Hailing from humble origins as a wild cultivator of the mountains, Feng Xuetao displayed a decisiveness exceeding that of the pampered Blue Palace Scion from Panxi County. Seeing that Zuo You was in no mood for leniency, he immediately unleashed his most guarded, offensive divine ability.

This ascended cultivator, bearing the Daoist title Qingmi, experienced a sudden burst of golden light from his brow, as if a celestial eye had opened. Faintly, like the opening of a gate, a small, exquisite imperial palace revealed itself, from which emerged a jade-belted youth clad in python robes. With golden eyes, he wielded iron maces, each strike releasing a bolt of golden lightning. The lightning strands grew, intertwining into a net, resembling a resurrected Thunder Pool of boundless Daoist intent.

Each strike from Zuo You’s sword left a clear, unshakeable trail across the heavens, an indelible testament to its power.

The firmament became adorned with over a dozen suspended, static threads.

This was truly a “cleaving of the sky.”

Feng Xuetao had already employed several profound escape techniques, yet Zuo You unerringly pinpointed his true location, arriving in an instant with his sword.

The python-robed youth, the manifestation of Feng Xuetao’s Yang spirit known as “Qingmi,” wielded lightning whips formed from his maces, which independently sought out Zuo You. Alas, these lightning attacks, though comparable to a heavenly tribulation, seemed commonplace in the face of Zuo You’s might.

It wasn’t that “Qingmi” was a mere ornament; it was that these formidable lightning techniques appeared ordinary when confronting Zuo You.

Any other immortal would have been overwhelmed.

Chen Ping’an squinted, observing that each lightning strand contained a string of golden characters, seemingly a complete Thunder Manual.

This mere observation provoked a response. As if offended by a mortal scholar’s scrutiny, a lightning whip, akin to a Thunder General, violently struck towards Chen Ping’an near Parrot Isle’s wharf.

Chen Ping’an lightly tapped his toes, rising dozens of feet into the air. He extended a hand, his fingers like hooks, using his palm to intercept the golden lightning. With a twist of his wrist, he harnessed his martial artist’s Qi, preventing the dissipation of the lightning’s true essence. Finally, he flicked his sleeve, depositing a condensed golden lightning pearl within.

Essentially, he had acquired a fragment of a Thunder Dharma True Writ – of little consequence, but better than nothing, to potentially decipher a few more characters in his leisure.

To receive such a lightning whip without damaging its Daoist intent, in its entirety, was beyond the reach of ordinary ascensions. Only half-step celestial cultivators like the Grand Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain or the Fire Dragon True Man might achieve such a feat.

A secret family treasure of the mountains could be rendered useless or dangerous by even a minor discrepancy – a few incorrect words or crucial characters might lead practitioners astray.

The old, blind Daoist priest, Jia Sheng, a future offering of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, suffered blindness due to practicing an incomplete, unorthodox thunder technique, damaging his internal organs.

The young Daoist priest was anxious. Clearly, Zuo You’s swordsmanship had improved since leaving the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Li Huai was meeting his Left Martial Uncle, whom he had only heard of, for the first time.

Thinking of his own limited knowledge, Li Huai felt apprehensive. He feared being scolded by Zuo You.

Pei Qian had once said that Zuo You’s erudition was profound. During her travels with the Great White Goose at the Sword Qi Great Wall, she was fortunate to have met Master Zuo, whose scholarly accomplishments exceeded his sword skills. The examination was earth-shattering; fortunately, she had memorized enough to scrape through. Master Zuo had asked dozens of difficult questions, and she had only answered seventy or eighty percent of them.

Thus, Li Huai’s impression of his martial uncle was “he likes to quiz the younger generation with many questions.”

Before the young Daoist could speak, Liu Chicheng exclaimed, “Impressive, Senior Zuo. Your swordsmanship has reached divinity.”

The young Daoist retorted, “Senior? Daoist Liu, surely not. You’re older than Zuo You.”

Liu Chicheng sighed, “There is a hierarchy in understanding the Dao, and expertise in specific skills. Those who excel are our teachers. I sincerely call Master Zuo ‘Senior’ from the bottom of my heart.”

Chen Ping’an and the young Daoist reminded, “Senior.”

The young Daoist asked, bewildered, “What for?”

He was feigning ignorance, cursing inwardly, “Damn it, why would I meddle in your senior brother Zuo You’s swordplay? To help or to get sliced?”

At the Sword Qi Great Wall, it was wiser to curse A Liang a hundred times than to meet Zuo You’s gaze.

Chen Ping’an patiently explained, “There’s a pile of free goodwill on the ground. Is Senior too lazy to bend over?”

The young Daoist suddenly understood and laughed, “You’re right, you’re right.”

Many cultivators visiting Parrot Isle, lacking both the necessary realm and bravery, were ignorant of the subtleties of high-level cultivators’ Daoist exchanges. The Qingmi Daoist’s lightning was particularly treacherous, able to independently manifest and strike those who dared to peek. Dozens of lightning whips cascaded down.

The young Daoist rose into the air above Parrot Isle, his sleeves sweeping, shattering the golden lightning.

Chen Ping’an reminded again, “After saving people, remember to scold them. Don’t be polite.”

The young Daoist readily yelled, “You little brats, do you have no sense of propriety? Do you want to keep your eyes?!”

Expressions of gratitude resounded from Parrot Isle. Some guardians, unable to restrain their juniors, did their best. The old cultivators could protect the lives of those under their care, but assistance was appreciated to avoid Daoist cultivation loss or damage to magical treasures.

Everyone was shocked. Who knew this young Daoist, so arrogant at Mandarin Duck Shoal, was a virtuous man who cherished the younger generation?

Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover.

Chen Ping’an suggested, “If anyone invites Senior to visit, choose two or three pleasing ones and tell them you’ll consider it when you have time.”

The young Daoist shattered a golden lightning whip with a palm strike, roaring, “Do I need you to teach me about interpersonal relationships?!”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “I wouldn’t dare teach Senior how to do things, but I can teach Senior how to be a person.”

One couldn’t be too compliant with this Peach Pavilion barbarian.
The young Daoist glanced at Zuo You, seemingly far away yet able to deliver a sword strike in an instant, and reluctantly rode the wind back to his original position.

Liu Chicheng softly asked, “Brother Tao Ting, how long do you think they’ll be fighting?”

As for the victor, there was no suspense.

The young Daoist scoffed, “Unless one is a Peak Ascension Realm cultivator, they couldn’t withstand a few strikes from Zuo You. Just consider him as more than half a Fourteenth Realm swordsman.”

More than half a Fourteenth Realm might not sound as impressive as a Peak Ascension Realm.

But in reality, even just half a Fourteenth Realm created an insurmountable gap with ordinary Ascension Realms.

Because it signified whether a top-tier cultivator possessed the qualification to ascend.

Since his life was temporarily not in danger, Feng Xuetao intentionally or unintentionally glanced towards the blue-clad sword immortal on Parrot Isle.

Unexpectedly, Qing Mi Daoist’s distraction caused him to receive another sword strike for nothing.

Zuo You slashed horizontally then vertically, dividing the Thunder Pool in half and then in half again.

Whether it was fighting the Green Palace Grand Guardian in Pan Shui County or Feng Xuetao here in the heavens, Zuo You had held back considerably, only using his sword techniques from when he sought immortals at sea. He hadn’t even unleashed his full power.

It was equivalent to suppressing his cultivation again and again.

Firstly, both Ascension Realm cultivators were very cautious and worried about being questioned by the Confucian Temple, so they didn’t dare use their full power.

Secondly, Zuo You didn’t know the depth of their Ascension Realm foundations, and didn’t want to accidentally chop them half to death after only a few strikes.

But if it were at sea, things would be different. An accident would just be an accident.

In the end, the fighting prowess of some Ascension Realms in the Vast World, like Nan Guangzhao and Jing Hao, was indeed inferior to the great demon kings of the Desolate World.

The cultivators of the Vast World focused more on their realm, seeking to prove the Dao and attain immortality.

The Desolate World was more pure, they also wanted realm and eternal life, but ultimately, it was all for the sake of enjoyable killing and fighting on the path of the Great Dao.

They both sought the same result of becoming one with heaven and earth, but the paths they walked were different.

Feng Xuetao, as expected of someone from the wilds, voiced his thoughts, “If Sword Immortal Zuo is determined to kill, don’t blame the fallout of spells scattering like rain over the land within a thousand miles, which will of course be mainly my fault. But when one dies, everything is over, so I won’t be to blame, only Sword Immortal Zuo for being so aggressive.”

Zuo You said, “You can try.”

Feng Xuetao was speechless, almost suffering internal injuries from Zuo You’s audacity.

If anyone else was so brazen, Feng Xuetao would think they were bluffing.

But this scholar who turned to swordsmanship was beyond comprehension.

Feng Xuetao asked, “Why do you insist on fighting me? There has to be a reason for fighting, right? I have no grievances with you or your Confucian lineage.”

Zuo You said, “I find you unpleasant, is that reason enough?”

Feng Xuetao’s face darkened, “Why must I be forced into a battlefield?! I’ve been cultivating peacefully on the mountain for thousands of years, cultivating my mind and nurturing my nature, and have never hindered the world below in any way. Does Zuo You think he’s the head of the Confucian Temple, meddling so much?!”

Zuo You frowned and said, “My last words to you: only those with strong bones are qualified to speak tough words to me.”

These Ascension Realm cultivators were not weak in cultivation, but even better at finding excuses for themselves.

If they went to the battlefields of each continent, even if they couldn’t learn from Zhou Shenzhi, could they not learn from the abacus-wielding Huai Yin? They could, but they were unwilling, unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss. If that was all, then fine. But when the world was at peace, they would gloat. For example, there were several fierce battles on the southern side of Liuxia Continent, but the Green Palace Grand Guardian, whose hometown and sect were both in Liuxia Continent, never showed his face. The Zhongtu swordsman Zhou Shenzhi died in the Shanshui Cave of Fuyao Continent, and Feng Xuetao, who had old grievances with Zhou Shenzhi, went to admire the ruins afterwards. Even at the Confucian Temple, these top-tier cultivators who had escaped the ravages of war were still unrepentant.

When the sky was about to fall, bowing and scraping, eking out a living, was acceptable. But when the world was peaceful, secretly rejoicing behind closed doors was enough. Don’t push your luck, pretending to be upright and unyielding, as if you just accidentally missed the war that swept the world.

Zuo You didn’t say much to Feng Xuetao, but with each word, he grew more displeased with the man.

So Zuo You intended to deliver his final sword strike.

Just then, a figure suddenly burst forth from the Confucian Temple, shouting loudly, “Let me do it!”

Zuo You hesitated and didn’t deliver the sword strike.

He allowed the person to brush past him, grabbing Feng Xuetao, who had nowhere to hide, and together they “ascended” away from the Vast World.

It seemed they were taking him directly to the Great Wall of Sword Qi.

The cultivators around the Confucian Temple were stunned.

Zuo You sheathed his sword and returned gracefully to the Confucian Temple.

Without any extra sword strikes, and without any extra words.

Back at the entrance of the Confucian Temple, Zuo You sat on the steps, Lin Junbi was still sound asleep, and Little Celestial Master Zhao Yaoguang was protecting him.

Zhao Yaoguang hesitated for a long time, but finally mustered the courage to say, “Mr. Zuo, this junior is Zhao Yaoguang, and I have a request.”

Zuo You said, “I won’t agree, don’t even open your mouth.”

Zhao Yaoguang held back for a long time, and finally said obediently, “Okay, this junior understands.”

When he returned to the Celestial Master’s Mansion, he would have an explanation for his elders. It wasn’t that he was unfeeling, but Sword Immortal Zuo simply didn’t give him a chance to even ask.

Zuo You laid his sword across his lap and began to close his eyes to rest.

He recalled when he was practicing swordsmanship at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, Chen Qingdu had once told him a principle in private.

If you can’t guarantee to completely kill an Ascension Realm cultivator within ten sword strikes, then what’s the point of squeezing into the Fourteenth Realm? There’s no point.

In the end, the old Great Sword Immortal patted Zuo You on the shoulder and left him with another sentence, “You’re not young anymore, and your swordsmanship isn’t good enough, I’m worried about you.”

At the entrance, Scripture Scholar Xi Ping laughed in his mind, “Mr. Zuo’s two sword strikes were lighter than expected.”

Zuo You replied, “As long as the Confucian Temple gives the word, I can strike heavier.”

Scripture Scholar Xi Ping shook his head, speechless.

On Parrot Isle, the young Daoist spoke some fair words, “Compared to Nan Guangzhao, this Qing Mi fellow is indeed stronger. But his skin is thicker, willing to stand there and take that dog paw print in front of everyone.”

Anyway, Ah Liang wasn’t here, so he could scold him as much as he wanted.
Liu Chicheng chuckled, “Feng Xuetao’s abilities aren’t just limited to what you see. He’s holding back quite a bit. Wild cultivators, you know how they are. Of course, the main reason is that Feng Xuetao *dares* not make a move.”

“He’s already provoked Zuo You, who’s almost guaranteed to reach the Fourteenth Realm, and now there’s A Liang, who’s already tasted the scenery of the Fourteenth Realm. Nobody in all of the Vast Expanse would be so fearless.”

Chen Ping’an remarked, “Great cultivator Qing Mi is better suited for battlefield carnage.”

The young Daoist simply let it pass, like wind in his ears. Anyone whose fighting skills were inferior to his wasn’t worth his attention.

Liu Chicheng, however, understood the deeper meaning in Chen Ping’an’s words. Feng Xuetao would have been more suitable than Nan Guangzhao to descend the mountain back then.

The young Daoist handed Chen Ping’an a radiant jade tablet.

Engraved upon it were numerous key techniques for refining the Golden Emerald City Daoist Robe, written in minuscule characters, amounting to a vast seven or eight thousand words.

The young Daoist grinned, “It’s settled, one-tenth of the profits.”

Chen Ping’an didn’t bother arguing about Peach Pavilion’s petty trickery. He swiftly scanned the contents with his mind, feeling relieved. According to the secret records, it was indeed possible to elevate the grade of the Rainbow Sparrow Mansion Daoist Robe.

Even two-tenths of the profits wouldn’t be excessive.

Chen Ping’an said, “Every sixty years, Fallen Phoenix Mountain will settle accounts and pay up as agreed. Besides the Immortal Money, we’ll also include a ledger.”

Whether payment was made every sixty years or every ten or thirty years made a considerable difference.

The young Daoist frowned, “How annoying. Checking accounts? Do you take me for an abacus-wielding accountant? Do you not trust me, kid, or do you think I don’t trust you? If I didn’t trust you, why would I even be doing business with you? If you don’t trust me, then from now on, you walk your single-plank bridge, and I’ll walk my broad road.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Friends have their rules, business deals have theirs, especially when friends are in business together. Everything must be clear. Senior can choose not to examine the ledger details, but Fallen Phoenix Mountain cannot fail to provide the ledger. If you think this will hurt our friendship, then it just means we’re not suited to earn money together.”

The young Daoist said impatiently, “Whatever you say.”

The group then headed to the Sack Emporium, a secret realm of mountains and rivers, somewhat similar to the Yellow Millet Wine Shop on Inverted Mountain.

As they walked, many onlookers glanced at them, proactively making way.

An unreasonable green-robed swordsman, a young Daoist who nearly beat Nan Guangzhao to death, plus the renowned Liu Daocun of White Emperor City. Just these three traveling together was enough to emanate an aura that screamed, “Please, try to provoke me.”

Chen Ping’an had always believed that his own Sack Emporium wasn’t bad, but after entering this secret realm today, he realized the true meaning of deep pockets and profound Daoism.

He felt somewhat ashamed.

In reality, the area around Ox Horn Mountain, including the ferry crossing and the shops, was a result of the Sack Emporium’s “planting trees for future generations,” giving Cloud Cloak Mountain and Fallen Phoenix Mountain a great advantage.

The Sack Emporium was a loose organization, rumored not to have any proper gold or jade register, no mountain peaks or ancestral halls. The founding ancestor was also elusive. As for the cultivators within the organization, they took their business wherever they went. How cultivators entered the Sack Emporium and what the organization’s rules were remained a mystery.

All that was known was that whenever the Sack Emporium’s founding ancestor appeared to do business, he would take out a “Harmonious Gathering Emporium” that he carried with him, opening its doors to welcome guests. It consisted of ninety-nine rooms in total, each typically selling only one item, with occasional exceptions.

Chen Ping’an and his group went through the rooms one by one, almost all of them stepping inside to take a look at the goods sold by the Sack Emporium.

There was a Pen Ocean from the Jade Brilliance Immortal Mansion, carved with a picture of a celestial carousel, depicting twenty-four solar terms, each taking a scene in turn. There were seal-scripted Minor Heat coins, extremely rare. There were multicolored bowls painted with images of bumper harvests and the bringing of treasures. There were several broken statues of Hercules’ heads. There were Mountain Spirit Thunder God Bagua lucky coins. There was a pair of brightly colored door god wooden panels. There was a landscape painting album from the Verdant Blessing Land. There was a small ceramic pot called a “Mountain Descent Jar,” unassuming in appearance but a powerful treasure for suppressing ghosts. There were also several fragmented blessed lands grotto-heavens, all of which could be bought as long as one had enough money.

If an item had already been sold, the talisman beauty inside the room would hang a small wooden sign outside the door, with the four characters “Auspicious Fate Sealed”.

To be honest, without the Sack Emporium’s founding ancestor personally overseeing these treasures, there was no possibility of finding a bargain. Chen Ping’an wanted to buy everything in one sweep.

Just looking at the jade bamboo fan in the room, one side excerpted Su Shi’s Prayer for Rain inscription, and the other side was written in cursive script with the “Dragon Hibernation Poem,” ending with a note that during the season of Grain in Ear, with wind, rain, and thunder, he wrote this while staying indoors. The signature was Liu Zhou from the Banished Immortal Mountain. Chen Ping’an almost wanted to borrow money from Liu Chicheng to buy it, but upon seeing the price, he was discouraged. In this Sack Emporium, all the treasures were undoubtedly genuine and first-rate, but the prices made one resent how difficult it was to earn money and how empty one’s wallet was.

Chen Ping’an didn’t rush to move on.

The fair-faced talisman beauty inside the room seemed to have secretly received an order from the Sack Emporium’s ancestor. She suddenly gave the green-robed swordsman a graceful curtsy, smiling gently, and said in a soft voice, “If the swordsman is interested in this item, he can purchase it on credit and take the fan with him first. He can settle the payment at any Sack Emporium in the Vast Expanse at any time in the future. This is not an exception made solely for the swordsman, but a tradition of our Sack Emporium, so the swordsman need not worry.”

The biggest feature of the Sack Emporium was that buyers could purchase items on credit, whether they were registered immortal masters or wild mountain cultivators. Even cultivators short on funds had the opportunity to sign a contract with the Sack Emporium and take the goods away. It was even simpler than buying houses down the mountain, and the contracts had almost no binding force, meaning the Sack Emporium would accept the loss if the money wasn’t repaid and never pursue the debt.

Therefore, throughout the history of the Vast Expanse, there were often cultivators who appeared after a hundred or even a thousand years to repay the Immortal Money they owed the Sack Emporium.

Of course, not everyone could do this. The Sack Emporium also looked at whether the cultivator was worthy of their attention.

Chen Ping’an had some speculation about this, mostly that the Sack Emporium had a secret treasure that could examine a person’s financial fortune. Otherwise, how could there be such a way to do business?

Chen Ping’an thanked the talisman beauty and then asked, “If I’m interested in any item, can I purchase it on credit?”

The talisman beauty smiled and nodded, “Yes, you may. Our Sack Emporium only has one requirement. After walking through all ninety-nine rooms, the swordsman cannot turn back.”
Chen Pingan glanced at Li Huai, who nodded and said, “Then let’s go check out the next place.”

Madame Tuoyan thought to herself, “Lord Yin Guan, I actually have some savings. It’s enough to buy this fan.”

Chen Pingan smiled, “No need.”

In truth, Chen Pingan wanted to owe Bao Fu Zhai a favor first.

Only in this way would there be reciprocal kindness.

In the end, they walked through a full thirty-odd rooms, making Li Huai’s eyes sore, before he finally made up his mind. He took a fancy to a rather strange item: a fist-sized rock, engraved with the two characters “Mountain Immortal.” On it was a miniature willow tree with gnarled old roots, like a bonsai. Beneath the tree stood a tree sprite with the cultivation of the Viewing the Sea realm, an old man with white hair, claiming to be the Old Immortal Lord of the South City. When he saw the guests entering the room, if they showed any interest or had the slightest intention of buying it, the old man would curse and spit at those Qi refiners, saying, “You ignorant fools! You think you’re worthy of inviting this grandpa to settle in your home? How capable do you think you are? Why don’t you just ascend to immortality in broad daylight?!”

Bao Fu Zhai priced it at only ten Grain Rain Coins. The willow tree sprite’s realm, the mountain rock’s material, and other details would be explained to the guests by the talisman beauties in the room.

However, this mountain and water secret realm didn’t only sell priceless treasures. Even the odd and ingenious objects worth a few dozen Snowflake Coins were available. The rooms with high thresholds would never have that wooden sign removed, while those with low thresholds were affordable for everyone. It was simply first come, first served.

After Li Huai stared at it wide-eyed for a while, the old willow tree spirit, presumably tired from cursing and feeling rather thirsty, leaned against the stone wall, took down the wine gourd from his waist, and gulped down a large mouthful of liquor.

Chen Pingan could have easily bought it himself for just ten Grain Rain Coins, but after hesitating, he still signed a contract with the talisman beauty, essentially writing an IOU for ten Grain Rain Coins.

After that, Chen Pingan scraped together Grain Rain Coins, borrowing from Liu Chicheng and Madame Tuoyan, and bought several items that Li Huai found pleasing to the eye: a rather expensive demon-suppressing pagoda, a pair of slightly flamboyant golden gourd earrings, and a painting filled with shrimp soldiers and crab generals, depicting a nocturnal aquatic procession. During this time, they encountered a group of female cultivators from the mountains. One of them, a woman with a dignified bearing, bought all the robes and dresses in the room, dozens of them, without batting an eye. In the next room, there were ten sets of Hundred Flowers Blessed Land flower goddess cups, adding up to a thousand cups in total. She left only one set for the others and took the remaining nine sets with her.

The key point was that Chen Pingan didn’t see the woman take out any spatial treasures, nor did she pay Bao Fu Zhai.

The two talisman beauties seemed to be used to it and didn’t say a word.

Chen Pingan then recognized the woman’s identity: the consort of the wealthiest person in the world, the wife of Liu, the God of Wealth of Aiai Continent.

She could spend lavishly without having to carry money.

Not far from the Confucian Temple, in the city, Chen Pingan clapped his hands and stood up.

Jiang Longxiang, leaning against the wall, had not only been beaten but also pelted with dozens of pebbles. The old scholar was so angry that he trembled all over. “Who exactly are you?! If you have the guts, reveal your name! Is it possible that a dignified sword immortal is afraid of revenge from a middle fifth-realm cultivator?!”

This not-so-young scholar’s face was actually filled with the four words: “fierce in appearance but faint of heart.”

A scholar’s so-called revenge would, of course, not involve fighting and killing, which would be an insult to civility. He would naturally request the sages of the Confucian Temple to uphold justice and properly discipline these mountain cultivators who used force to violate the law.

Chen Pingan pointed to Jiang Longxiang’s mouth, reminding him, “This is the result of not controlling your mouth here last time. Do you want to go to the Confucian Temple to complain again? Consider it carefully. Words can be said casually, but you only have so many teeth. Cherish them, or you’ll have difficulty speaking clearly when you teach and impart knowledge in your hometown, and the students might not understand what you’re saying.”

Jiang Longxiang’s expression was uncertain.

His biggest question now wasn’t why the other person had attacked him. That was no longer important. It was why the other person had the audacity to attack, and why none of the sages of the Confucian Temple, so close at hand, had come to intervene!

Chen Pingan smiled and said, “I don’t dare to touch you here at the Confucian Temple today. But don’t think that’s the end of it. I will definitely travel to the Shaoyuan Dynasty again in the future. We’ll catch up then, so you don’t have to go to the trouble of seeking revenge.”

Jiang Longxiang’s heart was filled with myriad grievances, with sorrow and fear each taking up half.

He calls this not daring to touch me?!

What else do you want to do when we meet next time?

Chen Pingan raised his hand, gently extended a palm, and smiled, “I will settle the score with you properly, taking back everything, with interest.”

Jiang Longxiang was about to struggle to stand up.

Chen Pingan made a gesture to strike, scaring Jiang Longxiang into quickly turning his head away.

Chen Pingan left with a smile.

A woman wearing a veiled hat appeared from around the corner, then stopped, gazing at the figure in the blue shirt from afar.

Although her face was hidden, her figure was graceful. Just standing there, she resembled a plum blossom in the corner of a wall.

Chen Pingan left Jiang Longxiang aside and walked towards the veiled woman, cupping his fist in greeting, “Greetings, Shopkeeper Yao.”

She smiled and returned the gesture, “Young Master Chen.”

Chen Pingan said, “Just call me by my name.”

The two walked side by side in the alley. The person next to Chen Pingan was none other than Jiu Niang. She had initially followed Xun Yuan away from the Daquan Dynasty and went to the Yugui Sect. After cultivating there for several years, she followed Grand Celestial Master Zhao Tianlai away from Tongye Continent, and she cultivated in seclusion on the back mountain of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion.

She and the Ten-Tailed Celestial Fox Lian Zhen belonged to the same origin but different veins. They were naturally close, and over the years, they had become like sisters.

The celestial fox Lian Zhen’s path had already reached great heights, extremely transcendent. She had lived in the mountains for a long time, with a misty immortal aura, and was no longer comparable to ordinary spirits. However, she liked to listen to Jiu Niang tell those Jianghu stories filled with the atmosphere of the marketplace. Even the battles of wits and courage between the constables and the ghosts and monsters of Fox Village could be listened to with great interest by Lian Zhen.

Jiu Niang turned her head, extended a finger, and lifted a corner of the veiled hat, smiling, “I almost couldn’t recognize Young Master Chen anymore.”

Back then, at the inn on the Daquan border, when they first met, Chen Pingan was still a teenager.

He wore a white robe, had a crimson wine gourd hanging from his waist, and was accompanied by a mischievous little black girl and several attendants with different demeanors.
Once, he was just a young lad, but now he was a slender man in azure robes, a veritable sword immortal of the mountains.

Chen Pingan smiled, “Shopkeeper Yao is as charming as ever. I dearly miss the five-year-aged plum wine from your inn, and a whole roasted lamb to go with it. Such flavors are rare on the mountains and scarce below.”

Nine-Niang released her fingers, letting go of a corner of her veiled hat. “Why so formal with ‘Shopkeeper Yao’? Makes us strangers. Just call me Nine-Niang, young master.”

Chen Pingan nodded with a smile.

He first heard the phrase “The road of life is narrow, but the wine cup is wide” from this very Nine-Niang at the wine table.

Nine-Niang inquired with a smile, “Is that Wei Hailiang still following you around as a retainer?”

That martial artist surnamed Wei, who called himself “Sea Capacity,” turned into a puddle of mud after just one bowl of wine, snoring loudly on the table.

He left quite an impression.

Chen Pingan shook his head. “Everyone has their own path in life.”

Nine-Niang sighed. “That’s the way it is.”

Chen Pingan mused inwardly, “I heard Zhong Kui is still in the Western Buddhist Kingdom, having missed this council.”

She and Chen Pingan didn’t have much to reminisce about. It was a chance encounter, and though their relationship wasn’t bad, it wasn’t enough for Nine-Niang to seek him out.

She didn’t ask the question directly, but her very presence was a question in itself.

Nine-Niang said, “Why mention him? He’s a shadow of his former self, always courting hardship.”

Chen Pingan replied, “Zhong Kui was timid back then, perhaps because he foresaw his later plight, leaving him no choice but to be cautious.”

Nine-Niang rolled her eyes. “Timid, was he?”

She then chuckled. “His courage, or lack thereof, is none of my concern. He was merely an accountant. Coming and going is all about fate.”

Chen Pingan said nothing more.

After exchanging a few pleasantries about the current state of the Great Quan Dynasty, they parted ways.

Zhong Kui and this Nine-Niang, with her special identity, were like a muddled entry in a ledger of destiny.

This Nine-Niang, or rather, Lady Huansha, was most likely not angered by Zhong Kui concealing his identity as a scholar from the academy, monitoring the inn and her, Lady Huansha’s, every move. Instead, it was Zhong Kui’s timidity. All his seemingly audacious words were born from fear.

*I might not have agreed, Zhong Kui, but since you, Zhong Kui, admired me, how could you not even utter the word ‘love’?*

Perhaps she wished for Zhong Kui, the accountant, to stand before her properly and sincerely confess his feelings.

Women aren’t entirely unreasonable; it’s just that the logic men present often doesn’t align with the logic they yearn to hear.

A woman’s logic often resides more in her emotions. If a man can’t even comprehend why she’s being unreasonable, he’s helpless, and will inevitably say the wrong thing.

Chen Pingan had always believed that he was merely a late bloomer when it came to matters of love, but he was actually quite gifted, understanding quite a bit.

His fellow disciples, even combined, couldn’t match him in this regard.

He dared to say such things in front of Senior Brother Zuo and Senior Brother Junqian.

Of course, that was only when their master was present.

Chen Pingan walked alone through the alleys, inexplicably recalling his travels with Zheng Juzhong in Wenjin Ferry.

In truth, the White Emperor City Lord only spoke three sentences throughout their journey, and Chen Pingan merely listened.

Feiran and Zhou Qinggao were undoubtedly the two most prominent figures from the barbaric world in this confrontation between the two realms.

Zheng Juzhong commented on this, “Feiran is clever, his path to the Great Dao is promising. Zhou Qinggao’s fate, however, may be more pitiful. If you have the opportunity, you should grant him a post-mortem assessment.”

Another sentence held deeper meaning: “Life is like a dream, a spark of insight, awakening one with a start, like escaping a nightmare.”

The last sentence was a remark befitting a senior, “Calling you ‘Mister Chen’ again before seeing you off is simple. The person I see today is not the young Hidden Official of today, but the future Mister Chen of the mountain peak.”

Next, Chen Pingan planned to seek a bout of fisticuffs.

On that night ferry, within Spirit Rhinoceros City, a handsome youth with antlers followed his mistress to greet Ning Yao and her group, who were visiting as guests, welcoming them to stay.

Chen Pingan hadn’t received such treatment before. When he passed through Spirit Rhinoceros City, they nearly came to blows.

Lodging in an immortal abode within Spirit Rhinoceros City, Ning Yao sat on the roof with Pei Qian, Xiao Mili, and the white-haired child under the night sky, admiring the moon.

During their travels, Ning Yao broke the ferry’s restrictions with a sword strike each time they passed through a city.

The Night Ferry made no attempt to stop her.

At that moment, Ning Yao asked with a smile, “Xiao Mili, will having me along mean you’ll have to skip many places in the Northern Reaches?”

Xiao Mili pondered carefully before shaking her head. “No, no.”

She needed to think it over to appear thoughtful; she couldn’t just blurt it out, or it would lack sincerity.

Pei Qian sat beside her, feeling apprehensive, worried that Xiao Mili would reveal too much.

Xiao Mili glanced sideways at Pei Qian, then leaned back, secretly giving a thumbs up behind her back, taking credit and praising herself.

She wasn’t a little fool, after all.

The minor slip-ups at the inn in Itemization City were just her deliberately feigning ignorance as a smokescreen.

Xiao Mili hesitated for a long time before carefully asking, “Mountain Mistress, are you worried that the Kind Mountain Lord might like other people?”

Ning Yao smiled without saying a word.

Xiao Mili hugged her knees and said softly, “No way, I used to be in that big basket on his back, accompanying the Kind Mountain Lord as he journeyed through the world. We traveled so far, and he never paid any attention to pretty girls. The Kind Mountain Lord likes you so much!”

Ning Yao said, “Actually, I’ve never worried. But if I didn’t say that, I often feel like I don’t know what to say next.”

Ning Yao paused for a moment. “Actually, there is some worry.”

How could there be none at all? There was a little.

If Chen Pingan wanted to go somewhere, he would definitely get there, no matter how long the journey.

But if he wanted to leave a place, he would never look back.

Xiao Mili asked curiously, “Mountain Mistress, the Kind Mountain Lord said that you two are a legendary case of love at first sight!”
Ning Yao found herself between laughter and tears, ignoring the teasing. What “love at first sight”? That never happened. She said to Xiaomili, “Just call me Sister Ning.”

Pei Qian deliberately choked on her wine, coughing a few times.

Xiaomili immediately understood. Had she misspoke? She quickly corrected herself, “I understand. So Good Person Mountain Master fell in love with Sister Ning at first sight, but back then, Sister Ning was still hesitating whether or not to like Good Person Mountain Master, right?”

Ning Yao thought for a moment, shaking her head and smiling, “That’s not true. When we first met in Clay Lane, I didn’t like him, and he didn’t like me either.”

Xiaomili immediately folded her arms across her chest, turned to face Ning Yao, and said earnestly, “No way! Good Person Mountain Master said that back then, he just didn’t know he liked you yet.”

Ning Yao retorted, amused, “He’s got all the logic on his side.”

However, hearing this for the first time, she was indeed happy.

The two fellows, one dressed as a white-robed youth and the other as a green-robed scholar, swaggered back to the immortal inn at Egret Crossing on Zhengyang Mountain.

Tian Wan’s true form was still hidden on Zhengyang Mountain. However, she had been forced by these two mentally deficient individuals to reveal herself at Egret Crossing.

The means by which she had previously escaped, sending a divided spirit far away, had not only been seen through by the two, but they had also detained all her souls. If only her soul or spirit had been captured, Tian Wan would have made the worst of it, simply abandoning them. She had her own ways to replenish her Great Dao. But with both soul and spirit in their grasp, she had no choice.

Jiang Shangzhen smiled and said to the woman in the pink-green dress, “The moon in the water seems as distant as the sky, the flower before your eyes like a reflection in a mirror. Jade garments and a figure of white jade, easy to see, difficult to approach.”

On the Great Wall of Sword Qi, a figure plummeted to the ground.

Feng Xuetao, a Grand Cultivator forcibly ascended and exiled to another world, was dizzy and disoriented. After finally regaining his balance, he looked around and realized he was in the Wilderness.

As for a certain damned fellow, he was standing with both feet on the shoulders of this Ascended Realm cultivator, smoothing his hair back and sighing, “Standing tall, one can see far.”