Lu Chen sighed, filled with rueful sentiment, “Deep thoughts consume wine and daylight, time flies swiftly like a shooting star.”

Once, this was the stage where the celestial emperor’s daughters danced and sang, but later, no sound of palace watches could be heard within its walls. It wasn’t until Lord Yu took over the entire Wuteng Mountain and had that royal woman, a golden-branched, jade-leafed princess, enfeoffed as a county magistrate, that this long-abandoned private residence was repaired and expanded, restoring its former splendor. The three were merely approaching the Vermilion Pellet Manor, not yet at its gates, when they already caught a strong scent of wine and rouge wafting in the night breeze.

Lu Chen casually asked, “Chen Pingan, do you know the origins of the names ‘Fallen Kite Mountain’ and ‘Vermilion Pellet Manor’?”

Chen Pingan replied, “Zhou Qiu only mentioned that Fallen Kite Mountain has cave carvings, and its name is related to prophecies, which Zhao Fuyang considers the foundation of his path to enlightenment. As for Vermilion Pellet Manor, I have no idea.”

Previously, Chen Pingan, from the peak of Ink Splash Peak, had seen two flickering lights when looking towards Joy Union Mountain. Besides the way the two mountains, Fallen Kite and Wuteng, resembled intertwining snakes, the geographical locations of the two manors, Halo Manor and Vermilion Pellet Manor, also possessed a hidden, subtle effect of connecting yin and yang energies. However, Chen Pingan could only see a rough outline, as his cultivation was like a mountain, and only by standing high could one see far. The current puppet avatar, with only a sliver of his consciousness attached, greatly limited his vision.

Lu Chen smiled and said, “If you were to look at the moon from beyond the heavens, it would be like a pellet on the ground, half of it painted with powder, and when viewed from the side, the powdered part would look like a hook. Right?”

Chen Pingan, remembering the magnificent scenes of gazing down upon the Great Alignment and passing by the ancient star, Mars, from beyond the heavens, nodded and said, “Headmaster Lu has made a fine analogy.”

Lu Chen rubbed his hands together and said, “A small gamble for pleasure, shall we bet?”

Chen Pingan didn’t even ask what they were betting on, directly blurting out two words, “The stakes.”

Lu Chen said, “If I win, Zhao Fuyang will be at my disposal. If I lose, I’ll take on all the dirty work and mess of Joy Union Mountain tonight and become a nightsoil carrier. In addition to that, let’s add a small bonus, one hundred gold essence copper coins?”

Only then did Chen Pingan ask, “What are we betting on?”

Lu Chen extended his palm and shook it slightly.

Chen Pingan said, “Don’t be so cryptic. You need to give me some hints.”

Lu Chen slapped his forehead, forgetting that the young Hidden Official beside him was currently just a fourth-realm martial artist proficient in swordsmanship. Many abilities like the aura-sensing skills of mountain gods and lake deities, as well as talisman techniques, were likely given to his Daoist friend, Wu Di, in the Jade Promulgation Kingdom’s capital. He assumed Chen Pingan genuinely didn’t know the contents of the council in the ancestral hall of Fallen Kite Mountain. Lu Chen pointed to the manor ahead, providing a clue, “Since Zhao Fuyang has taken a path that combines mountain refinement and the art of the bedchamber, and doesn’t want to advance at a snail’s pace, he can only rely on absorbing the dragon energy of the imperial seal to refine Fallen Kite and Wuteng Mountains, breaking through his golden core bottleneck. He not only wants to ascend to the nascent soul realm himself but also wants to pull his Daoist companion, Yu Chunzhi, along, hoping they can both break through tonight, giving the Liu clan of Green Apricot Kingdom and the Zhang clan of Heavenly Tribune County a solid blow. So, we’ll bet on whether the entire Fallen Kite Mountain will turn to the left or to the right when it flips over?”

Chen Pingan immediately understood, “Headmaster Lu is practically giving away money?”

The establishment of Vermilion Pellet Manor was Zhao Fuyang’s doing, and according to the information Lu Chen revealed, Zhao Fuyang had a deep connection with the Golden Citadel Sect and Spirit Flight Pavilion. His cultivation path belonged to a very orthodox Daoist lineage. Furthermore, the Confucian school advocated for the seven luminaries to rotate leftward in accordance with the heavens, while the yin-yang five elements school and the calendar school were just the opposite. In that case, Zhao Fuyang, who had already become one with Fallen Kite Mountain, would definitely rotate to the right when he flipped over.

Pei Qian keenly sensed a slight tremor in the mountain’s foundation beneath her feet. She quickly looked up at the sky, the stars were normal, neither a natural disaster nor a meticulously planned man-made calamity by cultivators. Stirring the mountain’s energy aligned with the Yin Symbol Classic’s saying, “When the earth harbors killing intent, dragons and snakes rise from the land.”

Perhaps, for the heroes in Vermilion Pellet Manor who were drinking and eating heartily, most were already drunk and in a stupor, unlikely to notice this unusual sign.

Were they about to be swept up in one fell swoop? This Zhao Fuyang was ruthless enough to swallow all the guests in Vermilion Pellet Manor, along with their wine and meat, digesting them completely. He had a good plan, not letting any benefits escape his grasp.

Chen Pingan said, “I bet the earth will remain still and the mountain will not shake.”

The tree branch that Lu Chen held earlier was likely being used for dragon seeking and acupoint finding. Lu Chen, in a seemingly trivial manner, suppressed the entire Joy Union Mountain.

Lu Chen stepped aside, raised both hands, and gave a thumbs up, “Both are brilliant.”

At the end of Main Street in Abundance Joy Town, near the mountain gate, a clerk sitting behind a desk and yawning was startled by a rustling sound. It turned out to be a tree branch that had fallen to the ground. In the candlelight from the archway and the nearby red lanterns of the wine shops, the young man stretched his neck to look, feeling it was strange. It wasn’t a dead branch from the trees, why did it look so familiar? A clerk’s memory was usually good. After a moment of thought, he remembered the cotton-padded Daoist priest who had taken out three red envelopes earlier seemed to have been holding such a “walking stick.” Why was it dropped down the mountain?

The two maids who were temporarily acting as gatekeepers at Vermilion Pellet Manor never expected that there would still be guests arriving so late to offer congratulations. A graceful young woman hurriedly hid the pastries in her sleeve and turned to wipe her mouth.

A grass-sandal-wearing boy with a sword on his back, a blue-robed Daoist priest with cloth strips wrapped around his calves, and a young woman of ordinary appearance. They didn’t look like they belonged to the wealthy class. So, it was only natural that they were led by the maid through corridors and finally into a side hall. Originally, the seven or eight wine tables were full, but now they were sparsely occupied, with at least half of the seats empty. The Yu manager in charge of refilling drinks was helpless about this. These bastards were all holding wine pots in one hand and cups in the other, actively going to the neighboring banquet halls to toast. Some had simply taken root there, while others of lower status preferred to stand and drink rather than return to their original seats in the side hall to eat.

The Pipa Lady of Heavenly Music Grotto was chatting with the old man who called himself Black Dragon Immortal Lord, and they were getting along extremely well. The plump woman was laughing heartily, leaning back and forth. Around them stood a group of listeners holding cups in both hands, some trying to find an opportunity to toast, others there specifically to support the two important figures. Moreover, no one was working in vain. As the Pipa Lady exaggerated her movements, everyone shifted their gaze and swallowed hard.
A great demon who had carved out a cave abode on the Ape and Monkey Trail was currently exchanging toasts with a sixth-realm martial artist who had dared to visit empty-handed. They discussed the subtleties of physical refinement, tossing aside cups and bowls to drink directly from wine jars. The immortal brew, crafted within the Crimson Pill Estate, possessed a rich spiritual essence, far surpassing ordinary celestial wines. If sold at some ferry crossing, it would fetch no less than three to five Snowflake Coins. Tonight’s vintage seemed particularly smooth, its spiritual potency exceeding even the banquets held at Mount Harmonious Joy. The two Estate Lords were truly wealthy and generous; wouldn’t this wedding feast drain several generations of the Wedge Ridge Azure Abode’s fortune?

Many Crimson Pill Estate maids, graceful as swallows weaving through the air, flitted about serving dishes and replenishing wine. Some, having been persuaded to drink too much, found their light silk garments clinging to their skin, revealing the fragrant moisture beneath.

Across the banquet hall, the Mountain God Lady of Fallen Kite Peak had also indulged, her captivating eyes now veiled with a tipsy allure.

Lu Chen chuckled, “A feast outside the Gates of Hell, drinking death wine within pink curtains.”

The scholar in a crane cloak spotted the sword-bearing youth and pointed at him with his chopsticks, sighing, “Still so stubborn, drawn to any spectacle.”

The sword-bearing youth smiled, “Always loved a crowd, making up for lost time.”

Bai Mao beckoned, lowering his voice, “Since you’re here, sit and chat. Eat and drink well, and try to recoup your contribution money.”

Bai Mao had been lamenting his red envelope, a full fifty Snowflake Coins! Now, with the addition of Chen Ren and his two freeloading friends, he felt much better, as if he hadn’t lost too much. Seeing Steward Yu busy toasting at another table, Bai Mao continued, “Chen Ren, remember to drink as much as you can tonight. This truly is top-quality immortal brew, don’t waste it! Steward Yu says we each get a jar, according to the estate’s rules. But if you ask, you can get a second. Whether you get a third depends on your eloquence and whether Steward Yu is willing to give you face. See that one at the next table, the one with the fan, delicate skin and tender flesh? He’s a refined rogue. After a few flirtatious words with the maids, he secretly got a third jar.”

The sword-bearing youth sat down and said, “I’m too shy to ask for more wine.”

Bai Mao was momentarily speechless.

The youth continued, “It’s fine, I brought someone with a thick skin. He can offer to read palms or predict marriage prospects for the maids, and we’ll have two or three jars in no time.”

The young Daoist slouched in his chair, rubbing his left shoulder with his right hand. Seeing the crane-cloaked scholar looking at him, he offered a bright smile and clasped his fist in greeting, “This humble Daoist is skilled in palmistry, especially for women.”

Chen Ping An looked at the Mountain God Lady of Fallen Kite Peak, thinking, he remembered her. No wonder she seemed familiar.

Though her general features remained the same after many years, her demeanor had changed significantly since becoming a mountain god, and she seemed nearly a decade younger. Such were the benefits of cultivation.

Many female cultivators with good aptitude might never know the meaning of crow’s feet. Since ancient times, cultivation was the best rouge and powder for a woman.

Pei Qian used her spirit energy to transmit a secret message, “Master, do you know her?”

Chen Ping An shook his head, “Not really. I barely met her once when I was traveling through Comb Water Country; we didn’t even exchange a word. If I remember correctly, her surname was Xiao. I wonder why she became the Mountain God Lady of Fallen Kite Peak.”

Comb Water Country was quite a distance from this Harmonious Joy Mountain region.

He recalled when he left Sword Water Villa and ventured out alone. A large group of Jianghu figures had rushed out of the forest, heading for a carriage convoy of a noble family from Comb Water Country on the main road. They were clearly misinformed, not realizing they had kicked a steel plate. Besides General Chu Hao’s wife, there were two other women of considerable status in the convoy. Apart from a team of escorting cavalry, there were also cultivators among the accompanying soldiers, including a Dragon Gate Realm talisman master and a Sea Gazing Realm swordsman. Either one could have easily annihilated the group of Jianghu “assassins.” However, an older Jianghu veteran, despite his age, had acted dishonorably, deliberately using the name of Sword Water Villa and Song Yu Shao in an attempt to muddy the waters of the country. He didn’t care at all whether the villa and Senior Song would be wiped out by the Comb Water Country court. Especially when this old Jianghu figure brushed past Chen Ping An, he had an idea and directly gave Chen Ping An the name and identity of “Chu Yueyi” from Sword Water Villa…

In the end, Chen Ping An fought with the Sea Gazing Realm swordsman to settle the matter, allowing the group of Jianghu figures to escape. Of course, they didn’t show much gratitude.

According to the old Sea Gazing swordsman, constantly calling her “little widow”, each head was worth Immortal Money, she should worth a “Lesser Heat” Coin.

Before long, Chen Ping An heard news near the Earth Dragon Mountain ferry crossing, before even reaching the Azure Coin Workshop owned by Zhang Caiqin. He heard that a band of righteous heroes led by the female knight Xiao had fought to the death with the Chu Party rebels, sacrificing themselves selflessly. Unfortunately, there were two swordsmen, one old and one young, in the convoy who were willing to be accomplices to the evil, which led to their failure.

Bai Mao noticed the sword-bearing youth staring and being “absent-minded,” and laughed, “Brother Chen, you really are one of us! Birds of a feather flock together!”

Then, this Wedge Ridge Bai Estate Lord noticed the plain-looking young woman, of merely average appearance, looking at him with strange eyes.

Bai Mao asked with a smile, “Brother Chen, who is this lady?”

Chen Ping An smiled and said, “My eldest disciple, Zheng Qian. She has been studying martial arts with me for many years. She has good aptitude and has made a name for herself. Her reputation in the Jianghu is even greater than mine, her master.”
Bai Mao felt he’d grasped the general rhythm of conversing with this fellow. Once he completely let go and cast aside all pretense, there was no more awkwardness. Chatting idly became strangely light and pleasant. He nodded, saying, “It’s normal for your reputation to be less than Brother Chen’s. A late bloomer surpasses his teacher; it’s a good thing. People say in the martial world, a master seeks a worthy disciple for three years, and a disciple seeks a wise master for three years. Mutual success is needed to expand the lineage. It’s far better than one misleading disciples, and the other… delaying each other.”

In truth, Bai Mao wanted to say, “How old are you, Chen Ren? How many years have you spent wandering the martial world? How much fame could you possibly have, compared to that young Sword Immortal, Zhang Yujiao?”

Bai Mao turned his head, looking at the young woman with freckles. Palace Master Bai offered a smile, adopting the demeanor of a senior, and asked, “Have you reached the third stage of Qi Refining?”

Pei Qian chuckled, “It depends on the opponent’s realm.”

Bai Mao was taken aback.

Truly, she was Chen Ren’s worthy disciple.

A single copper coin, when uttered by you master and disciple, carries the weight of a jin! Are all the youngsters in the martial world speaking like this these days?

Chen Ping’an picked up his chopsticks and said, smiling, “Let’s eat.”

Pei Qian, sitting upright, then followed suit, picking up her chopsticks.

Bai Mao nodded secretly, noting that she still possessed some decorum.

Looking at the girl, he observed she didn’t drink alcohol, only eating the dishes in front of her.

On the other hand, the young Daoist dressed in a padded robe seemed like a starving ghost reincarnated. While almost everyone else was busy taking another sip of wine, he specifically requested two bowls of rice from a maidservant, instructing her to bring large bowls. He was already burying his face in the rice. The Daoist coronet on his head made Bai Mao, who was skilled at appraising valuables in his previous life, take another look, feeling it was worth some money.

Lu Chen raised his head, picked up a large chopstick of vegetables, and said indistinctly, “Palace Master Bai, aren’t you curious why Miss Zheng became our Brother Chen’s disciple?”

Bai Mao chuckled, “Where the Dao resides, there the master resides. Age is nothing. On the path of martial arts, whoever walks ahead is the senior.”

The young Daoist nodded vigorously. “No wonder they say ‘the grandmaster bows to the disciple, the Dao is revered.’ I used to only partially understand. Palace Master Bai’s words today have completely cleared it up.”

“Why doesn’t the Daoist drink wine? This is the only immortal wine brewed within the entire Hehuan Mountain region. Is it because your Daoist lineage has precepts prohibiting you from drinking?”

Earlier, Steward Yu had the maidservants bring three pots of Fenwan Palace Immortal Wine, and indeed, they didn’t give any more, only saying that if they felt it wasn’t enough after finishing, they could inform him.

After all, the identities of those in this side hall weren’t high enough. In the other banquet halls, each person had at least two pots of wine. As for Madam Pipa’s side, drinking wine was practically like drinking water.

But the problem was, this young Daoist wearing a lotus coronet was a master at eating meat! Logically, meat and alcohol went hand in hand. Why did he only eat dishes and not drink wine?

“No, no, my lineage is poor. We don’t even have a founding patriarch, and my master doesn’t care about this.”

The young Daoist waved his hand, saying, “Besides, hearing your words is like drinking three jars of wine.”

Bai Mao laughed heartily, finally encountering a normal person who knew how to talk.

Taking a sip of wine, Bai Mao had a flash of inspiration, finally understanding why he felt something was off. He turned his head and asked, “Zheng Qian? Zheng of the Closed Ear Zheng? Qian of Money and Wealth?”

Pei Qian nodded.

Bai Mao tapped his finger on the table, and laughed, “Girl, what were you thinking? Allow me, an old man, to say something to you. Even if you admire that female Grandmaster so much, you shouldn’t change your surname and name!”

Pei Qian twitched the corner of her mouth, but didn’t say anything.

If this were the Black Charcoal of her childhood, the ancestral tombs of Palace Master Bai’s eighteen generations would probably already be piled high with firecrackers.

Bai Mao was a scholar, concerned with face, so he couldn’t do anything to her. He turned to Chen Ren, “Brother Chen, you’re her master. Such a big matter, aren’t you going to do anything about it?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and nodded, “Yes, yes, you’re right. I’ve been wandering outside for many years and have neglected my disciple’s education.”

Pei Qian picked up a large chopstick of delicacies and rare game, chewing carefully with her cheeks bulging, making crunching sounds.

Lu Chen gloated, laughing, “Palace Master Bai, we’re in the same boat. Let’s make a toast! This poor Daoist will use soup in place of wine.”

Bai Mao raised his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Lu Chen took out a book of flower-and-bird paintings from his sleeve. “Palace Master Bai looks like a great collector. This is something I found at a bargain price after spending a lot of money. I implore Palace Master to cast an eye over it and appreciate it.”

Bai Mao smiled, flicked his sleeve, and reached out to take the book. What was this? He spent a lot of money and found a bargain? Flipping through a few pages casually, Bai Mao hesitated, saying, “To be honest, there’s skill involved. It’s clearly the work of a wealthy son, capturing the essence of boundary painting, meticulously and rigorously crafted. But ultimately, it’s lifeless. And these flowers and birds, they don’t just feel simple and elegant; the longer you look, the more you feel a sense of yin energy.”

Seeing the young Daoist looking dazed as if struck by lightning, Bai Mao quickly explained, “The yin energy I mentioned is not derogatory, similar to some Water and Land paintings in temples, with a eerie atmosphere that can warn people. I’m just worried that the owner of the painting isn’t the kind of person who lives a long life. Daoist should also know that if a famous painter has a short life, their achievements and fame will be difficult to reach high. Failing to change their style in old age, the price often won’t go up.”

The young Daoist said miserably, “If you don’t live long, there will be fewer contemporary poets and artists to sing your praises, and fewer disciples and grandchildren. If there are fewer filial sons and virtuous grandsons, the effort to promote and promote your name will be small. If the effort is small, you cannot be pushed to the altar by later generations. If you cannot ascend to the altar, how can you sell at a high price? How can you be worth anything? When the world gets better in the future, there will be more idle money in people’s pockets, and there will be more rich and ignorant fools who only recognize the brand and not the person, especially in the antique business. How can you make up a few stories to swindle a lot of money?”

Bai Mao slapped his thigh, “Daoist’s insight can be described as cutting through the clouds to see the moon.”

Chen Ping’an glanced at the flowers and birds depicted in the painting book. There was no signature, but there were several private seals. Based on this, he already knew that the painting book was from the hand of Prince Liu of Qingxing Kingdom. Bai Mao’s eyesight was still good. There was indeed some yin energy. As a potential dragon of a country, this Crown Prince did not have the strong aura of a Restoring Monarch. His ink strokes were weak and thin. To put it bluntly, it was more like the handwriting of a vanquished king. As for the gossip in the capital of Qingxing Kingdom, and the idle talk over tea and meals in some immortal inns, they all spoke highly of this Prince Liu, who was known for his talent.
Lu Chen chuckled, “In the final analysis, it’s simply a failure to grasp the true essence of boundary painting. Otherwise, it would be lively and brimming with vitality! How could it leave Lord Bai with such a feeling of boredom and lifelessness?”

With that, Lu Chen sighed, slamming the album onto the table. “Forget it, forget it. Just consider it a loss suffered in silence. Out of sight, out of mind. Better to sell it to Lord Bai at a low price.”

Bai Mao found the young Daoist to be utterly shameless. He actually used two fingers to push the album towards him. Was this a forced sale? Was this so-called picking up a bargain for a large sum of money just a prelude to fleecing a friend? A sudden revelation of true intentions! Bai Mao pressed down firmly on the album, forcing a smile. “Even if it’s not a priceless treasure, it’s certainly not a crude painting. A gentleman does not seize what others cherish. Even if the Daoist is willing to sell it cheap, Bai Mao wouldn’t dare buy it. Please, Daoist, take it back!”

The young Daoist exerted all his strength, his fingers trembling slightly, secretly increasing the pressure. Yet, he still couldn’t move the album. His face flushed crimson. “Lord Bai, we’re friends who get along well. The price is negotiable.”

“Why must the Daoist part with it?”

“To be honest, there’s a Daoist scripture, copied by an unknown author, at the end of this album. Over a thousand words, incomparably profound! According to the record, it not only speaks of flesh regeneration from bone, but also numerous profound truths of cultivation, such as ‘What can create bone from nothing if flesh can be created from bone?’ Lord Bai, fortune favors the bold! This is a rare opportunity! Once in a lifetime!”

“Since it contains an elixir of immortality, why would the Daoist sell it to others?”

“My cultivation aptitude is… passable. Very passable. I’ve learned everything I can learn, and I simply can’t learn any more.”

“How much?”

“Two snowflake coins! Can’t go any lower!”

Bai Mao’s face stiffened. He almost burst out cursing. Did the Daoist think he was an idiot? Asking for only two snowflake coins for an elixir of immortality?

“For the sake of our friendship, one snowflake coin will do!”

Bai Mao’s face darkened. He was certain now that the Daoist was a fool, and was trying to make him one as well.

Just then, the sword-bearing youth raised his hand and asked the maid for another jug of immortal wine. Lord Bai considered it, then took out a snowflake coin from his sleeve and placed it on the flower-and-bird album.

A transaction completed. In truth, Bai Mao had originally intended to return the album to the Daoist after buying it, and then earnestly advise the young Daoist, whose scams were clumsy and inept, to not carry on like this, as he might get beaten up when traveling. However, Bai Mao worried that doing so would cause the Daoist to lose face, so he gave up the idea. He would just consider it as spending a snowflake coin to make an unreliable friend, whom he would probably never meet again anyway.

As the divine coin was offered, a golden scripture appeared on one of the album’s pages, directly pointing to the Golden Core stage.

When Bai Mao had this thought, the middle part of the scripture also appeared, capable of reaching the Jade Purity stage.

Bai Yujing’s Sect Master Lu’s clone, the White Bone Immortal under the plum tree.

He was now one of the latest ten candidates for the top ten in the Azure Billows world.

This very Daoist secret was the White Bone Immortal’s fundamental path to cultivation, Lu Chen’s so-called “elixir of immortality” was, in fact, well-deserved.

Because the two Prefecture Lords of Mount Harmonious Joy had not appeared for a long time, the various guests participating in the bride selection banquet sensed a hint of something amiss.

In the flower hall, the distinguished guests from the Summer Moon Prefecture of Hundred Flowers Lake were in an uproar.

The Mount Harmonious Joy’s eldest miss and fourth miss Zhao Yan, seemed to be comforting that Lake Lord Zhang Xiangdao.

Yu Zhen called Qin Que, who was in a separate room, and Fu Qi, who was next door, and led them directly out of Powder Pill Estate.

The Mountain Goddess of Fallen Kite Mountain, who was already slightly drunk, and Li Ting of Black Vine Mountain, seemed to have received secret orders from the two Prefecture Lords, saying that the banquet would officially begin in at most a quarter of an hour, ensuring that the guests would not have to wait too long.

Arriving outside the estate, Yu Zhen clasped his fist and bowed his head, apologizing profusely, and said with a bitter smile: “Something happened at home and we need to close the doors to take care of it. Uncle Qin, Brother Yan, you must be laughing at us.”

Qin Que, originally from the Book Brief Lake area, was used to this. He didn’t even ask what had happened, and was too lazy to even clasp his fist in farewell. Without a word, he flew away directly on the wind.

Fu Qi was, after all, a scion of an honorable family. Although he had been out adventuring for several years, he had never encountered such a situation before. He said softly: “Have you broken ties with the Golden Citadel Sect and the Zhang clan of Heavenly Commander County? If that’s the case, judging from the way these immortal mountains and clans act, they must have been prepared long ago. Perhaps there are informants among the guests congratulating you in the Powder Pill Estate tonight.”

Yu Zhen couldn’t reveal his father’s plan, so he had to use an excuse he had come up with in the family ancestral hall. “The treasure vault of the Upper Mountain Misty Clouds Estate has a treasure that my father values greatly, something for protecting the estate. Just now, it was mysteriously stolen. My father is furious and has issued a secret order to immediately seal the mountain and search everyone, allowing no one to leave. You know the sort who come to congratulate us on the mountain tonight. They’re all unruly desperadoes. It’ll be easy for things to get out of hand later, and blood may be shed.”

Fu Qi asked: “Do you really not need me to stay and help?”

In the surrounding kingdoms, the Golden Core realm was the peak, like the two Prefecture Lords of the mountain, as well as Cheng Qian and Zhang Qiong. So, his Dragon Gate realm cultivation, while not capable of turning the tide, should at least be able to offer some assistance.

Yu Zhen shook his head, his eyes sincere. “Fu Qi, take my advice and don’t get involved. The matter is indeed significant. In any case, we’ll find an opportunity to catch up later.”

Fu Qi nodded. “I plan to go to Book Brief Lake. Zhong Su of Golden Oriole Island has a good relationship with my ancestor. If you need to find me, just send a flying sword message to Golden Oriole Island.”

In Fengle Town, Qi Song found Zhang Yujiao and Jin Lou. The old man didn’t waste any time and, after whispering a few words to the young man and woman, directly had them follow him out of the town.

Because Qi Song was a Golden Body realm martial artist, and not yet capable of covering great distances, the old man simply traveled through the night at a rapid pace.

The young man controlled a sword, only a few feet above the ground, while the young woman controlled the wind alongside him.

Jin Lou joked: “Grandpa Qi, you love wine as much as life. Why didn’t you climb the mountain to attend the wedding banquet? If you had gone, Zhang Yujiao and I could have gone up the mountain with you.”
Chief Guest Elder Qi Song of the Zhang Clan in Heavenly Decree County was a highly esteemed old scamp, beloved by the younger generation. The old man chuckled, “Wine is like burning embers, and beauty is a steel blade that slices flesh. If I were to reach the mountain and lose control, becoming muddled with drink, only to be favored by that Third Miss, Zhao Fuyang and Yu Chunzhi would surely insist I become their son-in-law, forcing me to drink and enter the bridal chamber – a prospect I cannot endure!”

Jin Lu spat in disdain.

The old man teased, “Little Jin, it’s no surprise that Yu Youyi doesn’t fancy this old wreck, but it would be strange indeed if she didn’t take a liking to a tragically handsome youth like Yu Jiao. Are you secretly pleased?”

Zhang Yujiao asked curiously, “Grandpa Qi, what’s the story behind the commotion at the town ahead?”

Qi Song patted his belly and shook his head. “There’s a story, but it cannot be told. Perhaps later, if you treat me to a fine wine, I might be in the mood to share.”

Earlier, Grandmaster Pei had cautioned him not to reveal her whereabouts. Qi Song dared not joke about such matters.

The old man flicked a few pebbles into the air with his toes, and with a wave of his sleeve, they shot upwards. His body rose from the ground, stepping on the pebbles as if ascending stairs.

Though Qi Song appeared portly, he channeled a pure Qi essence, making him light as a feather. Supported by the last pebble, he floated upwards.

At the highest point, his form paused in mid-air. The old man looked down from above and spotted his disciple, Lü Mo, hurrying along a night road with a dark-skinned girl.

Qi Song drifted down, laughing heartily, “Follow me, and whoever lags behind buys the drinks!”

Yu Youyi, clad in night-black attire, moved like a phantom through the mountains, swift as a wisp of green smoke, arriving at the foot of the town.

Standing on a rooftop, she tossed a silk-wrapped bundle soaked in blood into a secluded alley courtyard. “This head belongs to Gu Feng, the Deputy Inspector of Military Affairs. As for Li Ting, the Mountain God of the Wuteng Shrine, neither he nor Gu Feng will live through tonight. Consider this an explanation from my father and Mount Harmony. Do not pursue this matter further. Miss Liu, you and Liu Tie must leave this town within half an incense stick’s time. If you delay, bear the consequences yourselves. Even if the capital of Luoyang investigates, our consciences will be clear.”

Unlike before, when encountering the umbrella-wielding headless ghost, Yu Youyi would always act like a lecherous rogue, insisting on chatting with “Miss Liu.” Tonight, however, she was decisive, delivering her message and swiftly returning to the mountains.

Zhou Qiu summoned Liu Tie, who asked in a low voice, “What did she say? Should we stay here and wait for the three of them to come down the mountain?”

Zhou Qiu smiled. “There’s no need for us to worry about their situation. Let’s head to Ink Splash Peak and await news.”

Inside the Powder Pill Estate, Chen Pingan suddenly asked, “How high is Zhao Fuyang’s potential?”

Lu Chen smiled. “Two flowers bloom, each on its own branch. There are two ways to say it.”

Chen Pingan said, “Assuming Zhao Fuyang succeeds in his endeavor?”

“Tomorrow’s new nascent soul will have a chance to reach the Jade Purity realm in the future, but the difficulty is not small, and there will be bumps along the road in Tongye Continent.”

Lu Chen raised his hand, calculated with his fingers, and pondered for a moment. “If he fails tonight, losing his Dao foundation instead of refining the mountain, Zhao Fuyang will fall from the Golden Core realm to the Dragon Gate realm tomorrow. As for the future, he must start from the Immortal realm.”

Except for Bai Mao, who could not hear the conversation, Pei Qian could clearly hear her master’s chat with Lu Chen.

Chen Pingan said, “Sect Leader Lu is missing one or two possibilities.”

Lu Chen nodded and smiled. “If Zhao Fuyang could stay here, with both upper and lower mountains remaining untouched, and he and Liu Clan of Qingxing Kingdom do not interfere with each other, he would eventually be killed by Gu Can, leading to an end to everything. Or, if Zhao Fuyang can successfully enter the Nascent Soul realm, use the ‘Carrying Mountain’ divine ability of the Golden Que Sect, and ultimately leave this place of trouble, just in case, I just say in case, he could become one of the many human true dragons one day, and Zhao Fuyang is expected to occupy the land luck as the leader of the Pan Mountain lineage, standing shoulder to shoulder with a small number of ascended monks on the mountain.”

“At this moment, Zhao Fuyang has four paths to take.”

“But which path Zhao Fuyang will take, the level of his achievements and his future prospects depend on how we talk at this dinner table.”

“Like this table, there are you and me, Pei Qian, and now there is the ghost Bai Mao of Wedge Ridge. If I am willing, I can also pull in Steward Yu, the maid who serves wine and food.”

Chen Pingan asked, “Passing through Haoran, first teaching Bai Mao an immortality formula, and then accepting an unrecorded grandson apprentice with the qualifications of the ascension realm, Sect Leader Lu is just doing it conveniently?”

It was clear that if Zhao Fuyang wanted to reach the top of the mountain, there was a prerequisite: he had to follow Lu Chen, a grand ancestor separated by many generations, to the Azure Underworld, where mountain luck was abundant.

Lu Chen asked back, “Looking at history, so many founding monarchs from poor backgrounds, in that land of rise, at most in a county or prefecture, how could there be so many powerful figures who are either dukes or marquises? Looking at several worlds, on the mountain, how many places are similar to the Glazed Bead Grotto of Treasure Bottle Continent, or the Five Mausoleum Youth Dens of Qing God Dynasty?”

Lu Chen put the chopsticks in his hand on the rice bowl, as if building a bridge in the air, asking and answering himself: “There are many forks in the road of the world, how many avenues can there be? Following the right person and taking the right path is when the time comes, the world will work together. If you take the wrong path, no matter how ambitious you are, you will be depressed and frustrated. Perhaps there are occasional exceptions, but they are only exceptions. Having a broad road to success, without perseverance and insufficient foot strength, it is difficult to go far.”

“Chen Pingan, you guessed wrong. If Zhao Fuyang wants to achieve the highest achievement, he can’t be led by the nose by anyone, and he can’t enjoy the cool under the big tree. This is his fifth way.”

“Don’t forget why some people say that there are no pure wild cultivators above the upper five realms on the mountain. At the same time, don’t forget that Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City has a teacher, but in the real sense, he is also a mountain swamp wild cultivator, he is a pure wild cultivator.”

Lu Chen picked up a chopstick, “A single tree is difficult to support. Even if you are on the table, it is always inappropriate to grab food with your hands, you will be beaten by others, reprimanded by elders, or driven off the table.”
Lu Chen picked up another chopstick, “Complementary to each other, one can then use them to pick up food. As for how much one can eat, that depends on the appetite and capacity of those sitting at the dining table.”

“A pair of chopsticks can represent Chen Ping’an of Mud Bottle Alley and Ma Kuxuan of Apricot Blossom Lane, or Liu Xianyang and Chen Ping’an, or Gu Can and Song Jixin, Song Jixin and Zhao Yao, Li Huai and Hu Feng, Hu Feng and Dong Shuijing, and so on. Such comparisons can be applied to not just a dining table, but also a gambling table where chairs are removed upon losing a bet, or even an altar with curling incense smoke.”

Golden Citadel Sect, Ancestral Mountain, Tranquil Peak, Golden Immortal Convent.

The current Peak Lord, an old woman-like Golden Core cultivator, led her direct disciples, standing near a pavilion outside a cliff with a sea of clouds, jointly welcoming the arrival of the “Upper Sect” Immortal Masters.

The founder of the Golden Citadel Sect, before her death by disbanding her immortal form, left behind a decree, or rather her last wish, for the direct disciples of all peaks. She hoped that one day, the disciples of the Golden Citadel Sect could accumulate merits and virtues over time, to help her Spiritual Flight Temple in the White Frost Dynasty regain its official status and be re-listed in the records. That was all. At the same time, she also issued a strict order: even if the sect was in a life-or-death crisis, it should never disturb the secluded cultivation of her master in the Spiritual Flight Temple. Whoever violated this rule would be considered a traitor to the sect.

Therefore, even during that war, the cultivators of the Golden Citadel Sect always adhered to the ancestral precepts and did not proactively contact the Spiritual Flight Temple.

Even when the old abbot of the Spiritual Flight Temple, Immortal Lord Cao Rong, emerged and made immortal achievements in the Battle of Old Dragon City, the Golden Citadel Sect, especially the direct disciples of the Golden Immortal Convent, were extremely excited, but they could only hide this secret in their hearts.

Therefore, when the Spiritual Flight Temple, now the Spiritual Flight Palace, actually sent a letter to the Golden Immortal Convent, saying that the Palace Lord would come as a guest, all the direct disciples of the Golden Immortal Convent were overjoyed.

In the bright moonlight, a young female Taoist shrunk the mountains and rivers, appearing first at the edge of the cliff. Following her was a white-haired cultivator resembling a child, holding a whisk and carrying a peach wood sword on his back, standing beside the female Taoist.

There are true immortals in Taoism who can revert to youth, a white-haired infant.

After that, thunder rumbled in the sky, and a young man with disheveled hair arrived with lightning speed, the sea of clouds along the way seeming to be cleaved open by a sword. He landed beside the white-haired child.

He wanted to reach out and touch the “child’s” head, but suddenly a sword light flashed, and the young man had to withdraw his hand.

The old woman of the Golden Immortal Convent could not restrain her emotions, her eyes reddened, and she made a Taoist bow, her voice trembling, “All disciples of the Golden Immortal Convent on Tranquil Peak, welcome the arrival of Ancestor Xiang of the Spiritual Flight Palace.”

In fact, the old woman was not unaware of the identities of the other two, but she had to single out this Ancestor Xiang of the Upper Sect, whose Taoist name was “Dongting,” and address her with respect.

In this way, it was equivalent to her, on behalf of the Golden Citadel Sect, paying homage to the Spiritual Flight Palace of the Upper Sect. More precisely, it was a tribute to her own founder and the Spiritual Flight Temple.

Xiang Jun indifferently said, “No need for formalities. Xing Zi, except for you to stay, everyone else go back to your cultivation.”

The old woman waved her sleeve, “All of you, withdraw.”

Xiang Jun took the lead and walked on a bluestone path along the cliff. Only then did the old woman named Xing Zi hurriedly make a Taoist bow to the “child” and the young man, “Xing Zi of the Golden Immortal Convent, greets True Man Wei and Grandmaster Wen.”

This True Man Wei, who seemed to have no Taoist name, was the former Law Enforcement Taoist of the Spiritual Flight Temple. Now that the Taoist temple had been promoted to a palace, he had been relieved of his duties as Law Enforcement.

However, no one would think that this “little Taoist” had been demoted. The reason was simple: he was the closed-door disciple of the former Abbot Cao Rong.

Whether it was a celestial mansion on the mountain or a sect below, it seemed that only the first disciple could be wrong, but the closed-door disciple was never mistaken.

As for the “Grandmaster Wen,” named Wen Zix, his mountain nickname was “Wen Lang.” He was less than forty years old and was already a Far Roaming martial artist. More importantly, he was also a Golden Core Earth Immortal of Taoism.

He was also a romantic libertine.

Xiang Jun had just arrived at the Golden Citadel Sect from a small sect, having parted ways with Dong Shuijing not long ago.

Junior Brother Wei had just been in the capital of Green Apricot Country, and as for Nephew Wen Zix, without any surprise, he had just escaped from some brothel.

On the Hanging Emerald Peak of the Golden Citadel Sect, there was a scenic spot, a reverse-flowing waterfall.

Xiang Jun stopped, looking at the waterfall that splashed like snow with a thunderous sound, and said, “Before Master went down the mountain on a long journey, she passed down a secret decree, allowing her to restore her Spiritual Flight Temple status. She also said that your Golden Immortal Convent line can leave the Golden Citadel Sect and recognize the Spiritual Flight Temple as its ancestor. Of course, we don’t force it; the cultivators of Tranquil Peak are free to go or stay. As for the peaks of the Golden Citadel Sect other than the Golden Immortal Convent, forget it. I guess they wouldn’t be willing, so we can save ourselves the trouble of being meddlesome.”

The old woman sobbed, facing south, prostrating herself in worship, performing three prostrations and nine kowtows, thanking the old ancestor, Celestial Lord Cao.

Xiang Jun helped her up, “If Cheng Qian tries to stop you, I can let Junior Brother Wei and Wen Zix stay on Tranquil Peak to assist.”

After the old woman got up, she repeatedly covered her face and wept.

The young man laughed, “Have you heard? A lot of big things have happened in Tongye Continent since the beginning of spring this year.”

True Man Wei sneered.

Except for a few large families in Old Dragon City who were accustomed to doing business, almost no one in Treasure Bottle Continent was interested in inquiring about the landscapes and people of Tongye Continent.

The winds of fortune change. In the past, the cultivators of Tongye Continent looked at their northern neighbor, Treasure Bottle Continent, in the same way.

Xiang Jun nodded, “They are big things.”

Only then did True Man Wei show a little interest, “How so?”

Wen Zix raised his hands, shaking his wrists, and smiled, “The first big thing is that a brand-new sect called the Azure Raft Sword Sect has appeared in the southernmost part of the Great Abyss Yuan Dynasty, without any prior warning. This Azure Raft Sword Sect is a lower sect of the Declining Mountain of Treasure Bottle Continent. The first Sect Master is named Cui Dongshan, a previously unknown character. His only public appearance was when our young Hidden Official and his friend Liu Xianyang together asked for swords at the True Yang Mountain. During that time, Cui Dongshan made an appearance. According to the ancestral hall records of Declining Mountain, he is considered Chen Ping’an’s student.”

His cultivation level is a mystery.

Xiang Jun smiled, “Show some respect to Mr. Chen of Declining Mountain and the Sect Master of the Azure Raft Sword Sect.”

Logically, the first lower Sect Master should be in the Jade Purity Realm. Subsequent successors, on the other hand, have no requirements for cultivation level, as long as there is a Jade Purity Realm registered cultivator sitting in the sect.
Moreover, the Green Lotus Sword Sect is an extremely rare sword dao sect, an unprecedented event in Tongye Continent. If Cui Dongshan were truly a Jade Pure Realm Sword Immortal, wouldn’t he have achieved anything or contributed even an inch of merit in the fiercely contested Treasure Bottle Continent? Just like Chen Ping’an’s first disciple, Pei Qian, who went by the alias “Zheng Qian,” she not only shone brilliantly on the Central Great Water Battlefield, but had already risen to fame in several battlefields from the central to northern Jinjia Continent.

Therefore, whether this Cui Dongshan is a Jade Pure Realm or a Nascent Soul Realm Sword Immortal is a matter of much debate. After all, given Chen Ping’an’s literary lineage and his accumulated merits in the Summer Palace, it would be perfectly normal for the Literary Temple to make an exception for the Green Lotus Sword Sect, allowing a cultivator below the Upper Five Realms to serve as its sect leader. In any case, this has been the case for several new sects in the Vast Expanse in recent years, and it’s not an isolated instance.

Wen Zixi smiled carefully, “It’s a pity that my Grandmaster didn’t allow me to go down the mountain back then, so I couldn’t go to the Dali Capital, otherwise I could have sparred with that Pei Qian.”

Real Person Wei sneered, “You think you can fight just because you’re only one realm apart from Pei Qian? Why don’t you just go look for her master, that Chen Hidden Official, and cause him trouble?”

This grand-nephew is undeniably a martial arts prodigy. Whenever he goes down the mountain to travel, he likes to spar with people while suppressing his own realm, and he especially likes to deliberately be one realm lower before winning.

Wen Zixi laughed heartily, “Chen Ping’an is only a little less than ten years older than me. If I had been born ten years earlier, even if I couldn’t reach the peak of the Martial Path, I should at least be at the bottleneck of the Mountain Top Realm.”

Xiang Jun said, “Pei Qian is not the kind of empty-shelled martial artist you think she is. Her Seventh and Eighth Realms back then would only be more solid than yours.”

Wen Zixi narrowed his eyes and said, “Hearing is false, seeing is believing.”

The second matter concerns the Jade Tablet Sect. Sect Leader Wei Ying has gone to the Savage Desolation, and the new Peak Master of Nine Yi Peak is a child named Qiu Zhi, who is already a Dragon Gate Realm sword cultivator at such a young age.

Then there’s the matter of Peace Mountain. Female Cultivator Huang Ting has returned to Tongye Continent from the Five Colors Heaven, an extremely rare occurrence in the history of the Vast Expanse, a single person becoming a whole sect.

Because the first thing she did upon returning home was to question the sword at Little Dragon Pool, Huang Ting is undoubtedly a Jade Pure Realm Sword Immortal.

Worthy of being the person with the best fortune in Tongye Continent, breaking through realms seems as easy as changing clothes for her.

Even more worthy of being the female cultivator who was once able to be mentioned in the same breath as the “Jiang Bandit”.

As for that Little Dragon Pool, a shocking disturbance occurred. Two Nascent Soul Realm cultivators who had made contributions, even if they didn’t have great merit, had no idea what mistakes they had made, and were personally detained and brought back to the sect by Dragon Beard Immortal Lord from Central Earth’s Great Dragon Pool. Not long after, Situ Mengjing personally took over as the Mountain Master of Downhill Little Dragon Pool. It was like throwing a huge rock into a pond, creating huge waves. Before the onlookers, who were paying attention to it, could regain their composure, a “Flying Peak” came and filled the small pond.

After that, Little Dragon Pool announced that it would be closed to the public for sixty years.

At Pu Mountain Cloud Grass Hall, Huang Yi Yun seems to have just entered the first layer of the Tenth Realm of Martial Path, Returning to Simplicity.

At Great Fushū Academy, the old Jiao, Cheng Longzhou, is the Vice-President of Dali Dynasty’s Beclouded Mountain Deer Academy. However, Deer Academy is not one of the Seventy-two Academies. This is the first Confucian scholar of demon origin in the history of the Literary Temple to serve as the President of an Academy.

Zhou Mi, the President of Fish Duck Academy in Northern Ju Luzhou, is also the first President in history to be punished to the Hall of Merit without committing any major mistakes. He was eventually transferred to serve as the President of Five Streams Academy in Tongye Continent.

In addition, the renowned Gentleman Wen Yu has taken the position of Vice President of Celestial Eye Academy.

In the eyes of outsiders, there are undercurrents surging between the three academies in Tongye Continent, where both the President and Vice-President are from other lands.

Although Wen Zixi is curious about how beautiful that Ye Yunyun is, he is not so ignorant as to want to go to Tongye Continent to question her with his fists.

He’ll have to wait ten or twenty years anyway. It doesn’t matter, he and that Huang Yi Yun are on the same cultivation path, and the years of cultivation are long, so there’s no need to rush.

Wen Zixi muttered, “Why is this Zhou Haijing so hard to find? She disappeared as soon as she said so in the Dali capital. Could it be that she’s being kept as a concubine?”

After all, Pei Qian is ranked second among the four great martial arts masters in Treasure Bottle Continent, second only to Song Changjing, who is said to have once stepped into the Eleventh Realm threshold. So Zhou Haijing, who is at the bottom of the ranking, is also a female grandmaster, and is the perfect target for Wen Zixi to question with his fists. A Mountain Top Realm master, and a beautiful woman, is hard to find even with a lantern. For this reason, Wen Zixi specially went to the Dali capital, but Zhou Haijing, who clearly hadn’t left the capital, couldn’t be found by Wen Zixi after searching for a month.

Xiang Jun’s Dao heart trembled for no reason. She raised her hand and swept a handful of emerald green communication flying swords into her sleeve, and opened the flying sword’s restrictions with secret techniques. Her master’s voice then resounded in her heart.

“Master has ordered, leave Wei Fuxiao behind, and take Wen Zixi to Harmony Joy Mountain.”

Xiang Jun didn’t think much at first, only felt a little awkward. She then suddenly understood that Master was talking about his old man’s… Master?!

And this Upper Five Realm female cultivator’s master’s master is currently in a side hall of Harmony Joy Mountain’s Powder Ball Mansion, reading the palms of several maids.