The Channel Master’s wife gazed at the gaping hole in the back wall of the shrine, her eyes glazed over. She shook her head gently, then, her face contorted in grief, she asked in a trembling voice, “Immortal Master, did you really kill Du Yu?”

Chen Ping’an pondered for a moment, then chuckled, “Half-dead, I suppose. I’ve imprisoned his soul. The Ghost Axe Palace is such a large sect, and this Du fellow’s parents are supposed to be the Channel Master’s wife’s celestial dao companions. How dare I disrespect him? Just a minor punishment to warn him.”

The Channel Master’s wife lost her balance and collapsed onto the ground, her embroidered robe and colorful skirt blossoming like a magnificent peony upon the earth.

This young man was truly honey-tongued, but his heart was crawling with vipers! He looked so young, yet he must be an ancient monster who had cultivated on the mountains for countless years. What a ruthless and smiling immortal guest!

Chen Ping’an shook his robe, scattering the dust that clung to it. His green shirt was instantly immaculate. He walked straight through the broken shrine platform, and as he passed the bonfire and the seemingly dead youth, he laughed, “Wipe away your drool and continue playing dead.”

The street urchin quickly obeyed.

Chen Ping’an sat on the threshold of the shrine, watching the Channel Master’s wife and her two maids, and took a deep swig of the Yin-infused water from his Gourd of Nurturing Swords.

The Treasure Bottle Continent had a City God named Shen Wen, the Tung Leaf Continent had the Bury River Water Goddess, and the Northern Ju Continent had this Channel Master’s wife, the Azure Bamboo Lake Lord, and the Accompanied Carriage City God.

Chen Ping’an had indeed used a secret and divine technique to collect Du Yu’s soul. He wasn’t just making empty threats to scare the Water Goddess.

This wasn’t some basic immortal art for mountain disciples, but rather the second transaction Chen Ping’an had made with the Intercepting River True Lord Liu Zhimao in the Book Brief Lake. The technique was of extremely high quality and consumed an immense amount of spiritual energy. Right now, Chen Ping’an’s water palace’s accumulation of spiritual energy, mainly thanks to the crucial water-attributed natal treasure – the water character seal suspended in the water palace – had been almost completely depleted by the essence of water it had painstakingly condensed over time. Chen Ping’an dared not travel through his water palace using inner vision anytime soon, for he couldn’t bear to see the aggrieved gazes of the green-robed children.

From his sleeve, Chen Ping’an produced a glittering, snow-white military armor pellet, as well as a vermilion pill covered in dense, mysterious symbols. This was what Du Yu of the Ghost Axe Palace had been planning to do – to launch a sneak attack. The pill was refined from the inner core of a demon, and its effect was similar to the deadly blow used by those assassins who surrounded and attacked Mao Xiaodong in the Great Sui capital. However, that was a genuine golden core, while the one in Chen Ping’an’s hand was far inferior, likely the inner core of a Sea Gazing Realm demon. As for the military armor pellet, Du Yu must have been hoping to avoid mutual destruction, relying on this divine Dew-Receiving Armor to withstand the impact of the inner core’s explosion.

A well-calculated plan.

After hearing about the old case in Accompanied Carriage City, Chen Ping’an had indeed been somewhat unsettled. He had been dividing his attention to observe Du Yu’s movements, as well as the subtle expressions of the two maids.

So, while Chen Ping’an was lost in thought, Du Yu had seized the opportunity.

Unfortunately, the faint ripple of Qi that Du Yu had released, causing a few pebbles to stir in the wall’s cracks, might not have been noticed by the Channel Master’s wife, but to Chen Ping’an, whose fist intent flowed freely, as if protected by the gods, it was like a thunderclap. After all, the punch of a tenth-realm martial artist from the Fallen Phoenix Mountain Bamboo Lodge was truly silent, a sudden burst of thunder. Many times, Chen Ping’an had to guess, to gamble, just to… not be hit too solidly. He still couldn’t dodge it, even if Cui Cheng suppressed his fist intent at the Distant Wanderer Realm. And during his sparring sessions with Zhu Lian, that martial arts fanatic was forced by Cui Cheng to beat Chen Ping’an half to death every day, his punches truly lacking any finesse.

In the end, Du Yu’s cultivation wasn’t high enough.

It was like when Chen Ping’an was in the Ghost Domain Valley and attracted the covetous gaze of Gao Cheng of the Jingguan City. Chen Ping’an fled without any hesitation.

If Du Yu hadn’t harbored any illusions and had chosen to flee directly after waking up, Chen Ping’an would have stopped him, but he definitely wouldn’t have resorted to a deadly attack, imprisoning his soul.

Chen Ping’an put away the pill that Du Yu had been saving as his last resort, placing it in his sleeve. He held the snow-white armor pellet in his palm, slowly turning it, and looked at the Channel Master’s wife, “I said, everything you know, you must tell me. You yourself said that you wouldn’t actively seek death anymore.”

The Channel Master’s wife collapsed to the ground, her expression grief-stricken, her face full of sorrow, “Immortal Master, this servant really hasn’t concealed anything! Immortal Master, must you condemn this servant to death for no reason?”

She fell to the ground, her cheek resting on her arms, prostrating herself and trembling with sobs, “What sins have I committed to be wronged by the Immortal Master in this way?”

Chen Ping’an stood up, and the Channel Master’s wife immediately fell silent.

The next moment, Chen Ping’an squatted down beside the Channel Master Water Goddess, pressed his palm on her head, and pushed down heavily. The result was the same as with Du Yu earlier – she fainted, half of her head buried in the ground.

The two maids were terrified and wanted to escape. One of them was struck in the back by Chen Ping’an’s sleeve of Qi, her delicate body embedded in the wall, also fainting on the spot.

Only one trembling maid remained, having just taken a step, as if she had been subjected to an immortal’s immobilization technique, and dared not move.

Chen Ping’an turned around and sat on the steps, saying, “You’re more honest than your sister, who isn’t so skilled with her wall-walking technique. The Channel Master’s wife mentioned a few details earlier, and your eyes revealed a lot of information to me. Tell me, just consider it helping your mistress fill in the gaps. Whether you trust me or not, I’ll say it again, I have no grudges or conflicts with you. Killing a mountain and river deity, even just some attendant officials, will still taint you with karma.”

The maid wasn’t stupid, and sobbed, “The Channel Master’s wife respectfully called you Immortal Master, but how does this servant see you as more of a pure martial artist? Du Yu also said that you are a martial arts grandmaster. Martial artists killing deities won’t be tainted with karma.”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, tapped his Gourd of Nurturing Swords, and the flying sword Fifteen shot out, like a swift sparrow circling a tree branch. In the night, a streak of ghostly green sword light darted quickly around Chen Ping’an.

The maid was dumbfounded, “So, you really are a Sword Immortal!”

It was said that the Azure Bamboo Lake Lord, high above, was most afraid of those Sword Immortals who took heads with their flying swords!

Chen Ping’an smiled, “If you say so, then so be it.”

The maid began to hesitate, her face showing a sorrowful expression that was very different from the Channel Master’s wife’s pitiful appearance earlier. Her emotions were genuine.
If I reveal the secrets of Heaven tonight, with the temperament of the Mistress of the Canal, who is fond of suspicion, and the violent nature of that Lord of the Lake, wouldn’t I be signing my own death warrant? In the hundreds of years spanning one lake, three rivers, and two canals, countless sisters have been ignited with water lamps, their souls drawn out to be burned day and night as lamp wicks, all for offenses no greater than petty trifles that angered the Lord of the Lake. I can’t even count them on both hands. Only when the last drop of essence oil falls from those water lamps are their souls freed from torment, but they are equally denied any future reincarnation.

Chen Pingan had originally intended to elaborate on the convoluted details and subtly reveal his subsequent plans to put her at ease, but in the end, he uttered only one word, “Speak.”

The maidservant trembled, no longer daring to harbor any illusions, and spilled all the inside information she knew and had deduced to this young Sword Immortal, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.

The Lord of Azure Canopy Lake is one of the most esteemed Water Gods in their Silver Screen Kingdom, able to sit as equals with even several Lords of Mountains. He has always looked down upon the City God Temple in Sui Jia City, especially the deity of the Fire God Shrine, who once had a falling out with the Mistress of the Canal and engaged in a duel. The Lord of the Lake almost controlled the lake water, poised to flood Sui Jia City, to force the deity of the Fire God Shrine to appear and kowtow in apology before the city’s populace. Later, a gray-haired passing Sword Immortal mediated, and the matter was dropped. However, the Lord of the Lake harbored even deeper resentment toward Sui Jia City. The City God Temple was kept in the dark about the secret letter that the then-Prefect sent to his friend in the capital, but the Lord of the Lake saw through it all. He secretly dispatched the Canal Master of Algae Stream to intercept the messenger. After learning the contents of the secret letter, the Lord of the Lake gave the Canal Master a jade seal artifact that could allow Mountain and Water Gods to travel far from their territory, ordering her to travel to the Silver Screen Kingdom’s capital together with the messenger.

Hearing this, Chen Pingan asked, “What is the relationship between the deity of the Fire God Shrine and the City God Temple?”

The maidservant said, “The relationship is ordinary. Logically, the rank of the Fire God Shrine is lower, but that deity doesn’t seem to like interacting with the City God Temple. They almost never attend the mountain and water banquets hosted by various mountain immortals at the same time.”

Chen Pingan asked again, “What is the Lord of the Lake’s attitude toward the City God Temple?”

The maidservant said softly, “The Lord of the Lake looks down on the City God even more. Our Canal Mistress occasionally drinks too much in the Dragon Palace at the bottom of the lake and, upon returning to her private residence, confides in us sisters. She says that the Lord of the Lake laughs at the City God, calling him an incompetent fool who, in life, loved to plagiarize the poems of impoverished scholars and then spend money to make a name for himself. The Silver Screen Kingdom chose such a fellow to be the City God, only valuing reputation and fame, but possessing no talent for governance, either before or after death. He spends his days composing poetry and appreciating the moon, calling himself the ‘Moon-Gazing Real Person,’ enjoying being a hands-off manager and not knowing how to control people. Therefore, the disaster in Sui Jia City is not a natural calamity at all, but clearly a man-made one. However, on the surface, our Azure Canopy Lake and the City God Temple of Sui Jia City still get along. The City God often brings dignitaries, princes, and grandsons from the capital to the Dragon Palace at the bottom of the lake to broaden their horizons. Furthermore, there are more than a dozen beautiful maids in the Lord of the Lake’s residence, all of them enchantresses, so the distinguished guests always come with excitement and leave satisfied.”

Chen Pingan said, “The City God Temple made one mistake after another, leading to today’s great disaster. The Fire God Shrine will naturally be implicated. In fact, your Lord of Azure Canopy Lake is happy to see it happen, right?”

The maidservant remained silent, then, after a moment, said with a wry smile, “The Lord of the Lake is the leader of the Water Gods of the kingdom, his mind is unfathomable. How could a humble maid like me possibly guess what he’s thinking?”

Chen Pingan nodded, putting the armor pellet back into his sleeve. Then, with a light flick of his finger, the maidservant fell backward, stiff as a board.

With a wave of Chen Pingan’s sleeve, the maidservant who had been walled up was dragged into the courtyard, tumbling to the ground. She slowly woke up, her head throbbing with pain and her body feeling like it had been torn apart.

Chen Pingan asked, “The brain of this little maid was a mess just now, I couldn’t get anything out of her. You seem more quick-witted. Why don’t you tell me what you know?”

This maidservant wanted to kneel and beg for mercy, but Chen Pingan flicked his finger again. He lessened the force slightly, but it still sent her flying out of the temple gate like a kite with a broken string. Then, Chen Pingan reached out and controlled her return, grabbing her by the neck. The two stared at each other, and the maidservant, seeing his eyes, was terrified. Her face turned pale, and she sobbed, seeming to have something to say.

Chen Pingan casually threw her to the ground in the courtyard. She slumped on the ground, then took a deep breath, stood up, and turned to gaze at the Canal Mistress, her eyes filled with complex emotions: gratitude, reluctance, and resentment.

Finally, she put on a stern face and spat fiercely at the young immortal master who was putting on an act, sneering, “This old woman has said everything!”

Chen Pingan simply waved away the saliva, his expression unchanged. He sat on the steps, his hands gently placed on the verdant Walking Mountain Staff.

Chen Pingan raised his hand and flicked his finger again, knocking her unconscious.

Then, he cleverly tapped the ground with the Walking Mountain Staff. The Canal Mistress was struck on the back of the head by the incoming energy, instantly waking her up. She pulled her head out of the ground and sat there blankly, feeling somewhat lost.

Chen Pingan wore a look of anger, “You two wenches, have you been eating and waiting for death all these years by her side, you brainless fools?”

The Canal Mistress felt relieved. In the past, she had complained that both of her maidservants were fools, not clever enough, unlike the enchantresses in the Lord of the Lake’s residence, who were skilled at serving and capturing a man’s heart. Now, it seemed like a good thing. If the Azure Canopy Lake was implicated, not only would the two of them be ignited with water lamps, but her position as Canal Mistress would be difficult to maintain. The Canal Master of Algae Stream loved to gossip and stab people in the back. She had already caused her temple’s incense offerings to dwindle for many years and wanted to drive her to the point of no return. This had been going on for more than a day or two. The entire Azure Canopy Lake was watching the spectacle.

Chen Pingan said, “Go and summon the Lord of the Lake. Tell him that I helped him kill Du Yu of Ghost Axe Palace, and he should come and thank me in person. Remember to remind your Lord of the Lake that I am a man of integrity, most intolerant of the smell of money, so I only accept pleasing River and Lake treasures.”

The Canal Mistress said in surprise, “I go?”

Chen Pingan sneered, “Or do you want me to go?”

The Canal Mistress got up and was about to activate her innate ability to transform into mist and flee far away.

Chen Pingan pointed to the two fallen maidservants, “The beauty of the two of them, compared to you, the Canal Mistress, is…”
Much improved. After offering my thanks to the Lake Lord, I visited Suijia City and obtained that soon-to-appear treasure of heaven and earth. After that, I will surely pay a visit to the Dragon Palace at the bottom of the lake. Although I haven’t traveled far in this world, I have read many books. Numerous scholars’ writings record that dragon maidens have always been amorous, and the handmaidens by their side are also enchanting. I must see them and see if they are more outstanding than these two handmaidens by your side, Madam. If the dragon maidens and Dragon Palace handmaidens are more beautiful, the Canal Master’s Madam won’t need to find new servants. If their beauty is comparable, I will ask for them all at once. On my trip to the capital of Silver Screen Kingdom, I can sell them for a high price.”

The Canal Master’s Madam quickly echoed, “It is a great blessing for these two lowly servants to serve the Immortal Master…”

Chen Ping’an interrupted her, mocking, “But if I see them and am very disappointed, then the Canal Master’s Madam, and that Algae Creek Canal Master who is like a sister to you, will have to follow me to the capital together.”

The Canal Master’s Madam was not worried about these things. Anyway, the Lake Lord was backing her. As long as she returned safely to the Azure Canopy Lake Dragon Palace and saw the Lake Lord, everything would be fine.

It’s still hard to say who will emerge victorious.

The Canal Master’s Madam quickly flicked her sleeves, and two streams of emerald-green water energy flew into the faces of the two handmaidens, waking them up. They apologized to the Immortal Master and said that they would definitely return quickly.

Chen Ping’an suddenly called out to the Canal Master’s Madam.

The latter’s body stiffened, and she turned around, bitterly saying, “I wonder what other instructions the Immortal Master has?”

Chen Ping’an stretched out a palm and smiled, “Lend me some essence of water energy, not much, just two taels.” (approx. 75 grams)

The Canal Master’s Madam was both shocked and pained, but also a little relieved. The essence of water energy was the foundation of a water god’s cultivation, but it was still worth it compared to losing her life on the spot. She quickly extended a finger and touched her forehead, and a point of azure light bloomed. Then, a golden thread, like a stream cascading from a mountain peak’s gorge, bypassed her shoulder, flowed along her arm, all the way to her wrist. Finally, she held up a palm, and a green water droplet popped out, gently pushing it towards Chen Ping’an. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she laughed, “The Immortal Master said lend, it truly shames this servant. This three or four taels of water energy essence should be a small meeting gift from this servant, fortunate to meet the Immortal Master.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Compared to the strange treasure, the Lianyuan Cup, it is indeed small.”

The Canal Master’s Madam dared not speak.

The Lianyuan Cup was the foundation of her Dao, the Immortal artifact that mountain and water deities could use to advance their cultivation beyond the tempering of their golden bodies through incense offerings. There were very few such artifacts, and each one was a treasure. The Lianyuan Cup was once a treasure of the Azure Canopy Lake Lord’s Dragon Palace. The reason why the Algae Creek Canal Master hated her so much, regarding her as an enemy, was precisely because of this Lianyuan Cup, which had a deep history. According to the Lake Lord’s words, it was once an important ritual vessel of a grand Daoist temple, and it only gained such efficacy after thousands of years of incense immersion.

After the mistress and her two servants left the temple,

Chen Ping’an put away the water energy pearl. Four taels in weight, it could quench his immediate thirst, even with remarkable effect, surpassing spiritual pills, but it was by no means a long-term solution.

On the path of cultivation, some shortcuts can allow cultivators to quickly reach the mountainside, but the further they go, the more hidden dangers there will be.

Chen Ping’an was in no hurry to refine the water pearl to replenish the spiritual energy of his water palace. He sat in place, thinking about things.

Chen Ping’an knew that they might not return on this trip. The Azure Canopy Lake Lord would probably not come ashore to meet him either. If Ghost Axe Palace’s Du Yu died, would he, the Azure Canopy Lake’s overlord, come to help collect the corpse? As long as he came ashore and entered the temple, it would be equivalent to Chen Ping’an slapping him in the face, smearing him with shit. Would Ghost Axe Palace and Du Yu’s parents, that Daoist couple, care whether the Azure Canopy Lake Lord was caught in the crossfire and suffered an undeserved disaster? Besides, how could a dignified head of the water deities of Silver Screen Kingdom dare to say that he was caught in the crossfire?

As for the two temple servants,

One did the right thing on Chen Ping’an’s side.

One did the right thing on the Canal Master’s Madam’s side.

So both can live.

Chen Ping’an twisted his wrist, and a sphere condensed and entwined with ten wisps of black smoke appeared in his hand, eventually transforming into a painfully distorted male face. It was none other than Du Yu.

Whenever a gentle breeze passed by, the sphere, formed by the convergence of his three souls and seven spirits, would suffer unbearably, as if the cultivator was enduring the tribulation of lightning.

In this world, things of Yin are not tolerated by Heaven and Earth. Half-dead Du Yu tried his best to speak, his voice still as thin as a mosquito’s hum: “Please, quickly return my soul to my body, there is still hope, there is still hope. As long as I can live, I, Du Yu, will cut out three drops of my heart’s blood, light three incense sticks, and respectfully report to Heaven, Earth, and my ancestral master, swearing a secret immortal oath passed down through my lineage. I will never dare to be your enemy again, never dare…”

Chen Ping’an turned a deaf ear, talking to himself: “A fleeting moment of intimacy, such a beautiful saying, how could it become so ruined and vile coming from your mouth? Hmm?”

Chen Ping’an’s five fingers were like hooks, slightly bent, and strands of stellar energy began to swirl, just enough to envelop the soul sphere.

Du Yu immediately began to wail like a ghost.

Chen Ping’an slowly said, “What is the taste of a chivalrous heroine of the pugilistic world? Tell me about it. I have also walked the pugilistic world, but I don’t know these things.”

Du Yu was just about to open his mouth.

Chen Ping’an turned his head, but increased the force on his hand, the stellar energy becoming more and more condensed, reaching the astonishing state of being thick like water about to freeze. Chen Ping’an, listening intently, asked, “What did you say? Louder, I can’t hear you clearly.”

Du Yu’s three souls and seven spirits had just been separated from his body by secret techniques, and were already in their weakest state. Now, he was suffering a fate worse than death, his soul confused, the ten wisps of black smoke intertwined like tangled hemp. If this continued, even if he escaped his cage, he would become a wandering, unintelligent lonely ghost, reduced to a vengeful spirit, muddleheaded, and any immortal cultivator who saw him would be duty-bound to kill him.

Chen Ping’an released his five fingers, raised his hand, bypassed his shoulder, and lightly waved it forward, the corpse behind the temple slammed into the courtyard.

Chen Ping’an stood up, squatted next to Du Yu’s corpse, palm facing down, and suddenly pressed down.

After about an incense stick’s time, Du Yu foamed at the mouth, twitched, and bled from all seven orifices, looking frightening, but it was a good thing.

If there were no such movements, it meant that the body had rejected the soul’s entry. Once the soul could not find its way in, the three souls and seven spirits would still have to leave the body and wander around, either unable to bear
The many winds dwelling between heaven and earth dissipated, either scattering completely or, by sheer luck, clinging to a trace of spiritual energy, stubbornly transforming into malevolent, ghostly entities.

Du Yu sat up, coughing up large mouthfuls of blood, before quickly settling into a cross-legged position, performing hand seals. He focused his mind, attempting to soothe the several crucial qi reservoirs within him that were in turmoil.

Once Du Yu, drenched in blood, heavily exhaled a breath of stale air, he turned his head to look.

The man squatted not far away, his hands tucked into his sleeves, staring at the knife on the ground.

Du Yu’s mind raced.

The man remained motionless.

Du Yu sighed, abandoning any thoughts of a desperate fight. He slowly rose, tapping three times on his chest, his face contorting. Then, three drops of essence blood from his heart ignited like candle wicks, three wisps of green smoke rising like incense sticks. Du Yu bowed slightly, holding the incense at brow level, and spoke loudly, “From this moment forth, Du Yu, a disciple of the Ghost Axe Palace’s Military faction, declares to Heaven, Earth, sovereign, parents, and teachers, that I swear to not seek revenge. Let this grievance be like the separation of mountains and rivers, never to be revisited…”

Chen Pingan stood up, his toe stepping on the knife hilt. With a gentle press, the blade flashed, neatly sliding into Du Yu’s scabbard.

Du Yu was startled, his legs weakening again.

This was the result of being bitten by a snake once and fearing a well rope for ten years.

Chen Pingan, holding his walking stick, headed towards the shrine’s main gate. “To meet is fate. I have some things I wish to ask you.”

Du Yu was inwardly conflicted. *Fate your ancestor’s fate! This old one almost died in this stinky ditch!* Nevertheless, he remained obedient, following behind the man, exiting the Water Immortal Shrine together.

Du Yu’s sleeves were empty. The divine armor he had borrowed from his father was gone. The refined demon core he had painstakingly begged from his mother was also gone. His heart and guts twisted in agony. But the mere thought of his three souls and seven spirits being held captive sent shivers down his spine. His mind was unsettled, his soul uneasy—the aftereffects of having his soul separated from his body. He would need to recuperate for decades. This trip to Suijia City had resulted in an unexpected and devastating setback, damaging the very foundation of his cultivation. And how would he explain this to his parents back at the Ghost Axe Palace? That was another major headache.

The two walked along the overgrown path, one in front of the other.

The moonlight was serene, and the water mist was cool.

But Du Yu’s heart was even colder.

Just who in the world was this person? Du Yu had traveled far and wide, seeing countless mountain cultivators from dozens of kingdoms, as well as grandmasters of martial arts. Yet, he had never encountered such a figure.

There were very few young cultivators who could put him, Du Yu, in such a humiliating position.

Chen Pingan used his walking stick to clear the way, as if strolling under the moonlight. His state of mind gradually stabilized. He chuckled and asked, “Do you know why you were able to recover your soul?”

Du Yu bitterly replied, “Senior wants the two types of talismans from our Ghost Axe Palace? Revealing the ancestral secrets would result in my tendons and meridians being severed and being expelled from the sect.”

Chen Pingan said, “Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know. What’s there to fear? Besides, you’ve been wandering the pugilistic world for so many years and even dared to use a Water Immortal as bait to catch fish. Would you be afraid of these rules? For people like you, rules are meant to be broken.”

Du Yu grew increasingly alarmed.

Only someone who had attained enlightenment, truly devoid of emotion, could speak so naturally.

His parents had said similar things to him in private.

Chen Pingan said, “If you had died here tonight by the banks of Azure Canopy Lake, it wouldn’t be easy for the Ghost Axe Palace to find me. It would also be difficult for the Canal Master’s wife and the Azure Canopy Lake Lord to find me. In the end, wouldn’t it all be swept under the rug? So, what you should be worried about now isn’t revealing sect secrets, but whether I’ll kill you to silence you after learning the methods of drawing the talismans and the corresponding incantations.”

This was a tactic he had learned from that scholar in Ghost Valley—framing others and slinging mud.

Du Yu was speechless and dejected.

The young man carrying a bamboo chest and a bamboo staff spoke with a gentle tone, as if casually chatting with a friend. “Once I understand your principles, it will be much easier to discuss my own.”

Du Yu stopped walking. “How can Senior guarantee that you won’t kill me to cover your tracks after I reveal the burden-bearing stele talisman and the snow-mud talisman?”

Chen Pingan stopped as well, turning his head. “You can only gamble with your life.”

Du Yu said miserably, “Senior! I’ve already sworn a solemn oath! Why must you continue to press me so relentlessly?”

The man looked surprised. “You rely on the abilities of a direct disciple of a major sect, venturing down the mountain to play in the pugilistic world, disregarding human lives. My fist is stronger, so I treat you like an ant, playing with you in the palm of my hand. Isn’t it the same principle? Is it that hard to understand? Are your parents not worried about you being so stupid?”

Du Yu wanted to cry, but no tears came.

To run into such an “honest” mountain senior, could he only blame himself for not consulting the almanac before leaving home?

Chen Pingan looked towards Azure Canopy Lake in the distance. “Once the Lake Lord comes ashore, you may not even have a chance to speak. Using two talismans to buy a life, I even think this deal is a bargain.”

Du Yu shifted his gaze, looking towards Suijia City with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Du Yu dared not draw his blade. Instead, he broke off a withered branch, squatted down, and began drawing a talisman, using the ripples in his mental lake to transmit the incantation to the other man.

The burden-bearing stele talisman, when worn, could excellently conceal one’s presence and aura, like an old tortoise carrying a stele, silent and still for millennia as if dead.

However, the cultivator’s perception of the outside world would also be limited, with a greatly reduced range. After all, there were few things in the world that were perfect in every way.

This talisman was one of the Ghost Axe Palace’s Military faction cultivators’ trump cards for assassination.

As for the snow-mud talisman, it was a talisman that many mountain formation masters dreamed of obtaining. Also known as the Flying Bird Seal, this Ghost Axe Palace talisman had a long history. It was the signature technique of the sect’s founding ancestor. However, later generations of the Ghost Axe Palace mostly only grasped the superficial aspects, rarely attaining the essence. Du Yu was no exception, but his mother was proficient in this art, being the foremost snow-mud talisman artist in the sect for the past three hundred years. She had once secretly taught this talisman to a great cultivator from a top-tier immortal estate, greatly increasing that person’s cultivation. After the Ghost Axe Palace found out, even before its own members could say anything, another mountain peak, hostile to that cultivator, had come to demand accountability, resulting in an unpleasant dispute between the two sides. However, it ultimately ended without resolution. The ancestral hall’s punishment for his mother was merely ten years of seclusion for reflection. For a cultivator, ten short years was merely a blink of an eye, not even a real punishment. Moreover, the place for reflection was a
Only after the fact did Du Yu realize that this geomantic treasure land, overflowing with spiritual Qi, had been visited in secret by a top-tier cultivator wielding a “Snow Mud Talisman” from their sect. Likely, they were pleading on his mother’s behalf.

Initially, Du Yu worried that this person merely coveted the two talismans, thinking that possessing more skills was always beneficial, and might not actually be proficient in talisman-making. Du Yu had already prepared himself to spend a great deal of time explaining things, becoming a troublesome tutor. Unexpectedly, the person listened to his explanations, ranging from the fundamental principles of the two talismans to the specific incantations and subtle key points, without ever asking a single question. They simply asked Du Yu to repeat everything three times. During the second repetition, Du Yu, due to his familiarity with the esoteric texts of the talismans, unintentionally omitted a trivial phrase. He then noticed the person narrowed their eyes and lightly raised the walking stick they had been using, giving Du Yu such a fright that he almost slapped himself in the face. He quickly made amends, repeating the phrase verbatim.

After the third repetition.

The person lowered their head, gazing at the two talismans on the ground.

Du Yu dared not breathe.

Using the walking stick as a brush, the person imitated the forms, producing two relatively crude “Tuo Bei Talisman” and “Snow Mud Talisman.” When the talismans were completed, a spark of spiritual light connected them, shining faintly. Although the talisman’s core wasn’t of high quality, the talismans were indeed successfully formed.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Du Yu’s forehead.

Good heavens, the art of talismans was never so easy to master! Otherwise, why wouldn’t his father, who also possessed a high cultivation realm, or the successive ancestors of the sect, be considered as having “Divine Intent”? In truth, some cultivators were simply innately unsuitable for drawing talismans. Hence, the Taoist talisman-making sects always had a cruel saying when assessing disciples’ aptitude: “The first stroke of the brush reveals a demon or a god.”

The senior before him was definitely an expert! Could it be a profoundly skilled talisman grandmaster in disguise?

All that talk of being a purely martial cultivator was just a smokescreen…

However, as soon as this thought occurred to Du Yu, he found it even more perplexing. If that were the case, wasn’t this senior being a little too unreasonable?

Chen Ping’an used his walking stick to erase the four talismans they had drawn, scattering the spiritual light of the talisman cores. “Your sincerity is sufficient. Now, shall we conduct a real transaction?”

Du Yu asked doubtfully, “How so?”

Chen Ping’an retrieved a soldier’s armored pill and a refined demon core from his sleeve. “It’s said that walking the night roads too often leads to encounters with ghosts. My luck is not bad today. I picked these up on the roadside earlier. I think they’d be quite suitable for your cultivation. Do you find them agreeable? Would you like to buy them?”

Du Yu declared with righteous indignation, “It’s rare that Senior is willing to part with them! Name your price! Even if I have to sell everything I own, I, Du Yu, am willing to pay a premium for them!”

Chen Ping’an nodded, remembering something. He held out a finger, upon which rested a sparkling emerald bead. He plucked off a portion, about one or two taels of water essence, and after putting away the larger bead, he smiled. “This is a gift from the Canal Master’s wife. Consider it my sincerity. You’re injured and in dire need of spiritual Qi to recover. This bead of water essence is the fundamental essence of a Water God. Quickly take it and refine it.”

Du Yu had no choice but to accept the bead, gently pressing it into his chest, silently refining it. Then, a strange expression appeared on his face.

Was this truly a bead condensed from water essence?

Not only was there no discomfort, but it felt like a sweet rain had fallen upon his heart-lake, invigorating his mind and soul.

Chen Ping’an smiled and asked, “Alright, let’s talk business. A divine armor of such high quality, and a refined demon core with such tremendous destructive power… How much are you willing to pay to scoop up these bargains?”

Du Yu cautiously asked, “Senior, would you be willing to trade for items? I don’t have much immortal money on me, nor do I possess the legendary ‘Inch Mound’ or ‘Foot Grotto.'”

Chen Ping’an nodded with a smile. “Naturally.”

Du Yu took out a small, iridescent embroidered pouch from his bosom, gently untying the knot. He retrieved a folded page from within, unfolding it without leaving a crease.

Du Yu said, “This item is exceedingly precious. I obtained it by chance during a fight in an underground passage of a dilapidated ancient temple. My parents told me to keep it safe, saying it was worth a fortune, and trading for it would require at least using ‘Lesser Heat Coins,’ or else I’d be doing this ancient Buddhist scripture a disservice.”

Chen Ping’an accepted the page, which was a Buddhist scripture written in gold ink.

Chen Ping’an smiled and accepted it, handing the armored pill and demon core to Du Yu.

Chen Ping’an took a deep breath and turned to face Azure Creek Lake, leaning on his walking stick with both hands.

Du Yu subconsciously took a step back.

A fierce expression appeared on Du Yu’s face, but he still dared not speak.

Deciding another’s life and death was never an easy matter.

Precisely because of this, Chen Ping’an couldn’t completely conceal the hint of emotional state.

Previously, at the Black River of Ghost Domain Valley, after hearing Chen Ping’an’s guarantee, the Overturning Sea Yuanjun still turned to the scholar, who was clearly more untrustworthy, and begged him to swear an oath before she would open the riverbed seal.

It was likely that she sensed at that moment that her fate was already sealed.

At this moment, so was Du Yu’s.

On the edge of life and death, a cultivator’s intuition was always remarkably accurate.

Du Yu spread his hands, staring blankly at the two treasures he had regained, only to have them snatched away again in an instant. He sighed, raised his head, and smiled. “In that case, Senior, isn’t this transaction pointless? Or are you intentionally forcing me to act, making me, Du Yu, desire to wear a suit of divine armor and throw out a demon core, so that Senior can kill me justly, reducing the karma and consequences? Senior truly lives on the mountain peaks, a master of calculation. If I had known that such an esteemed person could be found in the shallow pond of the lower realms, I would never have been so arrogant and conceited.”

Chen Ping’an looked into the distance and asked, “Did the Canal Master’s wife say you are the son of her Dao companion?”

Du Yu nodded. “One named Du, one named Yu, hence Du Yu.”

Chen Ping’an turned his head and smiled. “A good name.”

Chen Ping’an raised his hand and waved. “Leave. Don’t let me run into you again.”

Du Yu said with a wry smile, “I fear that if I turn around, I’ll die. Senior, I truly don’t want to die here, so unfairly.”

Chen Ping’an said, “That’s true. Then, will you walk with me for a while? I’m going to find that Zao Creek Canal Master. Do you know the way?”

Du Yu nodded.

And so, the two of them crossed mountains and valleys together, heading towards the Zao Creek territory.

Along the way, Chen Ping’an inquired about the situation of the mountains and valleys within the Silver Screen Kingdom and the dozen or so surrounding kingdoms.

Du Yu naturally answered every question.
The senior was flying through the mountain ridges, lightly skimming the surface like a dragonfly touching water. His movements were as swift as lightning, leaving behind only a faint azure blur. However, even with his mastery of wind manipulation, he seemed to be exerting himself.

Whenever the man asked questions, he would walk on foot, allowing Du Yu to speak calmly and steadily.

As they walked through the woods, Chen Ping’an, having heard about the golden couple’s exploits, chuckled and said, “This He Lu from Yellow Axe City and the fairy Yan Qing from Precious Grotto Immortal Realm… doesn’t it sound like a romantic tale from some martial arts novel? Their respective sects are enemies, entangled in a century-old feud, preventing them from becoming immortal partners?”

Du Yu replied, “Senior may find it amusing, but even I, Du Yu, feel inferior when I see them. Only then do you realize what true jade-like perfection on the Great Dao truly is.”

Chen Ping’an remained noncommittal.

The two reached a mountain peak and gazed west, towards the territory of Zao Creek. The shrine to the Water God was not far away.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Are you here for the appearance of the City God Temple’s treasure?”

Du Yu dared not hide anything and said, “Besides me, a senior uncle and three junior disciples have also come to Suijia City. However, the precious artifact has already been decided upon by Yellow Axe City and Precious Grotto Immortal Realm. Our Ghost Axe Palace is merely helping the more favored Precious Grotto Immortal Realm to wave flags and boost their presence. As for me, I wouldn’t want Senior to laugh at me, but I was hoping to see the two factions, Yellow Axe City and Precious Grotto Immortal Realm, fighting tooth and nail. Perhaps I could witness He Lu and Yan Qing’s meeting, forced to love and hate each other. I imagine they’d both have a ‘eating shit’ expression. Just thinking about it puts me in a good mood.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and asked, “Would you consider yourself a true villain?”

Du Yu chuckled obsequiously, “Senior flatters me, this junior dares not accept such praise.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “The word ‘true’ is indeed a heavy one.”

Du Yu sincerely said, “Senior’s words may seem casual, but upon closer examination, they are profound and enlightening.”

Chen Ping’an’s gaze turned strange, “Are you trying to steal my business?”

Du Yu was utterly bewildered, trembling and silent as a cicada in winter.

The two continued on their journey.

Compared to the nearly abandoned Water Immortal Shrine, where even the golden statue was missing, the Zao Creek Channel Master’s shrine was far more imposing and filled with a strong incense offering.

She was clearly a water deity who knew how to manage things.

Since she could suppress the other Channel Master to the point of abandoning his shrine, she was definitely not one to be trifled with.

On their way down the mountain, Chen Ping’an told Du Yu about the Suijia City massacre, instructing him to inquire about the secret letter.

Du Yu felt like he had already died twice tonight. Why should he fear offending a mere Channel Master? He did not hesitate in the slightest. Even if the Azure Canopy Lake Lord himself stood before him, Du Yu would cut him down without hesitation. If not for the senior’s instruction to negotiate peacefully, Du Yu would have kicked down the door, hacking the Channel Master half to death before demanding to talk business. After that, one final strike would end it all. It was all because of the Azure Canopy Lake’s bad feng shui that he, Du Yu, was now following behind this man, obediently acting like a wagging-tailed dog. The worst part was that he had to worry that even a slight misstep could result in being inexplicably slapped to death.

The two concealed their auras and walked down the mountain to avoid alerting anyone.

Chen Ping’an casually asked, “If you had known about the Suijia City massacre earlier, what would you have done? Just tell me honestly.”

Du Yu laughed and said, “Naturally, I would mind my own business. A City God of a prefecture-level city is not like the usual river spirit appointed by the imperial court. Even if I could kill him, the karma would be too heavy. Besides, the feuds of the martial world and the power struggles in the officialdom are boring. It’s always the same trivial matters. But then again, it’s not much better on our mountain. There are people who truly focus on cultivation, quite a few in fact. They neither harm nor save anyone, living quietly. I am just naturally impulsive and have encountered a bottleneck in my cultivation, so I go to the martial world for fun.”

Du Yu was a little uneasy and added, “I hope my heartfelt words haven’t offended Senior?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “No. I’ve seen too much to be easily moved.”

Du Yu was silent for a long time, then suddenly said, “However, if I were a ‘peak person’ in my parents’ eyes, I might be benevolent and helpful. Or if I disliked the City God, I might casually kill him. As for the unjust case of the prefect, it’s none of my business. I wouldn’t get involved; such things are thankless. As for killing the City God, I wouldn’t seek fame, only profit. The golden statue of a mountain or water deity is worth a lot when broken. As for now, if there were no treasure appearing, I would just visit Suijia City for food, drinks, and entertainment, then leave without a care.”

Chen Ping’an said, “When you become a ‘peak person,’ you will find that the City God of a prefecture-level city won’t even arouse your interest in profit. Many things you yearn for today will be laughed off next year.”

Du Yu pondered for a moment, then mocked himself, “My aptitude is decent, but I don’t have the good cultivation foundations of the Yellow Axe City Lord and the Precious Grotto Immortal Realm’s old master. Not to mention these two Daolords who have already attained enlightenment, He Lu and Yan Qing alone are mountains I am destined never to surpass in this lifetime. Sometimes, when I’m wandering in the martial world, drinking alone, I find that the saying about ‘drowning sorrows in wine’ is true.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “You’ve been in the martial world for many years. Have you seen any… martial artists you think are very foolish?”

Du Yu laughed and said, “Of course, but most of them are dead. If they don’t die, it’s hard to see their character. If they die, it’s just another story.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “When you’re not so tense, you can say some harsh things.”

Du Yu was speechless.

It sounded awkward, but why did he feel a little gratified?

The two descended the mountain and walked along the flowing creek for more than ten miles. Du Yu saw the brightly lit shrine, its regulations quite presumptuous.