Early the next morning, Ye Tianyi dragged Lu Changsheng out of bed.
As promised the previous day, he was going to start training his junior brother in cultivation—and before long, the two had already left the Cangyun Sect.
"Senior Brother, even if we're cultivating, there's no need to be this early, right? It's not even light out..."
Lu Changsheng mumbled, still half-asleep.
"The plan of a day begins in the morning. The success of a lifetime lies in diligence. As cultivators, we must be industrious. Since Master has been absent, and Senior Brother has been busy with cultivation, no one's kept you in check. From today, I'll supervise you personally!"
Ye Tianyi declared, full of conviction.
Lu Changsheng was speechless.
After ten years of being completely left to his own devices, he suddenly had a strict supervisor. It was hard to adjust.
"Why don't we wait until Master returns and let him supervise me? No need to trouble you, Senior Brother."
He figured Ye Tianyi would give up with that excuse.
But instead, the older man's expression grew serious.
"Junior Brother, I had planned to tell you this eventually. Since you brought it up, I'll tell you now."
"What is it? Don't tell me Master's... dying?"
Lu Changsheng was taken aback.
Ye Tianyi shook his head and after a long pause, finally said:
"Originally, I was traveling with Master, but... two years ago, he suddenly vanished."
"Vanished?"
"Yes. I searched for two whole years without a trace. I had no choice but to return to the sect. This matter must be kept secret from outsiders—it could cause trouble. Right now, only the sect's higher-ups know."
He spoke with gravity.
Lu Changsheng was completely speechless.
He remembered clearly—he was just walking down a road one day when an old man fell from the sky, proclaimed him a once-in-a-million immortal genius, and insisted on taking him as a disciple.
Eventually, he was dragged up Qingyun Peak.
His vast inheritance was probably claimed by someone else by now.
Still, he figured since he was already here, might as well give cultivation a shot. If he succeeded, maybe he could one day dominate the land.
But who would've thought—the day after he arrived, that old man left him with the eldest senior brother and went off to "travel the world."
That was ten years ago.
He never considered what sort of trauma it might cause a child of only eight years old—especially one burdened with a painful and destructive constitution.
Lu Changsheng wanted to cry.
He had tiptoed through ten cautious years to survive and grow—and now they tell him his master was missing?
"What kind of scam boat did I board..."
His heart was filled with complicated emotions. Having this master or not—what difference did it make?
Ye Tianyi, however, noticed none of his internal turmoil, and continued speaking earnestly:
"I heard the sect say that Master came to Cangyun Sect over a hundred years ago. He had amnesia then. About ten years ago, he suddenly recalled something and insisted on traveling. The sect was worried and asked me to accompany him. I did—but I lost him..."
He even looked guilty as he said it.
Lu Changsheng had nothing to say.
He could tell Ye Tianyi was a straightforward and kind person—just a bit unlucky.
"Senior Brother, that's enough. Let's just focus on cultivation."
He had meant to offer comfort, but—
Ye Tianyi nodded intensely:
"You're right, Junior Brother. Once I reach Core Formation, I'll head out again and find Master no matter what!"
"..."
Lu Changsheng had no words.
Master clearly dumped him to go live his best life—and this guy still wants to go find him?
As they spoke, they arrived at the base of a mountain—their destination.
Lu Changsheng frowned again.
"You dragged me out at the crack of dawn... to bring me to the outer disciples' trial grounds?"
He was stunned.
This place was hundreds of miles from the sect and used to be where outer sect disciples trained.
To others, his cultivation at only Qi Gathering level 3 might not seem special compared to core disciples—but even so, bringing him here was a bit insulting.
At the very least, they could've taken him to the inner disciples' trial zone.
Ye Tianyi whispered:
"Junior Brother, you don't understand. This place's difficulty was recently upgraded by the sect—it's totally different now. Hardly anyone knows that it houses a great earth spirit vein. Even Senior Brother trains here now!"
Lu Changsheng sighed.
He knew Zhou Qingyu was here—he had sensed him last night.
In fact, he himself had known about the spirit vein for years. He'd nearly drained it dry by now. Coming back now? What was the point?
But he didn't bother to explain.
At least it was quiet here—and with twenty thousand spirit stones in hand, he could finally enjoy a peaceful cultivation session.
Once they arrived, Ye Tianyi watched Lu Changsheng sit down and begin cultivating before finally relaxing and sitting nearby.
Looking at his senior brother, Lu Changsheng could only smile bitterly.
He meant well—he was just trying to help.
So, he might as well cultivate.
Improving his strength was the only way forward.
After all, the harshness of the cultivation world left no room for laziness. Death could come at any moment without warning.
What frustrated him, however, was that the twenty thousand spirit stones were quickly consumed—and he was still far from Core Formation Layer 9.
He'd need at least 100,000 spirit stones to make that breakthrough.
"If it takes that much for layer 9, how much will Nascent Soul take? Are you forcing me to go rob people for a living?"
He was miserable.
His physique required enormous amounts of spiritual energy.
The spirit he'd consumed so far could've powered two Void Refinement cultivators.
He just wanted to reach Nascent Soul stage quickly—according to his cultivation manual, once he got there, his constitution would stop causing pain during cultivation.
But from then on, every breakthrough would require him to face heavenly tribulation.
In short—he needed more spirit stones.
A ridiculous amount of them.
He thought of Ning Yuxin again.
"As the daughter of the richest family in Cangzhou... she must be loaded."
With that, a brilliant idea sparked in his mind.
He quietly slipped away and returned to the sect.
He had stayed out for a few days now—Ning Yuxin should've succeeded in producing sword intent by now.
Time to check on her and see if there were any "follow-up services" she needed.
He quickly returned to the sect and rushed up Qingyun Peak.
The moment he arrived, he saw Ning Yuxin sitting at a stone table, surrounded by a pile of books and scrolls, a troubled and disheartened expression on her face.
"Junior Sister Ning? It didn't work? That can't be!"
Lu Changsheng looked puzzled. He could already feel the sword intent budding within her.
Ning Yuxin looked up and sighed.
"It worked."
"Then why the long face? Did Senior Brother Zhou still ignore you?"
"No."
Ning Yuxin shook her head.
"After I condensed sword intent, Senior Brother's attitude changed a lot. He kindly explained sword techniques to me, gave me his cultivation notes—he even comes daily to teach me!"
"That's great, right? You're making progress!"
Lu Changsheng was surprised.
He knew Zhou Qingyu—only sword techniques, rare manuals, or sword-obsessed disciples could catch his attention.
This meant she had succeeded.
But Ning Yuxin pointed at the books.
"But I can't understand any of this! I've been studying for days, and nothing clicks. If he finds out I've made no progress..."
Lu Changsheng instantly understood.
He picked up some of the materials and flipped through them.
After a while, he nodded.
"They're pretty advanced. Without at least Sword Intent Level 5 or 6, it's hard to understand."
Ning Yuxin grew increasingly anxious.
Lu Changsheng said:
"But it's not a big deal. As long as your sword intent keeps progressing, he'll assume you've been learning and improving. That'll lead to more time together—and eventually, feelings will blossom!"
Ning Yuxin's eyes lit up—but soon dimmed again.
"But progressing sword intent isn't easy. I'm no sword genius. How could I improve in such a short time?"
She looked completely deflated.
"Actually, it's not that hard."
"Really?"
Ning Yuxin perked up.
Lu Changsheng smiled slyly.
"You just need... money!"