Above the vast battlefield between the Jade Decree Sect’s mountain-protecting grand formation and the wild beastmen’s war camps, Chongguang, a Grand Demon of the Ascendant Realm clad in a crimson dharma robe, hovered in the air. The robe, named “Submerged Hues,” had grown increasingly vibrant after entering the Great Harmony World, where it oversaw the war efforts of the three major war camps. Upon closer inspection, each faint ripple on the robe’s surface revealed the tragic scenes of vast rivers and rolling seas of blood within its small world. Millions of spectral souls were like fish in a pot, being cooked by a method akin to refining fire and water. This robe was Chongguang’s attempt to recreate a “Netherworld Epoch,” a crucial element for him to reach the Fourteenth Realm in the future.

Currently, there were no other battles on the continent of Tongye, so they focused specifically on the Jade Decree Sect, because Camp Jiazi had promised that as long as Chongguang could kill Jiang Shangzhen, the war merits would be equivalent to that of an Ascendant Realm expert, similar to Xiao Xun’s sword slaying the previous Sect Master of the Jade Decree Sect, Xun Yuan.

Furthermore, because the young Hidden Official from the Sword Qi Great Wall wore a similarly colored robe, Chongguang had earned the nickname “Old Hidden Official,” which he was quite proud of.

Chongguang, the Grand Demon who was waiting for the Jade Decree Sect to be destroyed, suddenly raised his head. Without hesitation, he manipulated his innate divine power, releasing a long river of fresh blood from his sleeve. Freed from the restrictions of the robe, the wails of hundreds of thousands of fragmented souls within the river resounded throughout the heavens and earth. The river surged mightily towards a golden talisman as large as a cattail mat, which suddenly appeared, carrying a wave of righteous aura that made Chongguang’s heart tremble. Chongguang dared not be negligent. Before the river of blood could collide with the tiny talisman, hundreds upon hundreds of talismans appeared in an instant. These were landscape talismans depicting the Five Sacred Mountains and rivers of the various countries of Tongye Continent, as well as the ancestral mountains of the major immortal cave abodes. Mountains stood tall and waters meandered, creating an interweaving landscape of the entire continent.

Could it be Yu Xuan, the talisman master from the Central Earth Divine Continent?

Chongguang hesitated slightly and manipulated the powerful heroic spirits and ghosts within the river of blood, retreating slightly towards the tail end of the river. In any case, Yuan Shou, the King, was overseeing the army on this battlefield. Chongguang and Yuan Shou had a private agreement: Chongguang only wanted Jiang Shangzhen’s life; everything else of the Jade Decree Sect, mountains and cultivators, would belong to Yuan Shou.

A young Daoist with a refined and elegant demeanor, possessing an ancient air, appeared on the southern battlefield of Tongye Continent by virtue of this self-created continental landscape talisman. The young Daoist, dressed in a yellow and purple Daoist robe, held a Five Thunders Dharma Seal in one hand and formed a sword incantation with the other. A snow-white rainbow light suddenly illuminated the heavens and earth, making it impossible to distinguish whether it was a talisman technique or a flying sword of a Sword Immortal. In an instant, it directly cut the river of blood in half.

Chongguang was shocked to the core, complaining endlessly in his heart. He dared not flaunt his Netherworld divine powers in front of this person again. He tried his best to gather the scattered river of blood back into his sleeve, but unexpectedly, the yellow-purple dignitary from the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion formed another Daoist incantation with one hand. A landscape barrier, like a square cage where heaven and earth were combined, appeared within a hundred miles around Chongguang, as if imprisoning Chongguang in a profound and mysterious seal. With one hand raised high, the Dharma Seal suddenly became as large as a mountain, smashing down on the head of the Ascendant Realm Grand Demon.

Chongguang had no choice but to reveal his true form, but still failed to break through the Dharma Seal. Not only that, but under the suppression of the Dharma Seal, Chongguang plummeted straight to the ground.

The Grand Demon’s true form was suppressed, lying prone on the ground, unwilling to give up. He propped himself up with both hands, trying to arch his back and overturn the Dharma Seal.

Chongguang was not only skilled in attrition warfare, but his innate escape technique was also unparalleled in the wild world. Therefore, even against a Great Sword Immortal, Chongguang was not afraid. For example, among the ten from the Central Earth Divine Continent, even if Zhou Shenzhi and Huai Qian joined forces, Chongguang, while not having much chance of winning against either of them, could at least retreat if he wanted to, albeit in a more disheveled state, losing some external things besides his fundamental Dao. But Chongguang feared old immortals like Yu Xuan, who were even more unafraid of attrition warfare, and even more feared Zhao Tianlai from Dragon Tiger Mountain, who was rumored to wield a Celestial Master’s Dharma Seal in one hand and myriad methods of Immortal Swords in the other!

The young Daoist landed on the Dharma Seal. As his feet touched the surface of the seal, the Dharma Seal descended irresistibly, pressing the Grand Demon, who was trying to struggle to his feet, down again. Dust immediately filled the battlefield, obscuring the sky and sun.

In addition to the Dharma Seal suppressing the Grand Demon, there were more than nine thousand lightning whips, a magnificent sight, like four waterfalls pouring down upon the human world, confining the Grand Demon, who was about to escape into the ground after failing to break the Dharma Seal. The Dharma Seal not only suppressed the demon but also intended to refine and kill it on the spot.

A staff smashed down fiercely, a full-force strike with the momentum of creation.

The young Celestial Master’s true body remained motionless. A dharma avatar, with Daoist robes and sleeves fluttering, and surrounded by yellow and purple Daoist aura, appeared above the Dharma Seal. It raised one hand to block the long staff, while forming an incantation with the other. The Five Thunders gathered, creating endless power. Finally, the dharma avatar extended two fingers, returning the courtesy to the King Demon Yuan Shou with a Five Thunders Righteous Dharma. The thunder magic exploded in front of Yuan Shou’s eyes at close range.

Yuan Shou, who was wielding a sword and holding a staff, was struck until he saw stars, and could only drag his staff and retreat, staggering backward on his flying sword, retreating tens of miles before stabilizing himself.

Good Daoist, good thunder magic, worthy of being the Great Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Although Yuan Shou didn’t care much about the life or death of the Ascendant Realm expert under the Dharma Seal, if Chongguang died right under his nose, it would ultimately be difficult to explain to Camp Jiazi, especially to Zhou Mi, whom Yuan Shou now feared greatly. After discussing with Yang Zhi, they agreed that both sides should avoid getting close to Zhou Mi. That’s why Yuan Shou came to the southernmost battlefield of the Jade Decree Sect in Tongye Continent, while Yang Zhi went to the Nanposuo Continent battlefield.

Zhao Tianlai’s dharma avatar, with yellow and purple Daoist true qi gathered in the three Dantians, resembled three stars revolving uncertainly, shifting with the Big Dipper, dense yet orderly.

One hand blocked the long staff, one incantation repelled the King. Zhao Tianlai’s true body looked around, smiled slightly, raised a jade-white hand, crystal clear and ethereal, and finally focused his gaze on one spot. Zhao Tianlai’s eyes faintly shimmered with the light of the sun and moon, and then he lightly shouted, “Freeze!”

My law is steadfast, my spirit is focused, my qi is united with my body, specifically countering escape techniques.

Myriad ghosts and monsters, imps and demons, though able to change their forms and hide, cannot alter their shadows even slightly in my mirror.

The Great Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain used a superb mirror technique to freeze Chongguang, who had seemingly “shed his skin” and left his true body, rather than perform some kind of astral projection, in a river of time that seemed to be frozen.

The Grand Demon Chongguang roared, “Yuan Shou, save me!”

“You useless piece of trash, all you do is yap!”
Yuan Shou roared in fury, but still chose to save Chongguang. His height suddenly increased to a thousand zhang, and he smashed his staff towards the Celestial Master’s Dharma Idol. The latter retracted the five fingers of both hands, with the fingertips close to the palms, forming the Orthodox Five Thunder Finger. Thunder energy radiated five-colored brilliance, a secret art of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s lineage.

The world only knows that wherever demons and monsters are rampant, there must be a peach wood sword-wielding Celestial Master.

But they don’t know that for those who cross mountains and rivers, cure diseases and subdue evil, invite gods and command ghosts, the Celestial Masters of Dragon Tiger Mountain all use hand seals and write talismans. The thunder magic is vast, and evil spirits retreat. The majestic power of the heavens shakes and slays myriad ghosts.

Generally, the yellow and purple nobles of the Celestial Master’s Mansion, upon mastering this finger technique, should be able to speak law and wield thunder magic. However, the Great Celestial Master Dharma Idol changed the hand seal again. The five thunders intertwined outside the wrist, then the hands were placed back to back, right above and left below. The middle and ring fingers of both hands were interlocked, the left hand rotated outwards, and finally the palms of both hands faced upwards, brimming with creation, as if thunder rumbled. Simultaneously, index fingers hooked, little fingers hooked, completing a Reversed Heaven Seal in one breath.

Adding to the previously charged Five Thunder Finger, Zhao Tianlai’s Dharma Idol already held two seals in his hands, Taoist magic imbued in both hands, like a thunderous heavenly tribulation suspended above the battlefield.

But this young Daoist from afar still seemed unsatisfied. In a flash of lightning, he formed the Ziwei Seal, then unleashed a profound divine ability, using one law to generate myriad laws. The Ziwei hand seal remained steadfast like a mountain, but the Dharma Idol’s illusory hands slightly changed the finger seals, in one go summoning the Demon Subduing Seal and the Tiangang Seal.

Then, using the Three Pure Ones Finger, he created the Three Mountains Incantation, and transformed it into the Five Peaks Seal, ultimately settling into a secret “Thunder Formation” of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s lineage.

One law gives rise to myriad laws, and myriad laws return to thunder law.

Moreover, an Eight Trigrams Diagram Array slowly rotated outside his hands, coupled with the grand aura of the Three Worlds shifting stars, and the creation of the Five Thunders gathered in one palm.

A young Daoist who didn’t say a word after arriving on the battlefield, but wanted to kill a Flying Ascension Realm cultivator. Not only had the Dharma Seals under his feet suppressed the great demon Chongguang, but it seemed he also wanted to decide victory and defeat, life and death, with the Kingly Seat Yuan Shou.

This Dragon Tiger Mountain Great Celestial Master seemed to want to comprehend all the true meaning of the Heavenly Dao alone.

Each and every finger seal, hand seal, and thunder formation, truly happened in the blink of an eye for the Dragon Tiger Mountain Great Celestial Master Dharma Idol. Even a Jade Purity Realm cultivator couldn’t clearly see how many incantations Zhao Tianlai’s Celestial Master Dharma Idol had made, let alone see how Zhao Tianlai manipulated the seals. Moreover, Zhao Tianlai seemed to have no need to chant mantras to stabilize the true meaning of Daoist magic, so this wasn’t just a profound “words become law,” but the “dao arises from the heart, all laws return to one” circulating among the peak cultivators.

Finally, the Celestial Master Dharma Idol finished the hand seals, actually combining all the incantations and seals into a sword art.

As if holding a round of white sun, with boundless light, like ninety thousand sword energies shooting out simultaneously.

The Jade Decree Sect cultivators and the invading army from the Barbarian Wilderness, regardless of distance, all had to close their eyes immediately, daring not to look even once.

After a moment, heaven and earth were silent.

Was it a spectacle of great thunder and little rain?

But upon closer inspection, the Kingly Seat Yuan Shou actually had no staff in his hand, but unexpectedly held a sword in one hand, hovering in the air a hundred miles away, dragging the great demon Chongguang, whose Dharma robe was mostly shattered. Chongguang’s entire back was a bloody mess. With the resilience of a Flying Ascension Realm body, there were still no signs of recovery.

The great demon Chongguang weakly said, “Thank you, Yuan Senior Ancestor, for saving my life.”

Yuan Shou looked down, suddenly released his hand, then stomped through Chongguang’s chest, lightly twisting his ankle, further mangling the other’s chest. He raised the sword in his hand, held it against the bastard’s forehead, and roared, “Good fellow, you were pretending to be dead all along?! Is my Natal Item worthless?!”

Chongguang allowed Yuan Shou’s venting of anger. Yuan Shou’s little foot injury was nothing compared to the imprint of Zhao Tianlai’s magic that was wreaking havoc in the sea of blood of his natal Dharma robe. Today’s inexplicable fight almost made Chongguang return all his great dao gains in Tongye Continent. However, Chongguang was still extremely grateful that Yuan Shou was willing to draw his sword to cut through the sword art and save him. He didn’t even dare to reach out and slightly push away the sword tip. Chongguang helplessly said, “Yuan Senior Ancestor, that Dragon Tiger Mountain Great Celestial Master’s sword seal is naturally oppressive to my術法divine abilities. If Senior Ancestor suffers losses today, I will definitely repay them double.”

Yuan Shou stretched out his arm, and another staff with the inscription “Sea Stabilizer” appeared in his hand. However, it was even more damaged. After experiencing two great battles with Bai Ye and Zhao Tianlai, this staff was, in fact, only a name. Unless he could refine an entire great river in the future, it could be restored, but Yuan Shou was now unwilling to approach the nearer Qidu River in Treasure Bottle Continent or the farther Jidu River in Northern Reed Continent.

Zhao Tianlai had already put away the Dharma Seals and arrived at the Jade Decree Sect’s ancestral mountain, giving a Daoist salute to the Sect Master Jiang Shangzhen, who had been waiting for a long time.

At the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion, the acolyte with the Daoist name Wulei was in charge of watching the house, sitting cross-legged alone outside the Demon Subduing Hall, staring at the talisman seal that had been repeatedly blessed by successive Great Celestial Masters.

As for the scabbard of the immortal sword “Ten Thousand Laws”, it was placed by the little Daoist boy next to the well.

Jiang Shangzhen returned an unconventional Daoist salute, as a great gift. However, people like Jiang Shangzhen have always been uninhibited in their actions. As long as this Great Celestial Master, who had helped the sect solve its immediate crisis, was willing, he might even be willing to rub his shoulders and beat his back.

Jiang Shangzhen smiled and said, “Great Celestial Master’s術法divine abilities are invincible, freely controllable. Jiang didn’t even have the chance to offer up his flying sword. It turns out that the difference of one realm is more than heaven and earth.”

Zhao Tianlai smiled and shook his head, then said with emotion, “What a bitter and desperate battle. It’s not easy for the Jade Decree Sect.”

Jiang Shangzhen said, “Compared to our Tongye Sect, which is the leader of a continent, the bones of the Jade Decree Sect cultivators are indeed a bit harder.”

The Tongye Sect in the north of Tongye Continent has now surrendered to the Jiazi Camp, a group of old, immortal bastards, stiff like corpses, acting as traitors to the continent.

So, in a continent whose territory is equivalent to two and a half Treasure Bottle Continents, only the Jade Decree Sect is still stubbornly resisting. After the Tongye Sect defected to the Jiazi Camp, the Jade Decree Sect suddenly became even more precarious. If it weren’t for the Sect Master Jiang Shangzhen, who originally wandered everywhere, returning to the sect, it is estimated that there would really be no more wars on the continent now.

Jiang Shangzhen was forced to show himself and return to his mountain due to the precarious situation of the continent, which was indeed a bit annoying. If the Jade Decree Sect was not about to be unable to hold on, Jiang Shangzhen would not have been able to continue to roam freely. Otherwise, he would rather be a street rat scurrying around, free and unrestrained, earning merits everywhere.
Indeed, that Sect Master’s seat in the Ancestral Hall feels rather… scorching. Had I known, what need was there to be a Sect Master? It would have been far more satisfying to be like that Zhou Fei brother, wandering the lands, stealthily launching a sword strike before immediately running for the hills!

The Jade Regulations Sect’s Ancestral Hall, once teeming with cultivators above the fifth realm, now had mostly empty chairs. Not to mention the Ancestors and direct descendants of the lineage, even many of the honored guest elders had perished.

This wouldn’t have been so bad, but the real issue was the sheer number of young faces of the Jade Regulations Sect that had vanished, just like that. Each and every one of them throwing their lives away without hesitation, believing they had died a worthy death. Were they fools? Even someone as cold and ruthless as Jiang Shangzhen, who prided himself on his iron will and heartlessness, couldn’t help but feel a sorrow bordering on heartbreak.

Jiang Shangzhen asked, “Heavenly Master, is Bai Ye truly dead?”

Zhao Tianlai nodded, “If you speak of Bai Ye, the Fourteenth Realm cultivator, then he is truly dead. The world will never see the Immortal Sword Tai Bai again.”

Jiang Shangzhen sighed, “This war has been one where everyone dies.”

Zhao Tianlai said, “In the past, the cultivators of the Great Balance World, especially those of the Central Continent, all believed that the so-called Fourteen Thrones of the Barbaric World were at most on par with the weaker cultivators of the Great Balance’s top ten. Now, with Bai Ye’s death, they believe that none of the Great Balance’s top ten, or even fifteen, could stand against the Fourteen Thrones.”

Jiang Shangzhen said helplessly, “When it comes to fighting, does the Central Continent really have no idea how capable those beasts of the Barbaric World are?”

He quickly answered his own question, “Of course they don’t. The Sword Qi Great Wall knows, but the Great Balance World does not.”

The Nine Sword Arrays of the Nine Yi Peaks had long been reduced to nothing. In addition to the Great Demon Chong Guang, Yuan Shou himself had also arrived at the Jade Regulations Sect. Besides nominally helping Chong Guang command the demon race in their assault on the mountains, he would occasionally reveal his mountain-moving true form, smashing the Mountain and River formations with his staff. However, he would not put forth his full strength, nor would he deliberately target cultivators or the Jade Regulations Sect’s Ancestral Mountain. He merely said that since these mountains were wealthy and had deep pockets, they should show just how many immortal coins they possessed.

Yuan Shou had even declared, “This old man can even kill that Bai Ye. What is an Immortal Realm Jiang Shangzhen worth?”

Before the destruction of Golden Armor Continent, within a military tent in the Barbaric World, the “Flowers in a Mirror, Moon in the Water” technique was once again deployed, displaying a painting over and over: Liu Cha killing Bai Ye, the Fourteenth Realm cultivator, with a single sword strike. The Great Balance World no longer had its most proud, nor its unmatched poet.

The cultivators of the Jade Regulations Sect had also witnessed this dull yet breathtaking painting. Had Jiang Shangzhen not received confirmation from the Dragon Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master himself, he would have refused to believe that Bai Ye was truly dead.

That was why Jiang Shangzhen had been so distraught earlier, to the point where he had proactively left the Mountain and River Formation and engaged that Ascension Realm beast in a genuine duel.

Both sides had unleashed their most powerful techniques in a desperate fight to the death that shook the heavens and the earth. Not just the demons, but even many of the younger lineage immortals of the Jade Regulations Sect were unclear about the true extent of Jiang Shangzhen’s combat strength. They had mostly heard rumors from their elders and Ancestors, only knowing that the notorious and flamboyant Jiang Clan Head was the best at escaping in the world. So, in the past, whenever Jiang Shangzhen took action, he would ensure that he lived when fighting those of higher realms and that those of lower or equal cultivation were sure to die.

Only after witnessing that battle did they realize that Sect Master Jiang was such a formidable fighter. A single willow leaf could slay an immortal, so terrifyingly sharp and unparalleled.

Zhao Tianlai apologized, “The Immortal Sword Ten Thousand Techniques must remain within Dragon Tiger Mountain, as unexpected events are very likely to occur.”

Jiang Shangzhen, uncharacteristically, did not act roguish or utter any impudent words. Instead, his expression was solemn and his eyes were filled with sincerity as he nodded, “For the Heavenly Master to cross continents to subdue demons is already a great act of benevolence. Our Jade Regulations Sect would not be so ungrateful as to expect more.”

This was the ease of dealing with truly intelligent people.

Jiang Shangzhen squatted on the cliff’s edge and said softly, “Heavenly Master, please rest for a while. It would be best to guard that parasol tree, as it is the heart of the Demon Suppressing Tower Formation. The Jade Regulations Sect can still hold out for some time, six months at most, three months at least. But when you leave, please take a Cloud Grotto Blessed Land with you. Some of the younger ones will be forced into the Blessed Land by me. As for the older ones with higher seniority, they can stay if they wish.”

Zhao Tianlai said, “Now that things have come to this, why doesn’t Sect Master Jiang lead everyone to relocate and leave? As long as the people survive, there is always hope for reclaiming the land. But if the people die and the land remains, then both will surely be lost.”

Jiang Shangzhen shook his head, “We Jade Regulations Sect truly cannot learn from the likes of the Peaceful Mountain or the Spirit Writing Sect. But above all, we must not emulate the Tung Leaf Sect. No matter how shameless Jiang Shangzhen may be, I still have some shred of decency left. If I weren’t the Sect Master, I could naturally go anywhere. But since I am the Sect Master, even if my face is swollen from being beaten, I must obediently endure. Moreover, if I leave, then the spirit that the Jade Regulations Sect cultivators have accumulated for thousands of years will be destroyed in my hands. Even if the Jade Regulations Sect seems prosperous on the surface in the future, and has more lineage immortals, it will all be just a bamboo and paper frame.”

Zhao Tianlai smiled and nodded, looking at Jiang Shangzhen with new respect.

Rumors on the mountains are a mix of truth and falsehood. Some grand and righteous words on the Mountain and River Gazette are often just that. A partial truth only serves to obscure the actual truth, while certain brief and understated remarks often conceal a boundless righteous spirit.

Jiang Shangzhen plucked a blade of grass from somewhere and chewed on it. He suddenly smiled and said, looking up, “I brought a Ninth Sister home from the Great Spring Dynasty in my younger days. I heard that she has some connection to the Heavenly Fox senior from Dragon Tiger Mountain. Ninth Sister is proud and aloof, and never gives me, this useless Sect Master, any face. But she has always admired the Great Heavenly Master. Why don’t I take this opportunity to call her to the Heavenly Master’s side to soak in some immortal energy? Perhaps she will give me a better look in the future. Since I’m already drowning in debts, the Great Heavenly Master shouldn’t hold this against me, right?”

Zhao Tianlai said with a smile, “Of course.”

The Proprietress of the inn on the border of the Great Spring Dynasty, Ninth Sister, was actually the Laundress Mistress, a Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox.

However, the renowned Mountain Protecting Honored Guest Lian Zhen of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master’s Residence was a Ten-Tailed Heavenly Fox.

Receiving Jiang Shangzhen’s “Imperial Edict” transmission, Ninth Sister immediately came from the place where Jiang Shangzhen had cultivated in his youth, riding the wind. She landed some distance away from the two of them and then walked quickly toward the Dragon Tiger Mountain Great Heavenly Master, giving a *wanfu* greeting. Zhao Tianlai returned a Daoist bow.
Jiang Shangzhen turned a blind eye, squatting by the cliff, gazing into the distance. Unbidden, he recalled the council in the Ancestral Hall, originally meant to celebrate the old Sect Master’s breakthrough, and old Xun’s dazed gaze towards the scattering white clouds outside the door. Jiang Shangzhen knew old Xun wasn’t fond of poetry or songs, but he held that little lyrical essay with the phrase “Return, oh, return!” dearest to his heart. The reason was peculiar, he had cherished it his whole life simply for the opening preface, “My family is poor.”

Old Sect Master Xun Yuan was born a mountain man, never wanting for food, clothing, or cultivation. His path to the Great Dao was smooth and untroubled, so even Jiang Shangzhen couldn’t understand why old Xun was so fond of those three words.

Jiang Shangzhen remained squatting, letting Jiu Niang and Zhao Tianlai ask about cultivation bottlenecks. He chewed the grass root until it was pulp, yet still unconsciously gnawed with his teeth.

“My family is poor.”

“I’ll borrow a green bamboo staff from you, and from then on, delve deep into the piles of white clouds, my straw sandals tattered, yet no one cares.”

“The fields and gardens will soon be overgrown with weeds, why not return?”

Jiang Shangzhen leaned back, resting his head on his hands.

He wouldn’t be able to witness the elevation of Lotus Root Blessed Land, the site he served as a Guardian for, to an Upper-Grade Blessed Land. So, back then, while holding the Blessed Land, he took in refugees from Tongye Continent, leaving behind several gifts in the Blessed Land. Besides the necessary natural treasures and immortal coins, Jiang Shangzhen also casually planted willows, turning them into shade, demarcating a private plot of land within the Blessed Land. He finally had the air of an Ancestral Hall Guardian.

Yet, for some reason, by the willow tree beside the water, the man personally planted the most common mountain wild herb, named Asarum.

Willows become shade, flowers also bloom.

He only hoped that one day, when his beloved departed far away, the one he missed would still be there. Enjoying the cool shade of the willow, watching the flowers bloom.

There was a flash of crimson robes, hanging quietly in the air, several zhang above the city walls. The sleeves drooped down, swaying with the occasional breeze, like duckweed on the river, or a lonely red cloud above the city walls.

Accustomed to being separated from the world, Chen Ping’an felt somewhat unaccustomed when Zhou Mi, for reasons unknown, lifted the Jiazi Enchantment.

Fortunately, the feeling wasn’t unfamiliar. Back when he practiced boxing in the bamboo building for extended periods, being constantly fed punches, Chen Ping’an would also feel out of place when he descended the mountain to travel far.

After that, there were truly some fearless demon cultivators, whooping and hollering, riding the wind past the city, completely ignoring the young Hidden Official below.

They didn’t dare to ascend the city walls to enjoy the scenery, because those sword immortal heroic spirits, impossible to kill and each equivalent to a Land Immortal swordsman, were still stationed throughout the city.

At first, Chen Ping’an worried that it was Zhou Mi’s scheme, stubbornly allowing one demon cultivator after another to fly over the city from above.

He even earnestly detained a Great Demon of comparable cultivation, exchanging pleasantries and allowing the other party to come bearing gifts. A barrage of techniques and spells rained down, a truly satisfying beating. Chen Ping’an obediently took the hits, while asking small questions in the most authentic and elegant language of the Wildlands, even more correct than the demon’s own. It’s a pity that the other party’s answers were too casual, truly treating him as a honored guest. In the end, Chen Ping’an had no choice but to disperse his form. The Golden Core stage Great Demon laughed wildly, then Hidden Official Chen, rubbed his chin, watching the formidable Great Demon, unsure whether to laugh along with it or send it on its way.

Why isn’t this a true man?

Except for the first unfortunate demon who was dragged down by Chen Ping’an and killed on the spot with his faux Jade Pure realm cultivation.

Besides him, the one who threw the punch was the previous Hidden Official, Xiao Xun. The one who wielded the sword was the Dragon Lord of the Throne, and the one who competed in magical arts was She Yue, one of the ten young cultivators.

Can just anyone kill the Hidden Official?

So, as a welcoming gift, Chen Ping’an twisted off the Golden Core Great Demon’s head, ignoring the headless corpse, simply tossing the head high into the air, spinning around, and kicking it several hundred zhang away.

With the removal of the barrier, there were many strange and interesting events.

Some demon cultivators dared not leap over the city walls, but instead, soared into the air, admiring the carvings on the city walls from a short distance.

On the opposite city wall, there was even a young demon martial artist who scaled the walls, declaring that he would spar with Chen Ping’an, but only after another thirty years of martial arts practice.

There were also three demon sword immortals from the southernmost territories of the Wildlands, traveling here together, but they didn’t go to the Glorious World, simply appreciating the scenery before returning home.

There was also a group of young female demon cultivators, probably from a large sect, who were very bold. They used several white cranes and blue luan to pull a huge carriage, standing on top of it, chirping and chattering endlessly. One of them used the “Palm View of Mountains and Rivers” magical art, specially searching for the young Hidden Official’s form. Finally, after discovering the young man in the crimson robes, they all cheered, as if they had seen their ideal husband.

Good heavens, big and small, male and female, were they treating this place as a scenic spot far from the heavens?

Chen Ping’an raised a palm, and with the convergence of the Five Thunders, unleashed a thunder technique with terrifying momentum.

The palace-dressed woman who used the “Palm View of Mountains and Rivers” magical art, as if her brain was waterlogged, didn’t disperse the thunder technique, but instead, with the Upper Fifth Realm magical art of “Universe in the Sleeves,” forcibly contained the thunder technique within her sleeves, shattering most of her robe’s sleeve. Yet, she didn’t show the slightest distress, but instead raised her hand, shook her sleeves, and proudly displayed it to her close friends, as if showing off something.

Chen Ping’an stood on the city wall, smilingly waving to the treasure-filled carriage, wanting thunder techniques, was it? Come closer, there was plenty to spare. Seeing that they were in the form of women, he was famous for cherishing jade and protecting flowers, and could give them even more. In return, they only needed to leave behind that phoenix carriage.

Judging by its style, it was undoubtedly an Imperial Carriage. Besides the several immortal birds, the wheels were actually refined with traces of Moon Essence and Sun Essence respectively. As for the carriage’s exterior, it was extremely luxurious. Hanging in front was a carriage curtain, with patterns of the Jade Terrace and the Jade Capital. If this were only a magical treasure ferry, and not a half-immortal weapon, then Chen Ping’an had wasted all those years running the Packages and Satchels Shop.
It’s a pity that the carriage remained suspended in mid-air. However, the female cultivators, their eyes sparkling and filled with amorous feelings, suddenly quieted down, staring intently at the young Hidden Official within the painted scroll of mountains and rivers, whispering as if appraising the renowned Hidden Official.

The wheel of fortune turns. It used to be Chen Ping’an who disgusted the Dragon Lord and Li Zhen, but now, retribution has come.

A gust of fierce wind swept across the city wall, causing the conspicuous crimson Daoist robe to flutter once again.

Demon cultivators from the desolate Wild Lands came in an endless stream to Sword Qi Great Wall for sightseeing, a motley crew of all sorts. However, the number of great demons genuinely seeking death at the city wall dwindled.

Chen Ping’an seemed to be fast asleep, his hands resting on his stomach, breathing deeply and evenly, leaning against the narrow saber, Zhan Kan. However, the saber’s presence was concealed by the wide Daoist robe.

Chen Ping’an’s thoughts wandered tens of thousands of miles, some intersecting, some arising simultaneously, and some colliding, causing chaos. Chen Ping’an did not attempt to restrain them deliberately.

All dharmas are equal, without high or low. With no hindrance in the heart, there is no fear. Far from deluded dreams.

The Confucian Sage who guarded the city wall once told someone that he was pondering the conflict between human desires and heavenly principles, but he had never been able to figure it out. He simply felt that the existing conclusions were not quite appropriate.

The celestial objects of the Flying Planchette Sect’s Hantian Street were indeed exquisite, but the prices were truly exorbitant.

When Yue Qing and Mi Hu died in battle, the city’s ascension had already taken place far away. The wandering sword cultivators failed to witness the two great sword immortals’ final sword strikes in this life.

The two great sword immortals, contenders for the top ten of Sword Qi Great Wall, just left like that, without saying goodbye or leaving behind any grand pronouncements.

Damn it, if even I die here, who will tell the world how you sword immortals are sword immortals, how you heroes are heroes unrecorded in books?!

Damn it, all of you come back to life! I want to question you with my sword, one man questioning a group of you sword immortals, Yue Qing, Mi Hu, Sun Juyuan, Gao Kui, and Tao Wenchuan, every single one of you! If I even frown, I’ll take the surname of the Great Sword Immortal!

Beyond sword immortals, the non-sword immortal sword cultivators, old and young, perished even more. They remained on the battlefield, dying on the battlefield.

I have yet to visit Taiping Mountain. Nor have I seen the Mirage City after snowfall, what kind of ethereal, dreamlike realm it would be.

One of the three sages sitting in the firmament is the city lord of the Divine Firmament City of Jade Capital in the Azure Billow Heaven. I wonder if the sword cultivators wandering in the Azure Billow Heaven, Dong Hei-tan and Yan Fatty, will visit it.

I wonder how the Jade Capital’s Third Sect Leader, the one with the lotus crown on his head, Wu Meng, is doing, and how the seven manifestations of the Great Dao are.

Earlier, I saw the Sweet Dew Armor on She Yue, like wearing a rainbow-colored garment. It’s hard not to think of Zhou Cheng, the female sword immortal who liked to swing on the city wall back then. Her natal flying sword, “Seven Colors,” also emitted seven colors of sword light, as if one person possessed seven natal flying swords. Such regrets are far too many.

Liu Cai. Lu Tai.

As a Qi cultivator, he was actually afraid of heights. And that mysterious and profound physique. Lu Tai, as a direct descendant of the Lu clan, did not have a high cultivation realm. Although Lu Tai possessed many reliance on magical treasures, which could dispel many doubts, Lu Tai dared to travel across continents to the Treasure Bottle Continent, Inverted Mountain, and Tung Leaf Continent without any Dao protectors. The two first met on Osmanthus Island at the Fan family’s ferry in Old Dragon City. Later, Chen Ping’an secretly had Wei Wenlong secretly look through the boarding records of the past thirty years in the Chunfan Zhai. Lu Tai did not board the ship midway, and he did indeed board the Osmanthus Island in Old Dragon City, but Lu Tai never mentioned his travels to the Treasure Bottle Continent. However, at that time, Chen Ping’an did not trust the Lu clan of the Central Earth Yin-Yang family, but rather Lu Tai. In fact, Chen Ping’an had already regarded Lu Tai as a true friend, just like the Gentleman Zhong Kui.

However, in the Flying Eagle Fort, Chen Ping’an had a strange feeling and encountered a person. Lu Tai said that he had two masters. Later, Lu Tai was able to possess a woman, implying that he was already in a blessed land. The Old Guan Master of the East Sea Guandao Temple, as one of the few fourteenth realms, had very strict rules. Therefore, Lu Tai definitely did not have the ability to break the rules of the Lotus Root Flower Blessed Land on his own, and with the Old Guan Master’s identity and background, he would definitely not sell the Lu clan of the Central Earth such a great favor.

Therefore, Chen Ping’an desperately hoped that the cotton-padded coat, round-faced girl who visited Sword Qi Great Wall at that time was that one in ten thousand, Liu Cai.

That’s why She Yue was puzzled and asked Chen Ping’an why he was annoyed after confirming that she was not Liu Cai.

Chen Ping’an was not angry that Lu Tai was that “one”, but angry at the mastermind behind Lu Tai’s gradual transformation into that “one”.

Chen Ping’an even thought of countless possibilities, such as if there was a chance to meet again in the future, would Lu Tai carry a string of candied haws, smiling, and walk towards him.

What to do? Just wait, what else can be done?

The many years of hardship after the age of four and a sudden life-or-death situation transformed a stubborn teenager who had been accustomed to having nothing and feeling that nothing could be kept into someone else. The Great Dao should not be so narrow. Traveling the world, there has never been a time when I could avoid an obstacle…

Chen Ping’an, who had been closing his eyes to rest, suddenly opened his eyes, flipped his sleeves, and instantly stood on the edge of the city wall.

A group of sword cultivators from the desolate Wild Lands who were not on the list of the Hundred Sword Immortals arrived at the opposite city wall one after another, mostly young faces, and began to concentrate on refining their swords.

However, without the Dragon Lord guarding the city wall and without the Jiazi Account Mountain and River Restriction, the hundred or so sword cultivators were far away from the edge, lest they be casually decapitated by someone on the opposite side with a single sword strike.

When a young demon sword cultivator obtained a wisp of pure sword intent, the young Hidden Official in the crimson Daoist robe simply leaned on his sword with both hands, stood on the edge, and looked towards the opposite bank from afar, without moving a muscle.

That sword genius with a young face and age slightly changed his sword-wielding trajectory before going to the Vast World, but he was still extremely cautious, and finally grinned at the young Hidden Official.

Chen Ping’an turned to look south.

From a very far distance, a beam of rainbow light shot towards them, stopped abruptly, and fell to the city wall. It was a gaunt old man with a clear and stern face, wearing a Daoist robe, wearing a cloak, and hanging a bamboo flute around his waist. The green bamboo color was verdant and dripping, and it was obvious that it was a valuable item that had been around for some years.
The old man surveyed his surroundings, finding no trace of the young man. There were subtle signs, fleeting and uncertain, that hinted at a lofty inquiry echoing through the vast realm, “Where is the Hidden Official?”

Chen Ping’an slowly materialized on the opposite city wall. Separated by the rampart’s road, he smiled and asked, “Old Senior, you cut quite the figure, adorned in priestly robes and a cape, exuding serenity and a dignified air, truly a picture of sage-like composure. Have you come to replace the Dragon Sovereign?”

The old man, unfazed by the veiled barbs, chuckled and shook his head. “I have used the alias ‘Lu Fayan’ for many years, as I yearned to visit your hometown and meet this Lu Fayan. As for my true name, coincidentally, it is etched upon you.”

Chen Ping’an feigned understanding. “So, it seems Old Senior is indeed aged. Otherwise, you could not have been the enlightened teacher who passed down the *Qieyun*.”

“The Hidden Official is indeed learned and quick-witted.”

The old man smiled faintly. “However, the Hidden Official’s doggerel verses are rhythmically deficient, and the tonal patterns are, to put it mildly, heart-wrenching, even for a mere passerby like myself.”

Chen Ping’an inquired curiously, “Have you reached the Fourteenth Realm?”

The old man nodded.

Chen Ping’an followed suit, nodding as well. “Very commendable, very commendable. If I were to live to your age, Old Senior, I would reach, at most, the Twenty-eighth Realm.”

This teacher of the Throne-level demon *Qieyun* and Fei Ran chuckled. “Young as you are, you live like a pageboy under the Medicine King. Indeed, you can speak a few more preposterous words.”

Chen Ping’an adopted a righteous demeanor. “If Old Senior continues with these veiled insults, do not blame this junior for breaking decorum and resorting to vulgarity.”

The two seemed to be reminiscing.

Yet, in any other location, except for this city wall united with the Great Dao, Chen Ping’an would likely have his soul shattered by a single slap, or face a fate worse than death.

Currently, Chen Ping’an was truly incapable of fighting a Ascendant Realm great cultivator who had reached the Fourteenth Realm.

The old man asked, “Would you like to know the final words of the Sword Cultivator Dragon Sovereign, as he faced Chen Qingdu’s sword?”

Chen Ping’an sighed. “What else could it be but curses? The Dragon Sovereign, that old thief, was indeed skilled in that art. I have learned from the Dragon Sovereign often these years, suffering my fill of hardships.”

The old man shook his head. “Incorrect. The four words were, ‘Dragon Sovereign receives the sword’.”

Chen Ping’an sighed. So that was the truth of it.

Then the old score was wiped clean.

The old man inquired, “What do you seek?”

Chen Ping’an clasped his hands in his sleeves, smiling amiably. “I seek to stand here for many years. Throne-level demons come and go, yet I remain standing here.”

“My disciple, Yun Qing, died at your hands? So be it. After all, he failed to persuade the Old Deaf to betray the Sword Qi Great Wall.”

The old man suddenly asked, “Did Yun Qing leave any keepsakes behind, such as that semi-immortal artifact bamboo flute named ‘Banished Immortal’?”

Chen Ping’an remained silent.

Yun Qing’s bamboo flute, besides the words ‘Banished Immortal’, also had a line of smaller characters, both the script and the prose exceptionally beautiful: “Once bestowed upon the dew, branches, and wind vouchers.”

Now that the Dragon Sovereign was dead, it seemed that all interspatial treasures could be used at will, but the more this was true, the less Chen Ping’an desired to use them.

As for the five Upper Fifth Realm demon cultivators once imprisoned in the cage, they were Yun Qing, Qing Qiu, Meng Po, Zhu Jie, and Hou Changjun. Yun Qing was the only one with whom Chen Ping’an had a decent relationship. Chen Ping’an would often visit Yun Qing for idle chats.

Chen Ping’an glanced once more at the bamboo flute hanging from this slender, elegant demon’s waist. The seven characters in small seal script were slightly larger: “Qizhou water celery needs no wine.”

It was almost identical in form and style to Yun Qing’s bamboo flute. There was also a cursive inscription: “Azure waters and cerulean skies, both uniquely peerless; Old flute, new sorrow, the bamboo will break.”

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked out of the blue, “Are you currently Zhou Mi’s… a wandering Yin spirit? Having once reached the Fourteenth Realm, to fall to this state? Isn’t that a bit too tragic? Does your Grand Ancestor of Mount Tuoyue truly not care?”

If he had asked, “What is your relationship with Zhou Mi?”, he would likely receive no answer at all.

The old man sighed with emotion. “Mr. Zhou is right; one must indeed read more.”

Chen Ping’an could not help but laugh. “You like to praise yourself so much; did you learn that from me, Mr. Zhou? Have you become my disciple?”

He was convinced that the person before him was one of Zhou Mi’s incarnations.

Chen Ping’an continued, “Now, my Dao Heart is easily shattered because I accept fate regarding the grand scheme. No matter how bad things get, they cannot crush me. So, you deliberately opened the restrictions, allowing the demon cultivators to run amok, so that you could shatter my interspatial treasures while I was drunk, retrieving something? Or were you after my hairpin?”

The old man nodded with a smile. It was a pity that this fellow was rather cautious.

Zhou Mi’s Yang spirit incarnation was the Throne-level Bai Ying, cultivating the Great Dao independently, ascending to the Throne step by step. However, the Yin spirit merged with this Fourteenth Realm shell, but the Grand Ancestor of Mount Tuoyue offered no assistance in this heaven-defying feat, merely watching with cold eyes. Zhou Mi had forcefully seized it using the methods customary in the Barren World.

Looking at the young Hidden Official, who appeared to be approaching the age of forty, Zhou Mi formed a hand seal within his sleeves, first isolating heaven and earth, then manipulating the river of time above the city wall, saying slowly, “Chen Ping’an, I have changed my mind. The armored one will still be Li Zhen, but the sword-wielder, I can replace Fei Ran with you.”

The young Hidden Official leaped up and spat, cursing loudly, “You motherfucker, if you’re so powerful, why don’t you go fight the Sage Master, the Dao Ancestor, and the Buddha?!”

Zhou Mi smiled, reversed time, and retracted those words, but Chen Ping’an laughed. “My apologies, my apologies. I must have been cursing just now.”