Over the following days, all of us stayed on Nine Pinnacles Mountain.


    Jimmy Ysabel maintained a vegetable garden up there, growingpletely natural, chemical-free produce.


    Beyond that, he kept chickens, ducks, and fish on the mountain, creating quite a bustling lifestyle.


    "Pearson Bowman, what do you call that de of yours? How does it pack such power?"


    After our group finished our meal that day, Be Tad posed the question.


    Hearing this, Pearson Bowman spoke up with obvious pride, "This de goes by Taihe, handed down from my great-grandfather and serves as our family''s heirloom!"


    "Taihe? Excellent name." I gave a small nod.


    "The Capital City Martial Arts Association''s prison was constructed from ck Gold Stone, yet this de sliced through it in one strike. It has to be a legendary weapon."


    Pearson Bowman replied with clear satisfaction, "Naturally! Legend says my great-grandfather once wielded this de to kill a dragon! But my father never taught me the de technique. They say the technique guarantees our family''s continued prosperity!"


    I chuckled, "So sneaking the de out won''t get you in trouble with your dad, right?"


    Pearson Bowmanughed too, "Obviously I snuck it out. If he found out, he''d definitely murder me."


    Hearing this, I felt a wave of gratitude, "Thank you."


    "Don''t mention it," Pearson Bowman gestured dismissively.


    I gazed up at the sky and released a soft sigh.


    That night.


    I sat by myself on the heated brick bed.


    I stared through the window at the dark sky.


    Aplete moon floated overhead, spreading its silver glow across my face, turning it pale as snow.


    "Upon the enlightenment of Dao, all knowledge is gained..." I murmured to myself.


    "Does Predecessor Jimmy Ysabel mean I need to understand the Dao technique to reach the Martial Saint Realm?"


    I attempted to grasp the Dao, but it offered me no revtion.


    The following morning, I headed to Jimmy Ysabel''s room.


    Right then, Jimmy Ysabel was tending vegetables in the courtyard. Spotting me, he set down his hoe.


    "Predecessor Jimmy Ysabel, could I trouble you briefly? I''d like to talk about Dao with you," I said.


    Jimmy Ysabel nodded and settled cross-legged on the ground, motioning for me to join him.


    Without hesitation, I sat down facing Jimmy Ysabel.


    "Predecessor Jimmy Ysabel, when you mentioned ''Upon the enlightenment of Dao,'' did you mean grasping the great Dao?" I asked cautiously.


    Jimmy Ysabel avoided answering directly, instead asking, "What drives your cultivation?"


    I furrowed my brow slightly, running my hand through my hair and said, "My cultivation motives keep shifting. At first, I wanted to break free from poverty, then it was for Mabel Sean."


    "After that... growing stronger seemed to be one of my goals, but more than anything, it''s still because of Mabel Sean."


    Jimmy Ysabel nodded lightly and then asked, "Then do you understand what drives my cultivation?"


    I shook my head, showing I had no idea.


    Jimmy Ysabel gazed at the vegetable garden before him and said, "Everyone realizes my talent is ordinary, and I dislike fighting for resources. I only cherish peace and quiet. I once believed this was my way."


    I looked at Jimmy Ysabel with surprise and said, "What changed?"


    Jimmy Ysabel smiled and said, "Later I discovered that what I treasured wasn''t simply peace and quiet, but people, objects, and everything within my sight."


    I stroked my chin, watching Jimmy Ysabel with apparent understanding, uncertain what I was contemting.


    "Certain things can only be grasped by oneself. Once you''ve fully understood them, you can advance to another level," Jimmy Ysabel said.


    "If wepared talent alone, the person who''d reach the Martial Saint realm first definitely wouldn''t be me."


    I remained quiet for a moment, seeming to grasp something.


    "I get it," I stood up and said.


    Jimmy Ysabel observed me as if trying to read something.


    I went on, "Your cultivation path follows great love, not istion."


    "You used hard work and determination to achieve the Military Marquis Realm but couldn''t use them to enter the Martial Saint realm."


    "It was understanding the Dao of great love that truly let you step into the Martial Saint realm."


    Jimmy Ysabel nodded with approval. He slowly rose and picked up his hoe once more.


    "Mason Raymond, one cannot aplish great deeds instantly, or what''s ultimately achieved remains empty," Jimmy Ysabel said while working the soil.


    I bowed slightly to Jimmy Ysabel and said, "Thank you, I get it."


    Everyone follows a different cultivation path. To achieve the Martial Saint realm, one must discover their own great Dao.


    I''d had this understanding long ago but hadn''t taken it seriously.


    Today, after Jimmy Ysabel''s guidance, I finally grasped itpletely.


    "My own path... How do I find it?" I sighed quietly.


    Beyond Mabel Sean, I couldn''t think of anything else I desired.


    But feelings alone could never form part of one''s cultivation path.


    "Perhaps even Predecessor Paul Randall grasped this truth, which is why he departed the Mystic Realm," I thought to myself.


    Suddenly, I returned to my room.


    I settled in my room, attempting to discover my own path.


    ——


    Meanwhile, the others on the mountain were nning strategies as well.


    Nine Pinnacles Mountain resembled a haven, a refuge for everyone.


    However, right now, Garcia Coleman and the other allied Mystic Realms were getting ready to move against Nine Pinnacles Mountain.


    Within the guest hall of Capital City Martial Arts Association, representatives from various Mystic Realms had assembled.


    Garcia Coleman scanned the crowd and dered coldly, "Mason Raymond, Zora Solomon, and others have freed the Capital City Martial Arts Association prisoners. This is a terrible crime that has angered both heaven and earth."


    "To protect thewful rights and interests of Capital City Martial Arts Association, we must act against them!"


    Previously, the Capital City Martial Arts Association had struggled to find justification for moving against Pearson Bowman and the others.


    But now, their actions had provided Garcia Coleman with a perfect excuse, one nobody could criticize.


    "We''ve tracked down their location; they''ve gathered at Nine Pinnacles Mountain," Garcia Coleman continued.


    "Nine Pinnacles Mountain is Jimmy Ysabel''s home. If he chooses to protect Mason Raymond and the other criminals, we''ll have no option but to eliminate him!"


    "Precisely, if he harbors criminals, he''s also a criminal!" someone dered.


    They all understood these words were merely justification for taking action.


    Garcia Coleman slowly rose and said coldly, "Everyone,e with me to Nine Pinnacles Mountain! This time, I''ll make all the criminals suffer!"


    "Right!"


    The people from the Mystic Realms also stood up together!