continuously.
It was as though malicious spirits howled faintly within the shadows.
A handsome youth of Azure Cloud and a delicate, indifferent little girl appeared here.
Gu Chengxing had brought Shen Ruochu to this place.
“This is the Grave Guarding Forbidden Ground. From now on, I will reside here for three years.”
Shen Ruochu looked at Gu Chengxing, not fully understanding why he had brought her here.
“Do you remember the path we took to get here?” Gu Chengxing asked.
Shen Ruochu had no intention of responding, but when she saw his extremely serious expression, she finally gave a faint, almost imperceptible nod.
The nod was so slight it could easily have been ignored.
But someone at Gu Chengxing’s realm could perceive even the smallest detail with clarity.
“From now on, within the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, you will be called Yan Chu.”
As he spoke, Gu Chengxing waved his hand. A silver-white token gently fell into Shen Ruochu’s arms.
“You may reside freely in Transcendent 001, but you must not damage it.”
“There is one condition. If nothing unexpected happens, you must come here again in three days.”
“I will teach you cultivation.”
As his words fell, Shen Ruochu stepped back, her expression filled with resistance and even disgust.
Gu Chengxing clicked his tongue and pretended not to see.
After all, what could she do? Refuse?
What the eyes do not see, the heart does not grieve.
With another wave of his hand, Shen Ruochu’s figure vanished and abruptly appeared outside the forbidden ground.
At the same time, a faint voice echoed in the air. “You may familiarize yourself with the surroundings.”
“Do not forget. Three days from now, return here.”
While Shen Ruochu was still dazed, a clear voice sounded beside her.
“Junior Sister Yan Chu.”
Shen Ruochu froze and turned her head.
A graceful young girl stood beside her, wearing a gentle smile and gazing at her warmly.
When Shen Ruochu looked at her, the girl crouched down and patiently introduced herself. “I am Lin Qing, an inner sect disciple of Transcendent Peak. For the time being, I will take care of you. If you have any questions, you can ask me.”
“And just call me Senior Sister Lin Qing.”
Shen Ruochu looked at the girl’s face filled with kindness. After hesitating for a moment, she softly said, “Senior Sister Lin Qing.”
“Mm!”
“Wow, you’re so cute. Truly adorable.” As she spoke, Lin Qing reached out and gently pinched Shen Ruochu’s cheek.
“How old are you this year?”
“…Seven.”
“Come on, let’s not stay in this gloomy place. Senior Sister will take you to Azure Cloud Province to buy something tasty.”
With that, Shen Ruochu was pulled along by Lin Qing, her small hand clasped tightly as they ran off together.
…
On the other side, Gu Chengxing sensed the situation outside in secret and finally relaxed slightly.
Lin Qing, an inner sect disciple of Transcendent Peak, would achieve modest success in the future and eventually become an outer sect elder. She possessed an optimistic personality, upright character, and kind heart. In the plotline, she had provided Shen Ruochu with considerable help.
Mm… a small-scale angel investor.
With her around, that little one should feel a bit happier.
[Ding! Choice 2 completed. Guard the grave for three years. Reward obtained: Peak-level Wind Sword Intent, Great Mastery-level Thunder Sword Intent. Realm advanced to late stage Nascent Soul Realm!]
With a loud surge, Gu Chengxing felt his entire aura roil. Spiritual power from heaven and earth poured wildly into him. New chapters come out on g.com first.
The spiritual power formed a blue vortex.
After an unknown amount of time, a crisp cracking sound echoed, and his aura rose another level.
The aura of the late stage Nascent Soul Realm surged from his body.
Just like that, he had reached the late stage Nascent Soul Realm?
Peak 9th stage Core Formation Realm was already elder-level strength in some small and medium sects within the Desolate Domain.
Peak Nascent Soul Realm cultivation could hold an elder position even within the Azure Cloud Sword Sect.
And on the sparsely populated Transcendent Peak, it was enough to shoulder the position of Peak Master.
Incredible…
The system truly had some capability.
After all, Gu Chengxing himself was already a cultivation prodigy, reaching the peak 9th stage Core Formation Realm at nineteen years old.
Among the younger generation of the Desolate Domain, he ranked among the very best.
For this reason, Gu Chengxing already had a modest reputation throughout the Desolate Domain.
Within the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, he was publicly acknowledged as the number one genius of the younger generation.
However, he had always kept a low profile within the sect. Combined with the many True Disciples and personal disciples across the peaks, his reputation within the sect was actually lower than outside.
What he did not know was that his name had already exploded throughout the Azure Cloud Sword Sect.
“I heard the Sect Master issued an order. Peak Master Chen Wuxin of Transcendent Peak has reached his lifespan limit and returned to heaven.”
“What? When did that happen? So sudden?”
“That’s not the key point. The important thing is that the position of Peak Master of Transcendent Peak is tentatively being passed to Gu Chengxing.”
“Gu Chengxing? Who’s that?”
“The sole True Disciple of Transcendent Peak. Peak 9th stage Core Formation Realm at nineteen. The greatest genius in the history of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect.”
“Damn it! How have I never heard of him?”
“Forget whether you’ve heard of him. The Sect Master said Senior Brother Gu has already entered the Nascent Soul Realm. Nineteen years old and Nascent Soul Realm!”
“Seriously? He could compete for the title of number one genius in the entire Desolate Domain!”
“What are you talking about? Gu Chengxing is only acting Peak Master for now. I heard he’ll remain in the Grave Guarding Forbidden Ground for three years.”
“You fool, after those three years, won’t he still be Peak Master? Acting Peak Master and Peak Master differ only in time. Does Transcendent Peak have any other True Disciples?”
“Haha, you’re right. I almost forgot the situation on Transcendent Peak.”
Of course, the matter of Gu Chengxing inheriting the position of Peak Master of Transcendent Peak caused considerable stir only within the Azure Cloud Sword Sect and Azure Cloud Province. Across the entire Desolate Domain, it was nothing more than a trivial event.