In the desolate wilderness, four sword lights, like rainbows, cleaved through the sky. Wherever the sword lights reached, the sea of clouds shattered.

Chen Ping’an wore a lotus crown and a cyan-colored Daoist robe, the Night Wanderer sword strapped to his back.

Ning Yao was clad in a golden and jade-like robe, a sword box carried behind her.

Qi Tingji and Lu Zhi journeyed afar on their swords.

Lu Chen condensed his divine consciousness into a mustard seed-sized form, enthroning himself within a single petal of the lotus crown as a Daoist sanctum. Perhaps finding the journey dull, he leaped up and began practicing a set of boxing techniques.

Qi Tingji chuckled in his mind, “Hidden Official seems to be accommodating our sword-flying speed; otherwise, he could be much faster.”

Chen Ping’an, in his current state, could be said to be wandering within the universal Qi, like a lone leaf boat, perpetually drifting downstream in the river of time. In contrast, the other three sword cultivators needed to wade through the water to keep up.

Lu Zhi, somewhat absentmindedly, pouted, preoccupied with examining the swords hidden within the sword box. Each blade bore inscriptions, the tiny box likely a treasured artifact of Jade Capital, possessing the magical power to contain a universe within a mustard seed. Thus, the eight swords within were miniature, like flying swords. Their names were Autumn Water, Swimming Duck, Deliberate, Chiseling Aperture, South Ocean, Playing with the Blade, Cicada Shell, and Mountain Wood. The eight ancient swords brimmed with sword Qi, each imbued with a sliver of profound Daoist truth. No wonder the Third Master of Jade Capital looked pained when he produced the box on the city walls earlier, likely a family heirloom from Lu Chen’s own lineage?

Lu Chen, flamboyantly shifting his stances, huffed and puffed like a wandering martial artist, curiously inquired, “Mr. Lu, didn’t Senior Great Sword Immortal arrange a way out for you?”

Logically, with Chen Qingdu’s aversion to owing debts to others, he would treat Lu Zhi, this meritorious foreign sword cultivator, with particular generosity.

Considering the sword box, Lu Zhi honestly told Lu Chen, “He did approach me, wanting me to refine swords in Divine Firmament City, but I declined.”

Otherwise, the Great Sword Immortal would have informed the Literary Temple, allowing Lu Zhi to travel to Azure Vault Heaven after the Southern Suo Po battle ended.

Chen Qingdu had actually advised Lu Zhi twice. Once, he urged her not to be stubborn, not to obsess over refining her second natal sword, “Big Dipper,” and to ascend to the Ascended Realm first.

The second time, he hoped Lu Zhi would travel to Azure Vault Heaven, perhaps securing an unrecorded guest elder position in Jade Capital. She could then refine her two natal swords in peace, achieving both advancement and sword refinement. Once she reached the Ascended Realm, if she found cultivation in Jade Capital dull and the rules too restrictive, she could seek help from Sun Huaizhong at the Grand Profound Capital Temple, casually obtaining a Daoist official position.

Lu Chen said, “Mr. Lu’s delay in breaking through is a pity. Senior Great Sword Immortal’s suggestion is excellent. In Jade Capital, neither I nor Senior Brother Yu would constrain you. Why didn’t you agree?”

Lu Zhi offered a very “Lu Zhi” answer: “Too lazy to travel that far.”

Firstly, she didn’t want the Great Sword Immortal to contact the Literary Temple on her behalf. Secondly, she was unfamiliar with Azure Vault Heaven and too embarrassed to borrow money from people.

Lu Zhi had always been penniless in Sword Qi Great Wall. Her salary as a Great Sword Immortal and all her battlefield rewards were used to fill the bottomless pit of refining the flying sword “Big Dipper.”

Hearing her explanation, Lu Chen was not surprised but rather found it reasonable, holding Lu Zhi in even higher regard. He couldn’t help but glance at her a few more times, determined to see if there would be an opportunity to poach her in the future.

Lu Zhi had poured too much heart and soul into honing her second natal sword, “Big Dipper.” Although she was a native of Haoran, she seemed to have little affection for her home world, never mentioning it. As a result, many young sword cultivators in Sword Qi Great Wall had always believed Lu Zhi to be a local sword cultivator.

In fact, Lu Zhi’s natal sword, which had never appeared in Sword Qi Great Wall, governs birth in the Southern Dipper and death in the Northern Dipper. It also possessed a natural affinity with Azure Vault Heaven, after all, there was the saying of the Jade Capital Immortals gathering the Big Dipper.

Back then, the sixteen sword cultivators who traveled to Azure Vault Heaven with Inverted Mountain were led by the nascent soul elder sword cultivator Cheng Quan. If Lu Zhi had agreed, she could have also taken care of the other fifteen sword immortal embryos.

However, Lu Zhi did not agree, and Chen Qingdu let the matter drop.

What use was there in telling a woman who risked her life to carve words on the city walls about how unlimited her Daoist future could be?

Even Lu Chen had heard a rumor that Senior Brother Yu Dou had privately asked the chief disciple of Inverted Mountain to pass a message to Lu Zhi, inviting her to Jade Capital to serve as the master of a tower. Unfortunately, he was turned away by Lu Zhi. In the end, even the female Daoist nun guarding the Saber Chamber could not meet Lu Zhi.

Chen Ping’an suddenly spoke, “Lu Zhi, you can actually register in Lu Master’s Nanhua City, as a nominal guest elder. Then you’ll be half family, like distant relatives who rarely visit.”

Among Jade Capital’s Five Cities and Twelve Towers, the three masters each had a city. In addition, the two cities and twelve towers were either affiliated with the three lineages or were Daoist lineages that had established their own independence. Green Jade City was the Great Master’s place of cultivation, and Nanhua City was even more Lu Chen’s own territory.

Qi Tingji echoed, “I have no objections.”

Since they were half family, then Lu Zhi wouldn’t need to return the sword box, would she?

Ning Yao nodded, “It’s a good thing.”

Lu Chen stated decisively, “If Mr. Lu is willing to condescend to be a guest elder of Nanhua City, I welcome her most sincerely. However, we must settle accounts clearly, and borrowing and returning makes future borrowing easier.”

On this joint journey, they had already passed more than a hundred dynasties, sects, and immortal forces in the desolate wilderness. However, Chen Ping’an’s demeanor could be summarized in two words: restraint. He mostly glanced down a few times, then swept past with Ning Yao and the others, without stopping at all. His Daoist heart remained as still as an ancient well.

Chen Ping’an said, “The *Veritable Traces of the Vermillion Tome* records the Three Mountains Talisman on the third to last page, but according to the book, in addition to the number of uses, there seems to be a crucial limitation. Does Master Lu have a way to resolve it?”

Lu Chen smiled, “It’s not difficult to resolve, but it’s a bit costly. Of course, it also requires a Jade Capital secret technique as a guide. Back then, when Senior Brother preached to Daoist officials from all over the world in Jade Emperor City, Mr. Three Mountains and Nine Marquises hid among them, listening for three days and two nights. Senior Brother saw through him and consulted Mr. Three Mountains and Nine Marquises on some talisman learning. I was watching the fun nearby at the time. Later, Senior Brother created the Three Mountains Talisman, and I was fortunate enough to witness the drawing process of the initial talisman.”
This talisman utilizes the art of visualization to conjure three ferry crossings resembling mirages of mountain cities, akin to opening three gates between heaven and earth, located along the banks of the River of Time, forming a landscape of interconnected mountains and waters.

However, according to annotations in the “True Traces,” the cultivator must have personally traversed the three mountains visualized.

Otherwise, this Three Mountains Talisman would be too unreasonable, a life-saving charm that any cultivator above the fifth realm would dream of, and of course, it could also be used for murder and treasure hunting.

Chen Ping’an explained the uses of the Three Mountains Talisman to Lu Zhi and Qi Tingji. Besides being suitable for long journeys, its greater benefit lies in nourishing the soul.

The only requirement for using the talisman for long journeys is that the physique of the Qi Refiner or pure martial artist must withstand the impact of the River of Time. Three times is optimal. Overusing this talisman will invite the invisible suppression of the mountain’s fortune in the world. If that happens, it’s best to avoid mountains when traveling in the future, or else inexplicable disasters, both great and small, will occur when approaching mountains. For Qi Refiners, this is naturally a counterproductive measure, as the human world is all mountains and waters. Moreover, is one’s own mountain not a mountain?

Lu Zhi asked in surprise, “Is there such a good thing in the world?”

Nourishing the soul is increasingly difficult to achieve quickly for Qi Refiners as their realm rises.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Unfortunately, you will use up all three chances in one go today.”

Lu Chen asked, “Have you decided on the visualization of the nine mountains?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “I saw many wilderness mountains at the Summer Palace and later during the council at the Wen Temple.”

On the earth, they passed another sect, which flusteredly activated several mountain and water formations, as if facing a great enemy.

Even though the four sword lights flashed by and disappeared thousands of miles away in an instant, the sect’s protective mountain formation dared not be withdrawn for a long time.

Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment, “Sect Master Lu only needs to provide two copies of the Three Mountains Talisman for now.”

The last three mountains need to be chosen carefully, with utmost caution.

In fact, Chen Ping’an had been planning this since he walked out of the Yang family’s apothecary, but the Dao Ancestor stopped at the entrance of Mud Bottle Lane.

At that moment, Chen Ping’an had just thought of the eight mountains besides Holding Moon Mountain. When it comes to concealing heavenly secrets, what could be better than staying by the Dao Ancestor’s side?

The Dao Ancestor’s action must have profound meaning, most likely indicating that the route for the last Three Mountains Talisman that Chen Ping’an had in mind had gone wrong.

Lu Chen was relieved. If each person needed three copies of the Three Mountains Talisman, that would be nine mountains in total.

Then the four sword cultivators would need a total of thirty-six precious talisman papers!

He, the poorest city lord of Jade Capital, couldn’t even scrape together that many Purified Verdant Talismans even if he sold everything.

Ning Yao said, “For my talisman, any paper will do. It doesn’t have to be Purified Verdant Talismans.”

Lu Chen said decisively, “How can that be? Such favoritism is most damaging to one’s character. This poor Daoist must put on a brave face and act generous. Even if there aren’t enough Verdant Talismans, I’ll tear up books!”

Seeing that Lu Chen was indeed spending a lot, Chen Ping’an didn’t expose the Third Sect Master’s little thoughts. Ning Yao’s use of this talisman was equivalent to forging a small good connection with South China City. This favor with the world’s number one person is a worthwhile trade, no matter how precious Verdant Talismans are. In the Night Sailing Ship, Wu Shuangjiang gifted several Verdant Talismans. In both the Vast and Azure Firmament Worlds, if a Jade Capital Three Veins Daoist successfully ascends to the Heavenly Monarch realm, they will burn this talisman to welcome their respective Jade Capital Sect Master Ancestor.

Lu Zhi said, “For mine, don’t settle for anything. Make it as valuable as possible.”

Qi Tingji said softly, “My talisman paper can be the same as Chief Lu’s.”

In the end, Lu Chen really emptied his entire fortune and only managed to produce twenty-odd Verdant Talismans. In addition, he also took out a Yellow Court Scripture with purple and yellow auras surrounding it. Lu Chen finally got up at the lotus dojo, formed a Daoist hand seal, chanted a few words, and carefully tore off a few pages of the book as talisman paper. However, Chen Ping’an, who temporarily borrowed a body of Daoist magic, was the one who actually drew the talismans. Lu Chen now only had thoughts left.

Lu Chen tentatively said, “Because we haven’t personally walked through the six mountains, I need to separate a wisp of my mind and enter your heart lakes for a moment to use a secret Jade Capital Daoist technique to help convert the unreal into real, to deceive reality…”

Lu Chen paused for a moment and asked with a smile, “Do you trust this poor Daoist? Of course, you can first carve out a piece of land with your sword heart as a place to receive guests. Besides, the real guest is actually Chen Ping’an. This poor Daoist is just hitching a ride.”

As a result, Ning Yao and the other two all looked at Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an nodded, and the matter was settled.

It was clear that the three of them didn’t trust Lu Chen, only Chen Ping’an’s decision.

Telepathy.

Chen Ping’an instantly mastered the Jade Capital Immortal Technique and simultaneously separated a wisp of his mind to go to the heart lakes of Ning Yao and the other two, helping to shape the mental outlines of the six mirage mountain cities.

The heart lakes of the three were filled with crisscrossing sword energy, leaving only one place, strictly isolating the rest of the scene. Lu Chen was very disciplined, but he was still amazed by what he saw. Especially Ning Yao, with a little deduction, one could know that her mental world was an entire colorful world.

After exiting the heart lakes of the three, Chen Ping’an reminded, “Stay in each mirage mountain city for no more than one incense stick’s time. This matter must be taken seriously and not taken lightly.”

Then Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “Are there any taboos regarding the offering of incense?”

As the saying goes, inviting a god is easy, but sending one away is difficult. The Three Mountains Talisman requires “returning the gift and sending off the saint,” burning incense and paying respects to the Three Mountains Nine Lords, who have been shrouded in mist for ten thousand years.

Qi Tingji said with a smile, “I have long admired the Three Mountains Nine Lords and have nothing to be taboo about.”

Lu Zhi said, “What’s there to be taboo about? It’s just burning a few sticks of incense.”

Anyway, it doesn’t cost her money.

Lu Chen muttered, “The Three Mountains Nine Lords, even as a reclusive master, will be overjoyed.”

Chen Ping’an, Ning Yao, Qi Tingji, and Lu Zhi simultaneously burned incense and paid respects to the same person.

Lu Chen asked, “Do you have mountain incense?”

He was now really afraid of this Hidden Official, who, when he cheated people, did so to the death. Fortunately, Chen Ping’an smiled and took out a bamboo incense tube from his sleeve, which was a gift from the temple keeper when he traveled with Pei Qian and the others to the River God Temple. He distributed a handful of mountain incense to Ning Yao and the other two, but when he handed it to Lu Zhi, he smiled and said, “According to the rules, you have to pay for the incense yourself.”

Qi Tingji tossed a Grain Rain Coin to Chen Ping’an and Lu Zhi each. Lu Zhi flicked her finger, and the Grain Rain Coin fell into Chen Ping’an’s sleeve along with the other one.
Chen Ping’an took the lead, holding the talisman for a distant journey. At the first mountain market, he pinched three sticks of incense, and after lighting them, held them high above his head with his right hand, his left hand making a grasping gesture, due to being left-handed.

Lu Chen clicked his tongue, “For you to willingly abandon this little deception, you are indeed sincere.”

After offering the incense, Chen Ping’an smiled slightly, “Sincerity brings efficacy. One should still believe in these things.”

Ning Yao and the others were a step behind Chen Ping’an, so he stood there and waited for a moment.

Chen Ping’an asked, “I heard that City Lord Guo of Jade Pivot City in White Jade Capital pioneered a great talisman called ‘Sword Cleansing’? Since Headmaster Lu has such a good relationship with City Lord Guo, and has even opened the Thousand Sword Hall there, surely?”

Lu Chen said with a wry face, “Such grand talismans are few and far between, not comparable to talismans made with green spirit paper…”

City Lord Guo Jie and Deputy City Lord Shao Xiang of Jade Pivot City were both well-deserved old sword immortals of the Daoist sect.

In the words of Grand Profound Capital Temple’s Daoist Sun, within White Jade Capital, there were only two who truly understood swordsmanship.

Of course, Yu Dou counted as one, and Guo Jie plus Shao Xiang only counted as one.

Jade Pivot City possessed an item for cleansing swords, a distant ancient star with remarkable origins. The Sword Cleansing Talisman was derived from the process of tempering flying swords.

Lu Chen tentatively asked, “Still borrowing, right?”

As expected, too many words lead to mistakes. He should not have mentioned the Thousand Sword Hall.

Chen Ping’an said, “Don’t be nervous. We’ll buy them. However many Headmaster Lu has, we’ll buy them all.”

Lu Chen breathed a sigh of relief, “Only three!”

In the end, Qi Tingji spent money to buy three Jade Pivot City Sword Cleansing Talismans, and gave them all to Lu Zhi, urging her to refine them quickly, honing her flying sword, the North Dipper Sword Edge.

Lu Zhi, uncharacteristically wanting to be polite, forced herself to say to Chen Ping’an, “Thank you.”

A sword box, three mountain talismans, and Sword Cleansing Talismans.

Not to mention the pursuit and killing of that Ascendant Realm great demon who had taken the name Frontier across the sea earlier.

If it hadn’t been necessary to join forces with Chen Chun’an at the time, Lu Zhi might have been able to carve words on the city wall by staking everything and offering up her flying sword, North Dipper.

Chen Ping’an smiled and shook his head.

Lu Chen felt a sense of sorrow. You, young man, are being generous with other people’s property. He remembered that the young man from Mud Bottle Lane wasn’t like this, so much more genuine.

Chen Ping’an’s figure disappeared, heading towards the next mountain market. After offering incense and showing respect, he didn’t wait for Ning Yao and the others this time, going directly to the third mountain market.

Lu Chen asked, “Why not directly visualize a Moon-Bearing Mountain for the last mountain talisman?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Even if one is an unmoored boat, one must still be careful to sail for ten thousand years.”

Lu Chen deeply agreed, “That’s reasonable, and it’s also a good omen.”

This Third Headmaster of White Jade Capital suddenly grinned mischievously, “Chen Ping’an, don’t forget that any casual words from you right now carry a lot of weight.”

Chen Ping’an ignored him, simply looking at the scene before him. This mountain market was a peak filled with baleful aura. Piles of white bones and corpses accumulated, black clouds rolled, and bones littered the mountain ridges. The world seemed to be only black and white.

This sect of the Savage World had emulated the Azure Ocean Immortal Mansion, erecting a memorial archway at the mountain gate, the plaque reading “White Flower City.”

The gatekeepers were two corpses, who must have been sword cultivators in life, their deaths tragic. One of them had a long sword piercing through the heart, firmly nailed to the stone pillar of the archway.

The other knelt on the ground, body leaning forward, a long sword propping him up, the hilt piercing through his chin and penetrating his skull.

They were two ancestors from the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Chen Ping’an walked towards one of the corpses, squatted down, pulled out the rusty long sword, and placed it into his sleeve. He raised his palm and gently swiped downward near the head.

The corpse immediately scattered like dust. Chen Ping’an took out an empty wine gourd and filled it with the remains.

Then he stood up and walked towards the other kneeling corpse, as if helping the ancestor up, gently shook him, turning him into dust as well, and collected him into another empty wine gourd. He then took the sword into his sleeve.

Few sword cultivators of the Sword Qi Great Wall disliked drinking.

After doing these things, Chen Ping’an placed his hands in his sleeves.

A celestial realm demon cultivator arrived on the wind, landing on the mountain gate steps, his expression uncertain. “Who comes, state your true name!”

Almost at the same time, a sect of over a hundred demon cultivators appeared, surging towards the mountain gate.

Chen Ping’an said calmly, “Sword Qi Great Wall, Hidden Official Chen Ping’an.”

The celestial realm demon was first stunned, then burst into laughter, the laughter like thunder, the white bones in the mountains rustling and falling, like rising clouds.

What kind of lunatic was this, making such a joke?!

One of the offered elders reminded in a mental voice, “Sect Leader, the appearance of this young man does indeed resemble that Hidden Official.”

But soon, another cultivator laughed loudly, “Could it be that the Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall couldn’t make it in the Serene World, so he ran off to become a Daoist?”

As a result, behind the sword-carrying man wearing a Daoist crown, three more figures appeared almost simultaneously.

A handsome young man, smiling, said, “What were you talking about that was so funny?”

Chen Ping’an joked, “I said I knew Old Sword Immortal Qi of the Sword Qi Great Wall, and this fellow refuses to believe it.”

The native sword cultivators of the Sword Qi Great Wall were not unfamiliar with the official language of the Savage World. Almost everyone knew several languages.

Especially sword cultivators like Chou Miao, who often needed to travel far and wide.

Qi Tingji nodded, “Then beat him to death and see if he believes it then.”

Qi Tingji only had one natal flying sword, named ‘Military Dissolution’.

When he was young, he had a nickname, Qi the Escort.

He liked to help escort people on their way to military dissolution.

Qi Tingji, Lu Zhi, Ning Yao…

The celestial realm sect leader didn’t say a word, taking the lead in running away, followed by a chaotic scattering like startled birds and beasts.

Lu Zhi squinted, “I’ll leave after I’ve had my fill of slashing here, I guarantee it won’t take half an incense stick.”

Qi Tingji said, “I’ll take care of those who slip through the net.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “As long as it’s within half an incense stick, it won’t delay important matters.”

After using the mountain talismans, the journey to Moon-Bearing Mountain was greatly shortened, saving a great deal of time.

Chen Ping’an left first, with Ning Yao following behind.

The next mountain market was adjacent to the ruins of an ancient battlefield. This place was perpetually dark, the yin spirits were strong, ghosts gathered, and there were hundreds of thousands of yin soldiers.
A ghastly valley akin to the Bone Beach of the Northern Ju Continent. However, unlike the Bone Beach, this place lacks the suppression of the Hemp Robe Sect. The battlefields of the Vast World are restrained by Confucian academies, aquatic and terrestrial ritual sites established by various dynasties and affiliated states, and the descending mountains of genealogical immortal masters seeking experience and merit. Therefore, it is rare for any significant force to form. The Wild Desolate World, however, is different.

Ning Yao declared she would draw her sword here.

Chen Ping’an, on the other hand, continued his journey to the next mountain town, clutching his talisman.

Any Ascension Realm sword cultivator without any worries, once unleashed, would possess a killing power that could only be described in four words: utterly unreasonable.

Indeed, within less than half an incense stick’s time, a desolate sect of the Wild Desolate World was completely extinguished.

Lu Zhi stopped on the mountain peak, calling out his name directly, “Qi Tingji, I hope that the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect and the Fallen Peak can sail in the same boat in the future. Otherwise, if conflicts arise, I might side with outsiders.”

Qi Tingji jested, “Chief Lu, that sounds like you’re bending your elbow outwards.”

Lu Zhi was not one to keep things hidden, “Dong Sangeng, Chen Xi, and you, if I had a choice, I certainly wouldn’t follow you. What’s the point of being a founding ancestor of a sect in the Vast World?”

“Because out of the three sword cultivators who inscribed words on the city walls, you are the most ambitious, with the most impure sword heart. From the first day I arrived at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, I was unwilling to get close to you. You appear amicable to everyone on the surface, but you’re actually distant from everyone. I believe you saw that long ago.”

Qi Tingji nodded, “Finally, I’ve heard these honest words.”

If Lu Zhi had remained silent, never proactively revealing this matter, Qi Tingji would not have considered it a good thing.

When people’s hearts are not aligned, the slightest gap can feel like an insurmountable mountain range. A’Liang once said that all words in the world are bridges. This is true.

Now that it was out in the open, there was no need to worry about hurting anyone. Lu Zhi bluntly stated, “Man acts for himself, or heaven and earth will destroy him. That’s exactly the kind of person you are.”

Qi Tingji hesitated, suppressing a smile.

Lu Zhi frowned, “Did I say something wrong?”

Qi Tingji explained, “The ‘for’ in that sentence should actually be pronounced in the second tone, not the fourth. It’s originally a genuine cultivation secret, warning future generations to cultivate their nature, nurture their virtue, and seek truth by understanding themselves.”

Among the sword immortals who inscribed words, besides Dong Sangeng, Qi Tingji and Chen Xi, just their knowledge alone, if placed in the Vast World, would be more than enough to become Confucian scholars. As for sword cultivators like Sun Juyuan, they could easily be refined into elegant and detached literary figures.

Lu Zhi turned her head and said, “But you’ve changed a lot since arriving in the Vast World.”

Qi Tingji smiled, “After all, I became the sect master who founded a new school.”

A towering mountain soared into the clouds.

Since ancient times, the clouds and waters have been boundless. Where is the Vermillion Palace of the Daoist mountains?

This place was like the celestial realm described in books, filled with abundant and concentrated spiritual energy, with flowing Daoist aura.

It was a renowned great mountain of the Wild Desolate World.

In the Wild Desolate World, there were also dynastic cities, Five Peaks, and even a great dynasty where human cultivators thrived in bustling activity, with humans, ghosts, mountain spirits, and water sprites living together.

Chen Ping’an did not go to the great mountain temple at the peak. Standing where he was, he asked, “Can you calculate which great demons are stationed at Mount Tuoyue?”

Lu Chen smiled, “Difficult. I can only say that the great ancestor of the Wild Desolate World’s first disciple will definitely be there. As for the one with the Daoist name Xinzhuang, it’s more likely that she’s run off to catch up with A’Liang.”

Chen Ping’an was silent.

Lu Chen asked, “Are you still worried that Zhou Mi foresaw the future, and we’ll be trapped in some mountain town? Or find ourselves in a similar situation?”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Lu Chen wondered, “What are we doing here?”

Chen Ping’an looked up, “Just coming here to take a look.”

Withdrawing his gaze, Chen Ping’an said, “I plan to give that *Dan Shu Zhen Ji* (‘True Traces of the Elixir Book’) to the Yellow Court of Mount Taiping.”

Lu Chen understood immediately, “The material of the book itself is good, and with over a thousand two hundred characters refined, it can indeed support a grand Luo Tian Ritual. It can be used as a guardian array. But since Senior Brother gave it to you, why are you telling me this? Besides, your Fallen Peak doesn’t lack such things. What about the affiliated sects?”

“Mount Taiping will definitely rebuild its sect in Tongye Continent. After all, this book was given to me by Brother Li, so I’d like you to say hello for me when you return. If it’s indeed feasible, I’ll do it this way.”

The Daoist lineage and incense of Mount Taiping in Tongye Continent belonged to the White Jade Capital Grand Headmaster’s lineage of law.

“Alas, you haven’t changed at all, still a generous child. Alright, a trivial matter, leave it to me. Actually, with the temper of Eldest Senior Brother, you don’t even need to ask this.”

Chen Ping’an’s eyes softened, “Even with close people, the proper etiquette must still be observed.”

Lu Chen laughed. Eldest Senior Brother was indeed formidable. No matter where he went, he was so popular.

Lu Chen couldn’t help but sigh, “Life is a relay station; nowhere is our hometown. All things in the world have their own destinations. Where does a master come from? We are all just pawnshop clerks.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Let’s go.”

The next mountain town was a ferry crossing for immortals in the capital of a great dynasty.

Chen Ping’an’s attire wouldn’t attract too much attention.

Chen Ping’an said, “Coming here to borrow a sword.”

The formation diagram of the sword array of Mount Taiping had long been completed, but it had always lacked suitable longswords. Otherwise, according to Cui Dongshan’s estimation, a trip to Hate Sword Mountain in the Northern Ju Continent to purchase a complete set of reasonably good quality imitation immortal swords would cost about eight hundred Grain Rain Coins.

And that was assuming that Hate Sword Mountain was willing to empty half of its coffers and actually produce so many imitation swords.

And the capital formation of this dynasty was a sword array that completely abandoned defense and only focused on attack.

Lu Chen was relieved. The sword box lent to Lu Zhi,

Lent to the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, still had some possibility of being retrieved.

Lent to Fallen Peak, was like throwing meat buns to a dog.

Lu Chen laughed, “Borrow?”

“Otherwise?”

Chen Ping’an asked in confusion, “Didn’t you say before, ‘easy to borrow, easy to return, and you can borrow again’? If they come to Fallen Peak to ask for it in the future, I will definitely return it.”

Lu Chen asked, “Will you act now?”

Chen Ping’an folded his hands in his sleeves, lost in thought for a moment.

The gatekeeper, Zheng Dafeng.

First, he guarded the gate for the small town, then he guarded the gate for Fallen Peak.

Was this the so-called will of heaven in the dark?

Chen Ping’an hesitated and said, “I once saw a person on a mountain peak.”

Lu Chen sighed, “No need to doubt it. It’s that ancestor of the military strategists, whose merits and demerits do not offset each other.”
In Fortune and Prosperity Street lived the Li family. Verdant Citadel, also known as Jade Emperor City, boasted plums so crisp they were called Jade Emperor’s Li Plums.

Li Xisheng, a Confucian scholar; Zhou Li, a Daoist adept. But who was the third?

Lu Chen inquired, “Chen Ping’an, you’ve always sought ‘faultlessness.’ But have you ever considered who can truly achieve that? Is it merely an immortal cultivator ascending step by step?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “It’s a deity.”

The Old Blind Man and Chen Qingliu stood together at the cliff’s edge, one squatting, the other sitting, each drinking wine.

The Hundred Thousand Mountains were a vast swathe of land the Old Blind Man had forcefully carved out from the desolate wilderness.

Chen Qingliu asked, “That Great Ancestor of Supporting-the-Moon Mountain, who fell just short of the Fifteenth Realm, was his failure solely due to the injuries to his Daoist foundations inflicted by Chen Qingdu and the others during the Supporting-the-Moon Mountain battle, or did the loss of this part of the Hundred Thousand Mountains play a role?”

The Old Blind Man raised a withered finger and scratched his face. “What nonsense! If it were you, wouldn’t you fight me to the death?”

Chen Qingliu chuckled. “Fight to the death? Even if I defeated you, I’d expend so much of my cultivation that I’d still be unable to reach the Fifteenth Realm.”

The Old Blind Man rasped a laugh. “True enough.”

Chen Qingliu asked, “So he made way for Zhou Mi?”

The Old Blind Man pondered. “I wouldn’t go that far. More likely he’s like me, lacking in cultivation talent. That Fifteenth Realm remains unattainable despite all efforts.”

Chen Qingliu looked up at the sky.

The Old Blind Man said, “Nothing to see.”

The starry river hung in the firmament.

A gaunt old man, clad in a purple robe embroidered with black and white Yin-Yang diagrams.

The wine gourd hanging at his waist glowed resplendently, seemingly containing the magnificent spectacle of an entire celestial river, yet it was diminished compared to its peak.

An uninvited guest had arrived, capable of traversing the void with meditative thought, concentrating his spirit to manifest reality. He seemed like an immortal riding a raft, the constellations shifting as he crossed the celestial river.

Of the eighteen schools of thought regarding the heavens, none could avoid the study of celestial phenomena.

The youth glanced at the talisman and muttered impassively, “Congratulations.”

Yu Xuan stroked his beard and smiled. “Trying to rescue Bai Ye almost ended in disaster, leaving me ashamed to face anyone afterward. I never imagined the Sage would appoint me here to cultivate, granting me a share of celestial fortune, making me even more guilty.”

Despite these words, during the Temple of Literature’s deliberations, the old man chatted with the Grand Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain and the Fire Dragon True Man without a trace of shame.

Yu Xuan pulled a jug of Azure God Mountain wine from his sleeve, raising it high. “Care for a taste?”

The youth shook his head.

Yu Xuan took a swig of wine and asked curiously, “Why would a highly respected elder like you get involved in the affairs of the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven?”

He was referring to the creation of natal porcelain in the Dragon Kiln.

This accomplished individual, appearing as a youth, was once the master of a terrestrial immortal abode and revered as the Ancestor of Myriad Arts.

One of his cultivation grounds was called Prison Mountain, said to be located in the heart of the ocean, unmoved by deities and unapproachable by true immortals, far removed from the mortal realm.

Upon the mountain stood a stele, a platform, and a ravine.

The stele was inscribed with “Tranquil Heaven and Earth, Slay Folly and Stubbornness.” Beneath the Demon-Refining Platform lay a deep ravine called Money-Touching Ravine.

The water within the ravine was filled with the only standardized currency that once circulated throughout several heavens prior to the emergence of Snowflake Money, Lesser Heat Money, and Grain Rain Money – the predecessor to the later Golden Essence Copper Coins.

The original intention was to completely divide and scatter divine essence, but unforeseen complications arose. After over a thousand years of continuous replacement, consolidation, and collection, the three types of Immortal Money currently in use were adopted.

The youth said, “Azure Child Heavenly Lord is a dear friend of mine. If he asks for help, I will provide it.”

Yu Xuan drank his wine, refraining from commenting on past events.

This Mr. Three Mountains and Nine Marquis, whose disciples included the Azure Sovereign of Fangzhu Mountain. In the past, the Three Mountains held a higher status than the Five Peaks, including the current Sui Mountain.

A key aspect of the Rite Master’s past endeavor was specifically inviting this Mr. Three Mountains and Nine Marquis to assist in establishing rituals and rules.

There were also two unrecorded disciples: a Daoist named Wang Min, contemporary to Bai Ye, and a sword cultivator named Lu Yue. Both were relatively unknown in the mortal world, their deeds only circulating among the peaks of Haoran Continent.

One was commissioned to sail the seas in search of immortals, while the rise and fall of the other, Lu Yue, resembled a comet streaking across the sky.

This “youth” had resided in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven for a period of time long ago.

Fortune and Prosperity Street? Talisman Street.

The unrecorded disciple sword cultivator hailed from the Lu family of Fortune and Prosperity Street.

As for the peach blossoms in Peach Leaf Lane, he had planted them casually.

He also provided the original die for the Dali Dynasty’s Golden Essence Copper Coins.

After the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven fell, the Lu family of Fortune and Prosperity Street, who had countless connections with the Lu Dynasty, secretly gifted a few pages of ancient texts to the then Empress of Dali.

One of these pages recorded a talisman, seemingly low in grade and of little use.

Years ago, Nan Zan had learned and used it on the spot in Mud Bottle Lane, personally casting the Wall-Penetration Art to walk from Song Jixin’s house into Chen Ping’an’s ancestral home.

“Heaven and earth communicate, mountains and walls connect, soft as apricot blossoms, thin as paper. I point my finger like a sword, swiftly opening a door, by the decree of Mr. Three Mountains and Nine Marquis.”

However, even Empress Nan Zan, or rather, the later Empress Dowager Lu Jiang, had never heard of Mr. Three Mountains and Nine Marquis, let alone understood the roots of his Dao.

It was a pity that Nan Zan failed to uncover the truth after returning to the capital. Over the years, she never paid much attention to this matter. If this talisman had fallen into the hands of someone knowledgeable, that single page alone would have been a treasure to protect a mountain.

Yu Xuan sighed, “The Supreme One is divine indeed, crossing the starry river on a mount of sun and moon, roaming beyond the Three Mountains, Four Seas, and Five Peaks, unperturbed by life and death.”

The youth shook his head. “Ten thousand years ago, deities were still the masters of this realm. Crossing the starry river was easy, riding the sun and moon, not so much.”

Yu Xuan turned to gaze into the distance. “Is that fellow staring at us right now?”

However, the youth did not follow Yu Xuan’s gaze but looked toward the lands of the desolate wilderness, saying, “It seems he intends to do more than just move mountains.”

A golden arched bridge.

Even a peak Ascension Realm cultivator within it could not see the end.

Zhou Mi’s ascension was inevitable, occupying the primary position in the ruins of the ancient Heavenly Court.

The God of Fire returned to his rightful place, his status equal to Zhou Mi’s, neither superior nor inferior, equals in every way.

Li Zhen, the new Armored One.

Years ago, of the three sword cultivators who jointly cleaved Supporting-the-Moon Mountain, Chen Qingdu’s natal flying sword, “Floating Duckweed,” was completely shattered there, leading to the later union with the Sword Qi Great Wall.

The Dragon Sovereign’s natal flying sword was named Great Tomb of Immortals.
As for Li Zhen’s previous incarnation, the sword cultivator Guan Zhao, his natal flying sword was named River of Light and Time.

The newly ascended Water God, Yu Si, is the master of the throne daemon, Crimson Consort.

The Great Dao divinity stripped from Water God Li Liu by Ruan Xiu was casually tossed to Yu Si by her.

When ascending, Zhou Mi carried with him several blessed lands. As for the grotto-heavens of the desolate world, they were meaningless here, mere burdens.

The beings within those blessed lands were both the source of incense offerings from the human realm and potential candidates for various divine positions.

Originally, sword cultivator Fei Ran best fit Zhou Mi’s expectations as the ideal candidate to replace the Sword Holder, with a divine rank below the five supreme deities of the ancient Heavenly Court, yet above the twelve high positions.

After all, that Sword Holder was still alive.

However, the sliver of Tai Bai Immortal Sword gifted by Bai Ye chose Chen Ping’an, Liu Cai, Zhao Yao, and finally Fei Ran, who was clearly a demon cultivator!

It was an unreasonable move that even Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City couldn’t have made.

It was absolutely not an arrangement by the Confucian Temple of the Central Earth. This was the Vast Sky’s formless suppression of the Vast Sky merchant, Jia Sheng.

Zhou Mi had no choice but to settle for second best, leaving Fei Ran in the desolate world, where he became the sovereign of the world in one fell swoop.

Without Fei Ran, he had to choose Tan. In addition, the dozens of sword cultivators Zhou Mi brought here, besides all being the hundred sword immortals of Mount Tuoyue, were also reincarnated deities planned by Mount Tuoyue for two thousand years. However, like Yu Si and Tan, although they all occupied a divine position, they all possessed varying degrees of incomplete divinity. But these were only minor matters, all within Zhou Mi’s calculations, with minimal error.

The biggest surprise was after ascending, when Zhou Mi discovered that his pure divinity was indeed not lacking, even higher than expected by ten percent. However, the crux of the matter lay in that “one” part, of which Zhou Mi only obtained nearly half. The problem was that this near-half was infinitely close, but this slight difference was like heaven and earth.

Moreover, even if Zhou Mi used a contingency plan, that “one” would rise along with it, preventing Zhou Mi from ever exceeding half.

Even though Zhou Mi was now at the greater part of the former Heavenly Court sovereign’s cultivation, he still failed to piece together a complete “one.”

This forced him to delay his return to the human realm.

Therefore, the entity with the most complete Great Dao divinity at present became that Fire God, high upon his throne.

The three Taoist patriarchs could either continue to unite with the Dao, after exceeding half, the three worlds would be Taoized, and the speed of Taoization would accelerate.

Or else… they could only scatter their Dao.

Furthermore, many relatively young mountain peak cultivators were unaware of a secret: the progenitor of the military strategists had a ten-thousand-year agreement with the three Taoist patriarchs.

Before returning to the human realm, Zhou Mi, for some reason, allowed a small number of newly ascended high-ranking deities to retain a portion of their humanity.

Such as Li Zhen, and also Yu Si and Tan, these three old friends from the Jiashen camp.

In that battle that swept through two worlds, if a high-ranking deity were to fall on the battlefield, it would be a homecoming after ten thousand years of wandering, a kind of returning to one’s position, but with the loss of varying degrees of pure divinity.

The vastness of the old Heavenly Court exceeded the imagination of any mountain peak cultivator.

Any high-ranking deity was like occupying the territory of several worlds alone, only it appeared desolate compared to their homeland.

Just the distance between the four heavenly gates might take any Jade Pure Realm cultivator their entire life to travel from one gate to another.

The ruins of the old Heavenly Court in the narrow sense were like a capital city of a human dynasty.

Li Zhen, Yu Si, Tan,

Today, the three of them agreed to walk slowly on one end of that golden arched bridge.

Without prior agreement, they each used illusionary magic, appearing more like… humans.

Relying on that bit of retained humanity to act as humans, the bizarre feeling was probably truly involuntary.

Once one obtained immortality, it seemed that the word “freedom” became the most meaningless term.

Tan muttered, “While we can still feel regret…”

Yu Si said coldly, “Wanting to pretend to be a human is simple. In the future, just manifest a brand new world and separate a bit of divinity. That ‘self’ will definitely be more free and unrestrained than before, free to make mistakes.”

Tan’s face was full of anger, and he gnashed his teeth, “Is that ‘self’ still oneself? Doesn’t this self still coldly watch that self, foolishly overlooking for a hundred years, a thousand years, or even ten thousand years?! What’s the point?”

Once divinity completely covered humanity, there would be no more joys, sorrows, or any other emotions. For these deities, it seemed that they possessed countless freedoms and countless possibilities, but the only unfreedom was that they were not allowed to not be deities, not allowed to destroy themselves.

Li Zhen seemed to be the most nonchalant, holding his hands behind his head and laughing, “I really miss the years at the Sword Qi Great Wall. Anyway, I’ve perfectly replicated it, and I can chat with Lord Hidden Official often in the future.”

Li Zhen continued, “According to Chen Qingdu and Dragon Lord’s early statements, if one becomes one of the five supreme deities in name and reality, it seems that one can slightly break that constraint, without being as… bored as we are now.”

Tan’s eyes lit up.

Suddenly, a great light shone between heaven and earth, and a female voice without the slightest emotion suddenly rang out, “Relying on you few wastes?”

Water God Yu Si almost suffocated instantly.

His humanity was squeezed to the size of a speck of dust, and he had to reveal a pair of golden eyes. His golden body was as large as a star.

Tan was in a similar situation, but the suppression of the Great Dao was not as exaggerated as Yu Si’s current suffering.

Li Zhen was relatively better off, still able to maintain his human form.

Li Zhen said with a playful smile, “Yu Si, this is a rare opportunity. Provoke our Miss Ruan a few times. Maybe you’ll be beaten to death, at least gaining a moment of release, and then pieced back together by Zhou Mi.”

Deities are known as the sleepless ones.

Zhou Mi intentionally or unintentionally allowed them to retain a bit of humanity, like a sleepy person in the mundane world who had become an insomniac.

However, as long as all the remaining humanity was worn away, eaten clean by divinity, there would naturally be no more pain.

The so-called deities were like a chessboard, with each square containing an emotion. Precisely lifted, precisely placed back.

The higher the divine position, the larger the chessboard, with more squares.
The crux of the matter lies in this: each rise and fall, overlap and intermingling of emotions, whether single or multiple, is never aimless nor can it be controlled at will. Instead, there is a clear order, an eternally defined purpose.

Furthermore, the total number of black and white pieces remains eternally locked in an absolute state of fifty-fifty division.

If humanity is a natural cage bestowed upon the human race by the gods, then absolute, unadulterated freedom is an even larger cage.

But this is merely the human perspective. The gods are either unaware or, more precisely, will never perceive it as such.

Ultimately, for both humans and gods, freedom seems to be a cage.

“To err is human, to forgive, divine; to acknowledge one’s mistakes and correct them is of the greatest virtue.”

The ability to make mistakes, and even more so, to correct them, is a form of freedom.

There are no words more comforting to the heart than these.

A woman, no longer adorned with a ponytail, stood on the railing in the central area of the golden arched bridge.

With a wave of her hand, she dragged the majestic, golden-bodied Water God Yu Si into a blazing sun, using its fiery inferno to cook him to death.

Yu Si, a great cultivator equivalent to the fourteenth realm, was utterly powerless against her presence.

Zhou Mi appeared on the scene but did not interfere with her wanton actions. After all, the divinity of the Water God remained intact, without the slightest deficiency. He could simply piece it back together later.

Zhou Mi leaned on the railing, gazing down upon the numerous realms below, and smiled, “Who would have thought that I would brush past that ‘One’ within arm’s reach on the city walls?”

Alas, he had failed to become that “One.” Now, Zhou Mi’s vision was temporarily unable to reach many places.

But she, who stood on the railing, was free from such Great Dao restraints, for wherever the sunlight reached, was within her domain.

She remained silent, never uttering a word.

Golden eyes, golden hair, golden robe.

Zhou Mi knew, however, that after ascending to the heavens, she had gazed upon all of humanity, yet pointedly avoided looking at that one person.