58: Chapter 58 needs time to settle.

Lu Jinghan walked at the very front, following a path paved with bluestone toward the tallest peak at the very center.

Along the way, Qin Muchuan's mouth hadn't closed once.

"Senior Brother, what are those pavilions for?"

"Over there is the Scripture Pavilion, there is the Pill Hall, there is the Trial Tower, there is the Martial Arts Arena..."

Lu Jinghan introduced them one by one with patience; with every name he spoke, Qin Muchuan's eyes widened a bit more.

"There's even a Trial Tower?" Qin Muchuan exclaimed. "How many floors?"

"Ninety-nine floors."

Qin Muchuan gasped, his footsteps even missing a beat.

A ninety-nine-floor Trial Tower—just what kind of foundation must this Sect have to build such a thing?

Su Fuguang was also shocked, his gaze falling upon the giant bronze tower in the distance that pierced through the clouds.

The tower body was engraved with countless battle reliefs, radiating a vast and ancient pressure.

Just looking at it from afar, one could feel a chill of slaughter blowing toward them.

"And that tree?" Qin Muchuan pointed again to the towering ancient tree at the summit of the main peak.

The canopy was like a parasol, its leaves pale gold, swaying in the spiritual wind and scattering bits of golden spiritual light.

Dao rhyme permeated beneath the tree; even from such a distance, one could feel an indescribable and mysterious aura.

"That is the enlightenment tree," Lu Jinghan said calmly. "Cultivating under the tree can greatly improve one's Comprehension Ability."

Qin Muchuan was completely speechless.

He simply followed Lu Jinghan forward blankly, his gaze shifting between those immortal peaks, pavilions, spiritual springs, and waterfalls like a country bumpkin who had just entered the city.

At the summit of the main peak, Kunlun Hall stood majestically.

The hall was like a primordial deity sleeping in Chaos, the Dao rhyme surrounding it like a frozen galaxy, intertwining with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi into a translucent light screen.

Qin Muchuan looked up at the hall, his mouth opening, but no sound came out.

He no longer knew what words to use to describe everything before him.

"Enter." Lu Jinghan stepped onto the stairs, his pace steady.

Qin Muchuan, Su Fuguang, and Zhou Tianchen followed closely behind him.

Inside the hall, Jiang Changge reclined on the lounge chair of the main seat, dressed in white with hair as black as ink, his posture leisurely.

He held a bailing fruit in his hand, nibbling on it every now and then.

His lazy gaze fell toward the hall door, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly with a faint, enigmatic smile.

"Disciple Jinghan pays respects to Revered Master."

Lu Jinghan was the first to step forward and bow.

Qin Muchuan, Su Fuguang, and Zhou Tianchen all stepped forward, lining up behind Lu Jinghan.

"Disciples Tianchen, Muchuan, and Fuguang pay our respects to Revered Master!"

The four voices echoed in the empty hall, carrying a heartfelt respect.

Jiang Changge put down the spiritual fruit and gestured for them to rise. "You're back. Stand up."

The four of them rose and stood with their hands at their sides, their postures respectful.

Jiang Changge's gaze slowly swept over the four of them, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening.

He did indeed know what these few had experienced along the way.

The System had presented everything from these past months to him the moment they stepped into the Kunlun Small World.

The Nine Heavens Tower in the Purple Bamboo Forest, the struggle by the heart-cleansing bamboo, the chase by the Liuli Sect, and the appearance of Xu Mo.

"It has been hard on you all this way."

Jiang Changge spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of warmth.

Lu Jinghan bowed slightly. "Disciple dare not claim hardship; it was all thanks to the Cultivation Techniques and treasures bestowed by Revered Master that we could turn danger into safety."

Jiang Changge nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Lu Jinghan.

His cultivation was still at the Early Nascent Soul Stage, but the aura around him was several times more condensed than when he entered the Purple Bamboo Forest.

It looked good, but there were significant problems.

According to Lu Jinghan's Aptitude and foundation, his combat power should be far more than this.

Against Sect Master Yin Wuji and the others, he could have completely suppressed them alone.

According to the System, Heart Demons had formed in Lu Jinghan's heart.

If the Heart Demons were not removed, he could not fully exert the power of the Space-Time Dao Body or his natural talent and Aptitude.

And Lu Jinghan's Heart Demons were Xiao Yuan and Bai Yue.

In his previous life, these two were equivalent to Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang in Lu Jinghan's heart, yet they had backstabbed him in the end.

If he could not kill them one day, his Dao path would not be smooth.

The others had also made significant improvements.

"Alright, you've been traveling and are tired. Go down and rest; if there's anything to say, we'll talk tomorrow."

The four of them bowed together. "Yes, Revered Master."

When Lu Jinghan and the other three exited Kunlun Hall, they encountered Lin Yanzhou, who had come to find Jiang Changge.

Lin Yanzhou was wearing plain green robes, and he had grown a bit taller than a few months ago.

His face had lost some of its childishness and gained more of a youth's radiant clarity.

However, those eyes were still clear and bright, like spring water in the mountains that had never been tainted by the mundane world.

He saw Lu Jinghan at once, bowed, and said in a hearty voice, "Senior Brother."

The corners of Lu Jinghan's mouth curled up slightly as he patted him gently on the shoulder, his gaze filled with the warmth of an elder brother.

"Junior Brother, has your cultivation been smooth these days?"

Lin Yanzhou shook his head with a bitter smile.

Lu Jinghan spoke a few words to comfort Junior Brother; after all, Revered Master had said that Junior Brother had a special Physique and could not Cultivate quickly.

At this time, Zhou Tianchen, Qin Muchuan, and Su Fuguang all stepped forward and bowed to Lin Yanzhou with respectful attitudes.

"Second Senior Brother!"

The three voices rang out almost simultaneously.

Although Lin Yanzhou was the youngest and had not yet entered the Qi Refinement Stage, he was still their Second Senior Brother.

"Junior Brother, we will settle in first and talk later."

Lu Jinghan nodded slightly to Lin Yanzhou and led the three toward the mountainside on the other side of the main peak.

Lin Yanzhou watched the four of them walk away before entering the hall.

Inside the hall, Jiang Changge was still reclining on the lounge chair, his gaze fixed on the carved beams and painted rafters of the ceiling, thinking of who knows what.

Lin Yanzhou stepped forward a few paces, stood before Jiang Changge, and bowed. "Disciple Yanzhou pays respects to Revered Master."

Jiang Changge withdrew his gaze, looked at him, and gestured. "Rise."

Lin Yanzhou stood up and waited with his hands at his sides.

Seeing his hesitant expression, Jiang Changge's mouth curled up slightly. "Is something wrong?"

Lin Yanzhou hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking, "Revered Master, there is something I don't understand and would like Revered Master's guidance on."

"Speak."

"These past months, I have cultivated day and night, not daring to slack off in the slightest."

Lin Yanzhou's voice carried a hint of nervousness and a bit of expectation.

"I can feel a power gradually condensing in my body, and there are faint ripples of spiritual power in my Dantian."

"But I'm just a little bit short; I'm always unable to focus my spirit and gather Qi to enter the Qi Refinement Stage."

He raised his head, looking directly at Jiang Changge.

"Am I too dull?"

Jiang Changge did not answer immediately; he sat up straight and fixed his gaze on Lin Yanzhou.

That gaze was gentle yet deep, as if it could see through all falsehoods and reach his true heart.

A moment later, he spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying a reassuring power.

"Cultivating the Dao is like climbing a mountain; some start by walking as if they have wings, while others need to linger at the foot for a long time to find their own path before they can climb the steps."

"You are not dull; you just need accumulation."

He paused, his gaze becoming a bit warmer. "When you have accumulated enough, you will soar to the heavens!"

After hearing this, the nervousness in Lin Yanzhou's eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a look of determination.

He nodded heavily and bowed once more. "Disciple understands. Thank you, Revered Master, for the guidance."

"Mhm, go and accumulate!"

Watching Lin Yanzhou's departing back, Jiang Changge smiled bitterly in his heart.

The System had told him that if Lin Yanzhou wanted to enter the Qi Refinement Stage, he couldn't do it without ten years of work.

And to enter higher Realms, even more accumulation would be required.

Just how many years this accumulation would take, he didn't know.