The innkeeper was a seasoned veteran of the world. The inn’s business was good, but not so good that only one room remained. The old man simply found the green-robed swordsman traveling the world pleasing to the eye. His clothes were neat, and his expression was amiable; he didn’t seem like a troublemaker. He figured he’d help him out, but not for free. He’d ask for a few extra taels of silver when setting the price. Ultimately, the innkeeper was afraid of being scolded, of having his kindness taken for granted. So, he first gave the man a look, to see if he would take the hint. Unexpectedly, the man immediately returned the look, everything was understood without a word. *Aha,* he thought, *can’t tell, but he’s quite experienced, knows the score.*

The innkeeper accepted a few pieces of silver, the official currency of Dali, commonly used throughout the continent. After weighing them, he clipped the edges and returned some to the man. The old man then took two travel permits and began recording them. The government would audit the books and records. If they didn’t match, he’d face legal trouble. The old man glanced at the man, sighing inwardly, *Ten thousand gold coins can buy nobility, but where can one buy youth?* Being young is so good. There are some things one will become powerless to do.

There’s an old saying: beauty consumes youth. But the green-robed man before him didn’t look that young, about thirty years old? How could he still seem like a novice? Could it be that he came from a martial arts sect, not famous enough, only focusing on building up his strength and martial skills, without caring about finding a wife?

The traveling couple seemed to be from out of town. On the travel permits, both of their ancestral homes were in Huaihuang County, Qingci Prefecture, Long Province of Dali: Chen Ping An and Ning Yao.

Since they were natives of Dali, the old man became even more kind and amiable. When handing back the travel permits, he couldn’t help but smile and ask, “Since you’re from Long Province, can’t you just look up and see the Weida Mountain Monarch’s Cloud-Draped Mountain? That’s a great place. I heard from a friend that there’s a place called Red Candle Town, where three rivers converge, a blessed land. Praying to the River God of the Chongdan River for success in the imperial exams, or to the River Goddess of the Yuye River for a good marriage, are both said to be very efficacious.”

Chen Ping An smiled and nodded, “It seems so. We’ll both go and take a look when we return to our hometown.”

The old innkeeper was truly talkative, and his conversational itch was immediately scratched, so he wasn’t in a hurry to hand over the room key. He leaned against the counter, pushed a plate of peanuts towards the man with his finger, and laughed, “I heard that in your Long Province, besides Lord Wei’s Cloud-Draped Mountain, there are many mountain and water shrines, and even a Immortal Ferry. Does that mean you can see Immortal Lords every day? It’s not like that here in the capital. The government controls things strictly, so the immortals on the mountains don’t dare to come and go in the wind and clouds.”

He was ostensibly praising Long Province, but ultimately, the old man was praising his native-born Dali capital.

Chen Ping An looked at the curio shelf behind the counter, filled with all sizes of porcelain, smiled, and nodded, “Long Province naturally can’t compare with the capital. The rules here are strict, a place where dragons hide and tigers crouch, just not obvious. By the way, do you like porcelain, innkeeper, and only that?”

The old man’s eyes lit up. Had he met an expert? The old man lowered his voice and said, “I have a porcelain treasure that I keep in the shop. People who’ve seen it say it’s an old piece, over a hundred years old, made in your Long Province official kiln. I got it for a steal, only spent a dozen taels of silver. A friend said it was a top-quality piece that was obviously authentic at first glance, and offered me two hundred taels of silver, but I don’t need the money, so I didn’t sell it. Do you know about this stuff? Can you take a look for me? It’s a large pinkish-white glazed vase, with a rare eight-character auspicious inscription, depicting figures.”

The old man raised his hand to gesture the height. The vase was about half a person tall.

Chen Ping An thought for a moment and said softly, “It’s definitely not a hundred years old, at most forty. A batch of large pieces with auspicious inscriptions was indeed made during the Yuanshou era. Not many were made. According to the old rules of the Long Kiln back then, any that weren’t up to par were smashed. No one except the officials from the Directorate of Kiln Affairs ever saw a complete one. As for the good ones, of course, they could only be placed…”

Chen Ping An extended a finger and pointed towards the imperial palace with a smile.

The old man sighed, it seemed he had spent money foolishly. Unexpectedly, the man picked up a peanut from the small dish, gently chewed it, and continued, “Such a large piece is already more valuable than smaller, seated or crouching pieces. Moreover, it’s a top-quality figure piece, which is incomparable to birds and flowers or animals. And large official kiln pieces with eight-character inscriptions are especially rare. Generally, they have four-character or six-character inscriptions. If I remember correctly, it was only fired for three years in all the Long Kiln workshops. Now there are some newly produced official imitations, but the old masters of the Long Kiln, over the years, have either left or are old. They’ve brought out apprentices and disciples. Moreover, the imperial tributes that were only sent to the palace in the past have become ordinary official kilns of a lower grade. So, in fact, the firing techniques are not as good as they used to be. Innkeeper, your piece, the age, glaze, and inscription are all correct. Moreover, back then in the Directorate of Kiln Affairs, I heard, just heard, that a small number of ordinary large pieces did flow into the homes of wealthy local families. Of course, it’s more likely that some old masters fired them privately after leaving the Long Kiln, imitations of official pieces. Those are also very valuable. If there are no accidents, your treasure of the shop is worth at least this much.”

The old man looked at the man raising a palm in surprise, “Can it sell for five hundred taels of silver?!”

Chen Ping An smiled and said nothing. He had said all that needed to be said. As for the truth or falsehood, it was important and unimportant. Anyway, the old innkeeper, a shrewd person like him, had taken it all in.

The old man suddenly smiled, “Since it’s worth five hundred taels, how about I sell it to you for three hundred taels?”

Chen Ping An smiled and said, “Innkeeper, do I look like someone who has so much money to spare? Besides, have you forgotten where I’m from?”

The old innkeeper laughed heartily and gave the man a thumbs up.

Ning Yao looked at the guy who could chat so easily with people he had just met.

*When in Rome, do as the Romans do, speak human language to humans and ghost language to ghosts.* He could chat with anyone.

If they kept chatting like this, he might even get the innkeeper to bring out wine, and eventually get the money for the room back?

Chen Ping An leaned on the counter and casually asked the old innkeeper, “Are there any exciting things to see in the capital recently?”

The capital never lacked excitement. Unusual official promotions and demotions, the grand arrival of mountain peak immortals, the establishment of fame by martial arts grandmasters, major land and water ceremonies, scholarly discussions, literary masterpieces were all topics of conversation for the common people after dinner. Moreover, nowadays, the Treasure Bottle Continent, especially the Dali court and the common people, were increasingly interested in hearing about the affairs of other eight continents in the Vast Expanse.
The old man nodded, “Of course, there is! Isn’t there a martial arts exchange at the Fire God Temple in a couple of days? Two of the Four Grandmasters of Martial Arts are involved. Aren’t you here for that?”

Two peak martial artists of the Mountain Peak Realm from the Martial Arts Rankings’ Four Grandmasters were set to duel in Dali Capital. One was a veteran from the old Zhu Ying Dynasty, a renowned figure for many years, now 150 years old, still vigorous. In recent years, his fists had reached a state of perfection on the battlefield, and his martial arts could be described as reaching the pinnacle. The other was a female martial artist from a small country on the southwestern coast of Baoping Continent, named Zhou Haijing. Before the Martial Arts Rankings were released, she had no fame. It was said that she relied on enduring the tides to forge her physique and realm. Moreover, it was rumored that she was quite beautiful, a 56-year-old woman who didn’t look old at all. So now, many young people from Jianghu sects and idle playboys from the capital were all cheering.

Back when the old innkeeper was young, just two Golden Body Realm martial artists exchanging martial arts could attract a massive crowd anywhere in the capital. The descendants of generals in Chi’er Street would definitely come out in full force. Now, even a martial arts exchange between two Grandmasters from the Martial Arts Rankings had to be approved by the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Justice in advance, and both sides needed to sign a contract under the supervision of the government, which was very troublesome.

However, these days, the most talked-about topics in the capital’s court and among the officials of the mountains and rivers were definitely the spectacular Zhengyang Mountain celebration, the presence of Liu Xianyang, a direct disciple of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, and the joint visit of Luopo Mountain, especially the elegant demeanor of Mountain Lord Chen Pingan in his green shirt.

Not a Sword Immortal, but a Grandmaster of Martial Arts.

Indeed, my Baoping Continent, besides the Dali Iron Cavalry, also has sword qi as bright as rainbows and thriving martial fortunes.

Perhaps, it was the same way the young man who left his hometown on the ferry at Dazao Mountain looked at Li Tuanjing of Fenglei Garden back then.

Now, countless young people across the continent look at Chen Pingan of Luopo Mountain in the same way.

Chen Pingan shook his head and said, “We come from a small sect and were busy traveling, so we didn’t hear about it.”

Although the old man was enjoying the conversation and wanted to have a couple of drinks with this Chen Pingan, he still handed over the key. After all, a moment of bliss in spring is worth a thousand gold pieces, so he shouldn’t delay their business.

From beginning to end, Ning Yao didn’t say anything. Earlier, Chen Pingan had paid the bill with lightning speed, and she didn’t stop him. Now, as she followed Chen Pingan down the corridor, Ning Yao’s footsteps were steady, and her breathing was even. When Chen Pingan opened the door and stood aside, Ning Yao simply stepped over the threshold, picked a chair, and sat down.

Something’s not right.

It feels like I’m going to get beaten up.

Chen Pingan stood on the spot and tentatively asked, “Should I go talk to the innkeeper again and see if he can free up another room?”

Ning Yao took off the sword box and casually placed it beside her feet, picked up the porcelain teapot, and poured a cup of water. “You’ve drunk a lot by the river, shouldn’t you sober up first?”

Chen Pingan gently closed the door, but didn’t bolt it, he wouldn’t dare. After sitting down and picking up the teacup, he had just lifted it when he heard Ning Yao ask, “Do you always carry so many travel permits with you every time you travel?”

Chen Pingan finished the water and said, “Like robes, the more the better, in case of emergency.”

Ning Yao narrowed her eyes and said, “What about mine? Although it looks fake at a glance, I didn’t see you making one on the way before entering the capital.”

Chen Pingan smiled and said, “You’ll be staying in Haoran for many years, so you’ll need it eventually. For example, I’ll take you to see Big Brother Xu in Xianyou later. I was thinking of planning ahead a while ago, and it just so happens that it came in handy.”

“It must have taken a lot of effort to find this inn, right?”

“Earlier on the street, I glanced at the display shelf behind the counter and found it pleasing to the eye, so I chatted with the innkeeper.”

Ning Yao didn’t ask any more questions, nodded in praise, and said, “The logic is clear, well-founded, both accidental and inevitable, I can’t find any fault.”

Chen Pingan said, “I’m going to take a trip to that alley later to rummage through books at Senior Brother’s house.”

Ning Yao didn’t commit to anything, got up, opened the window, leaned on the table, her cheek against the surface, and looked out the window. Because the inn was close to Yichi Alley and Chi’er Street, the view was full of bright lights, the book lamps in the libraries, the candlelight of banquets, and young men and women enjoying the moon.

Chen Pingan rarely saw Ning Yao so lazy.

He poured himself a cup of tea, secretly stretched his neck, and looked at Ning Yao’s back. It seemed that she had changed slightly compared to when they were at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, she was a little thinner.

The styles of women’s hair buns, eyebrow painting, rouge, clothing, and hairpins, Chen Pingan actually knew a little about them. He had read many miscellaneous books and remembered them all, but the young Mountain Lord had learned all kinds of skills but had no use for them, a slight regret. And Ning Yao really didn’t need these things.

With her back to Chen Pingan, Ning Yao remained lying on the table and asked, “How did you come up with that sword technique at First Line Peak?”

Chen Pingan immediately withdrew his gaze, smiled, and replied, “I was just idly thinking about it on the city wall, anyway, I had nothing to do every day.”

Before his Natal Porcelain shattered, Chen Pingan had the potential to become an Earth Immortal. It’s not to say that he would definitely become a Golden Elixir cultivator or a Land Immortal who nurtured a Nascent Soul, just like a sword cultivator with the title of Sword Immortal Embryo wouldn’t necessarily become a Sword Immortal. Moreover, there were countless common people with the potential for cultivation but lacking fortune. Compared to the magnificence of cultivation on the mountains, their lives might be slightly mediocre, but stable.

Ning Yao turned her head and said, “The matter of the Natal Porcelain is related to the lifeline of the Dali Dynasty, the foundation for the Song family’s rise. There are too many carefully planned, dishonorable schemes involved. Just the corridor bridge built by Song Yuzhang in the town back then cannot be seen in the light. If you dig up old grudges, you’ll definitely affect the whole body. The emperors of the Dali Song family in the past hundred years seem to be doing things quite toughly, I don’t think it will end well.”

Chen Pingan nodded and said, “I know what I’m doing.”

Ning Yao suddenly said, “Is it possible that Cui Chan wants you to become a lonely, reclusive cultivator in your state of mind?”

Chen Pingan folded his hands in his sleeves, stretched his legs under the table, and his cloth shoes lightly tapped against each other, looking very casual and relaxed. He thought for a while and nodded, “It seems like it a bit.”

In fact, among the four senior brothers, the one who truly guided Chen Pingan in his studies was Zuo You.

“But wouldn’t this push you towards the Daoist lineage?”

“It’s just a possibility, not a certainty, just like Lu Zhi and Xiao Xun of the Great Wall of Sword Qi, they are both very pure in their sword hearts, but not necessarily close to the Daoist sect.”

Ning Yao was silent for a moment, then said, “Do you consider yourself a believer in Buddhism?”
Chen Ping’an chuckled, “I’ve believed it since I was a kid.”

Ning Yao was speechless, as if that were indeed the case.

Chen Ping’an softly said, “Besides the practical and useful knowledge that needs to be learned, good knowledge, even if it’s somewhat abstract, should be learned if possible. According to Cui Dongshan, as long as someone comes into this world, they’ll have a grand struggle for the Dao, an internal and external battle between the illusory and the real. We should seek guidance from the Confucian classics to help us harmonize with the world, and whether we believe in Buddhism or practice self-cultivation, I won’t participate in any religious debates. I’ll just stick to one principle: to seek boundless knowledge with a finite lifespan.”

Man is born like the rising sun, quick to descend the mountain. Entering the endless mountains, one range releases you only for another to block your way.

Every inherently optimistic person is the king of their subjective world.

Then a naturally pessimistic person needs even more to construct houses, pavilions, and docks within the small world of their heart, to shield them from the wind and rain, and to provide places to rest and recuperate.

Ning Yao changed the subject, asking, “I heard from Xiao Mili that Sister Yuanbao likes Cao Qinglang, and Brother Yuanlai likes Cen Yuanji.”

Xiao Mili is probably the most well-informed gossip in Luopo Mountain. There seems to be no piece of news she doesn’t know, worthy of being the Right Protector who patrols the mountain on time every day.

Chen Ping’an suddenly understood, “No wonder Yuanbao speaks with such sharpness and aggressiveness on the mountain, she’s probably trying to attract Cao Qinglang’s attention that way. Yuanlai likes to watch the gate and read books at the foot of the mountain. I was wondering why, since he’s not interested in Zheng Dafeng’s erotic novels, what’s he after? It turns out he’s going to see his beloved girl. Good heavens, he’s not old, but he’s quite perceptive, much better than this mountain master.”

Ning Yao asked, “Will you keep an eye on Zhengyang Mountain in the future? For sixty years, a hundred years?”

Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but smile and shake his head, “Actually, I don’t need to keep an eye on it anymore.”

It’s the same principle as Li Shuipiao of the Nine True Immortal Halls in the Central Earth Continent, and that chief guest elder of the great sect in Northern Ju Continent; they remember what they eat and what beats them.

It’s like when an unwelcome guest visits and deliberately leaves a boot behind, the guest doesn’t care whether they get it back or not, but the host won’t think that way.

Ning Yao sat up, and Chen Ping’an had already poured a cup of tea and handed it to her. She took the teacup, took a sip, and asked, “Does Luopo Mountain have to close its doors? Can’t you learn from Master Ruan of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, accept disciples first, and then decide whether to include them in the register?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “Even if I can manage a few dozen or even a hundred extra people, I’m destined not to be able to manage people’s hearts. I’m not worried about Zhu Lian and Changming, I’m worried about the children like Nuanshu, Xiao Mili, and Chen Lingjun, as well as young people like Cen Yuanji, Jiang Qu, and Jiuer. When there are too many people in the mountain, people’s hearts become complicated. At most, it’s lively for a short time, but one wrong move, and it will become not lively at all. Anyway, Luopo Mountain doesn’t lack manpower for now. Mi Yu and the others can take in more disciples from the lower sect in Tongye Continent.”

After all, Chen Ping’an is not Zheng Juzhong or Wu Shuangjiang. Zheng Juzhong can see through the subtleties of people’s hearts in White Emperor City, and Wu Shuangjiang can personally impart knowledge to all the cultivators of Suichu Palace.

Chen Ping’an doesn’t have such abilities.

It’s not just the difference in realm compared to these two great cultivators, but even more so the difference in Chen Ping’an’s state of mind compared to Zheng Juzhong and Wu Shuangjiang.

At this moment, the cultivating embryos who are flocking to Longzhou, seeking immortal opportunities, dare not say all, but most of them are definitely going for fame and wealth. It’s not easy to enter the mountains to visit immortals, and they are eager to seek the Dao, which is no problem. However, Chen Ping’an’s worries have always been different from those of ordinary mountain masters and sect leaders. For example, in the end, how Xiao Mili distributes her melon seeds may become a major event of fluctuating hearts and undercurrents in Luopo Mountain. In the end, the one who will be sad will be Xiao Mili, and it may even make it difficult for the little girl to happily distribute melon seeds for the rest of her life. There must be a distinction between closeness and distance, and we must first protect the extremely rare peace of mind in Luopo Mountain before we can talk about caring for other people’s opportunities for cultivation.

Chen Ping’an smiled for no reason, “When I feel that a mountain spirit artifact is not so valuable, I need to reflect on myself and be more vigilant.”

Ning Yao glanced at him. It’s either earning money or counting money. After counting money, he earns money again. From a young age, he was so greedy for money that Ning Yao was amazed. To this day, Ning Yao still remembers the night when the straw sandal-wearing boy carried a large basket and ran to the Longxu River to pick up stones.

Chen Ping’an mocked himself, “I was scared of being poor when I was young.”

Ning Yao shook her head. She knew that was not the case at all. Greedy for money is greedy for money, but as long as Chen Ping’an can eat his fill and keep warm, he is a person without too much “external seeking.”

Chen Ping’an suddenly stood up and smiled, “I have to go to the alley to see a high-ranking official of the Ministry of Rites. Maybe I’ll go to the Follow the Crowd Pavilion to read books later. You don’t have to wait for me, get some rest.”

Ning Yao didn’t say anything.

Chen Ping’an took a step, shrinking the mountains and rivers, and quietly left the inn, appearing in a secluded alley without lights.

Ning Yao leaned back on the table, frowning slightly. It’s you who wanted to read books, I didn’t say anything, what else do you want?

An old man hurried out of the imperial city, boarded a carriage, and the sound of the wheels rang all the way. Originally, he was going to an inn, but as he approached his destination, the carriage slightly changed its route. The coachman, who served as the Great Li Royal Offering, said that he was going to the residence of the National Preceptor Cui Chan, where Chen Ping’an was waiting.

At the corner of the street that had previously blocked Chen Ping’an’s footsteps, a line of separation, a seemingly dark and cramped alley, was actually a different world, a white jade square the size of three acres. On the mountain, it was known as the Conch Dojo, which earth immortals could place within their Qi Sea and take out for immediate placement. It, along with the square-inch objects and the near-foot objects, were all rare treasures on the mountain. The old Nascent Soul cultivators were meditating and breathing. Which cultivator didn’t wish that twelve hours a day could become twenty-four? However, the young Dragon Gate cultivator was practicing boxing and walking the stakes tonight, shouting out loud. In Chen Ping’an’s eyes, he was practicing very Jianghu-style moves, an eyesore, just like Pei Qian’s self-created set of Mad Demon Sword Techniques.
The old cultivator, still unaware of the uninvited guest nearby, circulated his vital energy for a small cycle. Annoyed by his disciple’s constant pestering, he finally opened his eyes and scolded, “Duanming, cherish the precious time for cultivation, don’t waste it on such trivial matters. If you really want to learn martial arts, please find a martial arts master. Your family is not short of money anyway. Even if you lack the aptitude for martial arts, just find a warrior of the Distant Excursion Realm to force-feed you some boxing techniques, it’s not difficult. It’s better than you practicing amateurish boxing here and poking my eyes out.”

The young man, named Zhao Duanming, was upright and his heart was as bright as the sun, an auspicious name indeed. Unfortunately, the homophonic sound of his name was a curse. He always felt that it would be better if his surname was Li. If others made fun of him, he could easily turn the tables simply by stating his name.

The young man came from the first-class aristocratic family of the Great Li Dynasty, the Zhao clan of Tianshui, one of the pillar families of the Great Li. Moreover, Zhao Duanming was the eldest son of the main branch.

Among all the pillar families of the Great Li, the Yuan, Cao, and Guan families were the top tier. Then came the Yu family and the Zhao clan of Tianshui, followed by the Qiu clan of Fufeng, the Ma clan of Poyang, and the Yan family of Zizhao, the differences were not that significant.

While practicing his boxing, Zhao Duanming asked, “Master, how old do you think that Zhou Haijing is? Is she really fifty-six years old? She doesn’t look like it. I took a few glances at her from afar earlier. Tsk tsk, she looks fertile. Cao the Drunkard and I both like her very much. Cao the Drunkard and I have agreed that when Zhou Haijing fights with someone at the Fire God Temple, he will definitely get me a good seat so I can watch up close. Warriors seeking martial arts, and if the woman wears a night suit, hehe.”

The old man laughed and scolded, “In the future, you brat should stay away from Cao the Lecher. Zhou Haijing is a martial arts grandmaster, her boxing skills are superb and she is good at maintaining her youth. You can’t tell her real age just by her appearance, it’s similar to us cultivators. And remember, I won’t stop you from watching the fight, but you must control your eyes. I heard Zhou Haijing has a bad temper, not as easy to talk to as Zheng Qian.”

The young man stopped his boxing stance, grinning, “Age is not a problem, marrying an older woman brings riches. Master, can you calculate how many gold bricks I can get?”

The old man rolled his eyes, “With your level of numerology, you could be cultivating. It’s truly unfair.”

Zhao Duanming rubbed his chin, “They are all martial arts grandmasters of the Four Greats, Zhou Haijing is ranked at the bottom, but her looks and figure are much better than that Zheng Qian.”

Chen Ping’an, concealing his presence, stood on the wall not far away. His attention was originally more on the carriage, but he remembered the young man’s words.

As for the young cultivators on the rooftop of the Jingcheng Tianlu Pavilion, Chen Ping’an took a few more glances at them.

Everyone wore a waist tag, but not the “no trouble” tags issued by the Ministry of Justice. Each tag had only one character inscribed on it, all chosen from the twelve Earthly Branches.

It seemed that among the six, there was one each from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, one sword cultivator, one talisman cultivator, and one military strategist cultivator.

Moreover, they were all very rich. Not counting the outer clothing, they all wore the highest-grade warp and weft armor under their robes, as if they were ready to fight at any moment.

It seemed that someone was starting a betting pool.

A young woman, wearing a round-collared cloud brocade robe produced by the Jiankang Brocade Bureau over her armor and robes, spread her hands and said with a smile, “Opening a betting pool! Betting on whether the Sword Immortal Chen will go to the imperial palace tonight, one to one odds.”

The other five threw out spirit money. Most were Lesser Heat coins, with a couple of Grain Rain coins. Some only gave one Snowflake coin, a young-looking military strategist cultivator wearing gold-woven sparrow feather patterned gauze, the moonlight shimmering on the satin surface like flowing water.

The young woman asked doubtfully, “That’s it?”

The young girl crossed her arms, sullenly saying, “This grandma is really broke today.”

A young Taoist priest sat cross-legged, grinning, “You’ve saved up so much dowry money over the years, take it out and bet big to win big.”

A handsome little monk wearing a plain gauze meditation robe put his hands together, “May Buddha bless this disciple to continue having good luck with gambling today.”

These six cultivators, some with the surnames of pillar families, some with parents who were immortal couples, and some from poor families in the city, were all carefully selected by the Great Li Ministry of Justice. The oldest was no more than ninety, and the youngest was only ten years old. Besides them, there were eleven others, the twelve Earthly Branches, now only one position was vacant, lacking a pure martial artist. They had no fixed instructors, no formal ancestral hall lineage identity, but among those who taught them boxing, there was Song Changjing, although he only gave a few pointers. There were also Mohist wanderers and the swordsman Xu Ruo. Those who taught them the art of Qi observation were several former mountain deities from the old mountains and rivers of the Great Li, as well as several reclusive people with hidden backgrounds and obscure Dao lineages.

The six people present each possessed an innate object of the Five Elements, possessing the five-colored soil of the New Five Peaks of Treasure Bottle Continent, the Grand Canal water transport of New Qi Crossing, a large number of gold essence copper coins, as well as pagoda trees, and a kind of water-based fire.

Chen Ping’an jumped off the wall, appearing at the corner of the street, no longer concealing his aura, quietly waiting for the arrival of the Vice Minister of Rites. He was actually an acquaintance, the old Vice Minister Dong Hu.

The old Nascent Soul cultivator put away his dojo and stood at the alley entrance with his disciple Zhao Duanming. The old man frowned, “Here again?”

Is this a place to wander around casually? Why don’t young people listen to advice these days? Do they have to learn the hard way before they remember?

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Sorry for disturbing the old immortal master’s cultivation. I’m waiting for someone here. Maybe after we talk, I can go to the residence to read.”

The old cultivator shook his head, not wanting to say more. At most, when the Ministry of Justice asked about it, he would say that it was a tactless Jianghu person, not worth making a fuss over.

The old man suddenly stopped and turned his head. He saw the Vice Minister of Rites, Dong Hu, stepping out of the carriage.

Chen Ping’an took the initiative to bow, “Greetings, Elder Dong.”

Dong Hu quickly reached out to lift the young mountain master’s arm, “Mountain Master Chen, you mustn’t, you mustn’t.”

After the old Vice Minister smiled, he braced himself and said, “May I ask Mountain Master Chen, what is the meaning of visiting the capital?”

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “What is His Majesty’s meaning?”

Dong Hu said cautiously, “That depends on what Mountain Master Chen’s meaning is.”

A woman holding a wine pot appeared on the roof in the distance, the young woman who had just opened the betting pool, smiled sweetly, “Aunt Feng.”

The woman’s voice was naturally charming, she laughed, “You guys are not very brave, opening a betting pool right under their noses.”
The young woman asked in surprise, “Aunt Feng, did he discover us long ago?”

In the alleyway, Chen Ping’an heard the words of that “Aunt Feng.” He excused himself from the old Vice Minister, saying he would return shortly, and with a flicker, vanished, heading straight for that rooftop.

A swaying azure robe materialized, standing at the upturned eaves.

That night, when he was fourteen, the covered bridge encompassing the stone arch bridge had not yet been dismantled by the Great Li Dynasty. Chen Ping’an followed Mister Qi, walking within it. As they moved forward, besides the old man in the backyard of the Yang Family Pharmacy, he had heard several other voices.

The woman looked at Chen Ping’an, smiling as she asked, “Is there something you require?”

Chen Ping’an narrowed his eyes and said, “Once, I was young and ignorant, only hearing your voice but not seeing your face. I never expected to meet the venerable senior’s true form here.”