Here at the Bamboo Pavilion on Spirit Gathering Peak, the scenery is truly exquisite. Back when it was chosen as the site for the structure, guests who came to appreciate the views all praised Mountain Lord Chen’s unique vision.

The orioles in the mountains sing in chorus, while outside the cliffs, flying clouds chase after spring, transforming into dragons and snakes right before your eyes.

Xiao Mo said, “When Master Zheng returns to his hometown, it will be even more lively.”

Chen Ping An said without reason, “Zheng Dafeng says that us scholars, when we revisit old books, it’s like a short separation sweeter than a honeymoon.”

Xiao Mo nodded, “Master Zheng is a learned man of great talent. His scholarly wit is naturally different from the hypocrisy of false gentlemen pretending to be moral paragons.”

Chen Ping An said, “Last time I went to the wine shop in Ascending City, the regular customers all said that Shopkeeper Zheng’s bawdy jokes made the wine taste better. I, the second shopkeeper, am far from his match.”

Xiao Mo laughed, “Master Zheng is broad-minded, affectionate, and uninhibited. He’s welcome wherever he goes.”

“Accompany me for a stroll.”

Chen Ping An tossed a flask of wine to Xiao Mo. The two of them, each carrying a wine flask, headed towards the mountaintop, drinking as they went. The mountain scenery was lush and green, inviting them to ascend the verdant heights with wine in hand.

The protective mountain array of a top-tier sect is often a layered formation, each layer complementing the others, adding layer upon layer of reinforcement. It is sure to have both attack and defense capabilities.

Luo Po Mountain now possesses two protective mountain arrays. One is a sword array pieced together bit by bit. It’s the result of the frugal Mountain Lord Chen Ping An accumulating resources like a swallow building its nest. The other was a “blessing in disguise.” Old Guan Zhu drank tea at the mountain gate when he visited Luo Po Mountain. It’s estimated that he originally intended to question Luo Po Mountain, but because Chen Lingjun was disrespectful in the town, this Master of the Bixiao Grotto of Treasurefall Beach, who “never let anyone off easy,” disdained to bother with a mere Nascent Soul water snake. So he simply took it out on Chen Ping An, the Mountain Lord.

There was no need to doubt Old Guan Zhu’s methods, nor should one doubt the courage and spirit of this Fourteenth Realm Great Cultivator.

“Invincible since leaving the grotto, never forgiving when he could,” was never a compliment.

Back then, when Xiao Mo fled into Treasurefall Beach, even a Jian Xiu as domineering as Bai Jing had to stop.

But unexpectedly, after going back and forth, Old Guan Zhu actually gave away a True Form Chart of the Five Peaks.

This meant that Wei Bo, as the Mountain God, now needed a “passport” to visit Luo Po Mountain, even though it was just a few steps away, so that he wouldn’t be held up.

No wonder Mountain God Wei joked with Little Rice Grain in frustration, saying it was the most valuable cup of tea in the world.

This was no exaggeration. Old Guan Zhu not only didn’t make things difficult for Chen Ping An, but also gifted him an ancestral True Form Chart, which was practically two Immortal Weapons!

Inside the old Mountain God Shrine on the mountaintop, there hung a painting of a Sword Immortal that Chen Ping An brought back from the Sword Qi Great Wall. It originally belonged to the Sword Respect Pavilion of Upside-down Mountain. Chen Ping An originally intended to return it to Ascending City, but Ning Yao refused to take it back. Chen Ping An knew her temper best, and he couldn’t go against her will.

Reaching the mountaintop, Xiao Mo sighed, “Young Master, it’s truly not easy for Luo Po Mountain to have its current grandeur.”

Chen Ping An boasted, “Wealth overflowing the baskets is definitely due to thrift and good management.”

Peace Mountain had gifted Chen Ping An a formation chart early on. Luo Po Mountain had always been troubled by the lack of suitable flying swords. As a result, Chen Ping An had been eyeing Hate Sword Mountain in the Northern Ju Continent for years. Fortunately, he took a trip to the Barren Desolate Lands last time. During the trip, he passed through the Jade Tablet City of the Cloud Pattern Dynasty. As a rising star and consolidator of Bao Fu Zhai, the young Hidden Official once again promoted the Jianghu principle of “thieves don’t leave empty-handed, taking what they can get.” He obtained twelve flying swords and the coral brush holder used to store the flying swords from Ye Pu, the Emperor with the Daoist title “Unrivaled” and a newly Ascended cultivator from the Barren Desolate Lands. Chen Ping An took the former for himself and used the latter to make a long-term deal with Lu Chen.

In this way, the Peace Mountain formation chart perfectly matched the twelve flying swords, making it a perfect fit.

And last time, when Tong Ye Continent held a Lower Sect celebration, Liu Jinglong, as Chen Ping An’s best “drinking buddy,” naturally had to attend the founding ceremony of the Azure Lotus Sword Sect. He left Tai Hui Sword Sect with his disciple, Bai Shou. On their way south, at Chen Ping An’s request, Liu Jinglong first went to the Great Li capital to give guidance to Han Zhoujin, the formation master of the Earthly Branch lineage. In reality, after Liu Jinglong drank his fill of wine there, he secretly entered Luo Po Mountain and helped the guy who was used to being a hands-off shopkeeper to add the finishing touches to the “mirror images” of those Sword Immortal heroic spirits in the painting that “only had sword intent left without intelligence.” After carefully studying the Peace Mountain formation chart, Liu Jinglong used this chart as the foundation of the Daoist temple, selected twelve Sword Immortal heroic spirits, and chose flying swords with similar sword dao, holding the twelve flying swords, which finally made this offensive formation truly complete.

From Chen Ping An’s previous estimate of “able to kill Jade Purity and deter Immortals,” it was upgraded to “able to seriously injure an Immortal who is caught unawares.”

As for Ascended cultivators, don’t come here showing off your power. First of all, entering Treasure Bottle Continent now requires proactively reporting your whereabouts to the Great Li’s version of White Jade Capital. Secondly, do you really think Luo Po Mountain doesn’t have Ascended cultivators? If you really provoke Mountain Lord Chen, he really won’t care about Jianghu etiquette and will open the door and let Xie Gou out.

In addition, Wei Bo secretly bypassed the Great Li Dynasty, without reporting to the Great Li Ministry of Rites or filing records, and directly opened the door for this sword array, allowing those sword-wielding heroic spirits to freely travel to most of the Northern Peak region.

Seeing Zheng Dafeng and Wei Bo exchanging gifts at the entrance of Cloud-Wearing Mountain.

Xiao Mo joked, “Our Mountain God Wei is a typical example of good people getting good rewards.”

After sending out the wooden box, Zheng Dafeng seemed to put his arm around Wei Bo’s shoulder, but in reality, he dragged Mountain God Wei up the mountain to drink at the Music Bureau, where there were the most female officials.

As for whether Mountain God Wei would remind the officials of the Music Bureau to be careful of Zheng Dafeng, no one knew.

Xiao Mo remembered something, “I don’t know where Xie Gou heard the news, but it said that the Mountain Gods of the Five Peaks in our Treasure Bottle Continent might be conferred titles by the Confucian Temple. Young Master, is this true?”

Chen Ping An shook his head, “I really don’t know about that. Senior Brother Mao didn’t mention it in his letter. I’ll ask the Confucian Temple about it later.”
In the vast expanse of the Grand Azure World, a rumor, yet unverified, persists: Wei Bo, the former Mountain Lord of the Five Peaks of the Great Li Kingdom, and now Master of the Five Peaks of Treasure Bottle洲, may be on the verge of receiving a “Divine Title.”

As for who would preside over the canonization ceremony, it should, in theory, be at least a Deputy Master of the Confucian Temple. However, it is highly likely that the Sage himself will grace Treasure Bottle洲 with his presence.

If this were to come to pass, then for Wei Bo, Jin Qing, and Fan Junmao, the Mountain Lords, receiving the Confucian Temple’s canonization would not only be a great honor but also a tangible boon to their great dao.

Cultivators from other continents harbor little resentment towards this matter, as Treasure Bottle洲 is deemed worthy of such treatment.

At most, they would chime in with a jest, universally suggesting that Wei Bo, the Northern Peak, must receive the Divine Title of “Night Wanderer.”

Wei Bo of the Northern Peak, his golden body refined and pure, was the first Mountain Lord above the Fifth Realm in the history of Treasure Bottle洲. Later, the height of his golden body further increased, his cultivation realm equivalent to that of an Immortal.

Senior Brother Jun Qian once held the line at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, delivering a punch against the enemy, causing golden rain to fall across the Northern Peak territory, greatly benefiting Wei Bo.

If Wei Bo could further elevate the height of his golden body with the gift Ning Yao bestowed, becoming the first Mountain Deity above the Fifth Realm on Treasure Bottle洲, the first Immortal Realm, and then the first Mountain Deity equivalent to an Ascended Immortal, it would be a “Triple Crown” in the history of the continent’s bureaucratic system. Because deities are nearly immortal, Mountain Lord Wei Bo would become a figure truly unprecedented and unmatched.

Before the sudden emergence of Chen Pingan, the young Hidden Official, the Immortal Abodes on the mountains and the courts of various kingdoms in Treasure Bottle洲 had reached a consensus: the bottleneck in cultivation realms would depend on the ultimate height of the three current “Immortals,” whether they would be content to stop there or go further.

For Sword Cultivators, it depended on Wei Jin of Wind and Snow Temple, already a Great Sword Immortal, whether he could attain the Ascended Immortal Realm.

For Mountain and Water Deities, it depended on Wei Bo of Azure Cloud Mountain. For Wild Cultivators of marshes and lakes, it depended on Liu Laocheng of Scroll Lake.

These three were the leaders blazing trails on their respective paths.

These three paths were like roads already paved by those leading the way, with those behind simply following, not daring to hope to catch up, walk side by side, let alone surpass them.

Chen Pingan stood on the cliff’s edge and said softly, “We all like to use idioms like ‘commanding from a height’ and ‘drawing water to fill a moat.’ In the Grand Azure World’s Nine Continents, if we use the sea level as a ruler, the height of the land is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. Furthermore, the sea level actually has a subtle tilt, not a large magnitude, but this is not recorded in books, and ordinary cultivators have no way of knowing it, let alone measuring it accurately.”

“In Treasure Bottle洲, the terrain of the land is a more pronounced north-high, south-low situation, which is common knowledge among those on the mountains. Therefore, as a Mountain Lord of the same continent, Fan Junmao is at a disadvantage. All the Qi Practitioners of the continent believe that Wei Bo has the best chance of becoming the first Mountain and Water Deity whose golden body height is equivalent to an Ascended Immortal, not only because they feel that Wei Bo has a close relationship with the Song family of the Great Li, occupying ‘harmony of man,’ but also because this Azure Cloud Mountain occupies the most advantageous terrain, being the highest mountain on the land of Treasure Bottle洲.”

Chen Pingan said here, putting his hands in his sleeves and looking up, “Therefore, this mountain is closest to the heavens.”

Chen Pingan first understood the value of Golden Essence Copper Coins thanks to Fu Nanhua of Old Dragon City’s “ostentation,” who used an ancient poem of unknown origin to describe this kind of immortal money.

“Azure water may be gathered, the secret of golden essence not discussed.”

Before Zheng Dafeng went to Azure Cloud Mountain to find Wei Bo with the gift from Ning Yao, he had already discussed it with Chen Pingan. Ning Yao had Zheng Dafeng convey three sentences to Chen Pingan.

“This is a gift I prepared for Azure Cloud Mountain long ago. You and Fallen Phoenix Mountain cannot always be so indebted to Wei Bo’s kindness. Just because he doesn’t mind doesn’t mean you, as the Mountain Lord, can be negligent.”

“This thing is worth much more than Golden Essence Copper Coins, but you are the least suitable person to refine it. Giving it to Wei Bo, however, is like sending charcoal in the snow. If he can use it to elevate his divine position by a large step, with Wei Bo’s personality, he will only take better care of Fallen Phoenix Mountain.”

“Just send it, no need to feel sorry. Anyway, I will collect more Golden Essence Copper Coins on the Colorful World side.”

This is Ning Yao’s consistent way of conducting herself.

It is also a common habit that Chen Pingan has insisted on since he met her.

Speak directly about everything, whether it’s a big or small matter, and rather argue on the spot, incurring the other’s displeasure, than leave any room for “misunderstanding.”

Therefore, on the Great Wall of Sword Qi, Chen Pingan never concealed anything from Ning Yao, no matter what choice he made. As a matter of fact, this is the best way for him and Ning Yao to get along.

Chen Pingan, with a smug expression, roughly recounted Ning Yao’s words to Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo sincerely praised, “Mountain Mistress, truly a virtuous helper that is hard to find even with a lantern.”

Chen Pingan reached out from his sleeve, rubbed his chin, and suddenly turned to look at Xiao Mo, saying with a sincere expression, “Xiao Mo, don’t participate in the next Night Wanderer Banquet. Don’t join in on such festivities. It’s just a noisy drinking party, not very interesting.”

Xiao Mo hummed in agreement. Chen Pingan had just breathed a sigh of relief when Xiao Mo said, “Then please trouble Young Master to bring my congratulatory gift.”

Chen Pingan was helpless. The ethos of my mountain gate is indeed to treat people with sincerity, but that doesn’t mean I want you, Xiao Mo, to be too sincere.

Xiao Mo immediately shifted the topic, asking, “Young Master, how is the tree-root boxing practice going?”

Chen Pingan said, “Breaking through the realm is not too difficult in the near future. It’s just that there are many places that need to be honed, to strengthen the foundation and repair the shortcomings of the body. After entering the Fifth Realm Martial Artist, there is still much to grind.”

Xiao Mo smiled, “Tree-Root’s nature is pure, his stamina is sufficient, and with Young Master personally guiding his fist techniques, his martial path will definitely be able to go far.”

Since they were talking about martial arts, Chen Pingan curiously asked, “Xiao Mo, in that era of heroic figures in ancient times, was there anyone who could, with fist techniques alone, shatter the karma and destiny of an Earth Immortal? To be precise, the kind that is completely shattered into nothingness, not just the disappearance of the soul.”

Xiao Mo, always meticulous in his thinking, did not rush to give an answer, but asked, “Young Master’s meaning is, only using the strength of the body’s muscles and bones, without using any spiritual energy of heaven and earth, purely with brute force, that is, what is later called martial arts, to kill an Earth Immortal, so that there is no afterlife, completely ‘disintegrating’?”
Chen Ping’an nodded, “Pretty much.”

So the original meaning of “Bingjie” (corpse liberation) was this?

Little Mo pondered for a moment, then slowly said, “Aside from the Ten Heroes of the ancient world, including the founders of the Three Teachings, Daoist Bixiao could easily achieve it. Several scholars who were among the earliest to follow the Most Sage Master were also quite capable. Plus, that nameless one who woke up with me and Bai Jing this time, he also had a few followers of similar caliber in his early years, with considerable martial prowess. All in all, there must be at least fifty of them.”

Chen Ping’an was surprised, “That many?”

Little Mo smiled, “If you add in the demon races born in the Primordial Era, there would be even more. It’s just that they rarely show themselves easily, because after there are more human sword cultivators, they are the ones most fond of causing trouble for them.”

Little Mo hesitated for a moment and said, “For example, your senior brother, Mister Jun Qian. He has an extraordinary origin. In the primordial years when all kinds of strange creatures roamed the world, he was a notable figure. He once possessed the grand aura of a small sun and moon standing on the earth, and wings that only resented the low heavens. If Mister Jun Qian hadn’t been pulled by the Buddha to discuss the Dao, and his nature had been influenced by Buddhist Dharma, slightly changing his temperament, I estimate that the preacher of Zheng, the City Lord of Bai Di City in the later ancient era, would not have had the chance for the Dragon Slaying Campaign.”

Little Mo continued, “Young Master, I have a conjecture.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Speak freely.”

Little Mo said, “I suspect that the reason the true dragons of the world betrayed the Heavenly Court back then was very likely because Mister Jun Qian, through the Buddha, secretly made a promise with all the dragon palaces, a contract similar to not harming Jiao dragons and water fairies.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “That should be the truth.”

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked, “Little Mo, according to the current speculations on the mountain, the eleventh realm of martial arts can be roughly regarded as the fourteenth realm of Qi refiners. Is that accurate?”

On the Taiping Mountain, Chen Ping’an, thanks to his founding disciple, was punched by an eleventh-realm martial artist, to be precise, half a punch.

At that time, Chen Ping’an, who was already at the tenth realm of flourishing Qi, could only stand still and take the beating in the face of that half punch. Forget about retaliating, it was difficult to even parry. He lay in the pit for a long time without getting up.

Later, after learning the truth about why he was beaten for no reason, Chen Ping’an was amused and annoyed. He could only suffer in silence, as he couldn’t bear to scold Pei Qian even half a sentence.

Moreover, Pei Qian had been thoughtful since she was a child, and Chen Ping’an didn’t plan to talk to her about it, to avoid her overthinking.

If it were one of his proud students who was the culprit, Chen Ping’an would have knotted that great white goose’s neck.

Little Mo shook his head, “I’m not too sure. You can ask Bai Jing about this.”

Nowadays, Chen Ping’an’s dedicated cultivation boils down to three things:

Refining swords, practicing boxing, and drawing talismans.

In the way of refining swords, the main focus is on the natal divine abilities of the two flying swords, “Cage Bird” and “Well Mouth Moon”. Chen Ping’an is trying to refine a long river of time with an orderly operation of the Great Dao, so that the small world becomes closer to the “truth”.

And martial arts ascension seems relatively monotonous. Chen Ping’an practices only half a punch, over and over again.

That “strange” eleventh-realm fist on the mountain peak is like a supreme boxing manual.

It was divided into two halves. One half was on the remains of that immortal, the Martial Ancestor who was stationed in Yinghuo deliberately left Han Yushu’s shell.

The other half is within the mountains and rivers of Chen Ping’an’s own world, equivalent to being punched half a punch. The mountains and rivers in the small world of the human body shook, the mountains and rivers changed course… every trace left behind is a path of fist techniques.

As for the way of drawing talismans, it takes a lot of time. Chen Ping’an seems to be distracted, but in fact, by studying talismans, Chen Ping’an is using it as a key step to complete a series of wharves and ferrymen in the long river of time.

Chen Ping’an smiled and invited, “Come, let me show you some of my collections and how I cultivate.”

Little Mo had been looking forward to this for a long time, and bowed, “I’d rather be impolite than decline.”

Together with Little Mo, he shrunk the mountains and rivers and returned to the bamboo building.

Chen Ping’an took the lead into the bamboo building without closing the door. Ripples appeared, and Little Mo followed closely behind. After stepping into the house, it was a different world.

The world was vast and boundless, it was the scene inside Chen Ping’an’s natal flying sword “Cage Bird”.

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “Do you need me to change the scene? I can directly move a Demon Suppressing Tower, or even Mount Sui, and even Mount Tuoyue is possible, enough to be realistic.”

Little Mo smiled and shook his head, “Young Master, all I need is a futon.”

Chen Ping’an pointed at Little Mo and teased, “This is where you are inferior to Old Chef and Pei Qian.”

As he spoke, a futon specially made by the Three Lang Temple in Beiju Luzhou appeared behind the two of them respectively, just like Chen Ping’an himself said, it was indeed realistic.

Little Mo sat cross-legged and said shyly, “Some talents, you can’t learn them even if you try.”

“On Taiping Mountain in Tongye Continent, I met Han Yushu, the sect master of Wan Yao Sect, on a narrow road. At that time, he was tricked by me and was beaten for nothing. At least half of the belongings of this immortal cultivator, along with his natal object, were beaten into powder, and I couldn’t keep more treasures. However, Han Yushu’s Dao intent and spiritual energy have all been integrated into this landscape painting.”

Chen Ping’an took out a scroll painting from his sleeve and suspended it in front of him. With a flick of his finger on the white jade shaft, an ancient landscape ink painting was unfolded. The land, mountains, and rivers were depicted in fine brushwork, with the Five Mountains and Nine Rivers and Eight Rivers painted on it. The inscription was “Mister Sanshan Jiuhou”.

Chen Ping’an shook his sleeves again, and several of Wan Yao Sect’s secret treasures swept out from it, suspended in front of him one by one. The world was suddenly filled with precious light, brilliant and colorful.

A magic knife “Qingxia”, a “ritual object” cloud pier with a hidden ancient god puppet, and a crimson purple gourd that can nourish Samadhi True Fire.

In fact, there are also two fundamental landscape talismans from Wan Yao Sect’s ancestral mountain, which are only passed down from generation to generation by the sect master and are kept secret.

Little Mo smiled, “For an immortal, Sect Master Han is very wealthy.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “This is the foundation of an old-fashioned sect.”
Chen Ping’an pointed to the landscape painting, “This painting is the guardian formation of the Myriad Jade Sect, and also Han Yushu’s trump card. It’s estimated to have been enshrined in their ancestral hall for thousands of years. Anyway, the painting is definitely older than the history of the Myriad Jade Sect.”

“The founder of the Myriad Jade Sect was once a young woodcutter from Tongye Continent. He accidentally entered a blessed land and obtained this ancient painting, which is the same age as the Three Mountains Blessed Land, and only then did he embark on the path of cultivation. According to legend, when the Myriad Jade Sect was at its most prosperous, it occupied half of the blessed land’s spiritual energy and various fortunes. However, when that old ancestor wanted to go a step further, he failed in seclusion and failed to reach the fourteenth realm, turning everything into nothing, and all his fortune was returned to the blessed land.”

As it turned out, Chen Ping’an noticed that Xiao Mo’s interest lay only in that Taoist ritual implement, and he asked with a smile, “Do you recognize it?”

This Taoist ritual implement, a “Yun’ao,” was anciently called a “Yundun,” modeled after the divine objects used by ancient gods to summon clouds and ride the mists. According to the cultivators, clouds in the heavens and earth have cloud roots, and rain has rain feet.

“Where white clouds arise, there are homes,” and “Deep within the white clouds, there are homes” – a difference of just one word makes a world of difference. The former is undoubtedly a true immortal who has achieved success in cultivation, while the latter may just be a recluse.

Later generations’ Yun’ao were mostly in the shape of small gongs, but the one before them was a tall wooden frame made of ten-thousand-year-old ancient pine resin. Attached to it were small mallets, and there was a line of cloud-seal characters that read, “Personally made by the Lady of the Upper Prime.”

Xiao Mo nodded, “I’ve seen it a few times from afar.”

Ancient Cloud Master spirit officials rode five-colored cloud chariots, drove six dragons, traveled on the wind, entered and exited the gates of heaven, crossed the three mountains, traveled the four seas, and floated across the five lakes, with the nine provinces below the azure sky path.

Chen Ping’an waved his sleeve, and the pocket-sized Yun’ao, originally the size of a palm, suddenly transformed to the height of a person. Mist rose all around, and Chen Ping’an stood up, treading on white clouds, reaching out to take the small mallet and gently striking the Yun’ao. He chanted in an obscure ancient language, “Yunlin’s Ao, true immortals descend their gaze, light shines in the void, spiritual wind and exotic fragrance, celestial music of the Divine Firmament…”

After a while, there were no strange phenomena. Chen Ping’an returned the mallet to the wooden frame and smiled, “These hundred-odd words of invocation, copied verbatim from Han Yushu, should have no omissions. However, he can command a celestial maiden, while I cannot. I can’t seem to summon a deity.”

As for the meaning of the ancient language, Chen Ping’an learned about it later from Cui Dongshan. He had first asked Jiang Shangzhen, who knew nothing. Chief Zhou, on the other hand, asked Chen Ping’an about the celestial maiden’s appearance.

Xiao Mo smiled, “Young Master, why don’t I give it a try?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Just do as you please, don’t stand on ceremony with me.”

Xiao Mo knew “ancient language.” Previously, on the Wind Vane Ferry, Xiao Mo had taught the ancient secret arts and Taoist techniques to the children Chai Wu, Bai Xuan, and Sun Chunwang, and they communicated with each other using ancient language.

However, Chen Ping’an really didn’t believe that Xiao Mo, a sword cultivator, could make anything special happen.

As a result, Xiao Mo also performed the steps of Yu and traveled the heavens on clouds, chanting the string of ancient invocations. Instantly, hundreds of strands of vital energy arrived, condensing a golden sea of clouds high above, from which a pair of golden eyes opened, looking down upon the earth. Xiao Mo immediately stopped, and the sea of clouds gradually dissipated. The owner of the golden eyes transformed back into pure and clear energy, returning to heaven and earth. Chen Ping’an immediately noticed the difference and asked in confusion, “Six syllables in my incantation are different from yours? Is that why the summoning failed?”

Xiao Mo smiled, seemingly certain that her Young Master could figure out the mystery, and there was no need for her to explain further.

Chen Ping’an immediately understood that Han Yushu had deliberately mispronounced a few key syllables. That Sect Master Han was not being sincere when dealing with people outside.

In just over a hundred words, Han Yushu had misread six words. Such a proportion could only be explained by malicious intent to deceive.

But if he only thought of this level, then Chen Ping’an’s journey through the martial world would have been in vain.

Ancient sacrificial texts were concise, and not a single word could be wrong. Since that was the case, then Han Yushu was still able to summon that ancient spirit official, which must be because he used some kind of heartfelt utterance, or followed some ancient rite, similar to drumming the belly and making sounds, igniting incense in the heart, and chanting in reverence. Sure enough, Xiao Mo then taught Chen Ping’an an ancient ritual to accompany the incantation, selecting nine energy acupoints, spiritual energy rising, like lighting incense, the chanting incense smoke “reaching directly to the heavens,” while at the same time, spiritual energy knocked on the walls and pathways of the energy acupoints along the way, making drum-like sounds and prostration noises… If he hadn’t obtained this “true transmission,” Chen Ping’an was afraid that even if he beat the Yun’ao here for hundreds or thousands of years, he would not be able to successfully “invite the spirit back to its place.”

Xiao Mo said, “If Young Master were not cultivating the Dao himself and was not divine enough, if an ordinary earth immortal cultivator copied Sect Master Han’s way of striking the Yun’ao, the more they immersed themselves in it, the easier it would be for them to become possessed.”

Chen Ping’an felt a chill in his heart and remained silent for a moment, “I was careless.”

This was the aftermath of temporarily borrowing the fourteenth realm Daoist techniques from Lu Chen.

“Reaching the summit diminishes the world,” once one’s horizons are broadened, a cultivator’s mind will naturally open up, which is naturally beneficial and detrimental.

Lu Chen had once used two metaphors to describe the ascent of great cultivators in the human world.

“Heaven and earth are pills, let me turn the furnace.”

“Plant a tree on the mountaintop, hang a book on the tree.”

However, in fact, when Chen Ping’an was alone, he mostly used the extremely sturdy Yun’ao to occasionally practice the Divine Man Drumming style.

Therefore, beating the Yun’ao in this world was Chen Ping’an’s way of relaxing.

Xiao Mo began to explain why she had stopped, “Young Master, I am a sword cultivator, and I have no desire to pray. Once the ritual of inviting the spirit to descend is completed, I must pay a certain price as an offering to this cloud department spirit.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “It’s easy to invite a spirit, but difficult to send it away.”

Then, with a slight thought from Chen Ping’an, Xiao Mo saw a female cultivator standing in the air, wearing a crimson magic robe, her precious light like a moon halo.

The woman appeared in the world, lifelike.

Chen Ping’an asked, “She is Han Yushu’s direct daughter, named Han Jiangshu, and she is in the Jade Purity Realm. Xiao Mo, can you tell if she is a reincarnation of a spirit?”

Xiao Mo shook her head, “Unless I see her true form with my own eyes, I can’t be sure.”

The image of the woman before them was, after all, just a “flesh and blood” illusory appearance.
Xiao Mo continued, “However, ‘Jiang Tree’ is one of the ancient divine trees, with roots similar to Qing Tong of the Demon Suppressing Tower. Since she is the direct descendant of Han Yu Tree, she was born as a rare immortal material atop a sect’s mountain. The naming of her must not have been too casual. I suspect she is more likely a reincarnation of a deity.”

Chen Ping’an casually waved his sleeve again, using the tens of thousands of tiny flying swords of the Well-in-Moon to weave a painting. It was precisely the scene of his confrontation with the celestial goddess earlier.

An ancient divine female official, likely of the Yun Shi (Cloud Master) ilk, stood upon white clouds within the world created by Han Yu Tree. Chen Ping’an, wearing a narrow sabre, Zan Kan, at his waist, confronted this goddess of the clouds, who controlled the Yun Ao (cloud instrument), from afar. He condensed a perfect bright moon with the martial artist’s fist intent and Stellar Qi, using the way of martial arts to oppose the divine way.

The Yun Ao had a total of twelve gongs and drums suspended on it. The goddess herself struck the drums, manifesting twelve seas of clouds filled with golden lightning, connected by golden lines, ultimately forming an execution platform.

Xiao Mo was, of course, someone who “knew her stuff”. This unbelievable “mirage” far exceeded the scope of mountain-based copying techniques. The latter was similar to the previous “female cultivator Han Jiang Tree”—obviously fake, just a counterfeit. This painting, however, was a veritable “second-rate original”. Simply put, the true meaning of the goddess’s Daoist techniques was truly revealed. Other than the goddess being a fabrication, everything else was real.

It was like the difference between a first edition of a book and the original manuscript; the latter could even be more exquisite.

Xiao Mo inexplicably recalled a saying: “Body and mind released from shackles, truly inconceivable; what the eye sees is reality, the world is named world.”

Chen Ping’an said, “I estimate that the remnant, shattered divine body of this deity has the strength equivalent to half a Ascendant Realm cultivator. It is probably the opportunity that Han Yu Tree was preparing to use to attain the Ascension, which is why, when she fought with me, this decisive Immortal Realm cultivator hesitated when it came to how to use this incomplete deity. She was reluctant to sacrifice her along with me in a mutual destruction.”

“Young Master, I still cannot identify her exact identity. The only thing I can be sure of is this forbidden ground.”

Xiao Mo composed herself, looked at the sea of clouds and thunder, and said, “It is the Dragon Transformation Pool, one of the ancient execution platforms, belonging to the Thunder Department’s Zan Kan Division. As for why it and the Yun Ao fell into the hands of the Myriad Jade Sect, and why she can command the Dragon Transformation Pool across realms, that is a mystery. The Heavenly Court’s divine positions were clearly defined, and the slightest deviation was not allowed. How could this situation arise? I estimate that we will need to find an opportunity to sneak into the Three Mountains Blessed Land to find clues.”

Dragon Transformation Pool.

In the past, the aquatic creatures of the world who passed through the Dragon Gate would transform into dragons here. True dragons punished by having their tendons pulled and skin peeled would fall into this place, their divine nature and true spirits dissolving and losing their dragon bodies.

Chen Ping’an sat cross-legged, frowning slightly, gently tapping his thumbs.

He remembered the first time he traveled to the Northern Entirety Continent, he spent twenty snowflake coins in the Wall Painting City of the Pi Ma Sect to buy a set box containing five goddess diagrams.

The five goddesses, who had already turned from colored murals into ink sketches, were named “Chang Qing (Long Lamp)”, “Bao Gai (Treasure Canopy)”, “Ling Zhi (Spirit Fungus)”, “Chun Guan (Spring Official)”, and “Zhan Kan (Execution)”, respectively. Among them, the goddess Zhan Kan was also called Xian Zhang (Immortal Staff). They each held a long-handled golden lotus lamp, supported a treasure canopy, held a spirit fungus, with birds flying in a thick of flowers, or wore armor and held a hatchet, extremely heroic, with lightning coiling around them.

Chen Ping’an had previously suspected that this goddess, who was closely related to Han Yu Tree of the Myriad Jade Sect, originated from Wall Painting City.

However, it seemed that the timing was off. The Pi Ma Sect was a foreign force that had finally managed to establish a lower sect in the Northern Entirety Continent, specifically for Wall Painting City.

The founding ancestor of the Myriad Jade Sect mistakenly entered the Three Mountains Blessed Land, which was a very early event.

Unless there was one possibility: that a certain goddess used a deception. In fact, she had already left Wall Painting City, but the colored painting had used a secret technique that allowed it to not fade.

In the recent millennia, the nine goddesses began to successively choose their respective masters. According to the “stalking” and investigation of the mountain cultivators of the Northern Entirety Continent, of the five goddesses who left the murals, “Chun Guan” disappeared without a trace. In addition, one was killed in battle, personally slain by the Sword Immortal Bai Chang. Two goddesses and their masters died together. As for this cloud department celestial official, whom Chen Ping’an suspected was most likely the Zhan Kan goddess, did not match at all, because she had always existed in the field of vision of the Northern Entirety Continent. This was because this goddess was a servant of an Immortal Realm cultivator. This enlightened person was not a sword cultivator. According to the records of the Summer Avoiding Palace, she had even followed her master to the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Goddess Zhan Kan in the underground palace of Wall Painting City.

Chen Ping’an reached out and raised his arm, and the narrow saber Zan Kan appeared in his hand.

Unsurprisingly, this Lei Department Zan Kan goddess, commonly known as “Immortal Staff,” was aiming for the divine object of the execution platform in Chen Ping’an’s hand.

And the narrow saber Zan Kan was brought to the Sword Qi Great Wall by the White-Haired Boy from the Sui Chu Palace in the Azure Underworld.

Chen Ping’an nodded, put away the two paintings, but left the sea of clouds behind, and gently exhaled a breath, and an anomaly appeared, as if white clouds were born from the blowing of an immortal, mist curled up, like a cloud ladder, and then slowly swept out from Chen Ping’an’s natal water mansion, where the Water Character Seal was placed, a emerald green talisman, the water transport was rich and pure. As soon as this talisman came out, the water shone brightly, and the surroundings were clear.

After Chen Ping’an sacrificed this talisman, he explained, “It is said that the Myriad Jade Sect uses six tokens of treasure talismans as a symbol of the identity of the cultivator. The Sect Master gets three of them, and the rest are divided by the three Inner Veins, including the Law Master. This treasure talisman is one of the six secret talismans of the Myriad Jade Sect, the Spit Saliva into a River Talisman.”

According to the records of “Secrets of the Dan Scripture”, the wonder of the talisman does not lie on the paper, but needs to be integrated with the cultivator’s Golden Core and Nascent Soul, just like engraving words on the walls of the Dan room. A higher level of realm is to erect a monument in a key cave mansion through a Nascent Soul, using the ethereal “pure green furnace fire” of the divine spirit to write “sacrificial texts” that are more ancient than the Daoist Qing Ci.

For a Qi Refiner to engrave talismans and erect monuments to record events in the small world of the human body is to understand the true meaning of ancient talismans.

The talismans drawn in this way belong to the cultivator’s own, uniquely benefiting from the creation of heaven and earth, and is not far from aligning with the Great Dao.

Therefore, Chen Ping’an never felt that he had entered the room in the way of talismans, and it was still far from it.
The White Jade Capital enshrines several ancient scriptures revered as the very foundation of the Great Dao. One of these, named the “Shuo Fu” (Discourse on Talismans), is not as renowned or widely circulated as the “Huang Ting” (Yellow Court Scripture) which was lost to time.

The “Dan Shu Zhen Ji” (Crimson Script Authentic Traces) that Li Xisheng gifted Chen Ping’an was like a meticulously abridged version of the “Shuo Fu.”

“I knew it was a treasure, but I never dared to refine this talisman into my natal treasure. I feared that Han Yushu might have foreseen the future and tampered with it beforehand, or that he had ulterior motives, desiring to deliberately lose to a strong enemy and leave this ancestral mountain talisman for the opponent to refine.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Through evolution and deconstruction, tracing back along the way, I have gained a rough understanding of the cultivation process for this secret talisman.”

“The cultivator must first open up a deep well within their own water mansion. Around the well’s mouth, they inscribe the four words ‘Yu Shi Chi Ling’ (Rain Master’s Decree) in a circle. The well’s mouth must be slightly inclined inwards, higher on the outside and lower on the inside, somewhat similar to the courtyards found in every household in small towns, with the concept of ‘four waters returning to the hall.’ Roughly every sixty years, on the winter solstice, one must find a river or vast lake with abundant water energy, take a dou (a unit of volume) of water, divide it into four portions, and pour it onto each of the four characters of ‘Yu Shi Chi Ling,’ one after another, starting with the central vertical stroke of the ‘Yu’ character, then the left-falling stroke of the ‘Shi’ character, then the final捺 (a right-falling stroke) of the ‘Chi’ character, and finally the dot that ends the ‘Ling’ character, allowing it to flow into the well.”

Because it is within one’s own little world, all things are as one wishes, without overstepping the boundaries.

Between Chen Ping’an and Xiao Mo, a water well appeared out of thin air, the mouth of the well engraved with the four characters of “Yu Shi Chi Ling.” A dou of water hung in the air, pouring onto those four characters, slowly flowing into the well.

There is a saying that “well water does not interfere with river water,” but since ancient times, the pursuit of cultivation, the quest for immortality, the inversion of yin and yang, disregarding the separation of the underworld and the mortal realm… has been recognized as a heaven-defying act.

“On the summer solstice of the following year, the cultivator manifests the talisman, drawing on the sun’s yang energy to guide the water, clenching a set of thunder seals, performing the Five Dragons Opening Mountain incantation, and burning at least twelve types of ‘vassal’ water talismans, such as the Great River Overflowing Talisman and the Tidal Wave Reversal Talisman, as offerings to this talisman. The cultivator then inhales the entire dou of water in a manner akin to a whale swallowing, creating a scene of a waterfall cascading from the heavens within the body’s world, impacting the bottom of the well to dig it deeper. After dozens or hundreds of cycles of sixty years, with the ‘dripping water piercing stone’ effect, this well will be able to communicate with the waters of the Five Lakes and Four Seas, the Nine Rivers and Eight Streams, and the waters will spiritually connect with each other. The cultivator, holding the talisman and reciting the incantation, is as if holding the laws of heaven, emulating heaven and earth, speaking with the authority of heaven, and naturally borrowing water without hindrance. The surging waters of the rivers can blot out the sky and cover the earth, enough to overturn mountains and turn land into a vast sea.”

Only a dou of water could be seen hanging high in the sky, falling in a single line, with the surging momentum of a great waterfall cascading straight down into the well. Within the well, the sound of thunder rumbled.

Xiao Mo smiled and said, “With this method, success comes with persistence. Spitting out the talisman, one can unleash a river, truly living up to the saying ‘drowning someone with a mouthful of saliva’.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “Chief Zhou also used such a metaphor back then.”

No wonder the two of you haven’t even met, yet there is already an invisible dispute about the Great Dao.

Old Immortal Jia once sighed with emotion at the wine table, “It’s not that this poor Taoist doesn’t cherish Chief Zhou’s old friendship, it’s just that Mister Xiao Mo is too generous in his dealings.”

Cui Dongshan was even more direct, “Chief Zhou, if you’re not coming back, then just don’t come back at all.”

Chen Ping’an said, “The only flaw is that the most valuable aspect of this talisman lies in the material itself, which can bear layers upon layers of stacked Dao intent. Therefore, it can only be passed down from generation to generation, and the power of the talisman will grow stronger and stronger, with extremely high potential, almost touching the origin of the Water Dao. However, it cannot be imitated or replicated, let alone mass-produced.”

Xiao Mo said, “Since the crux of the problem lies only in the talisman’s material, it’s not difficult. Master only needs to explain it clearly, and in the future, when I reunite with Taoist Bixiao, I can ask for it from this Taoist friend.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head with a smile and said, “Don’t owe anyone favors, especially not to that old temple master.”

Xiao Mo said, “Master, rest assured, I am an exception.”

Chen Ping’an was momentarily speechless.

Xiao Mo never boasted.

The trip to the Lotus Flower Blessed Land back then made Chen Ping’an feel uneasy whenever he thought of that old Taoist of the East Sea Temple, whose “Taoist magic reached the heavens,” causing his “Dao heart to be clouded.”

Simply put, Chen Ping’an already had a psychological shadow of the old temple master. This was similar to the state of mind of the Dali Earth Branch cultivators whenever they thought of that young Hidden Official.

Chen Ping’an then produced another ancient talisman, also from the ancestral mountain of the Myriad Jade Sect, manifesting an ancient, majestic mountain named “Tai Shan” (Mount Tai).

Mountain talismans are as numerous as hairs, with complex patterns. Creating a mountain from a handful of soil, each has its own unique divine powers, with different mountain talismans having their own strengths and weaknesses.

Taking a small pinch of soil within the Qi Mansion, silently reciting true words and incantations, imbuing it with true intent, and scattering it on the ground, a great mountain is formed, standing out of thin air in the world.

Among them, the most powerful lineage is the “Moving Mountain” technique, which borrows the “true form” of the great mountains of the world and uses them to smash people, which is very powerful.

The two ancestral mountain talismans formed a pattern of water surrounding a high mountain.

Xiao Mo recognized the roots of the mountain at a glance and said, “This was once the place where Mr. San Shan Jiu Hou (Three Mountains Nine Lords) transmitted his teachings, teaching talismans to Taoists from all directions who could climb the mountain. However, this gentleman is different from the Taoist Immortal Guards. The threshold is very high, and he has never easily passed on his Dharma to outsiders. Mount Tai is full of illusions, and most Taoists cannot climb it. It seems that the later Mountain and Water Breaking Obstacle Talisman was researched by the Taoists in this way.”

“I once traveled to this mountain, forcibly opening a path with sword energy to reach the summit, but at that time, this gentleman had already left. It is said that he had a fight with one of the Ten Heroes of the World, and the sword energy was too heavy and lingered. The owner felt that it was not suitable for cultivation, so he went down the mountain for a long journey. As for the outcome of that fight, no one outside knows.”

Taoist, Scholar, Gentleman, Master, in ancient times, were all highly valued titles.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “No wonder the threshold for wanting to become a talisman cultivator in later generations is so high, second only to becoming a sword cultivator.”

Han Yushu once followed a golden book Dao訣 passed down by the founding ancestor, using this Mount Tai as talisman paper, drawing golden threads on the mountain to increase the Dao intent of an ancient mountain.

The mountain was filled with hundreds of golden rivers and streams, falling from the summit to the foot of the mountain in all directions.

At that time, Chen Ping’an followed suit under Han Yushu’s nose, learning and applying what he had learned, so that Han Yushu determined that Chen Ping’an must have been exposed to the side branches of the Three Mountains Talisman a long time ago.

Two Ancestral Mountain talismans, and that sea of clouds.

The sea of clouds was at the bottom, the mountain inverted, and the water surrounded it in the middle. Chen Ping An and Xiao Mo were still sitting on the prayer mats, so the scene they saw had completely turned upside down.

Chen Ping An said helplessly, “I could tell it was a stack of talismans, but there was no evidence, no trace to be found, no thread to pull out. It’s like playing a cloud chime; without a unique secret as an aid, you can’t learn it no matter how hard you try.”

Chen Ping An flicked his fingers, and wisps of golden light appeared at his fingertips, eventually tracing out a secret ancient talisman of the Myriad Demon Sect, which was both a mountain talisman and a sword talisman.

However, compared to the previous two Ancestral Mountain talismans, which were physical objects, the current talisman was created out of thin air by Chen Ping An.

This was a golden talisman paper depicting five ancient mountains, carefully refined into a talisman cinnabar with a rare five-colored earth that would lose an ounce of human wealth with every ounce used. Finally, the words “Five Peaks” were written with a sword technique as the talisman’s core.

When a cultivator casts this talisman, it is as if five mountains are inverted in the sky, their peaks like sword tips, pointing directly at the earth.

Chen Ping An said, “This Five Peaks Talisman has the prefix ‘Great’ in front of the mountain, specifically used to distinguish it from the common Five Peaks Talismans of later generations. Besides the special talisman paper, this Five Peaks Talisman also has a strange feature: it uses sword techniques as the talisman’s core, so it also has a sword talisman effect. It can be determined that there must be an ancient sword meridian lineage in the Ancestral Hall of the Myriad Demon Sect that is temporarily unknown.”

According to Jiang Shangzhen’s estimation, this talisman, known as the “Great Five Peaks Talisman,” has become a masterpiece due to the disappearance of the “Eastern Peak” among the old Five Peaks. The total number of talismans, including those preserved for many years in the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion, and the talisman treasury of the Liu Clan’s Sixteen Vaults in the Continent of White Ashes, will not exceed thirty.

It is rumored that Eastern Peak is a mirage-like mountain city that drifts away with the river of time.

Student Cui Dongshan, such an obvious connection, of course Chen Ping An had asked him if he had any connection with that “Eastern Peak.”

Cui Dongshan said decisively at the time that he named himself “Dongshan” simply to seek a good omen, as a kind of self-encouragement, like a “motto” engraved in his heart, telling himself that he could definitely rise again through tireless diligent cultivation… and had nothing to do with the ancient peak “Eastern Peak”!

Xiao Mo asked, “Can’t you settle for the next best thing and use the soil from the Five Peaks of various countries to refine the talisman cinnabar?”

Chen Ping An shook his head and said, “I’ve tried it, but it doesn’t work after all. Even using the soil from the Five Peaks of our Treasure Bottle Continent doesn’t work.”

When he was a kiln worker apprentice, Chen Ping An often followed Master Yao into the mountains, and he “ate a lot of soil.”

Chen Ping An’s understanding of the nature of soil far surpasses that of ordinary Qi Refiners.

“It can only be soil taken from the ancient Five Peaks of the Magnificent Heaven and Earth, but of these five mountains, only Mount Sui remains now. The others, Mount Tai and Eastern Peak, are too difficult to find.”

Perhaps the five Central Earth Five Peaks after the old Five Peaks, including Mount Sui and Mount Jiuyi, can be used to refine this talisman. But how easy is it to take a handful of soil attached to the roots of the mountains from those Great Mountain God Monarchs who possess divine titles?

It is said that Fu Yu Xuan had such a plan very early on, and finally managed to gather the soil of four mountains, but still failed.

Yu Xuan was already respected enough, but he was still turned away by Zhou You of Mount Sui, who had the divine title “Grand Offering”. No matter how much Yu Xuan offered to pay, or how much he tried to move him with emotion and reason, it was all in vain.

God Monarch Zhou You just wouldn’t nod.

So Chen Ping An can only imitate this talisman in his own little world.

In the cave abode on Mount Secret Snow, Chen Ping An had tried it no less than a hundred times. He would draw the talisman on talisman paper, and every time the talisman was completed, it would dissipate. It would instantly disintegrate, not the kind of fake talisman whose spiritual energy dissipated extremely quickly, but directly the talisman’s core exploded, causing the entire talisman paper to shatter on the spot.

Xiao Mo was not very familiar with the art of talismans after all, so she couldn’t help but wonder, “Young Master, since you already have a river of time, why bother studying talismans so carefully?”

Chen Ping An was sharing the specific ideas and details of his construction of this world with an outsider for the first time, “This world is divided into four layers. The first layer is the various celestial phenomena created by the river of time, infinitely close to reality, equivalent to an illusion. A person who comes to question with their sword placed in this location must first break through the barrier in order to find my ‘true body’. During this period, any action he takes, every breath, every step, every sword strike and offering of magical treasures, etc., the spiritual energy he consumes will naturally belong to me.”

“I plan to go to the Continent of Tongye next time, take a trip to the Demon Suppressing Tower, and buy those paulownia leaves from Qing Tong that contain realms of illusion.”

“Qing Tong’s paulownia leaves have the mystery of ‘one leaf, one Bodhi’. As long as there are enough of them, there will truly be the wonderful effect of ‘countless worlds’.”

“The second layer is that after he breaks through the illusion, he still needs to engage in a debate or sword fight with the entire world. The art of talismans is what I use to stabilize the barriers of the world. So I will refine hundreds of thousands, or even millions of talismans. The quality of the talisman paper doesn’t matter, I’ll take quantity over quality. Of course, it would be better to have large talismans like this. I will constantly strengthen the mountain roots, water veins, cloud roots, rain feet, and other great avenues of the world, eventually reaching the great realm where the river of time has ‘water as long as the sky has a limit’ and ‘mountains as solid as the soil is imperishable’.”

“Having or not having the three hundred gold essence copper coins in the Treasury of Springs makes the width and depth of this river of time truly…heaven and earth apart!”

“The world’s Daoist arts all lead to the same destination. Tracing back to the source, the ultimate methods are probably all like one tree blossoming into millions of flowers.”

“The Dao tree has low branches, within reach, so techniques are easy to learn. The Dao tree has high branches, so the threshold for cultivation is high, out of reach.”

Chen Ping An sat on the prayer mat, his narrow saber placed horizontally on his lap, his fists clenched against his knees, his spirit shining and his eyebrows dancing.

“The third layer is that I will visualize three key figures sitting in the key points of the world’s hub, one sword cultivator, carrying ‘Night Wanderer’ on his back. One martial artist, holding ‘Slayer’ and ‘Executioner’ in his hands. One talisman cultivator, holding endless talismans.”

Speaking of this, Chen Ping An grinned, “When outsiders enter this world to see my true body, it’s like they have to burn three incense sticks and pass three levels first.”

Xiao Mo was silent for a long time, and then asked, “Young Master, the last layer?”

Chen Ping’an smiled faintly, “A secret for now.”

Having parted ways with the man claiming to be an uncle of Mountain Master Chen near the Baofu Inn at Niujiao Ferry, Hong Yangbo and the serving maid, Qingcai, continued to browse the shops.

In the old man’s view, business here was indeed a bit lackluster, quite incongruous with Niujiao Ferry’s status as a crucial transit point.

If their own Green Coffer House were located here, it would surely be bustling with customers every day.

Hong Yangbo inquired with a mental voice, “Owner, what do you think of this Chu Prefecture?”

Peach blossoms outside the bamboo grove, artemisia covering the ground, the yang qi stirring at the Awakening of Insects, the warmth of spring spreading across the land.

The young woman respectfully addressed as “Owner” by the old man, said, “Chu Prefecture has fine mountains and waters, but being here inevitably feels confining.”

The old man nodded, deeply agreeing.

Even with the Dragon Spring Sword Sect having relocated from Chu Prefecture, the place was still rife with vying factions, and numerous immortal abodes. Moreover, Mount Pi Yun was the domain of Mountain Lord Wei Bo.

For cultivators from other lands, it was truly restrictive, creating a sense of being beholden wherever they went. The mere requirement of wearing a sword talisman to control the wind was already enough to make outsiders uneasy.

Their disembarkation at Niujiao Ferry this time was specifically to visit the young Hidden Official of the Fallen Mountain. As for the notion that sending a letter to Jise Peak would be enough to move Chen Ping’an, the Green Coffer House deemed it useless. They might even be seen as impetuous and lacking proper decorum by the Fallen Mountain.

The two entered a shop selling orchids and various other potted plants.

Hong Yangbo had been doing business in the room on the second floor of the Green Coffer House for nearly eighty years.

It felt like the blink of an eye, the passage of a few cups of wine, and a century of time had slipped away.

The old woman had met Chen Ping’an three times, witnessing his transformation from a sword-bearing youth with a wine flask to a hat-wearing wandering swordsman, and now, the Fallen Mountain Master in his prime.

Back then, when Chen Ping’an was on the second floor, she was cleaning ancient swords in the “Frigid Air” room on the third floor. She had keenly sensed the abnormality downstairs and disguised herself as a tea-serving maid to investigate Hong Yangbo’s room.

At the entrance of the shop stood a man in a blue robe, cupping his fist in a salute and smiling, “Elder Hong, Miss Qingcai.”

The acting shopkeeper of this shop was a young female cultivator from Pearl Hairpin Island, but in terms of seniority, she was a junior to Liu Xia Guanqing and the others.

The woman smiled and introduced herself, “Mountain Master Chen, please forgive my tardiness. I am the current shopkeeper of the Green Coffer House. My given name is Zhang Caiqin, Zhang with the bow, Cai of five colors, and Qin of water celery.”

Years ago, when Chen Ping’an left the Green Coffer House, he glanced back while walking down the street and saw the woman standing by the railing, immediately confirming that she was a sword cultivator concealing her aura.

In the backyard of the shop were houses specially prepared for entertaining distinguished guests, complete with tea and wine. Chen Ping’an personally brewed tea to receive them, joking, “It’s truly difficult to invite Elder Hong. Today is an unexpected pleasure.”

Hong Yangbo chuckled, “If Mountain Master Chen were merely inviting me to the Fallen Mountain as a guest, I would never have refused. But Mountain Master Chen is openly poaching my staff, how could I dare to accept?”

After all, he had met the young Chen Ping’an. More importantly, they had conducted legitimate business on several occasions, so the old man was even more relaxed than Zhang Caiqin, speaking freely.

Hong Yangbo asked, “Those two friends who traveled with Mountain Master Chen to Dilongshan Ferry back then? Are they now registered members of the Fallen Mountain?”

“That bearded swordsman is named Xu Yuanxia.”

Chen Ping’an replied with a smile, “The young Daoist is called Zhang Shanfeng. They are good friends I met in my early days in the martial world. They are not registered members of the Fallen Mountain. One has a large ego, even more so than Elder Hong. Forget inviting him, he wouldn’t even be willing if I begged him to come to the Fallen Mountain. The other is similar to Elder Hong, already having a master on the mountain. I wouldn’t dare to poach him.”

The Fire Dragon True Man of Prone Peak held unparalleled prestige in the Northern Ju Continent, both on and off the mountain.

Zhang Shanfeng was also the beloved disciple of this old True Man. How would Chen Ping’an dare to poach him? Not to mention the old True Man, Yuan Lingdian and several other of Zhang Shanfeng’s senior brothers would come to the Fallen Mountain to block his gate.

The Fire Dragon True Man was known for being amiable, holding countless guest official titles, both registered and unregistered.

However, the old True Man would always remind them, “Don’t spread the word about me serving as your guest official. Of course, if you get into trouble, come to Prone Peak and find this poor Daoist. If I can help, I definitely will.”

Initially, some immortal masters were smug, feeling that being able to have the old True Man as their guest official, if not unique, was certainly a rare privilege.

But after gathering with close friends on the mountain, getting drunk, and letting it slip, they realized that something seemed wrong. They looked at each other in bewilderment.

“You are? You too? You as well? Everyone is!”

As a result, Prone Peak didn’t even have a single transcontinental ferry, always saying, “This poor Daoist is impoverished.”

The Northern Ju Continent’s Fire Dragon True Man’s utter poverty, the Supreme Harmony Sword Sect’s Liu Jinglong’s invincibility at the wine table, and the Treasure Bottle Continent’s Northern Mountain Lord Wei’s nocturnal banquets, had a fame that extended beyond the boundaries of a single continent.

Hong Yangbo said solemnly, “This time, the Owner and I have come specifically to find Mountain Master Chen.”

Chen Ping’an handed them tea, nodding and smiling, “Please speak frankly, Elder Hong. We are all friends here.”

Hong Yangbo explained, “Our Green Coffer House is located at Dilongshan Immortal Ferry, and the true owner of this ferry is actually the Qingxing Kingdom’s royal family. Because it is located south of the Great Canal, according to the agreement, the Qingxing Kingdom’s Liu family relinquished its status as a vassal state of Dali. After the restoration of the kingdom, the new National Preceptor is a friend of mine on the mountain, someone I’ve known for over a hundred years, someone I know well. It’s my fault for being greedy for wine and not being able to hold my tongue, bragging about being an old acquaintance of Mountain Master Chen. I suppose he went to the Liu family’s emperor to curry favor. It just so happens that the Qingxing Kingdom’s Crown Prince is about to hold his coming-of-age ceremony in the middle of the year, and His Majesty the Emperor hopes that Mountain Master Chen could spare some time from his busy schedule to attend this ceremony.”

Zhang Caiqin hesitated for a moment, because the truth was not so. It was she who had proactively mentioned this matter to the Qingxing Kingdom’s Emperor Liu. She and His Majesty the Emperor both thought it was worth trying at the Fallen Mountain. If it succeeded, all the better. If not, they would treat it as a tour of the Northern Mountain region.

Chen Ping’an, being such an experienced veteran of the world, immediately guessed the truth from Zhang Caiqin’s subtle expression, but he pretended not to know, agreeing with a smile, “No problem.”
Chen Ping’an even added with a half-joking tone, “If Elder Hong truly isn’t at ease and fears I’ll forget, you can send another letter to Jise Peak a few days before the celebration, just as a reminder.”

Now that the main matter was settled, a great weight lifted from his heart.

Zhang Caiqin, with utmost sincerity, clasped her fist to Chen Ping’an, the Mountain Master, in gratitude.

Chen Ping’an could only smile and return the gesture, “No need for such formality. Just consider it my way of making amends for the consecutive poaching I did earlier.”

Actually, Zhang Caiqin hadn’t held much hope for Chen Ping’an accepting the invitation to the ceremony. His refusal wouldn’t necessarily be out of lofty aloofness or unapproachability. It’s just that once such an invitation is extended, one must consider all the related social obligations. For example, within a celestial sect, there are various peaks and lineages. If an ancestral elder accepts an invitation to a ceremony on one peak, would the other peaks follow suit?

So, either abstain altogether, or risk favoring one over another, or be constantly attending various ceremonies, with no peace for cultivation.

“Our employer, in her youth, once encountered a wandering sage who bestowed upon her the prophesy of ‘Earthly Immortal Sword Cultivator’.”

Hong Yangbo proactively mentioned, “As for the art of commerce, the way of business, although our employer hasn’t devoted much heart to it, it has still delayed her cultivation after all. Otherwise, she would likely have fulfilled that prophesy by now.”

She felt a bit helpless. Why bring this up with an outsider? Especially with a young Hidden Official who carves characters on city walls. Talking about “Sword Cultivation” would be laughable, wouldn’t it?

Especially this “Earthly Immortal” title might be worth something in Zheng Yang Mountain, but in Chen Ping’an’s declining Fallen Mountain, it means nothing.

Chen Ping’an’s heart stirred slightly. “May I ask, was this passing sage a man or a woman?”

As for flattery about Zhang Caiqin’s talent and potential future achievements, he skipped it. Both parties were experienced in business, such flattering words would sound insincere and unpleasant.

Since it involved a secret, it wasn’t appropriate for Hong Yangbo to answer. She turned to her employer. Zhang Caiqin didn’t hide anything, saying, “It was an unremarkable woman, dressed in simple clothes and a thorn hairpin. She once divined for several elders in the family, and all were accurate, her words all coming true. After that, I indeed quickly nurtured a natal flying sword.”

In fact, this unknown transcendent sage had also gifted Zhang Caiqin a present, an inkstone with dragon carvings, inscribed with “Dragon Whisker Dispels Heat.”

The woman had also revealed a secret of fate, prophesizing that Zhang Caiqin’s greatest cultivation opportunity in this life lay in the concept of “Molting.”

Chen Ping’an nodded slightly and casually chuckled, “If I’m not mistaken, the ‘Earthly Immortal’ this sage spoke of isn’t referring to the current Golden Core or Nascent Soul realm, but the Celestial Immortal realm of the upper five realms. It’s an old term, specifically describing a terrestrial immortal who permanently resides in the mortal world.”

Sure enough, it was Tian Wan’s doing.

Most likely, Tian Wan had taken a liking to Zhang Caiqin’s talent but wasn’t willing to bring her to Zheng Yang Mountain like Su Jia, handing her over to others for cultivation. Besides, Su Jia’s identity was special, an indispensable link. Tian Wan probably planned to conspire with Bai Chang successfully and then take Zhang Caiqin as a direct disciple, or recommend her to Bai Chang, to earn a favor for herself?

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked, “The *Xizai Tie* calligraphy in Elder Hong’s shop, was it intentionally left behind by this sage back then?”

Zhang Caiqin and Hong Yangbo exchanged glances, not knowing why Chen Ping’an would ask this.

This calligraphy was quite famous in Treasure Bottle Continent’s mountains. It was the work of a local Sword Immortal from the ancient Shu region, his masterpiece before attaining enlightenment. Because of this, it was especially spirited and unrestrained, full of ink and lacking any mature restraint. The copy that Hong Yangbo sold to Chen Ping’an was, of course, a replica, but the artistic intent was very close to the original, with a strong sense of antiquity. It was created using the double-hook method, first outlining the hollow characters and then filling them with ink, so that the characters of the *Xizai Tie* resembled the discarded shell of an autumn cicada. This method was often used to inscribe precious calligraphy on stone tablets.

Chen Ping’an didn’t continue to discuss the calligraphy. Afterward, they continued to chat casually. Hong Yangbo said that she and her employer were about to travel to the capital region because of an appointment with old friends. When they returned south, they would visit Fallen Mountain again.

Chen Ping’an didn’t press them to stay and saw them to the door of the shop.

As the two walked toward Ox Horn Ferry, Zhang Caiqin couldn’t help but sigh, “I’ve learned something. Impeccable.”

Especially the reminder that seemed to be directed at Hong Yangbo was the true essence of social grace.

First, it was equivalent to stating that he would definitely attend the ceremony. Otherwise, Chen Ping’an wouldn’t have said that.

This was a reassurance for them, the two uninvited guests.

Second, the flying sword letter to Jise Peak could come from Green Coffer Trading Company, or it could come from the Ministry of Rites of Green Apricot Kingdom.

In this way, Green Coffer Trading Company would have helped the Liu family of Green Apricot Kingdom establish a genuine personal relationship with Fallen Mountain. It was a favor Chen Ping’an gave to Green Coffer Trading Company in addition. It wasn’t exactly a timely rain, but it was definitely icing on the cake. Since he had decided to attend the ceremony, Fallen Mountain would take advantage of the situation and give Green Apricot Kingdom a bit more face. On the surface, at least in the eyes of the outside world, the emperor of Green Apricot Kingdom had invited the young Hidden Official to visit the capital.

Just a seemingly “redundant” letter could make Fallen Mountain, Green Coffer Trading Company, and the Green Apricot Kingdom court all happy.

Hong Yangbo smiled. “Fortunately, Mountain Master Chen is a good person.”

Zhang Caiqin chuckled.

After seeing Hong Yangbo and Zhang Caiqin out, Chen Ping’an didn’t leave the shop. Instead, he returned to the room in the backyard to clean up the tea set.

The girl’s face flushed red. She clenched the hem of her clothes with one hand, while complaining about her own clumsiness. She even needed Mountain Master Chen to clean up himself. She mustered her courage and took the initiative to greet him, “Mountain Master Chen, my name is Lan Rao. The name was bestowed by the Ancestral Master. I am a cultivator from Pearl Hairpin Island!”

As soon as she said that, the girl almost stamped her feet in frustration. How could Mountain Master Chen not know that she was from the Alligator Turtle Back side?

Weren’t they the ones managing the shops at Ox Horn Ferry’s Bundle Shop?

Chen Ping’an nodded slightly and asked with a smile, “Lan Rao, who is your master?”

*Lan Rao* is a beautiful name for a small boat. Island Lord Liu still had talent.
The maiden chuckled, “My master’s name is Luo Pu, and she’s currently cultivating within Mountain Lord Chen’s blessed land.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “That shows your master’s innate talent is excellent.”

Lan Nao nodded vigorously.

*She’s* her master, of course she is!

After leaving Ox Horn Ferry, Chen Ping’an transformed into a rainbow, vanishing in a flash, and arrived directly at Yellow Lake Mountain, where he saw the “earth dog” squatting by the water.

Chen Ping’an crouched down, ruffled its head, and suppressed a smile, saying, “It’s been tough on you.”

Since it hadn’t yet achieved human form, he didn’t need to treat it as a fellow Daoist.

It grinned, wagging its tail.

Back then, that little charcoal briquette was living a carefree life at the town’s school, and every day after school was her happiest time.

She would be accompanied by a black-clothed girl, the Right Protector of Dragon-Riding Lane, and a certain Left Protector of Dragon-Riding Lane, walking with its tail between its legs.

Pei Qian liked to swagger when she walked, strutting through the streets and alleys, and as long as there were no outsiders nearby, she often liked to shout loudly.

“Walking with arrogance, makes the enemy panic! Whoever dares to block my way, I’ll beat them away with my staff. If they’re friends, we’ll meet as kindred spirits, slaughter the earth dog, I’ll eat the meat and you drink the soup!”

The rhyme was quite catchy, but it didn’t take the earth dog’s feelings into account at all.

Those dark years were a painful memory, and it couldn’t even voice its suffering.

Even though it had long been able to speak, it refused to say a word. If it did, what would happen?! If Pei Qian found out, it suspected she would hang it up and beat it.

Back then, Pei Qian’s catchphrase when she reprimanded Zhou Mili was, “Little Mili, we can’t be too much of a Left Protector, head in the clouds, because you’re going to fall hard.”

Occasionally, the three of them would squat together in front of the shop in Dragon-Riding Lane, basking in the sun and cracking melon seeds. Pei Qian would often recount her dangerous but exciting experiences in the pugilistic world, and some truths that were certainly impossible to verify, such as, “Ya know, my master once told me a profound saying, money is hard to earn, and shit is hard to swallow! That’s what you call rough words with a deep meaning, wait, that’s not right, Left Protector is amazing, you’re an exception, dog head, where are you?! Come, come, I salute you as a hero, experience my set of Mad Demon Swordplay.”

Luckily, Little Mili protected it, otherwise it would have run away from home, not just from Dragon-Riding Lane, but from the whole town.

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “Have you thought of a true name?”

It lowered its head, indicating that it already had one.

Chen Ping’an stood up, slightly disappointed, “Then I won’t help you choose a name.”

As he prepared to leave Yellow Lake Mountain, Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but ask, “What name do you plan to use?”

It lifted a paw and began to scratch on the ground.

It wrote two characters, and the handwriting was quite decent.

Han Lu.

Chen Ping’an nodded and smiled, “Indeed, it’s a good name.”

Instead of returning directly to Fallen Mountain, Chen Ping’an first went to Distant Curtain Peak. Old Chef was working as a carpenter, holding a section of round wood, squinting as he prepared to snap a chalk line. Wood shavings covered the ground around his feet.

Seeing Chen Ping’an, Old Chef smiled, “Why have you come, Young Master?”

Chen Ping’an rolled up his sleeves and smiled, “Not just wandering around, I’m here to lend a hand.”

The white-haired boy rushed over on the wind, charging forward, tumbling several times on the ground before jumping up, steadying himself, and patting the dust off his body. “Hidden Official Ancestor! I must report an important piece of information to you, Xie Gou has secretly left the territory of Chu Prefecture!”

Chen Ping’an said with a cold smile, “We’re all from the same sect, and you’re this loyal?”

The white-haired boy stamped his foot. “This is a case of loyalty and righteousness being difficult to reconcile! Isn’t this something that can’t be helped? Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty comes first, and righteousness comes after!”

Zhu Lian nodded in agreement, “That makes sense, that makes sense. In the future, inscribe the words ‘loyalty’ on your forehead, write ‘unyielding integrity’ on one palm, and ‘righteousness that reaches the clouds’ on the other. When you go out for a walk, you’ll be awe-inspiring.”

The white-haired boy complained, “Old Chef, why do you say such unpleasant things? You have a strange tone, and I don’t know who you learned this bad habit from. You should learn how to speak and behave from our Hidden Official Ancestor. It is said that those near the water get the moon first, but you’re doing well by staying by our Hidden Official Ancestor’s side all day. The result is that you have not learned any real skills.”

Zhu Lian still nodded, “You’re right, you’re right, you’re totally correct.”

Even if I argued with you for half a sentence, I’d lose.

The white-haired boy crossed his arms, intending to start cursing, but then thought better of it. He was destined to never win an argument with this old chef.

Chen Ping’an said unhappily, “Don’t drag Guo Zhujiu into your nonsense.”

The white-haired boy’s eyes were resentful and full of grievance, and he sniffled. “I’m not thinking of infiltrating the enemy’s ranks, willing to risk my own life, not afraid to walk through the dragon’s pool and tiger’s den and the mountain of knives and sea of fire, first get familiar with that Xie Gou, so that I can inform Hidden Official Ancestor.”

Chen Ping’an laughed angrily, “Then I should thank you, right?”

The white-haired boy lifted the tip of his foot, kicking the wood shavings on the ground, “If Hidden Official Ancestor says such distant words, it will chill the loyal heart of his subordinate general.”

Zhu Lian added, “Yes, that lively, red-hot loyal heart.”

Chen Ping’an held back his laughter, to discipline this guy, he still needed Old Chef to step in.

The white-haired boy widened his eyes, almost bursting with internal injuries.

Actually, the most skilled at making strange remarks was not Cui Dongshan, nor Zhu Lian, but Chief Zhou of Fallen Mountain.

It was estimated that Chief Zhou had both talent and a wide range of knowledge, so he was invincible in the art of telling jokes, and even Old Chef and Zheng Dafeng had to admit their inferiority.

For example, the ancestral hall meetings on my side are just bickering in the pigsty.

As long as you can still lift your head when you see a beauty, you’re still going strong and not giving in to old age.

Fighting down the mountain is just like chickens pecking at each other…

There wasn’t much of a sense of rouge and powder at the Cloud-Draped Mountain Music Bureau. There were no graceful cooks coming in and out, and there was no singing or dancing to add to the fun. It was just Zheng Dafeng and Wei Bo competing in drinking, getting so drunk that they could barely stand, saying that they had an idea.

After Wei Bo heard it, he was shocked into silence for a long time.

You’re a pure martial artist, what are you doing going to Qi Du?

Chen Ping’an returned alone to the bamboo building on the cliff, sitting by the stone table.
Back in the days at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, Chen Ping’an was but a humble second-in-charge, managing the gambling stall and selling wine. He had not yet assumed the mantle of Hidden Official, nor taken residence within the Summer Abode.

Aside from practicing his fist techniques, his days were filled with carving seals, crafting folding fans, and compiling collections of immortal sword imprints like the Hundred Swords and Bicentennial Swords Compendiums…

Ning Yao would occasionally sit with him in his room for a while. Chen Ping’an, fearing she might find it dull and leave quickly, would seek conversation, eagerly explaining the thoughts and intentions behind the inscriptions on the seals, the notes on the sides, and the origins and meanings of the words inscribed on the fan surfaces.

At first, Ning Yao would listen attentively, even inquiring about the sources of the words and phrases. But later, for reasons unknown, she would begin to show a hint of impatience. It was subtle, perhaps even unnoticed by herself, but Chen Ping’an, with his keen perception and experience as a manager, quickly ceased his endless explanations. He resolved to speak less, instead subtly finding ways to keep her there with clumsy excuses whenever she tried to leave.

Chen Ping’an found this secretly amusing, yet tinged with sadness.

Because Ning Yao’s reaction stemmed from a sense of unease. Chen Ping’an found it somewhat unreasonable, but in matters of the heart between a man and a woman, reason often took a backseat.

To be precise, Ning Yao felt that she was gradually finding it difficult to connect with Chen Ping’an. This worried her. If it was this way today, what about tomorrow? Or the day after?

Ning Yao felt that all she knew in this life was how to wield a sword, while Chen Ping’an was different.

Regardless of how far she advanced on the path of cultivation, she was still, at her core, a woman.

And on the road of love, who wasn’t a fearful coward, constantly plagued by doubts and insecurities?

A harsh word could darken a woman’s heart with clouds of sorrow and endless rain. But a sweet and pleasing whisper could suddenly bring forth radiant sunshine and a clear, boundless sky.

Chen Ping’an leaned on the stone table, his hands stacked, chin resting on the back of his hands, gazing blankly into the distance.

He rarely spaced out for so long. So much so that clouds drifted, the sun set, the moon rose, and Chen Ping’an remained in the same position.

Wine, sword, bright moon, Ning Yao.