The ancestral mountain of the Hemp Robe Sect is named Wood Garb. The mountain peak soars into the sky, yet lacks any opulent structures, merely simple huts built by cultivators. Due to the scarcity of Hemp Robe Sect disciples, it appears all the more desolate. Only a mansion halfway up the mountainside, with a plaque inscribed “Dharma Appearance” used for receiving guests, can barely be considered a blessed immortal abode.

Three days prior, Wood Garb Mountain was sealed off, no longer receiving visitors.

Furthermore, the memorial arch at the entrance of the Ghoul Dominion Valley was placed under strict guard, allowing only exit, not entry.

From the Helpless Pass Market to Mural City, then to the swaying River of Lament, and even the entirety of Skeleton Beach, no one felt this was unreasonable.

Because even more preposterous events had already been witnessed.

First, the three paintings of Heavenly Officials and Goddesses in Mural City simultaneously transformed into mere line drawings.

Compared to the earth-shattering changes that followed, this was nothing. Many cultivators on Skeleton Beach were still immersed in the disappointment of the three blessings already having owners. Before long, they personally witnessed a breathtaking scene. In the dead of night, a colossal skeleton appeared out of thin air on the ground of Skeleton Beach, towering like a mountain. It revealed itself with invincible might, likely the Dharma Appearance of Gao Cheng, City Lord of Corpse Hill City in Ghoul Dominion Valley, who used brute force to break open the barrier between realms. When the skeletal Dharma Appearance, which should have been obediently concealed in the dark netherworld, manifested in the mortal realm, a clash of Great Daos arose with the Yang world. The bones rubbed against the spiritual energy of Skeleton Beach, creating a dazzling display of light and color, bursting into a brilliant firework display that made the skeletal Dharma Appearance seem like an ancient Fire God descending upon the world.

The skeleton was clearly pursuing a streak of golden light that was rapidly heading south towards the ancestral hall of Wood Garb Mountain. Although Gao Cheng was delayed by a blade and a sword from Ghoul Dominion Valley, the one wielding the blade hovered in the air, confronting the thousand-zhang skeleton, small as a grain of rice, yet each strike of the blade caused a thunderous roar, and the brilliance surged, each strike like a bridge extending far away. Judging by its aura, it was undoubtedly Zhu Quan, Sect Master of the Hemp Robe Sect, an Emerald Realm cultivator. However, there was another sword whose momentum was no less than Zhu Quan’s, streams of brilliant sword qi rising from the earth, the sword light like rainbows, swift and direct.

The skeletal Dharma Appearance, with its askew shoulders, seemed to have other restraints within the Ghoul Dominion Valley, yet it still raised a palm high and pressed down heavily, instantly stirring up a heavy cloud sea filled with Yin energy, with wails of ghosts and howls of wolves. The cloud sea seemed to be piled with tens of thousands of wronged souls who could not be reincarnated after death, struggling bitterly in the sea of suffering.

The cloud sea pressed rapidly towards the ancestral hall of the Hemp Robe Sect. Subsequently, the Hemp Robe Sect’s mountain protection array was activated. Over a thousand armored puppets emerged from Wood Garb Mountain. Each one was several zhang tall, clad in iron armor covered with talismans, and their bodies glowed with gold and silver lines, colliding with the cloud sea. The cloud sea was constantly being thinned, but its downward momentum remained. From Wood Garb Mountain, wave after wave of armored heroic spirits rushed forward, ultimately, the cloud sea and the thousands of landscape heroic spirit puppets created by the Hemp Robe Sect intertwined and fought to the death, resulting in mutual destruction.

At the same time, a ray of light spread down the mountain from the ancestral hall of Wood Garb Mountain, like lightning coursing, interweaving into a brightly lit formation near the memorial arch. Then, a five-hundred-zhang tall golden deity rose from the ground, wielding a giant sword, slashing horizontally towards the waist of the skeletal Dharma Appearance.

Gao Cheng’s skeletal Dharma Appearance from Corpse Hill City failed its attack. At the border between Ghoul Dominion Valley and Skeleton Beach, another golden deity suddenly struck with its sword. The huge skeleton grabbed the sword’s edge with one hand, gold light and sparks raining down on the earth. For a time, the entire Skeleton Beach was shaken. The skeletal Dharma Appearance swung its arm and threw the giant sword away, its body plummeting, instantly disappearing into the shadows of the earth, likely retreating back to the small world of Ghoul Dominion Valley.

The golden deity also retreated back into the formation. The ray of light also returned along the same path to the ancestral hall of Wood Garb Mountain, condensing into a pearl held in the mouth of a bronze dragon statue in the ancestral hall.

The night sky of Skeleton Beach slowly returned to silence.

In the immortal mansion halfway up the mountainside.

Pang Lanxi, the young man whom the Hemp Robe Sect had high hopes for, sat at a stone table, staring intently at the young swordsman opposite him, who was flipping through a yellowed military book scavenged from the Sheep Intestine Palace.

Although Pang Lanxi was young, his seniority was high. He was the only direct descendant of an elder of the Hemp Robe Sect, and several Golden Core cultivators had to call him Junior Uncle. As for more Fifth Realm cultivators, they could only call him Grand-Junior Uncle. For the past three days, the only guest in the mansion was the blue-shirted swordsman in front of him. Pang Lanxi had visited him several times before, out of curiosity, he had talked about what he should have, and asked what he should have. The other party was clearly sincere and did not deliberately try to be mysterious, but after Pang Lanxi thought about it, it seemed that nothing had been explained at all.

It was hard to imagine that the person in front of him was the same stingy art buyer who shamelessly haggled with him in Mural City.

At that time, his childhood sweetheart had to ask him to run out of the shop to remind this person to avoid showing off his wealth when traveling, but it turned out that they had all been deceived by this guy.

The Sect Elder in charge of discipline in the ancestral hall was unwilling to reveal the secrets, only saying that they would wait for the Sect Master to return to Wood Garb Mountain. However, he sighed at the end, saying that with this level of cultivation, to be able to escape from Gao Cheng’s hands in the Ghoul Dominion Valley was truly remarkable.

Pang Lanxi became even more curious about what had happened in the Ghoul Dominion Valley, and how this person had provoked the City Lord of Corpse Hill City.

Chen Ping’an put down the military book written by a Divine Strategy Kingdom general in his early years, and, thinking of something, smiled and asked, “Lanxi, now that all eight murals in Mural City have become line drawings, what will happen to the businesses under the Riding Deer, Hanging Inkstone, and Sending Rain Goddess pictures?”

Pang Lanxi was also a little troubled, and said helplessly, “What else can I do? Apricot is almost worried to death, saying that there will definitely be no more business coming to our door. Now that Mural City has lost those three blessings, the number of customers will definitely decrease sharply. What can I do? I can only comfort her, telling her some great truths I learned from my senior brothers and nephews, but Apricot not only didn’t appreciate it, she sulked with me and ignored me. Chen Ping’an, why is Apricot like this? I was clearly being kind, why is she unhappy?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Do you want to know why?”

Pang Lanxi nodded and said, “Of course.”

Chen Ping’an’s smile deepened, “Lanxi, I heard that your great-grandfather still has a few complete sets of Lang Tian versions of the Goddess pictures, and they are your great-grandfather’s most time-consuming, most devoted, and most proud works in his life.”

Pang Lanxi was stunned for a moment, then said decisively, “As long as you can help me solve my confusion, I’ll steal the paintings for you right away!”
Chen Ping’an was somewhat speechless, gesturing for Pang Lanxi, who had already stood up, to quickly sit down, “A gentleman does not seize what others cherish. I do not covet those few sets of your grandfather’s lang tian books. I only hope you can persuade your great-grandfather to pick up the brush again and paint one or two sets of lang tian books that are not too inferior. I am paying for them, not asking you to steal them. One set is fine, two sets are better, three sets are best.”

Pang Lanxi was a little doubtful, “Just like that?”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Pang Lanxi was still a little hesitant, “Stealing has its pros and cons. The downside is definitely getting scolded, maybe even a beating. The upside is a one-time deal, quick and clean. But if I stubbornly pester my great-grandfather to pick up the brush and paint with true dedication, that’s not easy. My great-grandfather has a quirky temper, which everyone in our Pi Ma Sect has experienced. He always says that the more he puts his heart into the paintings, the more lifelike they become, then if some vulgar men in the world buy them, it would be even more offensive to those eight goddesses.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Sincerity moves the heavens. Without this foundation of piety, your great-grandfather might not be able to paint that kind of divine essence. Otherwise, what’s so difficult for so-called masters of painting to meticulously copy paintings, capturing every detail? But why is it that only your great-grandfather’s works possess such divine wonder? It’s because your great-grandfather’s heart is pure and untainted. Perhaps those eight goddesses saw it all those years ago. With a connection of hearts and minds, a divine brush naturally emerges.”

Pang Lanxi blinked.

Was this genuine sincerity, or just flattery?

Outside the residence, a tall, white-haired old man with a brush and inkstone hanging from his waist turned to look at a close friend, an elder of the Pi Ma Sect, who was retracting his palm.

The white-haired old man asked, “This child’s realm shouldn’t be aware that we’re eavesdropping, right?”

The elder smiled, “I’ve helped you conceal your aura, so he shouldn’t know. But there are countless techniques in the world, so there might be unexpected circumstances. Just the fact that he was able to escape the Ghost Weeping Valley means that he cannot be judged by ordinary standards.”

The white-haired old man stroked his beard and smiled, “Regardless, these words resonate deeply with me.”

The Pi Ma Sect elder was the one who had previously followed Jiang Shangzhen into the mural secret realm. “Are you really willing to sell them?”

Pang Shanling, Pang Lanxi’s great-grandfather, had made a grand vow in his youth to paint all the magnificent mountains and peaks in the world, but later, for some unknown reason, he settled down in the Pi Ma Sect. Pang Shanling whispered, “Shall we observe a little longer? I’d like to hear how this outsider boy will guide Lanxi.”

The elder frowned in displeasure and said, “He is a guest. I only used some minor supernatural powers earlier because I couldn’t refuse you. To continue eavesdropping would be against our Pi Ma Sect’s code of hospitality.”

Pang Shanling glared, “Lanxi has already lost the fortune of the Riding Deer Goddess. If she stumbles again in matters of love, I’ll see if Lanxi’s master will scold you until you’re covered in blood!”

The elder chuckled, “He’s good at scolding people, but I’m better at beating them. Every time, he’s happy scolding for a while, then he’s bedridden for a month.”

Pang Shanling suddenly smiled, “I’ll send you a set of hard yellow-paper goddess paintings later, worthy of the praise ‘divine brush creates wonders’.”

The elder raised his palm, observing the mountains and rivers within, and smiled, “I’ve been waiting for you to say that. Too slow, not refreshing.”

However, this elder quickly retracted his supernatural powers. Pang Shanling asked in confusion, “Why?”

The elder smiled, “The other party is not happy, so let’s stop while we’re ahead. Otherwise, they’ll file a complaint against me with the sect leader, and I’ll be in deep trouble. Such a big commotion in the Ghost Weeping Valley, it was not easy to make Gao Cheng take the initiative to show his dharma body, leave his lair, and appear in the Bone Beach. The sect leader not only took action himself, but we also used the mountain-protecting formation, yet we only managed to shave off a hundred years of his cultivation. The sect leader must be in an extremely bad mood after returning to the mountain.”

Pang Shanling was a little worried. These past two days, the Ghost Weeping Valley had been completely isolated from the outside world. Although the life lamps in the ancestral hall were still lit, which meant that the stationed cultivators in the Pi Ma Sect’s Qinglu and Lanxiang towns were unharmed. But who knew if Gao Cheng would be enraged and simply fight the Pi Ma Sect to the death, breaking the thousand-year stalemate between Bone Beach and Ghost Weeping Valley? Pang Shanling feared that at some moment, the ancestral hall would see the bleak scene of one life lamp after another being extinguished, and the speed of extinction would be extremely fast.

No one could guarantee how many would ultimately remain, neither the sect leader Zhu Quan nor the Jindan Du Wensi were exceptions. If a great battle truly broke out, given the style of the Pi Ma Sect cultivators, those with extinguished life lamps first might be these great cultivators.

The elder guessed what Pang Shanling was thinking and comforted him with a smile, “This time, Gao Cheng has suffered a loss of vital energy, so he will inevitably be furious, which is understandable. But there are still some good news in the Ghost Weeping Valley. The one who drew his sword earlier was Pu Rang from White Cage City. Furthermore, the Nascent Soul heroic spirit who was a military general from the Divine Strategy Kingdom has always been at odds with Jingguan City. When the firmament broke open earlier, I saw that he seemed to have the intention of intervening as well. Don’t forget, there is also that peach forest in the Ghost Weeping Valley, and those two worldly experts from the temple and the Taoist temple will not allow Gao Cheng to wantonly slaughter.”

Pang Shanling nodded slightly, “I hope so.”

Back at the residence.

Pang Lanxi didn’t care. His childhood sweetheart, Xingzi, was the most important thing. He said, “Okay, tell me. But it must be something that I think makes sense, otherwise I won’t go and get scolded by my great-grandfather.”

Chen Ping’an first raised his hands in a fist-and-palm salute, indicating to the immortal masters outside not to push their luck any further, then gently placed one hand on the book of military strategy, lightly stroking it. It was after he left the Ghost Weeping Valley that he discovered that most of the books carefully collected by the demon-slaying immortal from the Sheep Intestine Palace were well-maintained and of good quality. These were all well-preserved, rare, and even unique books that had survived for thousands of years, so he felt great joy and began to enlighten the young man before him, smiling softly, “Lanxi, do you think it’s difficult for you to reach the Jindan realm and become a terrestrial immortal in the eyes of ordinary teachers?”

Pang Lanxi said sincerely, “Chen Ping’an, I’m not boasting, Jindan is easy, Nascent Soul is not difficult.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. What Pang Lanxi said was indeed the truth. These past few days, while staying at this residence in the Pi Ma Sect, through chatting with the young man before him, as well as the exchanges with Yang Lin, a Jindan cultivator from Mural City, and several other direct descendants of the Pi Ma Sect, he roughly understood Pang Lanxi’s importance in the Pi Ma Sect. It was highly likely that he was being cultivated as a future sect leader, or at least someone who would hold great power in the Pi Ma Sect.
Moreover, Pang Lanxi possessed extraordinary talent, a pure and clear mind, and a kind demeanor. Whether in terms of innate gifts or acquired temperament, he was exceptionally well-suited to the Hemp Robe Sect. This is the wondrous nature of the Great Dao. Had Pang Lanxi been born in the Lake of Books, the same person might not have achieved such greatness on the path, as the Lake of Books would have constantly eroded his original nature, ultimately impacting his cultivation and opportunities. However, here at Wood Robe Mountain, home to the Hemp Robe Sect, he was like a fish in water, a match made in heaven. Perhaps this is what is meant by “different soils nurture different people.” Some who blame the heavens and resent others might not be entirely lacking in self-awareness; they may simply be truly out of luck.

Seeing Chen Ping’an begin to space out, Pang Lanxi couldn’t help but remind him, “Chen Ping’an, don’t get lost in thought! One or two sets of corridor-filled editions are beckoning you! Why are you wandering a thousand miles away in your mind?”

Chen Ping’an apologized and then asked, “You are destined to be a long-lived immortal cultivator of the mountains, while your Almond Blossom girl is a common mortal from the town below. Have you ever considered this?” He continued, “Ordinary women will have some gray hair by forty, and by the age of sixty, they might already be white-haired old women. How will Almond Blossom face a Pang Lanxi who might still appear as a youth or, at most, a young man?”

Pang Lanxi’s heart tightened, and he murmured, “I can deliberately follow the course of nature and become an old man with white hair as well, so that my appearance doesn’t remain unchanged.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “You’re wrong, doubly wrong.”

Pang Lanxi looked up, a bewildered expression on his face.

Chen Ping’an said, “Let’s not even mention that your ‘old man’ facade would still radiate inner vitality and luminous splendor. Let’s leave that aside.”

Chen Ping’an paused slightly and softly asked, “Have you put yourself in the shoes of your beloved Almond Blossom girl and given it serious thought? Some things, no matter how you think about them or how good you think they are, regardless of your good intentions, are they truly good? Are they truly right? Have you considered that giving someone genuine kindness is never simply a matter of our wishful thinking?”

Pang Lanxi wanted to speak but stopped.

Chen Ping’an slowly said, “In Mural City, I was merely a passing traveler who happened to meet you. Since she had you chase after me, reminding me to be careful, such kindness indicates that she is undoubtedly a good girl worthy of your affection. Earlier, I observed you two in the shop, and as an outsider, I could roughly see that Almond Blossom is a thoughtful person with a broad-minded spirit, which is extremely rare. Therefore, she doesn’t feel inferior because you are already an immortal cultivator of the Hemp Robe Sect, while she is just a merchant at the foot of the mountain, dealing with money all year round. She doesn’t feel ashamed when interacting with you. Do you really know how precious and wonderful this state of mind is?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “You don’t know.”

Pang Lanxi was stunned into silence, his lips slightly moving.

Chen Ping’an said, “So, over the years, she has actually been taking care of your feelings, hoping you can cultivate in peace and ascend step by step on the mountain. If I’m not mistaken, every time you rarely descend the mountain to help in the shop, she certainly wouldn’t show too much reluctance when you part. Afterward, you might even feel a bit depressed, worrying that she doesn’t like you as much as you like her, right?”

Pang Lanxi felt his eyes stinging, tightly pursing his lips.

Chen Ping’an sighed, took out a flagon of wine—not some celestial brew, but the local rice wine from Dragon Spring County that was sold as far as the Great Li capital. Chen Ping’an took a gentle sip, “You have never truly considered her thoughts, but only think about what you should do. Is that right?”

Pang Lanxi shook his head, “It’s not good, not good at all.”

“Therefore, this time, the Mural City goddess painting lost its blessings, and the shop might not be able to continue operating. You just think it’s a small matter because, to you, Pang Lanxi, it naturally is a small matter. How much can a small town shop gain or lose in a year? How much immortal money do I, Pang Lanxi, receive annually from the Hemp Robe Sect’s ancestral hall alone?” Chen Ping’an continued, “But you don’t understand at all how important a shop located right at the foot of the Hemp Robe Sect mountain is to a town girl. Without this livelihood, even if she just moves to the Market of the Unfortunate Pass, isn’t that a catastrophic event for her?”

Chen Ping’an took another sip of wine, his voice soft and mellow, and his words, like the wine, slowly unfolded, “A young girl’s thoughts are probably always more far-reaching than those of a boy of the same age. How should I put it? The difference between the two is like a young man’s thoughts, walking on a mountain, only looking at the heights, while a young girl’s mind is like a winding river, meandering and flowing toward the distance.”

Pang Lanxi furrowed his brow, as if recalling some sad scene. Just thinking about it made this young man, who originally had no great worries or long-term plans, feel anguish. Tears were already welling up in his eyes.

Chen Ping’an glanced at him and sighed softly.

Even Liu Laocheng of Palace Willow Island, who had a resolute Dao heart and seemingly possessed an iron will, had stumbled greatly in the matter of love.

Chen Ping’an suddenly smiled, “What’s there to be afraid of? Now that you know more, you can do better in the future and think more for her. If all else fails and you feel you’re not good at figuring out a girl’s mind, then I’ll teach you the simplest method: speak your heart to her. There’s no need to feel embarrassed. A man’s pride should be reserved for the outside world, trying not to lose it even once, but in front of the woman you admire, there’s no need to constantly put on a strong front in everything you do.”

Pang Lanxi nodded, wiped his face, and smiled brightly, “Chen Ping’an, how do you know so much?”

After all, he was a cultivator. Once the matter was pointed out, it was like removing a leaf that had been blinding his eyes. Pang Lanxi’s state of mind returned to clarity.

Chen Ping’an raised the flagon in his hand, shook it, and said, “I travel the world, and I drink wine.”

Pang Lanxi asked curiously, “Is wine really that good?”

Chen Ping’an didn’t answer, but simply drank the wine.

He patiently waited for news from Ghost Domain Valley.

In fact, Chen Ping’an could have explained some things to the youth more clearly, but once the underlying principles were laid bare, it might involve the Great Dao, which was a taboo for mountain cultivators. Chen Ping’an wouldn’t cross that line.

Moreover, the budding love between young men and women, being muddled and confused, was a kind of beauty. Why shatter it by explaining too much?

Pang Lanxi took his leave, saying that he would certainly get at least two sets of the hard yellow edition of the goddess painting, and just wait for his good news.
As Pang Lanxi was about to leave the courtyard, Chen Pingan suddenly called out to him, smiling, “Right, remember this, if what I said resonates with you, think it over again before you act. Just because a道理 sounds good doesn’t mean it’s right for you.”

Pang Lanxi waved his hand, chuckling, “I’m not completely witless, don’t worry, I’ll ponder it myself!”

Chen Pingan then stood up and circled the stone table, practicing the six-step stance.

As dusk fell that day, Chen Pingan paused his stance practice and turned to look.

In the direction of the Bone Beach where the skeletal 法相 and golden-armored 神祇 had appeared, a figure was riding the wind. When a 地仙 didn’t deliberately conceal their presence during a journey, the thunderous sound and commotion were usually immense. However, after reaching the upper five realms, one could “merge with the Dao” (合道) and become silent, even without a ripple of energy. The figure heading straight for Wooden Clothes Mountain should be Sect Leader Zhu Quan, a Jade Pure Realm cultivator. Yet, she still caused such a stir. Either she was deliberately showing off to deter some lurking, restless forces in Bone Beach, or she was severely injured in Ghost Domain Valley, causing her realm to become unstable.

After the figure swept into Wooden Clothes Mountain, she suddenly came to a screeching halt and then shot towards the mountainside residence like an arrow.

Within the small courtyard, a chaotic gale stirred, causing Chen Pingan’s sleeves to billow.

It was indeed Zhu Quan, who had been practicing in a thatched hut in Azure Arbor Town.

Chen Pingan cupped his fist in salute and said, “Thank you, Sect Leader Zhu.”

Zhu Quan waved her hand, sat down at the stone table, saw the wine jug on the table, and beckoned, “If you’re sincere, quickly pour me a jug of wine to quench my thirst.”

Chen Pingan sat opposite her and took out a jug of rice wine. “It’s just local rice wine, not immortal wine from the mountains.”

Zhu Quan opened the mud seal, tilted her head, and took a large gulp. Wiping her mouth, she said, “It’s a bit bland, but at least it’s wine, not water.”

She glanced at the quiet young man sitting across from her and asked, “Are you acquainted with Pu Gutou? I didn’t bother to watch your adventures in Ghost Domain Valley, even when you were rampaging with Yang Ningxing. I don’t know what kind of ability you have that made Pu Gutou draw his sword for you.”

Chen Pingan shook his head and said, “Not acquainted. To be precise, we even have a bit of a grudge. At Raven Ridge, I had a conflict with the female ghost of Funi City, and it was Pu Rang who stopped me from chasing down Fan Yunluo. Later, Pu Rang took the initiative to find me again. I saw him in a blue robe with his sword, so I asked him why he didn’t covet the longsword behind me.”

Zhu Quan said the rice wine was bland, but she drank a lot of it. Soon, it was empty. She slammed the wine jug heavily on the table and asked, “So, what did Pu Gutou say?”

Chen Pingan smiled without saying a word.

Zhu Quan sighed, “Oh dear, are these two really birds of a feather?”

What’s the deal? Just because they wear blue robes and use that sword, they think they’re special?

However, Zhu Quan glanced at the wine jug. “Alright, I’ve already drunk his wine, so I should be polite. Besides, any foreign man, with that Jiang Shangzhen’s sh*tshow, is a wonderful young man in Zhu Quan’s eyes. Moreover, she liked the deal the young man made when he introduced himself as ‘Chen Pingan of Dili’s Cloud-Veiled Mountain.’ She had certainly heard of Cloud-Veiled Mountain, and even the North Mountain God of Dili, Wei Bo, she had heard about several times. There was no way around it; the Pima Sect’s wealth in other continents depended on that intercontinental ferry. Moreover, she believed the second sentence the young man who called himself Chen Pingan said—that he occupied half of the Bull Horn Mountain dock. Therefore, for the next five hundred years, all of the Pima Sect’s ferry landings wouldn’t cost a single snowflake coin. Zhu Quan felt that this long-term deal that wouldn’t cost her a single copper coin was absolutely worth it! If this were to spread, who would dare to say that she, the sect leader, was a spendthrift?”

However, Zhu Quan was still a little annoyed. The guy in front of her was too much like her nemesis, Pu Gutou, so she laughed, “Actually, you were being redundant. When you came to me, you didn’t need to offer any conditions. As long as it’s against the North, not to mention Jingguan City, I would stop any skeleton I don’t like. Do you feel sorry now? Is your little heart trembling?”

Chen Pingan smiled slightly and said, “Sect Leader Zhu is豪氣 and righteous. This is the demeanor of the Pima Sect. But I’m a guest, a junior, so I can’t be rude. I have to have the proper etiquette.”

Zhu Quan rubbed her chin and said, “Those are good words, but why do they sound so unpleasant to me?”

Chen Pingan took out another jug of wine.

Zhu Quan nodded and smiled, “The words are unpleasant, but you look much more pleasing to the eye.”

Chen Pingan then picked up the jug of rice wine he hadn’t finished and drank it slowly.

Zhu Quan glanced at the young man’s slow, fussy way of drinking and shook her head. Now he was unpleasant again.

“Don’t take out any more wine.”

Zhu Quan finished the second jug of wine and placed the empty jug on the table. “Pu Gutou has really angered Jingguan City this time, so he won’t have an easy time ahead. But this guy never cared about those things. Gao Cheng is also annoyed by him. If they fight, he has to go all out, but if he fights to the death, he really might kill Pu Gutou. But Jingguan City will lose some vitality. If they don’t fight, it won’t do, since Gao Cheng has completely lost face this time. First, he failed to kill you, and then he was caught by Jiang the dog’s broken net for half a day. When Gao Cheng retreated to Ghost Domain Valley, guess what? He couldn’t bear to tear that broken net, full of snowflake coins, to shreds. So, he could only hold his nose and put it away. Haha! Before Gao Cheng became famous in Bone Beach, he might have been used to doing this kind of thrifty business. He never thought he’d have this day after becoming famous! Jiang Shangzhen, that rotten, black-hearted pervert, actually did one good thing in his life!”

Zhu Quan felt extremely happy and laughed heartily, naturally reaching out her hand.

Chen Pingan sighed inwardly and took out the third jug of rice wine, placing it on the table.

Zhu Quan began to drink, probably feeling that it was inappropriate to ask for more wine, so she began to drink in small sips, saving it.

It was indeed the City Lord of Jingguan City.

The most powerful 英靈 in Ghost Domain Valley.
Earlier, when Chen Ping’an resolved to flee Ghost Domain Valley, he had made some conjectures, carefully screening all the Nascent Soul level ghosts recorded in the northern *Fangxin Ji*. He naturally considered Gao Cheng of Jingguan City, but felt the possibility was small. This was because, like Pu Rang of White Cage City, or the two masters of Grand Round Moon Temple and Little Azure Capital Temple who passed by Peach Forest without entering, the higher one’s realm, the broader one’s vision. Chen Ping’an’s words at the Black River, “To attain this fruit, one must have this heart,” actually applied to a wide range, excluding rogue cultivators of course, and also considering that the world is full of unexpected events, and nothing is absolute. So, even though Chen Ping’an felt that Gao Cheng of Jingguan City was the least likely of Yang Ningxing’s so-called northern observers, Chen Ping’an was precisely the kind of person who habitually imagined the worst-case scenario, and directly regarded Gao Cheng as a hypothetical enemy!

Otherwise, Chen Ping’an was already in Green Hut Town, with Zhu Quan, the Sect Master of Burlap Garment Sect, cultivating in a thatched hut just a few steps away. Why would he need to spend two golden Shrinking Earth Charms to break through the sky and leave Ghost Domain Valley? Moreover, before that, he had already determined that Green Hut Town had spies from Jingguan City, and even deliberately made an extra trip to Copper Stink City. This self-rescue plan had truly begun to operate quietly from the moment he threw that Lesser Heat Coin to the Ghost General, the city guard captain of Copper Stink City.

In fact, deep in Chen Ping’an’s heart, he had already barely found a hidden thread, a vein.

On this line, there would be many key nodes, such as the cliffside iron chain bridge, where Yang Ningxing spoke of his intuition.

At the Black River, the old monk looked towards the opposite bank, chanted a Buddhist verse, and said a seemingly casual “Turning back is the shore.”

After entering Green Hut Town, which was supposedly the safest place in Ghost Domain Valley, he was unable to draw talismans, and that feeling of unease, where even establishing a Sword Furnace pillar was impossible, was extremely rare.

If we push further back, it was the Heavenly Official Goddess painting in Mural City, where the Deer-Riding Goddess walked out of the painting and went to Shaking Ferry, transforming into an old woman to test him.

Mural City could be said to be the first place Chen Ping’an set foot in North Entirety Continent!

Yang Ningxing refined pure evil thoughts into mustard seeds, and the scholar had unintentionally said by the waterside shrine that he had never won against Chen Ping’an.

In this world, blessings and misfortunes are always intertwined.

Chen Ping’an felt this deeply.

What would be the consequence if one’s mind was solely immersed in continuous good fortune?

At this moment, even though Chen Ping’an had already left Ghost Domain Valley and was in Wood Clothes Mountain of Burlap Garment Sect, he still felt some lingering fear.

Just imagine, if he had a smooth and prosperous time in Copper Stink City as the Burden Shop owner, the normal course of action would naturally be to continue traveling north. This was because, although there had been constant turbulence along the way, it had all been alarming but without actual danger, and instead he had picked up bargains everywhere. There were no great windfalls, but luck had been constant, earning a little here, and profiting a little there. Moreover, the Deer-Riding Goddess ultimately had nothing to do with him, the Accumulation Thunder Mountain’s thunder pool had nothing to do with him, and the Fortune Mirror Mountain’s blessing had nothing to do with him. Chen Ping’an seemed to be relying on his own prudence, plus “a little bit of good luck.” This seemed to be the kind of state that Chen Ping’an would find most comfortable and least dangerous.

Chen Ping’an squinted his eyes and drank the rice wine in the pot in one gulp.

Zhu Quan glanced at the long sword Chen Ping’an carried on his back, gently shook his head, and felt that it shouldn’t be this item. Gao Cheng of Jingguan City, although he was the Burlap Garment Sect’s nemesis, all previous Burlap Garment Sect Masters acknowledged that this hero among the spirits of Ghost Domain Valley was not lacking in either cultivation or magnanimity, and could be called a hero among ghosts. So, even if the young man was carrying a Half-Immortal Weapon, Gao Cheng wouldn’t be so covetous, let alone so exasperated. Zhu Quan rarely drafted his words before speaking, brewing for a while, and then said, “I won’t ask why you attracted Gao Cheng’s attention, and you don’t need to proactively say it either. This is your feud. Of course, fighting and risking your life against Gao Cheng and Jingguan City has always been the duty of our Burlap Garment Sect cultivators, and we bear no grudges in life or death. You also don’t need to feel that you owe us a favor because you escaped this time and are hiding from disaster in my Wood Clothes Mountain, and think that you must get involved in the future, or help out to repay a debt or something. There’s no need. Neither you nor I need to be so courteous.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “Okay.”

Zhu Quan laughed, “Good lad, you’re really not polite.”

In Peach Forest of Ghost Domain Valley, inside Little Azure Capital Temple.

The Old Daoist Priest stood under that towering peach tree, the water mist at his feet diffused, and then slowly unfolded like a huge landscape painting.

When a scholar appeared in the painting, walking into Copper Stink City to participate in a childish imperial examination.

Xu Song, the “little Daoist boy” holding a horsetail whisk, felt terrified and said in a trembling voice, “Master, is this the legendary *Time Scroll Running Horse Diagram*?”

The Old Daoist Priest nodded, “The Head Teacher of the Cloud Firmament Palace of the Grand Source Dynasty’s Directorate of Mysticism personally sent a letter to our Little Azure Capital Temple, asking the teacher to protect Yang Ningxing for a while, to do a good deed to the end. So, I painted this picture. But don’t worry, this is just a copy of the real Running Horse Diagram, the price won’t be too great. Others can only watch it three times. The reason for showing it to you is to let you observe the Dao, to learn from others, so look carefully.”

Xu Song was shocked, “That Little Heavenly Sovereign of the Directorate of Mysticism, since he has that brother taking things from Fortune Mirror Mountain, Yang Ningxing is just playing around in Ghost Domain Valley, why is it necessary to go this far?”

The Old Daoist Priest laughed, “At first, the teacher was also puzzled, but guessed that it mostly involved a dispute over the Great Dao. After you finish watching this painting yourself, the truth will come to light.”

Xu Song widened his eyes, not wanting to miss a single detail in the painting.

It’s just that Yang Ningxing’s actions in Copper Stink City were truly unbearable to watch. If this painting wasn’t the Running Horse Diagram, Xu Song would think that his master was making a mountain out of a molehill, and that the Head Teacher of the Cloud Firmament Palace was even more meddlesome.

But when Xu Song saw that the Summer Heat Avoiding Goddess of Shedding Mountain was transformed into black smoke by the “scholar” and swallowed in one gulp, and above the wall, there was that young swordsman squatting.

Xu Song’s expression became solemn.

From then on, various things happened.

Xu Song watched with trepidation, his mind rising and falling.

When the landscape painting under his feet finally came to an end, and turned into a painting scroll held lightly in his master’s hand.

The Old Daoist Priest laughed, “What are your thoughts?”

Xu Song was ashamed and said, “If this disciple were that… Good Man, I don’t know how many times I would have died at the hands of Yang Ningxing.”

The Old Daoist Priest nodded, “If you were this person, you wouldn’t be able to escape Ghost Domain Valley either.”

Xu Song thought of the movements in Green Hut Town earlier, and the true immortal fight that followed, and the little Daoist boy was somewhat discouraged.
The old Daoist looked at his proud disciple and smiled, “What, you already feel inferior to others? If I were to tell you that this wandering swordsman from afar is no more than twenty years old, would you go and bash your head against the peach tree?”

Sweat beaded on Xu Song’s forehead.

The old Daoist shook his head and sighed, “Foolish child. Is it truly a good thing to constantly wager on the one in ten thousand chance in a life-and-death situation where fortune and danger coexist? To be deeply immersed in the mortal world, entangled in karma, how terrifying is that for a cultivator. Even if you, Xu Song, are truly not as good as this person, does that mean you should not cultivate or comprehend the Dao? Then should I, as your master, lose heart just because there is Dao Ancestor above me, the three Sect Leaders below, and ascended immortals within the White Jade Capital even further down? Should I just tell myself to give up?”

Xu Song raised his head, his eyes blank.

The old Daoist flicked Xu Song’s forehead with his finger, “We Daoists cultivate our own skills and mind our own business. Our only true enemies are the shackles of withering vegetation and the inevitability of life and death, not other people. What does it matter to us how others rise or fall? In my opinion, perhaps the true Great Dao doesn’t need to be strived for at all, but… never mind, it’s useless to say more.”

Xu Song took a step back and made a Daoist bow, “Master, I understand a little now.”

The old Daoist nodded with satisfaction, “That’s enough.”

Within the Immortal secret realm where each mural was once a doorway…

As all eight murals turned into simple line drawings, the spiritual energy of this Immortal grotto also diminished greatly, reduced to an ordinary secret realm, more of a blessed land than a true grotto-heaven. It remained a treasure trove of geomancy, but it no longer possessed the original breathtaking quality.

Jiang Shangzhen wandered through it once more, feeling very disheartened.

After cutting through the sky with his Natal Treasure, the willow leaf, and returning to the Bone Beach, he did not leave the Northern Continent, but secretly came to this secret realm.

Some things, if not understood, would always nag at his mind.

Moreover, hiding in this place served a dual purpose. Firstly, it was safer than hiding in Wood Robe Mountain. Secondly, he feared that the aftermath of antagonizing He Xiaoliang would be quite severe. That ruthless woman possessed a terrifyingly deep blessing. Once she hated him, it was highly likely that as long as Jiang Shangzhen was in the general area of the Northern Continent, he would suffer inexplicable misfortunes. No major disasters, but definitely annoying things, like randomly bumping into some old maiden wandering south who would then cling to him, weeping and pouring out her heart. Jiang Shangzhen couldn’t stand those kinds of reunions.

However, Jiang Shangzhen thought as he lay in the flower bushes of this secret realm, thought as he sat on the brocade-covered bed, thought as he leaned on the fragrant dressing table, thought as he sat on the high tower railing where the Immortal maidens must have leaned, but in the end, some things remained unresolved. It felt like in the blink of an eye, about three days had passed.

If he couldn’t figure it out, he would just ask.

Jiang Shangzhen manipulated his Natal Treasure, incessantly knocking on a doorway.

Soon, that familiar face of the Hemp Robe Sect ancestor appeared. The moment he saw Jiang Shangzhen, he felt a surge of anger. He roared, “Jiang Shangzhen, are you not gone yet?! Our Hemp Robe Sect has no dog dung for you to eat!”

Jiang Shangzhen sat on a railing, looking down at the hot-tempered old fellow, grinning, “Don’t be like that, let’s talk nicely. I’m now an ally of your Hemp Robe Sect…”

The Hemp Robe Sect ancestor didn’t waste words and was about to attack.

Jiang Shangzhen quickly raised both hands, and said seriously, “I have something to ask your Sect Leader Zhu Quan, and also that guest staying on your mountain. It would be best if you could have them come here to chat.”

The ancestor had already invoked his Natal Treasure. It didn’t look like a simple warm-up exercise.

Jiang Shangzhen gently tapped the railing with his fingers, and said helplessly, “This is a precious property of your Hemp Robe Sect. Isn’t it your loss if we fight here?”

The ancestor sneered. After that Natal wooden tablet appeared, four Heavenly King statues stood around, their limbs moving slowly, golden light continuously gathering in their eyes.

Jiang Shangzhen feared the Northern Continent cultivators playing this trick. They didn’t care and started fighting first.

In the past, Jiang Shangzhen would have fallen for this. Back then, Jiang Shangzhen was only in the Golden Core Realm, but dared to claim that his ability to provoke trouble was number one, his skill in fighting and cursing was number one, and his ability to run away when things got bad was number one, self-proclaimed as the three champions. But on this trip to the Northern Continent, Jiang Shangzhen had no intention of making a comeback.

Jiang Shangzhen glanced at the heights and breathed a sigh of relief.

In the sea of clouds high above the secret realm, Sect Leader Zhu Quan’s embroidered shoes appeared again, initially as large as hills, obscuring the sky and sun, but returning to normal size the moment they landed.

Zhu Quan was accompanied by Chen Ping An.

The two appeared in the corridor on the top floor of this towering pavilion.

Zhu Quan told the old ancestor to return to Wood Robe Mountain.

The old ancestor grumbled and put away his Natal Treasure and the four Heavenly King statues.

Jiang Shangzhen laughed heartily, jumped off the railing, “Little Quan’er, it’s said that a day apart feels like three autumns. We’ve been apart for about ten years. Do you miss me? I know, you must not miss me at all, right?”

Zhu Quan didn’t bother to look at him and said to Chen Ping An, “Don’t worry, I’ll rush over as soon as there’s trouble. Killing this lecher excites me more than leveling Jingguan City.”

Jiang Shangzhen didn’t mind, leaned against the railing, fanning himself with his hand, smiling, “Little Quan’er is as lively and lovely as ever.”

Zhu Quan flashed away, returned to Wood Robe Mountain through the sea of clouds.

After the Hemp Robe Sect ancestor and Sect Leader Zhu Quan left, Jiang Shangzhen waved his sleeve and one strange magical artifact after another appeared from his sleeve, directly sealing the cloud sea gate leading to Wood Robe Mountain, and the other eight small mural gates.

Then, Zhu Quan’s muffled voice came from the other side of the cloud sea, “Jiang Shangzhen, are you asking for a beating?” Then the cloud sea shook violently, probably Zhu Quan started smashing the door at Wood Robe Mountain.

Jiang Shangzhen waved his sleeve again, constantly sending dazzling magical artifacts flying out of his sleeve, completely blocking the cloud sea gate, and then loudly vowed: “If I do evil here, may Zhu Quan beat me to death as soon as I leave, how about it?”

Chen Ping An remained indifferent, carrying a pot of wine himself, throwing a pot of wine to Jiang Shangzhen, and said: “Thank you.”

Jiang Shangzhen no longer had the joking expression he had before, and said with emotion: “I am very curious, do you guess who is attacking you?”
Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Isn’t it Gao Cheng?”

Jiang Shangzhen, unusually devoid of any jest, merely fixed his gaze upon Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an lightly leaped up, settling onto the railing. Jiang Shangzhen also sat beside him, each drinking their wine.

Chen Ping’an said, “You asking like that only confirms it for me.”

Jiang Shangzhen questioned with puzzlement, “Then I’m even more perplexed. I’ve investigated your past through various channels, and according to all reason, you shouldn’t have such a deep entanglement with her.”

Chen Ping’an first offered a digression, “Sect Master Zhu mentioned to me earlier that after Pu Rang of White Cage City struck at Gao Cheng, he replied to her with ‘A swordsman acts, unbound by heaven and earth.’ Truly, exceptionally well said.”

Jiang Shangzhen took a large gulp of wine, his cheek muscles twitching, a gurgling sound like gargling, before tilting his head back and swallowing it all in one go.

Jiang Shangzhen tilted his head back again, pouring another mouthful of wine, still not rushing to swallow it down.

Merely losing a broken net worth seventy or eighty Grain Rain coins in that Ghost Valley, but witnessing such a fine spectacle from start to finish, it’s hardly a loss.

Talking to me, Jiang Shangzhen, about money or not, is that meant to be an insult?

“The reason I’m entangled with He Xiaoliang…”

Chen Ping’an said slowly, expressionless, “That bastard Lu Chen set me up.”

Jiang Shangzhen spewed out a mouthful of wine.