Extraordinary Little Winter

Tianyan Sect.

Yanyun led Chu Xingchen and the others toward Qingzhi Peak with a calm expression.

Regarding the request for winter planting and spiritual flora, Yanyun did not immediately agree but stated—all spiritual plants and trees to be cultivated must first undergo evaluation.

If the items were normal, planting them would be no issue. If they were abnormal, the evaluation would simply fail.

The territory occupied by Tianyan Sect was indeed vast, but none of it was wasted. This wasn’t solely due to the sect’s large population but rather because, as the sect developed and accumulated sufficient resources, expansion into other areas became natural.

For instance, alchemy, artifact forging, medical arts, and formations—each required its own dedicated space.

Even pursuits unrelated to cultivation itself became points of focus. Whether one sought to delve deeply into these fields or simply dabble as a hobby, a designated area was necessary for disciples to explore freely.

Otherwise, as the sect leader or peak masters, you’d witness a scene of bustling chaos on a single peak—a thriving, competitive mess.

Alchemists would complain about the deafening noise from the blacksmiths, not to mention the occasional violent surges of spiritual energy disrupting their concentration.

The blacksmiths, in turn, would grumble about the alchemists reeking of aged medicinal herbs.

Meanwhile, disciples who enjoyed cultivating spiritual plants would storm over to confront the alchemists—"Did you just uproot my plants for your elixirs?"

The so-called unity of the sect was like the moon reflected in a sewage ditch—beautiful from afar, but the closer you got, the more it stank and crumbled.

The solution to this was naturally quite simple.

Assign separate peaks!

One peak for blacksmiths, another for alchemists, and a barren peak for those who loved gardening—let them greenify it to their heart’s content.

Grouping like-minded individuals together fostered camaraderie and allowed for collaborative growth.

Aside from occupying space and consuming funds, there were no downsides.

With the rise of beast taming, livestock breeding, and other pursuits—along with many peaks being remote, oddly shaped, or designated for experiments—Tianyan Sect, despite its vast size, still faced some spatial constraints.

Qingzhi Peak was originally a place for reflection, confinement, and secluded breakthroughs.

It housed disciples who had committed minor infractions or were attempting to advance their cultivation.

Fully equipped with living facilities and cultivation arrays, it had been further optimized to provide quite comfortable conditions.

Tianyan Sect did have guest quarters, which were more convenient, but those were located outside the sect’s core territory.

Sometimes, attitude mattered more than convenience.

Before Qingzhi Peak, a formidable formation enveloped the entire mountain.

"This peak has been specially prepared for you," Yanyun said, handing over a dozen jade slips to Chu Xingchen.

"The barrier formation here was reset specifically for your group. It can draw upon part of Tianyan Sect’s grand protective array, making it difficult even for ordinary Mahayana cultivators to breach."

"These jade slips are the only access tokens. I’ve kept none for myself, so please safeguard them well—at least keep one intact. Otherwise, if all are lost, the sect would have no choice but to dismantle the formation by force."

Chu Xingchen accepted them with a slight nod. "Much obliged."

Yanyun gave him a wary glance before calmly adding,

"I’ll accompany you up first. If anything is lacking, I can arrange for it immediately."

Chu Xingchen channeled a trace of spiritual energy into a jade slip, and the formation’s mechanisms parted to reveal a path.

A teleportation array at the foot of the mountain led directly to the grand gates of the peak’s summit.

Chu Xingchen looked up at the towering gates, styled in Tianyan Sect’s grandeur, where the elegant characters "Qingzhi" hung with an ethereal grace.

The calligraphy brimmed with spiritual essence, carrying a profound Daoist charm.

Judging by the aura, it wasn’t an ancient relic—likely inscribed within the last century.

Noticing Chu Xingchen’s contemplative gaze, Yanyun explained,

"My master wrote it."

"Sect Leader Lü? He has this skill too?"

"For fortune-tellers, accuracy matters less than aesthetics. If the characters look refined, people will believe half of it outright."

"Oh?" Chu Xingchen raised a brow, surprised by Yanyun’s remark.

She met his gaze and clarified impassively,

"That’s what my master taught me."

"So your calligraphy must be impressive too?"

"Passable."

"If this peak is temporarily under my care, can we change the name? 'Qingzhi'… I’m too vulgar for such refinement."

"...What would you prefer? No profanity."

"What kind of image do you have of me?"

Yanyun answered without hesitation, her face blank.

"None whatsoever."

Chu Xingchen shot her a glance but didn’t argue the point.

Justice lay in the hearts of the people, after all.

He studied the characters "Qingzhi," stroking his chin before musing,

"As the saying goes, elegance and vulgarity are two sides of the same coin. The greatest vulgarity is the highest elegance—and by extension, the highest elegance must embrace the vulgar."

"I said no profanity," Yanyun sighed, glancing at Xie Lingyu as if to say, Aren’t you going to rein him in?

Xie Lingyu remained expressionless, her eyes fixed on the characters, ignoring Yanyun entirely.

At this point, Xie Lingyu bore at least twenty percent of Chu Xingchen’s influence.

Chu Xingchen turned to his disciples.

Li Yingling stood with arms crossed, scrutinizing the plaque. Before Chu Xingchen could even glance at Li Xingtian, Cui Hao—eager to voice his opinion—stepped squarely in front of him.

Chu Xingchen chuckled and shook his head. "Then I’ll trouble you, Fellow Daoist Yanyun, to ask Sect Leader Lü to rewrite it for me: 'One Big Happy Family.'"

"From now on, this peak shall temporarily be renamed 'One Big Happy Family.'"

Cui Hao didn’t speak, but his awestruck expression said it all.

Truly, only Master could come up with a name that sounds so wholesome yet sends chills down your spine upon closer thought.

Yanyun didn’t immediately agree, instead turning the name over in her mind, searching for hidden meanings.

San Dong raised her hand cheerfully. "San Dong loves this name!"

Yanyun’s gaze snapped to her, her mental calculations accelerating as her wariness toward San Dong spiked.

Xie Lingyu gave a slight nod. "It’s good. I don’t object."

Seeing her approval, Yanyun relented. "I’ll inform my master later. For now, let’s head inside."

The group agreed and proceeded inward.

Before Chu Xingchen’s arrival, the buildings on Qingzhi Peak had been specially renovated and upgraded. In terms of luxury, they might even surpass those of the Wanhua Ridge Sect.

Li Yingling and the others naturally refrained from making any additional requests that might trouble their hosts. Instead, they set about tidying up the rooms they had taken a liking to.

The only wild card was San Dong.

With an awestruck expression, she spoke earnestly:

"The Tianyan Sect is truly impressive! Yanyun, surely there are rooms here with openable roofs, right?"

"Yanyun, there isn’t even a small pond here! But no worries—Second Senior Brother is amazing. We can dig one out for you. The pond at Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge was dug by him too."

Yanyun felt a faint twitch in her divine sense.

Indeed, this San Dong was no ordinary person—not someone to be underestimated.