I Have a Compass for Opportunity

Everyone had already chosen their cultivation techniques, so there was no need to remain in the Cultivation Skill Pavilion.

Zhao Zhuoran led them back to the first floor via the array on the sixth floor, just as they had when they arrived.

Zhao Zhuoran handed over their respective tokens to Mr. Qi and then led them out of the Inner Sect.

After all, they were Outer Sect disciples and only had the privilege to come to the Inner Sect’s Cultivation Skill Pavilion because of the reward for selecting techniques. Staying too long would be inappropriate.

It was the same small pavilion they had entered the Inner Sect from.

The disciples who ranked in the top ten during this trial gradually left the Inner Sect one by one through the illusory gateway, with Liou Yuan intentionally slowing his pace and walking at the end.

Before leaving, he glanced towards the outside of the pavilion.

On the path leading to the Inner Sect’s shimmering palaces appeared the figure of a handsome young man in gold robes.

It seemed as though he had been waiting there early.

Seeing Liou Yuan, he offered a gentle smile.

Liou Yuan returned a smile and clasped his hands in a formal gesture, then stepped into the portal within the pavilion.

On the Spirit Ascension Platform, Zhao Zhuoran completed his duties and left with Zhao Feiyue.

The remaining nine naturally each returned to their own abodes.

Liou Yuan and Qiu Ming were both from the Fifth Peak and thus headed back together.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the stars were scattered across the heavens.

On the way back to the Fifth Peak, Liou Yuan suddenly called Qiu Ming’s name.

"What!" Qiu Ming shot Liou Yuan a surprised look, as it had been a long time since Liou Yuan called him by his full name. He had always called him a fool.

After resisting unsuccessfully multiple times, he had already gotten used to it.

Of course, only Liou Yuan dared to call him such a name; if anyone else did, he would surely fly into a rage.

"I’ve got something good for you." Liou Yuan chuckled, reached into his storage bag, and, upon pulling his hand back out, three suggestive beauty paintings were grasped in his hand.

The beauties in the paintings were lifelike, with each possessing a unique charm and allure, causing Qiu Ming’s eyes to widen as he muttered, "Damn, I thought you avoided women like they were money-hungry tigers and leopards all this time, not realizing you were secretly enjoying these things in your mind."

Liou Yuan’s mouth twitched as he suppressed his anger and cursed, "Get lost, take a serious look at what’s in these three paintings."

The three paintings were exactly what Liou Yuan had found using the Fixed Star Compass in the Outer Sect’s library—a third-grade mid-level dual cultivation Foundation Establishment technique called "Yin Yang Crossing Skill."

Liou Yuan had already considered giving this Foundation Establishment technique to Qiu Ming.

This fool had already lost his Primordial Yang and could only quickly enhance his strength through dual cultivation.

If this technique were given to Wei Miaomeng for cultivation, Qiu Ming would benefit as well, which could be considered Liou Yuan’s repayment for his grandfather’s help on the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Unexpectedly, this blockhead Qiu Ming studied the paintings for a long time, only to squeeze out this comment: "They’re beautiful, but are there really women this large?"

Liou Yuan had already given up on having Qiu Ming realize it himself and rubbed his forehead, saying, "Among these three paintings is a dual cultivation Foundation Establishment technique, highly suitable for Miss Wei."

"Give them to her—she’ll naturally understand. Your thick head shouldn’t worry about looking at them anymore."

"Is that true!" Qiu Ming, who had come to appreciate the benefits and wonders of dual cultivation, lit up with excitement upon hearing it was a dual cultivation Foundation Establishment technique.

Murmuring to himself, he said, "Doesn’t that mean after Foundation Establishment, I could also..."

"Take it! Take it! Don’t flaunt it outside, or someone might see it." Liou Yuan, losing patience with Qiu Ming, quickly waved for him to put it away.

After all, even a third-grade Foundation Establishment technique was considered substantial in the Cultivation Realm and could easily attract unwanted attention.

Qiu Ming chuckled, carefully stashed it away, then wrapped an arm, thicker than most thighs, around Liou Yuan’s shoulder, saying eagerly, "No need for formalities; I’ll treat you to drinks tomorrow."

Liou Yuan smiled without commenting.

Upon returning to the Fifth Peak, Qiu Ming didn’t even head back to his own abode.

Liou Yuan watched as Qiu Ming, with the Yin Yang Crossing Skill in hand, made his way toward Wei Miaomeng’s abode in the middle of the night.

It was obvious what he intended to do; Liou Yuan shook his head, placing his hands behind his back as he leisurely made his way back to his own abode.

Liou Yuan stayed in Erosion Land for three months.

Within his abode, the Spiritual Qi gathered by the Spirit Gathering Array had already filled the entire space.

As the door to his abode swung open, the dense Star Spiritual Qi rushed towards him, flowing into his body through his three spiritual apertures without any need for guidance on his part.

"Ah!" That pleasant sensation of being enveloped by spiritual power involuntarily elicited a soft moan from Liou Yuan, who couldn’t help but mutter, "It’s always comfortable in my own abode."

After closing the stone gate of his abode, Liou Yuan did not immediately begin cultivating.

Now, with the Fifth Peak utterly silent, all thoughts subsided.

Liou Yuan sat cross-legged on the bluestone bed, reflecting on today’s experience on the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Today marked his first encounter with a Foundation Establishment battle at such a close proximity.

That kind of visual impact could not compare to anything he had watched from a distance before.

"It’s like having a dream," Liou Yuan mumbled, a hint of perplexity in his eyes.

He had been in this world for three years now yet remained frequently astounded by its various wonders.

Quickly, coldness returned to Liou Yuan’s eyes.

The death of Liou Tao was perfectly resolved, but the threat of the Liou Family still lingered.

The chaotic scene mentioned by the Sect Leader today made Liou Yuan very concerned.

He wasn’t afraid of failing the trial himself, but worried about his elder brother, Liou Zhen.

"Four people in the Liou Family have reached Foundation Establishment, three have already surfaced."

"Only the Patriarch of the Liou Family has yet to appear."

"Being Patriarch proves his strength is definitely greater than Liou Le Yao."

"In the chaotic scene a year from now, the participant might very well be that Patriarch of the Liou Family."

With the Liou Family Patriarch’s strength unknown, his elder brother is still too young, and he feared Liou Zhen might find it difficult to resist the Liou Family Patriarch.

"Thankfully, there’s still a year."

"My elder brother is extraordinarily talented, surpassing the inner sect disciples."

"One year’s time should allow for significant progress."

That was a piece of good news.

Not only does Liou Zhen have a year to prepare and grow.

Liou Yuan can also work towards breaking through the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer within a year.

Come to think of it, the timing set by Sect Leader Xuanyi was quite subtle, precisely a year, almost as if it was a dedicated period for the two brothers to grow.

"What’s the Sect Leader’s true intention?"

"Judging by his actions, they seem to favor my Ice Vein?"

"But why use such a drastic method like the chaotic scene?"

Liou Yuan rubbed his brow, unable to decipher Xuanyi’s mindset.

Fortunately, the current situation in the Five Extremes Mountain is favorable to Liou Yuan.

The three Liou Family’s Foundation Establishment members are detained in the Inner Sect Disciplinary Hall, leaving only the Patriarch as their sole Foundation Establishment.

Liou Yuan need not worry about being ambushed by the Foundation Establishments of the Liou Family while venturing outside.

This is undoubtedly great news, eliminating the need to be overly cautious every time he steps out.

"As for the Liou Family’s Qi Cultivation," Liou Yuan suddenly gave a sinister smile, feeling thankful for not stirring trouble with them.

"If we really meet outside, I’ll kill every single one I see."

After all, Liou Yuan has the Night Concealing Mask, confident in leaving no trace.

After reviewing the experiences from the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Liou Yuan suddenly drew the Canglan Sword he casually wore.

His eyes were fixed on the brilliant blue blade of this top-grade magical artifact.

The flowing sword body was clear like a mirror, reflecting Liou Yuan’s sharp face.

Disapper! Abruptly, the sword light burst forth from the Canglan Sword.

Blue and cyan rays of sword aura simultaneously coiled around the blade of the Canglan Sword.

Liou Yuan gazed at the radiant sword aura circling the Canglan Sword, and slowly uttered a few words: "Sushui Sword Aura, Great Success!"

They were the two major sword auras—Green Tide and Sushui—of the Green Tide Pure Water Sword.

The Green Tide Sword Aura has already reached Great Success, which led to the emergence of the Sushui Sword Aura.

Yet before entering the Erosion Land, the power of the Sushui Sword Aura was less than one-fifth of its current strength.

This journey to the Erosion Land unexpectedly brought the Sushui Sword Aura to the state of Great Success.

Such progress is undoubtedly linked to his days and nights of arduous cultivation in the Erosion Land.

But the rapid growth of the Sushui Sword Aura actually wasn’t mainly due to his hard work.

It was because of the insight gained after witnessing the battle between Liou Zhen and the three Liou Family Foundation Establishments on the Holy Spirit Platform.

Liou Yuan’s eyes began to drift, recalling the grand ancient icy mountain that appeared behind his elder brother Liou Zhen that day.

The abundant sword Qi condensed into the shape of a snow mountain, birthing sword intent within the sword Qi, the soaring peaks almost breaking through the firmament.

Liou Yuan was entranced then, gaining profound insights.

Yet, amid the fierce battle at that time, Liou Yuan had no chance to fully appreciate that sword strike.

Now, with leisure at hand, his mind was almost entirely fixated on that sword stroke Liou Zhen executed.

"Sword aura, sword Qi, sword intent." Liou Yuan vaguely captured the path the Sword Dao should tread.

Sword aura gives rise to sword Qi, and sword Qi nurtures sword intent.

"My brother has actually reached this level in the Sword Dao." Liou Yuan couldn’t help but admire Liou Zhen’s talent in the Sword Dao.

No wonder he could fend three adversaries and ultimately defeat Liou Le Yao with a single strike.