I Became a Peak Master With No Disciples?!

In the sky above the courtyard, Su Ming precisely deflected the Cold Abyss Sword.

Each clash pinpointed the gaps in Lin Yao’s swordsmanship. Yet she did not give up. Her strikes only grew sharper and faster.

Looking at the girl before him, a warmth rose from deep inside Su Ming’s chest.

’She really has grown,’ he thought. The awkward girl had long since gone. In her place stood the confident eldest disciple of White Lotus Peak.

As the Nether Flame Wings faded from Lin Yao’s back, the two of them descended onto the courtyard. Lin Yao sheathed her sword and bowed deeply, her face flushed with excitement. "Thank you for the guidance, Master!"

"You did well," Su Ming said with a faint smile.

He turned his gaze toward Wang Tian.

Following his win of the Heavenly Sword Peak tournament, Wang Tian had spent weeks cultivating in the Sword Pool. Under that crushing pressure, the first of three restriction seals on his Shattered Sword Physique had cracked open, strengthening his physique even further.

Additionally, under Jian Wushen’s tutelage, he was learning to grasp the deeper mysteries of his sword physique rather than relying purely on raw instinct. Aside from the Sky Sovereign Sword Technique and the Cloud Dragon Sword Technique, Wang Tian had also picked up two Mystic Grade Sword Techniques from the sect library.

The Thunder Cleaving Sword Technique and the Blazing Sun Sword Technique.

One focused on lightning-fast sword movements, while the other delivered blazing flame strikes.

Unlike Lin Yao, who was on her way to forge her own path, Wang Tian absorbed every technique placed before him. He learned quickly and executed every stance cleanly, though he had yet to grasp a sword path of his own.

"Your foundation has deepened," Su Ming said to him. "Do not rush the remaining seals. Solidify each step."

Wang Tian cupped his fists with solemn respect. "This disciple obeys."

Su Ming then turned his attention to the youngest figure in the courtyard.

Jiang Chen stood stiffly with his small hands gripping the iron spear. Sweat dripped down his forehead, soaking his collar.

Seeing the boy’s tense posture, Su Ming felt a trace of amusement. Over the past three months, the little fellow had spent every waking hour running across White Lotus Peak and thrusting his spear.

"Jiang Chen," Su Ming called softly.

The boy jolted straight and then bowed quickly. "M-Master!"

"The spear art you just practiced is the sect’s basic spear technique, correct?"

Jiang Chen lowered his head nervously. "Yes, Master. Senior Sister said basic forms build steady bones, so I practice the six basic stances every morning."

"Although I walk the path of the sword, you do not need to worry." Su Ming retrieved a pale blue jade slip from his storage ring and held it out. "Take it. This is the Cloud Dragon Spear Technique. Study it well."

Jiang Chen received the jade slip with trembling hands. "Master... this is..."

"A Saint-grade spear technique," Su Ming replied casually.

The Cloud Dragon Spear Technique was created from the same principles as the Cloud Dragon Sword Technique. When Su Ming had visited Azure Dragon Peak to search for a suitable spear technique, as expected, he found only Mystic Grade manuals available.

Taking several of them that complemented each other, he fused them onto the framework of his Cloud Dragon Path to forge this new technique.

Su Ming knew that neither Lin Yao nor Wang Tian would properly inherit his Cloud Dragon Path, but Su Ming had a hunch that his youngest disciple just might do that.

There was also the matter of the Azure Thunder Secret Realm. During his visit, Peak Master Yan had mentioned that Azure Dragon Peak’s ancestral realm would open in a few months.

The realm was tied to an Azure Dragon inheritance, which served as the foundation of the Azure Dragon Peak. So Su Ming could not help but wonder if this was supposed to be Jiang Chen’s chance to unlock the mysteries of his Azure Dragon bloodline.

Because if this was not a coincidence, Su Ming did not know what was. He had already planned to take Jiang Chen there when the time arrived.

Jiang Chen stared at the jade slip in disbelief, while both Lin Yao and Wang Tian smiled. To an ordinary disciple, possessing a Saint-grade technique was an impossible dream. But on White Lotus Peak, Saint-grade inheritances were the only norm.

After three months of instruction from his senior siblings, Jiang Chen fully understood the immense value of a Saint Grade manual. It was a treasure that one could not simply buy with ordinary means.

"Do not look so shocked," Su Ming chuckled. "Both of your senior siblings cultivate multiple Saint-grade techniques."

Taking the iron spear from the boy’s hands, Su Ming continued, "You have practiced the basic spear stances thousands of times. Now you must learn to give form to that will. Watch closely."

Holding the plain iron spear, Su Ming did not channel a single thread of spiritual qi. No golden radiance or overbearing pressure radiated from his body.

Then he simply took a step forward.

In that instant, his presence changed. The heavy majesty of a soaring Cloud Dragon seemed to awaken through the simple iron spear.

True Dragon Soaring Strike.

The spear swept upward with explosive momentum as Su Ming immediately switched to the next move.

True Dragon Roaring Gale.

A fierce gust of wind ripped across the training ground as the shaft pivoted in a sweeping arc.

Stepping forward in one continuous motion, Su Ming thrust the spear straight ahead.

True Dragon Annihilation Thrust.

The sheer weight of his martial intent tore through the courtyard, rustling the distant bamboo forest. The wind gust surged through the robes of the three disciples and tossed Jiang Chen’s hair back.

The spear came to a dead stop, resting perfectly level with the stone ground.

Jiang Chen stood mesmerized, his heart pounding. There had been no grand display of power, yet his master’s movement felt as unyielding as a mountain.

Su Ming twirled the spear and handed it back to the boy. "Practice these stances every morning until your body remembers them perfectly."

Jiang Chen clutched the spear against his chest and dropped to his knees. "This disciple will not let Master down!"

"Get up," Su Ming said mildly. "We cultivators of White Lotus Peak do not kneel so easily."

Light footsteps echoed down the stone path as the aroma of fresh spirit tea drifted into the courtyard.

***

Bai Qingxian walked into the courtyard wearing the pale green robes of the Medicine Hall. On her chest was an embroidered emblem of White Lotus Peak. Behind her followed Ye Lingxi, quietly keeping half a step back.

’She has not changed at all,’ Su Ming thought with a smile.

Ye Lingxi had recently been promoted to a Junior Physician, now serving as an assistant to Bai Qingxian in the Medicine Hall. She hailed from Willow City, a small town not far from the Heavenly Cloud Sect where her grandfather was the Senior Physician in charge of the Willow City Physicians Guild. When Bai Qingxian first met her, she had been impressed by the young woman’s temperament and thus decided to take her under her wing.

"Greetings, Lady Bai!"

The three disciples immediately straightened and bowed in unison.

"I hope I am not interrupting," Bai Qingxian said with a gentle smile.

"Your timing is perfect," Su Ming replied. Turning to his disciples, he added, "You have all worked hard today. Come, have some tea."

***

Sitting around the table, Su Ming took a sip of the warm spirit tea and looked at Bai Qingxian.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?"

Bai Qingxian took a slow sip from her cup, raising a brow with a playful expression in her eyes. "Nervous? Who do you think I am?"

Su Ming let out a soft laugh. "Good. The entire White Lotus Peak will be there to cheer for you tomorrow."

"I know," she replied with a faint smile.

Seeing her calm smile, Su Ming chuckled softly and raised his teacup. "Yes, of course. Of course."