The dragon-walking route, spanning over two hundred thousand *li*, was nearing its end after the Grain Rain season. The ferry was about to reach its southern terminus.

Having practiced his stances for two hundred thousand repetitions, Chen Pingan’an relaxed his training, making it less strained and more fluid. After failing to buy wine that night, he went to a restaurant the next day and bought three jars, filling his Sword-Nourishing Gourd. The price was exorbitant, but the taste was acceptable, though not comparable to the aged wine from Sword Water Manor.

Then, Chen Pingan’an took down two talismans pasted on the wall. Both were made of ordinary green paper. One was a Mind-Calming Talisman, meant to help him concentrate and ward off external distractions. Temples often used such talismans during rituals.

The other was a Dust-Cleansing Talisman. During the scorching summer months, high officials and renowned scholars of secular dynasties would seek such talismans from Daoist masters. They emitted a faint spiritual aura and absorbed evil influences, making studies clean and pure.

Although both talismans were rudimentary from the *Script of True Traces*, their grade was very low, they had helped Chen Pingan’an immensely. Otherwise, the ferry crew would have wanted his life. Two months of intense practice, Chen Pingan’an sweating like rain – who would dare live in this room afterward?

Both were single-use talismans and now almost depleted of spiritual energy, nearly indistinguishable from ordinary paper. Chen Pingan’an, always cautious, didn’t want to leave a trace, so he didn’t toss them into the river. Instead, he kept them in his Pocket Dimension, because they were the meritorious saviors that helped him practice twenty thousand times. It was immoral to abandon them when he didn’t need them; he might as well keep them as souvenirs.

Now, Chen Pingan’an was certain that the stack of talisman paper Li Xisheng had given him, especially the gold and ancient book page types, must be priceless and needed even more careful handling. The logic was simple. A golden talisman’s Pagoda Demon-Suppressing Talisman could easily overwhelm the demonically corrupted officials of Rouge County’s City God Temple. Even a top-tier Qi Refiner from Combing River Country’s trump card “Summon Divine” talisman, the one that summoned a Golden Armor Warrior, couldn’t compare the quality of the paper it was printed on.

Before disembarking, Chen Pingan’an cleaned the room, shouldered his luggage, returned the room’s wooden plaque to the ferry staff, and followed everyone else off the boat. Ahead, he heard a man and woman talking. The woman’s voice was very familiar. Chen Pingan’an glanced over and saw a young woman with a mole near her mouth. A pang of sympathy struck Chen Pingan’an. The woman living upstairs had suffered a lot lately. Chen Pingan’an suspected that the woman and her husband loved each other deeply, or she wouldn’t be so accommodating.

As he disembarked, Chen Pingan’an overheard many things. He heard about the Twin Flower Nymphs caught in the pool in Rich Crossing. A single nymph was worth only ten or so Snow Coins, but a pair would fetch fifty or sixty.

After two months of river travel, the fishermen had only caught a few finger-length River Dragons and had no great adventure.

The ferry stopped often. Many wealthy Qi Refiners disembarked with their attendants struggling under loads of packages. The attendants had to be careful not to bump anything because the contents were precious. Some luxurious items were more valuable than human life.

The dock was vast and bustling with shops selling local products from nearby countries. Chen Pingan’an idled past the stalls, discovering all sorts of strange and interesting spirits, mostly lively plant spirits. Some were miniature children, others were white-haired elders, and some had the bodies and faces of beautiful young women. They varied in size, but the largest was no taller than a finger. They were kept in green bamboo cages or stood on inkstones. There was even a winged Weaver Sprite, diligently working at a tiny spinning wheel. It was quite fascinating.

Chen Pingan’an listened to customers haggling with the shopkeepers and learned that these little oddities were similar to Old Hong’s ancient cypress bonsai in Green Coffer. The price depended on rarity. The cheapest cost only a single Snow Coin, while the most expensive sold for thirty or forty.

Chen Pingan’an concluded that these sprites were more common the further south one traveled.

Chen Pingan’an browsed all the shops and stalls without buying anything. He wasn’t being stingy. He planned to buy souvenirs on his return trip from the Upside-Down Mountain and Sword Qi Great Wall after he delivered the sword.

Stepping out of the cave, Chen Pingan’an felt like he was seeing the light of day again. He noticed that the cave entrance was covered in famous inscriptions, even more densely packed than the ones at Combing River Country’s northern terminus. It was like they were fighting for space, squeezing in wherever they could. Some inscriptions seemed to be sulking at their neighbors. Chen Pingan’an examined each one. The calligraphy was, of course, excellent, with its own unique charm, but in his heart, he felt that they were still not as good as the calligraphy of the young Cui Chan.

Outside the dock was a valley with a smooth, wide road. The shops on either side were even wealthier and grander than those on the docks. The streets were crowded with people. It was a peaceful and prosperous time. Even the stray dogs lazing by the roadside seemed relaxed.

The first thing that caught his eye was a three-story building on the left. Its eaves were upturned, and it was intricately designed, with a gold plaque that read “Beauty Maiden Crossing.” Chen Pingan’an knew that this was where he could buy passage on a ferry to Old Dragon City. He entered and inquired at the counter. He learned that the earliest ferry to Old Dragon City would arrive at noon. Upper-class cabins cost twenty Snow Coins, middle-class cabins cost ten. When Chen Pingan’an asked about lower-class cabins, the man explained with a forced smile that the Jade Butter Hall ferry to Old Dragon City only had middle-class cabins, which cost ten Snow Coins. There was no lower class.
Around the lobby of the building, gazes and smiles filled with subtle mockery were directed. Chen Ping’an, however, felt no embarrassment. He took out twenty snowflakes of money and bought a boarding jade pendant, exquisitely carved with “Yangzhi Hall” and “Upper Room Eleven” on either side. Chen Ping’an looked at the eleven, thinking of the seal left behind in the bamboo building of Fallen Mountain. He considered it a good omen, quite auspicious. Chen Ping’an walked out smiling, calculated the time, and began to stroll the streets, intending to buy two sets of clothes. He didn’t need shoes, as he was used to wearing straw sandals for so many years, and there were two brand new pairs in his miniature pouch.

Although the shops on the street were much more imposing, the items sold were similar to those at the ferries of Dragon-Walking Path, except that the prices for the same kinds of flower and grass spirits were cheaper. Chen Ping’an never tired of looking at these little fellows who seemed so festive.

However, he only looked and didn’t buy, which made him somewhat unpopular. Chen Ping’an walked and stopped in various shops, and then found an exceptionally opulent store. Chen Ping’an stood outside the door, somewhat dazed. It turned out that a screen as tall as a person was placed at the entrance, depicting a woman with a long sword on her back and a purple-gold gourd hanging from her waist, standing on a cliff, watching the vast sea of clouds, her skirt swaying, ethereal and detached.

It should be similar to the landscape painting on the Kun vessel, reproduced with mountain magic.

Several people were pointing and commenting in front of the screen, their words filled with schadenfreude, talking about the centuries-old feud between Wind and Thunder Garden and the Orthodox Sun Mountain, and how extraordinary and aloof this Great Immortal Su was in her early years. The only time in her life that she wore clothes from outside her sect was when she and the founder of this shop fought side-by-side to slay demons. It was an exception, and she didn’t ask for any reward. This style of clothing was all the rage throughout Precious Bottle Continent, whether for female cultivators or daughters of wealthy families, thousands of people flocked to it.

A young woman scoffed, “The fact that this shop is still unwilling to remove this screen is a huge joke. I wonder if Su Jia would be so ashamed that she’d want to dig a hole and bury herself if she saw it now.”

A young Qi cultivator with a darkened face, having endured for a long time, finally spoke out in indignation, defending the immortal he had long admired, “No matter how much Great Immortal Su’s realm has fallen, she is still a true immortal, untainted by the mud. Stop talking nonsense here. If Great Immortal Su were really standing here, would you dare to fart?”

A middle-aged man said with a lewd grin, “Before Su Jia had her heart broken by Huang He, the closed-door disciple of Li Tuanjing from Wind and Thunder Garden, I would have licked the soles of this immortal’s shoes. But now, I’m not just blowing hot air. If Su Jia were really standing in front of me, I would dare to pinch her face and touch her waist! Tsk tsk, I wonder how it would feel…”

The young cultivator’s face turned red, and he trembled with anger, “How can there be such a vile scoundrel like you!”

The man laughed, “How can there be? The answer is simple, go ask my parents.”

The young cultivator clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with anger, staring at the bastard.

The man tsked, “What? Want to beat me to death? Come on, killing someone here will not only send the murderer to jail, but also hold the sect accountable. Come on, if you don’t beat me to death today, it doesn’t count as you truly admiring Su Jia! If you don’t beat me to death, I’ll go touch Great Immortal Su on the screen later, from head to toe.”

The middle-aged man stuck out his neck, his face full of lewd smiles.

The young cultivator turned away in despair.

The man laughed wildly, mocking, “You haven’t even grown your hair yet, and you dare to fight with me! Don’t go, I’m really going to touch her. Oh, this face is so tender and smooth, what a pretty little lady, and a Great Immortal Su, a little lady with a broken sword heart. Perhaps the next time you see her, it will be in that brothel…”

The young cultivator quickly left, unwilling to hear such filthy words that made him feel grief and indignation.

Chen Ping’an walked straight into the shop, ignoring the verbal battle between the two sides, and spent a full thirty taels of silver to buy two sets of the most ordinary clothes. In fact, this shop had a great history, and its business was very large in the south of Precious Bottle Continent. Although this place was only one of hundreds of branches, the treasure of the shop, a dharma robe, even Chen Ping’an, a layman, could tell at a glance was no less defensive than Chu Hao’s Divine Man Receiving Dew Armor.

After Chen Ping’an walked out of the shop, that man was still there. The audience around him had changed, men and women were present. The men mostly showed pity, while the women sneered with dissatisfaction. The atmosphere was subtle. The idle middle-aged man started stirring up trouble again, which greatly pleased several women. Even though they knew the man was no good, they still suggested to their male companions to go and take a look inside after hearing that he was the shopkeeper of the miscellaneous goods shop next door. The latter, of course, were unwilling, wishing they could smash the middle-aged man’s face with a punch.

It was true that the man’s character was vile, but his business acumen was not bad. He kept digging at and mocking the Orthodox Sun Mountain Immortal Su, saying more and more outrageous things. The women were also clever and quick-witted. They never echoed the man’s words, but rather “refuted” him in a harmless way. In order to attract male customers, they understood perfectly and became more and more verbose, making them feel great. They glanced at their male companions with them, as if gleefully saying, “The Su Jia you fell in love with at first sight has now fallen to this state. Can you still admire her?”

The man gesticulated wildly, and when he was at his most animated, he simply walked to the screen, stretched out a palm, and waved it gently, keeping a slight distance from the screen, pretending to slap the lifelike Su Jia a few times, cursing and muttering.

Chen Ping’an remembered the scene when the Wind and Thunder Garden swordsman Liu Baqiao mentioned Su Jia in the town.

That time, when outsiders entered the Li Zhu Cave Heaven to seek opportunities, Liu Baqiao, who accompanied the Yingyin Chen Clan woman and the Dragon Tail County Chen Clan young master, made Chen Ping’an feel that there were also good people among the mountain immortals outside.
What moved Chen Pingan most about Liu Baqiao wasn’t the typical bravado of a talented Fenglei Garden swordsman confidently declaring, “One day, Su Jia will willingly marry me!” Instead, it was the opposite. When someone asked him, “What if, one day, the Su Fairy you yearn for actually likes you, regardless of social standing?” Liu Baqiao would become flustered and mutter, “How could she ever like me?”

Thinking of Liu Baqiao, Chen Pingan couldn’t help but think of himself.

So, Chen Pingan took a deep breath and walked towards the screen, looking at the man doing business next door.

The man was about to lead a woman to his shop when he noticed another unwelcome fellow. Irritated, he said, “What are you staring at?”

Chen Pingan replied, “Staring at you.”

The man glared. “Dare to stare again?”

Chen Pingan nodded and continued to fix his gaze on the man, slowly saying, “Alright.”

Even some young women from the mountains, who harbored great resentment towards Su Jia, couldn’t help but chuckle. This sword-carrying youth was quite amusing.

Their sects were not far from Zhengyang Mountain, so they often crossed paths. Everyone in their sects, from the patriarchs to the outer disciples, held Zhengyang Mountain in high regard. The men in their sects, young and old, wouldn’t allow anyone to say a bad word about Su Jia Fairy of Zhengyang Mountain back then. But now that Su Jia had fallen from grace and disappeared from sight, they had become less vehement.

The man doing business in the valley, now thoroughly enraged, spat, “Are you courting death?”

Chen Pingan shook his head.

The man snapped, “Then what are you standing here like a block of wood for?! Do you know that my family has been doing business here for generations? The number of old immortals I know is more than the people you’ve ever seen!”

In the man’s eyes, the strange youth suddenly uttered, “Liu Baqiao of Fenglei Garden, likes Su Jia.”

The man was stunned, his bluster fading as he grew doubtful.

Chen Pingan added, “I know Liu Baqiao.”

The man glanced at the sword box behind the youth and swallowed.

Chen Pingan said, “If I ever meet Liu Baqiao, I’ll tell him about what happened today.”

The man, feigning bravery, retorted, “Who are you trying to scare? You know Liu Baqiao of Fenglei Garden? I also know the Sect Master of Shentao Sect and the Old Ancestor of Zhenwu Mountain, but do they know me?”

Chen Pingan replied, “Whether they know you or not, I’m not sure. But Liu Baqiao knows me, I’m certain.”

The man waved his hand dismissively. “Get lost, get lost! Stop bragging without any basis, delaying my business. Even roadside dog droppings can walk on their own now, what bad luck.”

Chen Pingan asked, “Shouldn’t there be flying sword transmissions at the ferry?”

Chen Pingan continued to himself, “Never mind, I’ll find it myself.”

The man, already starting to feel uneasy, deliberately ignored the peculiar youth who spoke with such conviction, and led the mountain men and women, their faces full of amusement, to his shop to try their luck at finding treasures.

Then, Chen Pingan actually went to a mountain post station for flying sword transmissions, located at the end of the street. He spent ten snowflake coins to write a letter to Liu Baqiao of Fenglei Garden, detailing the events of the day. As for whether Liu Baqiao would dismiss the letter with a sneer, throw it aside, or fly into a rage and arrive on his sword, Chen Pingan didn’t care.

Some things, if he didn’t do them, Chen Pingan would feel uneasy.

But some things, no matter how unpleasant, he could only endure. Such as the matter of the inexplicable destruction of the Kun ship.

After writing the letter and providing the recipient’s name and sect address, everyone at the post station looked at Chen Pingan strangely, their tone becoming gentler, and someone even escorted Chen Pingan out of the station, asking if he needed directions to the ferry. Chen Pingan smiled and declined, leaving on his own.

Leaving the post station, Chen Pingan felt a bit better because he realized that Liu Baqiao, who seemed inconspicuous and joked about becoming sworn brothers with him in the Lizhu Grotto-Heaven, was actually quite impressive on the outside. Even this flying sword post station had heard of Liu Baqiao.

The ferry belonging to the Yangzhi Hall was located at a ferry crossing halfway up a towering cliff face. Someone had carved a winding plank road into the cliff. As Chen Pingan walked along it, he saw many ferries already suspended in the air outside the cliff face. Beneath the ferries floated white clouds. The ferry style was similar to the ferries of the Shushui Kingdom, but their ability to sail on the wind was a curious sight. Chen Pingan waited to board the ferry next to the Yangzhi Hall ferry crossing. Here, a large cave had been carved out, with only a few scattered vendors conducting business. Chen Pingan quietly sat on a long bench made from an old tree root, chewing on a dry biscuit and washing it down with newly bought wine.

At noon, a Yangzhi Hall ferry, descending smoothly from the sea of clouds, came to a stop on time.

Chen Pingan followed the crowd and boarded the ship in order. This time, the ferry was heading south directly to Old Dragon City, taking only about twenty-five days, because the ocean-going Yangzhi Hall ferries were much faster than the river ferries on the Dragon Road, and they didn’t need to stop at all. The ferry had only two floors. Chen Pingan stayed in a first-floor room, which was slightly more spacious but lacked a viewing balcony. The ferry ascended, passing through a layer of cloud sea. Opening the window, the view was expansive, with a great sun hanging in the sky overhead, its light blazing, and the sea of clouds rolling like golden mountain ranges.

Chen Pingan once again wrote a “Calming the Mind and Spirit” talisman and a “Repelling Evil and Cleansing Dust” talisman.

He continued to close the door and practice his boxing.

During the journey, there were nights of lightning and thunder, mornings with brilliant sunrises, and cloudless, empty skies.

This time, Chen Pingan practiced the Six Walking Stances, transitioning from fast to slow. Occasionally, he would open the window and practice the Sword Furnace Stance while watching the scenery outside.

One day, as the journey was nearing its end, a sword immortal came riding the wind. At the time, the ferry had just emerged from a thick sea of clouds, and the young sword immortal followed closely behind, moving so quickly that even some Fifth Realm Qi Refiners were astonished. The person cleaved through the sea of clouds on his sword, chasing after the ferry with amazing momentum. The sea of clouds behind the person and the sword was split open into a wide path, which took a long time to fully close.
He, positioned ahead in the direction the ferry was headed, abruptly halted. With a light leap, he dismounted his flying sword, landing squarely on the prow of the ferry. With a flourish, he sheathed his sword. An elder of the Jade Cream Hall immediately approached to greet him. As for whether he had offended the Jade Cream Hall or broken any regulations regarding boarding the ferry mid-journey, the elder uttered not a word. In hindsight, the old man’s actions proved remarkably wise, for the young swordsman, while violating ferry protocols, was not an arrogant sort. He smiled and announced his name, proactively offering twenty snowflake coins as payment.

“Wind and Thunder Garden, Liu Baqiao.”

A name that resonated like thunder, both before and after its utterance.

The old master of the Garden, Li Tuanjing, hailed as the foremost Tenth Realm cultivator of the Treasure Bottle Continent, had single-handedly held down the entire Orthodox Sun Mountain for centuries.

Even though rumors circulated that Li Tuanjing had already undergone spiritual dissolution, the spectacle of him shattering the Grand Array of True Martial Mountain with a casual sword strike in the final stages of that great battle was witnessed by all. Moreover, Li Tuanjing’s closed-door disciple, Huang He, had emerged like a comet, displaying sword talent that rivaled Li Tuanjing’s in his youth. He had utterly defeated Su Jia of Orthodox Sun Mountain, leaving him helpless. In particular, the image of Huang He standing beside the fallen Su Jia, his toe pressing down on the purple-gold gourd used for nurturing swords, was deeply etched in the minds of many.

After Huang He assumed the mantle of Garden Master, Liu Baqiao effortlessly broke through a realm, and with considerable momentum. It was said that he nearly broke through two realms in rapid succession.

Liu Baqiao did not allow the elder to follow him, instead locating room number eleven on the first floor and gently knocking.

Chen Ping’an had been immersed in practicing his boxing techniques. While he had vaguely sensed the ripple of qi that stirred the cloud sea, he had not interrupted his training. It was common for celestial immortals to casually traverse the skies on their swords, passing by the cloud ferry. Therefore, even though he had noticed footsteps in the corridor, he did not associate them with the swordsman.

Thus, when Chen Ping’an opened the door and saw the familiar, mischievous face, he was greatly surprised.

Liu Baqiao entered the room, and after Chen Ping’an closed the door, he sat on the bed. Noticing the two talismans, he quipped, “Chen Ping’an, you’re a wealthy man now.”

Only because it was Liu Baqiao would Chen Ping’an not have put away the talismans before allowing him to enter.

Chen Ping’an responded to Liu Baqiao’s jest with a smile, leaning against the windowsill and leaving the bed for the Wind and Thunder Garden swordsman.

Liu Baqiao propped himself up on the bed with both hands. “You have no idea how much trouble I went through to chase you down. After receiving your letter from Yinyu Ferry at the Wind and Thunder Garden, I immediately rushed to the ferry…”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Didn’t kill anyone, did you?”

Liu Baqiao rolled his eyes. “Kill who? The guy immediately knelt and kowtowed upon hearing that I was Liu Baqiao. I didn’t even have a chance to slap him a few times as I had planned. So, I bought that screen from the shop next door, stowed it away, and then asked this and that, following the clues. Finally, I confirmed that you were on this Jade Cream Hall ferry, so here I am.”

Chen Ping’an inquired, puzzled, “Looking for me for something?”

Liu Baqiao countered, “Do I need a reason to look for you?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Otherwise? Would you chase me this far for nothing?”

Liu Baqiao said, crestfallen, “You’re really no fun, just like back in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven.”

Chen Ping’an considered it for a moment, but refrained from asking about the matter of Su Jia from Orthodox Sun Mountain. He figured that Liu Baqiao had witnessed the bloody duels on True Martial Mountain firsthand, and it wouldn’t be pleasant for him. Chen Ping’an didn’t want to rub salt into his wounds. He had originally intended to ask if Liu Baqiao had successfully acquired the talisman sword in Great Li’s capital, but upon reflection, such matters pertained to profound secrets and were best left unasked. In the end, Chen Ping’an could only ask the most bland and uninteresting question, “So, you really have nothing else?”

Liu Baqiao sighed. “Really, nothing. After I returned empty-handed from the Great Li capital, I didn’t see you after I landed back in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven. I heard you had traveled far to the Great Sui Academy. After that, our Wind and Thunder Garden…anyway, I’ve been busy ever since. Don’t think I’m idle all day long. In fact, I only recently emerged from seclusion. After stabilizing my realm, I got bored, so I thought that since I received your flying sword message, I should meet you and solidify our brotherhood…”

Chen Ping’an was most resistant to Liu Baqiao’s enthusiasm, so he didn’t reply.

Liu Baqiao gazed at him resentfully, flicking his fingers with a flourish, speaking in a coy, feminine voice, “Young master, how can you be so heartless? Back in your hometown, we enjoyed the moon and flowers, the beautiful scenery, traveling together…”

Chen Ping’an shifted slightly, sitting on the windowsill, arms crossed, expressionless.

He seemed to be saying, “Go ahead and disgust yourself and me, Chen Ping’an. I’ll see who can last longer.”

Liu Baqiao was the first to concede, sighing dejectedly. “I knew this visit would be like this. Chen Ping’an, do you know that countless swordsmen on the Treasure Bottle Continent are now amazed by my, Liu Baqiao’s, talent, and consider me a shoo-in for the Upper Five Realms?”

Chen Ping’an laughed. “I only just found out. At the post station, after they heard that I was the one who wrote you the letter, they immediately became much more polite than their previous official demeanor. Someone even escorted me to the gate, asking if I needed help with directions, being so enthusiastic, making it seem like I was some kind of important figure. This is truly a first, haha.”

Looking at Chen Ping’an’s joyful smile, Liu Baqiao was stunned. What was there to be happy about? Just because Liu Baqiao was famous, it allowed Chen Ping’an to share a little bit of the spotlight?

When Chen Ping’an gave Liu Baqiao a thumbs up, the Wind and Thunder Garden swordsman, whose talent was so great that even Li Tuanjing had to take notice, finally understood the reason.

His friend’s success made Chen Ping’an happy.

In truth, the reason was simple enough, but the world was too complex, with too many clever people. Especially after dealing with people from the mountains, it was easy to lose sight of the simplest things.

Liu Baqiao, who hadn’t felt much joy even when he nearly broke through two realms, began to laugh along with the youth sitting on the windowsill.

Liu Baqiao couldn’t help but ask himself.

If your friend was doing better than you, much better, so much better that you couldn’t hope to catch up in your lifetime, would you feel a little awkward inside?

The answer satisfied Liu Baqiao, so he decided that he and Chen Ping’an were destined to be friends, brothers.
Liu Baqiao didn’t linger. In truth, after his breakthrough at Fenglei Garden, the new Garden Master, Huang He, had forcibly saddled him with a sect position and a mountain of affairs. Though, the so-called “handling” of these affairs was simply pawning them off on the experienced elders. Liu Baqiao stood up, smiling, and asked, “Out here, are you short on coin? I’ve got a few dozen Minor Heat coins on me, want to borrow some?”

A few dozen Minor Heat coins… he made it sound like a few dozen taels of silver, what a rustic nouveau riche!

Chen Ping’an hopped down from the windowsill, shaking his head. “No need.”

Liu Baqiao solemnly said, “Then I’ll head back. Remember, next time you’re in Lizhu Grotto-Heaven, you absolutely must visit me at Fenglei Garden, or else I…”

Liu Baqiao again affected a flamboyant gesture. “I’ll be heartbroken to death by you, you heartless rogue!”

Chen Ping’an said with a straight face, “If you talk like that again, I’ll never go to Fenglei Garden, even if you beat me!”

Liu Baqiao laughed heartily, although a trace of indescribable weariness still lingered between his brows. He bid farewell and left, remembering something as he reached the door. He turned back and said, “In Old Dragon City, I have a very close friend, trustworthy. If you have any problems and it’s too late to send a flying sword message to Fenglei Garden, then you can trust him. His name is Sun Jiashu, and he’s the second wealthiest fellow in Old Dragon City. I’ve mentioned you in my letters to him, so as long as you give your name, he’ll definitely meet you. And that guy, you’ll definitely get along with!”

Chen Ping’an replied crisply, “Alright!”

“Don’t see me off, it’s too polite, too formal. We’ll have plenty of chances to meet in the future.” Liu Baqiao walked out of the room, and seeing that the fellow really wasn’t seeing him off, he couldn’t help but laugh and scold before closing the door. He didn’t immediately depart on his sword. At the other end of the corridor stood the experienced Qi Refining cultivator in charge of the ferry from Jade Lard Hall. Liu Baqiao, all smiles, scurried over and chatted with the old man for a while before soaring into the sea of clouds, returning north on his sword.

The day before arriving at Old Dragon City, they encountered an extremely rare sight of flying fish leaping out of the sea into the air. Hundreds of thousands of flying fish with iridescent wings swam back and forth in the sea of clouds, a magnificent sight. The Jade Lard Hall ferry specially suspended itself in the air, informing the passengers that it would be stopped for half an hour so everyone could admire the beautiful scenery. They explained that the reason for this spectacular scene was that these South Sea flying fish, called “Rainbow Phoenixes,” were celebrating a member of their clan successfully growing a true pair of rainbow phoenix wings, a once-in-a-century event.

However, the Jade Lard Hall also reminded everyone not to attempt to seek out and capture the unique flying fish. Once the school of fish was angered, the ferry would surely be doomed, unless there were Golden Core or Nascent Soul stage immortals to escort it. Otherwise, they could only await their fate. At the same time, Jade Lard Hall comforted everyone, saying that Rainbow Phoenix flying fish were gentle in nature and unafraid of humans. Once they left the sea and flew into the clouds, they were actually willing to get close to people. So, it was highly likely that the ferry would be surrounded by flying fish. There was no need to worry, and even if one took the opportunity to catch a few flying fish to raise, it wouldn’t be a problem, consider it a small bonus gift from Jade Lard Hall to its esteemed guests.

Even Chen Ping’an left his room and came to the stern of the ship, watching the free and unfettered Rainbow Phoenix flying fish, their colors flowing beautifully under the sunlight, a sight of breathtaking beauty.

Chen Ping’an took down his wine gourd, leaned on the railing, and drank.

Sure enough, the school of Rainbow Phoenix flying fish slowly approached the ferry. They slowed their flight speed in unison, and some playful and curious flying fish left the group individually, coming close to the guests on the ferry. If someone extended their palm, most of them would quickly dart away, but some would approach the palm instead, even stopping on the palm.

Chen Ping’an had actually heard of them before, because the greatest immortal sect of Colorful Garment Kingdom, the Inspired Rhinoceros Sect, had a legendary magical treasure, the “Rainbow Garment,” which was said to be woven from the wings that Rainbow Phoenix flying fish were fortunate enough to grow. Wearing it would grant invulnerability to all spells, and the most amazing thing was that whoever wore the Rainbow Garment could even cause the flying swords of all Middle Five Stages swordsmen to retreat upon approaching.

Chen Ping’an also followed the others and extended his palm over the railing.

But not a single flying fish was willing to approach.

He could only awkwardly withdraw his hand. Besides drowning his sorrows in wine, what else could he do?

The ferry resumed its journey south.

When it finally descended and docked at the Old Dragon City ferry port.

Without realizing it, Chen Ping’an had traveled from the northernmost part of Treasure Bottle Continent to the southernmost tip.

Carrying his sword the entire way.