In the vast and untamed world, Zhou Mi, the Strategist of the Literary Sea, departed from the northernmost ferry of Tongye Continent. Employing his mystical powers, he located She Yue and Fei Ran, one wandering aimlessly through the mountains and fields, having suffered two setbacks in foreign lands and her homeland, making the round-faced girl in cotton clothes ever more cautious, diligently gathering and refining the moonlight of various regions. The other was admiring the moon atop Zhaoping Peak outside the Mirage City of Daquan. Zhou Mi casually brought these two, among the top ten young cultivators of several worlds, to his side to appreciate a building manifested as a Dharma idol and the parasol tree hiding the truth behind it.

Cui Chan, the Embroidered Tiger, excels at avoiding direct confrontation in areas where others are strongest, preferring to first shore up his weaknesses before maximizing his strengths. This makes Zhou Mi’s schemes and machinations in the struggle for Bao Ping Continent largely meaningless; only a direct attack will suffice.

Both Fei Ran and She Yue respectfully greeted Master Zhou.

Zhou Mi nodded with a smile, then looked at Fei Ran, saying with a smile, “Finally willing to invoke your senior brother Qie Yun’s name.”

Fei Ran replied, “I apologize for the spectacle, Master Zhou. Afterward, Fei Ran is willing to proactively apologize to the Wu Zi Army Camp, exchanging benefits based on military merit. If Fei Ran’s own merit is insufficient, I will borrow from my senior brother.”

The reason Daquan’s capital could be temporarily preserved was not due to the impregnability of the Mirage City’s landscape formations, nor the defensive strength of Daquan’s border troops concentrated within the city, but because Fei Ran, after leaving Peach Leaf Ferry, had a whim and, on Zhaoping Peak, conceived a fantastical notion. He actually sent a flying sword message to the old Wu Zi Camp, demanding that the Mirage City of Daquan be his latest territory in Tongye Continent, and that Fei Ran alone would occupy the city. This was not even a request from the Gui You Camp that Fei Ran belonged to, which caused a great conflict with the Wu Zi Army Camp stationed in the old capital of Nanqi. The title of one of the top ten young cultivators was not enough to intimidate the entire army camp. In the end, the reason they did not fight was because Fei Ran convinced them with one sentence.

“Qie Yun is my senior brother.”

Fei Ran didn’t even need to offer Qie Yun’s war merits in exchange for the Mirage City. Several Fifth Realm cultivators in the Wu Zi Army Camp fell silent, silently departing without uttering a single harsh word.

Jian Xiu Tan of the Jia Shen Camp is the direct disciple of the Great Demon Monarch Yang Zhi, and Yu Si is revered as Young Master by the Great Demon Consort Fei. The relationship between Fei Ran and Qie Yun as fellow disciples is a top secret of the Jia Zi Camp.

In the Savage Lands, reason is the easiest thing to argue.

However, since Master Zhou was teasing him about it, Fei Ran was naturally willing to use another method to reason.

In the Savage Lands, reason is easy to argue because the rules are too straightforward. Reason is divided into large and small, right and wrong can cover everything.

Zhou Mi waved his hand, saying something that Fei Ran didn’t understand, “A minor matter. I will personally help you settle the score later. Not to mention a Mirage City, the entire Daquan Dynasty is what Fei Ran deserves.”

The Fifth Realm demon cultivators of Tongye Continent had almost all sensed the change in the continent’s fortunes.

Fortunately, it didn’t cause too much fear, giving them some comfort.

In the central part of Tongye Continent, a majestic building that should have appeared long ago but didn’t, yet shouldn’t have appeared but did, emerged. It was one of the nine majestic Suppression Towers built by the Confucian Literary Temple, the Demon Suppression Tower.

Suppression of all things in Tongye Continent.

This Demon Suppression Tower delineated a circular boundary encompassing thousands of miles of mountains and rivers. Zhou Mi, She Yue, and Fei Ran stood just outside the boundary line. Zhou Mi extended his joined fingers, gently pressing against the array screen of the heavenly ban. Ripples arose, causing the scenery within thousands of miles to shake. Fei Ran and She Yue, as demon cultivators, instantly felt a suffocating pressure from the Great Dao. Fei Ran dissipated the natural suppression with his sword qi, while She Yue condensed moonlight around her. Only Master Zhou remained oblivious, not because he was not a demon, but quite the contrary. For some reason, even though Zhou Mi had not yet stepped into the jurisdiction of the Demon Suppression Tower, the surging, colorful, glazed ripples and heavenly phenomena seemed to solidify, constantly gathering at Zhou Mi’s fingertips. The magnitude of the power could be seen from Fei Ran and She Yue each taking several steps back. This was only because the Demon Suppression Tower’s array was constantly being suppressed by Zhou Mi; otherwise, Fei Ran and She Yue would have had to quickly retreat from this place.

Zhou Mi withdrew his fingers, and the forbidden anomaly gradually dissipated.

He looked up and said to She Yue, “The Abbess of Lotus Hermitage had to die, but she died too early. Do you know that you are the ‘previous incarnation of the bright moon’? That’s why Tuoyue Mountain has always looked at you with favor. Xin Zhuang, the direct disciple of the Great Ancestor stationed at Tuoyue Mountain, often visited you in the bright moon in her early years, but she always coldly watched the Abbess of Lotus Hermitage, who was far above her in cultivation, because Xin Zhuang’s true form in the past was a goddess who watered and chopped cassia trees in the Moon Palace. So Xin Zhuang naturally looked down on the Abbess of Lotus Hermitage.”

She Yue said, “I had guessed and thought about it, but I was never sure.”

Zhou Mi suddenly laughed, “Advising you to raise your sky-supporting hand, how many people look on with cold eyes.”

With thousands of years of schemes in your heart, and ten thousand ice charcoals in your chest, cool down a warm liver, burn the books of sages in your heart.

She Yue heard but pretended not to.

Fei Ran asked, “Can Master Zhou destroy this Majestic Suppression Tower?”

Zhou Mi said, “It can be done, but it’s not worth the cost, so there’s no need for it at the moment. But compared to the Majestic Suppression Tower of Southern Posuo Continent, which can only be used as a flower stand, it is indeed an eyesore and a hindrance.”

Fei Ran genuinely admired this Master Zhou from the Great World. In his early years, Fei Ran had studied with Zhou Mi for several years, but there was no formal master-disciple relationship. Upon parting, Zhou Mi had jokingly said to Fei Ran that the books of sages should only be read half-way. Less than that and you can’t pretend to be a sage, more than that and you become a true sage. Half is just right, reaping both fame and fortune.

Zhou Mi looked at the sky, as if waiting for something.

Fei Ran’s sword heart suddenly trembled, and he subconsciously wanted to move away from Zhou Mi.

But the next moment, Fei Ran felt relieved, only to find that She Yue was nowhere to be seen.

Zhou Mi gently flicked his sleeve, and a snow-white moonlight shone brightly on one of his cuffs. Zhou Mi looked at the bright moon of the Great World and smiled, “Just in case.”

The true trump card of the three landscape prohibitions of Fuyao Continent, in addition to trapping Bai Ye, lies in Zhou Mi forcibly detaining the river of time of that continent with heaven-defying means, turning it into an almost still lake.

Zhou Mi suddenly said to Fei Ran in a voice transmission, “Your senior brother wants me to pass on a message to you, he has done enough of the ‘taking a disciple on behalf of the master’ thing, it’s up to you from now on.”

Fei Ran’s face was indifferent as he stared intently at Zhou Mi, the Strategist of the Literary Sea from the Savage Lands.

Zhou Mi’s figure instantly vanished without a trace.
A sword-light cleaved the celestial canopy, descending from the Azure Heavens toward the Grand World.

It was common knowledge that even the swiftest immortals, borne on the wind, could scarcely outpace a flying sword. As one of the four immortal swords, “Daozang” (Repository of Dao), this journey would be even faster.

At the highest point of Jade Capital, Lu Chen, having returned, casually sat on the railing, a bemused smile playing on his lips as he gazed at his Second Brother, who was never one to heed advice.

Dao the Second frowned slightly, displeased. “What is it?” he asked.

Lu Chen raised both hands, adjusting the slightly tilted lotus crown atop his head, a symbol of his role as a Master Teacher. “Aren’t you afraid of meeting the same fate as Taibai Sword? True Invincible is, indeed, True Invincible, a reputation unblemished for eight thousand years. Are you going to discard it yourself, Senior Brother? Even if Bai is filled with sentiment and nostalgia, he must at least *live* to repay that immense favor. I find it unlikely. This deal of yours, Senior Brother, confounds me. May I ask your reasons for gifting the sword?”

Without the handy immortal sword Daozang, his Senior Brother’s title of True Invincible might just fall into another’s hands.

Dao the Second retorted, “Do I need a reason for secretly planting that extra-terrestrial demon within Jiang Yun-sheng’s Dao Seed, Junior Brother, when you act so far beyond the norms?”

Lu Chen wore a helpless expression. “Of course, there are reasons, but I know Senior Brother wouldn’t bother listening. Being the understanding sort, I wouldn’t want to waste my breath.”

Dao the Second said, “Then, indeed, I have no reason for casting my sword into the Grand World. Scheming upon scheming, striving for non-action through action – isn’t it tiresome? I’ve wanted to say this to you for a long time. But you’ve always been one to ignore others’ views. As your Senior Brother, I never bothered to say much before.”

Lu Chen turned his head, gazing at the ethereal Five Cities and Twelve Towers, sighing, “Senior Brother needs no reason for his actions. Perhaps that is why, despite our differing Daos, I still acknowledge our brotherhood.”

The three Master Teachers of Jade Capital had a remarkably delicate relationship. Their individual control of the Grand World for a century each was enough to reveal the different paths they walked. Especially Lu Chen and his Senior Brother Dao the Second, left the cultivators of the Azure Heavens utterly bewildered and uncertain.

When Dao the Second oversaw Jade Capital for a century, the world for those hundred years obeyed the rules of Jade Capital without exception. The most rebellious, the gifted genius of the Grand Profound Temple, who had gathered countless Dao lineages, was personally challenged by Dao the Second, his Dao scattered across the heavens and earth. Jade Capital and the Grand Profound Temple became sworn enemies from that point on.

When it was Lu Chen’s turn to reign, the world for those hundred years would chart its own course. Gathering and scattering, peace and chaos, all were uncertain, a tangled mess of interwoven threads. Lu Chen’s relationship with the Grand Profound Temple or the Year-End Palace, those Daoist holy lands outside of Jade Capital’s three main lineages, was not bad. Lu Chen often journeyed among them, freely chatting, drinking, appreciating the scenery, but never engaging in Daoist sparring. Legend had it that the Year-End Palace Lord’s long seclusion, and the fact that “Twenty-Two,” one of the young hopefuls for the ten best in the world, was able to marry a female cultivator, the founder of a mortal enemy sect, were all inextricably linked to this most unrestrained of Jade Capital’s three Master Teachers.

When the Great Master Teacher of Jade Capital returned, the world’s hidden tendencies showed signs of crystallizing. Many Daoist lineages, officials, powerful dynasties, and immortal estates were able to recuperate and flourish.

These two Junior Brothers, however, had relatively harmonious relationships with the eldest disciple of the Dao Ancestor, who acted in his stead as a teacher. Before Lu Chen ascended from his home world to Jade Capital, he had long regarded the future Great Master Teacher Senior Brother, along with the Dao Ancestor, as a Great True Man of antiquity. Before Lu Chen sailed overseas, he even made a special trip to find an ancient Celestial Water site lost in the River of Time. For it was there that, in the past, the Dao Ancestor, riding a blue ox-drawn cart, was forced to write down five thousand words, leaving them for posterity. This man was the Dao Ancestor’s eldest disciple, a figure Lu Chen praised as “Heavenly phenomena and earthly principles, observing above and examining below, all are perfectly understood.”

In short, Lu Chen felt that the Great Senior Brother’s Daoist methods were high, his Great Dao nearly approaching the Dao itself. But in the eyes of the mountain-top cultivators of the Azure Heavens, Lu Chen might not quite acknowledge Dao the Second, who proclaimed himself “First in writing, second to none in martial arts.”

Lu Chen closed his eyes, using a secret technique to observe the mountains and rivers through the eyes of a direct disciple, sensing the flow of fate in the Grand World for a moment. Opening his eyes, he clasped his hands behind his head, laughing, “It’s a pity that Grand Celestial Master Zhao Tianlai, with his proud spirit, was a step faster than Senior Brother’s sword-gift. Otherwise, it would be quite a joke.”

Dao the Second coldly laughed, “Then let’s see which sword enters Fufeng Continent first.”

The tall Daoist casually waved his sleeve, and a majestic Azure Heaven Daoist Qi, like a silver river hanging in the sky, surged after the immortal sword, once again breaking the celestial canopy.

Lu Chen couldn’t help but turn his head, asking, “Senior Brother, are you also competing for first place?”

Dao the Second countered, “Do I really need to invoke the Master before you obediently go to the Outer Heavens?”

Lu Chen was about to slowly rise, leisurely riding the wind, slowly departing, when he suddenly smiled, “I am truly unmatched as a matchmaker, a lunar elder, aren’t I?”

It turned out that in the Fifth World, another immortal sword, “Tianzhen” (Innocence), following the renowned Wanfa (Ten Thousand Laws) and Daozang, had finally appeared after ten thousand years of silence in the Sword Qi Great Wall. Back then, Lu Chen had worked hard setting up a stall in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven. To tie this knot of fate, Lu Chen had put in a tremendous effort to push the cart to Mud Lane. However, later in the Sword Qi Great Wall, Ning Yao’s half of the red thread had been severed by Chen Qingdu. Yet, Chen Ping’an seemed to intentionally or unintentionally leave it uncut.

The complexity and unpredictability of human nature lies in the constant movement between divinity and animality.

A tug-of-war in the hearts of men allows humanity to ultimately become the “One” that shatters the Great Dao of the ancient Celestial Court.

The gods viewed it as the worst, but humanity did its best, each taking extreme positions, waxing and waning, thereby replacing the “One.”

Dao the Second glanced at his smug Junior Brother Lu Chen.

Lu Chen was about to continue speaking.

A young Daoist with a boyish face and figure appeared beside the railing, “Oh?”

Even Dao the Second and Lu Chen were caught off guard, completely unaware.

Lu Chen immediately shut his mouth, composing himself.

Dao the Second respectfully bowed, his voice deep, “Disciple Yu Dou, greets Master.”

Dao the Second of Jade Capital, whose secular name was Yu Dou, came from the Azure Heavens. He has cultivated the Dao for eight thousand years.

Lu Chen quickly leaned back, flipped to the ground, straightened up, and bowed, “Disciple Lu Chen, greets Master.”
Bai Yujing’s Third Sect Leader, bearing the mundane name Lu Chen and the Daoist title Xiaoyao, hailed from the vast world of Haoran. He had cultivated for six thousand years, reigning over Bai Yujing for five thousand.

However, the Dao Ancestor’s visage, as perceived in the lotus grotto, was not that of a youth.

The Dao Ancestor smiled faintly, “Alas, I could not witness Bai Ye’s swordplay myself.”

Not unable, but unwilling to break the established rules. The Sage Master, the Dao Ancestor, and the Buddha, the three founders of their respective teachings, had jointly established the rules of heaven and earth, and for ten thousand years, none had dared to violate them.

Beside this “youth,” a step behind, appeared a guest visiting Bai Yujing for the first time. It was the old abbot of the Guandao Temple from the Tongye Continent in Haoran.

Dao the Second clearly held the Fourteenth Realm old abbot in little regard, not even glancing his way.

Lu Chen chuckled, “The old abbot’s Daoist arts are so profound that he can even contend with my master. How could he have lost to the Old Scholar, losing first a hairpin, and then the sun and moon essence of Lotus Flower Blessed Land? This junior finds it truly astonishing.”

The old abbot scoffed, “Lost? Is there precedence in Dao? Magnitude in law? Rank in ethereal vessels?”

The old Daoist’s seemingly casual words carried the weight of law, resonating throughout Bai Yujing’s five cities and twelve towers, especially the Godly Firmament City, whose city lord’s seat was temporarily vacant, which trembled the most violently.

Lu Chen appeared enlightened, “I am instructed, I am instructed.”

Dao the Second snorted coldly, and the tremors in the Godly Firmament City ceased.

The Dao Ancestor spoke, “Lu Chen.”

Lu Chen immediately understood, smiling, “I respectfully obey Master’s decree.”

However, this Third Sect Leader did not head for the Outer Heavens, but instead went to the Grand Profound Capital Temple.

Dao the Second went to the Outer Heavens, destined to help his junior brother Lu Chen clean up the mess.

The old abbot said, “The Fifth World, the heavens will change.”

In a brand-new world just beginning, the pressure of the Grand Dao was at its greatest. Whoever possessed greater power would bear the weight. But Ning Yao had previously been too “vigorous,” her brilliance unmatched, forcing even the Grand Dao of that world to temporarily evade her sharpness. If there were no unforeseen circumstances, Ning Yao would have ascended to the Ascendant Realm. At that time, the key would lie with the Grand Dao. After all, the accumulated heavenly tribulations of the world’s first Ascendant Realm cultivator and the world’s first Fourteenth Realm cultivator were as different as clouds and mud.

But when that little girl offered up a celestial sword and journeyed far to the Haoran world, it stirred everything, creating great unpredictability.

Those ancient beings stirring in the shadows would not turn a blind eye to this. It was highly likely they would no longer lie dormant in their respective locations, but would swarm forth.

The Dao Ancestor said, “Not so.”

The old abbot nodded, “A change in the heavens does not necessarily mean a change of world.”

The Dao Ancestor smiled, “Indeed.”

Ascension City.

Nianxin looked at Ning Yao, whose face was slightly pale, and asked, “Why do this? Why suffer so?”

Nianxin truly did not approve of Ning Yao’s choice. It was too rash, too radical.

She even regretted having shown Ning Yao that secret letter so early.

Whether it was the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s sword strike or Bai Yujing’s Dao the Second’s swordplay, both still had ample reserves. But Ning Yao was currently bottlenecked at the Immortal Realm swordsman stage. To offer up her true natal flying sword, journey to another world, and participate in that veritable clash of deities, it all seemed unwise. Once the celestial sword “Innocence” was damaged and returned injured, it would already be a great loss. If the celestial sword were to shatter and fall on the Fuyu Continent battlefield, Ning Yao might directly fall back to the Jade Purity Realm. Ascension City would lose Ning Yao, the unchallenged number one swordsman, and Ning Yao would be further away from becoming the first Ascendant Realm cultivator in the new world. In the end, one step behind would lead to every step being behind. Not only would Ning Yao’s own path be blocked, but Ascension City would likely lose its great opportunity to compete for supremacy with a single city.

Ning Yao sat on the doorstep, silent. She merely reached out and wiped away the blood from between her eyebrows.

Regardless of the weighing of advantages and disadvantages, Ning Yao should not have acted so impulsively. Nianxin shook her head, “If Chen Pingan were here, he would definitely stop you.”

“For Ascension City, I will do what I must do.”

Ning Yao said, “But Ascension City is Ascension City, and I am I. If Ascension City loses an Ascendant Realm swordsman and loses the momentum of the world, I don’t believe that Ascension City, with Ning Yao, can truly contend for supremacy. If Ascension City truly loses its power because of this, I will not owe Ascension City a single thing.”

She only owed him so much hard work and planning.

And Ning Yao did not think that if he were by her side, he would stop her from drawing her sword.

Besides, if he were in Ascension City as the Hidden Official, she would only be more idle. Where would she need to be so worried and exert so much effort? Drawing her sword was all that was needed.

Ning Yao reached out and pressed the back of her hand against her brow.

This offering of the sword was no small matter.

Before this, other than Chen Qingdu, only a few old swordsmen in Sword Qi Great Wall, including Dong Sanggeng and Chen Xi, knew that she actually possessed a second “natal flying sword” besides “Slaying Immortals.”

Moreover, even with that natal flying sword, “Slaying Immortals,” Ning Yao was reluctant to offer it up, because it was easily drawn by “Innocence,” causing Ning Yao’s sword heart to lose control. At that time, she would truly become a sword attendant of the celestial sword “Innocence.” The unruliness of a celestial sword’s spirit, its pure sword heart, cultivators could only suppress it with their realm or temper it with a tenacious sword heart. There was no other way. What kindness, what evil, what affinity with the Grand Dao, were all illusions.

Ning Yao’s nurturing of two flying swords was both refining the swords and using “Slaying Immortals” to inquire about the sword of “Innocence.”

In fact, Ning Yao had once asked the Eldest Swordsman a question in private: regarding that sixty-year agreement, was Chen Pingan really alright?

At that time, Chen Qingdu answered irrelevantly, “See how that senior feels when the time comes.”

Nianxin suddenly frowned and said, “You must be careful of the Grand Dao targeting you in this world.”

Ning Yao turned to look at the seamstress. It seemed that someone had reminded Nianxin, and then Nianxin came to remind herself.

Nianxin shook her head, “Regarding this matter, I must still keep my promise.”

Ning Yao nodded, “Without ‘Innocence,’ I still have ‘Slaying Immortals.'”

Nianxin suddenly smiled, “Only Ning Yao can make him like that.”

Back in the prison, the young Hidden Official never mentioned any of the encounters and reunions with Ning Yao to anyone, like a… miserly cheapskate, as if saying one more word would cost him silver coins.

However, that Frost Descent, an Ascendant Realm demon from beyond the heavens, because of its mutual scheming with the young Hidden Official, was able to learn some of the inside story. Unable to hold it in, it told Nianxin a little more.
Frostfall, in truth, had never truly discerned the labyrinthine depths of Chen Pingan’s heart. She merely recounted to Nianxin two somewhat vague images: a young boy, heavy-footed, walking towards a humble dwelling. The heavens were dim, near black, yet within the ancestral home, a lamp seemed to burn, offering light and warmth. The boy, at the threshold, paused, gazing at the light within, a mix of disbelief and burgeoning joy on his face. Crossing the threshold, his steps grew lighter, yet he deliberately slowed, as if loath to hasten the moment.

The second image depicted the boy alone, traversing a covered bridge, his gait faltering. The world grew increasingly dark, an impenetrable void. Yet, as the lifeless youth slowly raised his head, he saw a figure seated upon the steps. The boy’s eyes, once pitch black, like a plummet into an ancient abyss, suddenly beheld the radiance of the sun and moon.

Ning Yao then took her leave.

Nianxin carefully placed the lamp back upon the table.

Dragon Tiger Mountain, the Celestial Master’s Residence.

After the Old Scholar departed the Star-Picking Platform, Zhao Tianlai remarked, “Friend Wulei, I trouble you to make a trip to Fuyu Continent. We cannot allow the lands under heaven to mock the Celestial Master’s Residence for possessing a sword that is as good as none.”

The young Daoist nodded, transforming into a streak of sword light, heading towards Fuyu Continent first.

In fact, the moment the Old Scholar appeared at the Celestial Master’s Residence, it was the most precarious moment on the Fuyu Continent battlefield.

Thus, the Old Scholar’s departure from Sui Mountain, revisiting the Celestial Master’s Residence, was certainly not a blind ramble. However, before the Old Scholar hurriedly rushed to Dragon Tiger Mountain, the Most Sage Master Confucius had given a strange instruction: upon arriving at the Celestial Master’s Residence, simply wander about, no need to rush into old acquaintances. Hence, the Old Scholar’s divinely-ordained quest for wine. What harm was there in drinking a little of Zhao Tianlai’s wine? How many characters were inscribed on that couplet? Especially the horizontal inscription on the plaque, the four characters “Heaven and Man United as One”, were not to be given lightly.

The Confucian Temple had not been without uproar over this matter, feeling that it would divert a portion of the Confucian lineage’s literary aura. The key point was that it was against propriety, especially for the two Deputy Sect Leaders of the Confucian Temple, who had the merit of reshaping the literary lineage and Dao system. Ultimately, they listened to the Old Scholar’s reasoning, but neither gave him a kind look. Therefore, the Old Scholar merely drinking a single jar of Osmanthus Wine was not enough to compensate for the countless mouthfuls of saliva spent arguing. As for the other dozens of jars of Osmanthus Wine that were inadvertently forgotten and not returned to their original place, consider them as the Celestial Master’s Residence having extra. Moreover, if one were to consider the issue in broader terms, who else would be worthy of drinking the wine? No matter how many distinguished guests the Celestial Master’s Residence received, could any of them compare to the Sui Mountain Deity, the First Honored Mountain Sovereign of the Vast Lands? Could any of them compare to Bai Ze? Or the Most Sage Master Confucius, or the Old Master of Rites? One must speak with conscience. Gaining an advantage and still acting displeased was not a good habit, and should be changed.

After the Old Scholar was ejected from the Star-Picking Platform by Zhao Tianlai, the Fuyu Continent battlefield split into two.

Within the ancient battlefield heaven and earth, partially manifested by Bai Ye’s heart image, the talisman Yu Xuan and the skeletal throne great demon Bai Ying were locked in mortal combat.

One of the Fourteen Thrones of the Savage Lands was pitted against one of the Ten Men of the Vast Lands. The battle of scattered beans turning into talisman puppets and the skeletal legions under Bai Ying was ubiquitous, spreading across heaven and earth.

Bai Ye’s heart image of heaven and earth was already shattered beyond repair, barely held together by Yu Xuan with countless talismans. Such immortal arts of mending heaven were incredibly profound, far more difficult than creating a small world alone.

Bai Ye still wielded his sword, Taibai, cleaving the five thrones again and again, his sword and poems equally elegant and unrestrained.

When Yang Zhi finally spoke of Bai Ye’s fourteenth realm Dao harmonization, it was precisely within the poems in the heart of this “Vanquisher of Poems of the Vast Lands”.

Almost simultaneously, within the small world where Yu Xuan was fighting against Bai Ying, Bai Ying’s sword attendant, Long Jian, wielding the longsword forged by observing and refining souls, gently flicked out a sword flourish, and a string of golden characters trembled and turned to ashes.

Yet not a single trace of spiritual energy was added to heaven and earth.

Qie Yun helplessly raised her hand to her forehead and said with a smile, “My goodness, Sister Yang Zhi, you finally figured it out! But is that the problem right now? Isn’t it about guessing how many poems, how many lines of poetry, are left in Bai Ye’s heart?”

Dao Harmonization of the fourteenth realm.

Can be roughly divided into three types: heavenly timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony.

Harmonizing with the mountains and rivers of the world belonged to geographical advantage, similar to the Sub-Saints and Literary Saints of the Vast Lands.

The Lotus Nunnery Abbot and the talisman Yu Xuan belonged to the heavenly timing, related to the eternal, unchanging sun, moon, and stars that seemed untouched by the river of time.

Bai Ye’s Dao harmonization of the fourteenth realm belonged to human harmony.

Furthermore, swordsmen seeking to enter the fourteenth realm were generally the same; heavenly timing was not something to be hoped for, and geographical advantage was meaningless. After all, swordsmen pursued “heaven and earth cannot restrain my sword,” so why would they actively seek to harmonize with heaven and earth to prove the Dao.

Bai Ye continued to wield his sword without stopping, ignoring not only the stagnation of all things and laws caused by the river of time, but his sword light was also untraceable. More importantly, Bai Ye’s spiritual energy was consumed extremely slowly. No matter how many times he struck, besides the slight spiritual energy consumed by the act of wielding the sword, what was truly consumed was the poems in his heart.

A waterfall descended from the heavens, the Yellow River falling from the sky and flowing east to the sea. It fell to earth and collided heavily with the Yiluo River manifested by Yang Zhi’s great Dao, creating towering waves. In a landscape painting in plain ink, ten thousand miles turned into a marsh, its momentum no less than the Great Dao contest between Yang Zhi and Fei Fei.

With a single sword strike, Bai Ye cleaved the giant python Dharma image of Yang Zhi, which no longer maintained a human head, into two halves.

That Yuan Shou, with his ten-thousand-zhang true form, charged forward with his staff, only a hundred-odd miles from Bai Ye, becoming one of the great demons closest to Bai Ye.

Bai Ye swept his sword horizontally, using the dazzling sword light that split heaven and earth to forcibly block Yuan Shou’s staff from smashing down.

The long staff in Yuan Shou’s hand shattered again. Shaking his right wrist, he clenched his fist, and a long staff with the inscription “Stabilizing the Sea” appeared in his hand. He spat out a mouthful of blood. Fortunately, Bai Ye’s poems in his heart could not be used repeatedly. Otherwise, this fight would have gone on forever!

Not only that, but the lingering rhyme of Bai Ye’s sword intent also gave rise to heart image manifestations, causing Yuan Shou, who was becoming increasingly ferocious, to smash wildly with his staff, wishing to shatter heaven and earth together.

As for the Yue, who was the first to approach Bai Ye with his sword, his situation was similar to that of Bai Ying.

Floating clouds and setting sun, green mud winding, sorrowful birds circling the forest, withered pines hanging upside down, perilous winding paths, cliffs swirling ten thousand times… The Great Dao is as vast as the heavens, yet one cannot escape.

Even I, Bai Ye, cannot escape, let alone the great demon Yue within the heart image heaven and earth. All the more cannot escape.

This kind of heaven and earth phenomenon allowed Yue to possess three heads and six arms, a towering Dharma image, almost touching the sky and the earth. Still, his fists and weapons could not open the heavens.

Visiting Immortal Bai Ye.

Yang Zhi finally managed to shatter the water of the Yellow River, but unexpectedly, Bai Ye struck again with his sword.
My white hair stretched three thousand leagues, I once angled for the White Dragon, drew my blade to sever the flowing river, and released the dragon beside the stream.

Three thousand snow-white flying swords, like rain, fell upon the stream, a testament to the awe-inspiring sight of a sword cleaving the Great Serpent’s true form from its throne.

On the far side of the stream, a general on a white steed, with banners crossing the river, iron cavalry arrayed, dense as a snow-capped mountain, drinking their fill and stopping the water’s flow.

Arrows rained down, iron spears thrust forward, and sword qi descended like another deluge.

This was Bai Ye, on the borderlands.

Making that once revered figure suffer beyond words.

The Great Demon Niu Dao, having just broken free from his golden armored prison, was about to approach Bai Ye, when the world transformed. Drifting clouds stretched across the sky, a vast autumn scene unfolded, a desolate wilderness, and a chilling wind arose.

Where the wind rose, so too did the sword qi, layer upon layer, like mountains upon mountains, range after range, peaks obstructing the starry river, spanning the constellations.

Qie Yun, unwavering, once again shed his skin, barely dodging Bai Ye’s sword. He glanced at the sky, expecting the sword qi from the falling jade coffin, then looked down at the human world, wondering if it would be the green wheat fields of spring. But it was neither, instead the scene was a bustling marketplace, beside a wineshop. A young man practiced swordsmanship, reveling in wine and women, sharing a cup, embracing the heroic spirit of his life. A young swordsman journeying, emptying his cup with a laugh, slaying within the city.

A wandering swordsman, Bai Ye.

This time, Qie Yun could not evade the young swordsman’s blade.

The next moment, Qie Yun, just as he was reforming his body, found himself once more in the starry night, bitterly laughing. Even he was becoming weary of it all, and guessed that the other Kings must be even more resolute in their desire to kill.

He dreamt of riding a white deer westward into the mountains, mountains four thousand fathoms high with thirty-two peaks, a thousand jade maidens following in the clouds. Chanting aloud the Purple Haze Immortal Poems, “Ye Lords, open the heavenly palace for me!” Refining jade for a thousand autumns, stepping on rainbows, a banished immortal walking around the Azure Heavens, leaving behind boundless traces. The Great White star was vast and boundless, the stars arrayed in order, drunkenly leaning on an ancient pine tree, who would say that the Milky Way beneath his feet was wide, in his eyes it was but a narrow band of silk. He suddenly turned his head, laughing and beckoning to the Azure Child…

In another battlefield.

Fu Lu Yu Xuan, as he always did when fighting, did not deign to dirty his own sleeves. And since that Bai Ying was of a similar mold, Yu Xuan had taught her many vulgar sayings, such as “Rob anything but a coffin!”, “The frog wants life, the snake wants a full belly!”, and “This old man is like a featherless bird, blessed by heaven!”, and “You’re like a sow squeezed into a corner, still grunting away…”

The crude words did not hinder Yu Xuan from undertaking a matter of utmost importance.

He first used two talismans of golden material, silently hiding them among thousands of talismans of varying quality, suspending them at the eastern and western ends of the small world, the Sun Talisman and the Moon Talisman respectively, each hanging in the east and west, ultimately forming the character “Ming” (明, meaning bright).

The sun and moon reflected each other’s light, illuminating all under heaven, leaving no darkness untouched. Thus, there was praise in the mountains, that with Yu Xuan’s talisman, the human world had no need for lamps.

However, Yu Xuan offered these two talismans to determine one thing: whether the flow of the River of Time within the restrictions of Fúyáo Continent had sped up or slowed down. If there was indeed a difference in speed, what was the precise variation? Yet even with the sun and moon talismans combined into a single Bright talisman, he still could not discern this. To accurately perceive the scale of time within the multiple restrictions and the prisons of the small world, how difficult, how arduous!

Fu Lu Yu Xuan then threw out two talismans of azure material, multitasking, reciting incantations, wielding two universes in one sleeve, offering the Daylight Talisman and the Clepsydra Talisman.

“The sundial halts its flow, the starlight ceases its movement, fragrant rain pours down, sweet dew hangs above. The sun’s shadow reveals time, the flowing water determines the hour, hurry as the law commands!”

“Light is in the candle, water is in the arrow. Shining brightly in the sky, heroic essence entwining, the sky is completely white, the sundial is small, melting the clouds and piercing the heavens! By command!”

Yu Xuan gritted his teeth and threw out another azure talisman, the Pavilion Talisman, created by Yu Xuan himself.

In the mountains, without a water clock, an immortal in the clear spring water placed twelve lotus leaves, floating with the waves, to determine the twelve hours, the shadow of the sundial without error.

With the three talismans unleashed, in that instant, the Great Dao was revealed.

Although the three azure talismans were instantly consumed, Yu Xuan, even with a fleeting glimpse, had already glimpsed the heavenly secrets, and reminded Bai Ye, “Beware of the River of Time reversing and flowing backwards…”

Fu Lu Yu Xuan suddenly fell silent.

It turned out that just as Fu Lu Yu Xuan had uttered half a sentence from his heart, three immortal swords, one after the other, had pierced through the three layers of restrictions of Fúyáo Continent. The three immortal swords precisely negated Fu Lu Yu Xuan’s “Beware,” “River of Time,” and “Reversing and flowing backwards” warnings.

Not only that, but Qie Yun, who was in Bai Ye’s heart-image world, also smiled slightly at Bai Ye, “In the human realm, none are more proud. Bai Ye, your name is well-deserved.”

This “Qie Yun” was certainly unable to control the three immortal swords, but “Qie Yun” could control the three layers of restrictions and the River of Time.

So, even if Fu Lu Yu Xuan could perceive the heavenly secrets, he could not reveal part of the truth to Bai Ye.

Bai Ye said, “Jia Sheng.”

The method of substitution lies in Bai Ying. But the method of replacing the body, lies in Qie Yun. So the current Qie Yun can be said to be alive, or to be dead.

Another world, or another “well-deserved” human realm.

Four immortal swords gathered beside Bai Ye, and Bai Ye successively held one of the swords, Taibai, Daozang, Tianzhen, Wanfa, each delivering a sword with all their might.

The four swords slayed the four Kings besides Bai Ying and “Qie Yun,” slaying them in such a way that Yue, Yangzhi, Yuan Shou, and Niú Dāo could not be more dead.

Qie Yun’s form dissipated, not taking a single sword blow, but the Great Dao was extinguished in such a way that it perished, Zhou Mi smiled slightly, “Using the future sword, to kill the present person. Bai Ye can only depart.”

Zhou Mi finally said, “I will duel with you again someday, if you and I still have the chance.”

A sword strike arrived.

Bai Ye did not hesitate to use his present sword, to slay the King “Qie Yun” before him.

Zhou Mi actually allowed the sword light to strike his body.

A continent of heaven and earth was turned upside down, and the River of Time was chaotic and disordered.

Yangzhi and Yuan Shou looked at each other, seemingly unable to understand why they were still alive?

Niú Dāo and Yuè had solemn expressions, looking at Bai Ying, whose Great Dao had suddenly collapsed for some unknown reason.

The biggest doubt was, where was Bai Ye?

Furthermore, why was Qie Yun’s aura identical to that of Bai Ying, as if the Great Dao was completely severed, yet still slightly lingering, as if Qie Yun had inexplicably transformed into Zhou Mi?

As for where the Fu Lu Yu Xuan and the four immortal swords had gone, it made the group of resurrected Kings even more confused.

How did Bai Ye, under Zhou Mi’s nose, slay Qie Yun and Bai Ying?

Liu Cha sheathed his sword, his expression complex.

The Grand Righteous world no longer had a fourteenth realm Bai Ye.

As for the immortal sword Taibai, only the scabbard remained, yet the sword itself had been divided into four, scattered in all directions, its momentum unstoppable.
A fragment of the Tai Bai Sword’s tip ventured towards the vicinity of the Upside-down Mountain ruins.

The grey-robed old man seemed to have been struck on the head by a palm, plummeting into the vortex beneath his feet.

In the Central Earth Divine Continent, Zou Zi suddenly reached out and seized a sword-nurturing gourd from Liu Cai, absorbing one of the sword radiances into it.

Returning the gourd to Liu Cai, he instructed this direct disciple swordsman to bow in gratitude to the scholar.

Fei Ran, who believed he was merely protecting a mirage city out of boredom, suddenly widened his eyes, noticing a floating section of a sword body before him.

The third sword radiance followed the celestial sword, Tian Zhen, tearing through the firmament of the Fifth World, plummeting rapidly before gently landing beside the azure-robed Confucian scholar, Zhao Yao.

As for the final sword radiance, the gate-guarding Great Sword Immortal, Zhang Lu, turned a blind eye to the incoming beam of sword light. He only stopped people, and what was there to stop about a broken sword fragment? Besides, Zhang Lu knew he couldn’t stop it even if he wanted to.

That sword radiance traveled to the remaining half of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Chen Ping An abruptly lifted his head, sensing the presence of that sword aura despite the barrier of the Jiazi Tent World.

Li Zhen hesitated, ultimately remaining silent, merely watching the grey robe as it swept past the northern city wall for the first time, solely to prevent the celestial sword fragment from falling into Chen Ping An’s hands.

Chen Ping An staggered. A dharma body arose, none other than Chen Qingdu, wielding a longsword, slashing at the grey robe with a single strike. “Dragon Lord, receive the sword!”

Chen Qingdu’s final sword in life was unleashed to slay the Dragon Lord, even years after his death.

Li Zhen crouched on the city wall, covering his head with his hands, refusing to witness the scene he had already witnessed once.

In one area of the Central Earth Divine Continent, plum blossoms bloomed white, Tai Bai flowers in full bloom.

Beneath the tree, a child materialized from thin air, glancing around with slight bewilderment, before finally looking up at the plum blossoms.

A tiger-head hat suddenly landed on the child’s head. An old scholar stroked the carefully prepared hat, laughing heartily, “Heaven’s fortune is such, let us indulge in wine! Bai Ye, my brother, shall I take you for a drink?”

At the Sword Qi Great Wall, Chen Ping An managed to sit up with difficulty, only to see a wisp of grey-white cloth, wrapping a sword tip, hovering before him. What was going on? Had the old dog Dragon Lord and the petty thief Li Zhen learned to scheme? They were investing quite a bit, it seemed.

An old man’s figure appeared beside Chen Ping An, bending down to strike the young Hidden Official’s head with a palm, saying, “Consider it compensation for breaking a promise.”

Chen Ping An turned his head, only to witness the dissipating form of the Eldest Sword Immortal. Before Chen Ping An could rise, Chen Qingdu proactively sat on the ground, placing his hands on his abdomen, gently clenching them into fists. The old man asked with a smile, “How was this sword?”

Chen Ping An considered for a moment, disregarding everything else, and said sincerely, “Magnificent.”

Chen Qingdu chuckled, “You speak so readily, just like me in my younger days.”

Years ago by the riverside, the young swordsman had said, “Then let’s fight!”

Chen Ping An said, “Rest assured.”

Chen Qingdu nodded, “Very well.”

Chen Ping An remained silent.

Chen Qingdu faded away.

The young Hidden Official, clad in a bright red dharma robe, placed his fists on his knees for support. After a moment, Chen Ping An’s robe transformed into a white garment. He stood up, walked to the city wall, and gazed at the opposite half of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Then, a figure landed beside him, a bearded swordsman, Liu Cha.