Right now, Lu Yi could only provide Hundred-Year Spirit Milk. Once he accumulated more Thousand-Year Spirit Milk, he planned to give some to his father, Lu Gaoyang, and his mother, Wang Siqi. Bit by bit, he would enhance their cultivation aptitude. Combined with other heavenly materials and treasures, helping them achieve immortality shouldn’t be a problem.


    Feeling satisfied, Lu Yi chatted about other topics with Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi.


    They talked late into the night before Lu Yi finally returned to his room to cultivate.


    After giving the Hundred-Year Spirit Milk to Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi, Lu Yi planned to try cultivating with Thousand-Year Spirit Milk next.


    This was his first time using Thousand-Year Spirit Milk, and he felt a little excited.


    With a flip of his hand, Lu Yi took out a porcelain bottle. He opened it and drank the Thousand-Year Spirit Milk.


    Moments later, gentle yet rich spiritual energy surged within him. Even the advanced White Cloud Qi Absorption Technique couldn’t immediately absorb all the spiritual energy that spread throughout his body.


    It was worth noting that Lu Yi’s White Cloud Qi Absorption Technique had been cultivated to its limit. Its efficiency in absorbing spiritual energy surpassed most Foundation Establishment techniques, which highlighted just how potent this spiritual energy was.


    Lu Yi operated the absorption technique at full force, feeling the rapid growth of spiritual energy in his body. His heart was filled with joy.


    As expected of Thousand-Year Spirit Milk! Its spiritual energy density far exceeds that of Hundred-Year Spirit Milk.


    If he maintained this pace, Lu Yi estimated that it wouldn’t even take three months to push his Qi Refining Stage Level Ten to its peak. This was much faster than his breakthrough from Level Nine to Level Ten!


    Once he reached the peak of Level Ten, he could start thinking about breaking through the limits imposed by the Heavenly Dao.


    Thinking of this, Lu Yi suddenly remembered something—he hadn’t yet issued a task to break through the Heavenly Dao limits and advance to Qi Refining Level Eleven.


    Previously, his breakthroughs to Level Nine and Level Ten were rewarded with Thousand-Year Spirit Milk. What would the reward be for reaching Level Eleven?


    Breaking through the Heavenly Dao limits wasn’t something ordinary people could achieve—only true geniuses could do it. The reward shouldn’t disappoint.


    Filled with anticipation, Lu Yi murmured in his heart, ‘I want to break through to Qi Refining Level Eleven.’


    <hr>


    [Task]


    Break through to Qi Refining Level Eleven.


    Reward: A strand of Dao Essence.


    Accept: Yes/No


    <hr>


    Lu Yi was momentarily stunned as he read the task.


    Dao Essence?


    What was that?


    The White Cloud Sect had many books, and with Lu Yi’s years of learning from lectures and self-study, he had gained a solid foundation in cultivation techniques and heavenly materials.


    However, he had never heard of Dao Essence before.


    But considering that the Dao was above the Heavenly Dao, Lu Yi speculated that Dao Essence must be an extraordinarily rare treasure obtained after surpassing the Heavenly Dao’s limits.


    Although he didn’t fully understand what it was, it certainly wasn’t something ordinary.


    He decided to wait until after his breakthrough to claim the reward and discover what it was.


    With eager anticipation, Lu Yi calmed his mind and continued cultivating.


    <hr>


    The next day.


    Lu Yi finally finished absorbing the Thousand-Year Spirit Milk by noon and opened his eyes.


    He stepped outside, intending to grab something to eat, when he heard laughter coming from the main hall.


    Lu Yi walked in and saw his father, Lu Gaoyang, and his mother, Wang Siqi, chatting with an elderly man. Lu Yi recognized him immediately—it was Elder Qi Feiyu from the Outer Affairs Hall.


    Seeing Lu Yi enter, Elder Qi Feiyu stood up and greeted him warmly. "Lu Yi, you’re done cultivating?"


    Lu Yi quickly bowed. "Greetings, Elder Qi. What brings you here?"


    Qi Feiyu smiled. "I heard from your father that you came home for the New Year, so I thought I’d drop by and visit. I didn’t want to disturb your cultivation, so I just chatted with your parents."


    Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi beamed with joy. Their faces were practically glowing.


    In the past, while Elder Qi Feiyu treated Foundation Establishment officials respectfully, he wasn’t this cordial.


    But ever since Lu Yi rose to fame in the Inner Sect, Elder Qi Feiyu’s attitude had grown increasingly warm. He even treated Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi as equals.


    All of this was thanks to their son, and the couple couldn’t have been happier.


    Lu Yi smiled apologetically. "Father should have informed me that you were here, Elder Qi."


    "How could I let that happen? You’re our White Cloud Sect’s treasure! If I disturbed your cultivation, it’d be my fault," Elder Qi joked with a hearty laugh.


    Lu Yi chuckled. "You’re too kind, Elder Qi."


    Lu Yi understood Elder Qi’s intentions to maintain good relations. However, from last night’s conversations with his parents, he also knew Elder Qi had genuinely treated them well over the years.


    Despite Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi only being Foundation Establishment officials, Elder Qi had supported their careers, making their status in the Affairs Hall higher than some elders. Their lives had been smooth and prosperous.


    Since Elder Qi had shown kindness to his parents, Lu Yi made a mental note to repay him in the future. Once Lu Yi’s strength improved, he could share resources to help Elder Qi break through to Nascent Soul.


    Making friends was always better than making enemies.


    Besides, sparring with Elder Qi in the future could lead to unexpected gains.


    Seeing Lu Yi’s humble demeanor, Elder Qi’s smile grew even brighter. He showered Lu Yi with praises and even stayed for dinner before leaving.


    <hr>


    News of Lu Yi’s return quickly spread. Qi Feiyu’s visit was only the beginning.


    Over the following days, more officials and elders came to visit, including Elder Du Gufang.


    Lu Yi’s status had changed dramatically since his Outer Sect competition victory.


    Back then, he showed promising talent with potential to reach Nascent Soul or even Void Refinement. But now, he was the personal disciple of White Cloud Sect’s most brilliant figure, the Peak Master of Lingluo Peak, and ranked first on the Inner Sect’s Qi Refining Trials.


    Outer Sect elders, who were in the Golden Core stage, saw great benefits in forming connections with such a genius.


    Initially, Lu Yi welcomed familiar elders like Du Gufang. However, as the visits became overwhelming, he decided to retreat into cultivation, avoiding further socializing.


    No one complained—after all, Lu Yi was a rising star, and cultivation naturally took priority.


    Meanwhile, Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi basked in the attention. Once mere officials, they now had elders frequently visiting their home. The difference in status was clear.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    <hr>


    Time passed peacefully. Lu Yi celebrated the New Year with his family, even sharing dinner with Qi Feiyu and Du Gufang.


    On the second day after New Year, Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi insisted that Lu Yi return to Lingluo Peak.


    As a disciple of the Peak Master, it was customary to pay respects on the first day of the year.


    Reluctantly, Lu Yi left his warm home and rode his unicorn spirit horse back to the Inner Sect.


    After returning the unicorn to the Spirit Beast Hall, Lu Yi climbed Lingluo Peak.


    As he ascended, he wondered about the Peak Master, who always seemed to be sleeping. Did she even stay awake for New Year? he mused.


    Soon, Lu Yi reached the peak.


    The bamboo forest remained lush despite the winter. White mist drifted from the nearby spiritual hot spring, and the bamboo house looked exactly as it did months ago—unchanged, as if time had stood still.


    Looking around, Lu Yi didn’t see Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang or Second Senior Sister.


    Senior Sister Liu Ningshuang must still be out on a mission.


    We’ve barely spoken since I joined the Inner Sect. Completing her task seems hopeless.


    As for the Second Senior Sister, she was likely in seclusion, refining her Heavenly Dao limit.


    Lu Yi cleared his thoughts and respectfully called out, "Peak Master, disciple Lu Yi wishes you a Happy New Year."


    …


    There was no sound inside the bamboo house.


    Lu Yi paused for a moment before speaking again, "Peak Master, disciple Lu Yi wishes you a Happy New Year."


    As soon as Lu Yi finished speaking, a white figure suddenly appeared in front of him.


    Lu Yi was startled. Looking up, he saw the Peak Master of Lingluo standing there in white robes. Her long, jet-black hair was slightly disheveled, and she appeared to have just woken up.


    She glared at him with sleepy eyes, an annoyed expression crossing her face as she complained, "So noisy! Are you looking for a beating? Disturbing my sleep!"


    Lu Yi was a bit frightened by her glare. After all, she was a powerful figure.


    He cleared his throat and quickly said, "As the Peak Master''s registered disciple, I came to pay my respects for the New Year. I didn''t expect to disturb you. I will leave immediately."


    Hearing this, the Peak Master''s expression softened slightly. She glanced at Lu Yi, then froze for a moment. A hint of surprise flashed through her drowsy eyes as she examined him. "You’re already at the tenth layer of Qi Refining?"


    Lu Yi smiled sheepishly. "I just had a lucky breakthrough."


    The Peak Master showed a strange expression and said, "...If breaking through two layers in six months is considered lucky, then all the cultivators in the world must be immortals."


    She stroked her chin, circled around Lu Yi, and clicked her tongue. "If I didn’t know a little about fate techniques, I’d have thought you were the reincarnation of some immortal."


    Lu Yi’s mouth twitched slightly, and he forced a laugh. "Peak Master flatters me."


    The Peak Master smiled in satisfaction and said, "Not bad, not bad. At this rate, you might surpass Little Mingyue and break the Heavenly Dao limits ahead of her."


    Lu Yi responded respectfully, "I will do my best!"


    The Peak Master nodded and asked, "You haven’t come to see me lately. Has your cultivation been going smoothly? Since you’re here, I might as well give you a lecture."


    Hearing this, Lu Yi''s eyes lit up. The Peak Master was at least at the Nascent Soul Realm. Her teachings might even trigger a mission?


    Lu Yi thought to himself, I want to listen to the Peak Master’s lecture.


    [Task] Listen to the Peak Master’s lecture.


    Reward: An Enlightenment Session


    Enlightenment?!


    Lu Yi was shocked when he saw the mission reward. Even with his panel, he had never experienced enlightenment before. It was a rare state that only true geniuses could occasionally enter when encountering great opportunities.


    It was said that during enlightenment, one could gain profound insights into techniques, cultivation methods, and various other aspects, achieving significant improvement.


    As expected of the Peak Master! Her missions were always generous.


    Even just attending one lecture could lead to enlightenment.


    Lu Yi quickly accepted the mission and looked at the Peak Master with gratitude. "Thank you, Peak Master!"


    Seeing Lu Yi''s excitement, the Peak Master felt pleased. This boy understood the value of her lectures. After all, not just anyone could listen to them.


    "Come inside."


    The Peak Master led Lu Yi to the living room of the bamboo house. They both sat cross-legged, and the Peak Master began her lecture.


    Lu Yi listened attentively. The Peak Master discussed the fundamentals of the Qi Refining Stage, including matters related to the Heavenly Dao limits, how to break through them, and her own insights when she had advanced.


    Lu Yi felt he had gained a lot. He also became aware of his shortcomings in the Qi Refining Stage and understood how to address them.


    The Peak Master spoke for almost the entire morning, her mouth feeling dry by the end.


    She flipped her hand, revealing a jar of Magnolia Wine. After taking a sip, the room was filled with the rich aroma of wine. She then said, "Alright, that’s enough for now. Do you have any questions?"


    Lu Yi reflected briefly and shook his head. The Peak Master’s explanations were extremely thorough. Combined with his solid foundation from practicing various techniques to perfection, he could grasp concepts quickly and infer deeper meanings with ease.


    Then Lu Yi seemed to remember something and asked, "Peak Master, could you talk about sword techniques? My Sword Intent seems to have reached a bottleneck and hasn’t progressed for some time."


    In fact, Lu Yi had developed his Sword Intent through sparring with Senior Brother Bai Yulong. However, as Lu Yi''s strength grew, Bai Yulong could no longer keep up, and the sparring no longer yielded rewards for Sword Intent.


    This left Lu Yi somewhat disheartened.


    Currently, his panel displayed an Intent section. His Sword Intent was only at half completion, even lower than his Thunder Intent.


    Through constant sparring with his second senior sister, his Thunder Intent had already reached one-tenth completion.


    Furthermore, sparring with his second senior sister consistently provided tasks for improving Thunder Intent, so Lu Yi wasn’t worried about its progress.


    However, the lack of progress in his Sword Intent had troubled Lu Yi for quite some time.


    Seeing Lu Yi’s troubled expression, the Peak Master’s face darkened. "Are you showing off? Being able to comprehend Sword Intent at the Qi Refining Stage isn’t enough for you? It’s normal not to progress further."


    She continued, "I don’t practice sword techniques and don’t know much about Sword Intent... But you can visit the library and find Old Ming. His Sword Intent is quite impressive."


    Lu Yi''s eyes lit up upon hearing this.


    That''s right! Elder Ming had previously mentioned that he could discuss swordsmanship with him. However, Lu Yi had been so focused on cultivating recently that he completely forgot about it.


    Thinking about how listening to the Peak Master’s lectures earned him mission rewards, what about listening to Elder Ming’s lectures? There should be mission rewards too, right? Perhaps even sword intent rewards?


    Lu Yi began to look forward to it.


    Seeing Lu Yi''s eager expression, the Peak Master of Ling Luo couldn’t help but understand what he was thinking. She yawned, waved her hand, and said, “Go on, don’t disturb my sleep!”


    Lu Yi glanced at the Peak Master of Ling Luo. ''Good heavens, this person doesn’t even bother pretending anymore.''


    He quickly stood up and respectfully said, “Thank you, Peak Master, for your lecture. This disciple will take his leave.”


    “Go, go. Come back when you break through your limits.”


    Lu Yi nodded, left the bamboo house, and didn’t even return to his own cave dwelling. Instead, he excitedly headed toward the library.


    Lu Yi had a bold idea.


    He had just obtained an enlightenment opportunity from the Peak Master. Why not use it while Elder Ming was discussing swordsmanship? With this moment of enlightenment, his sword intent might see a significant improvement!


    The more Lu Yi thought about it, the more excited he became. He quickened his pace.


    Before long, Lu Yi arrived at the library.


    On the first day of the new year, the square outside the library was already bustling with people searching for spells and techniques.


    When they saw Lu Yi, almost everyone turned to look. Some nodded and smiled, while others greeted him enthusiastically.


    “Junior Brother Lu!”


    “Junior Brother Lu Yi, you’re here too.”


    “What a coincidence, Junior Brother Lu Yi.”


    Lu Yi responded with a smile and entered the library. Inside, Elder Ming was, as always, sitting by the door, looking relaxed.


    However, Lu Yi noticed that Elder Ming seemed a bit older than last year, with more white hairs visible.


    Lu Yi couldn’t help but feel emotional. Even cultivators at the Nascent Soul Realm didn’t have unlimited lifespans. They would eventually succumb to aging and death.


    Elder Ming noticed Lu Yi entering and smiled slightly. “Oh, it’s you, Lu. It’s been quite a while since you last came to the library, hasn’t it?”


    Lu Yi stepped forward, cupped his hands, and greeted, “Greetings, Elder Ming.”


    Elder Ming smiled and said, “I heard you’ve been ranking first in the Qi Refining Trials recently? As expected of a genius who comprehended sword intent at the Qi Refining Stage. Sword cultivators like us should be like this… So, are you here to choose a technique this time?”


    Lu Yi replied, “Disciple is not here to choose a technique.”


    “Not here to choose a technique?” Elder Ming was slightly surprised and looked at Lu Yi.


    Lu Yi scratched his head and smiled somewhat sheepishly. “Didn’t Senior mention that I could come to you with any questions about swordsmanship? My sword intent hasn’t improved for quite some time, so I wanted to seek your guidance.”


    Hearing this, Elder Ming laughed heartily. “So that’s it. I always keep my word. When it comes to swordsmanship, feel free to ask me anything!”


    Lu Yi felt touched upon hearing this. After all, Elder Ming wasn’t his master, yet he was so willing to help a junior like him. It was truly selfless.


    Lu Yi quickly said, “Thank you, Elder Ming! I’d like to hear your views on swordsmanship.”


    Elder Ming pointed to a cushion nearby and said, “Sit down. Today, I’ll talk to you about swordsmanship.”


    Lu Yi immediately sat down beside Elder Ming as instructed.


    The cultivators at the entrance of the library had naturally overheard Lu Yi’s conversation with Elder Ming.


    Their eyes were filled with excitement as they looked at Elder Ming, whispering among themselves.


    “Elder Ming is going to discuss swordsmanship?!”


    “Junior Brother Lu has such great connections! He can actually get Elder Ming to explain swordsmanship to him!”


    “Nonsense, Junior Brother Lu is a swordsmanship genius who comprehended sword intent at the Qi Refining Stage. Of course, Elder Ming would take care of him.”


    “Is this the time to talk about this?!”


    “Exactly! Elder Ming is going to discuss swordsmanship! Can we listen in? Are we even qualified to listen?!”


    “Elder Ming didn’t chase us away, so it should be fine, right…?”


    “….”


    As the whispers continued, Elder Ming glanced at them and said, “You can listen, but you must remain silent. Otherwise, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”


    Hearing this, Lu Yi admired Elder Ming even more. He was so open-minded that he was willing to let so many people listen to his teachings on swordsmanship. Lu Yi doubted he could ever be that magnanimous.


    The other disciples were ecstatic and quickly expressed their gratitude.


    “Thank you, Elder Ming!”


    One by one, the disciples sat down and prepared to listen attentively.


    Even those who weren’t sword cultivators were no exception. After all, it wouldn’t hurt to listen to a Nascent Soul sword cultivator discuss swordsmanship.


    Lu Yi took a deep breath, his eyes filled with anticipation as he looked at Elder Ming. He silently told himself, ‘I must carefully listen to Elder Ming’s explanation of swordsmanship!’