Within the receiving hall, eight seats were meticulously arranged, with a solitary main seat commanding the head.

Flanking this seat of honor were three chairs to the left and four to the right, totaling seven subordinate positions.

Upon entering, Zhang Zongchang swept his gaze over the arrangement before confidently claiming the second seat on the left.

Observing from the periphery, Xu Changshou could not help but nod.

The cultivation world was ruthlessly bound by seniority and rank; even the placement of a mere chair was governed by profound implications.

A cultivator's strength absolutely dictated their rightful place. There was no room for ambiguity.

That Zhang Zongchang dared to occupy the second seat on the left was a testament to his formidable might.

In the Dao, the left hand ruled as the position of supreme honor. The second seat to the left signified his unquestioned rank as second among the seven Peak Masters.

To hold the second seat was to command the second greatest martial prowess.

Slipping out of the hall, Xu Changshou located Niu Kunlun and asked in a hushed tone, "Senior Brother Niu, what figures are gracing this gathering today?"

Niu Kunlun smiled. "The guests arriving today, aside from Junior Sister Li's master, are the Foundation Establishment Peak Masters from every summit."

Understood.

Xu Changshou nodded imperceptibly.

Setting aside the desolate Green Ink Peak, every other mountain boasted multiple Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators. To ascend as a Peak Master required but one brutal condition: crushing all other Foundation Establishment peers upon that peak.

Naturally, a strict hierarchy also existed among the Peak Masters of the seven great summits. Whoever possessed the highest cultivation base and the most terrifying combat strength claimed the absolute zenith.

Upon stepping into the Foundation Establishment realm, mere cultivation levels were no longer the sole arbiter of fate. Raw, lethal strength reigned supreme.

For instance, if two cultivators stood at the exact same minor realm, the one whose fists carried heavier killing intent was hailed as the Senior Brother.

The cultivation world strictly adhered to the law of the jungle, where the weak are prey to the strong. It was stark, direct, and unforgiving.

The figures descending upon them today were the absolute apex predators of the Foundation Establishment realm across all major peaks.

Zhang Zongchang reigned as the Peak Master of Danxia Peak. Claiming the second chair proved his might was matched by scarcely anyone among the Sect's Foundation Establishment disciples.

Glancing back at Niu Kunlun, Xu Changshou asked curiously, "Only Foundation Establishment cultivators? Will the Golden Core Almighties not make an appearance?"

"Junior Brother Xu, you spend your days locked in Secluded Cultivation. You remain blind to the inner workings of the Sect."

Niu Kunlun chuckled. "Many Golden Core Almighties enter Secluded Cultivation for ten, sometimes decades of mortal years. Why would they squander precious time upon a mere Qi Condensation disciple's apprenticeship rite? Dispatching the Foundation Establishment Peak Masters is already granting our Green Ink Peak immense face. Do you realize those arriving today are the true overlords wielding authority over each peak?"

"That much is true."

Xu Changshou pondered for a breath before asking, "Senior Brother Niu, one mystery remains. Since Junior Sister Li's master hails from Taiyi Peak, why host the apprenticeship ceremony here upon our Green Ink Peak, rather than upon their exalted summit?"

"This was Junior Sister Li's explicit demand," Niu Kunlun answered with a knowing smile.

"I see!"

A faint smirk touched Xu Changshou's lips.

A child as young as Li Ling'er possessed no mind for such political maneuvering. Li Daotu had undoubtedly orchestrated this demand through her.

Green Ink Peak had wallowed in weakness for too long. By pulling this stunt, Li Daotu was merely wrapping himself in a tiger's skin to intimidate the wolves. He was parading to the entire Sect just how highly Li Ling'er's master valued her.

By clinging tightly to the towering mountain that was Li Ling'er's master, the miserable days of Green Ink Peak were bound to ease.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh-

Four radiant streaks of sword light tore through the heavens, coalescing into four imposing figures at the entrance of Li Daotu's dojo.

"Chihuo Peak, Uncle-Master Bai Tongyuan has arrived!"

"Tianji Peak, Uncle-Master Miao Ke has arrived!"

"Bagua Peak, Uncle-Master Shi Wenlu has arrived!"

"Fengdu Peak, Uncle-Master Qian Yuanming has arrived!"

Four Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators descended in unison.

"Junior Brother Li, congratulations!"

"Junior Brother Li, your Li clan has seized a heaven-shaking Fated Chance."

"Hahaha! Indeed, Junior Brother Li. A pure Ice Spirit Root is a gem rarely seen in ten thousand years."

"Hehehehe, congratulations, Junior Brother Li."

Bai Tongyuan, Miao Ke, Shi Wenlu, and Qian Yuanming-these four Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators beamed with smiles brighter than the sun.

In the past, Li Daotu was little more than dirt beneath their boots. But the winds of fate had shifted. With his descendant kneeling before Uncle-Master Leng Mei, his own mortal standing surged violently with the rising tide.

Li Daotu greeted them with an ingratiating smile. "Welcome, Senior Brothers! Welcome, Senior Sister Miao Ke!"

"Senior Brothers, Senior Sister Miao Ke, please enter."

The coterie of Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators followed him into the receiving hall. Once they claimed their seats, Xu Changshou swept them with a calculated gaze.

The third seat was claimed by Chihuo Peak. The fourth went to Qian Yuanming of Fengdu Peak. The fifth was taken by Shi Wenlu of Bagua Peak, and the sixth by Miao Ke of Tianji Peak.

Li Daotu finally took his place. Exactly as expected, he occupied the absolute bottom-the seventh seat.

Among the reigning Peak Masters, he was undisputedly the most pathetic weakling.

Setting Peak Masters aside, nearly any wandering Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator from another summit could effortlessly crush him.

Had he not been such a crippled force, he never would have been banished to the barren Green Ink Peak.

"Taiyi Peak, Uncle-Master Huang Tianlang has arrived!"

"We pay our utmost respects to Uncle-Master Huang!"

"Greetings, Uncle-Master!"

A middle-aged cultivator clad in sweeping golden Daoist robes strode forward. He possessed a tall, imposing frame, sword-like eyebrows, and eyes that held the starlight. Xu Changshou and the surrounding disciples immediately bowed in deep reverence.

Li Daotu and the arrayed Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators shot to their feet, practically sprinting to the threshold to receive him.

This entity was the Peak Master of Taiyi Peak. Though he lingered in the Foundation Establishment realm, his seniority eclipsed the other Peak Masters by an entire generation.

He held the exalted status of Patriarch Xuan Yang's final, closed-door disciple.

To drape oneself in golden Daoist robes without having forged a Golden Core was absolute proof of his untouchable nobility.

"We pay our respects to Uncle-Master Huang."

Zhang Zongchang, Bai Tongyuan, Qian Yuanming, Shi Wenlu, Miao Ke, and Li Daotu bowed in absolute, trembling submission.

"Dispense with the formalities!"

Huang Tianlang waved his sleeve with a grand, dismissive gesture before striding into the main hall. Zhang Zongchang and the rest trailed meekly behind.

In Huang Tianlang's presence, the ordinarily arrogant Peak Masters were suffocatingly docile.

Within the Green Immortal Sect, once an almighty reached the Golden Core realm, they entirely severed themselves from mundane Sect affairs.

The mortal governance of each peak fell upon the shoulders of the Peak Masters, and these Peak Masters answered solely to Huang Tianlang.

Huang Tianlang was the de facto Sect Leader of the Green Immortal Sect, wielding absolute, crushing authority.

Once the hierarchy of seats was settled, Li Daotu coaxed Li Ling'er forward to pay her respects.

"Ling'er, this is Uncle-Master Huang. The others are your Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters."

"Ling'er greets Uncle-Master Huang, greets all Senior Brothers, and greets Senior Sister Miao Ke."

Li Ling'er offered a pristine bow to each formidable figure in turn.

Because her master was a Golden Core Almighty, Li Ling'er-despite possessing a meager cultivation at the fourth layer of Qi Condensation-stood on equal footing with the Sect's Foundation Establishment overlords.

Indeed, the fourth layer of Qi Condensation. In a terrifyingly brief span, Li Ling'er had breached yet another minor realm.

"Junior Niece Ling'er, rise!"

Huang Tianlang offered a warm, genial smile. Li Ling'er's heaven-defying aptitude eclipsed even his own. Back when Patriarch Xuan Yang claimed him as a closed-door disciple, the Patriarch had sworn upon his Dao heart to never take another. Had that vow not existed, the Patriarch would have undoubtedly seized Li Ling'er for himself.

Denied the Patriarch, Li Ling'er was forced to accept the second-best Fated Chance: bowing to Leng Mei.

Ultimately, they all sprouted from the Patriarch's lineage, binding them as disciples of the same exalted branch.

"Junior Niece Ling'er, to commemorate our first meeting, allow this seat to offer a trifling gift. I hear you are fond of riding flying spirit boats. Does this catch your eye?"

Huang Tianlang tapped the Storage Bag at his waist. With a flash of spiritual light, a pristine white jade flying boat materialized, measuring three to four Zhang in length and two Zhang wide.

A white jade flying boat.

Xu Changshou's eyes bulged, his heart violently clenching at the absurd display of wealth.

Ye Shanhu owned an identical vessel. It was rumored to command a price of five hundred Spirit Stones.

If he emptied his entire fortune and sold his very blood, he could not scrape together five hundred Spirit Stones.

A bitter spike of envy pierced Xu Changshou's Dao heart. A heaven-chosen genius was simply that-a genius. The moment she stepped onto the Dao, she was effortlessly hoisted to an untouchable summit he could not even dare to dream of.