Sword Qi Great Wall used to be a place where buying wine was easier than fetching water.

Now, the bustling market is like a clumsy, inelegant sequel to a masterpiece.

But no matter what, something is better than nothing. It’s better than a desolate silence, simply becoming a place for outsiders to come and reminisce about the past.

Unlike Old Deafie, who was overly cautious and circuitous, Xie Gou, sensing Chen Ping’an’s current unusual state, asked directly, “Mountain Lord, you’re quite injured. Was your opponent’s skill truly heaven-defying? Do you need me and Xiao Mo to help you get revenge? Don’t worry, Mountain Lord, aside from our swordsmanship, Xiao Mo and I are also experts at concealing our auras and changing our appearances. I also have a unique sword technique that can sever karma. I’m not boasting, but it’s not much inferior to what Pure Yang Lü Yan displays in the outer heavens. I guarantee that even if the other party is proficient in divination and deduction, they won’t be able to trace the root of it.”

If it were an immortal, if she needed to deliver two swords, she would not be worthy of becoming a Daoist partner with Xiao Mo.

She was very confident against ordinary Ascended Realm cultivators, such as Jing Hao and his ilk, who were truly like paper tigers.

She had already secretly flipped through the first dozen pages of Chen Lingjun’s “Bystander Collection.”

Unless it was the Grand Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, or the Fire Dragon Real Person of Crouching Peak, these tricky Fourteenth Realm “Potential Candidates for Dao Integration,” she wouldn’t dare to speak so definitively. She needed to call on Xiao Mo, which would make things much more secure.

Chen Ping’an reached behind him and gently patted the hilt of his sword, saying, “I just had a fight with someone and barely won, but the price was not small. Even the Night Wanderer in its scabbard was broken. You don’t need to seek revenge; it’s already been cleanly settled.”

Old Deafie understood some worldly ways. From this conversation alone, he already understood.

Senior Bai Jing truly didn’t treat him like an outsider, and the young Hidden Official truly didn’t treat her like an outsider.

Xie Gou raised her thumb, “Since ancient times, great talents have been tested by the heavens. Those who pass the trials accumulate Dao power. Mountain Lord, after this battle, your cultivation will surely advance like a bamboo shoot after rain, unobstructed, heading straight for the Ascended Realm!”

Old Deafie’s Dao heart trembled upon hearing this, and he gasped. Could it be that Fallen Phoenix Mountain had the same atmosphere as the Summer Palace?

He was straightforward by nature and not good at such flowery words. If he went to Fallen Phoenix Mountain, wouldn’t he be out of place? Would he have to sit on the sidelines?

Since she couldn’t find Sword Immortal Gao Yi’s whereabouts for the time being, Wei Yudian plucked up her courage and followed that group. Although she was close, she couldn’t hear their conversation.

Chen Ping’an stopped and turned to ask, “Does Sword Immortal Wei have something to say?”

Wei Yudian said with a blush, “This junior doesn’t dare to call herself a sword cultivator.”

It turned out that her identity as a sword cultivator was rather awkward because the origin of her natal sword was not upright, and the innate divine ability contained within the flying sword was even more useless.

Chen Ping’an said, “I’m about to leave this place soon. Please, Fellow Daoist Wei, speak your mind.”

Wei Yudian quickly explained, “I dare not hide it. I came here to avoid disaster, or rather, to avoid the entanglement of Sword Immortal Gao Yi of the Azure Cliff Sect.”

Chen Ping’an said, “I guessed as much, but this is a private matter between your families and sects. It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with me, right? Furthermore, according to the records of the Summer Palace, it has been nearly two hundred years since the last sword cultivator from the Upper Si Sword Sect went to the Sword Qi Great Wall to kill demons and train. As for the other two groups of Qi refiners, they were not sword cultivators and have no record of meritorious service. Surely the previous Hidden Official, Xiao Xun, didn’t deliberately omit the meritorious service of your Upper Si Sword Sect.”

Wei Yudian said with a blush, “Our current sect leader of the Upper Si Sword Sect…”

Chen Ping’an interrupted, “I know, Ding Fayi, Daoist name Tongjun, wearing the sword ‘Subduing Truth,’ natal flying sword ‘Connecting to the Divine,’ sitting in charge of the main mountain of the Upper Si Sword Sect, Fanke Mountain. Sect Leader Ding is skilled in Zhuyou incantations and Plum Blossom Numerology, especially proficient in divination by sound. Many strange tales circulate in the rural areas of the Flowing Rainbow Continent. He is a descendant of the ancient shamans. It is said that he can curse and kill cultivators of the same realm without bloodshed, and he can also save people invisibly. Therefore, he is called a ‘Ghost Seer’ by the mountain and people dare not provoke him easily. Besides these superficial things, there are actually some internal matters that I am aware of. I guess Sect Leader Ding certainly helped you make a divination, asking you to come here to wait for an opportunity to seek good fortune and avoid disaster? Or did he predict that Fellow Daoist Longsheng would act righteously?”

Old Deafie waved his hand repeatedly, “My Dao power is insufficient, I dare not take on the responsibility.”

Wei Yudian took out a brocade pouch from her sleeve, mustered her courage, blushed, and handed it to the young Hidden Official, whose name she had long heard and to whom her heart yearned. She kept reminding herself to speed up her speech and quickly explained, “Before descending the mountain for this distant journey, the sect leader gave me a total of three brocade pouches. One instructed me to choose an auspicious day to open a shop and sell wine, with a line of divination attached to the Wind and Thunder Note: ‘Stop when you meet the Dragon, rejoice when you meet the Azure.’ One was to let disciple Wang Ke go on a night journey on a certain day, and Wang Ke obtained the opportunity for dual swordsmanship. The last brocade pouch instructed me to open it only when I met the Dragon and the Azure again, but repeatedly told me not to look at the contents of the text, and only hand it over to any expert of the ‘Dragon’ or ‘Azure’ in person.”

Chen Ping’an took the brocade pouch, took out the small note, glanced at it, and put it back in the brocade pouch, returning it to Wei Yudian. His expression was obviously softened, saying, “You can rest assured to do business here from now on. If I ever travel to the Flowing Rainbow Continent in the future, I will visit the Upper Si Sword Sect and the Wei family of Fenzhou. As for when Fellow Daoist Wei will be able to return to the Flowing Rainbow Continent, you will have to wait for Sect Leader Ding’s letter.”

Xie Gou asked in a voice transmission, “Mountain Lord, what’s going on?”

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “The founding ancestor of the Upper Si Sword Sect, Hua Furong, who is also Wei Yudian’s teacher, had a very good relationship with the Ning family during her second journey to the Sword Qi Great Wall and was a frequent guest.”

Xie Gou suddenly understood, “If I had known there was such a relationship, I would have beaten that Sword Immortal Sect Leader and the like until they shat their pants.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “May I ask, why is Fellow Daoist Wei not a sword cultivator?”

The Wei family of Shangmiao Village in Fenzhou, Flowing Rainbow Continent, is a long-standing Taoist family and one of the six major altars in the Vast World. The famous Tai Fu Temple is Wei Yudian’s family temple. The colored sculptures in the temple contain three hundred and sixty-five day-duty gods, unique and unsurpassed in the continent.
Wei Yudian carefully placed the item into her brocade pouch, a great weight lifted from her shoulders. Hearing the question, she respectfully replied, “This junior is not one of those naturally gifted sword immortals. It’s due to my family’s ancestor, who ventured overseas long ago and obtained the remains and sword arts inheritance of an ancient sword immortal. Among the relics was a flying sword. Passed down through generations, I, by chance, obtained the flying sword’s recognition at a young age. It entered a natal aperture of its own accord to be nurtured. That ancestor temporarily named the flying sword ‘Mockery.’ After I refined it with great effort back then, for over a hundred years, I’ve only managed to uncover one natal divine ability: to mimic the natal flying swords of other sword cultivators. But it can only be sustained for the duration of a joss stick burning. When the time is up, it immediately reverts to its original state. Therefore, it’s true that it weakens when facing the weak, but it’s not necessarily true that it strengthens when facing the strong.”

Xie Gou grinned, marveling at such an amusing natal flying sword. The ancient sword immortal must have been incredibly motivated when refining it before their celestial dissolution.

Chen Ping’an pondered for a moment and asked, “Regarding this hard-earned natal flying sword, didn’t Sect Master Ding offer a divination?”

Wei Yudian hesitated and said, “Each time the Sect Master performs a divination, it diminishes his cultivation and drains his spirit. Even so, the Sect Master still cast a divination for me, but the divination was rather vague, only a single phrase: ‘Again and again and again.’ The Sect Master has a ancestral tenet that he can only divine an issue once.”

Chen Ping’an considered for a moment and said, “I have a suggestion. Have your family or the Shangsi Sword Sect help you acquire a flying sword at great expense, or by exhausting favors. Try refining the sword with the sword.”

Wei Yudian looked utterly puzzled. What did it mean to refine a sword with a sword, and what was the reason behind it?

Xie Gou nodded vigorously. Their Mountain Lord’s mind was truly brilliant; even she and Xiao Mo couldn’t compare.

Chen Ping’an had to patiently explain, “Perhaps this flying sword shouldn’t be named ‘Mockery.’ Renaming it something like ‘Cuckoo’ would be more appropriate. Sect Master Ding’s so-called ‘three’ might be saying that this flying sword can usurp the nest of three flying swords, having the chance to simultaneously possess the natal divine abilities of three flying swords. This could also explain why that ancient sword immortal, who sat in seclusion on the sea until his death, would rather extract it with great perseverance and effort during his celestial dissolution, than fuse it with his own soul to add to his immortal destiny in the next life. It’s because he was very confident and valued this natal flying sword. Once it was refined into nothingness, even if he had a next life to continue his immortal fate, able to awaken and remember his past self, and re-ascend the mountain to cultivate, the world would be destined to never have this special and wondrous flying sword again.”

Joyful emotions overflowed from Wei Yudian’s expression.

For a moment, she didn’t know how to thank this young Hidden Official.

It couldn’t be that incredibly cliché “offering herself” from a romance between talented scholars and beautiful women, right?

Even if she was willing, he wouldn’t be interested in her.

Old Deafie gently nodded, they were close to the truth.

You Yu’s expression remained unchanged, his mind without a ripple.

Whether he was a sword cultivator in the past or not, whatever his current realm, the Hidden Official was still the Hidden Official.

Chen Ping’an reminded her, “Some mountain affairs, being extraordinary, mean that obtaining a karmic connection means receiving a tribulation.”

Wei Yudian quickly steadied her Dao heart.

Chen Ping’an said, “As for how it will come to collect, in what manner it will appear before you, that depends on your karmic relationship with that person. For example…”

After waiting for a while and seeing that the young Hidden Official didn’t continue, Wei Yudian had to ask, “For example?”

Seeing that she still didn’t understand, Chen Ping’an had to compromise and explain, “For example, the reincarnation of that ancient sword immortal is someone like Gao Yi, who seems to be entangled with you in everything. Or, for example, it’s not Gao Yi, but someone else. When you refine that first additional flying sword, he might walk up to you. What will you do then?”

Wei Yudian’s mind was in turmoil.

Chen Ping’an slowly said, “This kind of cycle of cause and effect, debt repayment, cannot be avoided. It’s simply suffering the consequences of your own actions, resolving it yourself. It doesn’t matter whether it’s on or off the mountain. Repaying debts, turning bad karma into good karma, that is cultivation. Cultivating in the mountains, acting outside the mountains. Having paths to walk both on and off the mountain, that is the Dao. Nature, life, and human sentiments conforming to the principles of heaven, that is the Dharma. Putting them together, that is the path of cultivation.”

Wei Yudian stopped walking, solemnly cupped her hands in greeting, “I will remember it in my heart and follow your teachings.”

Xie Gou started asking the Venerable Dragon Voice again, “Fellow Daoist Long Sheng, do you understand?”

Old Deafie originally wanted to say that there was nothing he couldn’t understand about such profound and simple principles, but due to the formidable reputation of “Ancient White Jade,” Old Deafie changed his words at the last moment, “I don’t quite understand, I only feel that the principles are profound.”

Xie Gou patted Old Deafie’s shoulder, his eyes filled with pity, “Your comprehension is a bit lacking, no wonder you dropped a realm.”

Chen Ping’an asked her some questions about her past interactions with Gao Yi, gaining a general understanding. He then said, “Let’s part ways here.”

Although Wei Yudian wanted to chat for a bit longer, he had already dismissed her, so she had no choice but to bid farewell. Suddenly, she remembered something and asked, “That Gao Yi?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “He was probably scared off by Senior Long Sheng.”

Old Deafie felt helpless.

Wei Yudian walked to the entrance of her own wine shop, and she couldn’t help but look back.

For no reason, she recalled a poem that her master often copied and recited: “Present friendships are like a raging torrent, fleeting as dust. Ancient friendships are like true gold, tempered a hundred times, its color unchanged.”

This young Hidden Official truly had the spirit of ancient chivalrous heroes.

With about half a joss stick’s worth of free time remaining, Chen Ping’an arrived at the foot of the city wall. He looked at that land immortal who was about to fall apart, who still showed no signs of waking up. The sage who was enshrined at the Confucian Temple here also didn’t show up to “mediate,” just leaving the young sect leader out in the cold. A Jade Purity Realm cultivator with a Dao age of only two Jiazi (120 years), and a sword cultivator at that. Being young enough to found a sect, not just in Flowing Sunset Continent, but across the entire Great Azure World, was remarkable.

Xie Gou curiously asked, “Why not call Wei Yudian and have this sword immortal who’s lying on the ground snoring, settle things face to face?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Assuming Gao Yi is truly Wei Yudian’s karmic debt collector, with us around, Wei Yudian will inevitably rely on us deep down. Cultivators cannot rely on external forces to escape tribulations until they have exhausted their own efforts. This would hinder her cultivation.”

Old Deafie nodded, “That makes sense.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and asked, “You hit him that hard?”

Xie Gou laughed heartily, “I was saving his life.”
The old deaf man nodded in agreement, “Senior Bai Jing’s words are true.” If Qi Tingji in his youth had heard those words, he would have been sent on his way already.

Xie Gou glanced at the old deaf man and began to issue orders to the general enshrined cultivators in her capacity as second seat cultivator of the Fallen Mountain, “Wake him up.”

On Fallen Mountain, cultivation realms are useless. She finally found someone who joined Fallen Mountain later than she did, and also a demon cultivator accustomed to being a punching bag. How could she not take advantage?

The old deaf man wasn’t daft; how could he possibly comply?

Chen Ping’an said, “Wake him up, and let’s chat quickly. I’m about to return to the Precious Bottle Continent.”

Only then did the old deaf man act. He squatted down, placed his hand on the man’s shoulder, and shook him a few times, restoring the young sword immortal’s soul, sinews, and vital energy to their original positions.

Seeing Gao Yi awaken, Chen Ping’an said, “I’ve heard a rough outline of your personal grudge with Wei Yu Dian. The Wei family’s dynasty does have its unjust ways and shouldn’t have broken their promise. There’s nothing wrong with you coming here alone to find Wei Yu Dian and demand everything back, including interest. I’m not interested in this kind of love and hatred. Xie Gou attacked you because you shouldn’t have spoken… lewdly here.”

Gao Yi leaned against the wall, staring fixedly at the cyan-robed man in the center, then glanced at the sable-hatted girl. He sneered, “Good methods, I’ve learned my lesson. Dare you reveal your names?”

Xie Gou truly had no patience for such a clueless fool. She kicked out, the sole of her shoe hitting the young sword immortal’s forehead, causing the back of his head to slam against the city wall, knocking him unconscious again.

The old deaf man had no choice but to squat down once more and revive the young sword immortal.

Gao Yi dared not utter any more harsh words, only lowered his head, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with his fingers.

Chen Ping’an continued, “While Wei Yu Dian is here opening a shop to sell wine, don’t disturb her. But as soon as she returns to the Radiant Sun, whether you lie in wait at sea or seek revenge in the Flowing Sunset Continent, it’s all fair game, and you’re responsible for the consequences.”

Gao Yi crossed his arms, remaining silent.

He resembled a boisterous youth from the common streets, refusing to lose face even after being beaten until his head was split open and his mouth was full of blood, unable to speak. He still wanted to communicate with his eyes, “If you don’t kill me today, I’ll kill you one day.”

The old deaf man rubbed his chin, finding it strange. He had already been swatted away by Senior Bai Jing earlier. How could this kid still not understand the severity of the situation, displaying such arrogance on his face?

The most famous great cultivators of the Flowing Sunset Continent were just Jing Hao of the Azure Palace Mountain and Shu Nanyan, the master of the Heavenly Corner Grotto-Heaven, only two ascendant realm cultivators. The so-called peak of a continent wasn’t that high after all.

Compared to the Fire Dragon True Man of the Northern Reaches Continent and Liu Jupao of the White Snow Continent, they were far inferior.

Since this kid wasn’t a direct disciple of Jing Hao or Shu Nanyan, could he be an illegitimate son?

Chen Ping’an said, “You can be unconvinced, whether outwardly or inwardly, it’s up to you. I’m just stating a fact to you.”

After saying that, Chen Ping’an shook his head and chuckled to himself, “It’s time to find an opportunity to visit True Martial Mountain.”

Chen Ping’an looked at Gao Yi, “In this area north of the Ten Thousand Mountains and south of the old mirage city, my words are more effective than the Confucian Temple.”

Hearing those words, Gao Yi hesitated but ultimately said nothing.

Chen Ping’an turned to leave.

Gao Yi grimaced, stood up, and reached out to rub his ribs. The pain made him wrinkle his face. That sable-hatted girl, who looked slender, possessed astonishing strength. What was her cultivation realm?!

Could she be a female Body Refiner of the Apex Realm, skilled in preserving her youth and hiding her true abilities? Does the Radiant Sun have such a figure? Zheng Qian? Was that him?

Xie Gou suddenly turned her head, raised her hand, scaring Gao Yi into leaning back against the wall.

Chen Ping’an calculated the time and said, “You all go about your business. We’ll gather at Fallen Mountain later. I’ll seek guidance from you regarding the details of immortal realm cultivation.”

Xie Gou didn’t care at all. Breaking through to the ascendant realm from the immortal realm was very simple. She just wondered, “It doesn’t seem like something the Mountain Master would do.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “My Senior Brother told me to say a few wild words while I’m young. After trying it, I found it doesn’t suit me, it’s still rather awkward. I’ll avoid it in the future if I can.”

Then Chen Ping’an said, “I might need to trouble you to keep an eye on this guy for at least ten days or half a month.”

Xie Gou understood and rubbed her hands together, “The Mountain Master suspects he’s a pawn that the Barbaric World hasn’t used yet?”

The Flowing Sunset Continent’s reputation is currently mediocre, very mediocre. Overall, it’s much worse than the Soaring Clouds Continent and the Golden Armor Continent, only slightly better than the Tung Leaf Continent.

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Don’t forget, Gao Yi is a sword cultivator, not an ordinary Qi refiner here to sightsee and broaden his horizons. The Great Wall of Swords is extraordinary for Radiant Sun sword cultivators.

For a sword cultivator to say such things here, there are only two possibilities. Either he’s young and already a sect master and sword immortal, complacent and ignorant of the immensity of the world. Added to that, he deeply hates the Upper Si Sword Sect and the Wei family, feeling that after nearly a century of enduring humiliation, his revenge is within reach, he would become overconfident, lose his composure momentarily, and blurt it out.”

“Or, Gao Yi simply doesn’t care about the Great Wall of Swords. There are two possibilities for this. One is that he has an excellent secret master, who is at odds with the Great Wall of Swords. For example, Gao Yi’s teacher might have lost a sword duel to someone at the Great Wall of Swords in his early years, suffered a great loss, and the Summer Retreat Palace has records of such sword cultivators, quite a few of them. Or, Gao Yi is a pawn fostered by the Barbaric World, used to incite infighting within the Flowing Sunset Continent. Of course, these two possibilities can be combined, making it even more logical.”

Xie Gou exclaimed, “The Mountain Master’s vision is like a torch, seeing the great in the small!”

Chen Ping’an glanced at Xie Gou, who nodded.

The old deaf man said to his disciple via spiritual transmission, “Youyou, once we arrive at Fallen Mountain, you can’t rely on your master. You might need to fend for yourself.”

Youyou asked strangely, “Why does Master say that?”

The old deaf man shook his head with a bitter face, not explaining. As a teacher, I don’t quite fit in with the atmosphere of Fallen Mountain.

Gao Yi sat back on the ground, starting to breathe and exhale, adjusting his breath.

The sable-hatted girl’s slap and kick had caused the vital energy in his body to churn like overturning seas. Fortunately, it hadn’t damaged the foundation of his Dao.
Within Gao Yi’s celestial palace, the legendary Xuan Guan One Aperture described by Daoists, bloomed three flowers, suspended in the air at varying heights. Regrettably, they were still a considerable distance from the state of blending spirit, Qi, and essence into one harmonious whole. However, within the highest golden flower, a courtyard resembling a tangible reality had manifested, its gate facing east. In the far distance, billowing clouds and undulating water patterns revealed a towering divine tree, upon which coiled a crimson dragon (Chi) and an azure dragon (Qiu), the materialized manifestations of Gao Yi’s two natal flying swords: the divine tree of the East Sea, a branch capable of reaching the heavens.

Within the courtyard of the golden flower, a scene reminiscent of a moonlit night unfolded. As Gao Yi dispatched a wisp of his divine consciousness to the courtyard’s main hall, a figure initially leaning against the outdoor doorway vanished without a trace. Only the sound of footsteps treading on wooden clogs echoed from beyond the door.

Gao Yi’s mustard-seed of consciousness uttered, “He is Chen…”

Suddenly, a clap of spring thunder resounded through the heavens and earth, reverberating with the repeated words “Be cautious!”

Gao Yi’s consciousness quaked, yet he ultimately refrained from uttering the individual’s name.

Barefoot and with dishevelled hair, Gao Yi approached the threshold, saying, “Across two realms, must you be so cautious? Moreover, you have stated yourself that your identity is not something to be concealed, that you once served humanity and thus the Confucian Temple would not constrain you, nor would the Underworld come to apprehend you. It is merely that you have lost your physical body and require me to open a dwelling within my mind, establish a Daoist sanctum, and maintain a glimmer of your true spirit.”

Seeing that the other party still had no intention of showing themself, Gao Yi continued, “Who exactly is this Liu surname scholar you are so fixated on? What makes him so impossible to relinquish even now?”

In an instant, Gao Yi lost all sensation, as if imprisoned within a cage of stagnating time, pitch-black except for his existing thoughts and ideas.

Gao Yi was left with no choice but to offer a silent apology in his heart, and immediately, brilliant light flooded in. This wisp of consciousness regained its freedom. As agreed, he dared not cross the threshold, enter the realm beyond the door that she had transformed into a forbidden zone. Gao Yi sat cross-legged, muttering to himself, “You said there were still a few residual Daoist veins of swordsmanship lingering here, that it was my opportunity, that only here would I have the chance to return to the Flowing Sunset Continent and help you seize that grand opportunity you have awaited for millennia. And what is the result? Before I even set foot on the battlements, I suffered this unbearable humiliation. Back then, our contract was what allowed you to escape calamity. They say a minister dies for the shame of his lord, and yet you turn a blind eye?”

Presently, in the vast and righteous human realm, opportunities arose everywhere, more than when the Flowing Sunset Continent and the barbaric realms were first connected.

Speaking only of the Flowing Sunset Continent, recently, an ancient, remnant blessed land had manifested in response to destiny. Only those in the Jade Purity Realm dared participate in the struggle. Earth Immortals who dared wade into such murky waters would not even make for a decent snack.

It was said that the Azure Palace Grand Protector, Jing Hao, was currently travelling to other continents to secretly seek powerful allies in order to firmly suppress the Heavenly Corner Blessed Land.

A continent’s leader willing to lower themself and collude with mountain peak cultivators from another continent, made it clear that Jing Hao was determined to obtain this relic.

A clear and cold voice echoed gently, “Ancient contracts are generally divided into three types. We are not master and servant, but rather equals in the role of host and guest. In my view, your body is merely a temporary abode. I helped you go from an unknown royal hostage to achieving your current fortune within a mere century. This is an opportunity you would never have dreamed of before. As for living expenses, I have already paid enough. Gao Yi, you should not be so greedy, demanding more.”

Gao Yi propped his fists against his knees, his gaze blazing. Suddenly, he began to curse loudly, calling her a whore and a slut, vowing to sleep with her sooner or later…

She, however, remained as before, unmoved, regarding his vulgar abuse as mere cicada chirps from the countryside.

Gao Yi said, “Are all you enlightened ones truly devoid of all seven emotions and six desires? If achieving the Dao and ascending to immortality requires this as the price, then what is the point of eternal life?”

Perhaps these words piqued her desire to speak. Outside the door, a white-robed, ethereal woman carrying a sword materialized out of thin air, her face extremely cold and beautiful. She was a female ghost Gao Yi encountered when he travelled in his youth on Yellow Reed Mountain…

Her entire being was a ten-foot-tall golden figure, bearing the countenance of a celestial being.

Her manifested form was flawless, immaculate, and entirely pure gold.

It was only known that her surname was Zheng, her specific realm unknown, but her swordsmanship was extremely high. Gao Yi had been caught in perilous situations and even faced death several times, and she had secretly intervened to help him.

At the beginning of his cultivation, Gao Yi mistakenly believed she was a celestial female ghost. When he reached the level of Earth Immortal, he guessed she might be a legendary Jade Purity Realm ghost immortal. Now that Gao Yi himself was in the Jade Purity Realm, he guessed she was at least an Immortal Realm being. Gao Yi wondered if he himself reached the Immortal Realm one day, would she still be of a higher realm?

She looked towards a certain direction in the void, her expression obscure and unclear, and said, “Among the four of them, two are sword immortals of the same realm as me. However, if it really comes to a fight, I’m afraid I can only defeat that young Golden Core sword cultivator.”

Gao Yi fell backward to the ground, “I don’t know why, but just making eye contact with him exhausted all my energy and spirit. I have never encountered such a strange thing in my life.”

She smiled and said, “Your life? It’s only been a few years?”

Gao Yi remained silent.

She leaned against the doorway, her back to Gao Yi inside the room, “Now you know why he wants to meddle in affairs, and why I avoid them?”

Gao Yi said, “You said you once stopped at Upside Down Mountain…”

Her face showed a sad expression, and she murmured, “Let’s not mention the past.”

After the three Taoist Patriarchs scattered the Dao, all kinds of gods, ghosts, strange and ancient immortals emerged like bamboo shoots after rain, breaking ground one after another.

Successfully avoiding calamity, breaking free from calamity, waiting for an opportunity to move, finally, it was about to be sunny after the rain, and they were about to see the light of day again.

The ghost sword immortal surnamed Zheng, hiding in Gao Yi’s mind, was only one of them.

She once had an agreement with someone of old, no vows required, only a gentleman’s agreement.

As a result, he broke his promise.

However, to be precise, she broke her promise first.

It turned out that back then at Upside Down Mountain, when they said goodbye, he did remind her not to try to merge with the Dao. She did endure for many years, but finally could not resist, touting “believing in the Dao and not evil,” and the result was that the merging failed. One failure meant all her efforts were in vain, and she lost her physical body.

Perhaps this was unavoidable fate. Heaven and earth change, called a great calamity, and in this calamity, each person has their own calamity.

Gao Yi said, “What do you say now?”

She sighed softly, “If you can gain recognition from a certain sword vein here, I will help you compete for a glimmer of hope on the great Dao. The likes of Jing Hao on Flowing Sunset Continent are merely occupying positions without doing the work. It’s time to let someone else take their place.”
Gao Yi inquired, “And what about you?”

She replied, “I’ll wait until you accumulate enough external merit to ascend in broad daylight, and then we’ll part ways.”

Regarding the ancient cave abode, a foundation for enlightenment, she believed her chances of success were considerable, as long as Chen Qingliu didn’t interfere.

However, there was no need to inform Gao Yi about this, lest he become arrogant and reckless, potentially ruining everything.

Just then…

A single sword strike cleaved open two layers of heavenly restrictions.

This sword light, however, didn’t slice through from the outside in, but rather opened like a door from within.

From within the opened doorway, a blue-robed swordsman emerged, self-deprecatingly remarking, “I’m no longer an Hidden Official, yet I’m still doing the work of a Punisher.”

Chen Ping’an finally understood why the Sage of Rites had sent him here.

Was it to help the Confucian Temple remind her to not overstep boundaries in the future?

The white-robed, sword-bearing woman frowned slightly.

Gao Yi, utterly astonished, hastily rose to his feet.

Beside Chen Ping’an, an existence who had imperceptibly concealed herself there appeared. A woman of captivating beauty, her features were in no way inferior to those of the white-robed woman.

Bai Jing’s terrifying talent wasn’t limited to swordsmanship; it extended to all areas… monstrous, defying reason. According to Old Blind Man, if not for some form of divine jealousy, she would have already achieved Dao Integration.

In the ancient eras, below the fourteenth realm, the sword cultivator Bai Jing was indeed even more invincible than Xiao Mo.

Bai Jing smiled faintly. “This young lady, do you have a Daoist name? I’d be interested to hear it.”

The white-robed woman’s expression remained cold and unresponsive.

Chen Ping’an explained, “If I’m not mistaken, this senior is called Zheng Dan and has no Daoist name. Legend says she studied swordsmanship under the Yue Maiden, whose sword techniques were once comparable to those of the Dragon Slayer. Zheng Dan’s devotion to the Way is sincere, and she has mastered its essence, excelling in close combat. Skilled in both short and long weapons, she possesses a solid spirit and displays an imposing aura, her sword qi intercepting even rainbows.”

Zheng Dan was slightly surprised and nodded. “Mr. Chen is too kind.”

Chen Ping’an said, “The Sage of Rites hopes that senior will act within proper limits in the future.”

Zheng Dan nodded. “While the Sage of Rites is present, so are the rules.”

Chen Ping’an said nothing more. He had delivered the message.

Bai Jing grinned. “Judging by your tone, does that mean you’re planning to rebel once the Little Master is gone?”

Zheng Dan smiled. “Senior is free to think as she pleases.”

If he weren’t just a wisp of consciousness here, without physical form, Gao Yi estimated he would be drenched in sweat.

Chen Ping’an teased, “Sword Immortal Gao, are you feeling nervous?”

Gao Yi’s face darkened.

One wave had barely subsided before another arose.

Someone strode into the forbidden area as if it were uninhabited. “Zheng Dan, White Emperor City is short of a gatekeeper. Are you interested?”

Zheng Dan and the newcomer performed a curtsey, without hesitation. “I am willing to follow Mr. Zheng to cultivate the Great Dao.”

Zheng Juzhong nodded. “Once the matters of Flowing Dusk Continent are settled and you’ve cleared your debts with Gao Yi, you may go to White Emperor City and guard the gate.”

Gao Yi’s feelings were incredibly complex, but he glanced once more at the figure in azure robes. Chen, are *you* feeling nervous?

Zheng Juzhong asked with a smile, “Mr. Chen, would you like to visit White Emperor City? Otherwise, if you pass through Central Earth Continent in the future and White Emperor City is already closed, who knows when it will reopen?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “I must return to Treasure Bottle Continent.”

Zheng Juzhong nodded. “Then until we meet again.”

Before departing, Zheng Juzhong smiled at Bai Jing. “Friend Bai Jing, as long as you are willing to sever unfamiliar emotions, you can escape your tribulation and achieve Dao Integration.”

Chen Ping’an remained expressionless.

Bai Jing grinned. “I thought of it while in seclusion with Old Blind Man, but this path to Dao Integration is somewhat inferior, lacking in flavor.”

Zheng Juzhong said, “What a pity. Originally, since even your destined partner could be severed, what person or thing in the world cannot be severed? If you cut down everything with your sword, until the world is full of broken swords and there are no more sword cultivators, Bai Jing would have a chance to ascend to the fifteenth realm.”

Bai Jing pursed her lips.

Zheng Juzhong smiled. “A path inferior? Why deceive yourself? To present yourself in the guise of a mink-hatted girl is to first sever your own spirit, then sever the unfamiliar demon of the heart, first the fourteenth realm, and then use the sword to sever the sword, the sword to sever the world to achieve Dao Integration, and then seek the fifteenth. Why regret it at the last moment?”

Bai Jing frowned, feeling extremely aggrieved. She wrapped her hands around the back of her head, then raised her head high, gazing into the distance. “This body originally knew no sorrow.”

The greatest fear is to accidentally encounter tenderness. Once seen, one will be reluctant to part with it.

Zheng Juzhong nodded. “This Bai Jing is truly Bai Jing. No wonder you were the first female cultivator to enter the Gate of Heaven during the Ascension Campaign.”

Hearing this, Chen Ping’an was stunned and turned to look at Bai Jing.

The first woman to ascend through the gate?

This was the first time he had heard of this.

He had only heard that during that Ascension Campaign, the first Taoist priest opened the way, and the first male cultivator to enter the gate was the sword arts master, one of the Ten Heroes of the ancient world.

Bai Jing said calmly, “From the first day I started practicing swordsmanship and cultivating the Dao, I made a vow to myself: to look at the earth from the heavens with a non-divine body.”

Zheng Juzhong smiled and took his leave.

No wonder Zhu Lian said to Xiao Mo on the mountain, “Have you ever seen a girl more proud than Xie Gou?”

Chen Ping’an remained silent for a moment, then said in his mind, “Xie Gou, does Xiao Mo know these past events?”

Bai Jing had already returned to her usual state, laughing. “Of course she knows, I tell her everything.”

Chen Ping’an, suppressing his emotions for a long time, couldn’t help but curse, “Damn it, Xiao Mo is such an idiot.”

Bai Jing complained, “Don’t talk about Xiao Mo like that.”

Chen Ping’an was speechless. The next moment, he had already returned to Treasure Bottle Continent, in Yongjia County, the capital of Yu Xuan Kingdom.

Perhaps pride is the high city walls, and the person one loves walks on the city walls, with pride under their feet.

(End of Chapter)