Not long after, a pillar of blue qi light shot high into the sky, piercing through the clouds and causing them to fade, drawing the attention of many cultivators.

Gu Qinghe watched with a firm gaze, as did Gu Qingyin, the people from the Tianzun Sect, and the other cultivators.

After the light appeared, a fierce and chilling wind blew from the first peak of the northern mountains. Gu Qinghe raised his hand, shielding himself from the yin element carried by the mountain’s cold wind.

This feels the same as the Winter Region of the Yin-Yang Sect. I shouldn’t have any trouble with this.

When the gate fully opened and the blue light disappeared, the cultivators immediately took off one by one on their flying swords.

They rushed toward the mountains, competing with each other to secure the best spots.

Even though the eighth peak was difficult and nearly impossible to reach, many of them remained optimistic that they could find it.

Just as Gu Qinghe was about to follow, the corner of his eye caught movement beside him. His eyes widened.

Yan Ran? Liu Xi?

The two women flew gracefully in long, elegant robes. Their appearance and beauty were far more captivating than before.

There were many sects with similar robe colors, making it difficult for Gu Qinghe to determine which sect they belonged to.

However, there was one way to find out, through their cultivation methods or techniques.

Early Core Formation cultivators. They have no chance competing against the people from the Tianzun Sect.

Without hesitation, Gu Qinghe flew past the front gate and entered the northern mountain region.

As soon as he stepped inside, the cold yin air pierced into their bodies like millions of needles, blocking their meridians.

The cultivators’ focus was divided. They had to coat their bodies with qi to resist the dominant yin element while also fighting other cultivators or monsters.

Gu Qinghe’s flying sword slowed to a stop. He landed on a snowy hill where the wind blew fiercely.

Thanks to his Silent Yin Extraction cultivation, Gu Qinghe had his own method to protect himself from the yin element in this place.

Before continuing, he raised his hand to chest level and released spiritual qi energy. His eyes glowed as he observed other cultivators through their qi aura.

Everyone was fighting and struggling on the first mountain. They battled monsters or other cultivators to reach the peak.

Gu Qinghe lifted his head, observing more closely with his cultivation vision. At the top of the mountain peak stood a massive white-walled palace, guarded by powerful monsters.

That palace must hold the secret to the eighth peak.

BLAST!

A loud explosion echoed, accompanied by a strong tremor in the ground. Gu Qinghe quickly turned toward the side of the valley, still using his cultivation sight.

Yan Ran and Liu Xi were working together against a group of ice-tail wolves. Every claw strike and howl from the wolves caused their targets to freeze.

Gu Qinghe studied their techniques. Water attributes wrapped around their swords, and a massive wave technique crashed into the five wolves.

Water techniques like the sea? Blue robes? That can only be the Qingshui Sect.

Although their techniques were powerful, they were not enough to kill all five wolves.

The monsters roared loudly as they emerged again. Yan Ran reacted quickly, stabbing her sword into the ground and forming a swirling water shield that absorbed the incoming ice spikes.

Not a bad foundation. They must have trained diligently.

Gu Qinghe raised his hand, summoning qi light at the tips of his fingers. With a downward thrusting motion, golden runes appeared behind him, launching golden swords toward the monsters.

Thousands of swords shot forward, piercing through trees and impaling the five wolves. The ice spike assault stopped. Yan Ran canceled her defensive technique and turned to the side.

Gu Qinghe flew through the trees, his hand still extended forward.

"It’s foolish to attack yin-element monsters with water attributes!"

He clenched his hand, detonating the swords embedded in the monsters’ bodies. "Destroy!"

BLAST!

A golden explosion erupted, soaring high into the air. The five wolves died, their bodies turning into particles of qi. Gu Qinghe extended his hand and absorbed their spiritual qi essence.

So they were qi-type monsters.

Yan Ran and Liu Xi stared ahead. Yan Ran narrowed her eyes, feeling that Gu Qinghe’s face was familiar.

"You’re Yan Ran, right?" Gu Qinghe asked coldly.

"Yes, Senior."

"How do you know my name?"

"Xiao Mei talks about you often," Gu Qinghe said, pretending to use Xiao Mei as his reason.

Yan Ran fell silent for a moment, then stared at him intently. After thinking for a while, she finally recognized the young man who had saved her before.

"You... you’re the Senior from the Gu Clan?"

"What? The Gu Clan?!" Liu Xi exclaimed.

Gu Qinghe turned around, placing both hands behind his back with an authoritative posture.

"As repayment, you must agree not to say anything about me here."

Yan Ran and Liu Xi nodded, cupping their hands respectfully and lowering their heads. "We obey Senior Gu."

"Seeing you both here, the Qingshui Sect must have sent you."

"That’s right. We need to reach the fifth peak to collect an important plant for pill ingredients," Yan Ran answered respectfully.

So they’re not aiming for the eighth peak.

"To reach the second peak, the only path is through that palace at the top," Gu Qinghe explained.

"Senior is correct. We studied everything before entering the Northern Mountains."

Gu Qinghe glanced at them coldly. "You’re Xiao Mei’s friends. I’ll help you reach the second peak."

"The rest depends on your own ability."

Yan Ran and Liu Xi smiled brightly, bowing again in gratitude.

Gu Qinghe flew forward quickly on his sword, with the two women following behind. Battles erupted all across the first mountain as monsters attacked the cultivators fiercely.

When they reached the main hill leading deeper into the first mountain, Gu Qinghe was slightly surprised when he felt the yin pressure intensify.

He was not too concerned. Silent Yin Extraction worked effectively in situations like this.

However, it was different for Yan Ran and Liu Xi. Their cultivation relied on the water attribute. Water is part of yin, but not a dominant form.

Many believed that water cultivators could withstand dominant yin elements. That belief was wrong.

Dominant yin was different from water. They would still shiver from the cold like any other cultivator.

Gu Qinghe could clearly see their condition. He turned and saw Yan Ran and Liu Xi struggling to move, their teeth chattering as they rubbed their arms to keep warm.

Gu Qinghe formed a hand seal and activated the Yin Cold Suppression technique, then directed a golden orb toward their bodies.

Slowly, the piercing cold began to fade. They looked shocked as they examined their hands, watching the yin frost disappear upon contact with their bodies.

"What did you do, Senior?" Liu Xi asked.

"Without a deep understanding of the yin element, you would freeze to death here."

"That technique suppresses the power of yin cold. Stay close to me so it remains effective."

"Understood, Senior."