The old Daoist priest came to this desolate Falling Mountain mainly to see Zhu Lian, but he was somewhat disappointed. The person before him was far from awakening from his dream.

Among the cultivators of the human realm, only three and a half truly earned the old Daoist’s respect and peace of mind: the Sage of Rites, the Grand Master of White Jade Capital, and the Bodhisattva of the Western Buddhist Kingdom.

The remaining half, though not respected, was still a source of assurance: Lu Chen.

However, the old Daoist also harbored some doubts. Could it be that Zhu Lian was already awake, and simply never truly entered the dream in the first place?

There was nothing Lu Chen wouldn’t do.

Once these few at the Fifteenth Realm were gone from the world, any existing or future Fourteenth Realm Great cultivator, regardless of which world they resided in, would essentially lose their greatest shackle, becoming more free, free to the point of approaching pureness.

Fortunately, the Great Harmony World still had the Sage of Rites, who was known for upholding the rules. But in the Azure Vault World, the invincibility of the Grand Master of White Jade Capital, coupled with the Second Master Yu Dou’s temper, was known by all for millennia.

It was estimated that all Ascension Realm great cultivators, whether from established sects or wild hermits, would have to carefully consider their relationship with White Jade Capital. Even the existing Fourteenth Realm great cultivators of the Azure Vault World, as long as they clashed with Yu Dou’s temperament, might need to arrange their own escape routes early.

Of course, Wu Shuangjiang of the Lunar New Year Palace and Daoist Sun of the Great Profound Capital Temple would be two exceptions.

One was determined to fight Yu Dou to the death, and the other, as the unwavering fifth in the world, was no pushover when it came to exchanging Daoist techniques. Moreover, “This old Daoist has said a few good words for you with Lu Chen, are you, Yu Dou, going to cause trouble for me? You ungrateful wretch!”

Zhu Lian unexpectedly asked a question: “If the Sage of Rites were to leave as well, what would the scene be like in the various worlds?”

The old Daoist smiled and said, “That question is blasphemous.”

Cui Dongshan acted pitiful, “Impolite, so rude. We are fortunate that our Sage of Rites has a good temper and won’t nitpick your unreasonable nonsense.”

He clasped his hands together, raised them above his head, and shook them vigorously.

Zhu Lian asked again, “After the Dao Ancestor scattered his Dao and the Grand Master disappeared for many years, and Lu Chen remained indifferent, would Yu Dou directly use White Jade Capital to swiftly apprehend all Fourteenth Realm cultivators and most Ascension Realm cultivators? Is there such a possibility? If so, would anyone in the Azure Vault World care or be able to stop Yu Dou?”

The old Daoist sneered, “Wu Shuangjiang once gave Yu Dou a similar epitaph, ‘If the ruler does not cultivate virtue, all those in the same boat will become enemies, a path to death.'”

At this point, the old Daoist smiled, “Daoist Sun, that fellow, is always wickedly clever. After hearing this epitaph, he openly cursed Wu Shuangjiang, saying, ‘What a load of crap! Who is my Daoist friend Yu Dou? Truly invincible! So what if everyone in the boat is an enemy? That is precisely the feat that Daoist Yu wants, a seemingly dangerous situation that is actually a false alarm.'”

As for the old Daoist’s implication, it was that, besides the Lunar New Year Palace and the Great Profound Capital Temple, he himself, who had now moved the View of the Dao to the Azure Vault World, was also in the same boat as Yu Dou.

Cui Dongshan poured a cup of tea for the old Daoist, “Senior, no matter what, you and my teacher can be considered friends despite the age gap. It’s rare for you to make a trip to Falling Mountain. Who knows when the next visit will be? How about I take you for a walk around Rainbow Peak?”

The old Daoist scoffed, “Don’t try to cozy up to this old Daoist. Giving a copy of the Lotus Root Paradise map to Chen Ping’an is already more than enough.”

Cui Dongshan was still unwilling to give up, “It’s just a walk around Falling Mountain, Senior. Isn’t it a bit unreasonable of you to refuse?”

Every step this old Daoist took in the human world was significant, because every place he set foot in was a place of cultivation.

Spring planting, autumn harvest, always wearing shackles, busy in the fields all his life, who was this referring to?

This old Daoist’s stubbornness was, of course, because he had the qualifications to be so arrogant. What was the “field”? In the early days, it was the heavens and earth as the fields.

The earth had its age and attributes. Rain nourished the grass. The farmer toiled. Farmers sowed hundreds of grains. Ordinary families managed their fields. Those with poor soil fertilized it. Those with light soil wrapped the oxen’s feet in cloth and trampled it to strengthen it. Thus, weak soil became strong. And the common people’s method of “burying green” seemingly ordinary, had a great origin: “bury” was actually a method of suppression.

This old senior of the View of the Dao of the East Sea, the path he walked would eventually turn the filthy turbidity between heaven and earth into pure qi. This mysterious and elusive pure qi was even more difficult to obtain by human power than the spiritual qi that cultivators considered the foundation of the Great Dao. If spiritual qi was the foundation of cultivation, then pure qi was the source of luck.

If the ancestor of the Agricultural School among the Hundred Schools of Thought had the fortune to see this old Daoist, he would have been even more exaggerated than Cui Dongshan.

It was suitable for the people to be harmonious and the year to be prosperous, the five grains to be abundant, a sign of the descent of auspicious spirits, a year of great harvest.

How could Cui Dongshan miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, wishing he could take the old Daoist to every mountain and stream of his home!

One must be down-to-earth.

The old Daoist shook his head, “Do I need to teach you, Embroidery Tiger, such a simple lesson in profit and loss?”

Cui Dongshan looked resentful and wiped the table with his sleeve, “Senior is scolding me again.”

The old Daoist looked mocking, “It’s your own fault for becoming Chen Ping’an’s student. Aren’t you ashamed?”

Cui Dongshan instantly became radiant, “Old Daoist, you are praising me again, I’m a bit caught off guard.”

The old Daoist was too lazy to waste words with this dim-witted fellow, and abruptly got to the point, saying bluntly, “I want to take away the Green Cliff by the Dragon Beard River. Who nominally owns that land now? The Song family of Great Li? Or that Ruan Qiong, who still bears the title of Sage?”

If it was the Great Li Dynasty, it would be easy. This trip to the ruins of the Li Pearl Grotto Heaven, these few steps I have taken, could be considered compensation. Small streams flowing for a long time, benefiting continuously.

If it was Ruan Qiong, a mountain cultivator, who owned the land and water of the Dragon Beard River, then I would just do a deal with him.

Why give Ruan Qiong this face? Of course, it was because of his daughter, Ruan Xiu.

Relying on one’s cultivation to seize by force?

Such behavior would be disgraceful, and the key was to pay attention to the cycle of heavenly principles.

A cultivator, as long as he lived long enough, would truly understand a principle: debts must be repaid.
Aside from those patriarchs of sects, who treat the entire world as their own private estate, those are exceptions.

A tier below that are the blessed lands and grotto heavens, similar to the old Daoist priest’s Lotus Flower Blessed Land.

Zhu Lian was somewhat surprised, glancing at Cui Dongshan beside him.

Cui Dongshan wore a helpless expression, shaking his head at Zhu Lian. He had misjudged the situation, missing a great opportunity. Previously, Cui Dongshan truly hadn’t perceived anything extraordinary about that cyan stone cliff.

Otherwise, had he known this earlier, he would have moved it to Fallen Peak to serve as a feng shui stone. Anyone with a modicum of sense would recognize the priceless value of an object coveted by this stinky Daoist old codger.

However, making mistakes is part of life; the ability to correct and remedy them is what defines a person.

Cui Dongshan craned his neck, gazing towards the river, and began his calculations. “Dragon Beard River was originally just a small stream, if I remember correctly, called Wu Creek. And the early Wu Creek Chen Clan was a leading family in the Li Zhu Grotto Heaven, only to fall into decline later. Coincidentally, my master’s ancestors just happened to own land there. If we’re being precise, isn’t that part of Fallen Peak’s estate? As for the land deed, if the old Daoist priest wants to see it, I’ll go find it later…”

Of course, Cui Dongshan was fabricating. The old Daoist priest was not easily fooled. He directly split off three strands of his divine sense, sending them to the county city and the county office’s registry, as well as the Dragon Prefecture kiln affairs supervisory office. He swiftly perused the household registers and land deeds, even meticulously deducing the changes in the Dragon Beard River’s course, formerly known as Wu Creek, and the surrounding fields.

In the affairs of the world, everything has a traceable origin.

The old Daoist priest retracted his divine sense, frowning slightly as he looked at the blacksmith shop by the river, Liu Xianyang, a young Jade Purity Realm swordsman.

Cui Dongshan suddenly understood, clapping his hands and laughing. “I see! No wonder the patriarch praised ‘Autumn water pours a starry river, stretching beneath the lotus flowers’ when he traveled to the Lotus Flower Blessed Land back then. Now I understand why She Yue was deliberately dropped off here. It turns out this is where her future breakthrough and Dao integration opportunity lies. Could it be that the cyan cliff is a moon palace mirror? What a wondrous piece of stone, cyan cliff gathering cloud roots! Suspected to be an ancient moon, falling here in reunion. Old Daoist priest, I guessed it, didn’t I?”

The old Daoist priest said, “Go help this humble Daoist negotiate a price with that swordsman.”

It was best to have as little involvement as possible with this young man who liked to sleepwalk. Naturally, it wasn’t out of fear of a mere swordsman, but rather concern that a careless move might allow some ancient deity to trace the lineage back to the “himself” who hadn’t yet attained the Dao tens of thousands of years ago, rendering everything futile.

The old Daoist priest squinted and smiled, “If you’re thinking of helping him inflate the price, that’s perfectly acceptable.”

Cui Dongshan took a large gulp of tea, clearing his throat, and shouted remotely with his heart, “Liu Nappyhead, Liu Nappyhead, I need your help!”

Over at the blacksmith shop, Liu Xianyang was cracking melon seeds on a bamboo chair under the eaves, busy chatting with Yu Qianyue next to him. Hearing Brother Cui’s heartfelt plea, he said, “What? Need help? Begging? Then don’t even open your mouth. I don’t have brothers like that!”

Cui Dongshan sniffled, wiping his face with his sleeve. What defined a brother? Big Brother Liu did! Cui Dongshan quickly explained the general situation to Liu Xianyang, being very informal, saying that the benefits of this deal might go to Fallen Peak, because they were missing a coveted treasure to protect the mountain, and a sucker just happened to come along who could provide that thing. Cui Dongshan didn’t even mention any compensation, or discounting it into Valley Rain money for Liu Xianyang.

Liu Xianyang turned his head and spat out the melon seed shells, saying, “Damn, no big deal, easy peasy, just remember to have that sucker pay a fair price!”

Liu Xianyang caught a glimpse of the round-faced girl out of the corner of his eye, and suddenly shouted, “Wait! Wait, I have to discuss it with Miss Yu first.”

Cui Dongshan clicked his tongue. “Liu Nappyhead, what’s wrong with you? You forget your brothers once you have a wife. Okay, okay, I see you for who you are.”

Liu Xianyang turned his head and roughly told She Yue about the ins and outs of that stone cliff, that it might be the key to her breakthrough. But when She Yue heard about moon palaces and treasures, she hated all these roundabout things the most, so she simply pretended not to hear anything. Besides, why ask me about your Liu Xianyang’s things? What kind of relationship do we have? It seems like there’s nothing at all.

Now there are fewer and fewer ducks in the Dragon Beard River, and the shop has less old duck and bamboo shoot casserole, so she is not in a good mood.

So she specially bought a nest of fluffy ducklings, but day by day, raising them, she developed feelings for them, and had to warn Liu Xianyang every day not to get any ideas.

Liu Xianyang immediately replied to Cui Dongshan with his heart, “Miss Yu said, for my sake, it doesn’t matter, she doesn’t care about any opportunities.”

Cui Dongshan praised endlessly, “Sister-in-law is truly a good match, Big Brother Liu is so lucky!”

Remembering something, Cui Dongshan solemnly guaranteed, “When you and Miss Yu get married in the future, if the congratulatory money I give isn’t the third largest, I’ll change my name to yours!”

Liu Xianyang asked curiously, “Who will give the largest amount of congratulatory money? Chen Ping’an?”

Cui Dongshan chuckled. “My master doesn’t have much money. It has to be our Fallen Peak’s Chief Zhou!”

Liu Xianyang nodded and said, “Remember to remind Chief Zhou, if he is busy, then he doesn’t have to come, but the red envelope must be there. As for how much money to give, let him decide for himself. As for how to phrase it, Brother Cui, you have to help me refine it, but that’s what I mean.”

Cui Dongshan patted his chest loudly.

The old Daoist priest suddenly squinted and said, “Cui Dongshan, tell Liu Xianyang one more thing: if the stone cliff is refined properly, it will be a celestial weapon.”

Cui Dongshan relayed these words without hesitation.

Liu Xianyang jumped on the spot and said, “A celestial weapon?! Brother Cui, quickly raise the price, make the buyer pay through the nose! Okay, okay, it’s just this little thing, don’t bother me, or we won’t even be brothers anymore.”

Cui Dongshan really didn’t say anything else, retracting his gaze from the Dragon Beard River.

People like Liu Xianyang are actually someone everyone envies.

While Cui Dongshan was talking to Liu Xianyang, the old Daoist priest calculated slightly, tracing back to the origin.
The Liu clan, ancestors of Liu Xianyang, were masters of manipulating, nurturing, and slaying dragons. They were once bestowed the compound surname Yulong, Dragon Rider. The very character “Liu” itself, resembling an axe and halberd, was a word of imposing authority. After the dragon-slaying incident, it’s likely the Liu ancestors reverted to the single-character surname. Otherwise, in this Glazed Pearl Grotto-Heaven, if every descendant bore the name Yulong, it would be too conspicuous, and the formless pressure of the grotto-heaven’s Dao would suppress and harm their destinies. A family would find it difficult to flourish and prosper.

The old Taoist master asked, “Does this young man know about his family history?”

Cui Dongshan smiled, “Whether he knows or not, he’s still the same Liu Xianyang.”

Therefore, Tian Wan’s matchmaking between Liu Xianyang and the Mud Bottle Lane boy, Zhigui, was certainly not a random act.

To be favored by Heaven is to have a skill to rely on, allowing one to live a stable life. To be favored by the Founding Ancestor is to possess a craft that ensures sustenance, enabling one to find work anywhere.

However, if a person is incapable of introspection or recollection, even if both Heaven and the Ancestor bestowed their blessings, it would be in vain. It’s like having an empty bowl with no rice. One is blessed yet unaware, lacking the wisdom to take a step back and consider. According to the sayings of the mountain cultivators, this is called a disharmony between technique and Dao.

Liu Xianyang certainly possessed excellent aptitudes, but countless other potential immortals quietly wither away in the mortal realm. They may even live lives worse than commoners. If Liu Xianyang’s heart had strayed even slightly, perhaps becoming lazy or stingy, Huaihuang County would have one more idle, complaining bachelor.

Cui Dongshan chuckled, “Senior, give me a price befitting a celestial artifact?”

The old Taoist master waved his hand, and a cloud-patterned paper, shimmering with purple aura, appeared on the table. He joined two fingers together, preparing to paint.

In all the Daoist scriptures, nothing is more revered than writing the “Three Mountains Texts” and drawing the “True Forms of the Five Peaks,” symbols that only celestial officials with registered immortal names are authorized to impart.

In the early days, Daoist cultivators sought out famous mountains and great rivers, establishing sects and building cities near water, often wearing this map. Mountain spirits and river monsters, all evil entities, dared not approach. Later, the Daoist teachings spread widely, and besides the popular “Mountain Searching Chart,” there was also this “True Forms of the Five Peaks.” However, later generations of Qi cultivators who attempted to draw this Daoist chart utterly failed to grasp its true meaning and essence. They couldn’t even get the shapes right, let alone the spiritual aura.

Cui Dongshan knew that the old Taoist master knew that he knew what he would give.

There was no need for excessive words.

Cui Dongshan leaned on the table, expressing his respect and gratitude with sounds of admiration.

The old Taoist master was using Daoist magic, expending Daoist energy, and imbuing the work with profound Daoist intent. In short, along this Daoist vein where the old Taoist master was depicting this map, much like the method of rubbing inscriptions, the more rubbings taken, the shallower the meaning becomes.

Zhu Lian carefully watched the old Daoist’s painting, smiling and saying, “Unable to afford a mountain to study painting, infinite wonders are captured in the artwork.”

Later, when he tried to imitate it, achieving nine parts similarity in form wouldn’t be difficult. But how much it would resemble in spirit, he would only know after putting brush to paper.

Cui Dongshan picked up a corner of the painting, lightly shook it, and weighed it in his hand.

He guessed that this was the second time the old Taoist master had used this divine ability. If it were the first, it would have been a celestial artifact with both offensive and defensive capabilities. Therefore, this True Form Map in his hand was slightly inferior.

This ancestral Daoist scroll could be praised as a second-class masterpiece.

It was a pity that it was only a half-celestial artifact. If used as a treasure for attack, it would be gone after use, which would be a waste. But if it were mounted and hung in the home, it would be extraordinary. To put it simply, for about a thousand years, no misfortune would occur, auspicious signs would gather, and there would be no worries of a “high-minded family being spied upon by ghosts.”

Cui Dongshan sighed, “Senior, hanging it on the wall is not as convenient as carrying it on a scroll.”

The old Taoist master remained unmoved.

Cui Dongshan had no choice but to say, “Senior himself said that with a little refining, it would be a celestial artifact. But how can I refine this Daoist map and elevate it into a celestial artifact? Besides, Senior’s brushwork is nearly perfect. I have neither the ability nor the heart, and even less the courage to gild the lily.”

The old Taoist master laughed, “Then I’ll retract the words ‘refining into a celestial artifact.’ Do you want to pretend you didn’t hear it, or should I trouble myself to retract a sentence so you really can’t hear it?”

The little rice grain girl near the mountain gate had been watching the table. She was mainly worried that the melon seeds would run out or that there wouldn’t be enough tea.

She suddenly noticed the white goose hooking her with one hand behind its back.

The little rice grain girl frowned, trying to understand what the white goose wanted. Her clever little head couldn’t quite figure it out.

She thought hard, but still couldn’t understand. It seemed she lacked the ability to help.

The little rice grain girl didn’t care anymore and simply spoke the words aloud. She tiptoed and shouted loudly to the kind-faced old Daoist master, “Old Daoist master, do you like the tea? Do you want me to bring you some tea leaves?”

The old Taoist master nodded with a smile.

The little rice grain girl immediately ran to Zheng Dafeng’s house to get tea leaves for the old Daoist master, turning her head as she ran to remind him, “Old Daoist master, I’m not trying to drive you away! Keep drinking tea and eating melon seeds! Wait a moment, don’t worry, I’ll bring more.”

The old Taoist master stood up, and two jade scroll axes appeared on the table.

Zhu Lian and Cui Dongshan exchanged a smile.

As expected, their Right Protector had the greatest presence and respect.

The old Taoist master waved his sleeve, taking the stone cliff into his sleeve. The azure cliff by the river was still there in form, but lacked the spirit.

Cui Dongshan put away the painting and the jade axes, then stood up with Zhu Lian. They still had to show proper respect to their guest.

Unexpectedly, the old Taoist master sat down again and coldly said, “What? Did I say I was leaving? Is Falling Star Mountain chasing away guests?”

Cui Dongshan plopped down. Zhu Lian asked with a smile, “How about staying for a meal before you leave?”

The old Taoist master ignored him and stood up again, saying, “Whether in a dream or awake, when you get to Azure Vault Heaven, you will owe me a meal. If you die old in this mountain, then I’ll pretend I said nothing.”

Zhu Lian nodded with a smile.

Finally, the old Taoist master took a can of tea leaves from the black-clothed little girl and said thank you.

The little rice grain girl scratched her head, “Old Daoist master, you’re too polite!”

The old Taoist master looked into the distance, at the mountains and rivers stretching endlessly, the water low and the mountains high.
Why climb mountains? What is the Way of cultivation?

A lone voice murmured, the mountains echoing in response.

On the city walls, Wei Jin and Cao Jun had inexplicably become the de facto hosts of the Sword Qi Great Wall. Everyone passing by had to stop and greet them.

Cao Jun was quite pleased. His luck had turned around recently. Not only was he practicing swordsmanship beside Wei Jin, but he had also met a string of important figures. First, there was the nameless Daoist who seemed to be Chen Ping’an’s uncle, then Ning Yao, Qi Tingji, and Lu Zhi, who had returned to their hometown. Even the Third Sect Leader of White Jade Capital, Lu Chen, had invited him to visit the Azure Billow World. So what if he couldn’t enter the Summer Retreat Palace? Cao Jun only needed to nod, and he could follow Sect Leader Lu to White Jade Capital as a guest!

Chen Sanqiu and Diezhang landed directly beside Shao Yunyan.

The former Sword Immortal of the Spring Banner Study was surrounded by Madame Tuoyan and several Sword Seeds from the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect.

Shao Yunyan explained the situation to the two local sword cultivators, showing particular favor towards Chen Sanqiu.

Chen Sanqiu asked, puzzled, “Sword Immortal Shao, has Chen Ping’an broken through again?”

Shao Yunyan shook his head. “He’s still in the Jade Purity Realm, but I don’t know what happened. After Sect Leader Lu lent the lotus crown to the Hidden Official, his realm became difficult to discern.”

Chen Sanqiu could casually address Chen Ping’an by his name, but Shao Yunyan still addressed him respectfully as the Hidden Official.

Diezhang said, “Wherever a person goes, business follows. The Second Shopkeeper will never be at a loss.”

Madame Tuoyan had finally gained some confidence while working for Chen Ping’an, but today’s commotion had made her wary of the Hidden Official again.

He was already the closed-door disciple of the Literary Sage in the Vastness World, and the last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall. Was he not content? Was he planning to go to the Azure Billow World and become the Fourth Sect Leader of White Jade Capital?

Chen Sanqiu knelt on one knee, gazing into the distance, lost in thought.

The melancholy traveler who loved to drink had finally returned home, but the one he longed for was elsewhere. He didn’t even dare to drink.

Diezhang, beside him, had only one arm. Her empty sleeve was tied in a knot. She was slender and fragile, yet she carried a large sword on her back.

The Vastness World was indeed full of wonders. The mountains and rivers were magnificent, the four seasons each had their own charm, the water was clear and round, and the mountain flowers bloomed like flames. An old fisherman on the river pushed off with his pole, and the evening glow scattered into brocade with the spring water. All were beautiful scenes, but having seen them, they were just that. The more you saw, the more you forgot.

Chen Sanqiu, on the other hand, had added a travel journal, detailing the local customs and the sights he had seen along the way.

Shao Yunyan knew the origins of the two swords, “borrowed” by A Liang from the replica White Jade Capital of Great Li. He joked, “You two are so close to the Hidden Official, yet you missed the founding ceremony of the Fallen Peak Sect. That’s not right. What, are you worried that the Song clan of Great Li will demand the return of those two swords?”

The sword energy of Treasure Bottle Continent, especially the Great Li Dynasty, would subtly benefit from them.

Furthermore, the presence of Chen Ping’an and Wei Jin was like a barren field that was not suitable for cultivation, constantly sprouting seeds of swordsmanship.

As for the sword energy of the former Crimson Glow Dynasty, it was insignificant compared to the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Diezhang twitched her lips. “Return the swords? Return what swords? A Liang gave them to us. If the Great Li court has the guts, they can argue with A Liang.”

Chen Sanqiu smiled. “It’s okay, no need to be polite with Chen Ping’an. At worst, when the Fallen Peak Sect has another branch sect celebration in the future, Diezhang and I will each give two gifts.”

Over the years of traveling through the various continents of the Vastness World, besides practicing swordsmanship, he had also gained some material possessions. For example, he and Diezhang had accidentally entered a heavily restricted mountain and water secret realm in Flowing Rosy Continent, and both had found some treasures.

He and Diezhang had agreed that when one of them reached the Upper Fifth Realm, they would create their own sword sect in the Barbaric World.

Diezhang would be the Sect Leader, and he would…

…become the Founding Law Master.

The Ascension City of the Five Colors World was undoubtedly fighting not for a temporary advantage, but for the eternal future of the entire world.

In the Vastness World, Qi Tingji had established the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect. Chen Ping’an’s Fallen Peak was also a Sect now.

In the Azure Billow World, his friends Dong Huafu and Yan Ming would certainly not be mere Daoist officials forever. They would eventually establish their own sects, probably like him and Diezhang, working together. Yan the fatty who was unwilling to earn money, and Dong blackface who spent money like water, were a perfect match.

Especially Dong Huafu, who had been a strange child since he was young. According to Dong Sangeng, “Our Dong family has produced an extraordinary genius! Why? Because at such a young age, he knew how to trick A Liang!”

Dong Huafu was indeed close to A Liang since childhood, not at all shy. Every time he went out, he liked to find A Liang, running all the way, picking and choosing things along the way, and finally returning the same way, because A Liang, who was now his moneybag, was by his side. The child would repeatedly say, “A Liang, give me money.”

When he argued or fought with his peers in Taixiang Street and Yuhu Street, if he could win, that was fine, but if he couldn’t, he would make a threat, “Just you wait, I’ll find A Liang and have him kill you!”

When he encountered those reckless adults who teased him about his mother’s affection for A Liang, he would say, “Don’t mess with me, or I’ll let A Liang loose.”

Pang Yuanji of the Summer Retreat Palace seemed to have gone to the Western Buddhist Kingdom.

Then the Barbaric World should also have the branches and leaves of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

The common ancestral mountain and the earliest ancestral hall of all the sects in all the worlds was probably this Sword Qi Great Wall under their feet.

The road ahead was still long and uncertain, but the future was certainly promising.

Was this what Chen Ping’an meant by “no matter who a person is, they must have some hope”?

Chen Sanqiu had several hopes now, besides creating a sect in the Barbaric World, he also wanted to go to the Five Colors World in the future to see his ancestor.

And of course, there was that girl, Dong Bude, whom he had been seeking but could never obtain.

He Qiushang spoke to Chen Sanqiu, “I have met Sword Immortal Chen.”

He Qiushang had seen Chen Sanqiu before at the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, but had not had a chance to speak to him.

Chen Sanqiu frowned. “You’ve mistaken me. I’m not Chen Ping’an.”

The youth was caught off guard.

Looking at the white-clad Sword Immortal with an displeased expression, the youth felt uneasy.
Chen Sanqiu, as a scion of the Chen clan of Taixiang Street, had an ancestor who was none other than Chen Xi, the old sword immortal who, like his master, inscribed words on the city walls. Moreover, his master had privately said that Chen Sanqiu’s future prospects in the Great Balance World were sure to be extraordinary. Once he devoted himself to Confucianism, he might even gain a Destiny Word.

However, He Qiusheng wanted to speak with Chen Sanqiu for a strange reason: both of their names contained the character “Qiu” (autumn).

Chen Sanqiu suddenly chuckled and said, “Remember, in this city, don’t call a nascent soul sword cultivator ‘sword immortal.’ You might end up in a sack, beaten senseless.”

He Qiusheng was speechless.

Wu Manyan’s eyes sparkled. The straightforward young woman approached Diezhang and exclaimed, “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Senior Diezhang!”

Diezhang smiled and nodded.

Actually, after first meeting the little girl in Southern Poso Continent, Diezhang had been puzzled. The little girl’s demeanor was respectful, and her lively, adorable eyes seemed to be filled with admiration for her.

Diezhang couldn’t figure out what Wu Manyan admired about her. It couldn’t be that she was missing an arm, could it?

Wu Manyan genuinely respected Diezhang from the bottom of her heart. The reason was simple: this woman was the owner of a thriving wine shop.

The Head Proprietress!

Even the Hidden Official was only the Second Proprietor!

Mr. Lu had said that Chen Shisan’s business acumen in the Sword Qi Great Wall was even more remarkable than when he was the Hidden Official of the Summer Palace.

In the Sword Qi Great Wall, Chen Shisan had reached the highest possible official position, second only to the Grand Sword Immortal in name. That meant only Diezhang could get Chen Shisan to work as her assistant.

Not far away, five sword cultivators from the Tongye Sect landed on the city wall together. The sudden arrival and disappearance of the heavy snow, followed by the five streaks of sword light dragging across the sky, had made them realize that something extraordinary had happened at the Sword Qi Great Wall ruins today.

Yu Xin held a special status. Li Wanyong carried an ancient sword named “Chizhuan” and was the direct disciple of the previous sect master.

Du Yan, as a member of the Du clan, had endured the most hardship among the five. In just over a decade, he had experienced countless tribulations—family matters, sect matters, and continental matters. The young sword cultivator felt that he had swallowed a lifetime’s worth of grievances, all turned into a bellyful of bitter water. Qin Shuihu, from a young age, had displayed great literary talent, his poetry was exquisite, and his reputation echoed throughout the mountains and even beyond. He was particularly skilled at writing long prose, weaving narrative and argument in a well-structured and measured manner. Zuo You, who had once “visited” the Tongye Sect for a time, had personally said that there was still a promising seed of a scholar there.

Wang Shizi, looking respectful, was the first to clasp his fist and ask Wei Jin, “May I ask, Sword Immortal Wei, what is the origin of this phenomenon?”

Wang Shizi was the only one of the five Tongye Sect sword cultivators who had experience in the Sword Qi Great Wall.

This sword cultivator, of wild origins from the Tongye Continent, had been in the Golden Core Realm at the time. Later, he followed Zuo You out of the Sword Qi Great Wall and went to the Tongye Sect.

In the Sword Qi Great Wall, Wang Shizi had been too embarrassed to mention his hometown. Both his circumstances and his mentality were somewhat similar to Yu Yue, the old sword cultivator who had now become a benefactor of the Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

The Treasure Bottle Continent, because of the young Hidden Official and Wei Jin of the Wind and Snow Temple, was not looked down upon by the Sword Qi Great Wall. Rather, they were held in high regard. The White Colt Continent, at least, had two sword immortals who had died generously, and later, there was the female sword immortal Xie Songhua, who had rendered meritorious service. Only the Tongye Continent, in the eyes of the Sword Qi Great Wall, was truly a place where no contribution had been made.

Wei Jin explained, “Chen Ping’an, Ning Yao, Qi Tingji, Lu Zhi, and the Third Master of White Jade Capital, Lu Chen, have all gone to the Barren World to support A Liang and Zuo You, who are engaged in battle in the heart of the battlefield.”

Wang Shizi was dumbfounded.

Ning Yao and Qi Tingji were Ascension Realm sword cultivators.

Lu Zhi was one of the top ten peak sword immortals of the city, and although she was still in the Immortal Realm, her combat power was comparable to that of an Ascension Realm sword cultivator.

The main issue was, how did Lu Chen get involved?

Furthermore, how did A Liang and Zuo You end up wielding their swords together in the heart of the Barren World?

And this lineup, led by the Hidden Official, was heading south. Who in the Barren World would dare to show their face or stop them? Five sword cultivators and a fourteenth-level cultivator could kill anyone!

Wang Shizi was utterly confused but didn’t dare to ask Wei Jin any more questions.

Yu Xin hesitated for a moment and asked in a hushed tone, “Sword Immortal Wei, is Mr. Zuo alright?”

Concern clouded his mind.

Wei Jin said, “If the overall situation on the battlefield was stable, Chen Ping’an wouldn’t have made this trip.”

Yu Xin breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Wanyong glanced at the famous great sword immortal of the Wind and Snow Temple, obviously surprised that such a formidable great sword immortal was not traveling with them.

To say that Wei Jin was afraid of death would be a joke. He had challenged Xie Shi, the Heavenly Sovereign of the Northern Entirely Black Continent, with his sword twice, once in the Jade Purity Realm and once in the Immortal Realm. So it was strange.

Wei Jin was affable with Wang Shizi because Wang Shizi, as a wild cultivator, had been willing to come to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Besides, Wang Shizi had also practiced swordsmanship under Mr. Zuo You. As for the unfamiliar one who kept staring at him with scrutinizing eyes, Wei Jin reminded him, “Foreign sword cultivator, watch your eyes.”

There were only two types of sword cultivators in the world: those who had drawn their swords in the Sword Qi Great Wall and those who had never been to the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Cao Jun grinned and said, “Earlier, two groups of cultivators from the Central Earth Divine Continent were completely tamed by our Mountain Lord, oh, that is, the Hidden Official. Learn from their example. You foreigners should be very careful. Besides, our Mountain Lord is quite vengeful. Have you heard what happened to the Proper Yang Mountain? Especially Sword Immortal Li, I heard you had a little conflict with the Hidden Official’s senior brother, Zuo?”

Li Wanyong looked at Cao Jun. Cao Jun looked at Li Wanyong.

In reality, they could be considered two miserable fellows in the same boat, but they disliked each other even more.

Su Zi, Liu Qi, Song Changjing of the Great Li, and Wei Ying, the sect master of the Jade Decree Sect, were stationed at Rizhui.

In recent years, the Tongye Sect had faced one crisis after another. After the war ended, the reason it was able to teeter but not fall was thanks to two forces: the Great Li Dynasty of the Treasure Bottle Continent to the north and the Jade Decree Sect of the continent itself. The new sect master, Wei Ying, had not taken advantage of the situation to infiltrate, dismantle, or encroach upon the Tongye Sect. Instead, she had spoken a few weighty words on behalf of the Tongye Sect during the discussions at the Confucian Temple in the Central Earth Continent.
They are grateful for this kindness.

Therefore, the ultimate destination of the five sword cultivators from Tongye Sect on this journey is not the Sword Qi Great Wall, but to visit Song Changjing and Wei Ying at the place where Gui Xu (the mythical place where rivers return to the sea) descends.

Moreover, Qin Shuihu and Du Yan are both ardent supporters of Su Zi and Liu Qi, the kind who would be overjoyed just to meet them and exchange a few words.

Currently, both the position of Sect Master and the Elder in charge of Law Enforcement of Tongye Sect are temporarily vacant.

After discussing, these young sword cultivators made a decision: whoever is the first and second to reach the Jade Pu Realm will become the Sect Master and Elder in charge of Law Enforcement, to uphold the sect’s reputation.

They will be replaced once Tongye Sect gradually recovers its vitality. In fact, the ancestral hall of Tongye Continent is now run by these young people.

Next, Yu Xin went to chat with Madam Tuoyan (Rosy Cheeks), and she seemed to get along well with Wu Manyan too.

Wang Shizi stayed with Wei Jin, and humbly sought advice from this Great Sword Immortal of the Wind and Snow Temple on several swordsmanship issues.

Qin Shuihu flew on his sword to seek knowledge from the old scholar He Shou.

Du Yan found Shao Yunyan, because his family had some insignificant connection with the Chunfan Study of Daoshan (Upside-Down Mountain) through roundabout business dealings. He heard that Shao Sword Immortal is now not only a registered disciple of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, but has also risen from the earliest position of Dragon Elephant Sword Sect’s guest elder to become the person in charge of money. Within a hundred years, Shao Yunyan will be in charge of all the affairs of the sect’s treasury, and will also help the sect to receive guests. He agreed with Qi Tingji on a period of one hundred years, Shao Yunyan only acting as a transitional person in charge of money, and will resign once the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect finds a suitable candidate.

Tongye Continent only has two neighbors, Bao Ping Continent and Nan Posuo Continent.

Wei Jin glanced at the female sword cultivator named Yu Xin, who was born with a clever and insightful mind.

Thus, Tongye Sect still has hope of rising again. It just needs to endure.

Wei Jin rested his sword across his knees, looking south into the distance.

He wondered if A Liang and Zuo You, as well as Chen Ping’an and his group, could all return safely.

At the entrance of Luopo Mountain.

Just as the old Taoist priest was about to leave, Cui Dongshan suddenly asked through voice transmission, “Can you roughly calculate it?”

The old Taoist priest nodded, “It’s not difficult to calculate a rough process, but the outcome is difficult to predict.”

Cui Dongshan’s expression became solemn, and he asked, “What kind of rough process?”

The old Taoist priest smiled, “For example, two people jointly ascend to the fourteenth realm, for example, someone’s sword opens Tuoyue Mountain.”