The spring breeze summoned a spring rain.

Under the eaves, Chen Ping An, who had been sitting on a chair reading a scholar’s collection of notes, stood up and reached out to catch the raindrops.

Before returning to the Ning Residence from the city wall, Chen Qingdu had asked a question: whether or not to leave behind a Natal Lamp. If he did, even if he were to die in the southern battlefield during the next great war, though it would damage the very foundation of his Great Dao, he would at least have half a life remaining. It was just that the first step of the soul inscription method was quite arduous. Ordinary cultivators couldn’t endure that kind of suffering. The mountain and river deities of the vast world, when punishing ghosts and spirits within their jurisdiction, lit water lamps and mountain lamps, using souls as wicks. Its power lay in longevity. The brief pain was far inferior to the soul inscription method.

The second step was to light the lamp in one’s ancestral hall. Having endured the first step, the biggest flaw of the Natal Lamp was its cost. The wicks were crafted using immortal secret arts, and they burned immortal coins. It was a daily expenditure of riches. Therefore, the Natal Lamp was something that only families with deep pockets in the vast world, the Sect-founding immortal clans, could afford to light for the most important direct disciples in their ancestral hall. Perhaps this technique was a threshold, the crafting of the Natal Lamp was a second threshold, and the immortal coins consumed thereafter were often a major expenditure for an ancestral hall. Because once lit, it could not be extinguished. If the lamp went out, it would conversely damage the cultivator’s original soul, and a loss of cultivation level was common.

The third step was to use the Natal Lamp to reshape the soul’s Yin Spirit and Yang Spirit true form. Moreover, it was not certain to succeed, and even if it did, future achievements on the Great Dao would be greatly diminished.

Therefore, crafting a Natal Lamp was truly a last resort, a helpless act for cultivators in mountain sects to cope with the unexpected “what ifs”. But in any case, it was better than a cultivator’s body disintegrating upon death, their souls scattering, and being forced to rely on reincarnation, searching diligently in all directions before being brought back to the mountain gate by someone to continue the lineage. However, such cultivators often had incomplete souls from their previous lives, and how much was replaced depended on fate. So, whether they could awaken their wisdom also depended on fate, and how the previous life and the present life should be calculated after awakening was hard to say.

Chen Ping An snapped back to reality, collected his thoughts, and turned to look. It was Fatty Yan and his group. Die Zhang was also there, a rare sight. The wine shop feared rainy days and had to close, but the tables and chairs were not moved. They were left outside the shop. According to the method Chen Ping An had taught her, whenever it rained or snowed, the shop would not do business, but each table would be set with a jar of the cheapest Bamboo Sea Grotto Heaven wine, along with a few wine bowls. The wine was free, and anyone could drink it, but each person was limited to one bowl.

Ning Yao was still diligently cultivating at Dragon Slaying Cliff. After returning to the Ning Residence from the street last time, Granny Bai and Nalan Yexing noticed that their young lady was somewhat different. She had become serious about cultivation.

Fatty Yan had come to discuss Chen Ping An and Die Zhang joining the silk and satin shop as partners. Chen Sanqiu and Dong Huafu were purely there for the fun of it. Everyone held umbrellas and walked under the eaves, putting away their umbrellas and leaning them against the wall. Chen Ping An held the book in one hand and carried a chair into the side room. Fatty Yan looked at the excessively clean room, heartbroken. His good brother, Yan Zhuo, the Ning family’s son-in-law, why was he living in such a shabby place? Chen Sanqiu took out a set of tea utensils from his spatial treasure, said to be from the imperial court of some great dynasty in the Central Earth Divine Continent. Chen Sanqiu began to brew tea. He wanted to pull Chen Ping An into drinking, but dared he? Did he still want to visit the Ning Residence in the future?

Chen Sanqiu smiled while brewing tea, “Thank you for the Fan Dache matter.”

Chen Ping An waved his hand. The scholar’s collection of notes on the table, “A Casual Talk Under the Shade of Flowers and Trees,” was a rare book that Chen Sanqiu had helped him buy from the Mirage Market, along with many imperial-edition history books. It must have cost a lot of immortal coins, but talking about money with a well-off young master like Chen Sanqiu was a slap in the face.

As for Dong Black Charcoal, who also came from a top-tier wealthy family, forget it. This guy’s ability to save money was even more exquisite than Chen Ping An’s. From childhood to adulthood, it was said that he had never taken out even a single Snowflake Coin from his pocket. Chen Ping An even wanted to find someone to help him be the bookmaker, betting on when Dong Huafu would voluntarily spend money, and then he and Dong Huafu would secretly make a fortune together.

Chen Ping An thought it was profitable, so he told Dong Huafu about it.

Dong Huafu shook his head and said, “I’m not spending any money anyway. What’s the point of earning money? My family doesn’t lack money.”

Chen Ping An was speechless.

Seemed to make sense?

Die Zhang smiled the happiest, but after smiling for a while, he heard Chen Ping An say, “I don’t need you to spend money. I’ll discuss it with the bookmaker. We can bet separately on whether you’ll spend money within ten days, within a month, or continue not to spend money within a month. As for how much money you’ll spend, there are also bets, whether it’s one or a few Snowflake Coins, or a Lesser Heat Coin. Then, he’ll deliberately leak the news, saying that I, Chen Ping An, have placed a heavy bet that you’ll spend money soon, but I’ll never say whether it’s within ten days or within a month. But in fact, I’m betting that you won’t spend any money for a month. You see, you haven’t spent any money, you can still drink wine, and you can earn money for free.”

Die Zhang felt that this Second Shopkeeper seemed to be more ruthless than A Liang when he became the bookmaker.

Chen Sanqiu wanted to drink some wine.

Yan Zhuo was eager to try, “Then I want to earn a fortune too, betting that Dong Black Charcoal won’t spend money!”

Chen Ping An glanced sideways, “Of course, you’re helping that heavily hired bookmaker, helping to stabilize the betting. When some cunning gamblers are wavering, you, Fatty Yan, are also ‘accidentally’ having a servant send money over, not wanting to reveal your hand, letting one person tell ten, and ten tell a hundred, knowing that you, Young Master Yan, have secretly spent a large sum of immortal coins, betting that it will be within ten days. This confirms the rumors that I bet Dong Black Charcoal would spend money, otherwise these extremely shrewd old gamblers probably wouldn’t take the bait. How much money you, Young Master Yan, spend earlier will just go around in my pocket and then back into your pocket, right? Afterwards, you’ll split the profits with me and Dong Black Charcoal.”

Yan Zhuo struck his palm with his fist, “Brilliant!”

Die Zhang and Chen Sanqiu looked at each other.

Die Zhang had just wanted to join, not much, just a few Snowflake Coins. Earning this kind of unconscionable money, earning a little was enough. Earning too much would weigh on Die Zhang’s conscience.

Unexpectedly, Chen Sanqiu shook his head and said, “Don’t think about pulling me into this, my conscience hurts.”

Die Zhang hesitated.

Chen Ping An looked disgusted and said, “You can’t use one trick too much. Using it too much will make people suspicious.”

Chen Sanqiu clasped his hands and shook them, “I thank you.”
Dong Huafu declared crisply, “I want fifty percent. You two can split the rest yourselves.”

Chen Ping’an said earnestly, “Hei Tan, I heard that everyone in the city knows about Ning Yao being worth a hundred Chen Ping’ans. I don’t think much of it. Look at Fan Dache; he insulted me on my own turf and even smashed a bowl. Do I hold a grudge? Not at all! Now we’re good friends who’ve turned animosity into amity.”

Dong Huafu, without batting an eye, said, “I was just saying you take fifty percent, and I’ll split the rest with Fatty Yan.”

Then they moved on to serious matters. Chen Ping’an and Diezhang intended to invest in the silk shop under Yan Zhuo’s name, each taking only ten percent.

Chen Ping’an led them to the opposite room, pushed open the door, and a table piled high with various seals of different sizes greeted them, no less than a hundred. There was also a seal catalogue compiled by Chen Ping’an himself, named “Hundred Sword Immortal Seal Script.” Chen Ping’an smiled, “The inscriptions are all carved, all auspicious and festive words, perfect for gifting between women, women to men, and men to women. As for the shop, we won’t give them away just for buying silk fabrics. Only those who pay a deposit to our shop in advance, starting with one Small Heat coin, will receive a seal. First come, first served. However, the side inscriptions aren’t carved yet. If you want more words, especially if you want my, Chen Ping’an’s, signature, you’ll have to pay extra. Besides my ten percent share in the shop, I’ll take an extra cut from that. If a woman deposits money in the shop, she can get a slight discount when buying clothes and fabrics in the future, just a token gesture. But if a woman throws a Corn Rain coin in Fatty Yan’s face, a bigger discount is fine.”

Yan Zhuo picked up a seal with the inscription “Most Yearning Chamber” and hesitated, “Although some women from noble families here dabble in writing and ink, their scholarship is generally mediocre. Will they like these? Besides, aren’t the materials of these seals too ordinary?”

Chen Ping’an said, “If the seal materials were too good, there would be no point in using them as prizes in a silk shop. Losing money to attract customers is pointless. These are just something to hold in your hand, something to play with. Besides, everyone in the world likes good words and good calligraphy, they just haven’t had many opportunities to see them before.”

Chen Sanqiu flipped through them and finally chose a delicate seal with the inscription “Heart Yearning for a Beauty, Thinking of Her Constantly,” tossing a Corn Rain coin to Yan Zhuo. He laughed, “Just consider it a Corn Rain coin deposited in your shop, so this seal is mine.”

Yan Zhuo knew Chen Sanqiu had a better eye for such things than he did, but he was still unsure. He said, “Chen Ping’an, I have no problem with the investment. You and Diezhang each take ten percent. But I’m worried that only Chen Sanqiu will like these seals. We don’t have many people like Chen Sanqiu who are idle enough to read books. What if we can’t give them away or sell them? I don’t care; my shop’s business is mediocre anyway. But if you lose face, don’t blame my shop for having bad feng shui. Also, paying money before buying anything… will any woman be willing to be a sucker?”

Chen Ping’an picked up a small booklet from elsewhere and handed it to Yan Zhuo, smiling, “Read it a few times after you get back, just copy it. Anyway, the shop’s business can’t get much worse.”

Dong Huafu suddenly said, “I want this seal.”

Chen Ping’an glanced at it. He knew at a glance which seal it was: in vermillion script, “Roaming the Mountains, Hating the Distance, Sword Drawn Hanging Like a Rainbow.”

Yan Zhuo laughed, “Paying already? How are you going to be the dealer then?”

Dong Huafu said, “Originally, we’d split it four-one. Now, I’ll take three, and you take two.”

Yan Zhuo didn’t hesitate, “Deal!”

Diezhang was also looking at the inscriptions.

There was “Clear and Bright.”

There was also “Youthful Dreams, Gentle Breeze and Sweet Rain.”

“Life Spent Bowing to the Sword Immortal.” “Behind Her, to the North, Beautiful Eyes Awaiting.”

“Deer Calling Softly, Orioles Chirping, Reluctant to Part.”

“The Longest Sword Qi Under Heaven Here.”

“Daring Not to Draw Sword and Ascend the City Wall, Fearing to Chase Away the Three Rounds of the Moon.”

When Diezhang found this last seal, Yan Zhuo suddenly reddened his eyes and said to Chen Ping’an in a trembling voice, “If I want this seal, how do we settle the account?”

Diezhang was surprised, and Dong Huafu was also taken aback.

Chen Sanqiu, however, looked somewhat sentimental.

Yan Zhuo’s father, after losing both arms, only went to the city wall to look out once, when he carried the heavily injured Fatty Yan away from the city.

Chen Ping’an gently took the seal from Diezhang and handed it to Yan Zhuo. “In business, even close brothers settle accounts clearly. I’m giving you this seal. It’s not a transaction, so no need to talk about money.”

When Ning Yao came over, she happened to meet Fatty Yan and the others leaving with umbrellas at the courtyard gate. After Ning Yao walked into the courtyard with Chen Ping’an, she asked, “What happened?”

Chen Ping’an explained the situation briefly. Ning Yao went to the room where the seals were stored, sat down beside him, and picked up a seal. “You’ve been busy with this these past few days? It’s not just for making money, is it?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “It’s indeed not for making money.”

Ning Yao said, “Granny Bai said earlier that the natural treasures to assist in refining the fourth Natal Item are almost secretly collected. Don’t worry, Grandpa Nalan is personally overseeing the items outside the Ning family’s treasury. No one will dare to tamper with them.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “I should indeed work harder. Being surrounded by a bunch of Golden Core seniors every day makes me tremble with fear. I don’t even dare to speak loudly.”

Chen Ping’an broke through the Willow Tendon Realm bottleneck at Lion Peak in the Northern俱蘆洲. He is now in the Bone Qi Realm, the fourth realm of cultivators. Confucian cultivators have a unique advantage in this realm, with the most outstanding nurturing of Qi. As for the fifth realm of Qi Refiners, the “Life Exists Between Heaven and Earth, the Body is a Furnace” Foundation Establishment Realm, the Taoist and Buddhist Qi Refiners have an even greater advantage. The reason why the Three Teachings surpass the other schools of thought is largely due to the distinct advantages of these two realms. The lower five realms of cultivators, although the realms are low, are known as the Five Realms of Climbing Mountains, the foundation of the Great Dao.

Whether or not one can enter the Cave Mansion Realm of the middle five realms is like whether a pure martial artist can break through the third realm, the barrier between life and death, is crucial.
Ning Yao lay on the table, examining the seals one by one, and slowly said, “The gates of the mansion open wide, allowing the intake of Qi, the human body a microcosm, the Qi sea encompassing a hundred rivers. This is the Cave Mansion Realm. From this moment on, cultivators can truly and systematically refine the spiritual energy of the world. The three hundred and fifty-six acupoints in the human body are like three hundred and sixty-five natural blessed lands, waiting for cultivators to ascend the mountain, build huts, and cultivate. Just like our Sword Qi Great Wall, whether a natural sword embryo can be born determines the divide between genius and ordinary. Similarly, in the desolate lands, whether demons can transform into human form early on and cultivate Qi in the guise of humans is also crucial. In the Cave Mansion Realm, male cultivators who open nine acupoints can ascend to the Sea Gazing Realm. It’s more difficult for women, requiring the opening of fifteen acupoints. Therefore, the number of female cultivators in the Cave Mansion Realm far exceeds that of men, but female cultivators in the Sea Gazing Realm are often more powerful than men.”

“You are quite special. You already possess three Natal Acupoints, and three more have been imbued with sword Qi for many years. With the back and forth of Sword Qi Eighteen Stops, and First Day and Fifteenth residing in two of them, that counts as five and a half. Once you refine the remaining two Natal Objects and gather the five elements, you will have opened seven and a half Cave Mansions. As long as you reach the Cave Mansion Realm, you might quickly break through and become a Sea Gazing Realm cultivator. The Cave Mansion Realm is about opening the gates of the mansion wide, welcoming guests from all directions. Ordinary cultivators in this realm will suffer greatly because they can’t withstand the torment of the spiritual energy flooding in like a tidal wave, which is regarded as a calamitous flood. If the soul and body are not stable, they will often take three steps forward and two steps back on the path of cultivation, struggling with every step. But you fear this the least. The subsequent Sea Gazing Realm will also not be a major hurdle for you. You are also a pure martial artist and have reached the Golden Body Realm. Your true Qi flows extremely rapidly. While ordinary cultivators need to accumulate spiritual energy little by little to open and expand their paths, this is not a problem for you. Only when you reach the Dragon Gate Realm will you encounter some trouble.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “You’ve gone to a lot of trouble.”

These trivial details must have been temporarily gleaned from Nalan Yehang.

Because Ning Yao herself doesn’t need to know these things for her own cultivation.

Ning Yao picked up a seal, held it in her palm, shook it, and casually said, “You should know these things better than I do. Just pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Chen Ping’an folded his hands in his sleeves, placed them on the table, rested his chin on his arm, and looked at the seals.

Outside, the rain continued. It had been raining a lot in the past month.

Unaware, the rain heralds the passing of spring.

Chen Ping’an turned his head and looked out the window. Back home, his eldest disciple, Pei Qian, once sat with him on the mountain climbing steps. Pei Qian watched the wind blow through the pines and cypresses, the shadows of the trees swaying, time passing slowly. She secretly told her master that as long as she looked carefully, everything in the world, whether it was flowing water or people walking, would be very, very slow. She wanted to worry about them.

Pei Qian would also often lie on the railing of the bamboo building’s second floor with Nuan Shu and Mi Li, watching the rain or snow, looking at the icicles hanging from the eaves, wielding her walking stick, smashing them to pieces, and then asking her friends how her swordsmanship was. Mi Li, occasionally bullied too much, would also get angry with Pei Qian, shouting loudly, “I’m not playing with you anymore!” It was estimated that Zheng Dafeng at the foot of the mountain could hear it. Then, Nuan Shu would act as a peacemaker, and Pei Qian would give Mi Li a way out, and soon they would be talking and laughing again. However, when Chen Ping’an was on Fallen Mountain, Pei Qian would never dare to use the bed sheets as a cloak and drag Mi Li around.

Over here at the Sword Qi Great Wall, if you look carefully, there are actually such lively and lovely scenes as well.

For example, Chen Ping’an sometimes went to the city wall to practice his sword, deliberately piloting the talisman boat to a slightly further distance. He could see a row of children lying on the city wall, sticking out their bottoms, pointing at the desolate lands to the south, telling various stories, or busy arranging seats for the Sword Immortals of the Sword Qi Great Wall to compare their strengths. Just among the three old Sword Immortals, Dong Sangeng, Chen Xi, and Qi Tingji, the children could argue until their faces were red over who was more powerful. If you added all the Sword Immortals in the history of the Sword Qi Great Wall, there would be even more to argue about.

It was said that Guo Zhujiu also practiced boxing at home, breathing on her palms, wielding spiritual energy, and shouting, “Watch my Flaming Palm!” Hmph hmph haha, she practiced a set of boxing, from the family’s main gate all the way to the back garden. When she reached the garden, she would gather her Qi in her Dantian, stand on one leg, and perform a whirlwind kick, spinning eighteen circles, no more and no less. Pity those precious flowers carefully cultivated by Sword Immortal Guo Jia. The fists and feet had no eyes, and many were destroyed. In the end, the entire Guo mansion was in a state of chaos, worried that this girl had gone mad. Perhaps Sword Immortal Guo Jia already regretted confining this daughter at home.

Now, when Chen Ping’an went to the street corner near the wine shop, Zhang Jiazhen would occasionally come. That little kid who first held a pottery jar wanting to learn boxing was the first to sit next to the small bench. So, compared to his peers, he heard many more tales of mountains, rivers, gods, and monsters. It was said that relying on these stories that no one had ever heard, he was now quite familiar with a pretty girl in the next alley. Once, when they played house, he was finally no longer just a sedan bearer or stable boy. He and the little girl finally played husband and wife. Later, when he squatted next to Chen Ping’an, eating melon seeds together, the child grinned stupidly for a long time.

Inside the room, there was silence, but even silence speaks volumes.

Afterwards, Chen Ping’an went to the city wall again. He still couldn’t walk within thirty steps of the sword Qi, so the little junior brother was still the little junior brother, and the big senior brother was still the big senior brother.

After finishing his sword practice, he asked the pitiful fellow in the distance who was taking out bottles and jars to apply ointment whether he had any message to pass on to his teacher.

Recently, Zuo You had been more measured.

Chen Ping’an said seriously, “How is that possible!”

Zuo You then asked, “How’s the wine shop business?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Very good.”

Zuo You turned his head away.

Chen Ping’an immediately tried to remedy the situation, “But I still need Senior Brother to help make it even better.”

Only then did Zuo You not give up entirely and start to change the subject, “Have you read the *Heavenly Questions* and *Heavenly Answers* that I mentioned to you before?”

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “I’ve read them all.”

Zuo You said, “You will answer the *Heavenly Answers*, responding to one hundred and seventy-three questions.”

Chen Ping’an was caught off guard. Zuo You said calmly, “You can start. If you don’t know, skip it.”

Chen Ping’an bit the bullet and answered one by one, barely managing to answer about half of the questions.
Left and Right remarked, “The answer itself is not important. Before Mister achieved sainthood, his most renowned debate revolved around two points. The first was ‘how to pursue knowledge’: whether to start with individual objects and matters, accumulating gradually and achieving success slowly; or to first establish a grand vision, avoiding blind immersion in fragmented tasks. Looking back, does the outcome truly matter? Even two sages disagreed. If it were truly an either/or situation, how could they have become sages? Mister told us back then that in the pursuit of knowledge, both meticulousness and simplicity have their merits. Learning in youth and studying in old age are two different realms. Young people should first contemplate deeply and seek meticulousness, while the elderly should return to simplicity. As for the necessity of establishing grand ambitions early on, it’s not that crucial. Having them early doesn’t guarantee they’ll stick, but it’s still better than nothing. If you don’t have them, there’s no need to worry. You can gradually build your mountain as you travel the path of learning. Knowledge in this world is inherently worthless, like a street lined with mansions and countless flowerbeds. Someone cultivates them, yet no one guards them. The doors are wide open, the garden is in full bloom, allowing you to pick freely and return laden with bounty.”

Chen Ping An nodded, “Mister is erudite, and Senior Brother possesses a strong memory.”

Left couldn’t help but turn his head and ask, “You’ve never stayed by Mister’s side for long, where did you learn all these platitudes?”

Chen Ping An looked somewhat aggrieved, “From books, of course. Especially Mister’s works, I’ve memorized them thoroughly.”

Left kept a straight face and said, “Very good.”

Within the mustard seed small world of the training grounds, Chen Ping An and Nalan Ye Xing were practicing swordsmanship.

Although called practicing swordsmanship, it was actually tempering the physique. It was a method Chen Ping An had devised himself. Initially, he wanted Senior Brother Left to help him wield the sword, but for some reason, that senior brother only said that such a small matter could be handled by Nalan Ye Xing. As a result, even a sword immortal like Nalan Ye Xing hesitated, finally understanding why the great sword immortal Left was unwilling to draw his sword.

Because according to Chen Ping An, even if the person he was meeting for the first time was a sword immortal, and even though he himself was a Golden Body Realm martial artist, there would still be some danger, some accidents might happen.

One wrong move, and Chen Ping An would be bedridden for a month or two, which would be much more miserable than growing flesh from bone afterwards.

Chen Ping An hoped that Nalan Ye Xing would wield the sword in sequence, from top to bottom, in accordance with the “Twenty-Four Solar Terms” method, to help temper the major acupoints along the spinal column, the human body’s great dragon.

Starting from the cervical vertebrae, Dazhui, Taodao, Shenzhu, Shendao, Lingtai, Zhiyang, Zhongshu, Xuanshu, Mingmen, Yaoyangguan… these key acupoints, especially needed to be struck with the sword, using sword energy and sword intent to temper this path and these passes.

Because it also required the coordination of a pure and true qi fire dragon roaming through the body, Chen Ping An couldn’t just stand still, that would be dead training, leading to death. Added to the varying amounts of spiritual energy remaining within the various qi palaces, it further tested the accuracy of Nalan Ye Xing’s sword strikes.

Ning Yao sat in the Dragon-Slaying Platform’s pavilion. Today, Dong Bude and Dong Huafu had come to the Ning residence as guests. She said she wanted to ask Chen Ping An for a seal, as Fatty Yan’s shop was too black-hearted. It would be better to buy directly from Chen Ping An.

Chen Ping An and Nalan Ye Xing’s sword practice was not deliberately hidden from Dong Bude.

After the four consecutive battles on the street last year, the major families, including the Dong family, had a general understanding of Chen Ping An’s capabilities.

Dong Bude leaned languidly against the railing, asking, “Ning Yao, doesn’t it hurt you to see him train like this?”

Ning Yao didn’t say anything.

This time, Nalan Ye Xing was extremely cautious, so the effect was minimal.

Chen Ping An didn’t expect any immediate benefits anyway. He left the training ground with Nalan Ye Xing and then walked alone onto Dragon-Slaying Cliff.

Dong Bude said that she and several of her close friends all wanted a personal book collection seal, but they couldn’t decide on the inscriptions, so they were all leaving it to Chen Ping An to decide. Dong Bude also brought three pieces of fine jade, enough to carve seals, saying that each seal would cost a Little Heat coin, and the extra material carved away would be Chen Ping An’s labor fee.

Chen Ping An wasn’t stupid. Was money really that easy to earn? So he immediately looked at Ning Yao. Ning Yao nodded, and only then did he agree. This scene made Dong Bude so jealous that she clicked her tongue and said nothing.

Dong Bude’s visit also included a curious incident that had a slight connection to the Ning residence. A group of cultivation disciples from a great dynasty in the Central Earth Divine Continent had recently arrived at Upside-Down Mountain. They were led by a sword immortal who had come here before to slay demons and were escorted by a Nascent Soul qi refiner responsible for specific matters, leading seven or eight young geniuses from different sects and mountain immortal residences to practice swordplay at Sword Qi Great Wall. They would probably stay for three to five years. It was said that the youngest was only twelve years old, and the oldest was just over thirty.

Upon arriving at Upside-Down Mountain, they directly resided in Plum Blossom Garden, one of the four private residences that rivaled Ape Kneading Mansion, clearly indicating they had significant backing.

Among the younger generation at Sword Qi Great Wall, Dong Bude said that there were basically three major factions: Ning Yao, Dong Heitan, and their group, and now, of course, Chen Ping An.

Then there was Qi Shou and his group, and then Pang Yuanji, Gao Yehou, and their group, which were relatively more scattered compared to the former two, lacking the same cohesion. These young sword cultivators were mostly from humble backgrounds, but as long as someone called upon them, they were willing to gather together, and whether in terms of numbers or combat power, they were not to be underestimated.

Whenever young people from the Vast World came here to train, like Cao Ci before and Chen Ping An after, they had to pass three tests. It was an old tradition.

However, there were also unwritten rules about who would be responsible for guarding these three tests. For example, the heavenly prides from the Central Earth Divine Continent were usually hosted by Qi Shou and his friends.

Ning Yao’s small faction didn’t particularly like this routine. Occasionally, Chen Sanqiu would show his face and join in the fun, but in the past decade or so, Chen Sanqiu had only taken action twice. Ning Yao had never participated in these small skirmishes.

However, since Qi Shou and his group had been beaten black and blue by Chen Ping An, and even Pang Yuanji hadn’t escaped unscathed, someone from Ning Yao’s side had to step up this time, according to the rules. For these groups of outsiders who came to Sword Qi Great Wall in droves to train, it was common for Sword Qi Great Wall to send three people, but of course, if one side could defeat all three opponents alone, that would be even more exciting.

From someone who was being watched for entertainment to someone who was watching the entertainment, Chen Ping An found it quite interesting, so he asked if they could hold the battle on that street to help his liquor store business.
Dong Budeyi chuckled, “The location is always casual, there’s no fixed rule. It usually depends on the final guardian’s wishes. If you’re willing to participate, it could be anywhere, even on a wine table at Diezhang’s shop is fine.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “If I get injured, the little money I earn from selling wine won’t even cover my medicine costs. Our wine shop is known for its low prices, we earn every copper through hard work.”

Dong Budeyi’s smile grew more playful.

This fellow truly lived up to his reputation, his skin was indeed thick.

Dong Huafu said, “Fan Dache seems to be preparing for the first fight, Sanqiu will probably accompany him, and the third person might be Gao Yehou, or perhaps Sima Weiran, it’s hard to say for now.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “What are the cultivation realms of those sword cultivator geniuses?”

As for Sima Weiran, Chen Ping’an knew she was also a Golden Core sword cultivator, but slightly inferior to Pang Yuanji and Gao Yehou. However, she had been in secluded cultivation for several years, and what was interesting was that she had two mentors: Zhu’an, a sword immortal inspector from the Hidden Official lineage, and an even more venerable figure, an old sword immortal guarding a prison. Rumor had it that this reclusive old man was of demonic origin. He wondered if Sima Weiran, having emerged from seclusion, could surpass Gao Yehou.

Dong Huafu was taken aback, “Is it necessary to know?”

Dong Budeyi chimed in, “Probably not.”

Chen Ping’an glanced at Ning Yao, who seemed to share the same sentiment, and said helplessly, “Never mind, forget I asked.”

That group of sword cultivators from the Central Earth Divine Continent, having passed through the gate of the Hanging Mountain, were lodging at the residence of Sword Immortal Sun Juyuan in the city.

Sword Immortal Sun Juyuan’s family, like the Yan family, had frequent business dealings with the Great Harmony World, so they had a wide circle of friends.

However, Sun Juyuan was probably having a headache at the moment, because these guests, on their very first day in the Sword Qi Great Wall, had declared that they would send three people to challenge three realms: the Sea Gazing Realm, the Dragon Gate Realm, and the Golden Core Realm. If they lost even one match, they would consider it a defeat.

That day, Chen Ping’an was drinking at the shop, Ning Yao was still cultivating, and Yan Zhu and Chen Sanqiu were present, along with Fan Dache, so the Second Shopkeeper rarely had the chance to sit at the table and drink.

The shop was doing well, and more than a dozen sword cultivators were squatting by the roadside drinking, cursing and swearing, saying that these little whelps from out of town were shameless, too arrogant, thick-skinned, cunning, and stingy…

For some reason, while saying these things, the drunkards spat everywhere, filled with righteous indignation, but all of them looked towards the Second Shopkeeper in the green robe and white jade hairpin.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Shopkeeper, it’s time to raise the price of our Bamboo Sea Grotto Heaven wine.”

The surroundings fell silent, followed by wails of misery.

Diezhang, having received a signal from the Second Shopkeeper, shook his head and said, “No price increase, why increase the price? What is money!”

A customer immediately shouted, “Just for the Shopkeeper’s fair words, another pot of wine!”

Soon, others joined in, clamoring to buy wine.

Diezhang smiled and said, “Help yourselves.”

Yan Zhu glanced at the guy who had ordered more wine first, then at Chen Ping’an, and asked telepathically, “A shill?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and nodded, replying, “Can’t I deal with these bastards? Shill everywhere, impossible to defend against.”

Then, Chen Ping’an said to Fan Dache, “These out-of-town sword cultivators aren’t just arrogant and ignorant, they’re scheming against you. They’ve had a huge advantage from the start, and they’ll gain prestige for nothing. If all three fights are Golden Core, they’ll be sure to lose. So, their real confidence lies in the first Sea Gazing Realm fight. Among those Central Earth sword cultivators, there must be an exceptionally outstanding genius, not only most likely to win, but perhaps able to win decisively. The second match also has a good chance of winning, and even if they lose, it won’t be too ugly. Anyway, if they lose, there’s no third match. Aren’t you frustrated? As for the third match, they don’t even plan to win. Even if they could win, they wouldn’t. Of course, they really can’t win. Fan Dache, you’re in the Dragon Gate Realm, so I advise you not to fight, but if you think you can afford to lose, then it doesn’t matter.”

Fan Dache said decisively, “I can’t afford to lose.”

Chen Ping’an gave a thumbs up, “Admirable. No wonder you’re Chen Sanqiu’s friend.”

Chen Sanqiu said helplessly, “What does it have to do with me?”

Then, a few young men and women walked over from the street, heading straight for the wine shop. They were just buying wine, but one young man bought a pot of Azure God Mountain wine worth five snowflake coins. He uncorked the seal as he walked, sniffed it, and said in the elegant language of the Great Harmony World of the Central Earth Divine Continent, “It seems I have to make a trip to Bamboo Sea Grotto Heaven when I return to the Great Harmony World, to say that someone is selling wine under the guise of the Mountain God’s wife, even reaching the Sword Qi Great Wall. Truly impressive.”

Yan Zhu looked at Chen Ping’an and asked, “Can you endure that?”

Chen Ping’an nodded and smiled, “I can endure it.”

A tall young man turned to look at the wine table at the shop and smiled, “The literary saint’s lineage, what else can they do but endure?”

In an instant.

The burly, sword-carrying young man was lifted high by a green-robed figure who had grabbed his head with five fingers. The man had one hand behind his back, turned his head, and asked with a smile, “What did you say? Speak louder.”