The book says, all banquets must come to an end, but fear not, the book also says, fate brings people together from all corners of the world.

Guests departed from Snowpeak Mountain one after another. The largest group, a grand procession, boarded the newly acquired Paulownia Ferry of the Green Hearth Sword Sect, heading towards Serenity Mountain.

Besides the undisputed new Mountain Lord of Serenity Mountain, Huang Ting, there were also the Mountain Guardians Yu Fushan and Guoran, and disciples Tan Yingzhou and Zheng Youqian. Zhang Shanfeng intended to continue his journey through Tongye Continent and would be traveling with Li Baoping, who planned to visit the Qu Mountain Ferry. Pei Qian, always by her side, would accompany Baoping, both adorned with bamboo backpacks and emerald bamboo staffs, ready for their travels. Their first stop was Serenity Mountain, before venturing off to Pusan Cloud Abode. Ye Yunyun decided to have Tan Rong and Xue Huai return to the sect first, while she herself wished to visit the old site of Serenity Mountain. Zhong Kui and Yu Jin insisted on joining, Zhong Kui, once a respected scholar of Great Fu Academy, was exceedingly familiar with Serenity Mountain. As for the portly Yu Jin, he had a legitimate reason – to serve as a chivalrous guardian. Yuan Lingdian, seeing the scale of this gathering, realized that his little brother no longer needed his protection.

Thus, Yuan Lingdian departed Tongye Continent ahead of them, heading straight towards the sea. Through the Returning Ruins, he sought to reach the Savage Lands to find his master, the Fire Dragon True Immortal.

The Paulownia Ferry slowly ascended, piercing through layers of clouds, embarking on its distant journey, as swift as a teal bird.

A figure in azure robes walked along Azure Ferry, discussing the future establishment of shops at the dock with a white-robed youth who possessed a crimson mole between his brows. They debated whether to reach out to the founder of the renowned Sack Repository to establish a foothold here.

Alongside them walked a little girl in black, wielding an emerald bamboo staff, carrying a golden shoulder pole, leaning on a cotton sack, and with a brand new, verdant small book chest on her back.

Chen Ping’an had originally intended to accompany Li Baoping and Pei Qian to Serenity Mountain, but had just received a confidential letter from a Confucian sage stationed at the Celestial Canopy, compelling Chen Ping’an to return to Fallen Peak immediately, and he needed to bring Xiaomo along.

As for the Wind Kite Ferry, temporarily docked at Azure Ferry, its next southern journey, in addition to the Qu Mountain Ferry in Yuzhou in the far south, would include another immortal ferry – Jade Decree Sect’s Bicheng Ferry. After all, according to the agreement, the earnings from Yellow Crane Isle and Inkstone Stream in Cloud Grotto Blessed Land would flow into the coffers of the Green Hearth Sword Sect for the next five hundred years.

Especially Inkstone Mountain, which produced the immortal stone for crafting Water Dragon Inkstones. Inkstone Mountain was vast, and even after thousands of years of intermittent mining by the Jade Decree Sect and the Jiang artisans, there was no sign of depletion. Cui Dongshan would dispatch Fish-Touching Boy and Mountain-Carrying Coolie talismans to thoroughly survey the land and determine the stone reserves. This was a completely open and legitimate matter, without the need for secrecy. Firstly, it was justified, as the Green Hearth Sword Sect held the mining rights to Inkstone Mountain for five hundred years. Secondly, it was thanks to the Teacher’s promise to help connect Dong Shuiing and the Dali Ministry of Revenue, plus the potential partnership with the Jiang Clan of Cloud Grotto Blessed Land, potentially forming a four-way collaboration for the inkstone trade. The only minor flaw was that the Teacher intended to split all profits evenly with the Jiang Clan.

Cui Dongshan asked with a grin, “Teacher, what do you think of Liu Youzhou?”

Chen Ping’an answered without hesitation, “He’s good, has ideas, has responsibility, is generous, and doesn’t have any of the airs of a rich young master. I heard from Mr. Yu that Liu Youzhou is also skilled in painting, especially the priceless masterpiece hanging in his study. He wants me to come visit the Liu Clan in皑皑洲 and admire it.”

Cui Dongshan cautiously said, “I just think the way Liu Youzhou looks at Eldest Sister is a little… you know.”

Chen Ping’an smiled slightly, “A fair lady is the pursuit of a virtuous gentleman, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Cui Dongshan held back again and again, but still couldn’t resist, “Then why did Teacher smile so… insincerely, so creepily, when looking at Liu Youzhou at Green Hearth Peak?”

Chen Ping’an folded his hands in his sleeves, turned to look at Cui Dongshan, and said with an extremely insincere expression and tone, “Really? I thought I was very kind.”

Cui Dongshan immediately nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, “Kind, very kind, especially approachable!”

Chen Ping’an sighed rare, rubbing his face with both hands. In fact, Cui Dongshan was right. If Liu Youzhou wasn’t so considerate, then he, this unrecorded guest of the Liu Clan in皑皑洲, wouldn’t be so polite.

Cui Dongshan hugged the back of his head. Perhaps the Teacher himself hadn’t realized that, as far as his eldest disciple Pei Qian was concerned, there were only two people, Li Huai and Cao Qinglang, regardless of how they interacted with Pei Qian, the Teacher didn’t mind at all, he was very relieved. As far as Pei Qian was concerned, the Teacher seemed to be carrying some kind of… both teacher and father… In the end, it was still that subtle mentality of an old father acting up.

Cui Dongshan said with a grin, “Right Protector, you have a new book chest, aren’t you happy?”

Little Millet grinned broadly, “Happy, happy.”

Cui Dongshan asked again, “Do you know what it means to travel with a book chest? No one carries a book chest and just wanders around at their doorstep like you. Look at the Martial Arts Alliance Leader and Chief Helmsman Pei, they only carry bamboo backpacks when they go on long journeys.”

Little Millet swayed back and forth, “Small person, small official, but a heart as big as a bowl, can’t travel far, close travel, close travel.”

Cui Dongshan was about to speak, wanting to tease and amuse her, but he was slapped by the Teacher.

Cui Dongshan suddenly rubbed his hands together, looking embarrassed, “I might need to borrow two people from the Teacher and the sect.”

Chen Ping’an turned his head and asked with a smile, “How many? I didn’t hear clearly, say it again, twenty?”

Cui Dongshan laughed dryly, “How could that be? Fallen Peak only has a few recorded members now. Twenty is way too many.”

At the Fallen Peak Sect Establishment Celebration, forty-three recorded members of the Jise Peak Ancestral Hall offered incense.

This included Du Wensi and Pang Lanxi of the Hemp Garment Sect of the Northern俱蘆洲. And Yu Qingzhang and He Xiangting, those two children, had also left the Jise Peak record and followed the old sword cultivator Yu Yue on a journey to another continent.

In the end, Cui Dongshan had directly dug away more than a dozen of them in one go.

If we don’t talk about the number, but only talk about this proportion, it is indeed uncommon in the history of the entire Vast World.

Chen Ping’an kicked him, and the big white goose immediately jumped sideways.

Chen Ping’an said coldly with a dark face, “Tell me first, which two are they?”

Cui Dongshan cautiously said, “Hongxia, Yunzi.”
Chen Ping’an smiled and asked, “Do you want the Old Chef?”

Cui Dongshan replied with a touch of embarrassment, “If possible, that would be ideal.”

Chen Ping’an lifted his foot slightly, and Cui Dongshan quickly scurried to stand beside Xiao Mili.

Xiao Mili scratched his face and reminded, “Little Senior Brother, we agreed, what’s borrowed must be returned, and borrowing again will be easy. Don’t be like the Old Chef said, acting like a grandson when borrowing money, but transforming into an ancestor when people come knocking for repayment.”

Cui Dongshan put on a stern face and said, “The Old Chef still has a good sense of humor.”

Chen Ping’an said, “I’m about to take Xiao Mo back to Luopo Mountain. Xiao Mili will stay here for now and return home on the Wind Kite ferry next time.”

Xiao Mili tapped the ground lightly with his green bamboo cane and nodded, “Understood!”

Afterward, Chen Ping’an went to Luobao Beach to find Xiao Mo. Then, at the entrance of Qingping Peak, after admiring the couplet, the group stepped across the Paifang gate and ascended the steps, planning to visit the Everlasting Spring Cave, which was located on Secret Snow Peak. This place had once served as Chen Ping’an’s temporary training ground. This formal “seclusion,” excluding the “pavilion” in the Sword Qi Great Wall prison, was his first in the vast world of Haoran. This small cave heaven was obtained by Cui Dongshan from Tian Wan, sufficient to support a cultivator’s ascent to immortality.

Cui Dongshan was clearly still unwilling to give up, “Teacher, you really won’t seclude yourself in the Everlasting Spring Cave to break through?”

Digging up the cornerstones of Hongxia and Yunzi with a small hoe is nothing. Only digging up the teacher would be a real accomplishment.

Chen Ping’an shook his head and said, “It’s not very meaningful. It’s no longer about the abundance of spiritual energy. Perhaps after I re-enter the Jade Pure Realm and return from my travels, I’ll revisit the Everlasting Spring Cave.”

Cui Dongshan then asked, “When Teacher returns to Treasure Bottle Continent, shall I begin preparing for Chai Wu’s formal Dao transmission?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “The principle of ‘haste makes waste,’ and ‘forcing growth’ are things you understand better than I do. I won’t bore you with them. I’ll just say one thing: try to be as steady as possible. Even if you can’t make Chai Wu soar to the heavens in one step and directly reach the Jade Pure Realm, you must at least ensure that this cultivation will never harm Chai Wu’s Dao foundation. If someone is needed to protect the process, bring in Mi Yu. If that’s not enough, I can also call Qing Tong.”

Cui Dongshan smiled and said, “There’s really no need. I’m quite confident. It’s just best not to say ‘foolproof’ out loud.”

After pondering for a moment, Cui Dongshan continued to ask, “Since Teacher is unwilling to monopolize such a blessed place and leave it unused, that would be a waste. Besides Chai Wu, should we also bring in Sun Chunwang and Bai Xuan?”

Chai Wu was, of course, the one with the best aptitude.

In addition, Sun Chunwang and Bai Xuan were also first-rate sword immortal prospects.

In fact, the grade assessment of Sun Chunwang’s natal flying sword at the Summer Retreat Palace was lower than Bai Xuan’s, and there was also a certain gap compared to Yu Xiehui and He Gu’s “Flying Peak” and “Word-Breaking Token.” However, no one would think that Sun Chunwang’s sword-cultivating aptitude was not the best among the nine sword immortal prospects. Therefore, without any major accidents, the only one who could barely keep up with Sun Chunwang on the path to cultivation in the future was Bai Xuan.

There are no useless flying swords, only useless sword cultivators.

Perhaps that statement is a bit absolute. But if you ignore those exceptions, it’s true.

Of course, if Qingping Sword Sect sought to maximize profit, it would be to let Chai Wu cultivate in the entire Everlasting Spring Cave alone.

Perhaps, once Chai Wu could directly enter the Jade Pure Realm, she might even become the youngest immortal realm… sword cultivator in the history of the Sword Qi Great Wall and the vast world of Haoran!

In fact, this kind of thing is a customary rule on the mountain, and ignoring it has proven to be the only way to maximize profits. Otherwise, the more one evenly distributes immortal money and rare treasures among the younger generation of cultivators, the more mediocre everyone will become in the end, falling behind step by step, lacking stamina, and the gap with talented peers widening. Many second and third-rate mountain immortal abodes have been able to leap to become Sect-level sects because, in addition to the “revival ancestor” who founded the sect having excellent aptitude, the entire mountain often spares no effort to pour everything it has into one person. This statement is not an exaggeration at all.

Chen Ping’an said, “Besides Sun Chunwang and Bai Xuan, Cheng Chaolu, He Gu, and Yu Xiehui have also moved there to cultivate recently, waiting until they encounter bottlenecks in the future before leaving the cave to seek guidance from their masters about the difficulties of sword cultivation.”

Cui Dongshan asked, “Is Teacher deliberately pursuing a kind of equality? Is it to make Qingping Sword Sect and Luopo Mountain share the same heritage?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “Not exactly, it’s just a certain appearance of ‘the result looking like that’. Luopo Mountain is Luopo Mountain, and Qingping Sword Sect is Qingping Sword Sect. Its foundation is the sword cultivator, and can only be the sword cultivator.”

“Qingping Sword Sect should allow Chai Wu, who is already a sword cultivator, to break through as quickly as possible, while ensuring that there are no hidden dangers to her Dao, and also allow Bai Xuan, Sun Chunwang, and those other children from the Sword Qi Great Wall to forcefully lift their spirits and know where the gap between them and a real genius lies, and how big it is. Sword cultivators have a weakness, they may not fear death, but they fear losing.”

“I just want to see what happens to their respective Dao hearts after they feel that they are destined to lose to Chai Wu, and may not even be able to catch up with Chai Wu in this lifetime.”

“In addition, if Chai Wu occupies the Everlasting Spring Cave alone, and then she breaks through rapidly, first to the Jade Pure Realm, then to the Immortal Realm, and even to the future Ascension Realm, she may become more and more lonely and unsociable. No matter how broad-minded Bai Xuan and the others are, if they don’t see her for a few days, it will be like suddenly seeing a High Five Realm Chai Wu. Maybe after a few more years, it will be an even more unfamiliar Immortal Chai Wu. They are all too young and too talented, so I worry that Chai Wu will drink alone more and more in the future, and even if they are together, they will have nothing to talk about. Over time, they will drift further and further away from their former friends. This kind of distance in their hearts cannot be compensated by finding opportunities to get closer and exchange a few polite words. It cannot be compensated.”

Cui Dongshan nodded and said, “Teacher is right, cultivating the mind is a long-term practice. Only when a sword cultivator’s Dao heart is clear and sword heart is pure can there be countless possibilities.”

Chen Ping’an turned to look at Cui Dongshan.

Cui Dongshan was at a loss, “Teacher, this is the truth. I’m not Old Immortal Jia, I never flatter!”
Chen Ping’an reminded, “Feigning ignorance at the mere mention of money, huh? Deliberately dodging and weaving, playing dumb. How much Valley Rain money is in the coffers of the Azure Canopy Sword Sect right now? Use money to maintain the spiritual Qi of the Evergreen Grotto-Heaven in the future, and remember not to cry poverty to me. Do you think I don’t know that Pei Qian gave you the Miniature Universe?”

Cui Dongshan sighed, “My teacher is prescient, insightful, and keenly observant! I, your student, the first Sect Master of the Azure Canopy Sword Sect, must tread with caution.”

Little Rice Grain blinked, staring ahead, avoiding the gaze of the Great White Goose. “Heh, bootlicker.”

Afterward, he led the group of children into the small grotto-heaven, arranging temporary abodes for their cultivation. Cui Dongshan then produced immortal residences, one after another, from his snow-white sleeves, taking root upon the ground.

Finally, Chen Ping’an said to Chai Wu, who was still by his side, “From now on, Sect Master Cui will temporarily serve as your mentor. Don’t worry, there will be no formal master-disciple relationship. I will speak with your master, Wei Xian, and he won’t object. Cultivate diligently here, and as always, drink alcohol every day, but no more than half a jin. Sect Master Cui will arrange a special wine cellar near your abode.”

Chai Wu was extremely worried, timidly saying, “Mountain Master Chen, how about I halve my alcohol intake, from two bowls to one? I’ll only drink two liang of wine each day.”

The little girl felt she understood. Mountain Master Chen was implying that her cultivation aptitude was poor, and she was also a little drunkard. Wasn’t she just a money-draining burden?

Chen Ping’an was taken aback, waving his hand and smiling, “No need, no need, two bowls of wine a day is fine.”

Chai Wu remained silent.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Chai Wu, do you know that your cultivation aptitude is actually very good?”

Chai Wu mumbled, “Master said my cultivation aptitude is as good as his alcohol tolerance.”

Cui Dongshan burst into laughter. That Wei the Immeasurable, was truly addled, spouting such nonsense to Chai Wu.

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “It really is good, I’m not joking.”

Chai Wu looked up at Mountain Master Chen, then lowered her head, humming in agreement.

How poor must her cultivation aptitude be for even the amiable Mountain Master Chen to seem anxious?

Chen Ping’an rubbed his temples, a genuine headache. Fine, let Cui Dongshan worry about it. He truly couldn’t manage this little girl’s cultivation; it was completely beyond his ability to teach.

Earlier, on the Wind Kite ferry, Chen Ping’an initially thought teaching a little girl who had just embarked on the path of cultivation wouldn’t be difficult. But after two setbacks, he had completely resigned himself.

He had previously taught Pei Qian martial arts on the second floor of the bamboo building, and then, in a rare moment of initiative, wanted to be a temporary mentor to Chai Wu. The result, with student Cao Qinglang, was a flying sword called ‘Mud Pill’…

After settling Chai Wu, Chen Ping’an ascended to the highest point of the grotto-heaven and asked, “Dongshan, do you already have a candidate for your eldest disciple?”

Cui Dongshan’s eyes darted around.

Chen Ping’an said, “I heard Lin Shiyi mention that near the Great Marsh, you had a simple and honest young man following you, whom you called ‘Brother Gao’?”

Cui Dongshan stomped his foot, having no choice but to raise his sleeve and shake it vigorously, dislodging a simple-minded youth with rosy lips and white teeth.

Cui Dongshan put on a stern face and scolded, “Gao Di, what are you doing standing there? Quickly call out to the Grand Ancestor!”

The youth, named “Gao Di” by Cui Dongshan, called out “Grand Ancestor” timidly.

Chen Ping’an was speechless. He took Little Mo and Little Rice Grain and left.

Cui Dongshan, with the youth nicknamed “Useless” Gao Di, hurried to catch up with his teacher, asking telepathically, “Teacher, about the sword consecration in Willow Leaf Continent in the future?”

Chen Ping’an said, “You are the Sect Master of the Azure Canopy Sword Sect. Handle it as you see fit.”

Cui Dongshan responded with an “Oh” and asked, “Teacher, are you returning to Fallen Peak Mountain now?”

Chen Ping’an said, “I’m going to offer incense at that Earth God Shrine before leaving.”

Cui Dongshan realized, “Ah, the Daoshe. The temple isn’t big, but it has a long history, over a thousand years, and its incense has never ceased. It’s quite rare in the foothills. I’ll accompany you, Teacher.”

The group offered incense at the Daoshe. The Earth God Shrine was small, and the caretaker was just a local villager. Chen Ping’an even requested a pair of incense sticks and candles.

Leaving the Daoshe, Cui Dongshan, with Little Rice Grain and his first disciple, bid farewell to his teacher and Little Mo.

Chen Ping’an was not in a hurry to return north. He just took Little Mo for a stroll. There were many persimmon trees near the Earth God Shrine, and a large reed marsh a little further away. White egrets flew past like words of persuasion, urging people to stay, to linger. It seemed that in the autumn, the trees would be filled with red persimmons, and if the setting sun were to paint the water, it would be a beautiful scene, like a water fairy wearing a pale red shirt.

Little Mo asked curiously, “Young Master, why are you in a hurry to return to Fallen Peak Mountain?”

“To receive a guest.”

Chen Ping’an’s expression was strange. “A guest coming from afar.”

Little Mo smiled. “Not here with good intentions?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “That won’t be the case. The other party has to follow the rules, or the price would be too high.”

Little Mo asked, “Is it a Fourteenth Realm cultivator or an Ascended Realm sword cultivator?”

Chen Ping’an patted Little Mo’s shoulder, saying earnestly, “I’m putting you in a difficult position.”

Little Mo was puzzled, already thinking that if there really was a sword duel, they would have to stay far away from Fallen Peak Mountain, and preferably leave the continent of Treasure Bottle and go to sea.

Together with Bai Jing, they had agreed to travel together to the E’luo River region, to “pay respects” to Lord Bai Ze, who had returned to the Barren Wilderness.

As a result, their rebellion failed, and they were reprimanded by Bai Ze. Of course, Bai Jing’s last-minute betrayal had… a small but not insignificant role.

If Bai Ze truly wanted to deal with this group of fierce and unruly great demons from ancient times, their numbers really didn’t matter much.

Previously, Bai Ze had ordered all the hibernators scattered in various places to awaken. Bai Jing, who had the appearance of a “young girl,” had now given herself the name Xie Gou. Being a woman after all, taking a new name and changing her Daoist title was like changing clothes.

In addition, there was Little Mo, who had been recuperating in the light of a bright moon, and had somehow ran off to Great Worlds.

She and Little Mo were both Ascended Realm sword cultivators, one at the peak and the other at perfection, with only half a step difference between them.

There was also a beautiful woman with a pale face and scarlet lips, dressed in thin clothes, voluptuous, but with a cold gaze, keeping people at arm’s length.

She was now named Guan Yi, with the Daoist title “Snow Burial.”
Having awakened from the ten-thousand-year ice, she slaughtered all living beings in the massive city nearby. Among them was a great demon of the Upper Five Realms and several Earth Immortal cultivators, who were utterly powerless against this ancient great demon, whose strength was enough to ascend the barbaric throne. They perished before even catching a glimpse of her face, their cultivator souls, along with their spirits and blood, all becoming Guan Yi’s food.

Furthermore, on her way here, she had also found a small kingdom and devoured it, including its capital, for a satisfying feast.

Guan Yi noticed Bai Jing inching closer, and then the latter suddenly reached out towards her chest. Guan Yi had no choice but to gently brush his hand away.

The mink-hatted girl sighed. “It’s quite a burden, isn’t it? Seriously, Guan Yi, take my advice, it’s better to be smaller if you want to fight, otherwise they’ll just swing around during a battle, and it’s not a good look.”

Guan Yi smiled and remained silent.

She had grown accustomed to this shared journey.

Standing beside Guan Yi was a young cultivator with a perpetual smile, going by the alias Hu Tu (Muddlehead).

After being awakened by Bai Ze’s decree, the mountain peak belonging to his lineage was barely clinging to its ancestral veins, with incense offerings intermittent. In the end, he ended up with a deranged founding ancestor. When he emerged from a landscape painting of an ancient battlefield within the Ancestral Hall, his lineage and sect had dwindled, leaving only a few Lower Five Realms cultivators of decent talent. The rest had been casually slaughtered by him. The Ancestral Hall, apart from this old ancestor, was now empty. The occupants of the dozen or so chairs had become his meals due to a muddled “misdirection of incense offerings.”

A young boy with double pupils, going by the alias “Li Gou” (Untainted), with the Daoist name “Fei Qian” (Flying Coin).

He retrieved eight mountain treasures of Immortal Artifact grade in one fell swoop.

These Immortal Artifacts, scattered throughout the wilderness for ten thousand years, had been refined into natal treasures by various sect founders and rogue cultivators of the Upper Five Realms.

Therefore, the moment this “boy” appeared, all the Immortal Artifacts returned to their rightful owner, instantly crippling seven Upper Five Realms barbaric demons and a young Earth Immortal, renowned in the barbaric lands and considered a Daoist prodigy with a promising future. They suffered a sudden, unforeseen disaster, losing significant cultivation levels due to the forced stripping of their natal treasures, rendering them hopeless for further cultivation in this lifetime.

This ancient great demon in the form of a boy wore a yellow Qiankun pouch and a demon-capturing gourd at his waist.

Sun and moon grind the ages, Qiankun dwells in a humble abode, he had once refined two human cultivators of the Ascension Realm.

An old Daoist with a bamboo crown, riding a deer and carrying a sword. He went by the alias Hua Ji (Ridiculous), and his Daoist name was surprisingly elegant, “Shan Jun” (Mountain Lord).

There was also an old crone shrouded in mist, constantly gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Upon closer inspection, the diminutive old woman possessed an aura as majestic as a mountain, divided into five colors, with countless golden lightning bolts spreading across its peaks.

And a short, wiry man, seemingly still half-asleep, constantly yawning.

Besides being a great cultivator at the peak of the Ascension Realm, he was also a pure martial artist, reaching the Godly realm of the Acquired stage.

He had an excellent relationship with Li Gou. In the ancient years, they often traveled the world together. The “Daoists” and “Scholars” personally killed by this man were casually tossed into Li Gou’s Qiankun pouch.

Bai Jing had only three regrets in this life. One was his failure to cultivate martial arts.

The second was his inability to comprehend books.

As for the third regret… Bai Jing rubbed his mink hat, heh heh, it was rather embarrassing.

Apart from Xiao Mo’s absence, standing before Bai Ze were Bai Jing, Guan Yi, Li Gou, Hu Tu, and Wang Youwu.