Within the spirit waterfall, Li Xuan sat cross-legged.
Li Xuan had indeed received rewards from the Spirit Dragon Pond during the disciple sparring matches. However, he had not yet touched the cultivation resources that were also bestowed.
Perhaps sensing Li Xuan's intention to enter seclusion for cultivation, Luo Kang expressed his approval. He then assigned the task of selecting the disciples newly recruited by the Seventh Peak to Su Yue Ze and a few others.
"I wonder what rewards are actually inside this jade bottle," Li Xuan said, suppressing his excitement as he looked at the jade bottle in his hand. He then directly opened it and poured its contents out.
*Buzz.*
As the jade bottle emptied, besides Tai Yuan Crystals, a sphere radiating a cerulean light floated before Li Xuan.
"Is this the Azure Nether Fruit?" Li Xuan became instantly excited upon seeing the object before him.
The Azure Nether Fruit was a favorite among spirit masters at the Void Self Realm. Consuming it could not only increase one's strength by thirty percent but also help purify the user's spiritual power. The purer the spiritual power, the more powerful the strength displayed.
"As expected of the foremost great sect, their actions are truly extraordinary. I wonder what rewards those other individuals received," Li Xuan said, collecting the Azure Nether Fruit and sighing with emotion.
He himself was only among the top ten of the Free Self Realm group. Above the Free Self Realm, there were still the Void Self Realm, the True Self Realm, and the Shore Realm. Li Xuan believed that the rewards bestowed would not be inferior to his own.
"I hope this Azure Nether Fruit can help me break through again," he thought, then shifted his gaze to the Azure Nether Fruit in his hand. With that, he immediately swallowed it in one gulp.
As the Azure Nether Fruit entered his body, Li Xuan's spiritual power began to circulate autonomously. A surge of pure spiritual power instantly enveloped the Azure Nether Fruit, rapidly breaking it down.
As it continued to decompose, Li Xuan instantly felt the energy emanating from the Azure Nether Fruit. Even in the very beginning, Li Xuan sensed a hint of breakthrough.
"Truly worthy of being the Azure Nether Fruit!" Li Xuan's face lit up with joy, and he immediately closed his eyes, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to absorbing the energy of the Azure Nether Fruit.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Su Yue Ze and Chai Jing Yuan, along with the other two, were also too busy to spare any time. Not only did they have to explain the rules of the Seventh Peak to the newly recruited disciples, but they also had to establish a series of procedures. In just five days, the four of them felt mentally and physically exhausted.
"Alas, I never thought this would be more tiring than our cultivation," Song Wu Wen said in the Seven Treasures Hall, complaining to Luo Kang. Su Yue Ze and the others also smiled wryly upon hearing this.
"I know it might be a bit overwhelming for you to handle these matters, but with our Seventh Peak newly established, everything requires hands-on effort. Fortunately, the Seven Treasures Hall has completely awakened, which will save us a lot of time for all that we need to do in the future," Luo Kang said, nodding his head.
Luo Kang had indeed seen the hard work of Su Yue Ze and the other three in the past few days. However, with so few people in the Seventh Peak, there was no other way.
*Buzz.*
At this moment, a buzzing sound echoed from the Seven Treasures Hall. Luo Kang and Su Yue Ze and the others immediately stood up upon hearing it.
"Elder Qi Feng, may I ask the purpose of your visit?" Luo Kang asked as an elder appeared.
Elder Qi Feng nodded slightly and then looked at Luo Kang, saying, "The Sect Master has made a new decision regarding the development of your Seventh Peak. Starting tomorrow, your Seventh Peak will gain six new elders. These six elders will come from the other six peaks."
"Similarly, each peak will have one hundred disciples joining your Seventh Peak. Peak Master Luo Kang, this action is intended to support your Seventh Peak, and I hope you will accept it. That is all, I have delivered the message and will not linger. Farewell."
After speaking, Elder Qi Feng moved and instantly vanished from his spot.
"Six new elders? Master, wouldn't this mean our Seventh Peak's resources will have to be shared with these six peaks for no reason?" Su Yue Ze frowned upon hearing this.
Even Luo Kang's expression was somewhat grim. In a way, this arrangement was similar to the previous decision made by An Ba Tian and others.
Luo Kang's thoughts stirred as he said, "What are you worried about? Remember, Ling Xiao is under my control. The allocation of resources is naturally decided by me. Your status in the Seventh Peak will therefore remain unshaken. If any of them harbor ulterior motives, they will not be able to cause any major trouble within our Seventh Peak."
"That's right, how could we forget that? Haha, in that case, I'm afraid the expressions of those new elders won't be very pleasant." Song Wu Wen laughed heartily upon hearing this.
"Master, how will the disciple quotas be allocated this time?" Su Yue Ze asked after bowing slightly.
Luo Kang pondered for a moment and said, "Originally, I intended for each of you five to lead a lineage. However, that might not be feasible now. With the five of you forming one lineage, you can choose three hundred disciples. The remaining six people will each choose one hundred and fifty disciples. This is also a form of compensation for you."
"While you call it compensation, I suspect the strength of the people brought by those six peaks will not be lower than the Free Self Realm," He Xi Dong said with disgust.
Clearly, he still harbored some dissatisfaction with the decision made by the high-ranking officials of the Azure Palace.
Luo Kang smiled and said, "The disciples who will join our Seventh Peak this time will naturally have to renounce their original identities. As for disciples with talent and strength, they would naturally be reluctant to send them to our Seventh Peak with their current mindset."
"Therefore, most of the disciples joining our Seventh Peak will likely be around the Free Self Realm in strength."
"Alright, you have all been tired these past few days, so you may all go and rest. Tomorrow, after they arrive, Yue Ze, you can discuss some related details with them. Hmm, take this token. When I am not here, you will be in charge of everything."
"If any of them refuse to obey orders, this token can directly mobilize the power of Ling Xiao."
With that, Luo Kang waved his hand, and an extremely ancient wooden token shot towards Su Yue Ze. Then, with a movement, he instantly vanished from his spot.
Li Xuan, who was still in seclusion and cultivation, naturally remained unaware of the changes happening in the Seventh Peak. In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.
*Boom!*
One day, a rumbling sound suddenly erupted from the back mountain of the Seventh Peak. The disciples of the Seventh Peak were immediately drawn by the sound.
"Such a huge commotion, could it be that senior disciple has broken through?"
"I heard that the Fifth Elder of Great Elder Su Yue Ze's lineage is in seclusion in the back mountain. Even the Peak Master himself issued a personal decree, forbidding anyone from going to the back mountain."
"Fifth junior brother of Great Elder Su Yue Ze? After being in the Seventh Peak for so long, it seems only the Fifth junior brother of this Great Elder's lineage has not shown himself."
"..."
As this rumbling sound occurred, many newly joined disciples suddenly looked towards the back mountain. They were clearly curious about Li Xuan, who was in seclusion.
*Whoosh!*
At this moment, Su Yue Ze, Chai Jing Yuan, He Xi Dong, and Song Wu Wen all flew out from different locations and quickly converged.
"Haha, fifth junior brother has finally broken through after more than a month of seclusion!" Song Wu Wen said excitedly, looking in the direction of the back mountain.
Su Yue Ze and the others also nodded and then all looked towards the back mountain, waiting.
"Senior Brother, why are you all here?" Li Xuan, after his breakthrough, moved and flew out of the spirit waterfall. He then flew out of the back mountain with a thought and landed before Su Yue Ze and the others.
Seeing Li Xuan's vigorous appearance, Song Wu Wen stepped forward and patted Li Xuan's shoulder with satisfaction, saying, "Not bad! You've broken through to the Intermediate Void Self Realm in just over a month. The gap between you and us is getting smaller and smaller."
"Presumably, fifth junior brother has consumed the rewards obtained from the disciple sparring matches. The reward for the Free Self Realm group must have been that Azure Nether Fruit," He Xi Dong also nodded at this moment and then said to Li Xuan.
"Indeed. Hmm? Senior Brother, why do I sense several powerful auras have appeared in our Seventh Peak?" Li Xuan nodded upon hearing this and then asked Su Yue Ze with a slight frown.
"This..." Su Yue Ze hesitated for a moment, then sighed and recounted what had happened in the Seventh Peak over the past month.
"There was such a thing? Doesn't that mean, including Senior Brother, our Seventh Peak now has seven elders?" Li Xuan was surprised.
Chai Jing Yuan nodded and said, "That's right. However, fortunately, Senior Brother has the token bestowed by Master, so those old fellows don't dare to openly cause trouble."
Li Xuan nodded. With this, no one dared to challenge Su Yue Ze's identity as Great Elder.
"I was wondering who was making such a fuss, only to find out they've merely broken through to the Intermediate Void Self Realm. Occupying the back mountain for so long, is this all the capability you possess?" Just then, a sharp voice suddenly rang out.
Li Xuan's eyes narrowed as he looked over.
He saw a person dressed in a purple robe, followed by more than ten people behind him. Li Xuan was startled after a glance. The strength of this purple-robed man was also at the Shore Realm, and the more than ten people behind him were all at the Void Self Realm.
"Yuan Mie, we are chatting here, what business is it of yours? Looking at you, it seems like you've come looking for trouble," Song Wu Wen said, stepping forward with a displeased expression upon seeing the approaching person.
Not only that, but Su Yue Ze and the others also looked at the purple-robed man with impatience.
Seeing this, Li Xuan was even more surprised. Judging by the situation, in the month he was in seclusion, there seemed to be a lot of tension between Senior Brother Su Yue Ze and the disciples of the other six lineages.