On the return journey, Chen Ping’an’s spirits had recovered as before. Flesh and blood were slowly regrowing on the exposed white bone of his arm. Veins, like creeping vines, extended gradually, an utterly mysterious process. Chen Ping’an observed meticulously, like a scholar delving into arcane texts. This sight, however, utterly disgusted Lu Tai. He reflected that the Lu family also harbored a few hidden martial arts masters, but none of them, even at the fourth or fifth realm, possessed Chen Ping’an’s composure.

Chen Ping’an walked and watched, enduring the pain with relish. As he witnessed the growth of his veins, he gained a profound understanding of qi circulation, and many previously perplexing problems suddenly became clear. Nearing Flying Eagle Fortress, Chen Ping’an reluctantly concealed his arm, lest the common folk mistake him for a demonic cultivator. With the magic robe and golden amulet at his disposal, he could hide the gruesome scene within his sleeve without hindering the regeneration of his arm.

The flying sword Wheatgrass had already returned with the Five Peaks Crown. Lu Tai appraised it, declaring it an ancient magical treasure of the highest quality. The depiction of the Five Peaks True Form upon it, both in technique and design, indicated that the crown originated from the Central Earth Continent. It had likely found its way to Tongye Continent later, a pearl obscured by dust. He even speculated that it might have originally belonged to a renowned mountain deity of the Central Earth Continent as their natal artifact.

Chen Ping’an found this information interesting, as it broadened his understanding. He gave no thought to whether Lu Tai might try to keep the Five Peaks Crown for himself or deliberately downplay its value. Deep down, he didn’t believe Lu Tai was that kind of person. To suspect a gentleman with a petty mind was acceptable in this complicated world where human hearts were difficult to fathom, but not to excess.

The two did not head directly to the main building of Flying Eagle Fortress. They first quietly returned to the martial arts training ground to retrieve the magic sword “Infatuation,” which Dou Zizhi had purchased from the Fuzhi Sect at great cost. After absorbing the heart blood and spiritual qi of a Dragon Gate Realm peak cultivator, the sword’s blade became even brighter, like snow, and its patterns flowed like a pool of autumn water, radiant and lively. Even Lu Tai, with his discerning eye, couldn’t help but take the sword and examine it again, marveling at it. He said that the old demon’s words, though mixed with falsehoods, seemed truthful regarding his cultivation realm. Before his decline, his peak likely touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul Realm. Golden Core cultivators of that level were quite impressive even in the Central Earth Continent, able to hold their heads high on the mountain.

Therefore, this sword “Infatuation,” or more accurately “Heart Eater,” had gained a tremendous opportunity.

Lu Tai even advised Chen Ping’an not to sell Infatuation. In the future, if he encountered heretical cultivators or demonic entities, he could simply pierce their hearts with the sword, accumulating merit for himself and improving the sword’s quality, a win-win situation.

Seeing Chen Ping’an’s hesitation, Lu Tai, uncharacteristically, scolded him, saying, “Cultivators can disregard good and evil? That’s nonsense, rubbish! But where do objects and treasures come from with the concept of good and evil? What’s wrong with using an evil artifact to do righteous deeds?”

Lu Tai grew angrier and angrier, wishing he could point his finger at Chen Ping’an’s nose and curse him. “You can watch your own bones regrow with wide eyes, but you can’t get over this mental block? Chen Ping’an! If you remain this rigid, you might as well not bother with the Bridge of Longevity. I advise you to focus solely on becoming a pure martial artist. Don’t dream of becoming a great sword immortal. With your disposition, even if you do attain the Bridge of Longevity and become a qi refiner, the inner demons you face before breaking through the upper five realms will be greater than the heavens! Do you know that every qi refiner who reaches the Nascent Soul Realm has already displayed remarkable ambition, magical powers, and tenacity in contending with the heavens and earth? But the reason the upper five realms are so difficult is precisely because of this crucial barrier. The danger doesn’t lie in the so-called heavenly tribulations that people mistakenly believe. Those are just superficial. The real enemy is one’s own heart. The higher your Dao heart, the stronger your will, the taller your demonic aspect will be, reaching hundreds or thousands of feet, and as indestructible as the golden bodies of ancient deities. How will you break through…?”

Chen Ping’an didn’t argue. He simply pointed at Lu Tai’s nose and softly reminded him, “It’s happening again.”

Lu Tai stopped speaking and fiercely wiped away the blood from his nose.

Because this concerned Chen Ping’an’s path alone, rather than the trajectory of the world, the backlash from the heavens that Lu Tai, as a descendant of the Yin-Yang school’s Lu family, suffered was much smaller than before.

Chen Ping’an suddenly said, “Someone’s coming.”

Lu Tai glanced at Chen Ping’an. This acute awareness was probably no weaker than that of a sixth-realm martial artist. Was he really just a fourth-realm martial artist?

He grew increasingly curious about the person who had taught Chen Ping’an’s martial arts.

A group of four cautiously entered the martial arts training ground. It was none other than the old Daoist and his disciple Huang Shang, as well as the Huan siblings, Huan Chang and Huan Shu. The reason they hadn’t gone to the main building was still the slovenly old man’s idea. In the northern mountains, they had inadvertently seen Chen Ping’an and Lu Tai returning to Flying Eagle Fortress. The old man decided to rendezvous here first, to ask about the demon’s whereabouts before the two groups went to the main building together, which was clearly more prudent.

The old man performed a Daoist salute and introduced himself, “This humble Daoist is Ma Feifu, a cultivator from Mandarin Duck Mountain. I am honored to meet Immortal Lu and Immortal Chen.”

Earlier, Chen Ping’an and Lu Tai had only given their names when they entered Flying Eagle Fortress as guests.

Lu Tai casually reached out, and the bamboo fan appeared out of thin air. He gently fanned himself, “I come from the Central Earth Continent.”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment, “I am a native of Great Li in Treasure Bottle Continent.”

The old Daoist carefully asked, “Do the two immortals know the whereabouts of that demon?”

Lu Tai closed his bamboo fan and pointed it at the old Daoist. As everyone was confused, a Five Peaks Crown appeared on the tip of the folded fan. Lu Tai lightly flicked his wrist, and the Five Peaks Crown rose and fell, and said with a smile, “He’s dead. A small victory.”

When the old man with the high crown descended from the cloud sea on his cattail hassock, moving the Five Great Peaks to suppress the martial arts training ground, the old Daoist had caught a glimpse, terrified. He had a vivid memory of that Five Peaks Crown. Seeing the ancient crown resting on the bamboo fan now, his heart churned. He dared not believe that the two young men could successfully kill a Land Immortal who was likely at the Golden Core Realm, but he also desperately hoped that the handsome young man’s words were true.
Mountain Hermit Ma Feifu of Mandarin Duck Mountain, a seasoned veteran of the martial world, suppressed his skepticism, his face betraying gratitude and reverence. He bowed deeply once more. “Although the two Immortal Masters are merely passing through, their willingness to intervene against this fiendish menace and save the lives of hundreds within Flying Eagle Stronghold from utter despair is a deed of immeasurable merit. This humble Daoist thanks you both on behalf of Flying Eagle Stronghold!”

Huan Chang and his sister Huan Shu, eyes brimming with tears, hastily cupped their fists in respectful salutation, bowing low to the two outland gentlemen. “Kindness such as this defies repayment. If the Immortal Masters do not find me, Huan Chang, too dull-witted, I am willing to serve as your ox or horse, braving fire and water without hesitation!”

“Huan Shu thanks Young Master Lu and Immortal Master Chen. This girl knows not how to express the gratitude in her heart…”

The young Daoist Huang Shang stood at the rear, a complex expression on his face.

A thought flashed through his mind.

If he were to become disciples of these two, would his path of cultivation become smoother, no longer fraught with such futility, where encountering demonic entities meant constant brushes with death?

Huang Shang glanced at his master’s back, the young Daoist, burdened by the hardships of his cultivation, lowered his head, feeling a pang of guilt, considering himself more ungrateful than the demons and heretics.

However, the thought had already taken root, proving impossible to uproot. It burned within him like a raging fire, searing his heart and reddening his eyes.

The Mountain Hermit’s suspicion and relief, coupled with his spiritual exhaustion after the fierce battle.

Huan Chang’s attempt to alter his course after this ordeal, seeking to abandon the martial path for the pursuit of cultivation.

Huan Shu’s two different forms of address, each carrying its own unique charm.

And the young Daoist’s burgeoning ambition.

Lu Tai’s lips curled into a subtle smile, having observed everything.

As a disciple of the Yin-Yang School, understanding the hearts of men was his forte.

Chen Ping’an remained oblivious to much of this, only vaguely registering the subtle expressions and gazes. The deeper meaning eluded him.

The myriad experiences of life were far different from the words on a page.

The group hastened towards the main building of Flying Eagle Stronghold. Although Lu Tai had assured them that the situation was resolved and there were no casualties, Huan Chang and Huan Shu remained apprehensive, fearing a bloodbath upon opening the doors. Reaching the main building, they found the gates tightly shut. Huan Chang knocked vigorously, and after a long wait, an elderly member of the Huan clan opened the door. Upon seeing the safe return of the siblings, he burst into tears, startling Huan Chang, who feared his parents had fallen victim to the whisk-wielding villain. After much explanation, he learned that Immortal Master Lu had swiftly displayed his divine prowess, slaying the demonic imposter posing as a cultivator from Peace Mountain.

In that moment, all those who had survived within the hall felt as if they had awakened from a terrifying nightmare.

Huan Chang and Huan Shu noticed their parents were not in the hall. When they inquired about their whereabouts, the gazes of those present became evasive.

Lu Tai, uninterested in meddling in the trivial affairs of other families, led Chen Ping’an towards the rooftop terrace.

The Stronghold Lord, Huan Yang, was no longer on this curiously named “Upper Yang Terrace.”

Lu Tai sat on the railing, Chen Ping’an mimicking him. He unslung his Sword-Nourishing Gourd, took a swig of the fiery liquor, and exhaled a long stream of alcohol-laden breath.

Lu Tai swung his legs, slowly fanning himself, his sideburns dancing in the breeze.

It was time to divide the spoils of war, a task he was well-versed in.

“The battle against Ma Wanfa and Dou Zizhi, coupled with today’s deathmatch, has truly been fortunate for us both. We’ve earned quite a sum. In the past, I might not have achieved this alone. You must know, within my family, I hold the title of ‘Treasure-Hunting Immortal’.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, inexplicably recalling the female Daoist of the Divine Decree Sect, known as “blessed and favored above all in the continent.”

“Dou Zizhi’s magic sword, ‘Unrequited Love,’ is yours. The Five Peaks Crown is mine. Or rather, I’ll buy it from you. In addition to helping you refine and repair the Demon-Binding Cord, I’ll also restore that damaged suit of armor you mentioned, the one you bought from Lingzhi Shop on Upside-Down Mountain. You’ve been complaining about the armor being disassembled and taking up too much space in your baggage. I can restore it to its original state, transforming it into a single, complete military artifact. Don’t ask me how; a Daoist… has his own ways!”

Lu Tai grinned. “So you might need to stay at Flying Eagle Stronghold for a while, not too long. You can use the time to recover from your injuries before searching for that Daoist temple.”

Chen Ping’an nodded with a smile. With a generous benefactor like Lu Tai, he, Chen Ping’an, wouldn’t hold back.

Lu Tai continued, “An Upper-Grade magic treasure, the Five Peaks Crown, is worth twenty thousand snowflake coins. Converted into Grain Rain coins, that’s twenty. For the pursuit of Ma Wanfa and the slaying of the whisk-wielding cultivator in the main building, I also gained some rewards. I estimate I need to pay you another twenty thousand snowflake coins, or twenty Grain Rain coins. The whisk handle, inscribed with the characters ‘Carefree,’ is quite decent; you can have it as a little bonus.”

Chen Ping’an exclaimed in shock, “So many Grain Rain coins?!”

Lu Tai, still gazing into the distance, smiled. “I do have some heavenly coins to spare. Even ordinary Nascent Soul Earth Immortals of the Central Earth Continent wouldn’t dare compare their wealth to mine.”

Irritated, Chen Ping’an slapped him on the shoulder. “Then why were you crying poverty at Upside-Down Mountain? Lu Tai, you’re quite the actor, aren’t you?”

Lu Tai, feeling guilty, chuckled awkwardly. “I was afraid you wouldn’t develop any lecherous intentions if you saw me with no money, but you might if you saw how wealthy I am.”

“Lecherous intentions, my foot!” Chen Ping’an slapped him again, causing Lu Tai to bristle with anger. “Chen Ping’an, be careful, or I’ll turn against you!”

Chen Ping’an chuckled and slapped him again.

Lu Tai’s eyes darted around, ready to unleash his trump card, but Chen Ping’an raised a hand, signaling Lu Tai to “stop,” then took a sip of his liquor. “Continue,” he said.

Lu Tai flipped his hand, revealing a beautifully embroidered pouch, which he handed to Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an frowned. “What’s this?”

Lu Tai smiled. “A little trinket, a gift for you. Open it and see; you’ll definitely like it. This is a bag of elm seeds with a rather unique origin. When you return to your hometown, plant them on a mountain with good Feng Shui, one that faces the sun. In three to five years, you might be in for a pleasant surprise.”

Although Chen Ping’an accepted the bag of elm seeds, he still said, “Explain first, or I’ll give it back.”

Lu Tai then provided a rough explanation, causing Chen Ping’an to grin from ear to ear. He quickly put the bag away, acting as if he had never mentioned returning it.
It turned out that this pouch of elm seeds was quite magical and suited Chen Ping’an’s tastes perfectly. They were precious seeds from an ancient immortal elm tree in the Central Earth Continent. Because of their round, thin shape like coins, they were named “elm coins.”

Homophonous with “surplus money.”

Therefore, there was a folk saying that eating elm seeds could bring “surplus money,” which most people considered a rumor. In reality, it was because they didn’t know the proper method. One only needed to find the golden spirit hiding within the elm seeds, soak it in a wine jar until drunk, then take it out and eat it raw to increase one’s copper coin income each year. Wealthy families, in the early spring, would hold “elm seed banquets” to wish for abundant wealth in the new year.

This kind of income that promised a steady stream of wealth was what Chen Ping’an liked most.

In Chen Ping’an’s heart, he always firmly believed that a sudden fortune would come and go quickly, or would require great perseverance and hard work to hold onto and keep. However, benefits and gains like elm seeds, which were not particularly eye-catching, could bring Chen Ping’an peace of mind.

After receiving the benefit, Chen Ping’an pretended to be getting a bargain, and laughed, “Isn’t this a little too precious?”

Lu Tai repeatedly opened and closed his bamboo fan with his thumb and index finger, and said with emotion, “Chen Ping’an, I’m seeking the Dao on this trip to Shangyang Terrace. Do you know how heavy the word ‘Dao’ is? I don’t even know how to convert it into money, but I think since we are friends, why don’t we just forget about it? Otherwise, no matter how rich I am, I can’t afford this bill even if I go bankrupt. What do you think?”

Chen Ping’an handed over the sword-nourishing gourd in his hand, nodded, and smiled, “What else can I say? Let’s do it that way!”

Lu Tai took the wine pot, raised it high, and drank with his head tilted back. The gourd was a few inches away from his face, and he drank very boldly.

He wiped his mouth and returned the “Ginger Gourd” to Chen Ping’an, “It’s time to add wine. I’ll have Flying Eagle Fortress fill it up for you later.”

Chen Ping’an would certainly not refuse such a good thing.

Lu Tai suddenly said helplessly, “Why does everyone like to drink? What’s so good about wine?”

Chen Ping’an smiled without speaking, only drinking.

After drinking, one dared to think what one dared not think, dared to say what one dared not say, and dared to do what one dared not do.

For the next ten days, Chen Ping’an still lived in that small house, but there were no more evil spirits to disturb him.

Occasionally, Chen Ping’an would sit on the steps in front of the courtyard gate, looking at the wall at the end of the alley, thinking about those pitiful ghost children and the last smiles they showed in this life.

Lu Tai stayed in the main building. Occasionally, he would come to this courtyard to sit for a while, but he would not stay long and would soon go back to work.

Ten days later, Lu Tai brought back a refurbished military armor pill, which Chen Ping’an loved. His arm had recovered, but it was still not very strong.

In addition to this armor pill from Lingzhi Studio in Upside Down Mountain, Lu Tai also brought Chen Ping’an a narrow blade with a snow-white scabbard, saying it was Flying Eagle Fortress’s reward from the Huan family, and the Huan family would be uneasy if he didn’t accept it.

This time, Lu Tai took a break from his busy schedule and did not rush to leave. He brewed a pot of tea for himself in the courtyard and mentioned the origin of this narrow blade to Chen Ping’an. In the past, the Nascent Soul Earth Immortal from Peaceful Mountain gifted the old lumberjack ancestor of Flying Eagle Fortress a saber named “Stopping Snow” to suppress the overly eerie Feng Shui of this place. Later generations of the Flying Eagle Fortress had no aptitude for cultivation and could only use it as decoration, a waste of a treasure.

Chen Ping’an knew the value of this narrow blade. It was probably a beloved item of that Peaceful Mountain land immortal. After some thought, Lu Tai did not act as a generous benefactor and priced the narrow blade at twenty Grain Rain coins. Then, he threw Chen Ping’an a bag of Grain Rain coins, exactly the remaining twenty coins.

For the next ten days, Chen Ping’an’s daily routine was walking the pile, practicing swordsmanship, and sleeping. He no longer looked at the wall, after all, meetings and departures were short-lived. Even life and death matters would eventually be slowly relieved, just like a cup of wine in a market tavern. No matter how good the taste, it couldn’t make one drunk for days, could it?

During these ten days, Lu Tai only came once, saying that he had taken in three disciples.

Tao Xieyang, a young man named Huan Yin, and a young Daoist who changed his allegiance, Huang Shang.

As for the reasons, Lu Tai did not want to say more, only uttering the six words “Without knowing evil, one cannot know good,” repeating the old tune that Lu Tai had mentioned before in the Whale Swallowing Island.

Before leaving, Lu Tai said that he might really stay here for a long time and would not return to the Central Earth Continent in the short term.

When Lu Tai finally brought the demon-binding rope, Chen Ping’an had also recovered almost completely.

The farewell was imminent.

There was no sadness.

One held dreams, and the other was at the beginning of the Great Dao. There was no reason to be too sentimental.

So they parted straightforwardly. One stayed in the foreign Flying Eagle Fortress, and the other carried his sword and headed north.

Lu Tai did not even see him off, but stood on Shangyang Terrace, watching Chen Ping’an in a white robe slowly leave.

He had previously encouraged Chen Ping’an to hang the longsword “Infatuation” and the narrow blade “Stopping Snow,” which would be very Jianghu-like, but Chen Ping’an didn’t fall for it, saying, “I’m not opening a weapons shop.”

Lu Tai felt a little regret.

If Chen Ping’an really did it, Lu Tai could openly laugh at him for being silly.

Walking out of the gate and onto the main road, Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but look back at Flying Eagle Fortress, not to look at Lu Tai, but because he remembered something and felt it was a bit strange. In the end, he shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

On the way out of Flying Eagle Fortress, he brushed past a middle-aged man on the street. He couldn’t remember seeing him before, but he felt like he had seen him somewhere.

The honest man also noticed Chen Ping’an’s gaze, grinned shyly, and was just like an ordinary townsman.

After Chen Ping’an left Flying Eagle Fortress, the simple man who was wandering around stamped his foot lightly, and thousands of miles of rivers and mountains were no longer subject to the art of banning spells.

Otherwise, Fuzhi Sect would not have been indifferent to the great disturbance of the previous cloud sea battle.

Lu Tai leaned on the railing, watching the reversal of the luck of mountains and rivers with a smile, full of mysteries, worthy of being his Dao-teaching teacher, much stronger than his other teaching master.

A hundred miles away, on a mountain peak, during Chen Ping’an’s walk, he felt a rare craving for the taste of candied haws, which made Chen Ping’an feel a little funny. He thought that now that he had a big family and a great career, he would just find a candied haw vendor in the next market town and buy two skewers, one in his left hand and one in his right!