The Origin of Qunyu Peak, Our Sect Is Truly Thriving

In the Mistbloom Everlasting Spring, the fragrant aroma of earth-vein spirit milk rose with the steam. Any spiritual elixir or pill added to this hot spring would be absorbed with greater efficiency. And it was incredibly comfortable too.

"Hmm?"

Shang Wu, who had been indulging in the bath, slightly opened her almond-shaped eyes and pondered for a moment.

"There used to be some before."

"Before?"

"Back then, there were dozens of jade carvings on Jade Cluster Peak—all of them divine observation diagrams."

Shang Wu lazily tugged at her bathrobe, as if finding it a bit too tight.

Li Mo suddenly understood.

No wonder the peak was called Jade Cluster Peak—it was quite fitting.

He had found it strange earlier. Every peak in the Qingyuan Sect had its own purpose and distinct features, yet Jade Cluster Peak was barren, with nothing at all.

Wait.

It still seemed pretty barren now.

"What happened to those jade carvings?"

Young Li Mo speculated—could it be that his beautiful master had sold them off for wine money when she was short on funds for drinking?

It sounded absurd, but given his master’s tendencies, it also seemed entirely plausible...

"Oh, one day, I just... drank a bit too much."

Shang Wu leaned her head back, reminiscing.

"Then when I returned to the peak, I bumped into those jade carvings..."

Listening to his master’s leisurely explanation, Li Mo finally pieced together what had happened.

That day, Shang Wu had been utterly drunk—seeing double, most likely.

And then she encountered those jade carvings.

As everyone knew, divine observation diagrams or statues emphasized both form and spirit—lifelike and vivid, allowing one to immerse in their divine essence. Naturally, the more realistic, the better.

And Shang Wu had genuinely mistaken them for real people.

If Wu Song could fight a tiger while drunk, who was she, Shang Wu, to back down?

Thinking the sect had been invaded by enemies, she uprooted a tree and charged into battle, drunkenly beating down the "intruders."

Only when she woke up did she realize that the divine observation statues, passed down through generations on Jade Cluster Peak, had all been reduced to shattered fragments.

Li Mo: "......"

Well then.

So that’s why Jade Cluster Peak was in such disrepair—turns out she wrecked it herself.

He suddenly recalled the strange signs posted at the foot of every other peak in the sect:

[No Entry While Drunk]

At the time, he had wondered what kind of odd rule that was.

Turns out it was tailor-made.

"Precious disciple."

Shang Wu suddenly called out to him.

Li Mo instinctively turned, only to see his beautiful master’s almond eyes curving into crescents, her brows wiggling slightly.

A clear hint.

She still remembered her disciple mentioning that drinking while soaking in a hot spring was a delightful experience.

"Ahem, Master, from a medical standpoint, drinking while in a hot spring isn’t actually good for your health."

"My health is excellent. If you don’t believe me, we can spar."

"......I forgot to bring any wine."

"A real man keeps his word."

Splash—

Shang Wu’s delicate face scrunched up as she crossed her arms and turned away.

Her disciple broke his promise and wouldn’t listen to his master.

Angry.

Li Mo: "......"

Generally, he was a man of his word.

But he had just heard the story about the jade carvings.

And right now, they were bathing together. What if Shang Wu got drunk and mistook him for some peeping pervert, landing a few punches on him?

Who could withstand that?

Seeing this tactic wasn’t working, Shang Wu pressed a hand to her forehead and frowned.

"Tsk, I was just about to explain to my disciple how to break through the Mystic Core and step into Divine Observation."

"But suddenly, I can’t remember what I was going to say."

"My head hurts—I must be ill~"

The master’s three-step playbook:

Hinting, playing dumb, and implied violence.

Watching his master—who could uproot willow trees with one hand—pretend to be frail, young Li Mo’s lips twitched.

With a sigh, he set out a floating tray, placing a jug of wine on it.

"Master, just this much—"

Before he could finish, the tray vanished, pulled by some unseen force straight to Shang Wu.

Delighted, she rested her arm on the edge of the pool, propping her cheek on one hand as she poured a cup.

"What kind of wine is this? It smells wonderful."

"Red Ganoderma wine."

Li Mo watched helplessly as his master downed the cup in one go, her almond eyes narrowing with blissful satisfaction.

"Master, now can you talk about martial arts?"

"Hmph. Divine Observation is essentially the refinement and perfection of one’s will and soul."

Shang Wu sniffed the wine’s aroma, her lips curling slightly.

"It’s like bone structure—some are broad-shouldered, some are born with immense strength. Their physiques are naturally stronger than most."

"Observing forms and intents is a way to temper the will and spirit."

"Sort of like reshaping one’s bone structure after birth?"

Li Mo grasped the idea.

Bone structure could also be transformed through rare treasures or years of rigorous training.

"Mm, there are some similarities."

Shang Wu nodded.

She briefly explained the methods and principles of tempering the spirit.

Li Mo now had a clearer understanding.

For example, practicing the Ape’s Back Fist over time would subtly shape one’s posture toward "ape-like arms."

If the martial art practiced was of a higher grade, the resulting bone structure would also be superior.

Of course, it was also possible to injure oneself if the body’s foundation wasn’t strong enough.

Divine Observation worked the same way.

"Having a good divine observation diagram isn’t enough—you also need the talent to embody it."

"What suits you best is what’s truly best."

"For example, Old Man Shangguan observes only the form of sparrows—a lower form—yet he has extended it into something approaching the pinnacle of forms on his own."

Shang Wu’s throat felt dry from talking, so she took another sip of red ganoderma wine.

"Then how does one find a form suitable for their own observation?"

Li Mo, sensing his master was about to fall asleep, quickly asked.

"You can go to... Ruyi Peak... snore snore..."

Shang Wu floated lazily on the water's surface.

"..."

To fall asleep mid-conversation—Master, you’re really something.

Then again, an Inner Realm martial artist probably wouldn’t get waterlogged, right?

Shaking his head, Li Mo rose from the hot spring.

"Ruyi Peak... Seems like I’ll have to make a trip there tomorrow."

Up in the pavilion, Ying Bing watched as he emerged from the rock garden.

Seeing him in high spirits, she couldn’t help but feel curious.

Was soaking in a hot spring really that enjoyable?

Then again, if the punishment for defeat was nothing more than this, why should she bother avoiding it?

"I’ll think about it later."

Ying Bing gave a slight shake of her head.

Tomorrow, she would enter the ancestral hall of the main peak. What she needed now was to adjust her condition to its peak.

Based on her past life’s experience and the hints Shangguan Wencang had dropped, she already knew—

The ancestral hall of the main peak likely concealed a Divine Form of the Great Dao.

"The Lunar Divine Form, combined with the Phoenix Divine Form..."

"My Observation Realm will be far stronger than in my previous life."

Kneeling under the moonlight, bathed in its silvery glow, Ying Bing looked like the world’s most exquisite jade carving.

Her Mystic Core rotated slowly within her, as if resonating with the moon hanging in the sky.

...

The next day.

The sky was overcast, so gloomy in the morning it felt like dusk—not a single one of the three suns was visible.

Thick clouds loomed, as if brewing a torrential downpour.

On the Qingyuan Sect’s bluestone paths, a young man in white robes moved gracefully, his features refined and gentle. Anyone would mistake him for a scholar of Ruyi Peak, devoted to the classics of the sages.

Well... Ouyang might disagree.

After asking around, Li Mo didn’t take long to find a house nestled in a bamboo grove.

To his surprise, the area in front of Ouyang’s courtyard was bustling with activity.

Disciples from every peak were there, forming a long queue.

Among them, he even spotted a familiar face.

"Brother Li, are you here to buy Ouyang’s latest masterpiece too?"

Murong Xiao grinned broadly at the sight of him.

There was something foolish about that smile—a kind of wisdom disguised as simplicity.

"Something like that," Li Mo nodded.

The art of painting was one of Ruyi Peak’s proudest skills, holding the same status as Dan Ding Peak’s alchemy or the forging arts of the Divine Armament Peak.

A true master of brush and ink could replicate Observation Diagrams with astonishing fidelity.

Just as everyone sought high-quality pills and weapons, the same went for Observation Diagrams.

A truly exceptional one was worth ten thousand gold.

But he wasn’t here to buy paintings—after all, he didn’t even know what form suited him yet.

"So many people," Murong Xiao remarked, gazing at the crowd.

"Yeah, it’ll probably be a while before we get to see Ouyang."

Li Mo sighed.

Our Qingyuan Sect is truly thriving.

So many fellow disciples, all diligently striving toward the Observation Realm.

"Elders, are you two here for paintings as well?"

Suddenly, an inner sect disciple sidled up to them.

With a mysterious air, he whispered,

"This junior was fortunate enough to queue up early and has already secured Ouyang’s latest work. Would the elders be interested? The price... is just a tad higher."

"I’ve waited so long, after all—just a small fee for my efforts."

"Hm?"

Li Mo was puzzled.

This sounded suspiciously like a scalper.

But Observation Diagrams weren’t universal—what was the point of scalping them?

"Elders, I swear it’s lifelike! You know Ouyang’s skill."

The inner disciple coaxed eagerly.

"Fine, give it here."

Li Mo wasn’t short on money, so he paid without hesitation. The disciple beamed and handed over a booklet.

The moment Li Mo saw the cover, a bad feeling crept up on him.

He flipped it open—and sure enough.

His lips twitched.

Oh.

That kind of lifelike.

"So everyone’s queuing up at dawn to buy erotic art?!"

Thud!

In a fit of rage, Xiao Li hurled the booklet to the ground.