Before I knew it, I had broken through.

"The Bai Ze's appetite has increased significantly?"

Inside the Pill Cauldron Hall, when two junior disciples reported this news, several high-ranking deacon disciples immediately grew tense. The Elder of the Pill Cauldron, one of the four great mountain-guarding elders, was responsible for all matters regarding alchemical pills, spiritual plants, and spiritual beasts throughout Mount Shu; naturally, the care of the Bai Ze cub fell under his purview. However, given the Elder's exalted status, he would certainly not handle such trivial matters personally, leaving them instead to his trusted disciples.

For these deacon disciples, any minor detail regarding the Bai Ze cub was a matter of great importance. Whether it ate a little more or a little less at a meal was enough to sound the alarm.

"A sudden doubling of its appetite is definitely not within the normal range. Could it be that the little Bai Ze is about to break through to a new realm?" one deacon speculated.

"That might be it..." another nodded. "Tomorrow, let us increase the quantity of Spirit-Feeding Pills first to see if this is just a one-time occurrence or if it continues daily. If the increase is sustained, it is indeed possible that the Bai Ze is on the verge of a breakthrough!"

His voice carried a hint of excitement. A larger appetite was likely a good sign, indicating that the Bai Ze's requirement for spiritual energy had grown. Once the cub matured, they, as the caretakers, would naturally share in the credit.

"Is there any chance there's a thief?" another deacon whispered, voicing his doubt. "Even if the spiritual energy required for a breakthrough increased, it wouldn't jump to double the amount so absurdly, would it?"

"Hmm..." The group pondered this for a moment before waving their hands in unison. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible!"

Their dismissiveness was not without reason. The Bai Ze was a spiritual beast with a fierce sense of territory. The Pill Cauldron Hall disciples who delivered food daily had all been personally introduced to the cub by the Elder, who had explicitly commanded it not to attack them. No one on Mount Shu dared to approach the Guarding Peak rashly because the Bai Ze cub was incredibly aggressive, often greeting intruders with a headbutt.

Furthermore, there were few people on Mount Shu with a cultivation level higher than the Bai Ze cub, and such individuals would have no reason to steal Spirit-Feeding Pills. Even if one could steal them, the cub would surely react, rather than remaining as docile as it was now.

As for the possibility of an inside job... everyone on Mount Shu knew the Bai Ze was arrogant and had only befriended Fairy Jiang of the Jade Peak. Would Fairy Jiang really resort to stealing feed? This preposterous speculation caused everyone to burst into laughter, and the Pill Cauldron Hall was filled with a lighthearted atmosphere.

...

"Hiccup—"

The Golden-Haired Hou, its belly rounded from overeating, lay lazily on the ground. It stretched out its large head and let out an incredibly satisfied burp. The sound was deafening, making Chu Liang frown.

"Go on, get away from me," he pushed the large head away. "Go play by yourself."

But the Golden-Haired Hou stubbornly leaned its head back toward Chu Liang, acting quite affectionate and rubbing against him.

It had developed a strong attachment. Currently, Chu Liang’s status in its heart had soared to that of the number one favorite master. As for that female master who hit so hard, the beast figured that if it secretly ranked her second, she wouldn't find out, right?

The large head sneakily turned to glance in the direction of Di Nüfeng's pavilion.

Chu Liang was in his small flower field, tending to his Golden-Veined Flowers and berries. After several days of resting the soil, the land's vitality had recovered; he had sprinkled it with herbal spirit powder and was now watering it, waiting for the harvest. By tomorrow, he would have dozens of fruits to sell, and he was currently calculating the best pricing strategy.

It was a pity that the ones he had used to test the market previously were Dragon-Breath Golden-Veined Berries; now that he only had ordinary ones, there would certainly be a drop in quality.

As he pondered, the large head nudged him again. This time, however, it wasn't to nuzzle Chu Liang, but to press against a newly formed fruit, its breathing heavy as if it were craving a snack. In terms of pure taste, the spiritual fruits on the Guarding Peak really couldn't compare to the Golden-Veined berries, so it was no wonder the beast was drooling.

"You are not allowed to touch these," Chu Liang pressed down on its nose, nipping its criminal intent in the bud. "I've already taken you to eat so many good things. I'm saving these to sell for money. If you dare steal even one, I'll have you neutered."

"Awoo—"

Whether the Golden-Haired Hou understood or not, it sprang up in a fright, turned around, tucked its tail between its legs, and scampered away. Being able to eat and drink well on Mount Shu and enjoying the freedom of not being kept in a cage—one could tell from its bouncy gait that it was very happy.

As soon as the large head disappeared, a low rumble of thunder sounded in the sky, followed by a light drizzle. In the night, the rain fell like golden threads.

"Again?"

Chu Liang looked up at the rain clouds, feeling genuinely puzzled. Xiao Yu had said it hadn't rained on Silver Sword Peak for days, yet every time he returned, rain fell here. Could it be that this rain, formed from dragon energy, was actually following him?

How very strange. He didn't think it was following his master, as Di Nüfeng wasn't even on the peak; she had just gone to the Jade Peak to return the Xiao Yun Ancient Sword.

Chu Liang looked toward the Dragon-Fishing Pool in the distance. What could the True Dragon want?

...

"True dragon or fake dragon, if it dares to provoke me, I’ll punch it deaf," Di Nüfeng said nonchalantly. Before her lay a pool of emerald, silver-tinted water that looked like a smooth slab of white jade under the moonlight.

This was Lone Hanging Peak, home to the Dragon-Fishing Pool.

She had indeed gone to the Jade Peak to return the sword, and upon learning that Daoist Yan had gone to Lone Hanging Peak, she had followed her there. As soon as her fiery presence arrived, ripples appeared on the calm surface of the pool. Elder Sikong chuckled, remarking that she should be careful not to disturb the True Dragon with her Divine Phoenix fire.

That was the reason for Di Nüfeng's reply.

Once those words were spoken, the water surface returned to calm, whether the white dragon in the pool had heard her or not.

"The True Dragon suppresses the fortune of Mount Shu; the disciples should treat it with as much respect as the Bai Ze," Elder Sikong said unhurriedly. "Have you forgotten the Sect Master's strict orders again?"

"Fine, fine. I can't be bothered with all your convoluted rules," Di Nüfeng waved a hand dismissively and propped the sword case on the ground. "Yan Zi, I've brought back your precious divine sword."

Daoist Yan, dressed in her Taoist robes, sat upon a large, pristine white lotus platform. She waved her hand to draw the sword case toward her, opened it to inspect the Xiao Yun Ancient Sword inside, and nodded gently. "I was actually worried you might keep the real one and send me back a fake. It seems you haven't become that wicked yet."

"Oh," Di Nüfeng’s expression changed slightly as she touched her forehead. "Why didn't I think of that!"

"It's a good thing you didn't," Elder Sikong laughed from the side. "Otherwise, we might have finally settled the mystery of who the true First Peak Master of Mount Shu is, a question that has puzzled us for years."

"Hmph," Di Nüfeng rolled her eyes at him. "Yan Zi and I have such a bond, I would never hit her! I believe Yan Zi feels the same way about me."

Daoist Yan blinked but remained silent.

"..." Di Nüfeng's smile slowly faded.

"Heh, enough joking," Elder Sikong shook his head. "Daoist Yan and I were discussing a problem earlier; you should hear it too."

"What problem?" Di Nüfeng asked.

"There is a traitor on Mount Shu," Daoist Yan said.

"Oh?" Di Nüfeng looked surprised.

"My disciple, Jiang Yuebai, was attacked by a demon beast on the mountain, which was clearly a deliberate act. I investigated but couldn't find the culprit," Daoist Yan explained. "Later, after Elder Sikong succeeded in fishing the dragon, I asked him to perform a divination."

"The results of the divination were somewhat blurred, showing only that there is someone with divided loyalties and a traitor hidden among us," Elder Sikong added. "However, since the culprit possesses a cultivation level sufficient to obscure my divination, they are likely an expert of the Sixth or Seventh Realm, perhaps even a Peak Master."

"Then I suspect Wang Xuanling first," Di Nüfeng immediately interjected.

"Don't use this opportunity to eliminate your rivals..." Elder Sikong looked at her helplessly.

"Since anyone could be the one, I might as well suspect someone at random," Di Nüfeng laughed, then asked, "Why don't you two suspect me?"

Elder Sikong didn't speak, looking instead toward Daoist Yan. Daoist Yan spoke without hesitation: "We are in agreement..."

"To be a mole, one must have a brain."

...

Late at night.

Chu Liang sat cross-legged on his bed, beginning to circulate his inner energy and practice his cultivation technique. Although he relied on the Big-Headed Doll to work hard at cultivation, he had never truly relaxed his own efforts. He knew that practicing the technique was not just about current growth, but also about laying a foundation for the future.

If he did not have a firm grasp of the technique, then even if the gifted cultivation base were high, it would be nothing more than a castle in the air. His philosophy was that while one could seek shortcuts, one still had to walk the path with one's own feet.

The *Nine Heavens Profound Heart Manual* was upright and balanced, containing the profound truths of the Great Dao. If studied carefully, it might even help him when he eventually faced the Heavenly Pass to reach the Dao-Seeking Realm.

Yet, his practice today was strange. No matter how he circulated his energy, his cultivation level did not increase. In the past, although his progress had been slow, he could clearly feel it solidifying as the true energy entered his dantian. Today, it felt as if it were all dissipating.

The energy coming from the Big-Headed Doll was the same; even though the puppet circulated its energy with swirling mist, it brought no growth to his cultivation.

After checking himself, he confirmed that his body was fine and his technique was being executed correctly.

There could only be one reason.

Spirit-Intent Realm... Peak.

"Sigh," Chu Liang let out a soft breath.

Without even noticing, he had broken through again.