The ferry, adorned with a dragon head, slowly ascended towards the skeletal shores of the south, the sunset clouds painting the horizon with crimson hues akin to brocade.

Gu Mo, leaning against the railing, silently wept. Her master had once said that her greatest aspiration in this life was to ascend in a blaze of glory, becoming an immortal.

At the time, Gu Mo was still a naive girl, questioning the allure of ascension.

Her master merely gazed at the sunset, offering no explanation to the young maiden.

Gu Mo wasn’t saddened by the loss of a powerful backer. The Taoists and priestesses of the Taixia lineage ventured down the mountains to vanquish demons and monsters, and unless they perished, they were forbidden from returning home to complain to their masters. But how could one complain after death? Gu Mo found her master’s words illogical yet profoundly wise.

Sui Jingcheng stood beside Gu Mo.

Rong Chang didn’t show his face, but Qi Jinglong stood not far from them, as the ferry’s southward journey passed through the territories of the Great Zhuan Dynasty, making it convenient for him.

However, Qi Jinglong soon retreated to his cabin.

On the ground below, Chen Pingan, clad in his azure robe, had already begun his northward trek towards the river’s estuary.

Gu Mo and Sui Jingcheng resided in adjacent cabins on the ferry. Gu Mo had already regained her composure, brazenly following Sui Jingcheng into her cabin, pouring herself a cup of tea as if she belonged there. She disregarded Sui Jingcheng’s desire for solitary cultivation, a knowing smile playing on her lips. With Sui Jingcheng’s current disarrayed state of mind, could she truly meditate in peace? Hardly.

Gu Mo inquired, “Did that Chen fellow not offer you some token of affection?”

Sui Jingcheng ignored the impertinent female cultivator.

Gu Mo glanced at the small Mountain-Walking Staff in her hand, her Dragon Gate Realm cultivation allowing her to easily see through the crude illusion. “That’s it? The material is decent, the appearance passable, but Sui Jingcheng is so beautiful. That fellow clearly lacks sincerity. Sui Jingcheng, I’m just saying, don’t be bewitched by his honeyed words.”

Sui Jingcheng removed her veil, placing the staff on the low table. She sat opposite Gu Mo, leaning on the table.

Gu Mo appraised the jade-like beauty of the Sui family, exclaiming in admiration.

Truly beautiful women were a sight to behold, whether they spoke or remained silent.

Once Sui Jingcheng reached the Middle Five Realms, her beauty would only become more radiant. Gu Mo couldn’t resist reaching out to caress Sui Jingcheng’s smooth cheek.

Sui Jingcheng swatted Gu Mo’s hand away, straightening her posture, and frowned. “Fairy Gu, please conduct yourself with propriety!”

Gu Mo rolled her eyes, downing her tea in one gulp. Placing the cup down, she softly asked, “I heard you traveled with that Chen fellow through several countries. If you were camping in the wilderness, how did you bathe? And have you not yet severed the Red Dragon? Isn’t that inconvenient?”

Sui Jingcheng calmly replied, “Fairy Gu is a cultivating immortal; such questions are inappropriate, are they not?”

Gu Mo giggled. “Even after cultivating, aren’t we still human? Isn’t a female cultivator still a woman? I’m asking without spending a single snowflake coin, and you won’t lose a single snowflake coin either. Tell me.”

Sui Jingcheng said sternly, “Senior Chen is a virtuous gentleman. Fairy Gu, I’ll say it only once: I don’t want to hear such words again!”

Gu Mo feigned terror. “Is it that if I anger you, Sword Immortal Rong will hack me to death?”

Then Gu Mo slammed her head heavily onto the table, her body leaning forward, arms flailing. “Don’t! I’m afraid to die!”

A gentle knock sounded at the door, and Rong Chang’s voice said, “It’s me.”

Sui Jingcheng sighed in relief, quickly saying, “Please come in.”

Gu Mo was already sitting upright, slowly sipping her tea.

Rong Chang seemed unfazed, taking a seat and saying to Sui Jingcheng, “Next, we’ll be heading to the skeletal shores at the southernmost tip of Beiju Luzhou. Afterwards, we’ll be traveling across continents to Treasure Bottle Continent. I’ll explain some mountain taboos, which may be tedious, but it’s necessary. Although Treasure Bottle Continent is the smallest of the known continents, there’s no shortage of eccentric individuals. We must discuss adapting to local customs.”

Rong Chang felt a bit awkward.

In Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, his temperament wasn’t considered gentle, but compared to his master, Li Cai, he seemed approachable.

His true temperament was best known to those cultivators who had suffered death or injury under his sword.

As a Nascent Soul sword cultivator of considerable standing in central Beiju Luzhou, Rong Chang actually had several direct disciples in Floating Duckweed Sword Lake. The common saying went, “Spare the rod, spoil the child.” In Rong Chang’s case, it was more like, “Endure more sword strikes, increase your cultivation.”

However, towards his half-junior sister, Sui Jingcheng, Rong Chang naturally had much more patience.

Sui Jingcheng listened patiently to Rong Chang’s long and detailed explanation.

Gu Mo wasn’t an outsider, so Rong Chang wouldn’t shoo her away. Nor did she have the sense to leave on her own. She just sat there, drinking tea cup after cup, yawning occasionally, preferring to listen to the dry and tedious lecture rather than stay in her room alone.

Rong Chang breathed a sigh of relief. Sui Jingcheng seemed to have learned many mountain rules from that young man named Chen.

And compared to his familiar junior sister, she was indeed very different.

His junior sister was the one with the best and worst temper in Floating Duckweed Sword Lake. When her temper was good, she could instruct her junior disciples in swordsmanship for a long time, even more diligently than a master. When her temper was bad, even their master, Li Cai, couldn’t handle her. Once, after a journey, his junior sister, convinced she was right, and Sword Immortal master, even more convinced she was right, engaged in an argument. As a result, the enraged master confined her, reducing her cultivation to only Cave Realm, and submerged her in the waters of Floating Duckweed Sword Lake for half a year.

When she was dragged ashore, she was on the verge of death. Her master asked if she admitted her mistake, but his junior sister replied that the scenery at the bottom of the lake was excellent, and she hadn’t seen enough.

Finally, the master surveyed the surroundings with cold eyes. Thus, Rong Chang, as the eldest disciple, reluctantly stepped forward, making sure to call out to a few junior siblings in his mind, saying that everyone was willing to take the punishment for their junior sister. Only then did the master give way, rewarding each of them with a sword strike, barely relieving her anger before leaving the shore.

Afterwards, Rong Chang was almost jointly hunted down by his junior siblings. Rong Chang felt aggrieved, unable to reveal the secret, and could only flee the sect to avoid the storm. The master had secretly singled him out to take the punishment, expecting him to show some semblance of being the eldest disciple. What could he do?! The master’s means of making life difficult for others were no worse than her sword skills, were they?

But Floating Duckweed Sword Lake was, in the end, a good place.
For instance, Floating Reed Sword Lake has an unwritten rule passed down through the Ancestral Hall: “All disciples descending the mountain to hone their swordsmanship must never reveal their identity as a cultivator from Floating Reed Sword Lake. However, should they encounter an opponent they cannot defeat, follow these three steps. First, flee with haste. Second, if escape proves impossible, invoke the name of Li Cai of Floating Reed Sword Lake. Third, if the name of Li Cai proves ineffective, remember to transmit the name of your enemy using the Talisman Sword of the Ancestral Hall before your demise. When your soul returns to the sword burial grounds of the sect, it shall be accompanied by their severed head.”

Rong Chang naturally hoped that his junior sister could reach even greater heights, becoming the second Sword Immortal Li Cai of Floating Reed Sword Lake.

As for himself, the prospects were dim.

Having cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage, one generally has a clear understanding of how far they can ultimately progress.

Becoming a Golden Core cultivator is the aspiration of many.

However, once the Golden Core is successfully formed, aside from the immense fortune involved, a more distinct watershed emerges.

It’s akin to the imperial examination candidates in mortal dynasties who leap through the Dragon Gate. Some, upon achieving the rank of “Presented Scholar,” are overjoyed, feeling as though their ancestors’ graves are emitting auspicious smoke, experiencing a world-altering shift. For decades, they remain immersed in that profound sense of accomplishment. These individuals resemble wild cultivators from mountains and marshes, or the so-called cultivation geniuses of small, remote immortal abodes who emerge only once every few centuries.

Some, achieving the rank of “Second Class Presented Scholar,” may feel fortunate or harbor lingering regrets. These individuals are often disciples of well-established immortal sects from major mountains.

Others, attaining the ranks of “Third Place” or “Third Ranked Graduate” in the first class, deem it their due, with only slight imperfections. This small group tends to be direct descendants of renowned immortal clans.

Then there are those who sweep the board, claiming the title of “Number One Scholar,” solely because it is the highest possible rank.

Liu Jinglong could be considered one such example.

As for the two “young cultivators” ranked even higher than Liu Jinglong, it goes without saying that they are of the same ilk.

Gu Mo, and Liu Jinglong’s senior sister, as well as Rong Chang himself, although currently at different stages of cultivation, will likely achieve similar ultimate accomplishments, with a possible, yet uncertain, hope of reaching the Jade Purity Realm.

Sui Jingcheng suddenly interjected with an unrelated question: “Sword Immortal Rong, will we be making a detour to Golden Scale Palace?”

Rong Chang chuckled, “It’s not directly along the way, but we can go.”

Sui Jingcheng was somewhat perplexed. Could it be that he intended to personally transport her to Golden Scale Palace on the wind, before hurrying back to catch up with the ferry?

Rong Chang explained: “We can simply offer compensation. The ferry will agree. They can offer some recompense to the passengers, and it would only require a detour of a few days.”

Sui Jingcheng inquired: “What if the ferry passengers are unwilling to accept the money?”

Rong Chang smiled: “A Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator offering them money? They should be burning incense in gratitude.”

Sui Jingcheng shook her head.

Rong Chang became serious. “What I spoke of earlier were mostly the taboos and customs of Treasure Bottle Continent. Right now, the ferry is still in the airspace of Northern Ju Lu Continent. These are the rules of the mountains on our side.”

Sui Jingcheng smiled: “Never mind. In the future, once I’ve achieved cultivation, I’ll go to Golden Scale Palace myself to seek justice.”

This time, Rong Chang shook his head.

Gu Mo, on the other hand, couldn’t stop smiling.

Rumor has it that Golden Scale Palace is guarded by an obscure Nascent Soul cultivator, whose actual combat strength is likely the weakest among Nascent Souls. However, if Sui Jingcheng intends to resolve the grudge herself, it means that she must at least become a Golden Core bottleneck Sword Cultivator.

When a sword cultivator seeks revenge or challenges an immortal sect, it is invariably a solitary endeavor, facing the entire mountain alone. First, they must break the mountain’s spirit vein formation, then overcome the siege of the cultivators’ magical artifacts, and finally, engage in a life-or-death battle with the pillar of the sect. This is akin to a pure martial artist, alone on horseback, charging through and shattering a formation of heavily armored infantry on the battlefield. It is no trifling matter. Throughout the history of Northern Ju Lu Continent, how many overconfident sword cultivators have met their demise?

Sui Jingcheng smiled faintly: “I know this will require a very long wait, but that’s alright.”

Rong Chang thought that it might not necessarily be so.

As long as you one day become the Floating Reed Sword Lake junior sister with a complete soul once more.

Sui Jingcheng hesitated for a moment, then softly said: “Sword Immortal Rong, I think it’s best to be cautious when traveling and training.”

Rong Chang suppressed a smile and nodded: “Very well.”

Gu Mo nodded in agreement: “Sword Immortal Rong, you must be cautious. You should listen to many old sayings of the martial world.”

Sui Jingcheng ignored Gu Mo’s teasing and continued: “Sword Immortal Rong, some of the looks you give the ferry passengers are too obvious. Cultivation can be concealed, but certain auras of a Sword Immortal are difficult to hide. If it falls into the eyes of someone with ill intentions, it will inevitably make them more wary. If they are truly a band of desperadoes, they might gather allies with Cave Realm strength, striving to reach the Ocean Gazing Realm. An Ocean Gazing Realm will become a Dragon Gate Realm, and so on. Small matters will turn into big ones, and big ones will turn into disasters.”

Sui Jingcheng pondered, then said with a blush: “Perhaps it’s because my cultivation is low, and I’ve encountered a few dangerous situations during my travels, making me overly sensitive. Sword Immortal Rong, please take me as a frog in a well, spouting nonsense.”

Gu Mo’s earlier joking expression vanished.

It wasn’t so much that Sui Jingcheng’s reasoning was so correct that it swayed Rong Chang, but that a mediocre cultivator who had only traveled the world once in over thirty years possessed such a mindset, which was certainly more willing to use her brain than Gu Mo herself…

Rong Chang smiled faintly: “I have my own considerations.”

He was, after all, a Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator who had traveled the mountains often, and had experienced many life-and-death battles at different levels.

However, Sui Jingcheng’s reminder was not off the mark.

It seemed that his junior sister turning into the current Sui Jingcheng was not entirely a bad thing.

Back then, after his junior sister caused that great calamity, leading to the discord between Floating Reed Sword Lake and Yang Clan’s Cloud Soaring Palace of the Bureau of Supervision, and after she was sunk to the bottom of the lake for half a year, his master Li Cai never allowed his junior sister to go out to train again. His junior sister herself was also unwilling to go out, only staying at Floating Reed Sword Lake to cultivate, becoming fond of solitude and completely indifferent to worldly affairs. Then, including Sect Leader Li Cai, the entire Floating Reed Sword Lake felt a trace of panic. It wasn’t that Rong Chang’s junior sister’s cultivation had stagnated, but that she was breaking through too quickly!

In just twenty years, she broke through the Dragon Gate and Golden Core bottlenecks one after another, directly entering the Nascent Soul stage. This was the foundation of Li Cai’s confidence in saying that her most prized disciple would definitely be among the next generation of the ten most promising young cultivators of Northern Ju Lu Continent. However, even Rong Chang sensed a trace of instability, feeling that such breakthroughs might, in the long run, bring…
a huge hidden danger. His master Li Cai naturally saw it even more clearly, which led to his junior sister’s seclusion and the quiet descent of Immaculate Radiance Perfected Lord Li Yu to the Five Ridges Kingdom.
That day, Sui Jingcheng returned the golden hairpin engraved with “Tai Xia’s Enslaved Ghosts” to Gu Mo. However, according to a secret agreement between her and the sword immortal Li Cai, Gu Mo would not take the hairpin back to her sect. Instead, she would entrust it to Rong Chang for safekeeping. As for the reason, Gu Mo didn’t know the deeper meaning, but the sword immortal Li Cai was a close friend of her master, Li Yu. Moreover, the flying sword that Gu Mo had refined was indeed, as Chen Pingan had guessed, a relic of a sword immortal from Floating Duckweed Sword Lake who had dispersed her immortal form. It had been given to Gu Mo by Li Cai, so Gu Mo was very fond of this female sword immortal, treating her like a senior in her own family.

Not only that, but Sui Jingcheng finally obtained the middle and lower volumes of the *Supreme Mysterious Collection*.

The upper volume expounded on the fundamental purpose of this great Dao technique. In the hands of ordinary earth immortals, it would be a useless manual, but Sui Jingcheng had managed to cultivate it to the bottleneck of the second realm. Even Rong Chang felt that Sui Jingcheng’s aptitude deserved to be called a genius. The middle volume contained the step-by-step cultivation formulas, a veritable “golden elixir manual.” The lower volume was the key to ascending to the upper five realms.

Furthermore, Rong Chang gave Sui Jingcheng a special jade token from the Floating Duckweed Sword Lake Ancestral Hall, symbolizing not only her status as a direct disciple but also a *zhichi* object, something that even an ordinary cultivator in the upper five realms would possess. Rong Chang himself only had a *fangcun* object.

The ferry sailed south, passing by Spring Dew Garden, where it made a short stop. Passengers could disembark and briefly explore the surrounding area of the ferry port for about two hours.

Qi Jinglong stepped off the boat, while most of the other passengers either rode the wind or flew away.

Gu Mo shamelessly followed behind this terrestrial dragon, continuing to inquire about Qi Jinglong’s rumors from the mountains. If she returned to her sect, wouldn’t those infatuated senior sisters and junior sisters be green with envy? It wasn’t just her own Tai Xia lineage; many female cultivators, including those from Zhi Xuan and Baiyun, admired this young sword immortal from Tai Wei, who looked more like a bookworm than a cultivator, to the point that they would almost drool just mentioning his name. After whispering amongst themselves, when they turned around to face their respective fellow disciples, they would become as cold as ice, unyielding and aloof, which greatly broadened Gu Mo’s horizons.

Gu Mo had made up her mind. Once she returned to her sect, she would say that this Liu Jinglong was actually a hypocritical pervert who liked to leer at women’s chests and behinds. Moreover, he was particularly vulgar and only favored those coquettish women who plastered their faces with layers of rouge. Wouldn’t that make those female cultivators who secretly applied a little rouge and powder afraid to go out? In other words, she would be helping them focus on their cultivation, right? At the very least, wouldn’t she be saving them money on buying rouge?

Therefore, Gu Mo’s view of this young sword immortal from Tai Wei Sword Sect had changed from initially disliking him to finding him more and more pleasing to the eye.

Qi Jinglong bought some books at the Fu Shui Du bookstore in Spring Dew Garden. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said, “Miss Gu, although it’s a bit inappropriate to say this, I really don’t like you.”

Gu Mo was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage, asking, “Liu Jinglong, has water gone to your brain?”

Qi Jinglong didn’t get angry but laughed instead. It really worked!

Gu Mo panicked a little. Did water really go to his brain? Could this person in front of her be a fake Liu Jinglong?

Qi Jinglong continued to stroll, feeling relaxed.

Afraid that this guy had lost his mind, Gu Mo slowed down a little, not daring to walk beside him or look at him with a smile.

Qi Jinglong turned his head and smiled, “Miss Gu, you don’t need to be like this. We’re still friends.”

Gu Mo almost couldn’t resist kicking him, but after weighing the difference in their cultivation, she managed to hold back. However, she was so angry that her teeth itched. She turned around and left.

Qi Jinglong sighed with emotion.

Compared to Chen Ping An, he seemed to lack some cultivation in such matters.

However, the general direction should be right.

Sui Jingcheng went to Old Locust Street in Spring Dew Garden and visited that small ant-like shop.

She had heard her senior mention this business when chatting with Mr. Liu.

Rong Chang, of course, followed along.

Sui Jingcheng wore a veiled hat and carried a walking stick. She entered the shop. The shopkeeper was warm and attentive, full of enthusiasm, and briefly introduced the advantages of the ant shop without being annoying.

Sui Jingcheng quietly asked, “Senior Brother Rong, can I borrow money from you?”

Although she had obtained the direct disciple jade token from the Ancestral Hall, she was still a nominal disciple of Li Cai, the sect master of Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, so there was no problem in calling Rong Chang “Senior Brother”.

Rong Chang said with a mental voice and a smile, “Master has reserved a hundred Valley Rain coins for you. Junior Sister Sui can spend them as she pleases, it’s not considered borrowing. Senior Brother Rong also has some savings, so you don’t need to pay them back.”

Floating Duckweed Sword Lake and the Yang Clan of the Cloud Firmament Palace of the Department of Celestial Harmony respectively possessed 20% and 30% of the income from a small Dragon Palace grotto-heaven. The remaining 50% naturally belonged to the local powers.

That Dragon Palace grotto-heaven, one of the thirty-six lesser grotto-heavens, was located at the deepest part of the great riverbed. The scenery could be described as bizarre and magnificent. It was not only a famous scenic spot in the continent but also an excellent place for cultivators to practice water-based techniques. There were more than a dozen earth immortal cultivators who rented residences there for long periods of time, so the annual income was imaginable. Even Floating Duckweed Sword Lake’s 20% share was a considerable amount of money.

Sect Master Li Cai did not take a single penny of it.

All the immortal coins from the Dragon Palace grotto-heaven, which were settled every sixty years, were used as the property of the Floating Duckweed Sword Lake Ancestral Hall and distributed to all the sect’s cultivators except her, based on their realm, talent, and merits.

This was Floating Duckweed Sword Lake.

Rong Chang could guarantee that even if Master Li Cai’s realm fell and she was no longer a sword cultivator in the upper five realms, Li Cai would still be the sect master of Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, and would always be Li Cai.

In any case, Floating Duckweed Sword Lake was truly not short of money.

Moreover, Master Li Cai had always advocated the rule that female disciples should be raised wealthy, so that they would not be easily tricked and abducted by men.

However, half of these one hundred Valley Rain coins were actually Master Li Cai’s private savings, and the remaining half was what the Ancestral Hall should have allocated to the junior sister who was in seclusion.

Sui Jingcheng looked through the various treasures on the display shelves of the ant shop and picked out a few ingenious objects. They weren’t considered spiritual artifacts. After bargaining, she spent no more than ten Snow coins.

Then, Sui Jingcheng asked if there were any treasures of the shop, and that price didn’t matter.
The young shopkeeper who came to help from Zhaoye Caotang was still enthusiastic, not changing his attitude just because the veiled woman had only bought a few cheap items earlier. He mentioned several expensive items not displayed in the front of the shop. He skipped over the dragon throne, but emphasized the two golden coronets of the magic treasure grade. He explained that one was larger and the other smaller, and they could be sold separately. The larger golden coronet cost eighteen Gu Yu coins, and the smaller one sixteen. If they were bought together, one Gu Yu coin could be discounted, totaling thirty-three Gu Yu coins.

Sui Jingcheng asked, “Can I take a look first?”

The young shopkeeper smiled, “Of course. It doesn’t matter if you don’t buy them if they don’t catch your eye.”

He went around the counter to open the door.

Rong Chang glanced at the words on the door and couldn’t help but smile wryly.

Four large characters: “The Fated Shall Obtain.”

Four smaller characters: “The Highest Bidder Wins.”

Rong Chang couldn’t associate the owner of this shop with the young man in a green robe at the Dragon Head Ferry in Green Oriole Kingdom.

Sui Jingcheng took a fancy to the two golden coronets at first glance. Without haggling, she asked Rong Chang to take out thirty-three Gu Yu coins.

Money changed hands, and goods were delivered.

Holding the sandalwood box carefully crafted by Zhaoye Caotang, Sui Jingcheng left the Ant Shop. Walking on Old Sophora Street, her steps were light and her mood was excellent.

The young shopkeeper bowed all the way, seeing the two distinguished guests off outside the shop, and watched them disappear into the distance.

He felt incredulous.

In fact, this acting shopkeeper of the Ant Shop himself felt a little guilty.

Although the pair of golden coronets were indeed genuine mountain treasures, they were not worth the sky-high price of thirty-three Gu Yu coins.

Zhaoye Caotang had privately estimated that although they were two magic treasures, capable of summoning the protection of two golden-bodied divine maidens, with effects similar to a magic robe, and also possessing a certain degree of offensive power, they were ultimately not a magic robe of magic treasure quality. So, around twenty-five Gu Yu coins would be fairer. Even with some premium for something that money couldn’t buy if you truly desired it, for example, if a female immortal took a liking to them, the maximum price would be around twenty-eight coins.

Once one reached the Earth Immortal realm, the requirements for magic treasures were actually very simple: the more extreme, the better.

This was the fundamental reason why the two golden coronets had not been sold. It wasn’t that no customers liked them, but the price was too high and there were no real benefits to be had.

However, the pricing of the golden coronets and the dragon throne was personally determined by the Sword Immortal shopkeeper, with the reasoning that you never knew when you might encounter someone rich and foolish.

Zhaoye Caotang was helpless about this, and felt that the items would gather dust for at least one or two hundred years.

Who would have thought that it hadn’t been that long?

After leaving Old Sophora Street, Rong Chang smiled and said, “You bought them at a high price.”

Sui Jingcheng was a little embarrassed.

But she really liked these golden coronets.

Sui Jingcheng said softly, “Senior Brother Rong, I definitely won’t buy anything else next.”

“I didn’t mean to blame you, Junior Sister.”

Rong Chang shook his head and smiled, “Our master is even more generous when buying things. Once, she took a fancy to a beautiful magic robe she really liked, and insisted that the other party raise the price, otherwise she wouldn’t buy it. At the time, our master didn’t reveal her identity, and the other party was scared half to death, thinking they had encountered someone trying to make trouble. Later, when they found out it was our master, they regretted it so much that their intestines turned green, and they beat their chests and stamped their feet, feeling they should have doubled the price directly.”

Sui Jingcheng sincerely sighed, “If I had known this, I would have gone to Floating Duckweed Sword Lake to take a look first.”

Rong Chang breathed a sigh of relief.

Damn, based on Junior Sister’s words, if Master Li Cai were here, she would definitely ask him Rong Chang if there were any magic treasures he wanted to buy recently.

Back on the ferry, as soon as the two sat down, Rong Chang needed to impart to her a Floating Duckweed Sword Lake sword refining incantation regarding the refinement of the two exquisite golden coronets.

If a sword could be refined, naturally all things could be refined.

As soon as he finished speaking the thousands of words of the sword refining incantation, Sui Jingcheng closed her eyes. When she opened them, she smiled and said, “I’ve memorized it.”

Rong Chang didn’t repeat it.

The Junior Sister of yesteryear, now Sui Jingcheng, although their temperaments were vastly different, like two different people, she was still the same in terms of her Dao cultivation talent, and would not disappoint.

However, Sui Jingcheng still asked Rong Chang to say it again, lest there be any errors.

Afterwards, Gu Mo knocked hard on the door of the corridor, banging loudly.

After Sui Jingcheng opened the door.

Gu Mo hurriedly said, “Sui Jingcheng, Sui Jingcheng, I’m going to tell you a secret, Liu Jinglong may have been replaced! The one we’re seeing now might be someone else!”

Sui Jingcheng was at a loss and turned to look at Rong Chang.

Rong Chang was a little helpless and said to Gu Mo, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Gu Mo sat down on the chair with a thud, frowning and thinking deeply for a long time. Then, she suddenly understood and slammed a fist on the table, “Good heavens, this shameless bastard, he was teasing me!”

Rong Chang got up and left.

Gu Mo had been unstable in her mental state all the way, but Rong Chang couldn’t say much.

Fortunately, this trip to Dragon Head Ferry had allowed Gu Mo to regain a pure state of mind, which was a good thing.

Those two cultivators who seemed like Green Robe Gentlemen had done a great service.

Of course, Sui Jingcheng also deserved credit.

After Rong Chang closed the door, Gu Mo told Sui Jingcheng what had happened.

Sui Jingcheng held her forehead, not wanting to speak.

You two have such high cultivation levels, but both of you are so clueless.

And this Mr. Liu, he’s become a fool from reading too much, hasn’t he learned anything good from being with the senior for so long?

Sure enough, what the senior said was right, a cultivator’s realm can’t be eaten as food.

Gu Mo asked doubtfully, “What’s wrong? Tell me, could there be some mystery? I’m still a virgin, my experience in this kind of thing is far less than yours.”

Sui Jingcheng’s face turned red, “What nonsense are you talking about!”

Gu Mo sighed, “Never mind.”

Gu Mo lay on the table, her face turned to look at the sea of clouds outside the window.

Sui Jingcheng placed the exquisite and lovely smaller golden coronet on the table. Like Gu Mo, she lay on the table, resting her cheek gently on one arm, and tapped the golden coronet with her finger.

Gu Mo softly said, “I miss my master a little. What about you, do you also miss that man very much?”

Sui Jingcheng whispered, “If you don’t say it, I’ll miss him. But once you mention it, I don’t miss him as much. Isn’t that strange?”

Gu Mo helplessly said, “How would I know?”

They were both silent.
Gu Mo suddenly looked radiant and stood up, moved a chair, and sat eagerly next to Sui Jingcheng, whispering in her ear, “Sui Jingcheng, let me tell you, the methods of dual cultivation are numerous, and not the least bit indecent. It’s originally a branch of Daoism, completely aboveboard. Otherwise, why would those Daoist couples on the mountain get married? Right? I know some, for example…”

Sui Jingcheng listened for a moment, then pushed Gu Mo away, embarrassed and furious, “How can you be so lewd?!”

Gu Mo said sheepishly, “Heard it on the grapevine, heard it on the grapevine.”

Sui Jingcheng’s face was flushed, and she suddenly stood up, chasing Gu Mo out of the room.

The door slammed shut.

Gu Mo coughed and, imitating the Chen fellow’s voice and tone, said, “Jingcheng, it’s me, open the door.”

Sui Jingcheng raged, “Gu Mo!”

Gu Mo still didn’t change his tone, “Jingcheng, why are you being so disobedient? Call me Senior.”

Sui Jingcheng looked around, grabbed the mountain-walking staff, opened the door, and tried to hit Gu Mo.

Gu Mo had already skipped away, poking her head out from the corner of the corridor, grinning, “Oh my, the way you look right now, even I, a woman, would be smitten. I think, that guy walked with you all the way, and definitely didn’t control his eyes. It’s just that his cultivation is high, and your Daoist skills are low, so you didn’t notice. Alas, I just don’t know if you got a bad deal, or… hit the jackpot.”

Sui Jingcheng was so angry that she chased after her.

Gu Mo returned to her room, refreshed, in a great mood.

Sui Jingcheng closed the door, leaned against it, smiled, and sat at the table, picking up the golden coronet and holding a bronze mirror.

Then she removed the golden coronet, put away the bronze mirror, and began to carefully read the middle volume of the *Supreme Profound Collection*.

Cultivators of the Dao,

Know neither day nor night.

Qi Refinement cultivators who have just embarked on the path of cultivation often lose their sense of how quickly time passes.

Late that night, Sui Jingcheng put down the last volume of the *Supreme Profound Collection* and turned to look out the window.

A crescent moon and wutong trees, sudden rain on banana leaves, wild geese in the autumn wind, horses’ hooves on spring grass, heavy snow on a small boat, childhood sweethearts, talented scholars and beautiful women, a famous general’s treasured saber, a beauty’s bronze mirror…

So many perfect matches in the world.

Then what about Sui Jingcheng and Senior?

Qi Jinglong was reading a book he bought from Fushui Ferry, a miscellaneous book about the imperial porcelain of various continents and countries, printed by the Qionglin Sect, the most business-savvy in Beiju Luzhou.

He suddenly frowned.

He closed the book.

He closed his eyes.

At the Emerald Kingfisher Inn at Dragon Head Ferry, Chen Ping’an chatted with him about many things, mostly glossing over them, leaving no trace.

There was the intercontinental ferry that crashed at Dajiao Mountain, the ants of southeastern Beiju Luzhou, and the matter of his hometown, Lizhu Cave Heaven’s, natal porcelain.

These topics were mixed in with more topics, inconspicuous, and Chen Ping’an didn’t really seem to be seeking any answers, more like casual conversation between friends who could talk about anything.

But Qi Jinglong wasn’t stupid.

There was a thread hidden within, one that Chen Ping’an himself might not have noticed.

The Dajiao Mountain intercontinental ferry, Mr. Jianweng, one of the ten oddballs of Beiju Luzhou, his fate unknown, the ferry crashed in the Zhu Ying Dynasty, the most powerful in central Baoping Continent, Beiju Luzhou was furious, Celestial Lord Xie Shi went south to Baoping Continent, first returning to his former home, Lizhu Cave Heaven of the Dali Dynasty, then going to central Baoping Continent, hindering the Guanhai Academy, one of the seventy-two academies, accepting the challenge of three people in succession, the Dali iron cavalry went south, forming a sweeping trend across the continent. The matter of Lizhu Cave Heaven’s natal porcelain, not a secret in the major sects of Beiju Luzhou, Chen Ping’an first called himself with a slight change, changing Mr. Qi to Mr. Liu, and finally calling himself Qi Jinglong, not Liu Jinglong. Chen Ping’an is only at the third level of Qi Refinement now, and must use a natal object of the Five Elements to rebuild the Bridge of Longevity. Chen Ping’an’s knowledge is mixed, but he strives for balance, doing his best to work hard on the matter of cultivating his mind.

Qi Jinglong sighed heavily, stood up, and came to the window.

He believed that Chen Ping’an’s travels in Beiju Luzhou this time definitely involved a profound plan, one that required him to proceed with caution, even more meticulously than his own already dazzlingly deceptive travels in the pugilistic world.

Qi Jinglong muttered to himself, “Could it be that your natal porcelain is now held by a major sect in Beiju Luzhou? Then you must be careful today, and even more careful as your cultivation increases.”

Qi Jinglong’s mood was heavy. If it were the prosperous Mount Ai Continent, everything could be negotiated with money. In Beiju Luzhou, it would be much more complicated. Especially for an outsider, wanting to reason in Beiju Luzhou was even more difficult.

Qi Jinglong certainly didn’t mind standing by Chen Ping’an’s side, the price being either he would leave the Taiwei Sword Sect forever, or he would implicate the reputation of the Taiwei Sword Sect, causing it to collapse.

And once Qi Jinglong got involved, things would become even more troublesome.

Perhaps it would attract even more sword immortals who had originally chosen to watch from the sidelines.

This was the terror of the rules.

Beiju Luzhou liked to stick together. When something was neither right nor wrong, not involving absolute good or evil, if an outsider wanted to act based on their identity, it was wrong in itself. Then, to the many sword immortals of Beiju Luzhou, you were asking them to draw their swords. In history, the Liu clan head of Mount Ai Continent and the Daoists of Longhu Mountain’s Celestial Master’s Mansion had wanted to land in Beiju Luzhou to personally investigate the murderer. The result? A dozen or so sword immortals above the fifth realm blocked them there. No one called for help, they all gathered at the seaside on their own accord, stopping their swords, without exception, not saying a word to you, only drawing their swords.

Regarding this, reclusive experts like the Fire Dragon True Man never interfered, even though the Fire Dragon True Man was likely the legendary outsider Grand Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain. He still didn’t come forward to mediate or plead.

And once a battle began, the sword immortal chose to deliver the first sword, after which it was a situation of endless life and death.

For every sword immortal who died, there was a high probability that two more would arrive on the battlefield soon.

This was why Beiju Luzhou, although located in the northeast, forcibly snatched the “North” from Mount Ai Continent.

Unconvinced?

After a major grievance in the past, the entirety of North Mount Ai Continent spoke harshly and slanderously against Mount Ju Continent, and the great cultivators of Mount Ai Continent

Grossly insulted several Ju Continent sword cultivators who died in battle on the Sword Qi Great Wall. Not only that, but they also threatened to expel all Ju Continent cultivators from their territory.
Then, back then, the two hundred-odd sword cultivators of the Northern Ju-Lu Continent had already prepared to embark on a long journey across the sea to the Ai’ai Continent, among whom were ten sword cultivators above the fifth realm.

Before setting off, this group of sword cultivators didn’t utter a single harsh word towards the Ai’ai Continent. They simply journeyed across the continent together.

Half of the sword cultivators above the fifth realm had honed their swords at the Great Wall of Sword Qi.

When the Ai’ai Continent suddenly learned that two hundred sword cultivators from the Ju-Lu Continent were only three thousand miles from their coast, almost all the Immortal Families of the “Sect” character were on the verge of collapse.

Because the opponents declared that they would challenge the Ai’ai Continent with their swords, not to rush, from east to west, one sect after another, everyone would have a share. As for the “North” character of the Northern Ai’ai Continent, since you cherish it so much, then keep it.

In addition to this batch of sword cultivators “expanding territory”, there were also continuously heading west.

Finally, an old scholar blocked the way of that group of sword cultivators.

No one knew what the old scholar talked about with the two hundred-odd sword cultivators.

But in the end, the Ju-Lu Continent sword cultivators did not land on a large scale, and chose to retreat back to their own continent.

However, after that, the Northern Ai’ai Continent lost that “North” character.

Qi Jinglong recalled these old events, even though he hadn’t personally experienced them, and only heard about them from the sect’s predecessors, he was still fascinated by them.

However, the two Sword Immortals of the Taihui Sword Sect, who were among those who journeyed across the continent, were reluctant to talk about it.

Qi Jinglong only heard some old members of the sect talking about how the two Sword Immortals had argued about who would guard the sect and who would draw their sword across the continent. Roughly, one said that you are the Sect Master, so you should stay, and the other said that your swordsmanship is not as good as mine, so don’t go and embarrass yourself.

Qi Jinglong began to repeatedly consider various possibilities.

The best and the worst, as well as many others in between.

This was the same line of thought as how Chen Ping’an looked at difficulties of all sizes.

But Qi Jinglong thought over and over again, and felt that this was a complex situation that was very likely to affect all parties.

So Qi Jinglong planned to collect more information before taking action.

When helping others, one thing is very important, and that is to avoid causing trouble for them.

Qi Jinglong sat back in his seat.

The Qionglin Sect would be a good starting point.

Because this wealthy sect was very mixed, inquiring about their news wouldn’t alert anyone.

There was also a sect that had been on friendly terms with the Taihui Sword Sect for generations, and it was said that they had done business with the Natal Porcelain of the Li Zhu Cave, so he could ask around indirectly.

In addition, Qi Jinglong had some other ideas.

It was nothing more than proceeding step by step, seeking a slow and error-free approach, and aiming for a steady victory.

After Qi Jinglong had a general idea, he poured himself a cup of tea.

Among the top ten young cultivators in the current Northern Ju-Lu Continent.

The Yang Ningzhen and Yang Ningxing brothers of the Chongxuan Office are both Innate Dao Embryos, Qi Jinglong was of course very familiar with them.

Especially Yang Ningzhen, who went to practice martial arts, was one who liked to dwell on trivialities.

Yang Ningxing was ranked ninth, and his older brother Yang Ningzhen was at the bottom, but in fact, Yang Ningzhen’s ranking could be moved up a few places.

Ranked fourth, the one behind Qi Jinglong, was named Huang Xi.

He was a wild mountain cultivator, the youngest Yuan Ying wild cultivator in the history of the Northern Ju-Lu Continent. He was the kind of terrifying cultivator who was especially good at slowly grinding down his opponents, but even Jade Purity realm sword cultivators found it extremely difficult to kill him. He relied on both supernatural powers and spells, as well as a semi-immortal weapon that he obtained by fighting his way through a bloody path, and a semi-immortal weapon that he “picked up” under early opportunities, one for offense and one for defense. Moreover, this person’s temperament was gloomy, his scheming was extremely deep, and he was vindictive, and was known as the local Jiang Shangzhen of the Northern Ju-Lu Continent.

For one revenge, he alone massacred a second-rate Immortal Family sect, leaving no one alive.

What was terrifying was that he did not choose to storm the mountain gate openly, but sneaked in three times, calculating people’s hearts to a terrifying degree.

By the time a Jade Purity realm Sword Immortal led the crowd to arrive, he had just left, and the old Patriarch of that Immortal Family sect had just taken his last breath. His Golden Core was peeled off, and his Natal Nascent Soul was lit up like a lamp, placed on the roof of the ancestral hall, burning fiercely.

Up and down the mountain, were lamps constantly burning the souls of cultivators, some extinguished, turning into ashes, and some with remnants of souls.

A once spiritually vibrant Immortal Family mountain top, was filled with a gloomy aura, like a ghost domain.

Qi Jinglong had crossed paths with him once.

Qi Jinglong had even drawn his sword.

But that person retreated while fighting, and even said some heartfelt words to Qi Jinglong, as well as some inside stories of the mountain that Qi Jinglong had never heard of before.

Among them, about the matter of distraction, it was this person’s warning.

This wild cultivator, named Huang Xi.

Huang Xi had also done some inexplicable feats. In short, it was always difficult to distinguish between good and evil in this person’s actions.

Before him, Qi Jinglong, were the two others.

The first person, he wouldn’t think too much about.

As long as he was willing to take action, the opponent would definitely have already lost, even if they were one realm higher than him.

This was still the case when he never used that kind of soul-bound Immortal weapon.

Even Qi Jinglong inevitably felt a sense of reverence, but Qi Jinglong would not be discouraged because of this.

On the Great Dao, there is always one mountain higher than another, it has always been like this.

Moreover, Qi Jinglong firmly believed that as long as the gap between him and the other party was not too far apart, he would have a chance to catch up.

As for the second person, named Xu Xuan.

Before this person was even born, there were several Sect-Character Immortal Families lying in wait, and it was said that there were also reclusive experts from the Central Earth Divine Continent, also spying.

There must be extremely deep involvement in this.

In his cultivation path, the five elements of Natal Objects that Xu Xuan eventually refined were unbelievably marvelous, and the scale of their aura was magnificent.

He had two personal maids, one dedicated to holding his knife, named Cough Pearl, and one in charge of holding his sword, named Fuhé.

He was the only disciple of Bai Shang, the number one Sword Immortal in the North of the Northern Ju-Lu Continent.

Therefore, Xu Xuan was both the eldest disciple and the closed-door disciple of this Sword Immortal.

There were not many rumors about Xu Xuan.

But every one of them was shocking.

For example, he was actually half the owner of the Qionglin Sect, and the Qionglin Sect’s business had long since reached the Treasure Bottle Continent, and even the Tung Leaf Continent.

Another example was that one of his ambitions was to defeat his teacher Bai Shang.

The most recent piece of great news…