Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao walked back to the small town. This was no longer just the county seat of Huaihuang, with its sole focus on government affairs. They passed an old, time-honored restaurant. It wasn’t large, but it had three stories. It used to be the tallest building in town, but the third floor was not open to the public.

On a whim, Chen Ping’an suggested going inside for a drink. He smiled and told Ning Yao that in the old days, only the wealthy from Fulou Street and Taoye Lane would come here, or perhaps master dragon kiln potters hosting apprentice-acceptance banquets.

During their chat at the Fire God Temple in the capital, Chen Ping’an learned that this restaurant was actually one of Aunt Feng’s properties. The third floor was one of her resting places.

Furthermore, Aunt Feng had accumulated quite a few land deeds. She also let slip a secret: most of the dragon kiln sites that had now transitioned to civilian kilns were in the name of the old coachman. The old coachman usually lived around Erlang Lane. As for Lu Wei of the Yin-Yang School from the Central Earth Continent, he owned many houses in Fulou Street and Taoye Lane.

Chen Ping’an chose a table by the window and ordered only a pot of wine. The wine pot and bowls were all local Qing Ci porcelain.

Ning Yao only drank one bowl, but she didn’t stop Chen Ping’an from drinking.

This restaurant had once hosted a rare guest in the past.

Even the nominal restaurant manager didn’t take it seriously. But the true owner of the restaurant, Aunt Feng, had sighed softly at the memory.

A scholar with temples frosted with white had once ordered a pot of wine and some side dishes here, drinking and eating alone.

From the second-floor window of the restaurant, one could see a plaque on the street archway, bearing the words “Duty Before Self.”

After finishing the wine and dishes, Chen Ping’an’s face was slightly flushed, but his eyes were bright. Standing by the window, he gazed at the archway for a moment, then turned away and went down the stairs with Ning Yao, returning to Fallen Mountain.

The westernmost house belonged to the Li Huai family. A wedding feast had been held there a few years ago when Li Liu married a scholar from another region, said to be the son of a government official. This allowed the woman to finally hold her head high, and she stopped scolding people. During that time, the woman loved to stroll around, greeting everyone with a smile, including many neighbors she had argued with or even scratched in the past. However, the whole family had now returned to the Northern Entire Continent.

Ning Yao was a bit surprised that Li Liu had actually married. Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “It seems she was settling a past life’s karmic debt, severing ties with the mortal world, and is now focused on cultivating, so reaching the Ascending Realm shouldn’t be a problem.”

Ning Yao blinked.

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “I don’t know either.”

Ning Yao tilted her head.

Chen Ping’an said, “I mean, I don’t know what you’re thinking.”

Actually, there was a secret hidden here, which prevented Dong Shui Jing and Lin Shouyi from completely giving up, or rather, which stopped them from beating up that bastard.

But Chen Ping’an really wasn’t the right person to reveal it. The truth, more or less, lay with Li Liu – it was a marriage in name only. As for the scholar’s side of things, who knew?

Today, a table at Fallen Mountain was lively, filled with people.

Across the table, in the positions of honor, sat Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao.

Then there was Zhu Lian, as well as Wei Wenlong and Zhang Jia Zhen, who managed the accounting.

Also present were Mi Yu, Xiao Mo, and Xian Wei.

With their backs to the door, in the lowest seats, sat Chen Lingjun, Xiao Mi Li, and Chen Nuanshu.

Earlier, the old cook had been busy in the kitchen, while Nuanshu and Xiao Mi Li helped with the vegetables, and Xiao Mo was responsible for serving the dishes.

Xian Wei shook his head in amazement. Xiao Mo really didn’t treat himself like an outsider. Then again, he wasn’t an outsider either. He would soon become sworn brothers with Old Immortal Jia and Chen Lingjun, just waiting for Old Jia to pick an auspicious day for them to slay a chicken and burn yellow paper in Riding Dragon Lane. Earlier at the dinner table, Chen Lingjun had slapped his shoulder so hard it hurt. But it was fine, they were all good brothers. Besides, Chen Lingjun had already patted his chest and guaranteed that Xian Wei would be taken care of, sharing in the good fortune. In the future, if there were ever only two or three side dishes at a meal, then Chen Lingjun would be considered unrighteous, treating his brother unfairly!

As a result, Old Jia slapped the table and cursed, “Bullshit!”

Xian Wei was so startled that he sobered up a good deal. But Chen Lingjun stood on the bench, hands on his hips, and laughed heartily.

It turned out that Xian Wei had a false alarm because Old Immortal Jia quickly followed up with some frank words, “Chen, are you looking down on our humble little shop, or do you dislike my cooking skills? No matter how drunk you get, you can’t brag blindly. You definitely can’t compare to Steward Zhu on the mountain, that’s for sure. But how many head chefs in the town’s restaurants can match the level of my Jia Sheng’s side dishes?! Huh?!”

Especially Old Immortal Jia’s long-drawn-out “Huh?!” warmed Xian Wei’s heart.

This was the kind of Jianghu and drinking party he had been longing for.

As for today, it was slightly lacking, but Steward Zhu’s dishes were indeed excellent.

Furthermore, everyone was relaxed, and there were no tedious rituals of toasting each other. Drink if you can, eat if you want, and there wasn’t even the silly rule of not talking while eating.

Zhu Lian made a slurping sound, took a sip of wine, and asked with a smile, “Brother Xiao Mo, Daoist Priest Xian Wei, are you enjoying the food?”

Xian Wei was devouring the food, and said with his head down, “Enjoying it, definitely enjoying it.”

Xiao Mo didn’t say anything, but simply held his cup with both hands, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one go, then turned the cup upside down.

Chen Ping’an and Zhu Lian communicated with their hearts: “Why didn’t Cen Yuanji come? Is she afraid there won’t be enough room?”

Jiang Qu was in closed-door cultivation, so Chen Ping’an didn’t ask Zhu Lian to call him.

Zhu Lian explained with a smile, “No, she only has two meals a day, morning and evening, and they’re medicinal. She didn’t arrive on time today, so she didn’t come. A girl, no matter how fearless she is, is afraid of getting fat. Besides, I told her, and she said she would invite the Mountain Lord and the Mountain Lord’s wife to a meal separately to thank them.”

Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but smile, “Then I’m taking advantage.”

Thinking of something, Chen Ping’an continued to ask with his heart, “Now that Cen Yuanji’s parents are getting old, are they in good health? Last time I returned to the village, I heard Xiao Mi Li say that Cen Yuanji’s mother had caught a cold.”

Zhu Lian said, “Dong Shan secretly disguised himself as a doctor and helped take a look. They’re fine.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “We still need to pay more attention.”

Zhu Lian nodded.
Having finished their meal, Chen Ping’an asked Nuan Shu and Xiao Mili to lead the way to Pei Qian’s residence.

Chen Ping’an glanced at the right protector’s cotton satchel, and asked with a smile, “What about that big pouch of gold melon seeds? Did you think it was too heavy to bring out?”

The little girl patted her beloved satchel and whispered to the kind-hearted Mountain Master, “Within this ‘secondary capital,’ only a portion of the troops are stationed for now, following me in my southern and northern campaigns. The main force is waiting elsewhere, biding their time.”

With a secondary capital, there naturally had to be a capital city. That, of course, was the celadon piggy bank that she, Pei Qian, and Nuan Shu all possessed, a gift from the old cook from years ago.

As for the nicknames “capital city” and “secondary capital,” Pei Qian had come up with them, quite imposing.

This was Chen Ping’an’s first time entering Pei Qian’s courtyard.

Of course, this was related to Chen Ping’an’s short stays at Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

For nearly thirty years, he had been an absentee Mountain Master, excessively so.

Arriving at Pei Qian’s house, one side was living quarters, and the other side… could be considered the Great Disciple’s study.

The study door wasn’t locked; in fact, there were hardly any books inside.

Against the wall was a shelf holding various treasures that Pei Qian had accumulated over the years of her travels, arranged haphazardly, without any regard for their rank.

However, according to Xiao Mili’s inside information, Pei Qian kept the most valuable items in the room next door.

And under the bed were several locked boxes, filled with account books, and even Sister Nuan Shu didn’t have the key.

Chen Ping’an took out three display stands, one large and two small, from his Mustard Seed Pouch. He had personally handled everything from the selection of materials to the joinery. The smaller stands could be fully stored and retrieved, but the large one required Chen Ping’an to act as a temporary carpenter, squatting on the ground to assemble it. Once completed, Chen Ping’an clapped his hands and turned to look at the desk and stool by the window, which had been there for many years. It was still a small desk with a tall stool.

When Pei Qian was little, she practiced her fist techniques at the bamboo building and would return here every day to copy books.

Chen Ping’an couldn’t imagine that the little coal lump who was so afraid of hardship would suddenly think of practicing martial arts. If he had known, he probably wouldn’t have made her copy books, but let her owe it and make it up later.

Feeling complicated, Chen Ping’an left Pei Qian’s residence, still feeling complicated.

Not far outside the gate, stood Xiao Mo.

Nuan Shu and Xiao Mili immediately said their goodbyes and left, each busy with their own affairs.

Xiao Mo waved to the two little girls, then asked a question he had wanted to ask on the ferry, “When will you visit Cloud-Veiling Mountain, Young Master?”

Chen Ping’an was stunned. It was a blind spot; he was so familiar with Wei Mountain Lord that he never thought of it when returning home. Wei Biao always took the initiative to visit Fallen Phoenix Mountain, and Wei Biao never regarded himself as an outsider to Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Wei Mountain Lord certainly ate his share of Xiao Mili’s melon seeds.

But it was still improper, and he had indeed been negligent. Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “No time like the present. We’ll go pay our respects to Wei Mountain Lord right now.”

The two of them flew together towards Cloud-Veiling Mountain.

Wei Biao appeared on the mountain peak, somewhat surprised, and said with a smile, “A rare guest.”

Chen Ping’an looked sheepish.

That wasn’t very polite.

Xiao Mo bowed and said, “Greetings, Wei Mountain Lord.”

The Mountain Lord before him was tall and handsome, dressed in a snow-white robe, with a golden hoop earring. He was ethereal and refined, with unparalleled grace.

Wei Biao was, after all, a Mountain Lord of a major peak, and already knew that the mysterious young cultivator before him, bearing the Daoist name Joy Candle and named Mo Sheng, was a newly recruited consecrator of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, and had even become a third-class consecrator of the Great Li Ministry of Justice.

Wei Biao smiled, clasped his hands in return, and said without reservation, “Greetings, Fellow Daoist Joy Candle.”

Without a word, Xiao Mo directly took out two greeting gifts from his sleeve, a pair of miniature, adorable mountain treasures: a jade axe and a jade battle-axe.

According to the current standards of the Vast Sky World, they were both semi-immortal armaments.

However, for Xiao Mo, they were useless and unwanted.

Who else would he give them to? Would he sell them for money?

They could only be considered a light gift with deep meaning, a mere embellishment.

After all, this was Xiao Mo, who even described his two natal flying swords as “flashy and impractical.”

Wei Biao initially wanted to decline, as his relationship with Fallen Phoenix Mountain didn’t require such formalities.

Moreover, the Great Mountain Lord Wei mistakenly thought they were at most two magic treasures as a greeting gift.

But Xiao Mo insisted, saying that Wei Mountain Lord was an old friend of his Young Master’s from their early days, and had always looked after Fallen Phoenix Mountain. If he didn’t accept this meager gift, it would be too inconsiderate.

Then, if Cloud-Veiling Mountain ever held a banquet again, even if they were willing to invite him, Xiao Mo, he would never come.

Wei Biao was stunned.

Such a “polite person” was rare on Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

There were only, accurately speaking, two well-behaved little girls, Nuan Shu and Xiao Mili.

If Xiao Mo had made the rank of the gifts clear, would Wei Biao accept them? He would have pocketed them long ago. Chen Ping’an wouldn’t have been able to stop him.

Did he really think this Mountain Lord was rich?

Those damnable landscape gazettes, especially those from the immortal residences of Middle Peak Jinqing, loved to write with veiled criticism.

It was said that some people on Treasure Bottle Continent had even started taking bets on when Cloud-Veiling Mountain would hold its next night-touring banquet.

Chen Ping’an didn’t even use heart-voice communication, but said directly, “Xiao Mo is a sword cultivator, at the peak of the Ascension Realm. He actually comes from the Wild Desolate World, cultivated in that Bright Moon of Radiance, slept for ten thousand years, and recently returned to the Vast Sky World with me, Ning Yao, and the Sage of Rites.”

Mountain Lord Wei had just raised his arm, originally to accept the gift from that “Xiao Mo,” but now he froze there.

An Ascension Realm peak sword cultivator?!

Wasn’t that equivalent to an ancient monarch of the Wild Desolate World?!

Taking advantage of Wei Biao’s daze, Chen Ping’an asked with his heart-voice, “Xiao Mo, what rank are they?”

Xiao Mo honestly replied, “Semi-immortal armaments.”

Wei Biao was about to grit his teeth and accept the gift.

Chen Ping’an immediately grabbed Mountain Lord Wei’s arm with one hand and pressed down on Xiao Mo’s wrist with the other, complaining, “We’re all family here, no need for such formalities. Xiao Mo, what do you take our Mountain Lord Wei for? Put them away, put them away.”
Wei Bo chuckled, “Little Mo, what Chen Ping’an says is true, we’re all family, why stand on ceremony? I’ll accept the gift, just allow me one last courteous act, and that’s to thank you. How could a Night Revel be without Brother Mo? We could even host one specifically for you!”

If Mountain Master Chen wasn’t acting this way, Mountain Deity Wei wouldn’t know what to think. The more Chen Ping’an acted like this, the more Wei Bo realized that refusing the gift would be a decision he’d deeply regret.

Shameless, aren’t I?

If I had any shame, would I host so many Night Revels? My reputation is notorious even in the Northern Ju Continent!

How did Liu Jinglong become known as invincible at the wine table?

And how did the Night Revels at my own Cloud-Veiled Mountain originally start?

Chen Ping’an looked at Mountain Deity Wei.

Two pieces might be too much, how about one?

Wei Bo looked at Mountain Master Chen.

Mountain Master Chen’s gaze remained unwavering.

Wasn’t it difficult for me to acquire that bamboo from Lady Green God Mountain with real gold and silver? Did I just give it away to Cloud-Veiled Mountain for free?

Mountain Deity Wei responded with a cold smile.

Business is business. I hit it off with Daoist Joyous Candle at first sight, and if you have the nerve to stop me, I have the nerve to accept it.

The two neighbors communicated silently, words unnecessary at this moment.

Chen Ping’an felt he was outmatched, so he put his hands in his sleeves and chuckled, “Little Mo, we can look forward to an invitation to the next Night Revel, after all, opportunities like this are rare and don’t come often.”

Wei Bo put the jade axe and yellow jade battle-axe into his sleeves, smiling, “Drink wine or tea, it’s up to you.”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “How about drinking the mountain’s spiritual essence?”

Wei Bo waved his sleeve, “As you wish.”

Little Mo felt that his young master and Mountain Deity Wei truly had a deep connection; it seemed the gift was well-spent.

What does Cloud-Veiled Mountain possess? Colorful clouds, green trees, pavilions, and terraces on the peaks.

What is happening on the mountain today? Friends are meeting, pine flower wine is being brewed, and spring water is being used to boil tea.

Mountain Deity Wei’s homemade pine flower wine is exceptional, only its reputation isn’t as great as Changchun Palace’s rice wine.

Come to think of it, who in the Northern Peak dares to easily drink Cloud-Veiled Mountain’s pine flower wine? Only those attending the Night Revels have a chance to drink a pot of it.

Amongst all the immortal wines in the world, aside from Green God Mountain in Bamboo Sea Cave Heaven, the most precious is from Cloud-Veiled Mountain in Treasure Bottle Continent.

The spring water is the unique Emerald Spring from Cloud-Veiled Mountain, one of the famous springs of Treasure Bottle Continent.

Actually, the evaluation of the springs was done by Dong Shui Jing, the Mo family loan-knife man. Because the three springs that made the list were all contracted by him.

The tea leaves are new tea from the few old wild tea plants on Colorful Cloud Peak, sent by Little Warm Tree around the Grain Rain period this year. Warm Tree is responsible for picking them, and then the old chef personally roasts them.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Allow me to be the host for once; I’ll brew the tea.”

After taking a seat, he flicked his green robe sleeves and performed the Water and Fire Arts.

The tea brewing was seamless and a feast for the eyes.

Wei Bo folded his arms and smiled.

That young grass-shoe wearing lad of the past has become so refined and immortal.

Afterwards, they returned from Cloud-Veiled Mountain to Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

Ning Yao was staying at Little Warm Tree’s residence tonight. Little Rice Grain often snuggles with Sister Warm Tree in bed, so she went along too. Anyway, there are plenty of quilts and bedding there.

Chen Ping’an sat on the first floor of the bamboo building reading a book, and in the late night, he went to the ancestral home in Mud Bottle Lane, lit a lamp, and sat up all night, not feeling lonely.

The next morning, after returning to Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao went to the Sword Worship Terrace again.

Yu Yue, that Sword Cultivator from Flowing霞 Continent, was actually a guest elder of the Xie clan in the Dense Cloud Province of Flowing霞 Continent.

The old Sword Cultivator was too embarrassed to see the Mountain Master, so he immediately set off. Otherwise, he might have been tricked into taking away two disciples. If the old Sword Cultivator didn’t leave quickly to avoid making someone displeased, Yu Yue would be worried about facing a sword inquiry from Grand Sword Immortal Mi!

As soon as Yu Yue saw Chen Ping’an, he knew what the Hidden Officer meant, which made him even more relieved.

Chen Ping’an joked, “Don’t think I’m driving you away.”

“How dare I.”

Yu Yue smiled, “Hidden Officer, tell Mi Yu not to be angry. These past few days on the mountain, I’ve been deliberately calling him Sword Immortal Mi. Although I was useless at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, I at least know the customs there. When I see my old friend Pu He, it’ll be a topic for boasting at the wine table. Haha, would you, old Pu, dare to call Mi Yu that? I dare, and every time I see him, I call him Sword Immortal Mi.”

To say that Yu Yue wasn’t even slightly flustered would be self-deception. Fortunately, although Mi Yu’s gaze was unkind each time, he never actually did anything.

Yu Yue restrained his smile and continued, “Please also trouble Hidden Officer to pass on a message to Sword Immortal Mi, that Yu Yue respects Mi Yu from the bottom of his heart, without any falsehood.”

Chen Ping’an nodded in agreement and asked with a smile, “Why don’t you say such nice things to Mi Yu in person?”

Yu Yue was a straightforward person and laughed heartily, “I was too talkative before and called him Sword Immortal Mi too many times, so I’m afraid of him. Besides, I’m also worried that Mi Yu won’t take these sincere words seriously. If Hidden Officer says it, Mi Yu will definitely believe it. I don’t lose out, and even gain something.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and turned to look at the two children who didn’t dare to look Ning Yao in the eye.

Chen Ping’an took out two prepared small bags from his sleeve and handed them to Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting, explaining with a smile, “Three hundred Snow Coins have been converted into three Lesser Heat Coins. This is the established rule of the Fallen Phoenix Mountain Ancestral Hall; direct disciples going on a long journey will receive this money. You haven’t officially become disciples of Sword Immortal Yu, and I haven’t crossed your names off the Jise Peak ancestral record, so this rule cannot be broken.”

Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting each took the light money bags, but they felt a little heavy-hearted.

He Xiangting, the child who liked to read, gathered his courage and said, “Hidden Officer, we were ignorant.”

Yu Qingzhang held back for a long time, and mumbled, “Hidden Officer, I’m sorry.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Don’t think that way. It’s not a matter of great right or wrong. Cultivating on the mountain emphasizes individual fate. Some things, I must do in my position, and you will think the same in your situation. Now that we’re separating, I’ll tell you frankly, if you didn’t think that way, if you didn’t distance yourselves from me, this Hidden Officer would feel something was wrong, and would look down on you.”
It seems that all children under heaven grow up alongside reason.

Chen Ping’an produced a stack of books. On top was a meticulously copied manuscript of the “Sword Arts Classic,” transcribed by Chen Ping’an himself.

There were also several books of sages’ teachings and literary notes purchased from bookstores in the Great Li capital.

Handing them to He Xiangting, who loved to read, Chen Ping’an said, “You should all carefully study this ‘Sword Arts Classic.’ As for the other books, read them as you please. It doesn’t matter whether you read them or how much.”

He Xiangting accepted the books and solemnly bowed in thanks to the Sword Qi Great Wall’s Hidden Officer, the Fallen Mountain’s Master Chen.

Yu Qingzhang hesitated, scratching his head.

Chen Ping’an joked, “There’s still time to change your mind.”

The two children grinned, a genuine smile appearing on their faces for perhaps the first time in front of the young Hidden Officer.

“Having a good master means you must cultivate diligently. Even on the Sword Qi Great Wall, not every young sword cultivator can have a Jade Purity Realm elder as their master, imparting knowledge with such care.”

Chen Ping’an gently patted the children’s heads. “Cultivation is for a better life, but life is not only about cultivation. You don’t need to understand this principle just yet.”

The two children nodded vigorously.

Chen Ping’an retracted his hand and said telepathically, “Venerable Yu, say a few more words and keep a closer eye on them in the future. Don’t just focus on their cultivation and breakthroughs. It’s not about reprimanding them, but paying attention to all aspects. Cultivation is important, but being a good person is even more so. It’s only natural for wealthy families to dote on their children with abundant wealth and affection, but excessive indulgence can breed arrogance. How can a prideful youth achieve greatness?”

“Especially since Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting both come from humble backgrounds. Their living environment has suddenly improved, so we must be even more mindful of this. As masters and teachers, our words and actions are more important than giving them a precious manual or two. And who needs to worry about money the least in this world? It’s the sword cultivator.”

“Never handle trivial matters for them. Inculcate them with essential manners and etiquette. Since they are already sword cultivators, they must cherish this blessed opportunity, and also cultivate a habit of respecting all lives. Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting are friends, but their personalities are very different. Yu Qingzhang should travel far and wide with you, but also read more books to broaden his horizons and mind. He Xiangting should read, but also pay attention to the mundane things around him. He shouldn’t be constrained by dogma and become rigid. He must learn to apply what he reads.”

“I’m being long-winded,” Chen Ping’an chuckled self-deprecatingly, feeling apologetic. He said no more.

After all, Yu Yue was now nominally the two children’s master.

It was somewhat inappropriate. Fortunately, Yu Yue was not a petty elder; otherwise, these words alone might have earned him some resentment.

Yu Yue sincerely exclaimed, “Hidden Officer, this is not long-windedness, but sword arts, the very Dao itself!”

He recalled their first meeting at Mandarin Duck Isle. The young Hidden Officer was so confident and spirited.

But today, as they parted, the young Hidden Officer’s heartfelt words made Yu Yue realize that the young sword immortal was still a closed-door disciple of the Literary Sage, a well-read scholar.

“There is only one thing I won’t be polite about, Venerable Yu.”

Chen Ping’an continued, “You must never allow the two children to be bullied, even if they are in the right. No need for worldly wisdom or considering the bigger picture. A sword cultivator is, after all, a sword cultivator. A sword cultivator must be a sword cultivator.”

“I will never allow children who left the Sword Qi Great Wall to become… so like the Boundless Lower Realm, not resembling sword cultivators of the Sword Qi Great Wall at all. If I ever discover that they have become like that, Venerable Yu, I’ll have to apologize.”

“I’ll take over the teaching myself.”

The old sword cultivator said in a low voice, “Yu Yue, a sword cultivator of Flowing Sunset Isle, will never disappoint Master Chen.”

Unlike Chen Ping’an’s meticulous thoughts,

Ning Yao maintained her consistent style. While Chen Ping’an and Yu Yue communicated telepathically, she gave the two children from her hometown some instructions. She still couldn’t be bothered with telepathy.

“Yu Qingzhang, your talent for sword practice is only average. You need to know your own limitations and cultivate diligently. Don’t forget your roots once you get to the Boundless Lower Realm, and don’t adopt that ‘better than some, but not as good as others’ attitude. Remember to read more books, use your brain, and learn from your Hidden Officer.”

“He Xiangting, don’t let Yu Qingzhang get too far ahead. At most, allow a difference of one and a half realms within sixty years. Don’t lose that spirit. Even if your sword practice progresses slowly, your character must not be corrupt. A righteous heart clears the mind, and a pure sword heart illuminates sword arts.”

Ning Yao said indifferently, “You two, remember every word I’ve said.”

Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting trembled in unison, “We will remember!”

The Great White Goose had already revealed some of the Colorful World’s secrets and inside information.

The first Jade Purity Realm, Immortal Realm, and Ascension Realm cultivator in the history of a new world!

A sword that slays high-ranking deities.

Traveling alone with his sword, he sought instruction, and heavily wounded the Dao Ancestor’s closed-door disciple.

Now, the number one person in the Colorful World!

The nine sword cultivator embryos didn’t find it strange, but rather felt a sense of awe.

Ning Yao was indeed Ning Yao.

Nowhere in the world could you find a sword cultivator “even just like Ning Yao.”

Yu Yue listened intently. The old man was actually not much better than the two children.

After listening, the old sword cultivator only had one thought.

The Hidden Officer is truly remarkable.

Ning Yao clasped her fist and said, “Thank you for your hard work, Senior Yu.”

Yu Yue hurriedly returned the greeting with cupped hands, “You are too kind.”

Chen Ping’an summoned a talisman boat and sent the three of them to Buffalo Horn Ferry. Treasure Bottle Continent currently didn’t have a direct ferry to Snowy White Continent. They needed to wait for a cross-continental ferry from Northern Ju Lu Continent.
At the ferry crossing, before the ferry even entered the bounds of Dragon Province, Chen Ping’an chatted with the old sword cultivator for about a quarter of an hour. He inquired about the customs and cultures of Ripplecloud Isle and Snowy Isle. Yu Yue, of course, answered everything he asked, speaking in a humorous manner. It was a pity the old sword cultivator didn’t become a storyteller.

After Yu Yue and his two companions boarded the ferry, Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao stood near the railing, waving goodbye.

Xiao Mo found the head steward, Zhu Lian, and told him that he wished to build a pavilion of books.

The honored guests and retainers of Fallen Peak all had their own residences near the bamboo building in the front hills. In truth, there weren’t many left. Xiao Mo, as an honored guest, arrived just in time. Along with the Immortal Attendant who had come up the mountain, there were precisely two vacant residences. Otherwise, they would have had to move to the back hills. Given the style of Fallen Peak, they would never make an exception for them just because Xiao Mo was an Ascended Realm cultivator and the Immortal Attendant had an extraordinary background.

In the back hills, immortal abodes stretched on endlessly, thirty or so in total, all purchased with a mountain of gold by Chief Zhou in his early years. They were intended for new disciples to settle in or to host guests. However, the number of registered disciples at Fallen Peak was still small, and the Mountain Lord had issued a decree, effectively sealing the mountain for twenty years. So, apart from one residence occupied by two people, the rest were temporarily vacant.

When Xiao Mo found Zhu Lian, the old cook was weaving a basket in the courtyard. Hearing that Xiao Mo wanted to pay for the construction of a pavilion of books himself, he smiled and said it was no problem. The mountain craftsmen from Grey Mist Mountain were readily available, skilled, and capable of building a pavilion of books without difficulty. The only issue was that there was truly no space near the bamboo building. So, Xiao Mo had three choices: build it near Rainbow Peak, build it in the back hills, or simply choose a tributary peak as his cultivation ground, which might be more refreshing.

Xiao Mo said there was no need for such trouble. If it didn’t violate the rules of the mountain, he could have his residence torn down and build the pavilion of books on its original site. He could treat the pavilion of books as a cultivation manor, and the pavilion only needed to be two stories high.

Zhu Lian thought for a moment and said that if Brother Xiao Mo trusted him, he could entrust the construction of the pavilion of books to him. It would only take some time and effort, and there was no need to send money to outsiders.

Xiao Mo was pleasantly surprised and quickly stood up, bowing in thanks.

His own young master had mentioned Fallen Peak and praised Master Zhu’s erudition and versatility. The young master had given him the highest possible evaluation: “There is no craft that Zhu Lian does not know. Even if he doesn’t know it now, give Zhu Lian at most three years, and he will be the undisputed grandmaster of that trade, undeniably so. The fact that I can travel far away with peace of mind is largely due to the merits of Zhu Lian, the head steward.”

Zhu Lian smiled and asked, “Xiao Mo, does the pavilion of books have a name?”

Xiao Mo said, “Two Lost Souls Pavilion.”

“A fine name.”

Zhu Lian hummed in agreement, “It has the level of our young master’s naming sense.”

Xiao Mo smiled, “The young master helped me choose the name.”

Zhu Lian exclaimed, turning to Xiao Mo with a serious expression, “The young master doesn’t easily lend his hand to naming things. So many years have passed, and it’s only happened a few times. It’s enough to show the young master’s favor towards Xiao Mo.”

Xiao Mo’s eyes narrowed with a smile.

Zhu Lian laughed, “Envy, envy. My pavilion of books still doesn’t have a name. I once asked the young master for a calligraphy piece, but ultimately it didn’t come to fruition.”

Xiao Mo couldn’t help but feel puzzled. Given the relationship between Master Zhu and his young master, why was this so?

But the books said that in a state of contentment, do not speak of contentment to those who are discontented.

After all, Xiao Mo had only just arrived at the mountain and didn’t know some of the inner workings. He didn’t yet understand the mystery of the books collected in that pavilion. It would be strange if Chen Ping’an helped with the naming.

So Xiao Mo simply changed the subject and asked, “If I stay here, will I be delaying Mr. Zhu’s affairs?”

Zhu Lian smiled, “In terms of work, there’s no such thing as important or unimportant matters. It would be best if you stayed, Xiao Mo. I could have a companion to talk to. Being with good people is like drinking fine wine.”

Xiao Mo took out a book of gentle verse from his sleeve and sat aside to read.

In between his busy work, Zhu Lian glanced at the contents of the collection of lyrics and shook his head with a smile, “You miss him most when the flowers bloom, you hate him most when the flowers fade?”

That’s not right, it’s fallen into cliché.

“It should be, you resent him most when the flowers bloom, you remember him most when the flowers fade; whether it’s missing or resenting, it’s all in the time of flowers.”

Only then can it be said that the feelings are extremely deep and the resentment extremely long, not daring to hate, only able to resent, fully expressing a woman’s sorrow and suffering.

Xiao Mo was stunned into silence, then convinced and respectful, he turned and clasped his fist, “Mr. Zhu’s words flow like a string of pearls, like a graceful lady emerging from a painting, fragrant without flowers.”

Zhu Lian laughed heartily, “Brother Xiao Mo is not at all inferior.”

Xiao Mo felt a little more at ease.

He and Fallen Peak seemed to be naturally in tune with the Dao heart, and he didn’t need to deliberately integrate himself.

“Xiao Mo coming to Fallen Peak, and Fallen Peak having Xiao Mo, are both fortunate events.”

Zhu Lian skillfully weaved the bamboo basket, casually saying, “The kindness of a strong person is a gentle spring breeze.”

Xiao Mo closed the book, just about to speak, when a young Daoist who had just returned from the foot of the mountain ran in, his face flushed, and shouted, “Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo, this is incredible, so this is Fallen Peak!”

The ferry gradually sailed away, like a bird disappearing into the sky.

The nine children that Chen Ping’an brought back from the Sword Qi Great Wall all had their own destinations and were no longer just staying at the Sword Worship Terrace, burying themselves in sword practice. They all had true futures.

The little cook, Cheng Chaolu, became Sui Youbian’s personal disciple. The little miser, Nalan Yudie, apprenticed with the Law Enforcer, Chang Ming.

Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting had already followed the old sword cultivator Yu Yue on a journey across continents, first to the Xie Clan of Misty Cloud Isle, and then they would take the two children to travel around Ripplecloud Isle, living off their good graces.

In Yu Yue’s words, the Xie Clan of Misty Cloud Isle would be smiling from ear to ear, benefiting from his fame, equivalent to receiving two Sword Immortal embryos from the Sword Qi Great Wall without spending a single cent. Could they skimp on immortal coins and natural treasures?

He Gu ultimately recognized Mi Yu as his master.

Actually, it was just a matter of Ning Yao’s words.

What right do you have to look down on Mi Yu? His war exploits, when combined in the Golden Core and Nascent Soul Earth Immortal realms, ranked first, even surpassing those of half of the Jade Pure Realm sword cultivators.

At the time, Mi Yu was standing not far away with Chen Ping’an. Although Ning Yao spoke the truth, Mi Yu was still ashamed.
If He Gu was initially reluctant to acknowledge Mi Yu as his master, holding his nose and accepting it, then Yu Xiehui absolutely refused to learn swordsmanship from Cui Wei, that “traitor.”

Cui Wei even wanted to take the children with him on the wind-riding ferry to Tongye Continent, but Yu Xiehui was unwilling to leave the Sword Worship Platform. In his rage, he said some harsh words to Cui Wei: You, Cui Wei, are still considered a disciple of Nalan Yexing! The master is dead, so many people are dead, so many Golden Core sword cultivators who could have left are dead! Only you hide in a foreign land, never drawing your sword, living your best life, aren’t you ashamed? If it were me, I’d rather die in my hometown or on a battlefield like Old Dragon City! Accept you as my master? Never! I’d be ashamed to even call you master!

Cui Wei, this Nascent Soul sword cultivator, said nothing at the time, remaining silent and leaving the Sword Worship Platform.

Ning Yao’s reasoning was simple. She didn’t say whether Cui Wei’s choice was right or wrong, nor did she say whether Yu Xiehui’s stubbornness was good or bad, but she let Yu Xiehui prove it himself.

First, learn Cui Wei’s swordsmanship, and then disregard any formal master-disciple relationship. Have a sword duel, determine the victor, and use your own abilities to make Cui Wei admit he was wrong in that matter.

Sun Chunwang was easier to negotiate with. Ning Yao said that if the little girl reached the Jade Purity Realm within at most sixty years, she could become her nominal disciple.

As for Bai Xuan, he received a scolding.

Take cultivation more seriously! Your talent is only considered decent in the Great World, in your hometown, you’d be, at best, a Mi Yu before the Jade Purity Realm! How dare you say you don’t need to practice swordsmanship? Do you think you’re Zong Yuan or Chen Xi?

Only Yao Xiaoyan, with her gentle nature, didn’t receive any harsh words from Ning Yao. Ning Yao only encouraged the little girl to be bolder.

Earlier, on the Sword Worship Platform, the eight children were all silent and helpless in the face of Ning Yao.

This may be Ning Yao’s strength.

She doesn’t need to care too much about anything, and she’s too lazy to mend hearts.

But the children of the Sword Qi Great Wall, facing Ning Yao…

It’s actually like Yue Qing, Mi Hu, Li Tuimi, those future great sword immortals, when they were children, facing the Eldest Sword Immortal.

A rare word, a few scoldings, meant there was still hope, indicating that their swordsmanship talent was still passable.

In fact, Ning Yao didn’t initially intend to say so much.

But as soon as she arrived at the Sword Worship Platform, she heard that two children wanted to leave Fallen Mountain and seemed to harbor quite a bit of resentment towards Chen Ping’an, and Ning Yao was immediately angered.

In this way, out of the nine children, only two sword immortal embryos remained without a clear master.

Bai Xuan and Yao Xiaoyan.

So Chen Ping’an planned to ask Xiao Mo if she favored Bai Xuan and was willing to temporarily accept him as a disciple without formal recognition.

And whether the white-haired child, renamed Konghou, would be willing to teach Yao Xiaoyan some superior swordsmanship techniques and methods.

But while anything else can be compromised, a dao partner, or a master and disciple, cannot.

Standing by the ferry, Ning Yao hesitated, something rare for her.

Chen Ping’an reached out from his sleeve, took Ning Yao’s hands, and said softly with a smile, “When you get to Ascension City, please send my regards to the colleagues of the Summer Palace lineage, especially Guo Zhujiu, who calls you Shiniang. Tell her that her Shifu and Eldest Senior Sister miss her very much.”

Ning Yao nodded.

Chen Ping’an’s current state of degraded realm made her feel uneasy.

No matter how high Xiao Mo’s swordsmanship is, how loyal, how compatible with Chen Ping’an…

It’s still not as good as her being by his side.

Chen Ping’an raised a hand and gently stroked Ning Yao’s brow, apologizing, “I’m getting farther away from becoming a Great Sword Immortal again. Don’t rush.”

Ning Yao only nodded, without saying anything.

“Ascension City has taken root in the Five Colors World, and I, as the Hidden Official, wasn’t there, nor did I offer congratulations. It’s too inappropriate.”

Chen Ping’an withdrew his hand, twisted his wrist, and produced the horsetail whisk he had obtained from Immortal Hairpin City, simply named Whisk.

Ning Yao shook her head, “You’re not an outsider, what’s there to congratulate?”

Chen Ping’an had his own reasons, “It’s different. This was painstakingly obtained from Immortal Hairpin City, its significance is very different from ordinary objects. Placing it in Ascension City is most fitting, especially since Immortal Hairpin City dared to compete with the Sword Qi Great Wall.”

Ning Yao said, “I’ll wait for you in Ascension City.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Okay.”

The woman before him was very different from her when she was a girl, but both were the best.

Chen Ping’an took a deep breath, “I’ll see you off.”

The two transformed into streaks of azure and white light, sword energy soaring into the sky, instantly leaving the ferry.

The Confucian Temple Sage, who was based in the Treasure Bottle Continent’s sky, opened the gate to the Five Colors World.

To truly enter the Five Colors World, Ning Yao still had a journey through the river of time to traverse, but the road was smooth, like an official road in the mortal realm.

After the gate closed, the old master stood on the white clouds and smiled, “Since you’re reluctant, why not stay?”

Chen Ping’an smiled without speaking, only bowing to the Confucian Temple Sage in farewell.

Returning to Fallen Mountain.

Chen Ping’an had already hung the Night Wanderer Sword on the wall of the bamboo building’s first floor, next to the couplet.

He glanced at the long sword in its sheath on the wall.

*The world is turbulent, and my intentions are difficult to settle,
*On the wall, dragons and snakes fly and dance.

Two seal manuals were placed on the desk, undoubtedly the first editions.

The Hundred Sword Immortal Seal Manual, and the Two Hundred Sword Immortal Seal Manual.

Fatty Yan wanted to buy them back then, but he wouldn’t give them up. The price could be discussed, but forget about it.

It almost made Yan Zhuo want to take advantage of Chen Ping’an being the Hidden Official in the Summer Palace to sneak into the Ning Residence as a thief.

Chen Ping’an walked out of the bamboo building. The small pond behind it, where a purple-gold lotus flower had once been planted, had been moved to the Lotus Root Paradise.

Looking at the empty, waterless pond, he inexplicably thought of a Buddhist saying.

*Like the lotus flower unstained by water,
*Like the sun and moon not dwelling in the void.

For those who cultivate the Dao, living in seclusion in the mountains, the true attainment of the Dao is probably having eyes like the sun and moon, and a Dao heart like a blue lotus.

He left the small pond and went to the stone table on the cliff.

Between the bamboo building and the stone table on the cliff, there were blue stone bricks, where one could practice the six-step stance.

They were laid with his student, Cui Dongshan, but Chen Ping’an didn’t know what text Cui Dongshan had inscribed on the bottom of the blue bricks.
One is the Right Protector of Fallen Mountain, a so-called Mountain-Protecting Offering of the vast world. The other manages all the keys, including the Ancestral Hall of Azure Peak.

Little Rice Grain hurriedly waved her hands, “No, no, Mr. Xiao Mo, please don’t spend any more money on me.”

Just the matter of returning gifts had already taxed Little Rice Grain’s brain. She had to ask Sister Nuan Shu, Jing Qing, and the Old Chef for advice.

Xiao Mo said gently, “I’m not short of money.”

Little Rice Grain shook her head and said, “That’s still money, though. Earning money isn’t easy for anyone.”

Alas, once she grew older and taller, she wasn’t so generous anymore.

Back in the day, in her hometown of Dumb Lake, she never treated money like money at all! Good-Hearted Mountain Lord could attest to that!

After that, Chen Ping An practiced that sword-light escape technique all the way. Whenever his spirit flagged, he would switch to the more familiar and relaxed Cloud-Water Body, but the wind-riding speed would be greatly reduced. When he was completely exhausted, he would summon the talisman boat, or have Xiao Mo hold his shoulder and drag him on a long journey. The former was spending money to see the scenery, while the latter was purely rushing, as fast as lightning.

The small martial arts hall in Xianyou County, Qingyuan Prefecture.

Inside was the Every-Fight-He-Loses Hero, Xu.

He helped two friends he had met in the pugilistic world in his early years, keeping a room for each of them, which he personally cleaned year after year.

He also said that drinking alone with just two people was boring; they needed three to make a party, so he could take on two at once.

Xu Yuanxia’s disciple, Guo Chunxi, had suffered a heartbreak and become a drunkard who spent his days dreaming in a wine vat. He had gotten along with Zhou Fei and left home for a while, and now he had inexplicably become a disciple of Li Fuqu, the second-ranked offering of the True Realm Sect, starting to climb the mountain for cultivation from a martial arts hall disciple who had been living off of handouts. Every six months, Guo Chunxi would send a letter back to report his safety to his master.

That kid Bai Xuan, last time he came here as a guest with Chen Ping An, shamelessly begged the martial arts hall for an honorary title of guest elder.

Xu Yuanxia didn’t take it seriously and treated it as a child’s joke, so he agreed.

The martial arts hall also had a镖局 (bodyguard escort service) to earn money.

The gatekeeper of the martial arts hall was still the same young man from last time, who spoke a different language, and was still Guo Chunxi’s disciple.

When he saw Chen Ping An, he recognized him as the martial arts hall master’s pugilistic world friend. The young man didn’t stop him like last time, only saying that the master was currently out escorting goods and wouldn’t return to Xianyou County for about two days.

Chen Ping An then asked the young man about the escort route, found a secluded place in a street alley, used Water-Cloud Body, and went to find the martial arts hall’s caravan.

Concealing his figure, riding the wind far away, Chen Ping An lowered his head and looked at a common ferry overhead, stopping in his tracks.

In late autumn, most things were in decline, but near the ferry on the ground, it was the best time of year, with oranges turning yellow and tangerines turning green.

Xiao Mo glanced at it, roughly seeing the truth, and asked curiously, “According to the sayings on the mountain, is that a mountain and water spirit, relying on a noble person to avoid the tribulations of cultivation?”

Chen Ping An nodded, “Pretty much.”

Some ghosts and spirits who had achieved some cultivation, in order to avoid certain karmic tribulations, would seek out fortunate people as a refuge.

Otherwise, within large and small cities, there were Civil and Military Temples and City God Temples, and outside, there were still mountain and water spirits, like bandits in the mountains, who would dare to parade through the streets?

However, these were people who knew that their tribulations had arrived, a disaster was imminent, and they had no choice but to seek a protective talisman. Some were doing business to earn cultivation, because every time they passed through a mountain and water realm guarded by gods, ghosts and spirits could add a trace of invisible Dao aura to themselves, as if carrying an ethereal pass, with an extra stamp of approval.

However, this was by no means an easy task. Some local mountain and water spirits didn’t care much, so they overlooked it, but once some Mountain Gods, Earth Gods, or Shrine Water Fairies noticed this, it was tantamount to provocation, and the outcome was often not good.

Chen Ping An stopped, looking down at the ferry, just to determine whether the ghost was seeking survival or profit. If it was the latter, then it was truly a destined tribulation.

Because the ghost at the ferry didn’t know yet that the City God Temple in the prefecture city had already noticed its presence and would soon come to the ferry to question it.

The City God Lord would personally come, accompanied by a Day Wandering God who had just returned to the prefecture city to report the matter, and a Shackles General.

Moreover, a River God was already waiting on the shore, waiting for the hare to run into the trap.

At noon at the ferry, the great sun shone down. A woman walked along, holding an umbrella, wearing embroidered shoes, closely following a scholar going to the capital for the imperial examinations, intentionally or unintentionally, just hiding in the shadow of the scholar.

That scholar must have had the Juren degree, because he carried a scroll issued by the Ministry of Rites, and therefore carried a trace of literary luck remotely connected to the capital.

Xiao Mo said, “Young Master, that umbrella-holding female ghost is worried about whether she will implicate that scholar. She is also thinking about how to compensate for the loss of the scholar’s Yang energy if she is lucky enough to escape this tribulation, thinking about finding a chance to protect his descendants for a hundred years.”

Chen Ping An smiled knowingly. With Xiao Mo by his side, he could indeed save a lot of trouble.

“Xiao Mo, I have to blame you. I’ve gotten used to traveling together. What will I do in the future? It’s hard to go from luxury to frugality.”

Xiao Mo said, “As long as Young Master doesn’t mind me, doesn’t drive me away, Xiao Mo can accompany Young Master on long journeys every time.”

Chen Ping An suddenly felt a chill in his heart and looked at Xiao Mo.

Damn it, could it be that Immortal Guard wasn’t mistaken about Xiao Mo in the alley back then?

He had been so careful, so meticulous, but this kind of thing could still happen under his nose?

Xiao Mo smiled and said, “Young Master, don’t worry. Xiao Mo has female cultivators with similar Dao companion identities from later generations, but their appearance, demeanor, and cultivation aptitude are not even one ten-thousandth of the Mistress’s.”

Chen Ping An smiled awkwardly, “What are you thinking? How could I misunderstand Xiao Mo?”

Xiao Mo said understandingly, “Xiao Mo misunderstood.”

“Xiao Mo, go and stop the City God. You can reveal your identity as an offering from Great Li, show them that Untroubled Amulet. I’ll take care of the ferry.”
Chen Ping’an silently descended, walking to the side of the female ghost holding the umbrella. He brought his index and middle fingers together, gently touching the oiled paper umbrella. Using his inner voice, he smiled and said, “Fair maiden, isn’t this convenient way of traveling a bit against the natural order? As a ghostly being, unseen in the light, casually treading on the shadows of living men, harming their vitality imperceptibly, aren’t you afraid of incurring extra tribulations and suffering the consequences?”

The female ghost’s face was unnaturally pale. She turned to look at the azure-clad swordsman, filled with terror. Her voice trembled as she begged, “Immortal Master, this humble one has her reasons. I beseech you, Immortal Master, to show some mercy. As long as I can cross this river, I will leave immediately. I will never forget the Immortal Master’s great kindness…”

As she spoke, she retrieved a money pouch from her sleeve. “Sixteen immortal coins are all the savings this humble one possesses. I only beg the Immortal Master to allow me to keep one, to give to that benefactor ahead.”

The oiled paper umbrella she held was already held in place by the azure-clad swordsman’s fingers. She could only stand there. The scholar in front was completely unaware, walking slowly forward. The moment her embroidered shoes left the scholar’s shadow, the ground instantly became scalding, like a boiling oil pot, leaving her with no foothold in the mortal realm.

Her beautiful face paled. Enduring the pain, she had no choice but to lift one foot and place it on top of the other embroidered shoe.

On the verge of life and death, the female ghost holding the umbrella instinctively raised her eyes, looking at the scholar’s receding figure. She seemed dazed, reluctant to part, yet smiled in understanding.

Then, she was about to spit at that damned Immortal Master, wanting to spit in his face to vent her anger before becoming another merit in his demon-slaying endeavors.

But she saw the azure-clad guest smile, retracting his fingers, and then gently tap the oiled paper umbrella. In an instant, strands of golden silk cascaded down the umbrella surface like rain, creating a curtain around her.

She felt as if she had entered a serene and cool immortal realm.

Chen Ping’an handed over a stack of yellow seal talismans, saying, “After crossing the river, repay the scholar for his kindness. If you are willing, you can go to a place called Shujian Lake and find a cultivator named Zeng Ye. Perhaps you can cultivate there. This mountain immortal is not hard to find; you can simply ask around when you arrive. If you don’t wish to travel far, then it’s up to you.”

Just now, on the verge of death, the female ghost showed no murderous intent or violent aura. A spark of spiritual light was never covered by the innate malevolence of a ghost. This was a pure Dao heart.

Otherwise, based on Xiao Mo’s assessment of her heartstrings, this female ghost knew right from wrong and understood good and evil. Chen Ping’an had no need to be so “forceful.”

The female ghost was suspicious. For no apparent reason, in a chance encounter, why would the other party show such kindness?

But then she thought, with her meager cultivation, how could she be worth the effort for the Immortal Master, whose Dao arts were unfathomable, to plot against and harm her?

Then, she thought again, and became a little worried. Could it be that the other party coveted her… beauty?

Chen Ping’an could endure any misunderstanding, but not this kind of injustice. He laughed in exasperation, “Hurry and follow the scholar across the river. Stop thinking nonsense.”

The female ghost really didn’t dare to think too much. She tremblingly accepted the stack of immortal talismans, performed a Wanfu greeting, thanked him, and quickly stepped forward. After taking a few steps, she realized that even without walking in the scholar’s shadow, she could still walk without hindrance. She couldn’t help but stop and turn her head, asking, “May I ask the Immortal Master’s Daoist name and immortal abode?”

The azure-clad swordsman, who exuded a scholarly aura with every glance, shook his head, “No need to know such things.”

She hesitated for a moment, her eyes firm. “This humble one sincerely begs the Immortal Master to at least tell me your Daoist name.”

The man patted the narrow saber at his waist and smiled, “My name is Chen Ping’an. I am a swordsman.”

He imitated someone, making a joke that wasn’t a joke with the female ghost holding the umbrella.

He also said it for the County City God to hear, because Xiao Mo’s bottom-tier duty plaque from the Great Li Ministry of Justice didn’t seem particularly effective.

Turning around, he clasped his fist towards the City God riding the clouds and mist, then used Cloudwater Body with Xiao Mo to continue their journey.

The City God, along with the Day Wandering God and the Shackles General, respectfully returned the greeting to the azure-clad guest who announced his name. The City God lowered his cloud head, came to the riverbank, and ordered the River God, who should have been blocking the way, to allow the female ghost to pass unhindered.

The River God was stubborn. Even upon seeing his official superior, the County City God, he still insisted on asking for a reason before allowing passage. The City God was in a good mood and was not annoyed. Instead, he told the River God that the azure-clad sword immortal was none other than Chen Ping’an, the young mountain master of Luopo Mountain in Great Li Dragon Province, the head of a sect.

The City God teased the River God, “What a grand air you have, to make a sword immortal stop here, having to spare some of his own merit to escort a female ghost across the river.”

The River God was secretly pleased, but said, “A sword immortal’s realm may be greater than the heavens, but it is not greater than the principle of this humble servant fulfilling his duties here.”

The City God chuckled, “So that’s why you’re here as a River God, and I’m here sitting in the City God Temple of the county.”

The River God suddenly asked, “Is it really that Chen Sword Immortal from Luopo Mountain?”

Being poor, he disdained illusions and could not afford mountain and water gazettes. Mountain news was far less accessible than to the City God. He only heard his colleagues and superiors mention it frequently at various banquets, that the Great Li Dynasty had produced two young sword immortals in their forties who had joined forces to question the sword, dismantling the Patriarch Hall of Zhengyang Mountain. Especially the one surnamed Chen, who had a terrible temper, using his sword to chop off the head of the Mountain-Moving Ancestor.

Looking back at the azure-clad swordsman’s style of doing things, it didn’t seem quite like the rumors from the outside world. Could it be that the City God had misjudged?

The City God nodded, “It’s not a lie, it’s absolutely true.”

The River God complained, “City God, why didn’t you say so earlier? I would have asked Chen Sword Immortal for a piece of calligraphy.”

The City God glared, “Didn’t you say so earlier?!”

The River God fell silent. Whoever had the higher rank had the right to speak.

Xiao Mo followed his young master, traveling far and wide with the wind, and asked, “Is this how Young Master usually is when traveling…?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and finished the sentence, “Meddling in other people’s business?”

Xiao Mo smiled without saying a word.
Chen Ping’an said, “Once your cultivation realm elevates, the world shrinks, as if everything below the mountain is trivial. That’s not wrong, but the only difference between your and my pausing, a mere moment in time, is whether you accompany me on a leisurely journey across the land in a talisman-powered boat, or you drag me along by the shoulder. But for others, it could be a matter of life and death, the Great Dao, a calamity they can’t avoid even if they kneel and beg for mercy. It could mean parting ways forever, or lovers finally finding their destiny…”

Xiao Mo said, “Young Master imparts the Daoist teachings. Xiao Mo is enlightened.”

Chen Ping’an restrained himself, again and again.

Xiao Mo said, “Old Mr. Zhu said that the atmosphere of the Fallen Mountain originates from the Young Master’s rectification and exemplary conduct.”

Chen Ping’an twitched his lips. “Nonsense. It has nothing to do with me, not even a copper coin’s worth.”

Xiao Mo sighed. “Young Master is truly humble and receptive.”

The mountain road snaked like a serpent, treacherous and difficult to navigate. A caravan of short, stocky horses made their way along the path.

An old man with white hair and eyebrows, riding a horse and wearing a sabre, looked like an old镖master (bodyguard) who hadn’t shaved in a while, probably due to being out on the road.

He rode alongside a young Taoist priest.

As they rounded a bend in the mountain path, a figure in green robes, with twin sabers strapped to his waist, slowly emerged, smiling. “Robbery.”

Behind him stood a young man who looked like a scholar.

The old man laughed heartily. “Shanfeng, this one looks like he’s only interested in robbing beauty, not wealth. I’m afraid we’ll have to sacrifice you.”

The young Taoist priest chuckled. “Xu大哥 (older brother Xu), you’re more handsome. Don’t you always say that when it comes to looks, Chen Ping’an and I combined wouldn’t be enough?”

The two men dismounted and walked towards the figure in green.

The martial arts bodyguard only saw the green-robed swordsman approach swiftly, raising both hands to shake hands with Xu Yuanxia and Zhang Shanfeng.

Most of them knew this man. His surname was Chen. He was a friend of the old Master.

No one knew how it happened, but the green-robed man was now walking on foot, leading the Master’s horse with a smile, chatting as they went.

As they descended the mountain and passed an inn, the four men sat at a table. The Master made an exception, not only drinking alcohol himself while on a delivery, but also allowing all the martial arts disciples to drink a bowl of wine.

It was odd. Wasn’t the Master afraid of something happening along the way?

Chen Ping’an picked up his bowl, sipped the wine, and took out a thin collection of poems from his sleeve, smiling. “Care to take a look?”

Xu Yuanxia wiped his mouth and took a closer look. He quickly wiped his sleeves before picking it up. It was a collection of Su Shi’s (famous Chinese poet) poems.

The last time they were at the table, he had mentioned this, and Chen Ping’an had started bragging without batting an eye, saying he could help him obtain a collection of poems with Su Shi’s inscription, and even write a preface for his travelogue. Xu Yuanxia carefully opened it and, sure enough, there was Su Shi’s inscription, and a private seal. There was also a line: “Coarse cloth clothes a life of travel, gifted to the heroic swordsman Xu Yuanxia,” along with the date.

Xu Yuanxia’s face flushed red. He tucked the collection into his chest and laughed heartily. “You rascal, your imitation is quite good. I’ll just pretend it’s real.”

Chen Ping’an picked up his wine bowl and said, “As for writing the preface for you, Su Shi has already agreed. Just wait until you finish writing, and I’ll help you send the manuscript to Su Shi.”

Xu Yuanxia looked doubtful.

Zhang Shanfeng began to stir things up. “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and toast our Great Master Chen!”

Chen Ping’an continued, “I also have a calligraphy scroll of Su Shi’s, but I forgot to bring it with me on this trip. If you want it, go to Fallen Mountain to get it yourself.”

Xu Yuanxia held up three fingers and waved them. “You little punk, you’re something else. You’ve only said three sentences and already blown three big boasts.”

In fact, in recent days, Xu Yuanxia had often strolled around the immortal mountain near the martial arts hall, asking about the happenings on the mountain.

Therefore, he knew about Fallen Mountain’s observation ceremony at ZhengYang Mountain, and the discussions at the Central Earth Confucian Temple.

Each time, he would slowly climb the mountain and quickly descend, returning home, drinking wine, and falling asleep drunk.

Xu Yuanxia raised his wine bowl and clinked it heavily against Chen Ping’an’s. “If you’re busy, you don’t have to come back to Xianyou County with us. A few meals of wine don’t matter. Business is more important.”

Chen Ping’an scoffed. “Don’t try to act heroic with me. If I really left, you’d curse me to death in front of Daoist Zhang.”

Zhang Shanfeng smiled and nodded. Now he was a Sea Gazing Realm immortal. Being addressed as Daoist at the table wasn’t an overstatement.

Xu Yuanxia regretted it the moment he turned to look at the yellow-hatted youth. Sure enough, the guy in charge of pouring the wine was already nodding to himself, saying only, “I’ll finish mine,” and drinking it all in one gulp.

Whenever someone toasted him at this meal, Xiao Mo would finish a large bowl of wine in one go without saying a word. After a few times, Xu Yuanxia and Zhang Shanfeng didn’t dare to toast him too much. Then, as long as their eyes met, Xiao Mo would take it as an invitation to drink, and he would finish it in one gulp.

What people feared most at the table was such a hero. His drinking etiquette was excellent, but his capacity was even better.

Moreover, Xiao Mo was very measured, always letting Great Hero Xu do just a token gesture. If Xu Yuanxia finished it in one gulp, Xiao Mo would pour himself two more large bowls, causing Xu Yuanxia to be neither able to toast nor drink. Every time with Xiao Mo, he could only really be casual. In short, it was… quite enjoyable. So Xu Yuanxia hadn’t actually drunk much, but he had raised his bowl many times. One thing led to another, and it felt like a hearty drinking session.

Later, on the way back to Xianyou County, after learning that Chen Ping’an was even going to create a Lower Sect in Tongye Continent, Xu Yuanxia couldn’t help but tell Chen Ping’an to scram.

Chen Ping’an was too lazy to pay attention to him, sitting on horseback, hands in his sleeves, shoulders swaying, twin sabers at his waist, just leisurely chatting with Zhang Shanfeng. They had already agreed to go to Tongye Continent together. Zhang Shanfeng asked Xu Yuanxia if he was annoyed, if he was annoyed? There was no helping it. Some people, as they got older, had less mobility in their legs. Traveling on the road was no problem, but even if they gritted their teeth and learned to travel like young men, drinking flower wine and seeing beautiful women, they had the heart to kill the bandits but lacked the strength to catch them.

This greatly annoyed Xu Yuanxia.

On the way back to Qingyuan County, Xu Yuanxia dealt with the local government, post stations, or Jianghu sects along the way, and occasionally trained his disciples.

For some reason, Xiao Mo always felt that his Young Master was completely different than he was on Fallen Mountain. He would be lazy, basking in the sun, drinking little wine, occasionally whistling a tune that sounded like a country folk song.
The martial arts academy in Xianyou County City was a true eye-opener for Xiao Mo. Unexpectedly, his young master personally cooked an entire table of dishes.

Xu Yuanxia leaned against the kitchen door, arms crossed, watching her two old friends and new acquaintance bustle about.

Today’s drinking was just a light affair.

Arriving at Zhang Shanfeng’s room, Chen Ping’an eagerly rushed ahead, flipping open a book with pictures. He clicked his tongue in amusement.

Zhang Shanfeng complained, “Brother Xu, I’m a Daoist priest! What’s the meaning of putting these books on the table?!”

Xu Yuanxia chuckled. “Perhaps the books grew legs and sneaked in themselves. Nothing to do with me.”

There was a late-night snack planned for later. Xu Yuanxia pulled the three of them out of the martial arts academy and found a small restaurant hidden in a humble alley. Chen Ping’an and Zhang Shanfeng drank freely, as if having a private squabble.

The next day, as dawn broke, Chen Ping’an rubbed his forehead, unsure how he’d even made it back to the academy.

After waking up, he pushed open the door and took a few steps, discovering Xiao Mo squatting on the steps beside the training grounds, watching Xu Yuanxia teach his students the fundamentals of fist forms and stances.

Zhang Shanfeng, that dolt, was holding a bowl of wine beside them, trying to dispel his hangover with more liquor.

Xu Yuanxia beckoned Chen Ping’an over. “Come, demonstrate a few fist stances and techniques.”

The martial arts academy disciples all turned to look at the Chen Clan Young Master, the one their Master had spoken of so mysteriously.

Dressed in a white hairpin and blue robe, wearing a pair of black cloth shoes with a thousand layers of soles.

They had to admit, he possessed a certain refined appearance. As for his martial arts skills, since he was a friend of their Master, they assumed he would be at least passable.

Why was their Master so well-regarded in the martial arts world, especially among his peers? It was because he “lost” matches and built goodwill!

If their Master wasn’t genuinely a good man, providing hearty meals and never delaying wages, he wouldn’t have been able to retain anyone.

Earlier, that Zhang Zhenren had already been conscripted by their Master to teach a set of fist techniques. Good heavens, he was probably still drunk, moving weakly in circles.

Therefore, they didn’t hold high hopes for this traveling Chen Clan Young Master.

Chen Ping’an smiled, pulling up a corner of his blue robe and tying it around his waist. He walked to Xu Yuanxia’s side, facing away from the academy disciples, and first performed a round of the Earth-Shaking Fist’s six-step stance.

The young men behind him exchanged glances.

That’s right. As expected of their Master’s friend.

Xiao Mo smiled.

His entire being resonated with the intent of the fist, like mountains and rivers, heaven and earth, perfectly intertwined.

Martial artists of Yu Hong and Zhou Haijing’s caliber, ninth-realm cultivators, were, if fortunate to meet his young master, would be settled with a single punch.

Xu Yuanxia sat down beside Xiao Mo and said softly, “These little brats can’t see the depth of it. Xiao Mo, you must be laughing at us.”

Xiao Mo shook his head. “Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, their own experiences.”

Xu Yuanxia transmitted his voice directly. “Thank you for your trouble on this journey, Xiao Mo.”

He knew Chen Ping’an all too well. If he hadn’t been seriously injured, he would never have brought someone along when he came to find himself and Zhang Shanfeng for a drink.

Xu Yuanxia watched the blue-robed figure on the training grounds, whose fists were moving faster and faster, and smiled. “I’m just getting old. If it were ten or twenty years earlier, I would definitely have a drinking contest with Xiao Mo until we both passed out.”

Xiao Mo whispered, “In the young master’s eyes, Great Hero Xu may not be so young anymore, but I believe in his heart, Great Hero Xu will always be the magnificent bearded hero walking in the wind and rain.”

The old man stroked his chin and smiled. “Well said.”

After that, Chen Ping’an stayed at the martial arts academy for three consecutive days. In the end, Xu Yuanxia chased them away, scolding Chen Ping’an and Zhang Shanfeng as mindless fools, saying they were just leeching off him and waiting for him to die so they could divide his inheritance.

During those days, Chen Ping’an would teach boxing and spar. The academy disciples finally realized that Chen Ping’an was a true master, probably capable of defeating at least two of their masters.

If he were to open a martial arts academy in this county city, his business would definitely be booming, especially with the female disciples. There would certainly be no lack of them.

This morning, squatting on the steps, Chen Ping’an rubbed his forehead and watched Zhang Shanfeng teaching boxing while holding a bowl of wine. The academy disciples’ punches were awkward, and they tried to contain their laughter. Chen Ping’an also suppressed his own amusement.

Before setting off, Xu Yuanxia suddenly made a request, asking Chen Ping’an to help him write a plaque for the main hall, saying he wanted something grand and imposing.

After preparing the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, Xiao Mo ground the ink beside him. Chen Ping’an lifted the brush and wrote four large characters in the style of a master calligrapher. He signed his name as Chen Ping’an of Fallen Phoenix Mountain and affixed his private seal, Chen Eleven.

Chen Ping’an placed the brush on the brush rest, turned to Xu Yuanxia, and smiled. “If you still don’t think it’s imposing enough, I can change the ‘one’ to a ‘nine’.”

Xu Yuanxia burst out laughing, saying it was enough, otherwise his small martial arts academy wouldn’t be able to contain it.

The four characters on the plaque read: Fist Dominates One Continent.

Xu Yuanxia escorted them out of the county city, not lingering, and clasped his fist, delivering four words as farewell: “Have a good journey.”

Upon arriving at Huaihuang County City, Zhang Shanfeng did not stay with Chen Ping’an on the mountain. Instead, he settled down at the thatched hut in Qilong Alley, lodging with Jia the Old Immortal, Chen Lingjun, and a young Daoist priest named Xian Wei. They held a welcoming feast for him and drank until they were all dazed. Then, Zhang Shanfeng secretly asked Chen Lingjun to lead him to the Water Goddess Temple on the Iron Talisman River. Chen Lingjun winked, understanding perfectly. The marriage fortune slips there were extremely accurate! The only problem was that the Water Goddess had already moved. This minor detail didn’t faze Great Grandfather Zhang, who led them to a mountain god temple elsewhere in Longzhou. It was just as efficacious. Xian Wei initially wanted to go along when he heard they were going to the Water Goddess Temple, but when he heard they were going to burn incense to some old mountain god, he didn’t want to go.

Chen Ping’an took a trip to Mud Bottle Alley alone. He first scaled the wall and landed in Song Jixin’s courtyard, something he had never done before.

Then, using the Water Cloud Body Technique, he entered Song Jixin’s study. Without much searching, he found a fragmented piece of porcelain inside a pure white porcelain vase displayed on a bookshelf. There, he unlocked a subtle and hidden but not difficult to open mountain and water barrier, and eventually found a piece of broken porcelain. Besides this, there were a few yellowed pages left behind by Grand Empress Nan Zan of Great Li, from a damaged fragment of Three Mountains Nine Marquis lineage’s secret Daoist techniques.
Then, arriving at the entrance of his ancestral home, Chen Ping’an crouched down, dug into the earth, and retrieved a rouge box that had been buried in the alley for many years.

He then went to a desolate and remote wilderness, finding a small grave mound without a headstone.

This was all inside information that Aunt Feng had told him at the Fire God Temple.

Stones pressed down on faded red paper on the grave, likely placed there during the Qingming Festival earlier this year, followed by rounds of rain.

Moreover, the small grave showed signs of earth being added every year.

Chen Ping’an squatted down, took out two jars of wine, one a glutinous rice wine brewed in his hometown, and the other a “Third Watch” liquor from the mountains, and poured them both in front of the small grave.

After walking a long distance, Chen Ping’an looked back once, then departed on the wind.

In the darkness of night, Chen Ping’an carried a small stool and sat near the head of a dragon kiln, staying there alone until dawn.

Dragon Province had already been officially renamed Chu Province.

The transfers of officials were frequent, like the long-established kiln affairs supervision office, which had long been replaced by a new supervisor, a scion from a prominent family in the capital. However, it seemed the more he wanted to achieve, the less he accomplished, far inferior to the officialdom skills of the drunkard Cao Gengxin.

The Moon Palace relic gifted by Xiao Mo came from a round, radiant moon, like an ancient and unique summer palace.

Chen Ping’an had already informed Xiao Mo in advance that he would give this gift to Liu Xianyang. Xiao Mo was easy to talk to and didn’t care.

Chen Ping’an waited until dawn, then put away the stool and returned to the Fallen Mountain.

During the previous grand ceremony at Righteous Sun Mountain, Chen Ping’an had Guan Yiran send a secret letter to the patrolling envoy Cao Ping. After receiving the letter, Cao Ping left without attending the celebration.

This was equivalent to a three-hundred-year pact between Fallen Mountain and the Pillar State Cao Clan. Chen Ping’an didn’t need to meet with Cao Ping, nor did the agreement need to be written down, no formal contract was needed, only a gentleman’s agreement based on mutual understanding.

Fallen Mountain would protect the Cao Clan’s ancestral line and prevent “certain” worst-case scenarios from happening. Both parties understood this clearly. The so-called accident was not the Cao Clan losing their hereditary Pillar State title, but a genuine family ruin and the extinguishing of their lineage. Although this possibility was extremely small, Chen Ping’an’s opening the letter with this made it seem even more sincere.

Afterward, within three hundred years, the Cao family could send pure martial artists or promising cultivators to Fallen Mountain to cultivate in peace, and Fallen Mountain would carefully nurture them. If this was too conspicuous and aroused the Song Dynasty court’s suspicion, Chen Ping’an could secretly send those selected to the Taihui Sword Sect and other places in the Northern Ju Continent, or the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect in the Southern娑婆洲.

Cao Ping quickly made Chen Ping’an realize the Cao Clan’s decisiveness in action.

Because the Cao Clan had already secretly sent two people to Fallen Mountain, two Cao family children, a young boy and girl.

The boy, Cao Yin, courtesy name Fengsheng, was a branch family member of the Cao Clan and a promising sword cultivator. The girl was given the surname Cao and named Yang, nicknamed Wutong. She was already a Fourth Realm martial artist with a decent foundation.

According to the rules of aristocratic families, the girl was Cao Yin’s servant and bodyguard.

Zhu Lian settled the two in a residence on the back mountain of Fallen Mountain.

Cui Dongshan had guided Cao Yin’s cultivation and given him several of the mountain’s secret manuals. As for Cao Yang, Sui Youbian and Pei Qian had taught her some boxing techniques a few times before.

Chen Ping’an originally intended to go to the residence himself to meet and chat with them, but after hesitating, he asked Chen Lingjun to summon them to meet him at the stone table on the cliff.

The young boy and girl rushed to the front mountain together.

They first saw the bamboo building, then a figure in a green robe standing on the cliff, his demeanor like a deity.

That person smiled at them and nodded in greeting.

Cao Yin strode forward, followed by the girl.

The boy bowed and saluted, “Cao Yin greets the Mountain Lord.”

The girl stood a step behind Cao Yin, lowered her head and bowed, clasping her hands in front of this famous sect leader, without rising for a long time. Due to unspoken rules of noble families, she stayed true to her station and did not announce her name.

The person in green robes.

Was a sword immortal of the Upper Five Realms, in his forties.

Was also a martial artist who had reached the pinnacle of humanity, at the Termination Realm.

Chen Ping’an extended a hand and smiled, “Cao Yin, Cao Yang, please sit.”

The young boy and girl, like a pair of jade figures, sat down one after another.

After Chen Ping’an sat down, he asked, “Are you both settling in well on the mountain?”

Cao Yin was mature beyond his years and composed, answering with careful precision, “Replying to the Mountain Lord, we are settling in well, couldn’t be better.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “At Fallen Mountain, you don’t need to be too restrained. Besides cultivation and practicing your fist techniques, you can wander around and take a look.”

The girl was a practitioner of fist and martial techniques, and she held even more reverence for this Termination Realm martial artist than Cao Yin did.

Like a divine being.

Therefore, today, meeting Chen Ping’an was like respectfully offering incense to a living deity.

Having heard that she was to meet this Mountain Lord, Cao Yang was completely stunned, her mind a mess.

If not for the long mountain road from the back mountain to the bamboo building cliff, which allowed her to calm down, she would have likely been rude in her replies.

Chen Ping’an didn’t chat with them much. After they left, he hesitated, then still had the Law Enforcement Hall Master Chang Ming call Pei Qian, who was staying in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, back to Fallen Mountain, saying that he was waiting for her on the second floor of the bamboo building.

Walking up the stairs to the second-floor corridor, Chen Ping’an sat by the door, taking off his cloth shoes and placing them outside.

He had already noticed Pei Qian’s abnormality. Before, at the Fallen Mountain’s observation of the Righteous Sun Mountain ceremony, Pei Qian had said that she would break through the realm upon returning to Fallen Mountain, but she had delayed it again and again.

Although it hadn’t been long since then, Chen Ping’an dared not be careless in the slightest.

As a pure martial artist, she was actually suppressing her realm.

A Ninth Realm martial artist who could break through the bottleneck but deliberately suppressed it could cause great hidden dangers with one wrong move.

Who lent you the courage?

Me, your master?

Chen Ping’an walked into the room, which was empty, and began to close his eyes to rest.

Back then, when he traveled alone in the Northern Ju Continent, he was inexplicably asked to exchange blows, and Chen Ping’an almost mistakenly thought he would die.
The one who questioned him without rhyme or reason, daring to exchange blows, was actually the old steward of the mountain manor, who swept and cleaned, bearing the name Wu Fengjia. His true name was Gu You, hailing from the Great Zhuan Dynasty.

Years ago, he was one of the three native martial artists of the Northern Ju Luzhou to reach the pinnacle of martial arts. With his bare fists, he scattered the immortal masters of over a dozen vassal states of the dynasty, single-handedly driving them all out of the country.

Gu You was also the founder of the Earth-Shaking Fist.

Back when he received the fists, the Earth-Shaking Fist involved traversing stances and delivering punches, nearly 1.6 million in total.

Gu You, at the time, to test his depths, delivered heavy blows, but even heavier were the principles he imparted.

The old man once said that one must kill ten thousand fist techniques to bring to life a single intent, a true essence of fist cultivation.

Of course, Gu You also uttered a bold statement befitting the founder of the Earth-Shaking Fist and the pinnacle of martial arts.

The gist of it was that he wouldn’t comment on Cui Cheng’s fist techniques, but his feeding of fists was simply mediocre. If it were him, he could guarantee that Chen Pingan would be the strongest in every realm!

Chen Pingan collected his thoughts and opened his eyes.

Pei Qian had arrived.

She took off her shoes at the doorway, hesitatingly entering the room.

Chen Pingan rolled up his sleeves and said in a deep voice, “I won’t suppress my realm. Let’s determine a victor.”

Pei Qian remained silent, unmoving.

Chen Pingan, just like Gu You when he questioned him, slightly bent his knees, twisting his wrists, delivering one fist towards himself, and one fist forward, slowly saying, “I will use the Earth-Shaking Fist to question you.”

Pei Qian looked somewhat flustered, staring blankly at her master.

This most familiar master made her feel somewhat estranged.

Chen Pingan roared, “Pei Qian, if you were facing an enemy, you would already be dead!”

Pei Qian simply didn’t speak, and no fist intent gathered around her.

Chen Pingan stomped on the ground, as fast as lightning, causing the entire bamboo building to tremble. A fist was already at Pei Qian’s face.

Pei Qian only took two steps back, leaning against the wall. Chen Pingan almost struck her forehead with his fist, forcefully retracting it, feeling both angry and amused, finally only left with heartache. Helplessly, he said, “Forget it.”

Pei Qian grinned.

Chen Pingan bent two fingers and flicked a chestnut that made Pei Qian clutch her head.

Seeing that her master had already walked towards the doorway, sitting down to put on cloth shoes, Pei Qian immediately relaxed, happily following her master to sit down, whispering with a smile, “Master, I’m telling the truth. If we really fought to determine a victor, it would take as few as three punches, at most five, to end it.”

Chen Pingan said in a huff, “You know that too?”

The old man in a green robe, long coat, and cloth shoes, slightly bent his knees, twisted his wrist, made a fist, and slowly extended it forward, while the other fist, also clenched, retracted back, “My Earth-Shaking Fist places the most importance on one fist against the enemy, and one fist guarding the heart’s intent. Therefore, even when facing the founders of the Three Teachings, as long as the fist intent does not dissipate, even if one dies, one can still deliver another punch! No matter how heaven-defying your immortal arts are, even if mountains press down on my head, my Earth-Shaking Fist will split the mountains! This was my realization when I was in the seventh realm, which allowed me to write the preface to this fist manual. If you, Chen Pingan, want to reach even greater heights than me in the future, you must have this utterly ignorant and arrogant thought!”

On the edge of the large pit, a figure in a green robe, long coat, and cloth shoes appeared. It was the old martial artist.

Wu Fengjia, or, setting aside the sudden emergence of Li Er, he was one of the three native tenth-realm martial artists of the Northern Ju Luzhou, Gu You of the Great Zhuan Dynasty.

Why did the Great Zhuan Dynasty and the surrounding countries only have a weak Nascent Soul realm expert sitting in the Golden Scale Palace? And why was the Golden Scale Palace so weak that it was regarded by the Floating Duckweed Sword Lake as a useless mountain they had never even heard of?

It was because the martial artist Gu You, with his bare fists, scattered the mountain deities of over a dozen countries, almost all of whom were driven out of the country by him.

Gu You once said, “Heaven is great, the earth is great, but gods get lost!”

A bold statement must be accompanied by heroic deeds to be a true hero.

The old man squatted down and smiled, “Of course, my name isn’t Wu Fengjia. It’s just the name of a deceased knight-errant from when I was traveling the world as a youth. He gave his life to save a roadside beggar who was run over by a cart. That little cripple has been practicing martial arts non-stop in his life, just to prove one thing to this savior, that a fourth-realm martial artist giving his life to save an orphan covered in sores, is worth it!”

Gu You’s alias was actually someone else’s name, just a fourth-realm martial artist who traveled the world and died to save a roadside beggar.

Therefore, after Gu You became famous, whenever he went out and sparred with martial artists on mountain peaks, he would use this name. Just to prove one thing, that the fourth-realm martial artist who gave his life for a child covered in sores, wasn’t so… unworthy!

Chen Pingan stood by the railing, turning his head to look towards the small town in the distance.

It was like Qi Xian protecting a Lihzhu Grotto Heaven. Every young generation’s growth in the small town can prove a little more that this matter is not so unworthy.

Many young people’s aspirations always feel like heaven and earth are theirs, only daring to consider if they want it or not.

But after growing up, a bold statement must be accompanied by heroic deeds to be considered a true hero.

Therefore, during the Wenmiao (Confucian Temple) deliberations, during the confrontation between the two worlds, he wore a green robe and fought when he said he would.

Then, the last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall will never just say light and comfortable words that don’t address the actual hardship, just because he returns to the Blessed Land.

Then I will go to the Savage Desolate World, drag the Yueluo River, break the Xianzan City, cut down the Tuoyue Mountain with a sword, and personally behead the head of a flying peak sword cultivator.

Chen Pingan patted Pei Qian’s hair bun, gently saying, “You should go back to Lotus Blossom Blessed Land. You can break through to the next realm tomorrow.”

Actually, he knew why Pei Qian insisted on suppressing her realm so much.

It was to wait for a certain day to arrive.

Because that was the day Senior Cui Cheng left.

The old man in the capital city of Nanyuan Kingdom, in a small temple, did not give any last words.

It seems that all the principles were in the bamboo building, in the teachings and feeding of fists.

Pei Qian nodded, returning to the Lotus Blossom Blessed Land.

She didn’t directly go to the capital city of the Nanyuan Kingdom, but instead chose a secluded place. She landed in a straight line, causing the earth to tremble.

She flew all the way, crossing water when she encountered water, and turning over mountains when she encountered mountains. When she occasionally rested by the water’s edge, Pei Qian would catch a few fish and stew them in a pot, light a fire to cook rice, and eat rice with fish soup. It was indeed a bit salty.

In the night, she wandered through the familiar and yet unfamiliar capital city of Nanyuan Kingdom, walked through the streets and alleys, saw the two stone lions squatting at the entrance, and finally came to the Xiangxin Temple in the Nanyuan Kingdom.
Pei Qian sat on the steps, staring blankly at a spot in the corridor.

She remained silent for a long time.

As the sky began to lighten with the first glimmer of dawn, a figure soared into the heavens.

It was to request the Changming, the Law Enforcer responsible for overseeing a blessed land, to open the gates of the Lotus Root Blessed Land.

Pei Qian said in a deep voice, “Open the gates!”

The nine currents of martial fortune from the Great Alignment Continent.

And two more imposing surges of martial fortune, one from the Wilderness World and the other from the Azure Vault World, all converged on Fallen Mountain, pouring into the Lotus Root Blessed Land.

Pei Qian shattered them one by one with the divine technique, the Thunderclap Drum.

A blessed land of the world, martial fortune rained down like a torrential storm upon the mortal realm.

Near the entrance of the blessed land in the distance, Chen Ping’an stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves, beside him stood the Changming, the Law Enforcer, clad in a snow-white robe.

Changming chuckled, “Pei Qian’s breakthrough in martial arts is truly unreasonable.”

Chen Ping’an said with an indifferent expression, “Not surprising, she is my eldest disciple after all.”

Changming, out of the corner of his eye, caught the young mountain master’s seemingly casual words, but the joy between his brows and eyes was like that of a proud old father thinking, “My daughter is the most outstanding in the world, does this even need to be said?”

The Law Enforcer Changming teased, “If you ever need to kidnap someone in the dead of night, Mountain Master, you can call on me.”

Chen Ping’an nodded with a smile, “When that time comes, you’ll have to hold me back and watch the force I use when kicking.”

The trio strolled through Red Candle Town, and Chen Ping’an bought several books from Shopkeeper Li Jin at the bookstore.

Today, Little Millet did not carry the golden carrying pole, nor did she take the green bamboo staff, but simply wore a cloth bag slung across her shoulder.

On the mountain path, Little Millet walked in the lead, pinching a golden melon seed between two fingers, holding it high, swaying her head, never tiring of admiring it.

As dusk approached, the Water God Temple was about to close its doors.

A new temple keeper had replaced the old woman, now it was a simple, honest woman.

Chen Ping’an, seeing the woman whose eyebrows and eyes vaguely reminded him of someone, could not help but laugh and cry.

This Jade Liquid River Water Goddess was truly employing every means possible.

He actually knew the woman serving as the new temple keeper; she was actually his peer, only two or three years older than Chen Ping’an.

Because she was a local from a small town in Huaihuang County, surnamed Lu, but her connection with the Lu family of Prosperity Street had long been estranged to the point where they couldn’t even be considered relatives.

The man she had married was also from her hometown, working as a kiln worker at the Dragon Kiln, but it was far from the kiln where Chen Ping’an had been an apprentice. Her family had sold their house years ago and moved to the prefectural city, living a life of wealth that they had never dared to imagine before.

The woman was somewhat uncertain, her face showing a hint of joy as she tentatively asked, “Is that… Chen Ping’an from Mud Jar Lane?”

A few years ago, perhaps due to ancestral blessings, she had been chosen by the Water Goddess to be the temple keeper of this Jade Liquid River Water God Temple, making her half a mountain person. Although she had never practiced immortal arts, she had seen many immortal lords, including dignitaries with official hats and women adorned in gold and jade, and even two legendary imperial consorts.

At first, it indeed made her overjoyed, but later the woman no longer bothered to show off in Dragon Province City.

Every time her man went out drinking, he would return flushed and say that he was blessed to have a wife who brought glory to the family, that she was no less than that Gu widow from Mud Jar Lane.

Ha, now her man, who had never even been to school, would learn to quote like a scholar, as if drawing out strings of four-character phrases from a jar of pickled vegetables.

Chen Ping’an nodded with a smile and called out her name, “Yanmei, it’s been many years since we last met. I only heard that your family had moved to Dragon Province City; I didn’t expect to see you here.”