Having concluded his ventures in the Wen Temple and the Northern Ju Continent, Chen Ping’an felt a surge of accomplishment. He was eager to tally his gains. Rolling up his sleeves, he breathed on his hands and rubbed them together.

His demeanor resembled that of a Sage presiding over his own miniature world.

Zhou Mi Li and the White-Haired Boy sat side-by-side. One was sprawled across the table, eyes wide with anticipation, while the other, looking sickly, was rhythmically tapping on the table. The Hidden Official Ancestor was settling scores for the boat trip. Didn’t he like to tap the table? Then he could tap a full ten thousand times, otherwise he shouldn’t even think about becoming a menial disciple at Fallen Peak.

Chen Ping’an drew three items from his sleeve. They were congratulatory gifts from two Great Mountain Spirits of the Central Earth, bestowed upon his teacher at the Merit Forest. The Mountain God of Nine Doubts Mountain had given a pot of Sweet Flag, Zhu Yu Xian of Smoke Branch Mountain presented twelve boxes of rouge and powder, and there was also an extremely rare origami black-clothed swallow.

The White-Haired Boy glanced at them, unimpressed. He continued his silent table-tapping, then yawned. Noticing the Hidden Official Ancestor’s sideways glare, he declared decisively, “Treasures! Every one a Mountain-Protecting treasure!”

Chen Ping’an rotated the small pot, smiling as he explained, “This pot of Sweet Flag may look small, but it’s actually a millennium in age. See that tiny drop of water on the tip of the leaf? That’s all Literary Luck. Nine Doubts Mountain has a few three-thousand-year-old ones, and the Literary Luck droplets they produce are even larger, about the size of a copper coin. But don’t underestimate even this small drop. If placed at the source of a river or stream, it will engender literary atmosphere wherever it flows. Perhaps towns and villages along the hundreds of miles will one day produce a Scholar-Official of some vassal kingdom. Even if they don’t top the imperial examination, they can still increase their talent and write with flair.”

Pei Qian asked curiously, “Master, how much is this little thing worth?”

Chen Ping’an said, “The benefits are too gradual, so if sold to a large sect, twenty Millet Rain coins wouldn’t be considered expensive. A small sect would think it was a rip-off even at one Millet Rain coin.”

The White-Haired Boy couldn’t resist asking, “Is this Nine Doubts Mountain God really poor? Otherwise, why would he give such a meager gift to Literary Sage?”

None of the guests who came to celebrate the New Year’s Eve Palace dared to be so casual.

Ning Yao smiled, “Things are valued for their rarity, especially items that enhance Literary Luck. They are hard to come by. Besides, twenty Millet Rain coins isn’t a small sum at all.”

Little Mi Li thought for a moment and said, “We can put this pot of Sweet Flag in Lotus Root Blessed Land. We shouldn’t let the good stuff go to outsiders.”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “Half and half. Fallen Peak and Lotus Root Blessed Land will split the Literary Luck droplets equally.”

Little Mi Li nodded. “Benefiting the local community, doing good deeds anonymously, that’s excellent too.”

Chen Ping’an smiled slightly. “That’s an excellent way to think, Right Guardian.”

Little Mi Li smiled shyly.

Chen Ping’an gently tapped the long, narrow bamboo box containing rouge and powder, looking at Ning Yao. She shook her head. Chen Ping’an turned to Pei Qian, who also shook her head.

Pei Qian suddenly asked, “Master, can I give them to Sister Shi, Cen Yuanji, and Yuanbao?”

Chen Ping’an pushed the bamboo box to Pei Qian and smiled, “Of course you can. That’s a very good thing.”

Then Chen Ping’an picked up the origami black-clothed swallow and said, “If you place it on the ancestral home’s plaque or roof beam, it’s like having an extra incense-receiving little man in the house. The closer to a famous mountain, the better. Our Fallen Peak is near Cloud-Wearing Mountain. How convenient!”

Chen Ping’an looked at Ning Yao and said, “This Smoke Branch Mountain female Mountain Spirit, her Daoist title is Bitter Vegetable. Interesting, isn’t it? That little girl from the Shao Yuan Dynasty, remember? Zhu Mei, that little follower of Jun Bi.”

Ning Yao thought for a moment and nodded. It seemed Zhu Mei later liked to hang around Yu Juanfu. Actually, the little girl had a good heart and decent aptitude. If she remembered correctly, she even gained a sword intent at the Great Wall of Sword Qi.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “It is said that Zhu Mei, when she was very young, inexplicably had a dream where she traveled to Smoke Branch Mountain and met this female Mountain Spirit. The two formed a pact. This kind of good fortune is usually only found in books.”

Little Mi Li yearned, “Good-hearted Mountain Master, can you write a similar landscape story for me in the future? Like, when I was little, I dozed off at Dumb Lake and dreamed of Fallen Peak?”

Chen Ping’an joked, “Wouldn’t that be a scam?”

Little Mi Li grinned. It’s up to you, good-hearted Mountain Master. I’m not writing the book. I’m not responsible for whether it’s a scam.

As for the Liu family’s miniature object from the Snowy Continent that he accidentally forgot to take, Chen Ping’an planned to give it to Cao Qinglang as a protective treasure. When he becomes the Sect Leader of the Lower Sect, he’ll inevitably have to welcome guests and see them off. Cao Qinglang doesn’t yet have the Jade Purity Realm’s Cosmic Sleeve ability, so he can’t carry a bunch of large and small packages every time he goes out like he’s going down the mountain to trade.

Chen Ping’an then took out two calligraphy scrolls by Su Zi and Liu Qi and carefully spread them out on the table.

Little Mi Li gently touched the calligraphy scrolls, soaking up some immortal energy, and sighed with emotion, “Su Zi! Liu Qi! Genuine articles!”

Immortal Yun Miao’s white jade spiritual fungus from the Nine Truths Immortal Pavilion was a semi-immortal weapon of high quality. Through their fight, Chen Ping’an guessed that their relationship would only become stronger than allies who had formed a Mountain and Water pact.

Next time he travels with Liu Jinglong in the Central Earth Divine Continent, Chen Ping’an had already decided what greeting gift to give. He’d just buy a set of chess pieces in a city at the foot of the mountain. It didn’t even need to be something from an immortal family on the mountain or from the palace workshop. The cheaper and simpler, the better.

Chen Ping’an held the white jade spiritual fungus and then used an illusion technique, instantly transforming into Immortal Yun Miao with an aura of clouds and water. His Daoist charm was quite similar.

With a single hand forming a Daoist hand seal, he looked around, changed his voice, and smiled, “Yun Miao has traveled here from afar. Friend, stay and have a chat.”

Ning Yao said, “It’s only enough to fool Jade Purity.”

Chen Ping’an smiled as he removed the illusion and placed the white jade spiritual fungus on the table.

Little Mi Li tugged on the sleeve of the short, stout White-Haired Boy. The White-Haired Boy was still tapping the table, turning his head in confusion and asking, “What?”

Little Mi Li looked pitifully at the uncomprehending simpleton. Say a few nice words to the good-hearted Mountain Master! Don’t you know that? Aren’t you tired of tapping the table?

On the Night Voyage Ship, Wu Shuangjiang had given him a painting called “Back Then”, which he would hang in his study later. There was also the couplet written in seven-colored words, a true treasure. Chen Ping’an would post it at the entrance of the Ancestral Hall of the Lower Sect in the Tongye Continent.
Lin Qingqing, a guest elder of the Qiu Clan in Yuzhou, gifted a landscape-etched Shoushan stone seal. Unfortunately, the market was closed, and a small spirit gifted a “Understanding Principles and Practicing Diligently” inscribed inkstone. Chen Pingan planned to place both on the desk on the first floor of the bamboo hut.

Previously at Bao Fu Zhai on Parrot Isle, he had accrued debts with Liu Chicheng and Madame Tuo Yan. As for the intercontinental ferry “Flying Kite,” gifted by the Xuanmi Dynasty, which even offered funds for its repair, Chen Pingan, in a meeting with the Qing Shen Mountain Madame at the Confucian Temple entrance, purchased two intertwined bamboo trees, as well as literary bamboo and martial vigor bamboo. Xuanmi would assist in transporting them to the Ox Horn Mountain ferry landing.

On Yangyun Peak in the Locking Cloud Sect, he obtained a Treasure Armor from the Third Lord Temple and a Golden Crow Armor from the Military Strategists’ School.

From the Water Dragon Sect, Sun Jie gifted a pair of bellowing bull-roarer fish, and Shao Jingzhi gave a midge, known as “Little Ink Dragon” on the mountain, which he could give to Hongxia and Yunzi respectively, releasing them near the Yellow Lake Mountain Water Mansion.

Purchasing Fushui Isle cost eighty Grain Rain coins. Li Yuan gifted a “Lofty Azure Rain Appearance” jade pendant.

Like ants moving house, swallows carrying mud, he was slowly adding to the wealth of the Fallen Phoenix Mountain. In good conscience, he felt he was fulfilling his duty as mountain lord.

Ning Yao reminded him, “The matter of being a guest elder of the Colorful Sparrow Prefecture is an exception on the mountain. Shouldn’t Fallen Phoenix Mountain, as the initiator, express something further?”

Chen Pingan smiled and nodded, “Definitely necessary.”

As for thanking the Colorful Sparrow Prefecture, Chen Pingan had already considered it. Upon returning to Fallen Phoenix Mountain, he would immediately send thank-you gifts to the three parties: in addition to the small Xuanbi tea leaves for the Colorful Sparrow Prefecture, he would add a set of Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s special bamboo leaf and bamboo sticks, twenty-four in total, each inscribed with the name of a solar term and a corresponding poem written by Zhu Mei in her small standard script. These would be sent to Yuan Lingdian of the Pointing Mystery Peak, Yang Houjue of the Exalting Mystery Administration, and Rong Chang of the Floating Duckweed Sword Lake. Along with a thank-you letter personally written by Chen Pingan, the gifts would be modest, but full of goodwill.

Once Yuan Lingdian reached the Immortal realm, his Daoist abilities and killing power would be even greater, and he was the most likely candidate to become the next sect leader of the Crouching Peak’s various lineages, at least that was Chen Pingan’s impression. For example, on two previous occasions, once to deliver a simulated sword for Chen Pingan, and once for the Fallen Phoenix Mountain observation ceremony, Fire Dragon True Person had allowed Yuan Lingdian, known as the “Number One Jade Purity in the Northern Entirely Continent,” to appear.

Yang Houjue, whose Daoist title was “Kneading Clay,” was already the true manager of the Grand Origin Exalting Mystery Administration. Crucially, compared to the Jade Purity realm, he was quite young, yet highly respected, capable of balancing cultivation and administrative affairs. It was a pity that he hadn’t been able to meet this person during his last visit to the Grand Origin Dynasty emperor. The Lu Dynasty emperor had recommended him without hesitation when he heard that the Colorful Sparrow Prefecture needed a guest elder.

Li Cai had fought consecutive battles, wielding her sword too fiercely, disregarding the foundation of her own Great Dao, damaging her sword heart severely. She had completely accepted that her progress in the sword path had stalled. She devoted more thought and energy to teaching and imparting knowledge to her direct disciples and grand-disciples. And Rong Chang, Li Cai’s eldest and founding disciple, was the undisputed successor to the Sword Lake leadership.

Even if these three people were suspected of being transitional sect leaders in the future, regardless, while they were in their positions, they were still the leaders of a sect in the Northern Entirely Continent.

Chen Pingan put away the belongings on the table. Pei Qian led Xiao Mili and the White-Haired Boy to bid farewell and leave.

Ning Yao asked, “What about sword forging in the future?”

Chen Pingan had a headache. “Dragon-Slaying Stone is too difficult to find, and even if found, it might not be possible to buy.”

During the sword duel with Pei Min in Tongye Continent, the Hate Sword Mountain’s imitation of “Ancient Emerald” flying sword, Pine Needle, was completely shattered, and the tip of Beginning One’s sword was also severely damaged.

Because he possessed a decent sword-nourishing gourd and had not consumed much during previous sword forging, as Beginning One and Fifteenth were not sword cultivators’ natal flying swords, Chen Pingan had rarely worried about Dragon-Slaying Platforms. But now, he had to start paying back the debt.

Especially after becoming a sword cultivator, he suddenly had two natal flying swords, Bird in a Cage and Moon in the Well. Therefore, the Dragon-Slaying Platforms Chen Pingan needed now would be substantial. The thought of the immortal coins required for this matter made Chen Pingan feel terrified. Moreover, Dragon-Slaying Platforms were always invaluable treasures, and besides sword cultivators using them to forge swords with doubled effectiveness, Qi Refiners also had many wonderful uses for them. Immortal cultivators who possessed such items were almost unwilling to sell them. Money could be borrowed, but who would be willing to lend Dragon-Slaying Platforms?

Ning Yao said, “There weren’t any left at the Ascension City either, otherwise I would have brought them with me this time.”

Chen Pingan raised his head and asked the White-Haired Boy in the distance through mental voice, “Does the Year-End Palace have any spare Dragon-Slaying Stones?”

The White-Haired Boy replied remotely with mental voice, “Yes, the Year-End Palace loves collecting junk, and has all sorts of treasures. There are two large pieces of Dragon-Slaying Stone, as tall as a person. That guy personally carved them into a pair of Daoist companions. He gave away the remaining scraps as he pleased.”

Chen Pingan sighed, then forget about it.

So, at present, there were only three choices: the hidden treasures of the Dali Song Clan’s imperial treasury, the True Martial Mountain’s ancestral hall, and the possibility that the Dragon Slayer might have privately hoarded such items.

In his hometown, west of the mountains, only the Dragon Ridge Mountain was designated as a forbidden area by the Dali Imperial Court, because Dragon Ridge Mountain had a Dragon-Slaying Cliff, divided into three, occupied by the Wind and Snow Temple, True Martial Mountain, and Ruan Qiong respectively.

The mining of the Dragon-Slaying Platform on Dragon Ridge Mountain was strictly prohibited and extremely secretive for decades. Saint Ruan Qiong only kept a small portion of the stones he obtained; in fact, he gave most of them to the Dali Imperial Court, which were then used by the Dali Song Clan’s emperors to pay off debts, mainly to the Mohists. The city built by the Mohist giant included Dragon-Slaying Platform among the most important heavenly treasures.

The two successive emperors of the Dali Song Clan naturally treated Ruan Qiong, this chief enshrinement who had rendered great service to the country, with great respect. After the great battle, on the map of a continent’s mountains and rivers, many dragons and snakes that had originally hidden in the vast swamps and wilderness emerged, but Ruan Qiong’s position as the top enshrinement of Dali remained unshaken.

The portion belonging to the Wind and Snow Temple had secretly been emptied long ago, but the Wind and Snow Temple was not at a loss at all; it had obtained two lost Daoist methods that could directly reach the upper five realms, and a more profound sword path.

Chen Pingan did not know what True Martial Mountain had been doing with the Dragon-Slaying Stones it had been transporting all these years. Because of Ma Kuxuan, Chen Pingan had always been reluctant to actively associate with True Martial Mountain.

Of course, it was not impossible to forge swords without Dragon-Slaying Stone; only a very small number of sword cultivators in the world possessed Dragon-Slaying Platforms.

But Chen Pingan hoped to forge swords faster, and reach the Immortal realm faster.

Ning Yao said, “We can ask Cui Dongshan later.”
Chen Ping’an nodded slightly.

Afterward, he continued to sail south. One day, Chen Ping’an summoned Pei Qian to teach her boxing, but he didn’t “feed” her punches.

The boxing that Chen Ping’an taught Pei Qian was a self-created style by Granny Bai from the Ning Mansion. The boxing stances and techniques were nameless.

For a pure martial artist of the Sword Qi Great Wall to become a grandmaster, it was as difficult as it was for the Azure Continent to produce a cultivator of the Upper Five Realms.

Inside the cabin, Chen Ping’an slowly threw punches, while Pei Qian followed along, practicing by his side.

Boxing techniques are rigid, but the “boxing path” within the human body’s small world is alive. How to circulate pure Qi, how to traverse mountains and rivers, how to command and deploy it to continuously strengthen the martial artist’s Qi and purify the boxing intent – that is the real key. Otherwise, even the best boxing techniques become mere embroidered pillows, empty shows for the martial world.

Cui Cheng taught boxing on the second floor, his words rough but the principles were sound. Martial arts combat is judged by the highest level, one is whether my fists and feet are heavy enough, if I am determined to fight to the death, one punch can send someone to the gates of hell to be reborn, one is whether my physique is not paper, in short, it can knock people down and be beaten, and in this, there is a “will” word, which is the most important essence. Beating the opponent down, distinguishing victory and death, the truth is on my side. Being able to withstand being beaten, not losing the fist, “knowing” that being beaten becomes helping me to exercise my body, not only does not hurt the root, does not leave chronic diseases, but also can hone the realm.

What a Mountain-Shaking Fist, only knows how to deliver a punch, doesn’t know how to nurture it, I can smell the earthy smell as soon as I flip through a few pages…

Early in his years of learning boxing in the bamboo building, Chen Ping’an also said a few fair words for the Mountain-Shaking Fist manual, but after being beaten so many times, he really didn’t have the courage to say anything more. Being poked in the heart by the old man’s toe and then flicked casually, his entire back slammed against the ceiling, truly a “unique feeling in his heart.”

So Chen Ping’an couldn’t bear to “feed” Pei Qian punches like that; he simply couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Even to this day, Chen Ping’an had never asked Pei Qian about the detailed process of her learning boxing in the bamboo building. He didn’t even dare to think about it.

Therefore, many times, Chen Ping’an privately reflected on this matter and wondered if he really didn’t have the aptitude to teach boxing.

Chen Ping’an stopped his punches in the cabin and said, “In the fist exchange at the Confucian Temple, the victory wasn’t by a wide margin, but Master lost to Cao Ci in more than just the difference in realms.”

The Stoppage Realm has three levels: Vigorous Qi, Returning to Truth, and Spiritual Arrival.

Cao Ci could break into the Spiritual Arrival stage at any time.

In the contest between the Blue and White, the two sides fought back and forth, but the result was clear. Cao Ci was only lightly injured; the bruises would disappear in a few days at most. In contrast, Chen Ping’an would have to be a medicine jar for several months.

This was the difference.

Pei Qian was still practicing stances, quietly asking, “Master, where do you think I should break through? Would it be better in Tongye Continent?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Why think about these irrelevant things? Breaking through from the ninth realm to the tenth is a major hurdle. You can break through anywhere, as long as you can break through.”

Pei Qian said, “Oh,” and then asked, “Master, if I break through at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, will I be stealing the martial luck of Old Chef and Farmer Zhong? I’ve heard that the Stoppage Realm martial artists of a continent are like competing to cross a river. The boat is only so big; whoever takes a spot first prevents those behind from boarding.”

Chen Ping’an smacked her head with a flick, “Everything else can be yielded, but martial arts advancement cannot be conceded. When challenging others in martial arts, you must have no one before you. When climbing to the peak of martial arts, you must have no one around you.”

Pei Qian nodded, “Understood.”

She’d break through as soon as she returned to Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

Chen Ping’an tentatively asked, “You’re already confident you can break through the bottleneck?”

Pei Qian hummed in agreement.

Chen Ping’an chuckled and gave her another flick, “The punches have been taught. Go back to your room and practice by yourself.”

What punches had he taught?

As soon as Pei Qian left, the White-Haired Child swaggered over to visit.

The White-Haired Child was bored on the ferry, so she had recently started doing business with Old Ancestor Hidden Official again, following the old rules of the prison. She wanted to collect another Grain Rain Coin. As for what she would do with it, she hadn’t decided yet.

For example, at the Peach Blossom Ferry teahouse, she helped add a lot of content to the temporary “Waterway” robe.

Old Ancestor Hidden Official was still righteous; he didn’t really consider it offsetting past merits and demerits. Instead, he let her earn a Minor Heat Coin, and the two agreed that if this unfinished robe sold well in various continents of the Vast World outside the Confucian Temple in the future, he could add another one.

In addition, she had started writing a boxing manual, which she named “Hundred Families’ Feast Fist,” finding it extremely elegant.

The boxing manual detailed more than thirty boxing techniques, the signature moves of Stoppage Realm martial artists from the Azure Sky, many of which were lost killing techniques.

She earned another Minor Heat Coin.

On the cover of the boxing manual, the four words “Hundred Families’ Feast Fist” were enormous. Next to the word “Fist,” there were extremely tiny words “Volume One.”

Chen Ping’an pretended not to see and feigned ignorance of her little scheme.

If there was a Volume One, there would naturally be Volume Two and Three. According to this Extraterrestrial Demon’s consistent way of doing things, there might even be an Upper-Middle Volume and a Middle-Lower Volume. Look, wouldn’t she get half a Grain Rain Coin?

Chen Ping’an certainly wouldn’t let her earn five Minor Heat Coins so easily with just a boxing manual. Did such easy Minor Heat Coins exist? Wasn’t that a bit unscrupulous? Was she crazy about money?

In the Azure Sky, there were ten kinds of “wild cultivators” that were disliked by White Jade Capital.

They were the “deviant sects” of Rice Thieves, the Curtain-Rolling Red Crisp Hands who arbitrarily changed cultivators’ fates, the Porters who would temporarily lend someone a certain realm for a fee, the Coffin Bearers who walked between the Yang World and the Underworld, the Mountain Patrol Envoys who imperceptibly stole the Qi of mountains and rivers, the Lady Combers who could dredge the mountain and river meridians of the human body, the Ghostwriters who specialized in targeting pure martial artists, the One-Word Masters who could silently tamper with Daoist secret books, and finally, the Corpse Disassemblers and He Le Hans.

Regarding the foundations of their Great Daos, the White-Haired Child wrote another booklet, earning a Minor Heat Coin.

Chen Ping’an sat at the table, silently studying the Confucian “Breaking Character” command, which was the method for breaking the Night Voyage Ship’s mountain and river text cage and disembarking the ship. He casually flipped through a few thick booklets. The White-Haired Child craned her neck and glanced at them. They seemed to be intelligence reports from the Zheng Yang Mountain side. She wasn’t interested in that. She asked in a low voice, “Old Ancestor Hidden Official, when our Fallen Phoenix Mountain has its own mountain and river gazette and mirror image, can I be the head?”

Chen Ping’an didn’t even look up, “No discussion. Don’t even think about it. You’re too inexperienced. You’re just an unnamed handyman disciple. Suddenly being in a high position will easily make others think things.”
The matter of gazettes concerning the mountains and rivers of each continent was previously overseen by the seventy-two Confucian academies. There were few restrictions, and within the academies, there were dedicated gentlemen and sages responsible for collecting gazettes from various peaks across a continent. This endeavor didn’t generate much wealth, so not all immortal families were willing to support idle individuals. Even many sects bearing the designation “Zong” were too lazy to manage it.

For instance, in Beiju Luzhou, sects like the Padi Peak, the Taihui Sword Sect, and the Fuping Sword Lake did not establish such a system. On the other hand, immortal families with close ties to the dynasties below, such as the Da Yuan Chongxuan Bureau, the Water Dragon Sect, and the Spring Dew Garden, highly valued this matter.

The white-haired boy hung his head in dejection, running his palm across the table, and muttered, “I thought the whole ‘errand disciple’ thing was just a joke.”

Chen Ping’an reminded him, “Once you arrive at Luopo Mountain, you are not allowed to pry into people’s hearts at will. If I discover it, don’t blame me for not considering our past acquaintance.”

The white-haired boy continued to wipe the table. “Whatever Hidden Official Ancestor says, goes. What can a helpless outsider like me do?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Don’t try to act pitiful with me. Rest assured, the selection of a sub-sect location in Tongye Continent will require much of your behind-the-scenes planning.”

The white-haired boy raised his head, his eyes gleaming. “Give me a high-ranking position, even a nominal one is fine.”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment. “How about setting up a position of Deputy Sub-Sect Master for you in the future?”

The white-haired boy laughed loudly, “It’s a deal!”

The intercontinental ferry was about to enter the borders of Bao Ping Continent.

Pei Qian secretly found Chen Ping’an that day and asked, “Master, when are you going to propose to Mistress?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “I’ve already informed the Sage at the Wen Temple. The Sage is just waiting for a flying sword message, and then will come to Luopo Mountain.”

In fact, at the Golden Goblet Ferry in Beiju Luzhou, Chen Ping’an had already secretly sent a confidential letter, stating when he would roughly return home.

Pei Qian whispered, “Shouldn’t this kind of matter be discussed with Mistress in person?”

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “Of course, Master wants to. Haven’t you noticed that Master has been drinking every now and then? It’s to embolden himself. In any case, I guarantee I will tell her before the Sage appears.”

Previously, at the Caotou Shop in Qilong Lane, Chen Lingjun immediately found an excuse to slip away upon seeing the Great White Goose.

Immortal Jia was responsible for entertaining guests, and brought over several jars of wine and personally cooked several side dishes to go with the drinks.

Cui Dongshan stood on that small stool, Jiang Shangzhen stood behind the counter, and the girl Huasheng looked greedily at the colorful pastries.

Cui Dongshan laughed. “The thought of the Sage having to personally visit the Water Mansion makes me feel sorry for the Water Goddess of Chongdan River.”

Jiang Shangzhen asked curiously, “Reprimanding her? Wouldn’t that be going too far? Wouldn’t it make Luopo Mountain seem overbearing?”

He, Jiang, had a good relationship with women, and as the Chief Offering, he should solve problems for the Mountain Lord. He could quietly visit the Water Goddess, have a romantic evening with a few cups of wine, which would be simple, save effort, and not give others something to criticize.

Cui Dongshan rolled his eyes. “Who is my Sage? A scholar! What’s the point of fighting and killing? Would he be such a boor? What reprimanding, what accusing? Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. The Sage is just dropping by. The Sage only needs to casually pick one small matter from the many shady dealings of the Chongdan River Water God Temple, and then chat with the Water Goddess in person, and finally come to a conclusion, ‘This place seems to have some impropriety.’ That will be enough.”

“He’s already given her face, and Luopo Mountain has shown sincerity in not dwelling on the past. She’s not stupid, she will definitely understand the Sage’s implied meaning. Anyway, it has little to do with her, but after that, from the officials of the Water Mansion, to the skilled earners in the ancestral hall, they will have a hard time.”

It was similar to how Chen Ping’an handled the guest elder, Cui Gongzhuang, at Yangyun Peak.

I’m keeping an eye on you, so you keep an eye on your subordinates. If the people below don’t follow the rules and I happen to see it or hear about it, I won’t bother to get angry or fight with them, I’ll just question you.

This is a very clear thread, explaining a very simple principle.

Gaining experience in the officialdom, cultivating in the public service.

Where is not the world of Jianghu, where is not the bureaucracy.

Cui Dongshan took out a booklet. During the Dali Dynasty’s most prosperous period, it had re-compiled the Golden Jade Record of the mountain and river spirits within a continent, dividing them into nine ranks.

The first rank seemed destined to remain vacant, because even the Five Mountains, including Mount Piyun, were only ranked in the second rank.

The Duke Marquis of Qidu, the Grand Canal, was temporarily vacant, but the cultivators on the mountain knew in their hearts that whether one or two were chosen, like the Ji River in the north, they would be high-ranking officials of the second rank.

The major Heir Apparent Mountains of the Five Mountains were ranked in the third rank. Yang Hua, the Water God of the Tiefu River, was the only water god within the Dali homeland to reach the third rank.

In addition, there was the Qiantang River in the southeast of the continent, the cultivation ground of that old Jiaolong, located in Qiantang County, called Fengshui Cave. And the Yong River within the old Zhu Ying Dynasty, which was recorded in Li Lao’s “Classic of Water” that “where there is water in all directions, it is called Yong.”

Cui Dongshan and Jiang Shangzhen had previously traveled to Bailu Ferry at Zhengyang Mountain and encountered a group of dragon raisers who had a deep connection with the Qiantang River.

Then there were the City Gods of the capitals of each country, but their ranks varied greatly. The City God of the Dali Dynasty’s capital was ranked as high as the third rank, while those of the various vassal states were ranked fourth and fifth.

Not many mountain and river gods within a continent could reach the top three ranks.

The Water God of the Embroidery River was ranked fourth. Ye Zhuqing of the Chongdan River, and Li Jin, the Water God of the Jade Liquid River, were only ranked fifth.

The most numerous were the Earth Gods, River Gods, whose divine positions were all in the lowest three ranks, still under the jurisdiction of the superior Mountain Gods and River Gods. Promotions and demotions still followed this path, but the county and county City God Temples and Civil and Military Temples had the power to supervise. Conversely, mountain and river spirits also had such power over the City Gods at all levels.

Jiang Shangzhen laughed. “It’s a pity that this old Minister Liu is not a cultivator.”

Cui Dongshan said helplessly, “He even refused to try to become a god with the imperial court, saying that a scholar like him could endure scolding, but he couldn’t bear pain at all. What is it called, ‘shape disappears and bones wither’, it sounds terrifying. Instead of suffering once and then vanishing, it’s better to close his eyes and let it all end.”

The person responsible for compiling the “family tree ranks” of the mountains and rivers of a continent for the Dali Dynasty was none other than Liu Qingfeng, the old Minister of Rites in the Dali’s secondary capital.
Rumor has it that this unprecedented initiative by the Great Li Dynasty has won the approval of the Sages of the Literary Temple. It is highly likely to be promoted throughout the entire vast world, no longer leaving each continent’s affairs to its respective kingdoms. No longer would a kingdom’s ruler and the Ministry of Rites be able to arbitrarily elevate or demote the positions of mountain and river deities within their own borders.

Most importantly, a mountain or river deity’s moral achievements and virtuous deeds would be the most critical criteria for evaluation, not just their golden body cultivation realm, the breadth of their jurisdiction, or the number of peaks under their control.

In simple terms, a small mountain could attain a high position, and a great river could be relegated to a lower rank.

Furthermore, the ranks of mountains and rivers would no longer be fixed, preventing deities from resting on their laurels and enjoying the benefits of past achievements.

Jiang Shangzhen said, “What a pity.”

Cui Dongshan sighed, closing the booklet. “This Mr. Liu spent his entire life serving as an official after leaving his study, exhausting his efforts and mind. It’s good for him to rest.”

Jiang Shangzhen asked curiously, “That matter you always wanted to discuss with your teacher? Is it still something you can’t talk about now?”

Cui Dongshan shook his head. “Before, I wanted to wait and see before speaking, but now there’s no need.”

Jiang Shangzhen laughed, “Then I must drink more wine to hear about it.”

Cui Dongshan nodded. “You and Teacher met in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land. My teacher’s cultivation wasn’t high back then, in a Jianghu surrounded by enemies on all sides. How do you think he fared?”

Jiang Shangzhen thought for a moment, “Extremely cautious and steady.”

Caution was the cause, and steadiness was the result.

Cui Dongshan sighed, “That was how Teacher was when he first left his hometown. So he always felt that, as someone who hadn’t studied much, his first foray into the world, into the Jianghu, was so careful and prudent. Then what about others? Those with more Jianghu experience, those who have read many books?”

“So this led to a certain outcome. In some matters, Teacher would be a little like Zheng Juzhong.”