They sat on the arched bridge railing, just as they had in days of yore.

Chen Ping’an suddenly spoke, “I once heard a rather outlandish conjecture, suggesting that this world we inhabit has actually been cycling and repeating countless times, a perfect replication without any alteration whatsoever.”

“Every living and non-living thing exists within a ‘kalpa,’ a cosmic cycle. The kalpa begins with the genesis of heaven and earth, and ends with their destruction, only to begin anew, repeating flawlessly. However, the timeframe of this kalpa is debated, some say it’s thirty thousand years, others a hundred thousand, or even longer. Hence the saying ‘can’t escape the kalpa,’ a truth the sages saw through long ago, yet remain unable to avert.”

“Is it truly so?”

She listened quietly to Chen Ping’an’s words, and only after he finished his question did she smile gently and say, “A unique and interesting idea, but utterly off the mark, wrong to a ludicrous degree.”

Chen Ping’an breathed a sigh of relief, softly saying, “It’s good that it’s not.”

Otherwise, if a person’s words and deeds, their entire life trajectory, from the vast movements of celestial bodies to the withering of grass on the earth, even the path of every falling snowflake, were predetermined, then what would be the point of this existence?

She smiled and asked, “Is this conjecture born from the notions of ‘divine infallibility’ and ‘destiny ordained by Heaven’?”

Chen Ping’an stood up, walked along the railing, and slowly threw a punch, smiling, “Worrying about nothing, can’t even tell if it’s good or bad.”

Stopping, Chen Ping’an strained his eyes, but could not see a single star in the sky.

Only the golden bridge beneath his feet, shrouded in a boundless sea of clouds.

As if seeing the regret in Chen Ping’an’s heart, she flicked her snow-white sleeve, and in an instant, Chen Ping’an’s vision filled with brilliant stars, arranged like pieces on a grand chessboard, a magnificent sight.

The countless dense clusters of stars, their light converged into a dazzling river, like a sword’s trailing light. And many stars gathered together, like magnificent palaces.

Chen Ping’an stared in a daze for a moment, then curiously asked, “The flow of martial fortune seems to be ignored by the Three Teachings. Is it because it’s too difficult to manage, that interfering would be thankless and futile, or is it simply impossible to control, leading the founders of the Three Teachings to reach some agreement, to let it be and observe the changes?”

She countered, “Has the master already been to a certain peculiar mountaintop?”

Chen Ping’an instantly understood, wondering, “Is that mountain not on the earth, but beyond the heavens?”

“There are countless suns and moons beyond the heavens, and blessed lands and grotto-heavens for everyone, but certain stars with special significance are unique instances. Once shattered, they cannot be recreated. The celestial battle of ascension back then shattered many of these ‘palaces’ of deities, but some were preserved because Dao Ancestor and that Sanshan Jiuhou, the originator of talismans, made a careful deduction about which ones needed to be retained, there’s a knack to it.”

As she spoke, she smiled and extended a finger, pointing towards a certain realm of primordial emptiness.

Following her guidance, Chen Ping’an seemed to be temporarily granted a “divine eye” akin to the Buddhist mastery of eradicating outflows, allowing him to instantly see a star that was not unfamiliar.

In the human realm, it is Venus of the Five Elements. At dawn, only this star shines brightly, seeming to drive away the other stars, hence the names Longgeng or Qiming. According to the *Book of Heavenly Offices*, the ancient star Longgeng, once its trajectory deviates, signifies “a change in Heaven,” indicating the rise of war. The imperial astronomical observatories of secular dynasties would assign specialized “Celestial Masters” proficient in celestial phenomena to monitor this ancient star’s position and momentum during different solar terms and hours.

“This pitiful progenitor of strategists, to a great extent, opened a path for martial arts towards the heavens, only to stop halfway, failing to truly connect with heaven and earth. Had he succeeded, his very existence would be equivalent to a third Ascension Platform. Humanity must acknowledge this merit, hence the ten-thousand-year pact between the founders of the Three Teachings and him, a secret agreement, unrecorded. Now that the ten-thousand-year limit is approaching, the imperial astronomical observatories, both large and small, will be busy.”

Her words were tinged with jest as she lightly tapped the railing and slowly said, “So, tracing back to the source, strictly speaking, the difference between martial arts and techniques is not distinct, but rather of the same origin but different streams. Seemingly unrelated, they ultimately stem from the same lineage. That’s why the master, although a pure martial artist, was able to practice talismans. Kou Ming saw this and, after the Grand Headmaster of White Jade City’s modifications, made it suitable for martial artists to cultivate, like taking a shortcut, entering a mansion through a side door. It’s also why places like Pushan in Tongye Continent allow pure martial artists to practice immortal techniques. The reason it can’t be widely promoted is because the threshold is too high, requiring exceptional talent. So-called Grand cultivators are often obsessed with attaining immortality, needing to be single-minded, and the higher their position, the more they need to relinquish external pursuits, naturally making martial arts unnecessary, becoming a mere trifle over time.”

“But in truth, the path of martial arts under the feet of pure martial artists is the most promising path to physical divinity and true spirit immortality, it’s just more difficult. One needs to reach the eleventh realm within two to three hundred years. For people nowadays with even a bit of talent, given the ability to take shortcuts and easy paths, why take risks and walk a dead-end, winding path? Lu Chen is one who can see through this. So, if I’m not mistaken, this Headmaster Lu, besides the White Bone True Person, has a hidden avatar, always secretly cultivating martial arts. His visit to Rúnyuè Peak to see that Xin Ku wasn’t as simple as it seemed. Perhaps Jiang Zhaomo of the Violet Tower in White Jade City is far inferior to Lu Chen in martial arts.”

Chen Ping’an narrowed his eyes and smiled, “So Lu Chen also practices martial arts? That’s great.”

At the wine table in the city hall, Chen Ping’an seemed to be merely projecting his spirit out into the heavens, not hindering his normal conversation with Qin Buyi and his group.

Chen Ping’an asked casually, “Senior Qin and the Xishan Sword Hermit lineage seem to know quite a bit about me?”

Qin Buyi shook his head, “Not much, nor do we need much. For example, during your travels in the Northern Ju Continent, Mountain Lord Chen once encountered a team of Northern Yan cavalrymen, also harboring several assassins from Cutting Deer Mountain. In a narrow encounter, the brave win.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, not denying this. That was the first time Chen Ping’an had truly unleashed a massacre.
Even in his youth, during his first battle alongside Song Yushao against an elite cavalry force from Shushui Kingdom, Chen Ping’an would deliberately avoid the ordinary soldiers on the battlefield.

Mr. Zeng smiled, “From a falling leaf, one can discern the coming of autumn.”

Cui Dongshan chuckled, “Not that we *need* to, but rather that we *can’t*, right? Baoping Continent is small, which has its own advantages. The slightest disturbance cannot conceal the traces of dragons and serpents.”

Qin Buyi nodded, “Sect Leader Cui speaks truly.”

The Xishan Sword Hermitage lineage, led by his elder brother Liu Taozhi, had indeed wished to take root in Baoping Continent in its early years. However, their governance philosophy clashed with that of the Embroidered Tiger, and they were all politely escorted out of the country. While called an escort, it was essentially an expulsion. Cui Chan had been considerate enough to save face for Senior Brother Liu, neither publicizing the matter nor mobilizing cultivators from the Great Li Dynasty. Throughout the entire process, no one was harmed.

Cui Dongshan gave a thumbs up, praising, “Sister Qin is so straightforward! I, Dongshan, am honored to call you friend!”

Qin Buyi simply smiled and asked, “Why is Mountain Master Chen unwilling to serve as the Great Li’s Imperial Preceptor?”

Upon hearing this, even Jian Ming perked up his ears, awaiting Chen Ping’an’s answer.

It would both assist the Great Li Dynasty in its time of need and add luster to himself and Fallen Mountain. What could be more desirable?

Whether considering his lineage, deeds, reputation, strength, or the loyal followers on the mountain… in every aspect, Chen Ping’an was the suitable, the *most* suitable, candidate. No other.

Chen Ping’an took a sip of wine, smiled, but remained silent.

Could it be that the Three Veins of the Innocence Seekers, including Liu Taozhi’s Xishan Sword Hermitage, were about to emerge, like the Mu Ke of Luoyang descending from the mountains? Or perhaps they had a secret agreement with some ancestral figures of the Hundred Schools of Thought, aiming to seize the opportunity during the approaching dispersion of the Three Sages’ Dao, venturing out of their seclusion to “catch water” from the heavens themselves?

Chen Ping’an’s silence created a slightly awkward atmosphere in the hall.

Cui Dongshan broke the silence, “If I didn’t say something, we’d be stuck in a cold silence for half an hour!”

Seeing Chen Ping’an’s unwillingness to discuss the matter further, Qin Buyi pretended she hadn’t asked.

Song Zhi inquired, “Sect Leader Cui seems to be well-versed in all sorts of secret histories?”

His own Mu Ke lineage of Luoyang was an obscure, reclusive folk, without any foundation outside the mountains. Yet this youthful sect leader could even name the true name of the Ancestor of the Treasure Satchel. And from the looks of it, he could chime in on any topic they discussed. The Nine Continents of Haoran were filled with countless extraordinary individuals and strange phenomena, countless tales of wilderness and legends of immortals, especially secret matters never recorded in the official gazettes, only passed down orally within small circles. For outsiders to learn the inside story would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Yet this person seemed adept at dredging up historical secrets, easily recounting them like treasures. Cui Dongshan was like a master of apocryphal histories. To achieve this required age, cultivation realm, and connections, all three.

Cui Dongshan gently rotated his wine bowl between his palms, chuckling, “Picking up wheat ears in the fields, selecting bean sprouts in the threshing ground… just idle pastimes, not worth mentioning.”

Cui Dongshan tentatively said, “Brother Song Zhi, since we’ve already arrived in the territory of Xiandu Mountain, there’s no reason to pass by without entering. After we finish our drinks tonight, you can first rest at Xiandu Mountain for a while. Later, I will personally take you on a trip to Lin River to see if there are any suitable sites to develop a scale-beating immortal ferry in Tongye Continent. I’ll make a bold statement in front of my teacher today: as long as Brother Song Zhi takes a fancy to it, even if I lose face and risk my life, I will scheme for Brother Song Zhi a grand enterprise of lasting prosperity!”

The taciturn man said in a muffled voice, “Sect Leader Cui, just call me by my name, Pang Chao, ‘Chao’ of surpassing.”

The constant “Brother Song Zhi” and “Brother Song Zhi” were giving Pang Chao goosebumps all over.

Cui Dongshan said earnestly, “That won’t do. Addressing each other as ‘Daoist friends’ is too formal. If Brother Pang doesn’t call me Dongshan, old brother, you’re looking down on me. It doesn’t matter if Brother Pang looks down on me; I’m determined to curry favor with Brother Pang.”

If he became sworn brothers with Pang Chao, then when Zhang Zhi saw him in the future, he would have to call him Uncle Cui.

That Zhang Zhi was a money-grubbing bastard who never missed an opportunity to profit. Now that they had this familial relationship, when uncle and nephew met, would Zhang Zhi dare to be so businesslike?

Pang Chao was not good with words, and he was even more at a loss when faced with a slick operator like Cui Dongshan. He could only drink silently, not responding or picking up the threads of the conversation. He certainly thought he had politely refused the other party, but the other party took it as Pang Chao’s tacit agreement.

In the snowy night, they met by chance, drank their wine, and finished their business. Now, they would part ways, each with their own destination.

Mr. Zeng would travel north alone, a solitary cloud and wild crane, accustomed to making his home wherever he went.

As for the magic saber “Mingquan” that Jian Ming had stolen from Yao Ling’s side, it would be handed over to Han Guanghu to deliver to the Emperor of the Great Quan Yao clan. How to dispose of this divine weapon used to suppress the national fortune of the former Great Quan Dynasty was Empress Yao Jinzhi’s business.

Han Guanghu would return to Mirage City with Jian Ming. Earlier at the table, the old man had made a decision, agreeing to Mr. Zeng’s proposal in secret, promising that he would seek a position in the court of the Great Quan Dynasty and do his utmost to assist Yao Jinzhi for at least thirty years. In this way, the Great Quan Dynasty, which had always lacked a mountain peak force to safeguard the country, would gain an End Realm martial artist out of thin air. Moreover, although Han Guanghu was not currently at his martial peak, a man’s reputation was like the shadow of a tree. A martial artist who had suppressed the Golden Armor Continent with his fists for a hundred years was a huge deterrent to the current Tongye Continent, and even more so a veritable “Happy New Year” for the Great Quan Yao clan.

Qin Buyi and Pang Chao did not need Cui Dongshan to lead the way. They would set off on the wind to Secret Snow Peak, then stay at the Qingping Sword Sect for a while before following Cui Dongshan on a trip to the Lin River located in the central part of Tongye Continent.

Song Yushao would follow the congenial Han Guanghu south, planning to visit the renowned Mirage City. Then, he would wait at Taoye Ferry for the Fengyuan ferry before taking an intercontinental ferry, first south to the Chushan Ferry in Tongye Continent, and then north across the sea to Baoping Continent. The old man would disembark at Old Dragon City, travel across half the continent, and slowly return to the Shushui Kingdom.

Chen Ping’an wanted to send Song Yushao to the city gate, but the old man waved his hand, indicating that it wasn’t necessary. So, Chen Ping’an only saw him off to the street in front of the residence.
Han Guanghu paused, saying, “Grandmaster Chen, next time you come to Mirage City, we can make up for the sparring match we owe today.”

Chen Pingan smiled, “Pressing one’s realm to seek a fistfight, this junior is adept at it.”

Han Guanghu was momentarily speechless; the young man’s words were truly unpalatable.

Still with his saber tucked under his arm, Jian Ming winked and teased, “Chen Pingan, this time I’m going to Daquan with Old Man Han. I’ll definitely see someone. Do you have any words you want me to pass along?”

Chen Pingan put on a stern face, adopting the air of an elder, “Your drinking manners are a bit lacking. In the future, remember to drink more and talk less at the table.”

Jian Ming was deflated.

Master Zeng smiled, reminding his disciple, “A noble person is slow to speak; remember that.”

Song Yushao’s group of three slowly walked away on the heavily snow-covered road.

Jian Ming suddenly turned around and walked backwards, looking at Master Zeng in his blue cloth cotton robe, shouting loudly, “Take care, Master!”

Master Zeng smiled and nodded, “Take care of yourselves.”

Cui Dongshan squatted on the steps, making snowballs. Master Zeng stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Chen Pingan, saying, “Mr. Chen, I was impolite when we first met. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”

Earlier, the white-robed woman had appeared on the city wall, calling Chen Pingan her master. She could casually reverse the river of time without even the two Ghost Immortals, Qin Buyi and Pang Chao, noticing. Master Zeng had traveled the world for thousands of years and had seen many great storms, but he had truly never encountered such skill before; it was an eye-opener. As the saying goes, when one is under another’s roof, it’s no shame to lower one’s head and say a few humble words.

Chen Pingan cupped his fist in greeting, “Mr. Zeng, you are too kind. Meeting without previous acquaintance is not a cause for animosity. To meet again in the martial world and share wine and laughter is good fortune. Besides, Jian Ming has a good nature, just as Mr. Zeng himself said, ‘From the falling of a leaf, one knows the coming of autumn.'”

Master Zeng smiled knowingly, returning the greeting with cupped fists.

Chen Pingan said, “Mr. Zeng, I won’t see you off. If you have time in the future, come to my Fallen Mountain as a guest. I will be staying in my hometown more often. Cui Dongshan manages the Azure Willow Sword Sect here, and I am at ease with that. Besides, he is the sect leader; I’m not fit to be a hands-off manager.”

Master Zeng smiled, “No need to see me off. Traveling alone on a snowy road has its own charm.”

Cui Dongshan held the snowball in both hands, his eyes filled with complaint, “Master, why must you cast another snowstorm upon your student’s heart, chilling the hearts of all the soldiers?”

Master Zeng laughed, “With tales of his deeds already filling the ears, naturally, it is something difficult to achieve. But when a person’s name is known throughout the world, praise and slander often go hand in hand, with very few exceptions.”

Chen Pingan said, “Perform good deeds, not seeking recognition. Commit no evil, unafraid of being known.”

Master Zeng nodded, “Mr. Chen is already on the path of cultivation.”

Chen Pingan turned his head, cupping his fist and smiling, “Then this junior will encourage myself alongside Mr. Zeng.”

Master Zeng held his hand against the sword sheath and saber hilt, “Due to my identity, I must hide my true self, I hope Mr. Chen can excuse my unsightly behaviour.”

Chen Pingan shook his head, saying, “The martial world is not just swordsmen, but all swordsmen are people of the martial world.”

Master Zeng laughed, “Those words are worthy to be the first of all toasts.”

After parting ways with this former “mover of trees” and Moist Swordsman, Chen Pingan was pulled by Cui Dongshan to a room in the house, saying that this “Money Monkey” was quite interesting and he must meet him.

Inside the room was a small brazier, and a gaunt man was rubbing his hands to warm them, yawning, feeling sleepy, but also feeling like too many strange things had happened today to go to bed early.

The Money Monkey heard a deafening knock at the door and quickly got up to open it. He found that the person at the door was the witty Immortal Master Cui, and the blue-robed guest who had almost started a fight.

Before the Money Monkey could find his words, the other party smiled sincerely and took the initiative to speak, “Sorry to bother you.”

Hearing this, the Money Monkey was a little confused; he was nothing like Immortal Master Cui.

Cui Dongshan coughed, and the Money Monkey came back to his senses, quickly stepping aside and bowing, “Please come in, please come in, no bother at all, how could it be a bother.”

The room wasn’t big, but there were many chairs, all old objects collected by the Money Monkey, who loved woodworking, with excellent craftsmanship. Cui Dongshan picked up a chair with one hand and used his foot to pull another one over. The three of them sat around the brazier. “Master, the Money Monkey hasn’t read much, but he’s very studious, a typical self-taught talent. He can even argue with me logically. Not long ago, he said to me in this room, ‘A day without reading, a hundred tasks are wasted.'”

Chen Pingan smiled and nodded, “Very insightful.”

The Money Monkey was completely bewildered, tentatively saying, “I don’t think I said that.”

Cui Dongshan said firmly, “You seemed to have said it.”

The Money Monkey looked at the serious-faced Cui Dongshan, his expression bashful, “If Mr. Cui says I said it, then I said it.”

Chen Pingan couldn’t help but laugh. He was quite suitable for Celestial Capital Mountain, cooking excellent food.

Cui Dongshan was not polite with the Money Monkey. With a wave of his hand, he grabbed the charcoal drawing album from the table and handed it to the master, “Please take a look, master, and see if the Money Monkey is considered promising material.”

Chen Pingan smiled and looked at the Money Monkey, and the man quickly said, “Look as you please, it’s all scribbles, a laughingstock. I’m afraid it will only tarnish the immortal master’s eyes.”

Cui Dongshan glared, “If you haven’t read books, then speak less fancily. You’re showing your true colors. Displaying your learning like that, that’s called a *tai xiao da fang*, it’s *tai xiao da fang*!” (*Taiwanese pronunciation of 貽笑大方, meaning “to make a fool of oneself”*)

The Money Monkey was skeptical. He had seen the idiom in books and had even specifically consulted with Miss Xiaofang about it.

Chen Pingan took the album, saying, “Brother Qian, don’t listen to Dongshan’s nonsense.”

After some small talk, Chen Pingan learned that the Money Monkey’s real name was Qian Jun, and that he also had kilns in his hometown, making him half an associate. With that, they had something to talk about.

Chen Pingan knew Cui Dongshan’s intentions, so he went along with the flow, inviting Qian Jun to visit Celestial Capital Mountain. If he felt that he was compatible with the mountain’s atmosphere, he could simply settle down and get a mountain identity first. If he wanted to move later, having a foundation would mean he wouldn’t have to worry about not finding a temple even if he was carrying a pig’s head (i.e., having no connections). After all, you can only listen to half of the saying “heroes should not be judged by their origins.”

The Money Monkey still politely declined their good intentions. This third-realm martial artist couldn’t help but wonder. With the eccentric Immortal Master Cui and the amiable Mr. Chen, how short-handed was their mountain to be so… indiscriminate that they could even see something in the likes of him.
The azure-robed man showed no anger at being rejected, which relieved Qian Hou’er. After wandering the pugilistic world for so many years, his martial arts skills were terrible, but he was confident in his ability to read faces.

The reason he was so unappreciative wasn’t that Qian Hou’er didn’t want wealth and honor, but that he had learned from experience and understood the treacherousness of the martial world. Even if there was a pie in the sky, it definitely wouldn’t fall into his small, broken bowl. Ultimately, Qian Jun had grown accustomed to a hard life and no longer believed he was lucky. If he were someone like Wang Manmeng, a celestial being from the mountain, or a grandmaster like Hong Chou, who was treated with respect everywhere he went, he probably would have started haggling over the price: How much tribute would be given each year? Were there private residences prepared in the mountains?

Chen Ping’an bid farewell and left, taking Cui Dongshan with him. After crossing the threshold, Cui Dongshan turned to the thin man and gave him a thumbs up, “Qian Hou’er, there are very few heroes whom my teacher would actively invite to the mountain. And you’re one of the even rarer ones who can refuse such an invitation! Impressive, truly impressive!”

Outside the house, Chen Ping’an walked down the street, surrounded by wind and snow, and the dark night. For no reason, a phrase that was the opposite of the current scene came to his mind.

“The world is a great kiln, cooked by the charcoal of Yang, melting all things, and no one can escape.”

Liu Xianyang had first heard this saying from Master Yao, the kiln worker, and used it to show off to Chen Ping’an. Chen Ping’an might not have exchanged more than three sentences with Master Yao when they searched for porcelain clay together, going in and out of the mountains. Later, when Chen Ping’an was traveling in the Northern Ju Continent, Sui Jingcheng, who was tagging along, also had a similar sentiment… Tonight, Chen Ping’an walked slowly through the snow, turning his head to look.

Cui Dongshan turned his head as well, puzzled. “Teacher, is something amiss?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Nothing.”

With a flick of his wrist, Chen Ping’an produced a Cao Zi dagger from his sleeve. Along with the short knife “Evening Glow,” whose origins were still unknown, these were spoils of war that Sui Jingcheng had helped him collect. Even Liu Jinglong couldn’t help but praise their good fortune upon seeing the two short blades. Liu Jinglong recognized the Cao Zi dagger, which was recorded in official history. Chen Ping’an had named the other one “Deer Slayer,” feeling it was better than the old name “Evening Glow” inscribed on the blade.

He had to admit, naming things required talent.

Chen Ping’an twisted his wrist, performing a series of dazzling knife flourishes, all avoiding the snowflakes.

Cui Dongshan couldn’t bear to break his teacher’s peaceful mood, but he couldn’t hold it in any longer. He cautiously asked, “Now that the big fish has taken the bait, when will you set the hook, Teacher?”

Chen Ping’an stopped twirling the dagger, put it back in his sleeve, and said irritably, “Why ask what you already know? Stop playing dumb.”

Who had been eavesdropping earlier? Just like Liu Xianyang, no wonder they called each other brothers and were so close.

Cui Dongshan looked aggrieved. “Your thoughts are as deep as the sea, Teacher, silent and unfathomable. Since you were speaking in riddles with Senior Song, I don’t dare to feel at ease unless I hear your exact answer with my own ears.”

Chen Ping’an said, “I didn’t discuss this plan with you beforehand, and I need to apologize. I promise it won’t happen again.”

Cui Dongshan looked even more aggrieved. “I’m not a guest. If you keep saying such polite things, Teacher, I’ll really be sad.”

Chen Ping’an chuckled.

Cui Dongshan immediately straightened his back and said loudly, “I’m not aggrieved!”

Chen Ping’an lowered his head, rubbed his hands, and gently exhaled a cloud of mist.

Revere Peak, a Great Demon King of the Throne, certainly qualified as a big fish throwing itself into the net.

If it hadn’t been for Senior Song’s words, Revere Peak wouldn’t be allowed to leave once he dared to come to Tongye Continent.

Himself, plus Xiao Mo, Cui Dongshan, and Mi Yu, would be enough.

Outside the battlefield, entice them with benefits, lure them into a trap, and then encircle and kill them. This was, of course, against the code of the martial world, which was why Chen Ping’an had that conversation with Senior Song.

In terms of realm and status, Revere Peak, who was confined to the Old Monarch’s Furnace volcano group by the Literary Temple, and Liu Cha, who was imprisoned in a landscape secret realm in the Merit Forest, were roughly equal. Both were among the fourteen old Throne Great Demons, but Liu Cha’s seat was higher. Of course, if Liu Cha hadn’t been stopped by Chen Chun’an from returning home as a fourteenth-realm sword cultivator, he would now be the undisputed sword dao leader of the Wild Desolate World. What made Chen Ping’an so “mindful” of Revere Peak was not just his slaughter on the battlefield and his ruthless methods. Even after crossing the Sword Qi Great Wall and arriving in the Boundless World, Revere Peak had contributed significantly. But what truly made Chen Ping’an want to kill him was that Revere Peak had publicly tortured and killed a sword immortal on the battlefield of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Cui Dongshan was acting a bit recklessly, as if he had decided to ask for a clear answer. “Wouldn’t it be a waste of all our efforts to call off the plan at the last minute? Would you feel lingering regret in your heart, Teacher?”

Chen Ping’an remained silent.

The decision to imprison but not kill Liu Cha and Revere Peak both came from the Central Earth Literary Temple, or more precisely, from the Sage of Rites.

There had been disagreements within the Literary Temple from the beginning, but since the Sage of Rites had made the decision, the matter was no longer debated.

Cui Dongshan sighed softly, using his toes to kick up the snow on the road.

After Teacher returned to his hometown, he created a sect on Fallen Mountain. Besides attending the ceremony at Zhengyang Mountain, which caused quite a stir, he surprisingly chose a state similar to seclusion for Fallen Mountain. Then, Teacher hurriedly selected a site in Tongye Continent and quickly established a branch sect.

The former was reasonable, and the latter, wanting to make up for the deficiency in a continent, required having one’s own territory, so it could be justified both publicly and privately.

But Cui Dongshan had long smelled something amiss. Perhaps Zhu Lian on Fallen Mountain had also noticed, but that old cook was a shrewd one and pretended to be ignorant.

Back then, Revere Peak’s command was poor, and he was criticized by the Jiazi Account. Revere Peak, needing to redeem himself, temporarily left the battlefield with Almost Yellow Oriole and returned to the depths of the Wild Desolate World, responsible for searching for and intercepting the sword cultivators from the Sword Qi Great Wall who were hiding in the Wild Desolate.

Chen Ping’an immediately ordered that sword cultivators were not allowed to rescue, but a group of sword cultivators still left the city wall.

This incident was the most criticized aspect of the young Hidden Official sitting in the Summer Palace. To this day, many sword cultivators in the Five Colors World still harbor resentment, feeling that Chen Ping’an was too cold-blooded and pragmatic. Even if he was a good last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall, he was still not a pure sword cultivator of the Sword Qi Great Wall.
Of course, Chen Ping An’s intent to kill towards Yang Zhi wasn’t driven by such criticism. It was a carefully laid plan, deliberately bringing Qing Tong to meet Yang Zhi, using the guise of a transaction to lure her into leaving that forbidden ground willingly.

It was similar to encountering the Northern Yan cavalry during his travels through Northern Ju Luzhou.

Life is always full of unexpected twists and turns.

Cui Dongshan tentatively asked, “The reason He Xiangting and Yu Qingzhang left Luopo Mountain was actually because you secretly instructed Yu Yue to take them as disciples?”

Chen Ping An shook his head, finally speaking, “Back then, who could have foreseen such a distant matter? It was merely a coincidence. Thankfully, they left with Yu Yue, avoiding a confrontation with Yang Zhi. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know how to clean up this mess.”

Children are just children, so adults cannot expect them to understand everything. Some truths can only be grasped gradually through their own growth.

If dreams are like building a snowman, then perhaps growing up is like eating cold rice.

Once Yang Zhi appeared in Tongye Continent and participated in the excavation of the central Great Canal, even if she used illusionary arts, the truth would eventually come to light.

Sooner or later, the sword cultivator prodigies from the Great Wall of Sword Qi would uncover the truth.

Although Xiao Mo shared the same Great Dao roots as a Great Demon from the Wild Desolate, Xiao Mo was different. He had slumbered for ten thousand years amidst the bright moonlight, having no connection with the Great Wall of Sword Qi.

Furthermore, among the Peak Ten Sword Immortals of yesteryear, there was the “One of the Five Wonders,” the Old Deaf. Therefore, the local sword cultivators of the Great Wall of Sword Qi were relatively open-minded about the matter.

And then there was Tao Ting from the Wild Desolate, who followed Li Huai, dwelling in the Ten Thousand Mountains for so long. Coupled with the relationship between the Eldest Sword Immortal and the Old Blind, it would be difficult for Tao Ting to even want to stir up conflict with the Great Wall of Sword Qi; she simply didn’t have the courage.

But Yang Zhi was different.

Being imprisoned was one thing; as long as they didn’t meet face-to-face and remained strangers until death. But if Yang Zhi came to Tongye Continent and was not killed, it would be another matter entirely.

The Confucian Temple had its own considerations.

With Liu Cha and Yang Zhi present, in recent years, numerous remnants of the demon race, unable to leave Haoran Heaven and seeing the increasing intensity of the searches across the continents, had proactively revealed their identities to the academies of various continents. For example, Chen Ping An had specifically consulted with the Confucian scholar Xi Ping in the Merit Forest about this matter, indirectly inquiring about the approximate number of demon cultivators in the Middle Five Realms and Upper Five Realms who were desperate and unwilling to be cornered. The answer he received, the sheer number, greatly surprised Chen Ping An.

Of course, Northern Ju Luzhou was an exception. Many demon cultivators who wouldn’t dare to show their faces in Treasure Bottle Continent secretly crossed the sea to land on Northern Ju Luzhou, seeking a protective talisman from the academies. Regardless of how the Confucian Temple would handle the matter later, they wanted to save their lives first, as being discovered by cultivators searching the mountains in other continents meant certain death. However, many demon cultivators were intercepted and killed on the way before they could even see an academy. Similar incidents occurred frequently in Fuyu Continent and Golden Armor Continent.

The Confucian Temple and the academies of the various continents investigated, but the depth of their investigation, especially whether the academies were truly diligent, remained questionable.

As for academies like the Fish Floating Academy, there was no need to question their sincerity.

Chen Ping An asked, “If it were Senior Brother Cui, what would he do?”

Senior Brother Cui Chan’s statesmanship and scholarship had their own fierce style.

Cui Dongshan said, “Hard to say. That old scoundrel leaves no way out for anyone, himself included. He might make the most of everything, like having Yang Zhi excavate a brand new Great Canal in Tongye Continent, or directly placing her as a duke of that Great Canal in Treasure Bottle Continent, without any reservations. He certainly wouldn’t be as troubled as you, Master. As for the thoughts of those kids, they wouldn’t matter at all. If they don’t understand because they’re young, that’s their problem. If they still don’t understand when they’re older, that’s still their problem. Or maybe the opening move of this game would be the same, but once Yang Zhi leaves Middle Earth Divine Continent, it would be a dead end. What the Confucian Temple and the Sage of Rites think or do would be irrelevant to Cui Chan. If they want to follow the rules and demand an explanation, let them come.”

Chen Ping An hummed in agreement.

Cui Dongshan said, “Leaving aside Yang Zhi, whether she lives or dies, we can discuss that later. But have you, Master, considered this? The Grand Master of the White Jade Capital didn’t kill the Old Immortal Lord Nigu of the Divine Firmament City, Chen Qingdu of the Great Wall of Sword Qi didn’t kill the Old Deaf, and the Confucian Temple’s Sage of Rites didn’t kill Liu Cha. These are all a similar train of thought, a common thread.”

Chen Ping An said, “I understand.”

Cui Dongshan grinned.

As a result, he immediately received a slap on the head, scolded by his master, “No respect! How dare you call the Eldest Sword Immortal by his given name!”

Chen Ping An retracted his hand, mocking himself, “To have a friend like us, Old Immortal Lu can be considered unlucky. If possible, he’d definitely refine a regret pill.”

First, he needed a batch for himself, then two batches of pills for the Cloud and Grass Hall of Mount Pu, and next, he’d probably be asked when Pure Serenity Mountain would open its furnace to refine pills.

Cui Dongshan laughed, “Are you planning to ask Azure Tiger Palace for a Forgetfulness Pill for Old Han?”

Chen Ping An nodded, “Grandmaster Han’s character and martial virtue are evident to all.”

“Isn’t this you repaying evil with virtue?”

“Grandmaster Han is actually just finding an excuse to gauge my strength. This old senior knows full well that Pei Qian would never learn boxing from him. Oh right, don’t interrupt. This time, you’ll have to discuss this matter with Old Immortal Lu. Remember, you must buy the pills with money. We can’t let Old Immortal Lu find a way to decline again. We owe him too many favors. I won’t dare to visit Pure Serenity Mountain anymore.”

“Didn’t you just say you were taking a wind kite ferry back north, Master? That would definitely pass by Azure Tiger Palace of Pure Serenity Mountain. I still need to accompany Sister Qin and Brother Pang on a southern tour of the Phosphorus River. I can’t be in two places at once.”

“I’ve changed my mind temporarily. I plan to return to Luopo Mountain alone. I can’t keep Xiao Mo waiting for too long. After all, it’s still a bit dangerous for him to meet Bai Jing alone.”

“Master, this…”

“Dongshan, as a student, you can’t always be digging at your master’s foundation without batting an eye. It’s too outrageous. You should occasionally share your master’s burdens. Don’t you think?”

“Master, I think…”

“I think that’s what you think.”

“Alright, if that’s what you think I think, then so be it.”

Cui Dongshan asked again, “Walking back to Immortal Capital Mountain?”

“Just need to arrive at Immortal Capital Mountain before dawn.”

“You don’t seem to be in a hurry to get there, Master?”
“In all endeavors, one must find balance between urgency and leisure, tension and release. Little Mo facing Bai Jing… I suspect he will not yield.”

“The Master’s strict self-discipline and generous treatment of others are lessons the student has once more learned.”

One clad in azure, the other in white, teacher and student, they exited the city gates. Bored, Cui Dongshan began to roll a snowball, growing it from half a man’s height, to a full man’s height, to the height of a rooftop, and finally, to the size of a small mountain…

The white-robed youth pushed the colossal snowball with both hands, laughing heartily.

The azure-robed guest chided him as childish, but before long, Chen Ping’an had rolled a snowball of similar size himself.

Near the golden arched bridge, she had, at some point, leaped down from the railing, standing on the bridge path. She called out to Chen Ping’an, who was still practicing his fist techniques on the railing, suggesting, “Master, how about we go take a look at the Ascension Platform?”

Chen Ping’an considered it, then nodded, “Alright!”

She smiled faintly, “No need to rush, wait a moment.”

Just as Chen Ping’an was puzzled, he could faintly see five figures slowly approaching from the distant horizon.

She leaned against the railing, a picture of languid grace, smiling. “Such fond memories.”

She extended a hand, pointing, “The first master, myself, that fellow I recently vanquished, and then, ten thousand years later, Ruan Xiu and Li Liu.”

For approaching were none other than the former Five Supreme Sovereigns.

The Ancient Celestial Court’s Sovereign Lord, the Sword-Wielder, the Armor-Wearer, the God of Fire, and the God of Water.