Within the虞 (Yú) Dynasty, in the capital of Luo Yang…

Jin Dan cultivator Dai Yuan from the Qingzhuan Sect had just returned from the palace. As his carriage passed the imposing Jicui Temple, this Jin Dan servant of the Yú Dynasty held no expectations of cultivating any connection with that woman of peerless beauty, the State Preceptor. His own cultivation was insufficient. While a visit wouldn’t be met with outright rejection, what was the point of a mere tea and a fleeting glimpse? Moreover, that Lǚ Bìlóng’s cultivation was profound and her origins mysterious; Dai Yuan dared not let his eyes wander.

Lowering the curtain, Dai Yuan sighed. For some reason, he felt a longing for that aquatic Daoist friend from Xiaolongqiu.

Unbeknownst to Dai Yuan, a white-robed youth wielding a green bamboo staff lay atop the carriage, legs crossed, seemingly acting as Dai Yuan’s protector.

The Yú Dynasty’s imperial servants were divided into inner and outer circles, roughly equivalent to registered and unregistered retainers of immortal sects.

Dai Yuan was one of the inner circle servants, though not ranked highly. However, his sect had a powerful ancestor. Gao Taishu was the dynasty’s second-ranking servant, second only to the profoundly powerful Protector of the Nation.

Two Jin Dans within the same sect were enough to swagger through this world, especially in the current era where spiritual fortune had waned in the Tongye Continent.

Due to the heavy snowfall at the year’s end, which reportedly caused many poorly clothed commoners to freeze to death, the old emperor was again busy issuing edicts of self-reproach.

His sect had long secured a patron: the Hóu family of Old Dragon City in Baoping Continent.

A “righteous” gentleman from the Hóu family’s Guanhú Academy, having earned significant merit on the Old Dragon City battlefield, had now been promoted to Vice Headmaster of the Wuxi Academy in the south of the Tongye Continent.

Dai Yuan had not only returned empty-handed from the Taiping Mountain ruins but had also offered up a piece of Mo ink crafted by the Moonlit Pine Daoist to barely escape with his life.

The countless mirages he witnessed with Senior Yuan Ying Zhang Liuzhu, Xiaolongqiu’s Chief Retainer, had not been in vain, offering a shared burden.

Dai Yuan had his own excuses and methods to deceive the senior ancestor and the Yú Dynasty’s old emperor. Gao Shuwen, under the pretext of preventing future troubles, carefully examined Dai Yuan’s injuries but found nothing amiss. The old emperor, being a benevolent man, had the eunuchs select a rare spiritual artifact from the national treasury as a reward, acknowledging his efforts even in the absence of merit.

The Yú Dynasty’s previous emperor, the current emperor’s illegitimate son, had declared himself Emperor-Son to the savage demon clans during the age of moral collapse. He was ultimately beheaded.

As for how the assassin bypassed the heavily guarded capital and infiltrated the palace to successfully claim the emperor’s head, it remained a mystery even within the savage demon camps.

This tragedy was initially suppressed by the savage army. When the war ended and the Yú Dynasty was restored, a rumor spread by an old palace maid claimed that the Yú founder, the horse-riding emperor, had returned to claim vengeance. On that night, dark clouds obscured the moon, and eerie winds howled, felling countless flowers and trees. The sound of horses thundered, and the founder-emperor, mounted on his steed and wielding a long spear, charged into the palace. With one strike, he smote his unfilial descendant and with a second, he pierced the emperor, quilt and all, turning him into three pieces…

In short, the story grew increasingly bizarre. Thus, each time Dai Yuan entered the palace to meet the emperor, he felt a chilling unease, finding it an undesirable place to linger.

Dai Yuan, being an accomplished immortal cultivator, wasn’t afraid of ghosts but of death.

This time, Dai Yuan’s entry into the palace was to fulfill a decree from Senior Ancestor Gao, inviting the Crown Prince and Princess Consort for a return visit.

His sect had a White Jade Grotto-Heaven, and the snow scenery at White Jade Mountain was a renowned spectacle in Tongye Continent.

Dai Yuan knew full well that the old emperor was nearing his end, at most lingering for another half-year before departing this world, or “passing away” as they said in the mortal realm.

Even if the Protector of the Nation, Lǚ Bìlóng, was skilled in alchemy, it was likely powerless to extend the emperor’s lifespan.

A figure of authority from the Hóu family of Old Dragon City was currently at his sect, awaiting the future emperor and empress of the Yú Dynasty.

However, the Qingzhuan Sect’s grand gesture, which brought not only Dai Yuan to Luo Yang but also the Ancestor Gao Shuwen, was because a more powerful force than the Hóu family had arrived. More than just wealthy and influential, they were said to possess several semi-immortal artifacts and were related to the Yúnlín Jiāng family through marriage. This was none other than Fú Nánhuá of the Old Dragon City Fú family, who had crossed continents to arrive at the Qingzhuan Sect.

Dai Yuan retrieved a dragon-patterned brocade box from his sleeve. It was clearly a product of the imperial palace workshops. Inside was a colored inkstick, previously bestowed by the old emperor, depicting the True Forms of the Five Peaks. It could be considered a defensive treasure akin to a talisman, empowered by the spirits of the Five Peaks. It could even be used medicinally, but because it was a one-time consumable, it never reached the rank of magic treasure. Dai Yuan rubbed the inkstick, his brow furrowed with worry. By an unfortunate coincidence, it was another inkstick. This couldn’t help but remind this inner-circle servant of the green-robed sword immortal who had appeared at Taiping Mountain. Was it an attempt at co-option, a death sentence, or a mere reprimand? Any of these questions were better than the state of dread he was in.

If the opponent was merely relying on swordsmanship to eliminate him, Dai Yuan could, at worst, steel himself and lodge a complaint with the academies. Whether it was the Tainmu Academy or the Dafu Academy, he would surely be able to obtain a life-saving talisman. Surely, that sword immortal would be unwilling to kill an innocent Jin Dan, only to be detained by the academies or the Central Earth Confucian Temple. Therefore, Dai Yuan feared that the sword immortal who claimed to be a guest of the Jade Tablet Sect would abandon all pretense of sword immortal decorum and play dirty tricks.

After all, what kind of orderly and upright gentleman could a mountain cultivator be, when they call Jiāng Shàngzhen brother?

Besides, the opponent had also said that he might visit the Qingzhuan Sect to see him one day.

Just come then, reveal your identity openly. Or learn from that female Daoist, Huáng Ting, and challenge the Qingzhuan Sect’s mountain protection array with your sword.

Dai Yuan was filled with regret, lamenting, “I shouldn’t have gone to Taiping Mountain and stirred up trouble. Had I known, I would have broken my legs rather than leave the mountain.”
While the reputation of the Yu Clan may be utterly ruined, the foundations of the Yu Dynasty remain. Since restoring the kingdom, its territory has not diminished but expanded. Now, in Tongye Continent, there’s this self-proclaimed list of the Ten Great Powers, and the Yu Dynasty is among them, holding a respectable middle position. This has spurred the civil and military officials into a frenzy, openly declaring they will strive to be in the top five, aiming for the top three, within ten years.

Currently, the third-ranked power is the Da Chong Dynasty, famous for producing a notorious libertine who became Minister of Works. It’s said that this young official has reformed, transforming from a prodigal son into a capable minister.

Unsurprisingly, the Da Quan Yao Clan claims the top spot.

The Yu officials naturally desire to rank second, just behind the Da Quan Dynasty. Dai Yuan scoffed inwardly. Leaving aside whether it’s achievable, even if they did rank second, so what? Just because their ranking is close to the Da Quan Yao Clan, does that mean the Yu Dynasty can get close to that alluring Yao Clan Empress?

He had heard a juicy rumor during the Peach Leaf Alliance, attended by the founder of their dynasty, claiming that the captivating, peerless Da Quan Empress had, in her prime, been involved in a clandestine affair with a foreign man during her journey to the capital.

They said that this man was of humble origins, not even a cultivator, who used honeyed words to seduce the future Empress.

Sitting in the carriage, Dai Yuan clicked his tongue, consumed by envy. What lucky bastard whose ancestors’ graves must be emitting auspicious smoke had such a romantic encounter?

If he ever laid eyes on him, he’d blast the scoundrel’s nether regions with a magical art, rendering him fit only for palace service.

The carriage halted. Dai Yuan owned a residence in Luojing, bestowed upon him by the Emperor himself. The previous owner, a Minister of Rites, supposedly passed away due to old age and fright in the Qingzhuan Sect mountains. In truth, the old stallion had overexerted himself on the “battlefield, riding two steeds simultaneously,” suffering a stroke.

As Dai Yuan alighted from the carriage, he was pleasantly surprised to see a venerable cultivator with an immortal air outside his gate. Talk about luck! It seemed his fortunes were finally turning.

Overcome with emotion, Dai Yuan, abandoning all pretense of formality, rushed forward and grasped the old Nascent Soul cultivator’s hand. “Brother Zhang!”

The old Nascent Soul was equally moved, shaking Dai Yuan’s arm and replying in a deep voice, “Brother Dai!”

During the upheaval at the Taiping Mountain ruins, they had shared trials and tribulations. Having survived the disaster, the scene was profoundly touching, like countrymen reuniting with tears in their eyes.

Actually, a few steps away from them, a white-robed youth leaned on a bamboo staff, yawning as he watched the two sworn brothers reminisce.

Dai Yuan whispered, “Brother Zhang, it would be dull if just the two of us drank at my humble abode. What do you say?”

It was Dai Yuan’s duty as host to provide hospitality. Zhang Liuzhu hesitated, pondering.

Dai Yuan said, “Brother Zhang, now that you’re in Luojing, listen to me. Let’s go!”

Dai Yuan led Zhang Liuzhu back into the carriage, heading to a celestial inn within the capital called the Riddle Pavilion. Inside was the Three Luminaries Tower, the tallest building in the city, symbolizing the sun, moon, and beauty’s radiance as the most exquisite things in the world. It was the prime venue for officials, generals, and mountain immortals to host banquets, always crowded. Securing a spot for impromptu drinks was impossible with just money; one needed to book at least a month in advance. However, Dai Yuan was a regular at the Three Luminaries Tower and an internal benefactor, and the Qingzhuan Sect was the leader of the kingdom’s immortal sects, so he could always get a table.

This was thanks to the deceased “child emperor.” The Yu Dynasty’s capital had remained largely intact, untouched by the demon race.

Dai Yuan had sent messages via two paper cranes, summoning two younger female cultivators from other sects who were frequent guests of the Qingzhuan Sect. These two fairies received annual commissions from the Green Pearl Well. Dai Yuan managed two of Qingzhuan Sect’s four scenic spots: the lucrative Green Pearl Well and the Sword-Tying Tree. Unfortunately, the latter was just a tree with a sword immortal’s blade hanging from it, yielding no profit.

In his messages, Dai Yuan asked if they were free to join him for a small drink at the Riddle Pavilion, mentioning he was with a close friend from the mountains.

Upon entering the Riddle Pavilion, Dai Yuan did not head straight for the lively Three Luminaries Tower. Instead, he was led by a familiar young female cultivator to a quiet and secluded spot, brimming with rustic charm. Two thatched huts stood surrounded by a bamboo fence, facing a clear pond filled with lotuses.

The female cultivator’s dress was well-fitted, her waist swaying as she chatted and laughed with the two immortals.

Sitting under the grape trellis with Zhang Liuzhu, Dai Yuan was about to have the female cultivator fetch the Riddle Pavilion’s finest wine, but Zhang Liuzhu said it wasn’t necessary, producing two pots of Dragon Pool Wine from his sleeve. The female manager, knowing Dai Yuan’s insider preferences, cast a suggestive glance, inquiring if Dai Yuan needed her to arrange some Riddle Pavilion beauties. Dai Yuan smiled and waved his hand, declining. Before leaving, the female cultivator said to just call her if they needed anything, implying that she was willing to stay and drink with them if Dai Yuan desired.

The grape vine was evidently a celestial plant, still verdant and laden with fruit even at the year’s end.

Zhang Liuzhu poured two cups of wine, the goblets being exquisitely crafted imitations of flower deity cups.

After taking a sip of Dragon Pool Wine and praising its flavor, Dai Yuan lowered his voice, ensuring no one was around, and asked, “I heard that the High Disciple of the Baozhen Daoist of the Golden Summit Temple is currently in seclusion, hoping to reach the Nascent Soul stage? And there’s a rumor that Shao Yuanran received a Mountain-Suppressing Treasure from Abbot Du and benefited from the Da Quan Yao Clan’s dragon aura, allowing him to break through realms smoothly in just twenty years, a testament to seizing the right time, place, and people.”

Zhang Liuzhu said with a half-smile, “It’s a pity that such a talented Nascent Soul Earth Immortal doesn’t marry into the Da Quan Yao Clan to support the dragon.”

The old Nascent Soul, being a self-made cultivator, looked down on those pedigree Earth Immortals who took advantage of everything, like the Qingzhuan Sect Leader Gao Shuwen, whom Zhang Liuzhu disliked intensely.

Dai Yuan chuckled. “If he could really marry into the Da Quan Clan, becoming husband and wife with that Empress, supporting the dragon day and night, it would be an enviable fortune of blissful harmony.”
Good wine and bawdy jokes are like a broom that sweeps away sorrow. As the wine flowed, Dai Yuan raised his cup and gently clinked it against Zhang Liuzhu’s, both draining their drinks in one gulp.

Dai Yuan lowered his voice, asking, “Brother Zhang, is your visit to Luo Jing this time, as the Chief Guest of Little Dragon Pool, to discuss matters with the old Emperor?”

Zhang Liuzhu smiled knowingly and replied with a mental voice transmission, “I’m here at someone’s request to discuss a deal with you, Brother Dai. Let me keep you in suspense for now, but it’s a tremendous stroke of fortune disguised as misfortune. Just relax and enjoy the wine.”

Hearing the words “fortune disguised as misfortune,” Dai Yuan felt reassured. He didn’t press for the details, instead urging Zhang Liuzhu to drink more and chatting about recent sights and sounds of Tung Leaf Continent.

Zhang Liuzhu casually inquired about the recent happenings in the Azure Seal Sect. Dai Yuan, aside from secrets pertaining to internal factions, answered everything he knew. If Zhang Liuzhu was still an rogue cultivator, Dai Yuan wouldn’t dare be so candid. But since Zhang Liuzhu had now “reformed” and become the Chief Guest of Little Dragon Pool, it would be a losing proposition for him to revert to his old ways. Thus, Dai Yuan didn’t need to be too cautious.

However, Dai Yuan was a little puzzled. Why was Zhang Liuzhu so concerned about the income from Green Pearl Well and White Jade Mountain, and so insistent in his questions? Could it be that Quan Qingqiu, the current power holder in Little Dragon Pool, wanted Zhang Liuzhu to sound him out, intending to form an alliance with the Azure Seal Sect? Perhaps to consolidate the immortal ferries linking the two mountain strongholds for joint trade ventures?

Before half an incense stick’s worth of time had passed, Zhang Liuzhu stopped talking and turned his head, his eyes lighting up.

Two female cultivators, whose sect affiliations were temporarily unknown, one slender and the other voluptuous, each possessed their own unique charm.

The former was exceptionally beautiful, with a delicate face. She walked gracefully, her slender waist so narrow that the old Nascent Soul Stage cultivator worried it might snap.

As for the latter, she captivated the old Nascent Soul the moment he laid eyes on her, rendering him unable to look away.

In the words of that dog thief Jiang Shangzhen, “She’s walking towards me like two great mountains colliding!”

The old Nascent Soul sighed inwardly, “If there were a battle on the bed, this old man would surely be defeated.”

Having seen so many reflections in the water and moon, Dai Yuan was well aware of this Nascent Soul senior’s tastes. He beckoned the slender female cultivator to sit beside him. The other voluptuous immortal maiden, upon seeing Zhang Liuzhu, maintained a normal expression, but in her heart, she bitterly lamented, “Why did this Dai Inner-Circle invite such an old codger to drink with us today? It’s truly embarrassing!”

However, upon considering Dai Yuan’s background and status, she could only force a smile.

She glanced at the old cultivator’s hand holding his cup. Fortunately, it wasn’t like the withered, chicken-claw-like hands of ordinary old men from the mortal world. Instead, it possessed a hint of jade-like luminescence. This made the female cultivator slightly surprised. Could he be a “golden branch and jade leaf” landed immortal?

Currently, the Yu Dynasty had three pillars of strength. The first was the True Protector Lu Bilong of the Accumulated Emerald Observatory in Luo Jing, whose Daoist magic was unfathomable.

The second was Grand General Huang Shanshou, a far-traveling martial artist. He hailed from humble beginnings, rising from the ranks. Now, at just over forty years old, his accomplishments were beyond reward. The only thing the Yu Dynasty could boast about was the Grand General’s “stubborn resistance,” which was once considered throwing an egg against a rock. Because Huang Shanshou didn’t follow the old Emperor and others in their exile to the Azure Seal Sect’s secret realm, but gathered a force of elite cavalry, roaming the old lands and fighting with the barbaric demon races on many occasions. Although suffering heavy casualties, this army never collapsed.

“This man is a jade stone in the latrine pit of the Yu Dynasty.”

These were the open words of a newly appointed Deputy Mountain Master of the Celestial Eye Academy, undisguised in his disdain for the entire Yu Dynasty and his unique admiration for that martial artist.

Finally, there was the Azure Seal Sect, where Dai Yuan resided.

Therefore, when she heard that the Daoist named “Water Immortal” was actually the well-known Chief Guest of Little Dragon Pool, and still a Nascent Soul old immortal, her posture became even softer. Her rich flesh and weak bones, as she knelt to offer wine, her thigh intentionally or unintentionally brushed against the old Nascent Soul.

The woman wore a silken robe, and her kneeling posture made the curves taut. The sensation was slightly cool, but the old Nascent Soul felt a surge of heat in his heart.

After several rounds of wine, everyone was tipsy. Dai Yuan embraced the waist of the female cultivator beside him, while the immortal maiden beside Zhang Liuzhu had already snuggled into the old immortal’s arms, calling him “Brother Zhang” at every turn.

However, this journey was not for sightseeing or pleasure. This little drinking session under the grape trellis was, at best, a self-indulgent break from official duties. Otherwise, Zhang Liuzhu would have already been holding his cup in one hand and exploring the white, plump peaks with the other.

It turned out that the night Chen Sword Immortal left Wild Garden, he had privately instructed Zhang Liuzhu, speaking politely, “I trouble Fellow Daoist Water Immortal to make a trip to the Yu Dynasty and catch up with Dai Yuan, who serves as an inner-circle offering. Please help me say hello, and let him know that I still have nothing to do with the Azure Seal Sect. But with Dai Yuan, who serves as an inner-circle offering of the Yu Dynasty, we became friends through a misunderstanding. So I will see if there’s a chance in the future to help Dai Yuan advance further in the Yu Dynasty’s officialdom.”

To be honest, Zhang Liuzhu was a little envious of Dai Yuan’s position as an inner-circle offering. Unlike himself, he could only be a lackluster Chief Guest in Little Dragon Pool.

Even on his way to Luo Jing, Zhang Liuzhu began to have active thoughts. Could he discuss with the next Mountain Master of Little Dragon Pool, to allow him to seek a similar position as a “National Teacher” in a successfully restored dynasty? For example, among the ten countries currently selected in Tung Leaf Continent, choosing a great dynasty that temporarily lacked top-tier combat power, like the Great Chong Dynasty, whose position of National Teacher seemed to be vacant? Dai Yuan was just in the Golden Core Realm, but he was a genuine Nascent Soul. Once he succeeded, wouldn’t it be wonderful?

When he became the new National Teacher of the Great Chong Dynasty, and had Chen Sword Immortal as his patron, who in the entire continent would dare to underestimate Zhang Liuzhu? Thinking his origins were impure?

A sword immortal whom even the immortals of the Central Continent had to respect and yield to!

He was determined to latch onto this thick thigh!

After a lighthearted drinking session, Dai Yuan, although surprised, listened to Zhang Liuzhu’s mental reminder. Both finally moving into the main topic, they had to let the two beauties leave first, temporarily dismissing them from serving wine.
The plump woman was indeed clever and docile, not clinging or annoying in the slightest, only thoughtfully inquiring if they should wait at Proprietor Dai’s residence for a follow-up drink.

Dai Yuan, sensing Zhang Liuzhu’s intention, smiled and agreed.

Once the two registered female cultivators were out of earshot, Zhang Liuzhu instantly dispelled all traces of alcohol, his gaze becoming sharp and clear. He underwent a transformation, exuding the imposing aura of a Nascent Soul senior, and said via soul communication, “Dai Yuan, do not reveal a single word of what I am about to tell you, not even to your Ancestral Master Gao Shuwen, nor the Yu Clan Dynasty. Today’s discussion is known only to Heaven, Earth, you, and me.”

In the vast world, it is common knowledge to never underestimate any rogue cultivator who has painstakingly ascended to the Nascent Soul Realm.

Seeing Zhang Liuzhu’s unusual demeanor, Dai Yuan immediately understood the gravity of the situation. He quickly suppressed his smile and playful banter, sitting up straight with respect, and said via soul communication, “Chief Zhang, please speak. This junior is all ears.”

Zhang Liuzhu then relayed the words that Immortal Chen had entrusted to him. Dai Yuan listened intently, not daring to miss a single word. However, after hearing everything, amidst the joy, he felt a sense of unease. A mixture of suspicions arose in his mind. Was this a pie falling from the sky, a free gift of a promising future? Did such good fortune truly exist in the world? Why would that ruthless and cunning Immortal Chen favor him? Was he not, in a roundabout way, coveting the rich inheritance of the Qingzhuan Sect? Was it possible that Zhang Liuzhu had already secretly reached an agreement with the Immortal, and was resorting to a covert grab, since an open struggle was inadvisable? Would he be busy running errands, only to end up with nothing, and become a traitorous villain in the history of the Qingzhuan Sect?

Zhang Liuzhu seemed to have already guessed the intricate workings of Dai Yuan’s mind. He picked up the imitation Flower God cup in front of him, lightly lifting it with two fingers, then heavily tapped it on the table. He narrowed his eyes and smiled, “Immortal Chen had two more sentences for me to pass on to Brother Dai. The first is, ‘Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty cup. Don’t act coy after receiving a benefit.'”

Dai Yuan wore a bitter smile, his heartstrings tightening.

Zhang Liuzhu paused for a moment, then continued with the “second sentence,” “‘Seeing Dai Yuan is not about discussing whether or not he wants to do something, but about teaching him how to behave.'”

Dai Yuan had only drunk a pot of Dragon Pool Immortal Brew, but at this moment, his stomach churned with bitterness. For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond.

This Brother Zhang was indeed already an ally on the same pirate ship as that Green-Clad Immortal.

Zhang Liuzhu regained his smile and said slowly, “Brother Dai, don’t overthink it. This Immortal Chen is a registered cultivator from a Sect-headed sect in our Tongye Continent. There is no reason, nor any need, to harm a Golden Core cultivator. The three academies of Tongye Continent are not just for show.”

Dai Yuan felt uneasy. After pondering for a moment, he put on a smile and tentatively asked, “Brother Zhang, can you speak frankly with me? Is that Immortal truly not coveting the Qingzhuan Sect’s wealth? Is he not making me a traitor to my sect, an inside agent who steals from his own?”

Zhang Liuzhu scoffed, not bothering to offer a single word of explanation to Dai Yuan. The two were merely drinking buddies from brothels. Dai Yuan’s ignorance and stupidity were beyond redemption. No wonder he was just a Golden Core registered cultivator with no hope of reaching Nascent Soul. If he were a rogue cultivator foraging for scraps on the mountains, his indecisiveness and lack of foresight would have killed him long ago.

Zhang Liuzhu turned the wine cup upside down, placing it on the table with the mouth facing down. “I have delivered the message, and that is all I have to say. It is up to you whether you listen or not, Brother Dai. As your brother, I will give you one last extra reminder: opportunities like this, where immense wealth is delivered to your doorstep, are not to be taken lightly with constant hesitation and a lack of appreciation. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. You will only regret it later.”

Dai Yuan gritted his teeth and said, “I’ll do it!”

What truly made Dai Yuan make up his mind was hearing that the Immortal was actually from a Tongye Continent sect.

As long as it wasn’t a one-shot deal with a risky gamble, Dai Yuan felt a little more at ease. Otherwise, Dai Yuan was really worried about ending up in a miserable situation where he was neither fish nor fowl. Not only would he lose his position as an internal provisioner for the Yu Clan Dynasty, but he might not even be able to keep his identity as a registered member of the Ancestral Hall. If the matter came to light and Gao Shuwen found out, with that Old Ancestor’s temperament and methods, he would never let him live to become a rogue cultivator.

Zhang Liuzhu chuckled, his expression haughty. He really didn’t know what that Great Immortal Chen, who was like a dragon emerging from the sea, a celestial steed soaring through the sky, saw in Dai Yuan. He was clearly not worthy of even carrying Immortal Chen’s shoes.

Zhang Liuzhu flipped the wine cup back over. Dai Yuan immediately leaned forward, picked up the wine pot, and helped fill it, before pouring one for himself.

Zhang Liuzhu smiled and said, “I won’t waste words on empty promises. Anyway, with our life-or-death friendship, we must work together with one heart and cooperate sincerely.”

Dai Yuan held the cup with both hands, his eyes resolute, and said, “Brother Zhang, to tell you the truth, I’m handing over my entire life and fortune in this cup of wine.”

From above the grape trellis, a head suddenly popped out, looking at Dai Yuan and indignantly saying, “What’s wrong with you Qingzhuan Sect? You’re actually using a Thousand-Li Horse like Dai Old Immortal as a donkey. Isn’t that a waste of talent?”

Let alone Dai Yuan, who was greatly startled, even Zhang Liuzhu almost couldn’t help but immediately summon a defensive magic treasure, followed by an offensive natal artifact. As for whether or not he would accidentally injure Brother Dai, it was all up to fate.

Dai Yuan blankly looked up at the head “hanging upside down” on the grape trellis.

In the sect, besides the Green Pearl Well, Dai Yuan had no real power. The cultivators who truly managed the Qingzhuan Sect were all confidants of Ancestral Master Gao Shuwen. The one in charge of money was Gao Old Ancestor’s concubine. Besides holding the treasury, this flirtatious woman, who looked down on everyone except Gao Old Ancestor, was also responsible for all matters in Baiyushan City. As for the Sect Disciplinarian, he was just an old Dragon Gate Realm cultivator with mediocre talent, yet he had taken over the fat slice of the Summoning Dragon Pool, just because he was Gao Old Ancestor’s direct disciple. He acted arrogantly, and always greeted this Golden Core Earth Immortal with a non-smiling face, calling him Junior Nephew Dai.

Zhang Liuzhu remained composed and asked, “May I ask where this fellow Daoist hails from, and what is your Daoist title?”

The white-robed youth maintained his strange posture, with a sincere expression, “I am Dongshan.”

Zhang Liuzhu smiled and asked, “Then may I ask, Dongshan fellow Daoist, how long have you been here, and how much have you heard?”
The newcomer flicked a memorial in his hand, the rustling sound cutting through the air. With a serious expression, he said, “Arrived a moment before you. Was busy admiring His Majesty’s edict of self-reproach just now. Didn’t quite catch words like ’embezzlement’ or ‘regret.’ So, no need for silencing anyone.”

Zhang Liuzhu’s face darkened. This fellow was being awfully sarcastic.

The white-robed youth tucked the memorial into his sleeve, chuckling. “Haha, Chief Zhang, did you breathe a sigh of relief upon hearing I arrived early? Thinking I was only good at concealing my presence, and not much of a fighter? Heh, you rejoiced too soon. I was just leading you on. I followed you all into the Lantern Riddle House. You two seemed to be enjoying your conversation, so I took a nap on the grape trellis. Don’t believe me? Check your feet. Isn’t there a small pile of grape seeds?”

Dai Yuan immediately lowered his head to look, but Zhang Liuzhu remained still. They were only one realm apart in cultivation, both Earth Immortals, but this was the true difference between a registered cultivator and a wild, untamed one.

Zhang Liuzhu feigned composure, stroking his beard and smiling faintly. “This fellow Daoist certainly walks an unconventional path.”

A cultivator who could hide on a grape trellis for half a day without him noticing was definitely not someone he could defeat!

Cui Dongshan flipped his body, grabbed the grape trellis with both hands, and landed gracefully, dusting off his sleeves, leaning against a grape trellis post. “Alright, I won’t beat around the bush. I have important matters to attend to.”

Cui Dongshan looked at the old Nascent Soul cultivator. “My master was worried you wouldn’t be clear and would add unnecessary details with Dai Yuan, so he sent me on this trip to Luoyang. Turns out, my master was right. You, Zhang Liuzhu, were indeed being clever. It doesn’t matter. Since I’m here, neither of you will be allowed to feign ignorance or play dumb.”

Cui Dongshan turned to Dai Yuan, stating directly, “Dai Yuan, would you like to be the eighth Sect Leader of the Azure Decree Sect, the one everyone hopes for, within a century? And while you’re at it, take on the extra work of serving as the top secret advisor to the Yu Dynasty?”

Dai Yuan looked awkward. Where did this madman come from, spouting such nonsense?

Seeing that he didn’t speak, Cui Dongshan smiled and nodded. “Very well, I’ll take that as a silent agreement.”

He then said to Zhang Liuzhu, “As for Chief Zhang, your official hat at Little Dragon Pool is already big enough. There’s no higher rank to grant. Can’t make you the Mountain Lord, after all, you’re an outsider, not proper. Without Lin Huizhi and Quan Qingqiu, Little Dragon Pool isn’t truly without talent.”

Zhang Liuzhu’s expression shifted slightly. How could this person know such confidential matters of Little Dragon Pool?!

Cui Dongshan smiled. “My master said that as payment for helping you relay a message on this Luoyang trip, he can put in a good word for you at Little Dragon Pool, allowing you to keep your title of Chief Guest Elder, and also secure an official position in the Great Chong Dynasty, such as… State Preceptor? So after you leave Luoyang, don’t return to Little Dragon Pool right away. Head straight for the Great Chong Dynasty and find that Vice Minister Cai Youjun of the Ministry of Works. Tell him you’re a mountain friend of Zhou Fei and willing to be his strategist and accountant for a few years. My master told me to remind you that haste makes waste. Spend a few years patiently learning the ins and outs of the Great Chong court. Chief Zhang, what’s that called?”

Zhang Liuzhu immediately replied, “Sharpening your axe won’t delay the woodcutting!”

One pot of Dragon Pool wine, and the old Nascent Soul cultivator’s heart was burning, as if the Great Chong State Preceptor position was already in his pocket.

As for this fellow Daoist who called himself “Dongshan,” since he was the prized student of the Sword Immortal Chen Ping An, he was practically family.

The key was that the Sword Immortal Chen Ping An seemed to be paving the way with prescience, exactly as Zhang Liuzhu had hoped. The prosperous Great Chong Dynasty was precisely the best “Dao field” where the old Nascent Soul cultivator wanted to display his talents.

At the same time, Zhang Liuzhu felt even more awe towards the Sword Immortal Chen Ping An, who seemed to see through people’s hearts with ease.

Considering the changes that had occurred within the Little Dragon Pool Wild Garden, Zhang Liuzhu had the feeling that the Sword Immortal Chen Ping An, with his profound sword skills, temperament, methods, and bearing, seemed more like a wild cultivator.

Turning his hand, he created clouds; flipping his hand, he brought rain. In an instant, he turned two Nascent Soul registered cultivators from Little Dragon Pool into prisoners, now held captive by the Dragon Beard Immortal Lord in the Central Earth Upper Sect, their fate unknown.

Cui Dongshan nodded approvingly. “A promising student, boundless future.”

Then, Cui Dongshan raised a sleeve, waving away the lingering scent of women’s cosmetics, tsking. “You two are both Earth Immortal cultivators with great ambitions. You must be virtuous and cultivate yourselves properly. Especially with those registered female cultivators, drink less wine and fight less divine fights. Save some strength and build up your reputation. Otherwise, the biggest impression that a future Great Chong State Preceptor and the eighth Sect Leader of the Azure Decree Sect give to outsiders is the flower bed. That’s a bit inappropriate. These days, the mountains of Tongye Continent are big but also small. Good deeds don’t travel, but bad rumors spread a thousand miles.”

Dai Yuan glanced at Zhang Liuzhu, who sat upright, not looking to the side.

Cui Dongshan extended a finger, pointing at the two Earth Immortals. “My master and I don’t want our future guests to be heroes who frequent brothels, scandals, and women’s skirts.”

Zhang Liuzhu was somewhat annoyed, cursing Dai Yuan in his heart for leading him astray!

Before meeting Dai Yuan, I was known for my diligent cultivation. I didn’t know half a registered female cultivator or any fairy of any kind!

Cui Dongshan clapped his hands and laughed. “Just like Chief Zhang said earlier, then shall we three work together with one heart, cooperating sincerely?”

Zhang Liuzhu and Dai Yuan both rose and bowed, swearing vows, only stopping short of swearing to the heavens.

Finally, Cui Dongshan flicked his sleeves, grinning mischievously. “I’ll also imitate Chief Zhang and add unnecessary details. Speaking frankly amongst ourselves, if you two dare to err again and disappoint my master someday, I’ll beat you half to death first, then make you understand what it means to live worse than death.”

Before Cui Dongshan left Immortal Capital Mountain, his master had asked a very interesting question.

If Wei Ying of the Jade Decree Sect secretly promised similar fame and fortune, would Zhang and Dai be just as loyal and even more devoted?

Cui Dongshan nodded, saying yes.

His master smiled and said, “Then that means the effort put into people’s hearts is still not reliable enough. It’s alright, dripping water wears away the stone, progress will be seen gradually.”
Two Earth Immortals, one a Golden Core cultivator silenced by fear, the other a Nascent Soul cultivator only dared to pledge his loyalty, vowing never to betray Chen Jianxian’s cultivation and trust.

The white-robed youth, like a wisp of white cloud, vanished into thin air, the spiritual energy of the world undisturbed, coming and going without a trace.

Under the grape trellis, Zhang Liuzhu and Dai Yuan stared at each other.

After a long silence, Dai Yuan whispered, “Brother Zhang, my residence… it’s just for the two of us to drink some light tea, right?”

“Otherwise what?!”

Zhang Liuzhu retorted unhappily, “The gentle embrace is a hero’s grave, a waste of our cultivator’s spirit, harmful in every way and beneficial in none.”

Dai Yuan nodded silently, thinking it was his fault for even suggesting it.

Zhang Liuzhu said, “I won’t be going to your residence for tea. I’ll just continue drinking here. Let’s think carefully and come up with a general plan.”

Dai Yuan perked up immediately, sat down, poured Zhang Liuzhu a cup of wine, and said, full of vigor, “Brother Zhang is still the most stable. We really need to discuss this properly.”

The two Earth Immortals, now in the same boat, began to open their hearts to each other. As they talked, they even began to see some progress on how the Yu Dynasty and the Great Chong Dynasty could form an alliance in the future.

Indeed, this was much more fulfilling than indulging in wine and women.

Surely a true man should not wallow in the gentle embrace, but should strive for great deeds!

As a result, another head popped out from behind the grape trellis, clicking its tongue in disapproval, “I’m not saying you two, what are you even thinking? What kind of talk is that? Like a widow weeping at night?”

Zhang Liuzhu and Dai Yuan stiffened, exchanged a glance, and both felt a sense of helpless dejection.

Cui Dongshan took out two books from his sleeve and casually threw them on the wine table, “Finders keepers. Remember to read them several times, memorize them by heart, and then write an essay of a thousand or eight hundred words. I’ll test you on them later.”

The white-robed figure vanished again.

The two Earth Immortal cultivators were like two young students in a private school, just receiving an assignment from their teacher.

Silence reigned for a long time.

Dai Yuan asked with his eyes, “Did that guy leave?”

Zhang Liuzhu replied with his eyes, “You’re asking me? I want to know too. Should we ask that brain-damaged Cui Immortal Master?”

“So, what do we do? We can’t just stand here doing nothing.”

“How about we read the books?”

The two Earth Immortals, growing more and more in sync, didn’t even need to exchange words or thoughts. They almost simultaneously sat down and buried their heads in the books.

At Jade Green Monastery, the old Real Person Liang Shuang turned his head to look at the courtyard, where a figure in white seemed to have leaped out of the ground. He saw the female National Preceptor, Lu Bilong, and said, “Oh, the old Real Person just accepted a direct disciple, and now he’s looking for a Dao companion.”

Liang Shuang ignored him, wondering if Cui Chan, the Embroidered Tiger, was always such a rogue when he was young. He would have to ask Little Zhao about it later.

Cui Dongshan swung his sleeves and strode into the room, sitting opposite the female Daoist Ma Xuanhui, staring directly at Lu Bilong, whose Daoist name was Manyue.

According to the secret records of the Yu Dynasty, the Guardian Real Person Lu Bilong was half a pedigree cultivator. She had practiced in a small, unknown Daoist temple in a minor country. Because she was pure in heart and aspired to seek the truth, she had cultivated to the Nascent Soul realm before venturing out. When she passed by the capital of the Yu Dynasty, she saw that Jade Green Monastery was a blessed place with rich Dao energy, so she stopped to rest. She obtained a Daoist license issued by the court, but still refused to reveal her cultivation. When the chaotic times came, she couldn’t bear to watch the Yu Dynasty fall, so she violated her original intention and voluntarily gave up her usual quiet cultivation, reluctantly becoming a recluse in the court, serving as the Guardian Real Person.

As for that local Daoist temple, it certainly existed. The Ministry of Rites archives and local gazetteers of that small vassal state of Yu had clear records. Even if that Daoist temple had long been destroyed in the flames of war, there would definitely be a female Daoist named “Lu Bilong.”

The female National Preceptor felt uncomfortable, but with the influential old Real Person present, she didn’t dare to show the slightest displeasure.

A “young man” who could freely joke with the Grand Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain couldn’t be provoked by a mere Nascent Soul cultivator like her.

Cui Dongshan’s opening words made Lu Bilong’s Dao heart tremble, “I heard from my teacher that you’re actually from the Three Mountains Blessed Land, Myriad Jade Sect, a pawn placed here by the Immortal Han Yushu?”

“Are you still harboring hope, thinking that Han Yushu will intercede for you at our Heavenly Pivot Academy? For example, will Sect Master Han instruct his daughter Han Yushu to secretly persuade the old Emperor of Yu, or the new successor, to find a reason to exonerate you, so as to reduce your punishment at the academy? Ideally, you could stay in Luoyang as a criminal, even if you lose your position as the Guardian Real Person, and strive to retain the title of abbot of Jade Green Monastery, using your private money, sacrificing your dowry, and spending two or three hundred years of cultivation to hold several grand Zhou Tian Grand Rituals to make amends?”

“Are you thinking of saying that you don’t understand what I’m talking about at all?”

“Tell me, what’s your real name on the Golden Jade Pedigree of the Myriad Jade Sect? Don’t think of our Heavenly Pivot Academy as fools. I’m very busy and don’t have time to play children’s games with you.”

Hearing the white-robed youth say “our Heavenly Pivot Academy” over and over again.

This “Lu Bilong” was truly afraid at this moment.

Liang Shuang’s realm was high enough to see through Lu Bilong’s mental fluctuations, and he asked in his heart, “Did you just guess?”

Cui Dongshan smiled and replied, “I wouldn’t dare take credit. It’s my teacher’s guess. I never thought that this woman who impersonated ‘Lu Bilong’ would be so easily fooled, confessing without being beaten.”

After hesitating for a moment, Cui Dongshan still told the old Real Person an even greater truth, “Before, my teacher and Han Yushu had a fierce battle at the old site of Mount Taiping, sparing no effort. Han Yushu used all his trump cards, and his attainments in talismans and formations were extremely high. My teacher then connected it with the formations in Luoyang and the Azure Seal Sect, and came to a guess. Given the Myriad Jade Sect’s tendency to be a shrinking turtle, since they’ve decided to create a lower sect, there will definitely be vanguard like Lu Bilong who would come out early to set things up. In short, in my teacher’s eyes, this is a very obvious line.”

Liang Shuang stroked his beard and smiled, “Little Daoist Chen is so meticulous and insightful. It’s a pity that he doesn’t want to be a ‘naive Daoist’ like this poor Daoist.”
As for the dharma duel between Chen Ping’an and Han Yushu, Liang Shuang merely listened to it and dismissed it. Besides, Cui Dongshan’s last sentence, “Very busy, no time,” was deliberately directed at him.

Cui Dongshan glanced at the young female Daoist with profound fortune and a deep predestined fate. He considered whether there was an opportunity to poach her from Immortal Capital Mountain. In any case, this Ma Xuanhui was to remain in Tongye Continent, and it was highly likely that Liang Shuang would keep her in a Daoist temple in Liang Country. So, having her as a nominal guest elder in his own sect wouldn’t be excessive.

In fact, the female Daoist Ma Xuanhui, while nominally a direct disciple, wasn’t strictly so. In truth, she was merely a nominal disciple of the Liang Country True Man “Liang Hao,” not truly someone who could inherit Liang Shuang’s mantle.

Therefore, her relationship with disciple Ma Xuanhui was such that their master-disciple connection would last only as long as fate dictated, and they would part ways afterward.

Only those at the summit of the Vastness Mountain knew some of the inside stories of Liang Shuang’s lineage. It was notoriously declining, mainly because the threshold for accepting disciples was too high, and there was an ancestral precept that could not be violated.

“Ancient innocence, passed down by word of mouth, gaining one for each transmission.”

This meant that Liang Shuang’s lineage had always been a single direct line, with no master having two disciples.

Beyond this, there was an extremely hidden and mysterious aspect. In fact, Liang Shuang had been searching for the reincarnated person to whom his own master had transmitted the Dao for many years.

Simply put, since the first generation ancestor established the mountain and founded the lineage and its orthodox practices, in the long years that followed, this ancient lineage, spanning nearly ten thousand years, was as if it had only two people from beginning to end, simply alternating between the roles of master and disciple.

Suddenly remembering something, could it be that the ambitious Han Yushu of the Myriad Jade Sect had already been dealt with by his little Daoist friend?

The old True Man, having nothing to do anyway, folded his hands in his Daoist robe sleeves and swiftly performed a grand Daoist deduction, calculating with heavenly arithmetic.

Unexpectedly, he quickly took his hands out of his sleeves and vigorously shook his wrist.

“Ouch, hot potato.”

Although he couldn’t calculate a definite answer, the fact that Han Yushu was still missing in action, in the old True Man’s view, was practically equivalent to a foregone conclusion.

He hadn’t lived his thousands of years in the mountains for nothing.

Liang Shuang smiled faintly, “I’ll have a word with Little Zhao later and have him spread the word that Han Yushu was once lively and fortunate enough to discuss the Dao with Old Celestial Master Liang Shuang.”

In this way, anyone else who meticulously calculated would have to pass his Liang Shuang’s test first.

Cui Dongshan deliberately ignored this, as long as he saw nothing, his master wouldn’t have to owe this favor.

Cui Dongshan merely raised a hand and pointed into the air, a strange and baffling act.

The female cultivator of the Myriad Jade Sect, using the alias Lü Bilong, was utterly confused, not knowing what this scholar from Heavenly Pillar Academy was doing. She suspected that the young man with a red mole between his eyebrows was very likely the young Deputy Headmaster who had just crossed continents to take office, Wen Yu.

Liang Shuang glanced over, but knew what Cui Dongshan was up to. It was a Go chess pattern, renowned for its numerous variations, hence the saying, “The great diagonal transformation, a myriad of words cannot exhaust it.”

The national chess masters below the mountain and the grandmasters of the chess world above had once greatly admired it. However, it was later rejected by Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City and the Embroidered Tiger, Cui Chan. In the Colored Cloud Manual, one of Zheng Juzhong’s games where he was at a great disadvantage in the middlegame was opened with a great diagonal. Cui Chan only made a slight misstep in the endgame, ultimately losing by half a point. As a result, today’s famous chess players almost never use the great diagonal pattern as the first move.

Liang Shuang didn’t think Cui Dongshan was showing off anything. After all, a chess player in the world who could play such a game with Zheng Juzhong might be complacent for a lifetime, but for the Embroidered Tiger, who had a dominant position throughout the game but failed at the last moment, it was a kind of invisible humiliation. But why Cui Dongshan was acting this way at this moment, the old True Man had no interest in exploring. Some things that some people do are beyond the comprehension of outsiders, such as Sun Huaizhong of the Great Profound Capital Temple borrowing a sword from Bai Ye, this leader of the Daoist Sword Immortal lineage, which was equivalent to giving up reaching the fourteenth realm.

Cui Dongshan suddenly asked, “Are you willing to leave the Myriad Jade Sect? From now on, just be a Lü Bilong who is ‘unrelated’ to the Three Mountains Blessed Land?”

The woman gave a wan smile.

Sect Leader Han Yushu had such an ambitious nature, governing a blessed land with an iron fist. How could he tolerate the betrayal of a genealogy cultivator in the Ancestral Hall? If she dared to do so, she would only be courting death.

So she had already made a decision. Since her identity had been exposed, it would definitely involve the Myriad Jade Sect being questioned by the Confucian Temple. In that case, Han Yushu was destined not to be able to help her escape, but would try to distance himself from her as much as possible. So she could almost foresee her fate: going to Heavenly Pillar Academy, being interrogated, being thoroughly investigated by the Academy Headmaster, being placed in confinement, and perhaps even being detained to the Merit Forest of the Central Earth Divine Continent. Fortunately, she was still young and had hope of reaching the Jade Purity Realm. At worst, she would treat it as closed-door cultivation, just changing her location from the Emerald Accumulation Temple in this Luoyang to another place.

This was also one of the reasons why Han Yushu had her leave the Three Mountains Blessed Land early, hoping that within one or two hundred years, in this Emerald Accumulation Temple of the Yu Clan Dynasty in Tongye Continent, she would break through the Nascent Soul bottleneck. During this period, Han Yushu would not only impart one or two extremely superior Daoist secret techniques, but would also secretly allocate a large amount of heavenly treasures and immortal coins for her.

By then, Lü Bilong could legitimately establish a lower sect, allowing Han Yushu to possess three sects.

Cui Dongshan smiled slightly, “In Sword Qi Great Wall, or the Northern Precious Bottle Continent, someone like you who retreated before battle would be executed on the spot.”

“If you think that the academy will only confine you for a hundred years or so after knowing about this, then you are underestimating the strength of the Confucian Temple’s reckoning after the autumn harvest, especially for a land immortal like you with ulterior motives. The guilt is greatest, so listen to my advice, before leaving the Emerald Accumulation Temple, quickly offer a few more incense sticks and see if you can invite the Dao Ancestor to bless you and personally plead with the Confucian Temple on your behalf. Otherwise, you will be imprisoned until you die. What’s the point of becoming an immortal, even if you become an immortal?”
“Oh, right, don’t forget one thing. The current headmaster of Five Streams Academy is Zhou Mi from the Fish Duck Academy in the Northern Clime Continent. You must know his temperament well. Otherwise, a dignified headmaster wouldn’t be confined to the Hall of Meritorious Deeds for self-reflection. Even the Confucian Temple doesn’t dare let him go to Heavenly Eye Academy, fearing he’d take root in the Tung Leaf Sect. When the three headmasters of Grand Emergence, Heavenly Eye, and Five Streams Academies convene for discussion, and Headmaster Zhou hears about your ‘glorious deeds,’ do you think he’ll put in a good word for you? Even if Han Yushu lost his mind and tried to protect you, do you think Headmaster Zhou would refrain from spitting in his face?”

The female cultivator, already as skittish as a startled bird, saw the white-robed youth raise a hand, two fingers aligned, his eyes firm, as he solemnly vowed, “I, Wen Yu, swear to the heavens, if I don’t solidify this matter with the headmaster of Heavenly Eye Academy and the lecturers of the academy, if I don’t imprison you until your hair turns white, then I’ll change my surname to yours, Lü.”

The old True Man sighed, “The tea at Verdant Accumulation Convent is truly excellent, can’t drink it for free. Then this poor Daoist will remind Fellow Daoist Full Moon: before leaving Verdant Accumulation Convent, besides offering incense and prayers, you might want to take a few hundred books with you, to relieve the boredom during your confinement. Also, carry a mirror with you, for companionship. ‘A beauty’s white hair, the mirror foretells.'”

The female cultivator turned ashen-faced. She abruptly turned her head, first forming a Daoist hand seal with both hands, then offering a secret treasure, her natal object, seemingly casting a Mountain Sealing Barrier, before trembling, “This junior knows her mistake. Heavenly Master Liang, save me!”

Liang Shuang chuckled wryly and shook his head. “Fellow Daoist Full Moon, you’re grasping at straws. This poor Daoist is not your lifeline. This one is.” He gestured towards Cui Dongshan.

Cui Dongshan smiled, “Han Yushu set up a Sect restriction on her. Once Han Yushu senses something amiss, even across thousands of mountains and rivers, this Fellow Daoist Full Moon will instantly become an idiot, her Dao heart shattered into a puddle of mud. So, sealing the door first, then seeking Old Brother Liang’s help, shows she’s not completely foolish.”

The female cultivator looked frightened and began to state her name, “My true name is Long Gong. I am a direct disciple of the Ancestral Hall of Myriad Jade Sect. My master has long since passed away. Our lineage, besides me, only has a few mid-Fifth Realm cultivators with ordinary aptitudes. Achieving Core Formation is a pipe dream. Some with better aptitude have already transferred to other lineages.”

Cui Dongshan couldn’t help but chuckle. “Long Gong? You actually took such a grand name. Are you destined to do great things in this life?”

Liang Shuang’s expression was cold, his loathing for the Myriad Jade Sect and Han Yushu palpable.

Cultivate what Dao, seek what truth, become what immortal?

Such a good blessed land with excellent Feng Shui, messed up so badly, isn’t the Daoist who is the true owner of the blessed land too free to manage it?

A great battle is like a sieve, sifting through the hearts of everyone in Tung Leaf Continent.

The Sect Leader, Mountain Lord, and Headmaster are estranged from their offerings and direct disciples, plotting against each other. The Sect and its affiliated sects are superficially harmonious but disagree on profit distribution.

Then one can imagine, how can these mountains and immortals be “of the same path” with others, with this world? It’s just like a battle, a matter of winning or losing, with only two possible outcomes.

Cui Dongshan suddenly asked, “Who is the first Sect Leader candidate for your Myriad Jade Sect’s lower sect? It couldn’t be Han Yushu’s direct daughter, could it?”

She said, “I only learned about this recently. It’s said to be the previous Sect Leader’s nominal closed-door disciple, whom Han Yushu accepted on behalf of his master. But apart from Han Yushu and a few ancestral masters, no one seems to have seen this person in person. They only know that this person is young and has unparalleled aptitude for cultivation, the youngest Golden Core in the history of the Three Mountains Blessed Land. This is because when this person successfully formed their core, it caused a massive celestial phenomenon. Even the sect’s formations couldn’t completely conceal it, thus revealing some secrets. The sect, these years, no one dares to discuss this matter without authorization. Once discovered, they will be personally imprisoned in the Water Dungeon behind the mountain by the Hall Master. I only know because Han Jiangshu secretly visited Verdant Accumulation Convent earlier. This direct daughter of the Sect Leader told me in person, saying that her incredibly talented little martial uncle, Daoist name ‘Wu Tong,’ is very likely to become an Ascension Realm great cultivator.”

Speaking to this point, she hesitated for a moment and softly said, “I can tell, Han Jiangshu and that cultivator are probably having an affair.”

Because when Han Jiangshu talked about that young cultivator in the Daoist temple earlier, Han Jiangshu thought she was hiding it well, but her eyes were full of amorous feelings.

As soon as she said the words, she felt she had misspoke, that she should not have said such messy things in front of a Dragon Tiger Mountain outsider Great Heavenly Master and a Heavenly Eye Academy Deputy Headmaster.

Unexpectedly, the white-robed youth nodded and smiled slightly, “Very good, I love hearing these things. You might as well talk more about the sordid secrets of the Myriad Jade Sect, just tell the truth, without deliberately exaggerating.”

The female cultivator, who had been forming hand seals to stabilize her Dao heart, was “about to give up.”

Liang Shuang extended a finger, pointed to the female cultivator’s brow through a tea table, and said indifferently, “Freeze.”

In an instant, the female cultivator seemed to fall into a sweet dream.

Cui Dongshan chuckled, stood up, squatted beside the female cultivator, examined her for a moment, raised his palm, and gently slapped the other party’s forehead, knocking the other party’s soul out of her body. Then he stood up, pinched that piece of soul “clothing” that was also unconscious with two fingers, shook it, wiped it casually, and pushed the soul back into the body shell, leaving only the qi reservoirs within the human small world, suspended in the air like stars.

Cui Dongshan paced slowly, offering a golden sword light, drawing a sword qi thunder pond forbidden area. Cui Dongshan occasionally tilted his head or stood on tiptoe, carefully examining the female cultivator’s heart image. Finally, within a certain “mansion,” he discovered a secret restriction carefully set up by Han Yushu. Cui Dongshan suddenly hooked his five fingers like claws, and in an instant, he pulled out a “slender Milky Way” composed of golden words. Almost at the same time, his other hand “copied” an almost identical golden word, filling the furrow in the female cultivator’s heart field.

Cui Dongshan then slapped the female cultivator awake hard and reminded her with a serious face, “Old Brother Liang spared no effort to help you solve this huge hidden danger. What are you spacing out for? Why don’t you quickly thank the True Man?”
The female Daoist, her cheek still stinging slightly, was bewildered. She quickly rose and retreated a few steps, offering a Daoist salute to the old True Man, her voice choked with gratitude, “Thank you, Celestial Master, for saving my life.”

Ma Xuanwei, who had been silently sipping tea throughout the entire ordeal, resolved that she would stay far, far away from this boy in white from now on. Better yet, they should never meet again.

‘His teacher can’t be any better, can he?’ she mused. ‘How else could he have produced such a student?’

Cui Dongshan returned to his seat. “Long Gong, you can depart immediately. Go to Tianmu Academy and report the situation there.”

Long Gong asked timidly, “Won’t Headmaster Wen accompany me?”

Cui Dongshan looked blank. “The Deputy Headmaster Wen of Tianmu Academy? I’m not Wen Yu.”

Long Gong was completely lost, thinking she must have misheard. She forced a smile, “Headmaster Wen, you jest.”

Cui Dongshan straightened his face. “I am Dongshan.”

Liang Shuang inquired, “What exactly is the disposition?”

Cui Dongshan stroked his chin. “Tianmu Academy will have its own judgment. However, Long Gong surrendered herself. If she provides more details about the sordid affairs of the Myriad Jade Sect and Han Yushu, then according to the old rules of the Confucian Temple, her punishment can be slightly reduced. Being imprisoned until death is definitely out of the question. With some luck, she might even be able to go to the battlefields of the Wildlands and atone for her sins. As for whether she has good luck or not, it depends on the attitudes of Wen Yu of Tianmu Academy and Zhou Mi, the Headmaster of Five Streams Academy. I’ve heard that Wen Yu’s temperament is no better than Zhou Mi’s. It’s just that Zhou Mi wears it on his sleeve, while Wen Yu is said to have an unyielding spirit and meticulous mind. He once single-handedly killed a Celestial Realm demon overseeing a military camp on the South Po娑洲 battlefield. If judged solely on merit, without regard to seniority, Wen Yu could directly become the Headmaster of Tianmu Academy.”

The Central Earth Confucian Temple released Zhou Mi of the Fish Cormorant Academy from the Hall of Meritorious Deeds, allowing him to be transferred to the Tongye Continent as the Headmaster of an academy. As their Chief Zhou put it, this was the Confucian Temple “unleashing a dog to bite.”

It was a clear warning to all the immortal sects in the southern Tongye Continent to behave themselves. After all, this was a scholar who had been gifted with the word “Restraint” by his teacher before taking office, and one who would personally travel to the “simple and honest” Northern Ju蘆洲 to deal with matters himself. Such a figure presiding over affairs at the Five Streams Academy in Tongye Continent was a deterrent in itself.

Furthermore, it was also a friendly reminder from the Confucian Temple to the Jade Decree Sect, which had amassed considerable battle merits, not to overreach, not to extend their influence too far north. In short, they should not emulate the Tongye Sect of the past, which regarded all immortal sects in the continent as tributaries.

Wen Yu served as the Deputy Headmaster of Tianmu Academy. According to the current rites of the Confucian Temple, the seventy-two Confucian Academies are configured with one headmaster and two deputies. Generally, one deputy headmaster manages academics, focusing on abstract matters such as literary style and moral education, while the other manages general affairs, overseeing everything large and small. Especially in the current world of the Great Way, all future Ministers of Rites must be graduates of these academies. Wen Yu is currently the deputy headmaster in charge of concrete affairs. Therefore, he can manage matters on the mountain, and even more so, he must manage the various states within the academy’s jurisdiction.

Long Gong looked utterly defeated, turning to the old True Man for help once more.

She dared not go to the battlefields of the Wildlands. She would rather be imprisoned by the academy. She had once witnessed the scene of a tide of Wildland demons surging past from afar, and it had long since shattered her courage.

Immovable cities were like people lying on the ground waiting to die, devoured clean by swarms of ants, leaving only skeletal remains in an instant.

Cui Dongshan said, “This woman is fickle. She might lose her nerve halfway and try to escape. Therefore, I’ll have to trouble Senior Liang to escort her for a while.”

Liang Shuang nodded. “It’s on my way anyway. This poor Daoist is just about to meet with the disciple of the Fire Dragon True Man to see what kind of cultivation genius he is.”

Zhang Shanfeng, the young Daoist of Crawling Peak, had almost become the adopted Celestial Master of Mount Dragon Tiger. If not for the imminent war, where the Celestial Master’s Mansion needed a “thug” they could use immediately, and Zhao had been unwilling to force his growth, they would not have rejected the Fire Dragon True Man’s proposal to let his disciple “hereditarily inherit” the position of adopted Celestial Master.

Liang Shuang casually asked, “Then, will you be giving an explanation to the Verdant Accumulation Temple and the Yu Dynasty court?”

Cui Dongshan snapped, “What kind of explanation? If I didn’t think that Crown Prince had some redeeming qualities, while not a brilliant monarch, he’s certainly not a foolish one either. He’s more than capable of being an Emperor of Yu.”

Liang Shuang smiled. “That’s not the style of the Embroidered Tiger.”

Cui Dongshan was uncharacteristically flustered. “I don’t know if Senior Liang is praising or scolding me.”

Liang Shuang smiled. “Don’t hide it. Why not let this poor Daoist feast my eyes?”

Cui Dongshan stood up and shook a lifelike porcelain figure out of his snow-white sleeve. Its features and figure were precisely those of Long Gong, as if cast from the same mold.

Ma Xuanwei looked back and forth. If the two female national preceptors were not standing and sitting, she really wouldn’t be able to distinguish the real from the fake.

Cui Dongshan then produced the soul of a female ghost from his sleeve. He held it up and lightly said, “Go,” and the soul attached itself to the closed-eyed porcelain figure. Cui Dongshan then pinched his fingers together and pressed them against the porcelain figure’s brow, as if opening the face of a Buddha statue, adding the finishing touch.

A moment later, the porcelain figure opened its eyes and offered a graceful curtsy. Her voice was incredibly similar to Long Gong’s, and even her aloof temperament was exactly the same. “This servant, Long Gong, Daoist name Full Moon, humbly serves as the Abbess of Verdant Accumulation Temple. Greetings, Master.”

Cui Dongshan reached out and grabbed the horsetail whisk that Long Gong had placed on the table, tossing it to the “Long Gong” before him. The latter received the whisk, resting it on her arm, and offered a Daoist salute. “This servant thanks Master for bestowing this treasure.”

Cui Dongshan glanced at the real Long Gong. “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and take off the Taizhen Crown from your head and give it to our Daoist friend Full Moon. As for the green lotus and white lotus immortal shoes on your feet, and the Daoist robe you’re wearing, which is enchanted with illusions, we’ll talk about those later.”

Liang Shuang said, “What a pity, and what a fortune.”
Alas, such heaven-defying methods came at too great a cost, making mass production like that of armor, weaponry, or immortal ferries impossible. Fortunately, this bottleneck restricted the number of porcelain people, preventing a great upheaval and the complete obliteration of the true essence of “humanity.”

Cultivators had already transcended the realm of ordinary mortals.

But if these porcelain people were to proliferate throughout the world, the consequences would be unimaginable.

A single misstep could lead to a repetition of history, transforming the human realm into something akin to the ancient Heavenly Court of millennia past.

Inside the room, both Longgong and his disciple Ma Xuanhui were misled by the female ghost’s illusion, mistakenly believing that the porcelain figure lacked any inherent intelligence. However, Liang Shuang was able to pierce through the layers of deception and perceive a flicker of true spirit, like a nascent spark of enlightenment. In short, it was a situation of two masters within the same house, with the future dominance between the ghost and the porcelain figure’s spirit solely dependent on Cui Dongshan’s personal preference.

The ancient deities looked down upon the human realm, regarding all sentient beings upon the earth as mere ants.

Were ants only worthy of looking down at the earth, and considered arrogant for daring to look up at the sky?

The human race had once been in such a position. Would these seemingly weak and insignificant porcelain people suffer the same fate?

Liang Shuang’s expression turned grave. He said in a deep voice, “It’s fortunate that someone can restrain you. If I were in charge of the Confucian Temple, I would lock you up until the end of time.”

Cui Dongshan shrugged, a look of smugness on his face. “As long as my teacher is here, who dares to bully me?”

Liang Shuang simply smiled in response.

Cui Dongshan switched to a more familiar form of address, chuckling, “Old Liang, I think that once Ma Xuanhui resolves his karmic entanglement in the Liang Kingdom, he can come to Jicui Temple for dedicated cultivation. He could even inherit the position of temple master in the future. We’re all one family here, and I’ll always prioritize our own when it comes to any benefits.”

Liang Shuang frowned. “Is this Chen Pingan’s idea?”

Cui Dongshan slammed his hand on the teatable, feigning anger. “What kind of unscrupulous nonsense are you spouting?!”

Liang Shuang chuckled coldly. “Trying to intimidate me?”

Cui Dongshan wiped the teatable with his sleeve. “Some things, my teacher is unwilling to do, and disdains to do.”

If it was merely unwillingness and disdain, then it wasn’t as if he was incapable of doing them.

Liang Shuang asked curiously, “Is Chen Pingan planning to emulate you, Cui Chan, and use the study of practical affairs to mend a continent’s mountains and rivers?”

Cui Dongshan shook his head. “The methods are not quite the same. My teacher excels at adapting things for his own use and creating something entirely new.”

For some unknown reason, as soon as the name Cui Chan was mentioned, Longgong began to suffer from an excruciating headache. She clutched her head with both hands, the sweat pouring down her face despite being a Nascent Soul Earth Immortal.

It was evident that Cui Dongshan had indeed removed the original restriction, but had replaced it with a new mountain and river barrier for Longgong.

For instance, if she even entertained a thought remotely related to “Cui Chan” or “Embroidered Tiger,” she would suffer such a miserable fate of unstable Dao heart.

After Longgong finally managed to stabilize her Dao heart, the white-clad youth, whose identity she had already guessed, said with a grin, “Repeat after me: Cui Chan is an old bastard, Cui Chan is an old bastard.”

Poor Longgong, this time the pain caused her to collapse backward, curling up into a fetal position, barely stopping short of rolling on the ground.

Liang Shuang turned a blind eye to this, and asked, “It’ll take at least a century or two, won’t it? How can he focus on his own cultivation if he’s so distracted?”

“My teacher estimates that he’ll have a rough framework in place before the Colorful World reopens. From the mountains above to the mountains below, from the Dao heart to the hearts of the people. And it won’t overly delay my teacher’s cultivation.”

“So fast?!”

“Did you think otherwise?”

Liang Shuang fell silent, picked up the bamboo hat teacup, and took a sip of tea, asking with his mind, “Is your Yin spirit going to…?”

Cui Dongshan curled his lip. “There’s no need to hide anything from you, Old Liang. It’s going to Pushan Cloud Abode to snag a direct disciple status, and there’s also a mess that needs cleaning up.”

Liang Shuang asked again, “Where is your Yang spirit incarnation right now?”

Cui Dongshan blinked. “In the Colorful World. Just a few days ago, I found Bai Ye’s cultivation site. It was empty anyway, so I offered to help manage it.”

Liang Shuang teased, “Are you planning to establish a lower sect over there? Isn’t that what Han Yushu had in mind as well?”

If Cui Dongshan were to establish another sect in the Colorful World, Fallen Mountain on Treasure Bottle Continent could be promoted from a lower sect to the “Orthodox Sect,” while Green Flute Sword Sect on Tongye Continent could be elevated to an upper sect.

In this matter, the plan was similar in style to that of Myriad Demon Sect.

Cui Dongshan clenched his fist, gently tapping his chest, and looked up at the ceiling with a sorrowful expression. “The thought that I actually came up with the same idea as Immortal Han fills me with such sorrow, such heart-wrenching pain.”

Ma Xuanhui finally couldn’t restrain himself any longer, mustering his courage and saying softly to the old True Man, “Master, I don’t want to cultivate at this Jicui Temple.”

The old True Man nodded and smiled. “It’s up to you. But you don’t need to be afraid of this guy either. Your master and his teacher are close friends at first sight. Just based on that relationship, this Cui Dongshan wouldn’t dare to do anything to you.”

Liang Shuang was naturally well aware of the strategic acumen of a true “Embroidered Tiger.”

The games he played today, such as toying with Longgong, and the previous interactions with Zhang Liuzhu and Dai Yuan at the Lantern Riddle Pavilion, were nothing more than a couple of side dishes. Cui Dongshan had merely employed a relatively obscure trick, a localized feint on the chessboard, hardly worthy of being called a divine move.

Liang Shuang finally asked the question that weighed most heavily on his mind, “Why be so sincere in being someone’s student?”

In fact, the old True Man “Liang Shuang” currently residing in Jicui Temple differed somewhat from the Celestial Master Liang Shuang in the capital of the Liang Kingdom. It wasn’t simply the usual case of a cultivator’s Yin spirit detaching and traveling afar; in simple terms, the latter was superior to and greater than the former. In this aspect, the State Preceptor Cui Chan and Cui Dongshan were similar.

Cui Dongshan smiled casually. “A certain phrase, only known to those of the same path. Why must the Celestial Master ask?”

Longgong and Ma Xuanhui were both Daoist nuns, and therefore did not understand the profound meaning of Cui Dongshan’s words, as it involved a Buddhist Chan poem.

“A solitary cloud and a wild crane, where can they not fly?”

Liang Shuang shook his head. “Wrong. What you say is precisely the opposite.”

Cui Dongshan smiled. “Truly the opposite? The Celestial Master may want to reconsider?”
He changed his form of address again, knowing full well that the Yin God Liang Shuang before him was merely helping his true self ask questions.

Liang Shuang nodded, “Indeed.”

Cui Dongshan’s implication wasn’t profound, nor was it meant to mystify. He was simply stating an obvious truth.

Wasn’t choosing a limited freedom, in itself, a form of great freedom?

Liang Shuang asked again, “Then can this poor Daoist understand that you can, in fact, choose a completely pure freedom at any time?”

Cui Dongshan countered, “If one day you had to play chess simultaneously against Cui Chan, Zheng Juzhong, Qi Jingchun, and Wu Shuangjiang, what would you choose?”

Liang Shuang smiled, “Not to take a seat, not to pick up a chess piece, not to play the game.”

Cui Dongshan spread his hands, “There you have it.”

Liang Shuang narrowed his eyes and asked, “Then that’s even more interesting. Since you willingly submit, who should govern the one who makes you willingly submit?”

Cui Dongshan twitched the corner of his mouth.

This old fellow was indeed still obsessed with the matter, with a mindset similar to that of Zou Zi.

Liang Shuang didn’t give up on getting an answer, and waited patiently for what would come next.

Cui Dongshan remained silent.

This was very vexing; this small-armed, thin-legged immortal being, facing a peak Ascension Realm grand cultivator, really couldn’t muster any backbone.

For the first time, Cui Dongshan missed that old bastard.

Cui Dongshan sighed and said slowly, “My teacher once said that doing interesting things is certainly interesting, but not necessarily meaningful. But doing meaningful things is bound to be interesting.”

Liang Shuang pondered for a moment, “This principle is not bad.”

Cui Dongshan lamented, “Only those on the same path understand such phrases. Why must the Celestial Master ask more?”

Liang Shuang sighed as the tiny seed of his true self’s mind finally completely withdrew from the Yin God’s mind, “You annoy me, and I annoy you. No wonder we are on the same path.”

Ma Xuanhui glanced at the female national preceptor of the Yu Dynasty. Fortunately, she didn’t understand.

Cui Dongshan stretched out his palm by his mouth, “Celestial Master Liang, Celestial Master Liang, judging from the looks of it, your Yin God is about to rebel, you must control him!”

Liang Shuang was too lazy to argue with this guy, stood up, and said, “Fellow Daoist Manyue, I’ll give you half an hour to pack up. This poor Daoist will be waiting for you at the Banana Shade Ferry.”

Cui Dongshan suddenly stopped the old immortal, “Old Liang, I need to ask for something for my teacher.”

Liang Shuang asked suspiciously, “What is it?”

Seeing Cui Dongshan’s sly smile, Liang Shuang began to prepare for the worst, “Let me say this first, this poor Daoist is known for being incorruptible. If it’s a treasure-suppressing treasure like a celestial weapon, I definitely don’t have it. At most, I can help your teacher borrow it from Little Zhao, and not return it for three to five hundred years, no problem.”

This poor Daoist is an outer-surname grand celestial master of Longhu Mountain. Your Celestial Master’s Mansion can’t just let people work without paying them, can you?

Cui Dongshan rubbed his hands, “Old Immortal Liang is most skilled at observing qi, he must have a thorough understanding of the mountain and river Qi Luck of this continent.”

Liang Shuang laughed loudly, “Things that don’t cost money, causing this poor Daoist to worry for nothing. Let Little Friend Chen wait.”

After the old immortal and Ma Xuanhui left Jicui Temple, Cui Dongshan glanced at the two “Lu Bilong”, leaned back and fell to the ground, resting his head on his hands, and said lazily, “Hurry up, change your Daoist robes and cloud shoes, and at the same time, say more about the inside stories of the Yu imperial family, court, and officialdom. Say anything, don’t be afraid of being verbose. Any Wan Yao Sect Daoist secrets that can be taught to your own selves, quickly impart them all. There is no reason to be stingy with anyone except oneself.”

Longgong silently took off his boots, first put on an ordinary Daoist robe, and then grabbed the corner of the magic robe, gently tugged, and tore off a “Phoenix Marsh” magic robe bestowed by the sect, and handed it to the “Lu Bilong” who was holding a duster.

That Lu Bilong put on the robe, put on those cloud shoes, flicked the duster, changed his arm to hold it, and smiled, “Thank you, Fellow Daoist Longgong.”

Longgong felt extremely strange in his heart.

Suddenly hearing that person begin to repeatedly chant the two words “Cui Chan”, Longgong felt like he had been hit with a muffled punch, collapsed on the ground, his face turned pale, and sweat soaked through his Daoist robe.

After Cui Dongshan stood up and sat on the steps outside the door, Longgong inside the house was trembling and telling Lu Bilong those secrets, but Cui Dongshan was listening absentmindedly.

Suddenly, he clapped his hands, got it. He had just thought of a heartfelt and sincere saying that he could tell his teacher later.

The heavenly wind is mighty, my heart is vast, connecting thousands of mountains and drawing ten thousand waters, raising thunder in silence.

Cui Dongshan rested his chin in his hands.

Just speaking of the Peach Leaf Alliance of Tongye Continent, which includes the Daquan Dynasty, Pushan Yuncao Hall, and Xiaolongqiu. What is the current state of affairs?

As for the Golden Summit Temple, the chief offering, Lu Ying, what will he do now that he has seen his teacher?

One continent, three academies: Dafu, Tianmu, and Wuxi.

The dean of Dafu Academy is Cheng Longzhou, and the sage is Yang Pu. The deputy dean of Wuxi Academy is Wang Zai. The deputy dean of Tianmu Academy is Wen Yu.

One continent, north and south, two of the largest sects: Yugui Sect and Tongye Sect.

Zhou, the chief of the Yugui Sect, and Yunku Blessed Land, and Wang Shizi, the Yuan Ying sword cultivator of the Tongye Sect.

A little further away, the newly appointed East Sea Water Lord, the true dragon king Zhu.

Further away, the South Sea Water Lord, Li Yehou.

Mountains are not high, but immortals make them famous. Water is not deep, but dragons make it spiritual.

There is the Qingjing Mountain Qinghu Palace, the palace lord is Lu Yong. There is also the old dragon of Chilin River, Qiu Du. The Moxin Ferry carries the mountain fish, at Fushan…

The Qingping Sword Sect will build a private ferry on the ten-thousand-mile Lin River in the middle.

Speaking of the future dynasties under the mountains of Tongye Continent, this Yu Dynasty, which is about to welcome a new emperor, plus the Daquan Yao clan, whose national strength is at its peak on the continent, the Dayuan Dynasty, the neighbor of the Qingping Sword Sect, and the Dachong Dynasty, where Zhang Liuzhu is about to go find the young servant as a staff member…

Just speaking of the banks of the Lin River, someone is already planning to establish a country, surnamed Dugu.

The teacher is still the chief guest of Taiping Mountain, and the unnamed guest of the Liu clan of Aiai Continent.

To mend the mountains and rivers of Tongye Continent.

First of all, the gathering and stabilization of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is important, for example, the large-scale search of mountains by various cultivators and the on-the-spot beheading of barbaric demon cultivators.

For example, by the banks of the Chilin River, near the wedding shop, the old immortal Liang Shuang killed the jade realm ghost attached to Xue Huai’s soul.
The first is the passing and Dissolution by Sword Release of the native cultivators of Tongye Continent, their lifetime of Dao cultivation and Qi reverting to the heavens and earth. Generally, immortal abodes, especially those of the Sect-founding caliber, possess secret methods to retain that essence of Dao energy.

Furthermore, the various kingdoms at the foot of the mountains, and the immortal residences atop, are all vigorously repairing and establishing immortal ferry crossings, similarly able to gather and condense the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth in one place, preventing its dissipation.

As for the selection of the Qingping Sword Sect’s location, Cui Dongshan did not destroy the Golden Summit Temple’s mountain-guarding formation precisely because of this. A Jade Purity Realm abbot, whose combat prowess is comparable to an immortal, has little impact, but the Golden Summit Temple’s Heaven-and-Earth mimicking Big Dipper formation can bring an immeasurable supplement of spiritual energy to the northern Tongye Continent.

Second, Dragon Qi.

The various kingdoms are successively restoring their nations. The stronger the flourishing dynasty, the more abundant its Dragon Qi. This point is extremely valuable because it belongs to “creating something from nothing,” without having to rely on any material objects from the continent.

Third, the Literary Luck and Martial Luck of the various Wenwu Temples throughout the continent, including Mountain Luck, such as the emperors and monarchs re-consecrating the Five Great Mountains. And those Sect-founding and various immortal sect factions will definitely pour in large amounts of god-currency, into the rivers.

Fourth, incense offerings. The large and small City God Temples within the capital, prefectures, and counties. The imperial court is heavily bestowing titles upon mountain and river deities, or the licentious shrines in various places are taking the opportunity to rise in status, being incorporated into the imperial Golden Jade Register, or literary and martial heroes are filling vacant positions, and mountain and river deities are establishing ancestral temples, sculpting golden statues, and from then on, receiving human incense offerings.

Fifth, the purification of the turbid Qi of ancient battlefields, and those territories that have become ghost cities, transforming that baleful and filthy Qi into pure and clear Qi. This can be done through water and land assemblies and Zhou Tian Grand Rituals, helping to guide wandering souls.

Sixth, and ultimately, the most ethereal and elusive, but also the most crucial, is to mend the hearts of the people.

And these are things that his teacher had already thought through clearly not long after deciding to establish the sect in Tongye Continent.

One by one, the visible and hidden veins, the names, realms, and origins of the more than three hundred figures in Tongye Continent, and the more than two thousand people extending from them, were all memorized by the teacher. People and events, people as nodes and events as lines, ultimately forming a crisscrossing network together.

What the Old Immortal Liang Shuang, a guest at the Jade Accumulation Pavilion today, has seen, or even imagined, is destined to be only a corner of the teacher’s inner world of Tongye Continent.

Moreover, this is only limited to Tongye Continent.

What about Treasure Bottle Continent, or Northern Ju-lu Continent, the entire Vast Expanse?

Not to mention Northern Ju-lu Continent, just the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect of Southern Poso Continent, and the brand new Rain Dragon Sect that preserves its strength for future use, the Nine Truth Immortal Pavilion of Central Earth Divine Continent, the Upper Sect Great Dragon Falls of Little Dragon Falls, Yu Pan’s Black Secret Dynasty, Green God Mountain, Hundred Flowers Blessed Land, the Xie family of Dense Cloud, Deng Liang’s Nine Capitals Mountain… and those managers of intercontinental ferries who frequently traveled to Upside-down Mountain, and the sects behind them in various continents.

Moreover, if there are no accidents, a small group of sword cultivators from various continents of the Vast Expanse have already secretly gone to Fuyu Continent at the invitation of the teacher, who spared no incense offerings. The teacher must not allow those cultivators who covet mineral veins to continue to add insult to injury to the already dilapidated mountains and rivers of Fuyu Continent. It is fine to earn money by one’s own ability, but if various heroes fight each other to the point of collapse, then they have to ask the sword immortals if they agree.

If the Old Scholar knew that his teacher had done so much, and would only do more within the next Jiazi cycle.

Wouldn’t the Old Scholar tear off his beard and feel distressed to death?

But his teacher would at most let the Old Scholar hear some rumors.

That’s how the teacher taught his teacher, and how he acted as a student.

As the last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall, he always guarded the top of the wall, and eventually became the last sword cultivator to leave the top of the wall.

As the closed-door disciple of the literary saint lineage, one must spare no effort and at any cost to mend the deficiencies of the mountains and rivers where the teacher harmonizes with the three continents.

Cui Dongshan stood up and exhaled a long breath.

Vast rivers flow.

Heavenly beings select official candidates.

Within the ghost city of the Great Yuan Dynasty, the dozen or so wild cultivators and martial artists who came here only to seek wealth probably never imagined that they would become coolies earning hard money. What they do every day is to collect the remaining corpses in the city, open up spirit halls like charitable graveyards, and try to identify the identities of those bones. Next, they can help bury them, and then erect stone tablets, one by one writing down their origins and names. Therefore, they need to brace themselves and act as clerks of the Ministry of Revenue, find books, and consult files. These wild cultivators and martial artists probably have never come into contact with so many books in their lives, and then in a dilapidated City God Temple, the young man named Gu Qiu is responsible for recording them, one by one in the ghostly, dimly lit ruins. These guys who came only to seek wealth also have to serve as “ghost messengers”, questioning the ghosts and spirits every night to verify their identities.

The scholar’s surname is Zhong, and the fat man beside him, who is so fat that he is dripping with oil, calls himself Gusu, surname Yu, and revolves around the beautiful woman every day, calling her sister, but also calling himself Brother Yu.

And the leader, the armored strong man who never leaves his knife, is a Fifth Realm martial artist. He and the mountain and swamp wild cultivator woman met halfway and are considered a casual affair.

The beautiful woman’s name is Wang Manmeng, not tall, with a petite and exquisite figure. Her fair skin covers a hundred flaws, and what’s more, the woman’s face is also charming. In addition, she likes to wear tight-waisted, short-sleeved night clothes, stepping on embroidered shoes, and deliberately twisting her waist when walking, as if she is about to be blown to the ground by a gust of wind at any time.

Every time she sees the plump man with a head full of fat, surname Yu, she has to endure her disgust and feign compliance.

Fortunately, there are three hours around noon every day to continue to search for gold, silver, treasures, antiques, and curios. However, all their gains in this city have to be recorded by Gu Qiu, whose identity is strange, sorted into categories, and roughly estimated a price because, according to their agreement with the scholar surnamed Zhong, they can only extract 10% of the profits.
Initially, of course, everyone was unwilling. Such a transaction was unheard of. After a clandestine discussion, their audacity grew into malice. Taking advantage of the elusive and unfathomable Azure-Clad Swordsman’s temporary absence from the city, they planned to confront the man surnamed Zhong. One dark and windy night, they deliberately abandoned Gu Qiu, intending to eliminate the impoverished scholar. However, a portly figure, as if plucking chickens, hoisted them all up, resulting in a chorus of wails and lamentations. Only the beautiful woman was spared a beating, the portly man addressing her as “sister” and lamenting her folly, though she too was suspended upside down.

After that night, everyone resigned themselves to their fate.

One evening, within the dilapidated City God Temple of Old Prefecture, with all the yin spirits and ghosts having retreated, Gu Qiu, seated behind the former City God’s desk, gently set down his brush and looked up at the… specter perched on the threshold of the main hall. He softly inquired, “Mr. Zhong, why not be frank with them? You compel them daily to act in this manner, which not only allows them to survive and earn money, but also accumulates yin virtue and blessings for them.”

Zhong Kui, his back to Gu Qiu, who was also a ghost, replied, “This involves the matter of intentional virtue and unintentional vice. You can ponder this knowledge further. Perhaps one day, you will comprehend it, and you will be able to sit securely in the City God’s position and manipulate the Book of Merit.”

Gu Qiu, in life, was the legitimate son of an official in the Imperial Weaving Bureau of the Great Yuan Dynasty, a scholar of the imperial examinations, serving as a county commandant in a town near this prefecture. But what could a weak scholar do with a sword, what could he defend? He was torn apart by the demon cultivator who led the invasion of the county yamen, his death agonizing and horrific. Yet, despite this tribulation, he did not become a vengeful ghost. Instead, he maintained a glimmer of his spirit, wandering as a solitary ghost until he arrived here, gradually becoming the master of this ghost city. He even took in the “bashful maiden” from the peach tree courtyard as his changui. Displeased with a self-proclaimed emperor of the new Great Yuan Dynasty who was careless and indiscriminate, failing to inquire about the identities of the deceased and haphazardly gathering the bones, Gu Qiu attempted a night visit to the military camp, hoping to discuss the matter with the general in charge of the Water and Land Mass, but he was immediately treated as a malevolent ghost. Regardless of Gu Qiu’s repeated explanations while dodging cultivator attacks, he was likely taken as a military accomplishment. Gu Qiu became disillusioned.

The changui maiden, Xiao Fang, carrying two jars of aged wine, arrived at the City God Temple and offered one jar to Zhong Kui.

Zhong Kui rose and accepted the wine jar, saying earnestly, “Xiao Fang, you mustn’t be fickle and develop a fondness for this Zhong-gege.”

The maiden ghost, Xiao Fang, smiled radiantly, “I won’t.”

Zhong Kui felt a tinge of disappointment, “A secret fondness wouldn’t be a problem.”

The maiden shook her head and smiled gently, “Neither will that happen.”

Zhong Kui sighed, sat back on the threshold, broke the seal, sniffed the wine, and lamented, “It’s all my fault for possessing such an aura of righteousness, chasing away so much romantic fortune.”

Gu Qiu felt a touch of helplessness.

This Mr. Zhong was good in every way, except he was a bit unruly in this matter.

Zhong Kui finished his wine and strolled back to his temporary residence.

The portly figure was off gallivanting somewhere. Concerned about Yu Jin causing mischief, Zhong Kui raised his palm, observing the mountains and rivers within to locate the portly figure’s whereabouts. However, he quickly retracted his magic, shaking his head in resignation.

Within the ruins of an immortal inn in the city, the earth qi was warm, and in late winter, flowers and trees flourished in a patch of green grass.

Pieces of clothing lay scattered on the ground.

A voluptuous, snow-white body, arms outstretched, grass seeping through her fingers.

The woman raised her head, her breath heavy with emotion, clearly abused.

The portly figure, perched on the wall, sighed with emotion.

A fierce battle of intertwined intestines finally “sounded the retreat” amidst the man’s roars and the woman’s cries, promising to fight again another day.

Crucially, the elder sister clearly noticed the portly figure on the wall, yet she still smiled flirtatiously, raising an eyebrow.

The portly figure nearly lost control, almost rushing in to “rescue” her, shouting, “Release that elder sister, you villain, cease your wickedness!”

Dejectedly returning to Zhong Kui, the portly figure slumped onto a beauty couch, chuckling, “A true match of equals, a meeting of great talents.”

A brazier sat in the corridor, Zhong Kui reading a book, not bothering to respond.

The residences of the high-ranking officials in the two adjacent prefectures were like two neighbors sulking, one with a library named Seven Thousand Scroll Library, the other with an Eight Thousand Scroll Library next door.

Yu Jin crossed his legs, resting his hands on the railing, and asked, “Brother Zhong, those vengeful spirits detained by Gu Qiu in the county City God, since they can’t be saved, how about…?”

On the Yellow Springs Road, there is no inn.

In the mortal realm, humans kill humans; in the underworld, ghosts eat ghosts.

Zhong Kui shook his head, “Don’t even think about it.”

Once devoured by this portly figure, those vengeful spirits would be doomed to never be reborn.

Yu Jin wore a mournful expression, “When will I recover my cultivation? Zhong Kui, think about it, if I had a Transcendent Realm escort by my side, how glorious would it be to travel abroad?”

Zhong Kui merely lowered his head and flipped through his book, casually saying, “The same agreement applies. If you dare to eat any wandering ghost without authorization, I’ll immediately demote you by one realm.”

Yu Jin stamped his feet in anger. However, he was used to such grievances. Recalling the erotic scene he had just witnessed, the portly figure wiped his mouth and tentatively asked, “This kind of romantic pleasure, as long as I don’t force it and it’s consensual, you won’t stop me, right?”

Zhong Kui nodded, “As long as it’s mutually agreeable, do as you please. But if I discover you using any secret techniques on women, the old rules apply, demotion by one realm.”

Yu Jin laughed heartily, “Good, with my looks and demeanor, a snap of my fingers is all it takes. How many women in this world can resist the charm of an old man like me?”

Zhong Kui looked up at the portly figure while turning a page, and said angrily, “You’re a dignified Ghost Immortal, do you have no shame?”

“The ancients did not deceive me, those beautiful eyebrows are but seductive blades, slaying all the romantic souls in the world.”
The corpulent one smacked his lips, a lingering taste still upon them. “I regret I cannot offer my very skin as a rug beneath that maiden’s feet! Alas, her back was reddened from the ordeal. My heart aches to ease her discomfort with a soothing rub.”

He pinched his cheek with two fingers, then casually peeled off his entire face, revealing a skull devoid of flesh. With a flick of his wrist, he displayed the detached visage. “This little trinket can serve a lady as an armrest, a hand warmer, garments, boots, or even powders and rouge! Its uses are endless!”

Zhong Kui remained unfazed, merely chuckling, “Best be careful, lest your treasure trove be plundered.”

The obese fellow instantly grasped Zhong Kui’s veiled meaning, hastily slapping his face back into place. “Surely not,” he stammered, his voice laced with dread.

“No guarantees,” Zhong Kui replied, his gaze unwavering.

The rotund one pounded his chest, his face contorted in anguish. “Such depraved and vile schemes… even demons would balk! Is this the work of men?!”

The force of his blows sent tremors through his layers of fat, like a slab of pork belly dropped onto a butcher’s block, jiggling precariously.

Suddenly, the fat man leaped to his feet, his face a mask of livid rage. “Such vexation! I nearly ascended to the celestial realm on the spot!” he wailed.

Zhong Kui remained indifferent.

The pudgy figure then groveled at Zhong Kui’s feet, a sycophantic grin plastered across his features. “Brother Zhong, you must assist me!”

Seeing Zhong Kui engrossed in his book, the obese one immediately amended his plea, “Esteemed Brother Zhong!”

Craning his neck to catch a glimpse of the page, he exclaimed, “Ah, Brother Zhong possesses such refined tastes! A true gentleman of antiquity! Savoring plum blossoms while reciting ancient verse, warming wine on a snowy night whilst poring over forbidden tomes!”

Zhong Kui merely continued to peruse the academic treatise, once deemed a heretical text and banned by the Yuan clan of the Great Abyss. However, the owner of the used book emporium, bold and daring, had secretly preserved an original printed edition.

Yu Jin whispered, “Zhong Kui, speak honestly: what is the cultivation level of that Xiao Mo?”

Zhong Kui responded, “I cannot pinpoint his exact realm, but I assure you, were Master Xiao Mo so inclined, ending your life would be no difficult task.”