Tianyan Sect.
Yanyun led Chu Xingchen and the others toward Zhiqing Peak with a calm expression.
Regarding Sandong's request to plant trees and spirit plants, Yanyun didn't immediately agree. Instead, she said that any spirit plants and trees to be planted would need to undergo evaluation first.
If the items were normal, then planting them would be fine. If the items were abnormal, the evaluation would simply not pass.
The territory occupied by Tianyan Sect was indeed quite large, but there were no truly useless spaces. This wasn't simply because Tianyan Sect had many people.
Rather, as the sect developed and accumulated sufficient resources, it naturally expanded into other areas.
Such as alchemy, forging, healing, formation masters, and so on.
Things unrelated to one's own cultivation also rose in importance. Whether a disciple wished to dive deeply into these fields and study diligently, or simply dabble as a hobby, they naturally needed a dedicated space to experiment.
Otherwise, as a sect master, peak lord, or elder, you would witness a scene on a single peak where vibrant life flourished and all things competed to grow — a complete chaos.
Alchemists would complain that the noise from the forgers was deafening, and that occasional violent fluctuations of spiritual energy disrupted their meditative focus during pill refinement.
Forgers would complain that the alchemists always reeked of aged medicinal herbs.
Those who enjoyed growing spirit plants on the peak would go pick fights with the alchemists — did you just uproot my spirit plants to use as pill ingredients?
The appearance of unity was like the moon reflected in a stagnant ditch — it looked fine from a distance, but up close, it was both foul and fragile.
The solution to this was naturally quite simple.
Open more peaks!
The forgers got one mountain peak, the alchemists got tossed onto another, and those who loved planting flowers and plants were sent to a barren mountain peak to do some landscaping.
People with shared interests being together helped foster a united atmosphere within the sect and allowed them to pool their wisdom for mutual improvement.
Aside from taking up space and requiring funding, there were no further issues.
With the rise of beast taming, livestock rearing, and other pursuits, plus many peaks being in remote locations with strange terrain that was hard to utilize, as well as peaks designated for experiments...
Even a grand sect like Tianyan Sect naturally faced some spatial constraints.
Zhiqing Peak had originally served as a disciplinary confinement peak and a secluded breakthrough ground.
It was where Tianyan Sect disciples who committed minor offenses or needed to break through cultivation bottlenecks were sent.
The residential facilities inside were fully equipped, and there were cultivation arrays available for use. After some renovations, the conditions inside were actually quite excellent.
Tianyan Sect did have temporary guest quarters available, which would have been more convenient. However, those were located outside the core inner area of the sect.
Sometimes, attitude mattered more than convenience.
Before Zhiqing Peak, a powerful formation enveloped the entire mountain.
"This is the mountain peak specially prepared for all of you." Yanyun handed over a dozen jade slips to Chu Xingchen at once.
"The formation barrier of Zhiqing Peak has been specially configured for you. It can borrow some of the power of Tianyan Sect's mountain-protection grand formation — even an ordinary Mahayana cultivator couldn't easily break through."
"The only credentials for entry and exit are these jade slips. I didn't keep any extras for myself — they're all here. So please keep them safe."
"At the very least, leave one behind, otherwise even Tianyan Sect would have to resort to brute force to shatter this formation."
Chu Xingchen reached out to accept them, giving a slight nod of thanks. "Thank you for the trouble."
Yanyun's expression turned slightly wary at his words. She glanced at Chu Xingchen, then spoke calmly.
"I'll accompany you up first to take a look. If there's anything lacking, I can order it to be delivered immediately."
Chu Xingchen channeled a bit of spiritual energy into one of the jade slips. The formation revealed a pathway for people to walk through.
A teleportation array had been set up at the foot of the mountain, leading directly to the entrance of the main building at Zhiqing Peak's summit.
Chu Xingchen raised his gaze to the grand doors, which bore Tianyan Sect's signature style. He looked at the elegant and flowing characters — Zhiqing — hanging high above the entrance.
The calligraphy brimmed with spiritual resonance, and one could sense a rather profound Dao rhythm within the strokes.
Judging by the Dao rhythm, it wasn't an ancient artifact — probably from within the last century or so. Not quite an antique.
Seeing Chu Xingchen studying the plaque with a contemplative expression, Yanyun spoke.
"My master wrote it."
"Sect Master Lu? He has this skill too?"
"The most important thing in fortune-telling isn't accuracy — it's writing beautifully. If the calligraphy looks good, at least people will believe half of what you say."
"Hmm?" Chu Xingchen looked at Yanyun with a hint of surprise. He hadn't quite expected such words to come from her mouth.
Seeing his surprised expression, Yanyun calmly explained.
"My master taught me that."
"Then your own calligraphy must be quite good as well?"
"Passable, I suppose."
"Since this peak is temporarily under my control, can I change the name? Zhiqing... I'm afraid I haven't reached that level of refinement."
"...What do you want to change it to? Profanity is not allowed."
"What kind of image do you have of me in your mind?"
Yanyun's face remained perfectly still. Her answer came swiftly.
"You have no image at all."
Chu Xingchen shot Yanyun a glance but didn't bother debating the point further.
After all, the people would judge for themselves.
He looked at the characters Zhiqing, fell silent for a moment, then stroked his chin.
"As the saying goes, true art appeals to both refined and common tastes alike. The supremely vulgar is the supremely elegant — and by reverse logic, the supremely elegant must also be the supremely vulgar."
"I already told you — profanity is not allowed."
Yanyun sighed as she said this, her gaze shifting to Xie Lingyu nearby — aren't you going to manage him?
Xie Lingyu's expression was placid, her eyes fixed on the Zhiqing characters. She didn't look at Yanyun at all.
Looking at the Xie Lingyu of today, Yanyun felt she had adopted at least twenty percent of Chu Xingchen's mannerisms.
Chu Xingchen stroked his chin and glanced back at the disciples behind him.
Li Yingling had her arms crossed, studying the plaque. Before Chu Xingchen could even turn his gaze toward Li Xingtian, Cui Hao — wearing an expression of eager anticipation, clearly itching to share his opinion — naturally stepped forward and blocked Li Xingtian.
Chu Xingchen gave a light laugh and shook his head. "Then I'll trouble you, fellow cultivator Yanyun — please ask Sect Master Lu to write something for me later: A Loving Family."
"From now on, this peak will be temporarily renamed A Loving Family."
Cui Hao said nothing, merely gazing at his master with an expression of stunned admiration.
Truly worthy of being his master — to come up with a name that sounded perfectly normal on the surface but gave one goosebumps upon closer reflection.
Yanyun didn't immediately agree to the name. Instead, she repeatedly analyzed whether there was some hidden meaning behind it.
Sandong raised its little hand high and spoke with a face full of satisfaction.
"Sandong loves this name!"
Yanyun's gaze shifted to Sandong, and her mental calculations immediately sped up. Simultaneously, she raised her guard against Sandong.
Xie Lingyu gave a gentle nod and voiced her approval.
"It's quite nice. I don't object."
Yanyun looked at Xie Lingyu. Seeing her speak up, Yanyun relented.
"I'll discuss it with my master later. For now, let's go inside and take a look."
Everyone agreed and walked inside.
The buildings of Zhiqing Peak had been specially renovated and upgraded before Chu Xingchen's arrival. In terms of sheer luxury, it might actually surpass the sect at Wanhua Ridge.
Li Yingling and the others naturally didn't make any additional requests that would trouble their hosts. They simply picked out rooms that caught their eye and began settling in.
The only variable was Sandong.
Looking up with an expression of pure admiration, Sandong spoke with genuine earnestness.
"Tianyan Sect is truly amazing! Fellow cultivator Yanyun, there must be rooms here with roofs that can open too, right?"
"Fellow cultivator Yanyun, there's actually no small pond here! But that's okay — Second Senior Brother is really impressive."
"We can help you dig one out! The small pond at Wanhua Ridge was dug by Second Senior Brother!"
Yanyun felt her divine sense twitch.
As expected — this Sandong was truly extraordinary! She couldn't underestimate it.
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