As dawn approached, the black-robed elder had already reeled in his fishing rod. The silver carp, innately fond of moonlight and averse to sunlight, would only leave the depths to roam and feed in the darkness. If one were to bite during the day, even if dragged ashore, the spiritually aware silver carp would choose mutual destruction, causing the essence of its two dragon whiskers to dissipate, preventing it from becoming entirely mundane but still diminishing its quality.

However, the trio did not lose heart. Angling for large fish in the lake, let alone spiritual fish like the silver carp, even the prized catches of common mountain anglers, like the huge green carp, often eluded capture after a whole night of waiting. The elder, after retrieving his rod, began replacing the line and hook, the latter becoming exceptionally delicate and intricate, no bigger than a thumb. The young man also started re-mixing the groundbait, spending even more money, likely intending to lure the rarer golden winnow fish.

The young man, remembering something, turned to look at the large tree, and called out, “Fellow Daoist, catching winnow fish relies purely on luck, with no particular taboos. Would you like to join us for some lake fishing? I have a bamboo raft, we can raft fish together.”

The female attendant wanted to stop him, but it was too late.

The young man took out a heavy copper coin, as large as a child’s palm, gently rubbed it between his hands, and conjured a miniature bamboo raft, no longer than a finger. He gently breathed on it, then tossed it into the lake. The raft instantly grew in size, causing ripples in the water.

Chen Ping An hesitated for a moment, then nodded, jumped down from the tree branch, and walked towards the shore.

The woman used the art of sound transmission to remind the black-robed elder that the young man was also a martial artist, and his realm was higher than her own.

Last night, while he slept in the tree, his breathing was long and even, like flowing water, his martial intent was pure and concentrated. He was a master who had truly entered the hall of martial arts.

The sound sleep of a martial artist is generally only attainable after reaching the third realm of Spirit Refinement, a state of semi-sleep, with martial intent flowing throughout the body, as if protected by a deity.

Therefore, this young wanderer was likely the scion of a noble family.

The black-robed elder responded with mental ripples, telling the woman, “I only worry about rogue earth immortals with questionable origins. If he is a young martial artist with high attainments, there is less to worry about. Our Three Lang Temple fears nothing more than unrooted mountains. Don’t worry, I’ll keep a close eye on him while fishing. The young master is wearing both a Dharma robe and body armor, capable of withstanding two full-force attacks from a Golden Core cultivator. Nothing will go wrong.”

Chen Ping An stepped onto the raft. The woman skillfully poled, and the raft slowly glided towards the center of the lake. Sitting on the stool offered by the young man, Chen Ping An gave his thanks and retrieved his own fishing rod from his spatial storage. The special bait, of course, he could only borrow from the young master. The woman’s eyes flickered with a strange light. It was uncommon for a martial artist to carry spatial storage. He was indeed the scion of a noble family. The elder, however, remained unfazed, his expression natural. He even started chatting with the young wanderer, who had removed his bamboo hat, along with his young master. Both sides were tacitly aware of the situation and refrained from mentioning names or family backgrounds.

A martial artist traveling the world in a Dharma robe meant that he had not yet reached the third realm of Spirit Refinement.

The young noble, clearly inexperienced in worldly affairs, cast his line alongside Chen Ping An, and said directly, “This gentleman, I believe that those of us who sincerely enjoy fishing are rarely bad people, what do you think? Grandpa Liu and Sister Fan are so wary of you, I don’t think it’s very good.”

The black-robed elder remained leisurely, picking up some bait from the wooden bucket and casually tossing it into the lake.

The woman surnamed Fan was somewhat embarrassed.

Chen Ping An didn’t know how to respond, so he paused for a moment and offered a compromise, “There may be bad people, but certainly fewer. When venturing down the mountain, no amount of caution is excessive.”

The young man shook his head and sighed, “I know you say that out of kindness, but from my great-grandfather, to my grandfather, to my parents, every time I leave home, they say the same things, I’m really tired of it.”

Chen Ping An said nothing more.

It was just a chance encounter, and it was inappropriate to comment on other people’s affairs.

But wasn’t this young man being a little too familiar?

How good must his family be for him to be so carefree?

Chen Ping An’s mind flickered, but he pretended not to notice, and continued to stare at the lake surface.

The black-robed elder turned to look into the distance and smiled, “Young master, Du Wensi from the Hemp Robe Sect is about to arrive. We lingered too long in Orchid Musk Town. He probably fears something happened to us since our travel dates didn’t line up, hence this young Golden Core cultivator has become a bit restless.”

The young man was somewhat aggrieved. He hated these social engagements the most. He was fine with like-minded peers, but he was not good at managing relationships if they were between elders. The female martial artist softly said, “Young master, I heard that Du Wensi is gentle and peaceful, not one to contend with the world. When he left the Bone Beach to travel north, he passed by our gate and became a close friend of the Old Master, a friendship despite the age gap. I’m sure he will get along with you as well, young master.”

The young man nodded, made a face at the woman, and laughed, “Sister Fan, I still understand the etiquette of being away from home.”

The woman’s eyes were gentle, and the corners of her mouth turned up.

Chen Ping An glanced at them and then looked away.

Okay.

The silly boy beside him probably couldn’t understand the unspoken words in his Sister Fan’s eyes for the time being.

A Qi Refinement cultivator wearing snow-white hemp robes flew over, and thunder rumbled in the distant sky, like winter thunder.

As he approached Emerald Green Lake, the Earth Immortal of the Hemp Robe Sect slowed down his sword flight. His speed was still fast, but almost silent.

He didn’t land directly on the raft, but chose to wait quietly on the shore, without saying a word, probably for fear of disturbing the fish in Emerald Green Lake.

He looked like he had a good temper.

Chen Ping An was about to put away his fishing rod.

Unexpectedly, the young man laughed, “If you still want to fish, then keep fishing. You can have this bamboo raft. I may have to go to Green Lodge Town first, then return to Emerald Green Lake to fish for silver carp. You have spatial storage anyway. I can teach you a spell to store and release the raft, it’s very simple. You can take it to Green Lodge Town later and hand it to any Hemp Robe Sect cultivator.”

Chen Ping An shook his head, “No need, I need to travel immediately. Coming on this raft to fish was just to relax.”

The young man wouldn’t force his kindness on others.

They returned to the shore together. The young man put away the bamboo raft, bowed to the young Golden Core cultivator of the Hemp Robe Sect, and smiled brightly, “Yuan Xuan of Three Lang Temple greets Uncle Du.”
Du Wensi smiled and nodded, “I knew you’d be fishing here at Copper Lake, so I originally planned to come find you later, but Zhu Zongzhu urged me, so I dared not delay. How is your great-grandfather’s health these days?”

Yuan Xuan laughed, “Still hale and hearty.”

Du Wensi chuckled.

Chen Ping’an cupped his fist in farewell.

When Chen Ping’an and Du Wensi’s eyes met, they nodded to each other almost simultaneously.

Chen Ping’an hadn’t walked more than a few steps when Yuan Xuan caught up with him, whispering, “If you’re heading to Qinglu Town, it’s best to take the official road, even if it’s a detour, it’s safer. If you want to go faster, you’ll have to pass through that miasmic land teeming with great demons. Each one claims territory as their own king, and they’re incredibly bold. They’ve even banded together, calling themselves the ‘Six Sages’, forming a force to contend with the city lords in the central Ghost Domain Valley. They’re quite ferocious. The city’s wraiths and these demons often engage in skirmishes, like battlefield clashes. It’s said that there’s even a great demon who specializes in collecting military texts, studying the art of war all day long. Quite comical, really.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “I’ll be careful. I wish you a successful fishing trip, a bountiful catch, with both Ying Fish and Silver Carp in your net.”

Yuan Xuan nodded vigorously. Since he’d let it slip earlier, he simply introduced himself, “My name is Yuan Xuan, a disciple of the Sanlang Temple.”

Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment, then smiled, “I’m called Chen Ping’an, from the Treasure Bottle Continent.”

Yuan Xuan chuckled, “Actually, I could tell you were from another continent just by your accent.”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “An old hand, I see.”

Yuan Xuan was taken aback, “Really?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Just being polite.”

Yuan Xuan laughed heartily, immensely pleased.

*See*, he thought, all anglers are one family; there are no bad people amongst them.

He had been fond of fishing since he was a child, brought up by his great-grandfather, a master of the art. His great-grandfather had long said that the wise find joy in water, and a fondness for fishing is especially precious. This is because wise and clever people often find it difficult to calm their minds, and fishing requires precisely that – a steadfast stillness.

The two bid farewell there.

Yuan Xuan and his servant followed Du Wensi along the official road to Qinglu Town.

Chen Ping’an, on the other hand, headed towards Copper Coffin Mountain.

He would meet the Mountain-Moving Apes and the Mountain-Herding Hounds there, especially the former, to learn more about their copper skin and iron bones.

As for Yuan Xuan’s Sanlang Temple, Chen Ping’an had learned about it when researching the customs and culture of the Jilu Continent in Dragon Spring County. The Sanlang Temple was one of the largest weapon shops in the Northern Jilu Continent, with an excellent reputation, truly making friends all over the world. Of course, the most famous thing about Sanlang Temple cultivators was that they were all skilled fighters.

*No wonder*, Chen Ping’an thought.

*No wonder* the young Yuan Xuan was so innocent and kind.

He was somewhat like Fan Er from Old Dragon City.

He also seemed similar to Liu Youzhou from the Snowy Continent, who owned an Ape-Trampling Manor on the Upside-Down Mountain.

For a Sanlang Temple disciple who garnered the attention of both Zhu Quan, the sect master of the Straw Mat Sect, and Du Wensi, would mountain spirits and forest monsters in the Ghost Domain Valley truly deserve the descriptions “great demons” and “ferocious” in his eyes?

In the end, he was simply giving Chen Ping’an a kind warning.

If the children of wealthy families were all like this, perhaps the world would be a much more peaceful place.

Unfortunately, the likes of Huang He from Book Brief Pavilion, the prince he met at the frontier inn of the Great Spring Dynasty in the Tung Leaf Continent, and that prince who tried to kill Chen Ping’an in the snowy night, only to be killed himself, were far more numerous.

Even if one encountered them and killed them, it seemed that they could never be completely eradicated. These types, who climbed to high positions along their respective paths, would only sprout up like bamboo shoots after the rain, emerging crop after crop. It was not just the ever-present green grass that the spring breeze revitalized.

Was it that there were too few people like Qi Xian Sheng in the world, or that people like Cui had to exist?

Chen Ping’an walked along the desolate mountain path, took down the Sword-Nourishing Gourd, and took a sip, only to find that it was mountain spring water, not wine.

Chen Ping’an glanced back at the shadow he had cast in the sunlight.

Chen Ping’an tapped his toes and flew across the dry, yellow grass, heading straight for Copper Coffin Mountain.

The Mountain-Moving Great Sage, one of the Six Sages of Ghost Domain Valley, originated from that Copper Coffin Mountain. That Mountain-Moving Ape had tempered his physical body to an incredibly powerful degree and wielded a pair of meteor hammers.

Meanwhile, on Yuan Xuan’s side, who had parted ways with Chen Ping’an.

Once the young man realized that Du Wensi was a gentle elder who spoke little, he himself became more talkative, sharing the sights and interesting things he had seen along the way with Du Wensi.

During this time, Du Wensi inadvertently turned his head once, glancing at the back of the young swordsman. This young Golden Core cultivator, who was as famous as Yang Lin from the Mural City in the Straw Mat Sect, seemed lost in thought. There were some issues in Flesh-Nourishing City. It was said that Fan Yunluo had been severely injured by a young Sword Immortal near Crow Ridge, and nearly died by his sword. It was only when Pu Rang from White Cage City intervened that a larger conflict was avoided. He wondered how Yuan Xuan had met this person. Judging by his appearance, he didn’t seem like an impetuous cultivator, so why was he so sharp and aggressive? He must not have been in Ghost Domain Valley for long, and had already alarmed Pu Rang? If Pu Rang was determined to kill, no one in Ghost Domain Valley could stop him, not even the sect master, or the Jade Purity realm spirit from the Capital View City.

Pu Rang was especially ruthless when killing sword cultivators and never hesitated.

Du Wensi thought of the subtle shifts and undercurrents between the various cities in recent years and became somewhat worried.

In the depths of the unknown, a storm was brewing.

Du Wensi was already considered the Straw Mat Sect’s most detached cultivator, unconcerned with matters outside of cultivation. Moreover, from the sect master to his fellow disciples, they intentionally kept him out of it, allowing him to focus on breaking through his bottleneck. But even he could now sense those restless stirrings. The severity of the situation in Ghost Domain Valley was evident.

As for Fan Yunluo of Flesh-Nourishing City claiming to the world that he was her sworn brother, Du Wensi found it both amusing and admirable that she could come up with such an idea and simply let her do as she pleased.

The fundamental path of a cultivator was like a mountain, with worldly matters being fleeting clouds and smoke. The flourishing and decay of vegetation on the mountain, the flowing streams in the valleys, there was no need to hold onto them, so there was no need to dwell on them.

Chen Ping’an walked slowly.

His thoughts drifted, unable to find inner peace.

This world might not be as good as we imagine it to be.

But it might also not be as bad as we imagine it to be.

But every “might” meant an accident and contingency.

Every person we encounter on life’s journey might be someone else’s dream, someone they long for.

An was increasingly understanding the mindset of those who committed evil.

But he still didn’t understand why such people could live so well, even better than good people.

Unknowingly, Chen Ping’an’s gaze became deep and profound.
The gloom in Chen Pingan’s heart quickly dissipated. He was merely feeling a bit frustrated because when he arrived at Copper Mountain, he couldn’t find a single mountain ape, let alone a chasing-mountain dog.

It was likely that Du Wensi’s previous long-distance flight on the wind had created too much commotion, startling the local spirits and monsters.

This left Chen Pingan feeling somewhat helpless.

Normally, the violent mountain apes would readily reveal themselves as soon as they caught even the slightest whiff of a human scent.

Chen Pingan deliberately lingered, but after half a day of wandering around with the cultivation of an ordinary Fifth Realm martial artist, not a single fish took the bait.

Chen Pingan had no choice but to rest in a place with a wide view, planning to spend the night there. If there was no reaction after a whole night, he would give up and continue on his journey.

He refused to believe that he wouldn’t encounter even one of the six monstrous sages.

After nightfall, Chen Pingan lit a bonfire and sat up all night, practicing the Sword Furnace stance.

He had no choice but to leave Copper Mountain.

On Copper Mountain, in a secret, incredibly foul-smelling cave, a silverback mountain ape that had not chosen to transform into human form peered out through a small, palm-sized hidden window. Although it walked like a human, its features and body shape, along with its furry coat, were still very conspicuous.

It beckoned, and a small, rat-faced man quickly approached. The mountain ape rasped, “Hurry and report to Great Sage Bānshān and those guests that this guy has really come. It’s him, no doubt, the one who made Fūnì City suffer a great loss.”

The small man was about to leave along an underground passage.

The mountain ape reminded him, “Remember to be clever and choose a hidden route. Rather take a longer way than run into that guy’s sword and seek death. Your death is nothing, but if you delay Great Sage Bānshān’s business, I’ll stew your entire nest of rat offspring in one pot.”

The man fawned, “I definitely won’t mess up the important matter.”

The man walked out of the cave along the tunnel, emerging from a crack in the stone wall far from the cave. He lunged forward, reverting to his true form, a giant rat the size of a dog, and then began to run wildly.

Birds have bird paths, and rats have rat roads.

This rat demon appeared fat, but was actually very agile, traversing mountains and valleys as fast as lightning, daring not to linger at all, running all the way.

After leaving Copper Mountain, the rat demon suddenly burrowed into the ground and disappeared. About half an incense stick of time later, it emerged from a tree root a mile away, cautiously poking its head out. After confirming that no one was following, it continued on its way.

But the rat demon never expected that a stranger was following far behind. The man removed his conical hat, sword immortal attire, and sword-nurturing gourd, and put on a young man’s mask over his face.

The rat demon was already being careful and respectful enough, but the other party’s level of cultivation seemed to be even higher.

At noon, the rat demon carefully crossed the border between the territories of two great demons, and finally arrived at the mountain of Great Sage Bānshān. After reverting to human form, it was drenched in sweat, panting for breath.

Although the six sages were united against a common enemy, even husband and wife, brothers, have little arguments and conflicts. It was just a hardship for these small fry with insufficient cultivation, who often became the meal of a certain Grandfather Sage for no reason. After all, devouring them could increase their cultivation. Especially those half-baked demons who could barely maintain their human form for long, their lives were even cheaper than dirt.

The mountain road was wide. The rat demon arrived at its own territory, emboldened and ready to climb the mountain, when it noticed a familiar figure walking down a small road in the other direction. The figure was hunched over, staggering, like a country old farmer who couldn’t even walk steadily. The rat demon was overjoyed and ran over, shouting loudly, “Little one greets Ancestor!”

The old man had a thick hemp rope tied around his waist and wore straw sandals. He was unremarkable, squinting, seemingly with poor eyesight and hearing. He tilted his head and shouted, “Who are you? What are you saying?”

The rat demon reached out to hold the old man’s arm, “It’s me, from Copper Mountain. I’m related to Ancestor.”

The old man grunted in acknowledgement, not refusing the rat demon’s hospitality. After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped, sniffed, and widened his eyes, his eyes shining with shrewdness, no longer showing any sign of decay. He looked around and said sternly, “Something’s not right, something’s not right. I smell a human scent, it must be a human scent! Good, they are cunning enough, hiding so deep, almost deceiving even me.”

The rat demon’s legs trembled, almost collapsing to the ground.

Was he really being followed by a legendary young sword immortal all this way?

The old man grunted in surprise, “Ran away?”

The old man shouted angrily at his disciple and grandson, “You’re useless! You didn’t even notice you were being followed. If it was a spy sent by those dirty things, and they ruined our mountain and river grand formation, you wouldn’t be able to pay for it with a hundred lives!”

The rat demon’s legs went completely weak, and he sat on the ground, his face pale. Fortunately, he didn’t forget the important matter and told the old man what had happened at Copper Mountain.

The old man’s expression changed unpredictably.

The half-dead old man in front of him was not ordinary, he was one of the six sages, calling himself the Demon-Catching Immortal.

As a demon who had a demon-binding rope tied around his waist, the old undead possessed the dragon whiskers of two millennium silver carps from Copper Green Lake in that demon-binding rope. Capturing ordinary demons and ghosts was easy as pie. Once the enemy was bound, they would be ground to pieces, inch by inch of flesh, and shattered bone by bone. The old man said that such meat was chewy, and the drops of blood that seeped out were wine-flavored.

The old man suddenly took off the demon-binding rope and threw it out. It twisted and turned like a snake, wandering around, and after a moment, it returned like lightning, held in the old man’s hand. “Indeed, he ran away.”

The old man flew into the clouds, no longer strolling on foot, and rushed to the cave opened up by the mountain ape.

Dozens of miles away, Chen Pingan, appearing as a young man, was quickly sneaking through the mountains and forests.

He wasn’t retreating because he found it too difficult, but had temporarily changed his mind.

He had followed the rat demon to Great Sage Bānshān’s mountain and saw a team from afar. They were all demons, tying up a living person, a slender, refined young man in a green shirt.

The man’s hands and feet were tied to a bamboo pole, which was carried by two minions who had not fully transformed into human form, their shoulders carrying the bamboo pole, walking unsteadily. The poor, weak scholar was being shaken so hard that he was barely breathing.

The leader of the demons, looking quite human-like, dressed as a scholar, fond of elegance, held a white bone folding fan with a peach blossom painted on the fan, slowly fanning himself in front of his chest.
A wizened old man with a goatee followed beside him, chatting idly. They had been dispatched specifically to welcome him. This fan-bearing gentleman, known as the “Peach Fan Scholar,” was the most trusted aide of their Mistress of Summer Retreat, frequently procuring living humans from the Copper Coin City to improve her diet.

The old man chuckled, “Scholar, these bookworms are a rare treat. The taste must be exquisite. How did you manage to catch him? Do tell!”

The fan-bearing demon, quite pleased with himself, slowly explained, “It took some effort. This simpleton was wandering near the Copper Coin City, enjoying the scenery. I approached him, discussing poetry and prose. We were so engrossed that I tricked him into stepping beyond the boundaries of the Copper Coin City, ensuring no trouble for our Mistress. Even if the Copper Coin City notices afterward, I’m in the clear.”

The frail scholar trembled, “I am a newly appointed Jinshi, chosen by the Copper Coin City. You cannot eat me, you mustn’t! If the Mistress of Summer Retreat truly desires to eat people, I can help. I can lure more back for you, woodcutters from the mountains, or women who admire my talent, anything…”

The fan-bearing demon sneered, “Can we trust the words of us scholars? Look, you trusted me, and what’s the result?”

The scholar silently wept.

Near Green Reed Town was the peculiar Copper Coin City, a mixed haven where living humans and ghostly beings coexisted peacefully. Compared to the other cities of the Ghost Domain Valley, the Copper Coin City was considered the most stable. The surrounding area was devoid of fierce ghosts and vicious spirits, and the city itself had strict rules prohibiting bloodshed.

This was related to its proximity to Green Reed Town, and more precisely, to the Immortal Master of Guo Pond, Zhu Quan.

Furthermore, over twenty thousand living humans had settled there for generations. They were originally a group of exiled cultivators from a destroyed sect, who paid a large sum of immortal coins to the Copper Coin City to reside and multiply. After centuries, their descendants had settled comfortably within and outside the city, coexisting with the ghosts and demons, a common sight for both parties.

However, the living humans near the Copper Coin City generally had short lifespans, with half a century considered a long life. The mortal women of the Copper Coin City, even without any cultivation aptitude, were born beautiful and enchanting, but their beauty faded quickly, showing signs of aging after twenty-five, a regrettable sight.

Each year, the Copper Coin City would select a group of beautiful young women around the age of fifteen, meticulously train them by experienced matrons, and send them to other cities to serve as concubines and maids in the residences of powerful underworld figures, as a means of currying favor.

The Copper Coin City’s Lord had a younger sister, whose reputation was almost as great as his. On the first and fifteenth of each month, she would playfully scatter gold coins from the city walls, occasionally including one or two Lesser Heat Coins.

The Copper Coin City also had a Golden Luan Hall, a small imperial court, where the Lord appointed over a hundred civil and military officials, complete with all six ministries, a miniature but fully functional government.

Court assemblies were held every ten days, with a semblance of formality.

There were even imperial examinations, although without any preliminary local or provincial exams, only the palace examination, as the Copper Coin City had a small population, with few people possessing literacy.

The Lord’s sister, who had self-appointed herself as the “Annotating Chancellor,” was personally responsible for setting the examination questions and grading the papers.

The “Gentleman” who had appointed himself, the fan-bearing demon and the old man with a goatee, were discussing lively events in the northern Ghost Domain Valley.

The fan-bearing demon, having just returned from a journey, had heard some rumors in the Copper Coin City, wildly exaggerated but convincingly detailed.

He had originally planned to boast about it to the Mistress of Summer Retreat, but the mountain road was long and tedious, so he began to elaborate, “It is said that two exceedingly fair and ethereal female cultivators, one of whom is very likely the Deer-Riding Goddess from the Mural City, audaciously ventured straight towards the Jingguan City on a ferry. Their imposing aura prevented any city lord from daring to stop them along the way. Only when they approached Jingguan City did a city lord activate the city’s heavy defense, unleashing at least a hundred or eighty flying swords!”

The old man with a goatee exclaimed in shock, “Good heavens, if it were us, we’d have been riddled with holes!”

“You? Do you know how many immortal coins are consumed with each volley of the sword bed? Only our Mistress would receive such treatment.”

The fan-bearing demon chuckled, “Back to the main point, at a critical moment, an ugly guardian, calling himself Zhou Fei, stepped in. He claimed that the net he cast was woven from several thousand Snow Coins. He swept up all those flying swords, buzzing like a sack full of mosquitos. The city was unwilling to give in, and another wave of flying swords was launched, guess what happened?”

A minion blurted out, “They ran away, what else?”

The fan-bearing demon kicked him, sending him flying several yards away, and continued, “That ugly man unfurled another net, identical to the first, still made of immortal coins, and said that he had no other skills, but his ability to earn money while lying down scared even himself. A man like that, it’s a pity he’s so ugly, or else I’d want to piss on his head.”

The demons were in uproar.

They felt like they were listening to a celestial tale.

The old man with a goatee whispered, “What happened afterward? Did they fight even more fiercely in Jingguan City? A mutual destruction would be the best outcome!”

“Old Goat, you look like Zhou Fei, but you also think too highly of yourself. That’s not good, you need to change.”

After mocking him, the fan-bearing demon said regretfully, “Nothing followed. The many vassal cities of Jingguan City began to tighten security, and no news leaked to our southern region. The Copper Coin City only had so much information. Alas, those two young ladies are likely lambs in the tiger’s den. No matter how powerful the ugly man’s magic treasure is, can it compare to the cultivation of the Jingguan City Lord?”

Chen Ping’an followed from a distance.

He was puzzled as to why Jiang Shangzhen had returned to the Northern Purgatory Continent and was willing to join hands with the Deer-Riding Goddess, who had stepped out of the painting, to break into the Jingguan City of Ghost Domain Valley.

Could it be that the Deer-Riding Goddess had chosen Jiang Shangzhen as her master after being rejected at the Shaky River Ferry?

And who was the other female cultivator with them?

Regardless, he couldn’t control it, and if it was truly Jiang Shangzhen acting against Jingguan City, it would be a real battle of immortals.

First, he would meet this Mistress of Summer Retreat.
In the depths of a ravine halfway up Treasure Mirror Mountain, Yang Chongxuan sat by the water’s edge, utterly bored. He massaged his cheeks, weary of this long, fruitless wait.

“Once I get my hands on the opportunity here, I’m definitely heading north,” he muttered to himself. “Ideally to Mount Sharpening, where I can have a good, satisfying brawl with someone.”

He scratched his head. These past years of seclusion had allowed a few upstarts to eclipse his other alias’s reputation. “And this hair… used to being bald for so long, this is quite the adjustment.”

Just how accurate was that prophecy anyway? While staying here could be considered cultivation, and bathing in the water now and then did temper his soul, it paled in comparison to the volcanic lava he used to use to forge his body. Besides, his nature abhorred being tied down. If it weren’t for his family’s explicit orders, his mother nearly threatening him with filial piety, Yang Chongxuan wouldn’t have bothered with this trip. Wouldn’t it have been better to entrust it to his steady, high-level, and famous younger brother? Furthermore, even if he obtained the Three Mountain Mirror, wouldn’t the family ultimately hand it over to his brother to refine into his natal treasure?

It wasn’t that he held a grudge or couldn’t bear to see his brother succeed. It was just that being stuck on this godforsaken Treasure Mirror Mountain was too dull. Which was why that Old Fox of West Mountain was still hopping around, providing a source of amusement to alleviate the monotony.

Yang Chongxuan casually grabbed a handful of stones from the white stone cliff and crushed them into pebbles, which he tossed into the water.

He and his renowned, accomplished brother were merely incompatible; their differences weren’t enough to turn them into bitter enemies.

As the older brother, he couldn’t stand his brother’s premature seriousness and bookish nature since childhood. The younger brother, on the other hand, had always disliked his elder brother’s knack for causing trouble.

If their roles were reversed, perhaps there would be fewer worries.

“Damn it,” he thought. “If I had known, I would have climbed back into the womb when I accidentally came out first.”

Yang Chongxuan sighed, looking towards the north, and complained loudly, “Oh, dear mother, when will this torment end?”

Across the ravine, a burly youth emerged from the woods, happily carrying a large pile of wild fruits he had gathered from other peaks. “Brother Yang, are you missing your mother too?” he called out.

Yang Chongxuan propped his chin on his hand, too weary to respond. Every day felt exhausting.

The youth leapt across the ravine, landing beside Yang Chongxuan, and offered him a wild fruit. “Brother Yang, this thing is crunchy and delicious.”

Yang Chongxuan took the pear-shaped fruit and began to eat, muttering, “Wei Gaowu, does your sister have a secret lover or not?”

This flattering, fruit-bearing hulk was none other than the younger brother of the Old Fox of West Mountain’s daughter, the umbrella-carrying enchantress Wei Taizhen, Wei Gaowu. Of course, neither of their names was their true, given name.

Wei Gaowu shook his head. “Of course not. My sister has high standards. See, she didn’t even take a liking to you, Brother Yang. I reckon my sister is destined to be an old maid this life.”

Yang Chongxuan didn’t press the matter further.

This seemingly foolish and simpleton was often bullied among the mountain spirits of Treasure Mirror Mountain. Even a low-ranking mountain patrol imp could order him around. If he weren’t so ugly, he would probably have to wash his own behind every day.

But Wei Gaowu wasn’t truly stupid.

In fact, he was perhaps the most intelligent of the family of three.

Intelligent enough to sense that his sister’s ultimate fate might not be good.

Wei Gaowu had done all he could, and nothing he shouldn’t have.

Yet he couldn’t change his sister’s ending.

Yang Chongxuan was curious. When that day came, would Wei Gaowu still be able to play the fool? Would he fight to the death? Or would he endure the humiliation, eking out a miserable existence in Ghost Dominion Valley, desperately struggling and hoping to one day take revenge?

This was also Yang Chongxuan’s way of entertaining himself, pondering his own trivial matters and other people’s monumental tragedies. It was quite amusing.

Yang Chongxuan took another wild fruit, wiped it on his tattered sleeve, and casually asked, “What did Powder Rouge City say?”

Wei Gaowu grinned. “After Lord City Lord had a heart-to-heart with you, Brother Yang, I saw him at the dilapidated temple. He even praised me as a lucky one for knowing a hero like you, Brother Yang, and invited me to Powder Rouge City as a guest.”

Yang Chongxuan smiled. “This shows that the City Lord of Powder Rouge City is an agreeable person.”

Wei Gaowu grinned. “I know. I am just basking in your greatness. Otherwise, the City Lord would disdainfully dirty his eyes by looking at me.”

Yang Chongxuan asked, “Any interesting events happening elsewhere recently?”

Wei Gaowu was a messenger who helped gather information. This fox spirit’s courage, seemingly smaller than a pinhole, had never displayed anger. Yet his courage was not small, as he dared to venture to nearby peaks, Powder Rouge City, and even the Musk Orchid Town. However, Wei Gaowu only came into contact with the lowest rung of ghosts, monsters, and rogue cultivators in Ghost Dominion Valley. Yang Chongxuan could fully imagine Wei Gaowu’s usual lowly appearance, bowing and grinning at everyone.

Wei Gaowu nodded. “Yes, I just went to Musk Orchid Town and heard that Mount Sharpening has been the site of a fierce battle recently. That Liu Jinglong you always complaining about had a earth-shattering clash with a very handsome foreign Daoist nun on Mount Sharpening.”

Yang Chongxuan said, “Liu Jinglong actually willing to fight someone? And chose Mount Sharpening, the most exposed place? How many moves did Liu Jinglong use to kill the opponent?”

Wei Gaowu whispered, “Both were gravely injured, both were lying in blood, and for a long time neither was able to get up. In the end, Liu Jinglong barely won because he was the first to stand up, and the Daoist nun was a little slower.”

Yang Chongxuan frowned.

That Liu Jinglong was even more famous than his brother.

In the competitive Northern Continent, everyone, both on and off the mountains, loved to rank people, which was why the battles were even more brutal.

Besides the top ten, including Daoist Heavenly Lord Xie Shi, there was also a group of ten promising young talents, with Yang Chongxuan’s brother ranked ninth.

Liu Jinglong was ranked third.

This man was also hailed as the Land Dragon of the Northern Continent, a sure contender for the top ten of the continent in the future.
Yang Chongxuan found him annoying because of a private sparring match in his youth, where he simply couldn’t break through a simple formation set up by the other party.

Keep in mind, Liu Jinglong was a sword cultivator, not some kind of formation master.

Moreover, what made this guy even more irritating than his own younger brother was that Liu Jinglong loved to reason, not with profound, ethereal theories, but with the most basic and shallow logic. This, ironically, left Yang Chongxuan with internal injuries.

Yang Chongxuan chuckled, “This battle must have earned the Qionglin Sect quite a bit of silver.”

Wei Gaowu asked curiously, “Brother Yang, what kind of sect is this Qionglin Sect?”

Yang Chongxuan replied, “Your Copper Stench City in Ghost Dominion Valley is considered good at making money, right? If you ever see the Qionglin Sect, you’ll have to kneel down and acknowledge them as ancestors.”

Wei Gaowu was somewhat dazed, obediently holding the wild fruits, squatting beside Yang Chongxuan, and gazing into the distance.

Yang Chongxuan said, “There are mountains beyond mountains, heavens beyond heavens. But without a hard fist, no matter where you go, you, Wei Gaowu, will just be Wei Gaowu of Ghost Dominion Valley. Aside from being tall and having the character ‘high’ in your name, there’s nothing high about you. There’s nothing to look forward to out there. You might as well stay in Ghost Dominion Valley and muddle through life.”

Wei Gaowu softly called out, “Brother Yang.”

Yang Chongxuan patted the big guy’s shoulder. “Scram.”

Wei Gaowu sighed heavily, gently placed the wild fruits he was holding to the side, leaped over the ravine, and departed. Reaching the edge of the dense forest on the other side, the hulking fellow didn’t forget to turn his head and wave goodbye.

Yang Chongxuan stretched out his palm, lightly opened his mouth, and spat out a speck of scarlet liquid the size of a grain of rice into his hand. Yang Chongxuan shook his head with a smile; he still wasn’t clever enough.

Daring to play these juggling tricks without even knowing if he was a Qi cultivator or a pure martial artist?

However, Wei Gaowu would never guess the truth, even if given two chances.

Was he a Qi cultivator?

Was he a pure martial artist?

Because Yang Chongxuan was both, and both to a high degree.

This was all thanks to that battle with Liu Jinglong. Back then, they were both of the same age and considered to be half-friends.

That exchange might not have mattered to Liu Jinglong, but it changed the easygoing Yang Chongxuan as a person.

Yang Chongxuan was an assumed name.

So was “Yang Jinshan,” who wandered the pugilistic world.

But the name Yang Chongxuan was likely to be ignored by everyone. It was the roaming hero Yang Jinshan, as well as the moniker “Yang the Butcher,” that were famous names in the Northern Ju Lu Continent, far more renowned than his real name.

His younger brother, who also possessed a natural Dao seed, was naturally drawn to water, while this older brother was naturally drawn to mountains.

Therefore, the family still sent him to Treasure Mirror Mountain.

Damn it, they could come up with such a ridiculous reason?

And what was this bottomless water ravine before him?

Yang Chongxuan clapped his hands, leaned backward, and fell. Aside from the nonsensical reason, there was also a more mysterious explanation.

His water-attuned younger brother was likely to encounter a life-or-death struggle for the Great Dao on Treasure Mirror Mountain, which would be extremely dangerous.

Yang Chongxuan was puzzled. In this Ghost Dominion Valley, unless the city lord of Jingguan City and that Boneframe Pu went insane, what danger could his brother be in? This brother wasn’t some pushover; he was like a mudskipper, and ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators couldn’t catch this guy, who was skilled at preserving his life and best at running away.

Zhu Quan of the Hemp Robe Sect wasn’t a fool, and might even help protect him. The two detached masters from the Little Mysterious Capital Temple and the Great Full Moon Monastery weren’t troublemakers either, especially the one from the Little Mysterious Capital Temple, who might even favor his brother, creating another small act of kindness?

Even that prophecy and those mystical statements made him feel bored.

Yang Chongxuan suddenly inexplicably thought of that young wandering hero wearing a bamboo hat.

It was obvious that he was the same kind of person as himself.

However, Yang Chongxuan didn’t have any intention of competing at the time.

Opportunity was approaching.

It was better to avoid trouble, a saying that should be heeded.

Could it be this person?

Yang Chongxuan began to ponder deeply, performing hand seals and quietly calculating. Although he had learned divination perfunctorily, he was still better than ordinary experts, after all, it was a family tradition.

But after a moment, Yang Chongxuan leaned backward, closing his eyes and falling asleep. “None of my business. I’m still asleep when the sun is high in the sky, regardless of the myriad sorrows of the world.”

Yang Chongxuan muttered, “I still envy the Fire Dragon True Man, who cultivates while awake and cultivates while asleep. I wonder if there are any similar immortal techniques in the world. If there are, I must steal them and learn them.”

A mellow voice sounded beside Yang Chongxuan, “Of course there are. One is in Flowing Rosy Continent, capable of comprehending the Dao in his sleep, so his path of cultivation is twice as effective with half the effort. Now, this person has come to the Northern Ju Lu Continent. If I haven’t miscalculated, it is this person who obtained the opportunity of the Divine Woman Grinding Ink Painting in Mural City.”

“As for the other, the cause and effect are coincidentally related to a certain ancestor of my lineage, so I know that he originated from the Luminous Pearl Grotto Heaven in Treasure Bottle Continent, but now he is already in the Southern Posa Continent, capable of practicing swordsmanship in his daydreams. As long as he doesn’t die prematurely, the Great Dao is within reach. However, there will inevitably be a struggle for the Great Dao between these two sooner or later.”

Yang Chongxuan didn’t open his eyes, smiling, “So it’s the Master of the Temple paying a visit. What, are you here to compete with a junior like me for opportunities? That’s not very nice, is it? It’s just a Mirror of Light that illuminates the true form of demons, surely the old Master of the Temple doesn’t fancy it?”

An old Daoist sat cross-legged near Yang Chongxuan. Without using any spiritual energy, he simply willed it, and the water mist in the deep ravine condensed into a prayer mat.

It was none other than the old Master of the Little Mysterious Capital Temple.

The old Daoist didn’t answer Yang Chongxuan’s somewhat rude question, but simply looked at the deep ravine, sighing, “Looking at this water again, I still feel the endlessness of creation…”