If not for a business deal to discuss, Chen Pingan wouldn’t have bothered the cultivators of the Colorful Sparrow Abode at Peach Blossom Ferry, delaying their crafting of robes, which was delaying the chance for Fallen Phoenix Mountain to make money. One should never trifle with money.

Colorful Sparrow Abode was located within the Water Cascade Kingdom, a water-based nation where all cities and towns, including the capital, were built on islands. Colorful Sparrow Abode was situated where a vast lake met a large stream called Peach Blossom Water. Above Peach Blossom Ferry, white clouds perpetually hung, encircling the green mountain where the Abode resided, like a snowy white crown. The mountains and water were intertwined, with white clouds drifting and peach blossoms blooming everywhere, a scene of breathtaking beauty.

Mi Yu had once “cultivated” there for many years, and rumor had it that he had amassed a considerable amount of romantic debt. Could that be considered a blemish on Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s reputation?

Chen Pingan silently made a mental note, planning to have a good chat with Great Sword Immortal Mi upon returning to Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

At the foot of the mountain was a teahouse run by Colorful Sparrow Abode. Business was usually slow, as the tea prices were exorbitant, and most passing cultivators at Peach Blossom Ferry preferred to stroll through the peach blossom forest.

After Chen Pingan and his group were seated, he announced his name and affiliation to the female cultivator of Colorful Sparrow Abode. Upon hearing that the young Mountain Lord of Fallen Phoenix Mountain had personally arrived at Peach Blossom Ferry, she dared not neglect him. She immediately sent a message to the ancestral hall via a paper kite. After all, the female cultivators of Colorful Sparrow Abode were well aware that Fallen Phoenix Mountain, despite its recent establishment, was exceedingly wealthy. And now it was a proper sect.

Colorful Sparrow Abode owed its current prosperity to the “ancestral” robe provided by Fallen Phoenix Mountain, which had allowed it to flourish and prosper. Using this cornucopia, they had even connected with the Great Li Dynasty for business, enabling Colorful Sparrow Abode to rapidly rise and become a top-tier sect in the Northern Entire Reed Continent within just two decades. If not for their tradition of only accepting female disciples, limiting their numbers, they could even contend for the title of a “Zong” level sect.

The law enforcer, Wu Qun, quickly arrived on the wind and immediately apologized to Chen Pingan. The Abode Mistress, Sun Qing, had taken her direct disciple, Liu Guibao, out for training. Sun Qing called it protecting her disciple’s Dao, but it was just an excuse to make another trip to the Grand Empyrean Sword Sect.

According to the rules of the mountain, Chen Pingan, as the leader of a sect and the benefactor of Colorful Sparrow Abode, deserved Sun Qing’s presence.

Even if Fallen Phoenix Mountain had not sent a flying sword message in advance, Colorful Sparrow Abode would have been at fault for the discourtesy.

Colorful Sparrow Abode was well aware of Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s background. Two words: Unreasonable.

After Sun Qing and Liu Guibao finished attending the ceremony and returned to their mountain, she joked with Wu Qun in private, saying, “We can’t even find an Earth Immortal here, even if we looked with wide eyes. But at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, it seems like even Nascent Soul cultivators don’t dare to speak loudly. It’s like they’re embarrassed to greet people if they aren’t Earth Immortals.”

Wu Qun had been stunned for a long time upon hearing Sun Qing’s list of attendees at the opening ceremony. It was utterly illogical.

Wu Qun saw the woman in a snow-white robe, carrying a long, narrow sword box.

Ning Yao’s introduction was the same as always: “Ning Yao, sword cultivator.”

Wu Qun clasped her hands in greeting and said with a hearty laugh, “Wu Qun, law enforcer of the ancestral hall of Colorful Sparrow Abode, Wu as in stopping warfare, and Qun as in Mountain Lord.”

Wait a minute!

Sword cultivator? Ning Yao?

Could it be *the* Ning Yao from the Sword Qi Great Wall?!

It was only when the Abode Mistress, Sun Qing, attended that ceremony that she learned that “Yu Mi,” who had been loafing around Colorful Sparrow Abode every day, was actually a Jade Purity Realm sword immortal. Moreover, she wasn’t even the chief enshrined expert at Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Her real name was Mi Yu, and she came from the Sword Qi Great Wall! Her elder brother, Mi Hu, was an even more accomplished Great Sword Immortal.

Could there be such a coincidence? Chen Pingan was indeed extraordinary, but Wu Qun didn’t believe that he could make Ning Yao follow him around.

Furthermore, Ning Yao had gone to the Fifth World with Flying Ascensions City. With the rules of the Confucian Temple there, how could she come to the Verdant Azure World?

By ascending with a sword?

That was the difference between a top-tier sect and a second-rate immortal family. Moreover, Colorful Sparrow Abode had no sword cultivators who had been to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Coupled with the fact that news reports about the mountains and rivers of the Verdant Azure World had been banned for many years, Wu Qun still didn’t know how powerful Chen Pingan had been as an official at Spring Pennant Study on Upside-Down Mountain.

However, Wu Qun held a glimmer of hope. Just in case it really was her, she tentatively asked, “Where is Miss Ning from?”

Ning Yao replied, “Sword Qi Great Wall.”

Wu Qun’s face flushed red instantly.

Of the nine continents of the Verdant Azure World, the Northern Entire Reed Continent had the best relationship with the Sword Qi Great Wall, without exception.

Therefore, the cultivators here, even if they weren’t sword cultivators, knew a lot about the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Wu Qun personally brewed tea for the guests, her heart pounding, unable to calm down for a long time. Her hands were even trembling uncontrollably.

The tea leaves were a special product of the mountains behind Colorful Sparrow Abode, called Little Dark Cliff. There were only twelve old tea trees, and they were harvested by rare Colorful Sparrows, then roasted and formed into cakes using secret methods, making them extremely precious.

Wu Qun couldn’t help but glance at Ning Yao frequently.

Ning Yao, it really was the legendary Ning Yao!

Currently, there were some speculations and rumors among the major sects in the Northern Entire Reed Continent, all of which firmly believed that Ning Yao would be the number one person in that new world.

More importantly, Ning Yao was a woman! Wu Qun usually chatted about Ning Yao with the Abode Mistress and Guibao when they drank and drank tea. Especially the proud Liu Guibao, who admired Ning Yao even more.

When it came to sword cultivators, one couldn’t avoid Ning Yao.

Just as one couldn’t avoid Pei Bei and Cao Ci, the master and disciple, when mentioning pure martial artists in the Verdant Azure World.

Little Rice Grain took the teacup with both hands, thanked her, and then whispered to the dwarfish shorty beside her, “Drink slowly, don’t drink it too fast.”

The white-haired child was shocked, “Is there such an emphasis on drinking tea? Little Rice Grain, where did you read that in some obscure book?”

Little Rice Grain held the cup with both hands, took a sip, then nodded lightly, expressing satisfaction. The taste was excellent. Then she turned her head and smiled, saying, “Self-taught, haha.”

Chen Pingan held his teacup, swirling it gently, his eyes narrowed with a smile. A cool breeze blew, and he felt relaxed. Outside the teahouse pavilion, the lake was like a mirror, with countless peach blossoms on the stream and lake, layered upon layered up the mountain. The colors of the flowers varied in shade, like a delicate woman applying light and dark makeup.

Since Chen Pingan had business to discuss, Ning Yao, after drinking her tea, excused herself to Wu Qun. She would have Pei Qian, who had been to Colorful Sparrow Abode before, lead the way to the Heavenly Garment Workshop to admire the “weaving maids” of Colorful Sparrow Abode crafting robes.

When Ning Yao was there, Wu Qun was constantly nervous. When Ning Yao left, Wu Qun felt reluctant.

Wu Qun asked via voice transmission, “Mountain Lord Chen, may I ask about Sword Immortal Ning’s realm?”
Chen Ping’an smiled faintly, “Temporarily, Ascension Realm.”

Wu Qun poured herself a full cup of tea and drained it in one gulp. Hosting guests at the teahouse today was a big loss. When the Sect Master and the treasure return to the mountain, she would suggest drinking tea with Ning Yao? It was still not quite the same, far inferior to sharing a drink with Ning Yao at the same table.

The white-haired boy stayed behind, vowing to assist the Old Ancestor.

Chen Ping’an didn’t think she was boasting. Wu Shuangjiang’s Dao Companion’s inner demon was a first-rate expert in the matter of refining Dharma robes.

Chen Ping’an cut to the chase, “Before coming here, I attended the Wen Temple Council. The Dharma robes of the Rainbow Sparrow Prefecture have already been recorded by the Wen Temple and temporarily listed as candidates. If it succeeds, it will be a huge business deal. Merchants, strategists, and accountants will continue to consider the matter. Regardless of the final outcome, both the Fallen Mountain and the Great Li Dynasty will receive a letter from the Wen Temple, hoping to one day have the opportunity to congratulate the Rainbow Sparrow Prefecture.”

Chen Ping’an took out a booklet, a handwritten copy of the Golden Emerald City’s refining secrets, the Dao incantations provided by Tao Ting of the Barbarian Desolate World, and gently pushed it across the table to Wu Qun, smiling, “The grade of the Dharma robes can continue to be improved and perfected. Later, the Rainbow Sparrow Prefecture should hurry to provide a detailed list of the natural treasures needed to refine the Dharma robes. The more detailed, the better. I will help search for suitable immortal mountains in various parts of the Northern Ju Luzhou.”

The white-haired boy said telepathically, “Hidden Official Ancestor, can I take a look?”

After receiving Chen Ping’an’s permission, he stood up on tiptoes, leaned on the table, and took the booklet. He flipped through it, then shook his wrist, and strands of pure water energy from the Peach Blossom Stream in the distance condensed into a jade-green-shafted brush. Several peach blossoms swept across the lake stream and fell on the table. The tip of the brush lightly touched the peach blossoms, as if dipping in ink, and began to “annotate” the booklet. Tiny characters filled the blank spaces on the pages, one line of Dao incantations here, a few suggestions there, quickly doubling the written content of the booklet.

This scene greatly shocked Wu Qun.

Immortal artistry, Dao Qi ethereal!

Wu Qun couldn’t help but ask telepathically, “Mountain Master, who is this senior?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “A newly recruited handyman disciple of Fallen Mountain. First, he will go to Dragon Riding Lane to watch the shop. If he passes the test, he will be included in the Clear Sky Peak genealogy.”

Wu Qun assumed that the senior’s identity was not to be revealed and that Chen Ping’an was joking with her.

The white-haired boy raised his head, his eyes displaying a colorful, radiant, glazed appearance. Senior what? This stinky woman couldn’t speak properly.

Chen Ping’an bent two fingers and flicked a chestnut at him.

The white-haired boy had to restrain the secret technique of patrolling the mind. If the Hidden Official Ancestor wasn’t here, he would have more discreetly investigated Wu Qun’s ancestry back eighteen generations. He dipped the brush in ink again, the deep red color of the peach petals on the table fading slightly, and while diligently writing, he bargained with the Hidden Official Ancestor, “Identifying omissions and filling gaps, record one merit.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Before, you accidentally said something unlucky and it was recorded. Is it to offset merits and demerits with Pei Qian, or are they calculated separately?”

The white-haired boy sighed and chose to offset merits and demerits.

“During this Wen Temple Council, the Spirit Treasure Armor of the Three Lang Temple in your Northern Ju Luzhou, as well as the Dharma robes of Old Monarch Lane, have been officially selected.”

Chen Ping’an discussed some of the inside information of the Council with Wu Qun. For example, the ferryboats were divided into extremely detailed levels, as proposed by the Wen Temple. For example, huge mountain ferryboats, sword boats with great offensive power, and extremely fast flowing cloud boats have all been formally adopted by the Wen Temple. Soon, various parts of the Great Thousand World would begin construction of seven types of ferryboats, including sword boats.

As for the matter of Dharma robes, it was a similar situation. The Rainbow Sparrow Prefecture’s Dharma robes, due to a slight disadvantage in price, were only listed as candidates, even though the suggestion made by Song Changjing of the Great Li Dynasty carried far more weight than that of ordinary monarchs and cultivators.

In terms of refining artifacts, the craftsmanship of the Northern Ju Luzhou mountains was actually very outstanding. The Spirit Treasure Armor of the Three Lang Temple, the Sword Immortal imitation swords of Hatred Sword Mountain, the Tricolor Kasaya of Buddha Light Temple, and the Crane Cloak Feather Garments of the Great Source Chongxuan Bureau. If one didn’t consider grade, but only sales, the Dharma robes of Old Monarch Lane, monopolized by the Jade Forest Sect, were the best in the continent, especially the Resplendent Robe and the Grand Review Armor, one specifically for cultivators above the Fifth Realm, and the other for emperors and monarchs of secular dynasties, not sold in bulk. Before obtaining the refining secret of the Golden Emerald City Dharma robes, the Rainbow Sparrow Prefecture’s Dharma robe skills were actually not top-notch.

The white-haired boy waved his sleeve, and the jade brush in his hand, along with the few light red and almost white peach petals on the table, scattered into the water, striking a posture of gathering Qi in his dantian, “Grand accomplishment.”

Chen Ping’an quickly flipped through the booklet and handed it back to Wu Qun, reminding her, “This booklet must be carefully kept. When Sect Master Sun returns, only send a copy to the Song family of the Great Li Dynasty, and they will send it to the Wen Temple. The possibility of the Rainbow Sparrow Prefecture’s Dharma robes filling the gap will be greater. Once the Wen Temple nods, the number of Dharma robes in the Rainbow Sparrow Prefecture may start at a minimum of two thousand pieces. Moreover, Dharma robes are consumables. As long as the Rainbow Sparrow Prefecture’s Dharma robes are verified on the battlefield, they may even stand out from more than a dozen types of Dharma robes, and there will be a continuous stream of orders. The most important thing is that the Rainbow Sparrow Prefecture’s Dharma robes have become famous throughout the Great Thousand World, and in the future, business can be smoothly done in the Central Continent and White Land Continent.”

Wu Qun was thrilled, something she never dared to dream of.

Chen Ping’an, however, began to pour cold water, reminding her, “Besides recruiting disciples, your Rainbow Sparrow Prefecture must quickly put it on the agenda, and you also need a Fifth Realm or higher protector or guest elder. A big tree attracts the wind, and great wealth attracts thieves. Be careful and extra careful.”

Wu Qun said helplessly, “Who wouldn’t want one? Our Sect Master has made a good calculation, wholeheartedly thinking of becoming Dao companions with Mr. Liu, so that she can kill two birds with one stone, having both her own marriage and a protector for the sect. But Mr. Liu doesn’t agree, what can we do? It’s not difficult to ask for a nominal guest elder from the Hemp-Clad Sect, but it’s too unrealistic to have an Old Ancestor stay here permanently.”

However, Sun Qing’s love for Liu Jinglong of the Supreme Emblem Sword Sect was well-known throughout the continent. In fact, this in itself was a protective charm for the Rainbow Sparrow Prefecture.

Once someone provokes the Rainbow Sparrow Prefecture for no reason, Liu Jinglong, with his temperament of always wanting to reason, will definitely descend the mountain with his sword. Not for love, but just to reason.

But when the Rainbow Sparrow Prefecture’s business becomes large enough and enticing enough, this relationship may not work.
Wu Qun smiled wryly, “Mountain Lord Chen, just because Fallen Peak doesn’t take the Upper Five Realms seriously, doesn’t mean we Colorful Sparrow House is the same kind of large, established entity.”

Chen Ping’an pondered, then said, “I’ll help you think of a solution, but I can’t guarantee it will succeed.”

Being able to reside permanently in Colorful Sparrow House was ideal, but not absolutely necessary.

For instance, the peak martial artist Wang Fusuo. If word was spread that he was the chief guest elder of Colorful Sparrow House, then all those with covetous eyes would have to carefully weigh their options.

After all, Wang Fusuo’s punches were famous for being entirely based on his mood.

Besides him, the Mountain Lord of Lion Peak, whom he had dealt with before, would also be a suitable candidate.

However, whether these two elder figures would agree was uncertain for now. Still, it was worth a try. If he repeatedly met with closed doors, then he would seek help from Lord Lingyuan, Shen Lin, and Lord Longting, Li Yuan. Incurring one favor was the same as incurring two.

Immortal Master Zhu Quan of Guo Pool, after a trip to the Upper Sect of the Hemp Garment Sect in Central Earth Continent, relinquished her position as Sect Leader. The top spot was temporarily vacant. She didn’t even like attending ancestral hall meetings, and was only waiting for Du Wensi to emerge from seclusion, break through to the Jade Purity Realm, and then have the steady-natured Du Wensi succeed her.

It was said that within the ancestral hall, Zhu Quan laughed heartily and openly declared that she was now free of official duties and could chop down whoever she pleased.

However, Chen Ping’an was somewhat wary of both Zhu Quan and Xie Songhua of Snowy Continent, since he couldn’t even win against them in a dirty joke contest.

Wu Qun solemnly stood up, clasped her fists in gratitude, and, in high spirits, became less guarded in her speech. She laughed, “It’s only because I know Mountain Lord Chen is an upright and virtuous gentleman with a pure Dao heart, otherwise I would have already made an exception for Mountain Lord Chen and called for a few Colorful Sparrow House disciples to bring wine and drink together!”

Chen Ping’an’s face darkened.

The white-haired boy found Wu Qun a bit more agreeable.

Wu Qun sat back down and said, “Fallen Peak helped Cloudtop City build a private ferry landing. It seems the Spring Dew Garden has quite a few opinions about it?”

She had heard that the cultivators of Spring Dew Garden were clamoring for Fallen Peak to change the location of the ferry landing, moving it to a tributary mountain under Spring Dew Garden’s control. Such a large sum of immortal money, wasted on a small Cloudtop City, would only go down the drain.

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Human desires are bottomless, it’s not surprising. If it weren’t for a few internal disputes within the ancestral hall of Spring Dew Garden, Fallen Peak would have no further dealings with them in the future.”

Wu Qun laughed, “This isn’t stirring up trouble, is it?”

Pausing for a moment, Wu Qun burst out laughing. “Alright, I admit it, I’m a little gleeful.”

The white-haired boy, who had been sitting obediently beside the Hidden Official Ancestor, glanced at the old woman. Not beautiful, but not a bad temper.

Wu Qun asked with a smile, “Mountain Lord Chen has already been to Spring Dew Garden?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “But I only met Senior Lin.”

Wu Qun was greatly surprised. At first, she thought the Mountain Lord was young and impetuous, acting on emotions. But after careful consideration, she grew increasingly astonished.

Finally, she looked at Chen Ping’an with a different light in her eyes. How could someone so young have such an understanding of people’s hearts?

But then again, perhaps only someone like this could become the head of a sect at such a young age.

Wu Qun asked, “How is Luan Luan’s cultivation going?”

Chen Ping’an nodded and smiled, “Her aptitude is excellent, which is why I’m worried about holding back her future.”

Wu Qun shook her head and clicked her tongue. “That’s a really detestable thing to say.”

Zhao Shuxia had become Chen Ping’an’s direct disciple, and Zhao Luan had also become a registered cultivator of Fallen Peak’s Rainbow Peak. Therefore, she had not returned to Colorful Sparrow House to continue her cultivation but stayed at Fallen Peak.

Chen Ping’an had just found her an unacknowledged master: the otherworldly demon beside him.

Looking towards the distant peach blossoms, Chen Ping’an remembered on an early journey, when he, Wei Xian, and Lu Baixiang had passed through a peach forest. A village girl happened to pass by, and Old Chef seemed moved by the scene, so he casually spouted a few lines, which Pei Qian laughed at for half a day.

But in fact, Zhu Lian’s offhand words were quite interesting in Chen Ping’an’s opinion.

*How lovely, the deep reds and light reds, the emerald green skirts, alluring.*

*Stealing glances, what do they mean?*

*A fate arises, for you planted the peach blossoms.*

*A person resides, within my heart.*

Chen Ping’an then recalled the true face Zhu Lian revealed after peeling off his mask, and couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

Wei Bo, Mi Yu, and even Cao Ci, Fu Jin, seemed to pale in comparison to Old Chef.

He remembered that earlier, Pei Qian had heard Old Chef talk about how he had some stories from his younger days in the martial world.

The little black charcoal laughed so hard her stomach hurt, clutching her belly with one hand and pounding the table with the other, saying that Old Chef was killing her with laughter.

Chen Ping’an also laughed a lot at the time.

Before leaving, Wu Qun sent over several jars of Small Dark Jade, saying that Fallen Peak and Chen Ping’an could rest assured about the pricing of the latest Dharma robes – it was just to break even.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “There’s no need to deliberately only aim to break even. Since it’s a business transaction, even if we’re dealing with the Wen Temple, money still needs to be made. Let’s just make a little less.”

Wu Qun shook her head, “I don’t even need to discuss this with the House Lord. As long as it’s Dharma robes destined for the Wen Temple, we in Colorful Sparrow House won’t earn a single snowflake coin.”

None of the Colorful Sparrow House cultivators had ever been to the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Having the opportunity to do this once, Wu Qun would feel extra at ease when she went to the ancestral hall to offer incense to the past masters.

Chen Ping’an joked, “How does that leave Fallen Peak? Are we going to follow Colorful Sparrow House and not make any money?”

Wu Qun was momentarily speechless.

Chen Ping’an clasped his fists and smiled, “Then it’s settled.”

Finally, the female law enforcer looked at the immortal couple standing side-by-side. She smiled and said to Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao, “May you have children soon.”

Ning Yao was clearly caught off guard. She hesitated, but didn’t say anything. Nodding wasn’t right, shaking her head wasn’t right either.

Chen Ping’an smiled, as if he had heard and also hadn’t heard.

He immediately felt that the matter of providing guest elders to Colorful Sparrow House was nothing at all. He would take care of it, and this Law Enforcer Wu only needed to wait for good news.

Leaving Peach Blossom Ferry, they arrived at Cloudtop City. The City Lord, Shen Zhenze, and the married couple Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan, were all in the city.

They boarded a ferry together, leaving Cloudtop City to visit the immortal ferry landing nearby. Fallen Peak provided the funds, and Cloudtop City was responsible for the land and labor. The scale wasn’t large, slightly smaller than Colorful Sparrow House’s Peach Blossom Ferry.
However, possessing a private ferry landing is itself a manifestation of the profound heritage of a mountain immortal abode, much like a great sect demonstrating its capability to establish a branch.

Chen Pingan mentioned his immediate need to depart, and Shen Zhenze didn’t try to persuade him to stay. If it were just Chen Pingan alone, he would have insisted on sharing a drink or two. But once the young mountain master stood beside that woman named Ning Yao, Shen Zhenze dared not.

Returning to familiar ground, it was still the same street bustling with shops and baggage stores. Ning Yao and the others wandered about on their own, while Chen Pingan walked side by side with Xu Xingjiu.

Chen Pingan, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, smiled and said, “Xingjiu, since we have some time to spare, how about accompanying me to find Liu Jinglong for a drink?”

Xu Xingjiu looked rather awkward, replying, “Perhaps it’s best if we don’t.”

The origins of Master Liu’s current string of titles seemed to be largely due to him and Sword Immortal Liu.

It wasn’t just “Land Dragon loves to drink, invincible drinker Sword Immortal Liu” anymore. Zhu Quan of the Hemp Robe Sect contributed the line “Liu Jinglong truly has a good capacity for liquor, he doesn’t even seem to know what alcohol is,” while the old grandmaster Wang Fu Su quipped “Table Ascension Sect Leader Liu.” Even Li Cai, the female sword immortal from Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, said that “his drinking capacity isn’t as great as you all make it out to be, only about two or three Li Cais’ worth.” Basically, any mountain power with good relations with the Taihui Sword Sect, and with a fondness for drinking, would never let Liu Jinglong off the hook if they went there. Even if they didn’t drink, they would find opportunities to tease him.

Xu Xingjiu felt that if he were Master Liu, he would be cursing people out of frustration, regardless of how good his temper was. Anyone who came to him for a drink would get a scolding, and two would get a double dose.

Chen Pingan softly asked, “Is she doing well these days?”

During the last ceremony, Xu Xingjiu and Huan Yun had gone to Fallen Mountain together, but his Dao companion, Zhao Qingwan, hadn’t been present. That was why Chen Pingan was a little concerned.

Xu Xingjiu nodded and smiled, then straightened his robes and bowed to Chen Pingan in gratitude.

Everything was understood without words.

The end of the year was difficult down the mountain, just as the trials of the heart were difficult up the mountain. The trials of love were the hardest, making the heart ache.

But once you overcame them, everything would be alright.

Chen Pingan breathed a sigh of relief and patted Xu Xingjiu’s arm. “Don’t be so formal, there’s no need.”

Xu Xingjiu stood up straight and softly asked, “Chen-xiansheng, about the Spring Dew Garden?”

Chen Pingan said, “It’s been resolved. The one who tied the bell must untie it. Since the issue of people’s hearts isn’t within Fallen Mountain, then they need to resolve it themselves.”

Nowadays, many troubles were just troubles for Chen Pingan, no longer real problems.

His trip to Spring Dew Garden had only involved seeing Lin Luohe.

It was about conveying a principle without wasting a single word with the other cultivators of Spring Dew Garden.

The Mountain Master of Fallen Mountain, the leader of a sect in Treasure Bottle Continent, was still a junior in the old woman’s eyes. But as for the rest of Spring Dew Garden, if they wanted to continue doing business, they had to be honest and correct their mistakes.

He hadn’t even visited the Jade Brilliance Cliff or the Ant Shop, making it clear that he was drawing a line between public and private affairs with Spring Dew Garden.

If they were willing to change, how they changed was up to Spring Dew Garden to figure out!

What if they simply stopped doing business with Fallen Mountain? Fallen Mountain wouldn’t care at all. Spring Dew Garden would soon discover the truth: it wasn’t just the Hemp Robe Sect and the Colorful Sparrow Mansion coming forward, Cloud Ascending City would also be involved. Later, there would be the Taihui Sword Sect, the Grand Source Dynasty’s Ministry of Mysteries, Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, the Water Dragon Sect, and two Great River Dukes… all of whom would be Fallen Mountain’s allies in the Northern Entire Reed Continent. Fallen Mountain wouldn’t need to deliberately target Spring Dew Garden; the Spring Dew Garden cultivators would feel guilty themselves.

It was Chen Pingan and Fallen Mountain who had established a transcontinental trade route, helping to connect various nodes in Treasure Bottle Continent. This involved the Song family of the Great Li, the Hidden Cloud Mountain, Dong Shui Jing, Guan Yiran, as well as the Fan and Sun families of Old Dragon City… Things had already progressed to this point, so Spring Dew Garden had no reason to keep trying to maximize profits and take advantage of everything. In this world, those who don’t adhere to reason cannot bully those who do.

Of course, with the release of the mountain and river gazettes by the Confucian Temple, he believed that soon the entire cultivation world would know who he was.

It wasn’t just as simple as the young Mountain Master of Fallen Mountain.

However, linking the title of Hidden Officer with the name Chen Pingan might take a little longer.

Therefore, Chen Pingan had to complete this trip to the Northern Entire Reed Continent as quickly as possible.

Then, he would immediately return to Treasure Bottle Continent and, together with Liu Xianyang, challenge Righteous Yang Mountain with their swords.

Chen Pingan said, “Xingjiu, I won’t be staying here. I need to hurry on my way.”

Xu Xingjiu smiled and cupped his fist. “I wish you a safe journey, Chen-xiansheng.”

Chen Pingan smiled and returned the courtesy, saying, “I wish you smooth cultivation and a happy and fulfilling life.”

The new Flower God evaluation of Hundred Flowers Blessed Land, the Impatiens Flower God, had not only avoided being reduced to the lowest rank, but had also stabilized her previous position. Although she hadn’t been promoted, the young Flower God was overjoyed. She even secretly hung a portrait of a figure in her boudoir, planning to burn incense and pay respects to this blue-robed sword immortal on the first and fifteenth of every month, thanking him for his “life-saving” grace.

She began to look forward to Chen-xiansheng’s next visit to Blessed Land.

There was also a young girl who looked even younger than the Impatiens Flower God, the Banana Flower God of the Blessed Land, who held a miniature and adorable banana leaf fan in her hand, gently fanning herself and asking the Ruifeng’er sister beside her if she had seen that Ah Liang.

Her poetry about flowers was the least of all the flower goddesses, which is why her position was very low, and the girl had very few other names.

The Impatiens Flower God said that she hadn’t seen him, but she had heard that Ah Liang was very impressive, having captured a flying-ascension great cultivator with the Daoist name Qing Mi and then disappearing in a flash, heading directly to the Sword Qi Great Wall. The girl holding the banana leaf fan listened with shining eyes.

Yu Yue, an old jade-essence sword cultivator and chief guest of the Miyun Xie clan, had a duty to escort the young master back to the Snowy Continent. But once he arrived at the family’s immortal ferry, Yu Yue immediately set off alone, taking a transcontinental ferry to the northernmost First-Line Ferry in Treasure Bottle Continent.

He was going to Fallen Mountain to select disciples for the young Hidden Officer! Success or failure would depend on his affinity with that future direct disciple. Even if he didn’t succeed this time, he would just make a few more trips.

When it came to selecting sword cultivator material, who in the world was qualified to compare with that Hidden Officer?

As a result, after boarding the ship, there was a knock at the door. It turned out to be the Xie clan young master who had secretly snuck aboard. The boy said he wanted to travel to Hidden Cloud Mountain, where one of the continent’s Northern Peaks was located, and had heard that there was a Night Revels gathering there that was always very interesting.

There was Tong Jing, a far-traveling martial artist from the Shao Yuan Dynasty who had lost an arm.
Now, back in his hometown, Tong Jing tells anyone at the dinner table that he exchanged blows with that young Hidden Official!

And it happened right near the Confucian Temple, a proper martial arts spar!

He shook the shoulder of his arm, now hanging limp. Just a minor injury, of course, and to be fair, it was because the Hidden Official didn’t go all out on me.

Don’t know the Hidden Official? Never heard of the title? Oh, he’s the highest-ranking sword cultivator at the Great Wall of Sword Qi. This azure-robed Sword Immortal is quite young, only in his forties.

Still don’t know? He’s the one who knocked Ma Qu Xian down a realm with a few punches, and then had Cao Ci voluntarily seek a match with him at the Merit Forest! A Grandmaster of the Stopping Force!

Some might ask, what’s the Hidden Official’s fist technique like?

Exalted, what else could it be? He simply stands there, unmoving, yet his fist intent swells like Mount Sumeru. Anyone who faces him is like an ant at the foot of a mountain, gazing up at the heavens!

So, when I delivered those few punches, it was truly a life-or-death endeavor.

That’s why the Hidden Official didn’t kill me, understand? It’s a form of mutual respect between pure martial artists. The difference in cultivation is undeniable, but the Hidden Official sees me as one of his kind. Of course, the accomplished are revered, the ascended are honored. He’s a senior, I’m a junior, and I say this without shame. I’m utterly convinced by this young Hidden Official. From now on, if anyone in the martial world dares to say anything disrespectful about the Hidden Official, hehe…

I’m sorry!

Then they’ll be exchanging blows with Tong Jing!

Xu Ruo followed the Mo Sect Grand Master to that ferry. Even after the Grand Master had left to attend the Confucian Temple council, the city continued to grow on its own.

Even though Xu Ruo himself was a member of the Mo Sect, witnessing this city firsthand brought only one feeling: awe.

An old True Being escorted Yu Pan Shui and the young emperor to the Xuan Mi Dynasty, then used spatial magic to reach an entrance to the Ruin, and soon appeared in the barbaric wilderness. He traveled tens of thousands of miles without encountering anyone worth fighting. Finally, he caught one who seemed to have a decent cultivation level, but upon closer inspection, damn it, not a soaring demon. The old True Being opened a map. Oh, it seemed to be a rather famous mountain stronghold, said to have been quite active in the Tong Ye Continent conflict.

So, the old True Being unleashed fire and water magic.

Over a thousand miles, great waters filled the sky, and great fires covered the land. Water as the celestial canopy, fire as the earthly floor.

The old True Being stroked his beard and nodded, murmuring, “Old but vigorous, the arts are still passable.”

After a moment of silence, the Fire Dragon True Being muttered to himself, “Was that a bit too forceful?”

The Fire Dragon True Being answered himself, “If a fight isn’t spectacular, what’s the point of fighting?”

In the martial world of the Northern Ju Lu Continent, there was a furtive masked figure. After scouting the location, he scaled the wall under the cover of darkness with the agility of a rabbit and the swiftness of a falcon, crashing into the house. A flash of steel, a successful strike, and he vanished like a fleeting sparrow.

Over the years, he had been imitating that good-hearted senior in his clandestine actions. He even adopted an alias, Du Haoshi, the Du of Du Yu, the Haoshi of “doing good deeds without leaving a name.”

Each time Du Yu acted, he assessed the situation, acted within his means, and fled immediately, as if afraid someone would recognize him.

In this great human realm, the weather varied, sunshine here, rain there, still mountain flowers here, blowing winds there.

On their northward journey, Chen Ping An and his group occasionally stopped to rest. Whether on the mountainside or at its foot was unpredictable, and the sights they beheld varied with time and place.

There were towering peaks stretching hundreds of miles, brimming with spiritual energy, swirling mist, and a shrine at the summit glittering gold in the night, like a great lantern suspended between heaven and earth.

There were post travelers encountering plum rains, lotus breezes carrying the sorrows of parting. By a vast river, the government was preparing a Yellow Register ritual to pray for blessings and ward off disasters. As the sun rose, painting the sky with vibrant colors, a group of Qi refiners walked with the clouds, among them young boys and girls, loudly reciting their sect’s incantations with their elders, vowing to capture the Three Corpses and burn the Demon Caverns, to seize the Six Thieves and destroy the Demon Palace.

There were artisans quarrying stone in the mountains, their pits exposed by the relentless sun. Under the supervision of government officials, the fine stones mined from the old pits were carefully wrapped in straw. Following generations-old customs, everyone squatted at the entrance of the old pit, waiting for the sun to set before carrying the extracted stone down the mountain. Regardless of age, the artisans, with their dark and glossy skin, gathered together, chatting in local dialects about family matters. Those from wealthier families, or those from poorer families whose children were more accomplished, spoke more and louder.

They arrived at Crouching Peak.

Zhang Shanfeng still looked as young as he did back then. However, now that he was well-fed and well-clothed on the mountain, no longer needing to wander far from home in poverty and hardship, he was no longer so destitute.

The white-haired child was constantly looking around. This was the cultivation place of the Fire Dragon True Being?

Upon learning that the woman was Ning Yao, Zhang Shanfeng performed a Daoist greeting and smiled, “Greetings, Miss Ning. This humble Daoist is Zhang Shanfeng, currently without a Daoist name.”

Ning Yao smiled, “Greetings, True Being Zhang.”

Zhang Shanfeng was mortified.

Chen Ping An chuckled, “I heard the old True Being say you’re already a Land Immortal!”

Zhang Shanfeng was astonished. “Did Master misspeak, or did you mishear? I’m only at the Sea-Gazing realm.”

Chen Ping An smiled. “Then do you know what realm I’m at right now?”

Zhang Shanfeng asked tentatively, “Immortal realm? Could it be Ascension?”

Chen Ping An was a bit deflated. “Not quite there yet.”

Zhang Shanfeng laughed heartily. “Trying to trick me? You’re still too green.”

Chen Ping An suddenly said, “Come, I’ll learn your fist technique.”

Zhang Shanfeng sighed. “You’re joking.”

Chen Ping An looked serious. “I’m not kidding. During those years at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, I was always learning your fist technique. But no matter how I practiced, it never felt right. I could never replicate that… fist intent you had back then.”

Zhang Shanfeng scoffed. “Still saying I’m not joking? I’m a Daoist cultivator, just casually throwing a few punches. What kind of fist intent could there be?”

Chen Ping An held back for a moment, but couldn’t restrain himself, and exclaimed angrily, “Casually throwing a few punches?! Huh?”

Damn it, did you know how many punches I stubbornly practiced slowly and painstakingly on the city wall, gritting my teeth? And I still couldn’t get that fist intent to embody me?

Zhang Shanfeng shook his Daoist robe and smiled, “There’s no helping it. Practicing fists, it’s all about the ancestors granting you talent.”

Chen Ping An flicked his sleeve and held out his palm. “Come, let’s spar, exchange a few moves.”
Zhang Shanfeng leaped back, stretching his arm and flourishing a flourish of saber techniques, posturing, “I have obtained the true inheritance of Brother Xu’s saber arts. You were of poor martial talent, so Brother Xu didn’t bother to teach you back then, and was afraid of hurting your feelings, so he just kept it from you all along.”

Chen Ping’an twitched the corner of his mouth, “Then I must thank you.”

The White-Haired Child marveled, “This Crouching Peak little Daoist knows his place, how commendable.”

Xiao Mi Li gently tugged at Pei Qian’s sleeve, whispering, “Zhang Zhenren’s saber technique sounds so powerful.”

Pei Qian nodded with a straight face.

Ning Yao smiled.

It was rare to see Chen Ping’an like this.

She heard that at the Sword Qi Great Wall’s tavern, he might loosen up a bit, even saying a few risqué jokes, often winning cheers from the crowd?

Guo Zhujiu, the messenger sprite, seemed to have bribed a few more little messenger sprites, so Ning Yao actually knew a lot about the tavern’s affairs, even knowing the intricacies of that narrow long bench.

But whenever she went there, Chen Ping’an would start acting all proper.

Later, she simply stopped going to the tavern as much, so he wouldn’t feel uncomfortable drinking with others.

Afterward, Zhang Shanfeng led the group to tour several mountain peaks, including Crouching Peak.

The sunset glow in the sky was like brocade, and the heavens were not stingy, giving it to the world without asking for a single coin.

Chen Ping’an strolled with Zhang Shanfeng and said, “I’ve seen Brother Xu in Xianyou County.”

Zhang Shanfeng smiled, “I went earlier than you.”

In truth, they both knew that Xu Yuanxia was getting old, but neither of them mentioned it.

It was as if saying it would make the once upright, wandering swordsman with a large beard seem even older.

Zhang Shanfeng would soon travel north with a senior brother to attend a ceremony at the sect of a friend of their master, so he didn’t accompany Chen Ping’an to the Taihui Sword Sect.

However, they agreed that Zhang Shanfeng would immediately travel south to the Treasure Bottle Continent after returning from the north, to take a look at Fallen Mountain, and then go to Xianyou County with Chen Ping’an for a drink.

On this day, on the blue stone square of Crouching Peak, one was teaching fist techniques, and the other was learning.

A Qi Practitioner of the Sea Gazing Realm was teaching fist techniques. A martial artist at the pinnacle of their art was the one learning.

The White-Haired Child stared intently at the scroll, silent for a long time, before muttering in a daze, “Scary stuff, such grandeur.”

Ning Yao asked, “You still can’t learn it?”

The White-Haired Child, for once, didn’t make any jokes, shaking his head, “Learning the form is meaningless. So I still can’t learn it, because it requires the Taoist heart of the one practicing the fist.”

He heard Zhang Shanfeng say that there was a high mountain in his hometown called Wudang.

A good name. Wudang Mountain, Zhang Shanfeng.

Source and destination, a lone peak standing tall.

Zhang Shanfeng finished his fist techniques and asked, “Did you learn it? Almost there, right?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Perform the fist techniques again.”

Zhang Shanfeng was exasperated, “Chen Ping’an, what are you learning?”

So many people were watching, did he have to continue embarrassing himself?

Many of the little Daoist disciples of Crouching Peak, like a row of sparrows, squatted on the steps, shouting excitedly that the grandmaster uncle’s fist techniques were unparalleled, and his martial arts were invincible.

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “I’m not joking with you.”

Zhang Shanfeng had to bite the bullet and perform another set of his self-created fist techniques.

Chen Ping’an suddenly stopped and stood still, laughing, “I understand now, but you still need to perform the fist techniques one more time.”

“Sword, come!”