Frost lowered her voice, testing the waters, “How about I trade a large fragment of a golden deity’s relic with the Hidden Official Ancestor for a small story about dissolving a pact?”

The story was, in truth, not so small.

Just looking at the act of dissolving the pact, Chen Ping’an had used the Executioner’s Blade from the ancient Dragon Slaying Platform, a cyan talisman to bear the blood, a drop of essence blood from his heart, and even the separation of a wisp each from his three souls and seven spirits, all infused into the final signature.

Ordinary cultivators dissolving a pact wouldn’t need to cause such a stir.

If she didn’t do this kind of deal, Frost felt she might be struck by divine retribution.

However, Chen Ping’an wasn’t interested in this kind of accumulation. These three thousand-plus rooms had once housed the shops and private residences of the shopkeepers and managers here.

Above the mirage, a young man and woman leaned on the railing, gazing outwards.

Wei Wenlong looked up and happened to meet the eyes of the young woman.

Wei Wenlong felt a strange sensation; how could seeing that young woman so high above make him feel like flipping through an account book – so familiar and approachable?

Du Shanyin chuckled softly, “Ji Qing, is that person next to Sword Immortal Mi someone with good fortune in wealth?”

The bright-eyed and clear-toothed young servant girl, full of vitality, nodded at this moment, “Replying to young master, this person does indeed possess financial luck.”

“Ji Qing, can you teach others your ability to observe qi?”

“This is the innate ability of me and Sister Changming. It doesn’t need to be learned, so it cannot be taught. Please forgive me, young master.”

Du Shanyin felt a bit of regret. Money can move even the gods, and make ghosts turn the millstone; these principles were all too obvious.

However, thinking about his own path of cultivation ahead, vast and boundless, no longer confined to the Sword Qi Great Wall, his heart also became open and unburdened.

Mi Yu let Wei Wenlong wander around as he pleased, and he himself soared on his sword, reaching the highest point of the mirage. There, he saw a white-clad sword immortal hovering in the air, drinking wine, his entire body shrouded in mist, obscuring his true face.

A flying sword transmission from the Summer Palace mentioned the sword immortal’s identity as a Punisher Official.

The Sword Qi Great Wall had three ancient official positions in its history, among which the Hidden Official was similar to hereditary, but it didn’t pass down within a single family, but rather through an orderly master-disciple lineage. It wasn’t until Xiao Xun’s betrayal and Chen Ping’an’s succession that this rule was broken. Otherwise, when Xiao Xun relinquished her position, her disciple Pang Yuanji would have had the best chance.

Besides that, there was also the Punisher Official and the Ritual Official. The Ritual Official’s lineage had long been severed, and the Punisher Official had always been held by a great sword immortal.

The current Punisher Official had retreated behind the scenes for a long time. The position was still there, but they were nowhere to be seen, and over time, they lost their influence in the Sword Qi Great Wall. Opinions varied; some said they went to the barbaric lands to lie dormant, while others said they quietly left the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Mi Yu saluted, “Sword cultivator Mi Yu greets the Punisher Official.”

The Punisher Official nodded in response, but didn’t speak, simply holding their cup and drinking wine.

Mi Yu asked, “Has the Punisher Official encountered the Hidden Official Lord?”

The Punisher Official said, “I have.”

Mi Yu asked, “Has the Hidden Official Lord already entered the Distant Roaming Realm?”

The Punisher Official nodded, “Yes.”

Mi Yu asked again, “Why hasn’t the Hidden Official Lord returned yet? Why haven’t they gone to sit at the Summer Palace?”

The Punisher Official said, “I don’t know.”

Mi Yu was greatly worried in his heart, “The Hidden Official Lord wouldn’t want to miss this battle. But since they are so close, why haven’t they appeared on the city walls even once?”

The Punisher Official was getting annoyed. They stopped drinking wine and said, “You ask a few too many questions.”

Mi Yu asked one last question, “Why is the Punisher Official staying out of this?”

The Punisher Official said calmly, “And who is speaking to me, which great sword immortal with glorious battle achievements?”

Mi Yu was speechless.

He greatly missed the Hidden Official Lord.

A huge rock, with its mountain peak shattered by a sword immortal from the city wall, smashed towards the city’s grand formation.

Mi Yu frowned slightly, and with a whoosh, he skimmed across the top of the mountain and river formation, bent down and drew his sword, continued to streak forward, smashing the rock into pieces with a single strike, then sheathed his sword and glided back to the mirage, flowing smoothly and naturally.

Wei Wenlong happened to see this scene and didn’t quite understand why a sword immortal like Mi Yu was still looked down upon in the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Then Wei Wenlong saw that outside the city walls, a great demon’s true form suddenly appeared, its hands heavily hammering the city walls, the sound shaking the heavens and earth. Wei Wenlong, far away in the mirage, found it difficult to breathe, but then a female sword immortal slashed it in two with a single strike.

Inside the prison pavilion, Chen Ping’an rested his blade across his knees. His Cave Realm had already been stabilized, and his martial fortune had also been tempered. He could try to seek a duel now.

Chen Ping’an slowly rose. Frost had been waiting on the steps for a long time.

The two ascended the steps together. Frost casually asked with a smile, “Hidden Official Ancestor, since cultivating is not for immortality, not for seeking the same lifespan as heaven and earth, then why cultivate so diligently?”

A casual question; the Extra-terrestrial Demon didn’t expect the young man to give an answer.

Chen Ping’an replied, “We want to become strong. We want to do something for this world.”

Frost was stunned, “We?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Everyone.”