Heaven and Earth were akin to an eternal couple. Viewed upside down, the starry river glittered, and a myriad of lights twinkled. The land and rivers resembled an intricate caisson ceiling.

With a flash of sword light, Chen Pingan caught the incoming message-bearing flying sword. After reading the contents, he smiled, “Better to arrive late than never.”

Second Seat Xie understood her own Mountain Master. “Picking up money?”

Chen Pingan handed the letter to Xie Gou, nodding and smiling, “You could say that. A double blessing.”

It turned out that the temporary Ancestral Hall constructed in Yunyan Kingdom had finally yielded a significant positive development. After painstakingly excavating the Grand Canal, various forces had diverted mountains and rivers along the way. In recent days, a vassal state of a certain Yu Dynasty had unintentionally discovered the ruins of a Land Dragon Palace that defied regulations. Its grandeur was almost comparable to that of the Four Seas Dragon Palace of three thousand years ago. It contained several clumps of ten-thousand-year coral, a rare sight in the world. This treasure was invaluable, a natural treasure trove capable of suspending spiritual artifacts and being refined into sword racks, with many incredible uses.

Since it was not just valuable in general, the ultimate ownership of this Land Dragon Palace was worth pondering.

After reading Master Zhong’s handwritten letter, Xie Gou laughed heartily, “Without those troublemakers like Qing Rang, the fortunes of Tongye Continent are improving!”

She then asked a crucial question, “In the alliance previously signed with the Jade Decree Sect and others, was there a pre-arranged solution for this kind of situation?”

Chen Pingan nodded, “Of course, there must be a general framework that everyone agrees on in advance. Otherwise, wealth stirs the heart, and talking about feelings when it’s time to talk about money will hurt feelings. Including the Blessed Lands and Grotto Heavens, the countries where various ancient dojos and Immortal Abodes are located can claim 20% of the profits, as it is their ancestral property. If it is located within the clearly demarcated territory of a certain Immortal Abode Sect, they can also take 20%. Actually, at first, our Sect Master Cui felt that allocating 20% was generous enough, letting the local countries and mountain sects discuss how to split the profits. The Daquan Yao Clan and Pushan Ye Clan didn’t agree. The Jade Decree Sect wanted to compete, but seeing that our Green Plume Sword Sect had no objections, they let it go. As for the rest, it will be distributed according to the investment of forces like the Green Plume Sword Sect, Jade Decree Sect, and Daquan Yao Clan, based on their respective proportions. Of course, a certain country or Immortal Abode can sell their 20% share on the spot, finding a buyer to exchange for cash.”

Xie Gou grinned. Whenever money was mentioned, their Mountain Master’s spirits were especially high.

Xie Gou rubbed her hands and asked, “The Dragon Palace has many restrictions. If we open the door, can we get a bigger share?”

Chen Pingan smiled knowingly. His Second Seat Attendant was very concerned about making money.

Because the landscape restrictions of Dragon Palaces have always been the most difficult to crack among various ruins and secret realms, the Yu Dynasty did not dare to act rashly and casually “open the door,” fearing that they would accidentally cause a series of events such as ground vein tremors, turning it into a disaster. Therefore, they could not give an accurate estimate for the time being.

The reclusive Taoists of the world, after opening their dojos, had to admit that they had no hope of attaining the Great Dao in this life. Because they did not want to cut off their lineage, or hoped that virtuous or fated descendants would obtain it and help pass on their teachings. Or they harbored a glimmer of hope, thinking that their reincarnated selves would one day revisit the old place, renew their Dao fate, and climb the mountain to cultivate again. If successful, the “present life” could save a lot of trouble on the path of cultivation. Therefore, these ownerless dojos often left one or two clues, so it wouldn’t be a dead end.

In contrast, large and small Dragon Palaces were recognized as treasure troves, with more of a burial connotation. Historically, unauthorized opening of abandoned Dragon Palaces, leading to landscape tremors and calamities, was commonplace.

Just take the Dragon Palace where Baideng hid. If Chen Pingan hadn’t been nearby and Lu Chen hadn’t been responsible for clearing the way, even the powerful Dali Dynasty wouldn’t have dared to take it lightly.

Chen Pingan said, “I don’t think it’s our turn to act. Feng Xuetao and Tender Taoist are both in the capital now.”

One was a nominal enshrinement of the Jade Decree Sect, and the other liked to show off. These two Ascended Realm cultivators were the best candidates for opening the many gates of the Dragon Palace.

Actually, a certain Ascended Realm cultivator was more suitable, but Yang Zhi, who used the alias Jing Xing and served as an enshrinement of the Yao Imperial Family, had already left the capital. Obviously, Xie Gou’s appearance on the border of Yunyan Kingdom had alarmed this great demon, who chose to avoid him.

The calculation was simple. With Xiaomo and Bai Jing, even if Yang Zhi had Zhu Yan’s help, he could only run away, and he might even worry about whether he could escape.

At this moment, from the direction of South Posuo Continent, a magnificent Dao Qi soared into the sky, with radiant clouds. A purple-gold vortex appeared in the air, with a little golden light rising slowly.

There were ethereal celestial music, long chimes of jade chimes, and auspicious signs of celestial maidens scattering flowers and celestial officials bestowing blessings.

Someone had attained enlightenment and ascended.

In the dojo where this enlightened person was located, thousands of disciples and followers looked up at the magnificent painting, their eyes blurred, as if intoxicated.

When the enlightened person returned to the mountain dojo, they finally came back to their senses and shouted in unison, congratulating the ancestor on his ascension…

Chen Pingan could only rely on his Qi Observation technique to see a rough picture.

Xie Gou used some kind of secret technique, watching with great interest.

Strange and wonderful things came one after another. Auspicious omens and spiritual opportunities arose in response to the times, as numerous as bamboo shoots after the rain.

Xie Shi, the Heavenly Lord of North Ju Lu Continent, ascended on a phoenix.

As Lu Chen’s direct disciple, Cao Rong ascended in broad daylight at sea.

Fu Qi of Old Dragon City, just after exiting seclusion, joined the ranks of immortals.

On the Tongye Continent side, Huang Ting, a female Daoist who had returned to Haoran not long ago, broke through her realm inexplicably, becoming a Taoist Yuanjun.

Xie Gou muttered for no reason, “Unrequited love is like a toothache.”

Chen Pingan asked, “Did Old Cook say that again?”

Xie Gou complained, “Don’t always call him Old Cook. Show some respect to Mr. Zhu.”

Chen Pingan smiled, “You don’t need to beat around the bush. Of course, I’m happy to see you and Xiaomo become Daoist companions. I will definitely help where I can.”

Xie Gou beamed, smiling flatteringly and servilely, raising her arm and making a fist. “Mr. Zhu said that the Mountain Master is a deeply hidden grandmaster when it comes to matters of love between men and women. He has it all figured out!”

Chen Pingan laughed, “Senior Immortal Cha believes that, and you believe it too?”
Back then on Osmanthus Island, the young Chen Ping’an, in his rare moments of unrestrained boasting, had bamboozled Gu Qingsong to no end.

Xie Gou asked, “Does the Mountain Lord seem rather wary of the Azure Vault Cave Master?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Of course, I hold her in respect. Besides, as the Mountain Lord, I must consider Wei Xian and the others. Speaking and acting, I am more circumspect.”

Xie Gou suggested, “Worried they are puppets on a string? Then speak plainly. With Xiao Mo present, surely Daoist Azure Vault would grant you some face. Or does the Mountain Lord feel ashamed to ask a favor?”

Chen Ping’an said, “If it were feasible, I would have spoken long ago. Face is worthless. But the problem is the Old Guan Master might not accept it, giving the appearance of feigning innocence after benefiting. I fear it would backfire.”

Xie Gou nodded, “Indeed, Daoist Azure Vault’s temperament is peculiar.”

She accepts no disciples, imparts no teachings, utterly alone, with few confidants.

And during the time when the wild lands rampantly attacked the Great Entirety, amidst the rising smoke of war, she chose to remain.

Yet, when the Great Entirety finally enjoyed peace, she ventured to the chaotic Azure Vault, a world embroiled in turmoil.

What does she seek? Disdaining her own powerful dao energy? Intentionally whittling away her cultivation for amusement?

In truth, there is another crucial reason: the Azure Vault Cave Master seems to view their Mountain Lord with considerable favor.

Xie Gou proposed, “Mountain Lord, since we are bored, why not visit the neighboring peak for a drink?”

Chen Ping’an said, “There is nothing to discuss with them. It would still be tedious.”

But Xie Gou had already dispelled the illusory camouflage, so Chen Ping’an let her be, not bothering to reinforce the array concealing their presence.

Over there, each of them was filled with wary caution. Suddenly encountering two strangers in the remote wilderness would naturally make anyone uneasy.

Xie Gou unfurled a ten-foot-long, multicolored silken ribbon from her sleeve, sweeping across the void towards the adjacent peak, like a rainbow spanning the distance, constantly stretching. The mink-hatted maiden walked on the “bridge,” her smile radiant, and cupped her fist, calling out, “Greetings, fellow Daoists! My senior brother and I are upright and honorable practitioners of the righteous path!”

She had already prepared her story: a celestial chosen of an obscure sect, who, together with her senior brother, sought out fellow cultivators while slaying demons and eliminating evil. Along their journey, they had accumulated considerable merit…

Weaving tales, who couldn’t do it?

Alas, where is the Mountain Lord?

All saw the strange maiden of unknown origin suddenly stomp her foot and, only halfway across, turn tail and flee,收收起那條品相不俗的彩緞靈寶, anxiously crying out, “Senior Brother, wait for me!”

She possessed an innate intuition, akin to the Buddhist’s Celestial Eye, capable of perceiving the true form, dharma aspects, and many other extraordinary manifestations of great cultivators, without obstruction.

A hazy azure figure on the other side of the mountain, even just a fleeting glimpse, unsettled her dao heart. However, the figure vanished in a flash, leaving her no time to observe further.

But the “maiden” who had erected the bridge with the colored ribbon, in her eyes, appeared like a sixteen-armed female deity, imbued with a terrifying wild aura that made it difficult to breathe.

And before the mink-hatted maiden turned to leave, she clearly glanced at her, nodded, and offered a smile that was not quite a smile.

Catching up with the Mountain Lord, who was already over a hundred miles away, Xie Gou said, “A passable cultivator, but her immortal fate is lacking. She failed to enter a renowned sect with the character ‘Sect’ in its name.”

What Xie Gou deemed “passable talent” would, without exception, be enough to reach the Earth Immortal stage. Earlier, listening to them talk about affairs on the mountain, their revered immortals and esteemed seniors were merely Golden Core cultivators. Those young talents they considered unattainable, so-called geniuses, were only at the Sea Gazing Realm.

Xie Gou actually possessed several forms. Her current appearance as a mink-hatted maiden was one, a form of self-suppression.

Another was the appearance she took in the Sword Qi Great Wall when confronting Ghost Immortal Zheng Dan. In the ancient eras, Bai Jing often manifested in this form, walking the earth.

The third form, glimpsed by that female cultivator tonight, was more like Xie Gou’s dharma aspect. The fourth, of course, was Xie Gou’s demonic true form.

In addition, there was a perfect state that Xie Gou only revealed when fighting for her life.

Even Xiao Mo, who favored sword duels with the strong, could only flee to the Treasure Dropping Beach to hide from Bai Jing.

How discerning were the Old Blind Man’s eyes? His evaluation of Bai Jing was certainly not low.

Chen Ping’an asked, “The female cultivator sitting on the ivory mat?”

Xie Gou shook her head, “The one with a face full of freckles, serving as a foil for the former.”

Chen Ping’an recalled the encounter by the river, remembering the green-sleeved, yellow-crowned female immortal’s favoritism, and joked in self-deprecation, “I am one to judge by appearances.”

Xie Gou asked, “Shall I inform Sect Master Cui later, and have him keep an eye on her?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “That would be good.”

On the mountain, changing one’s register is not always required to cultivate in another Daoist sanctum. For example, the female cultivator from Pearl Hairpin Island on鳌鱼背 can cultivate in Lotus Root Blessed Land. They also help out with Dragon Boat Overturning Ink and Bullock Horn Ferry’s Parcel Abode, similar to a temporary assignment in officialdom or holding a “walking” position in a certain government office. Generally, those with such training qualifications are carefully nurtured direct disciples from the ancestral halls of small sects. Great immortal abodes are willing to treat them with courtesy, happy to do them a favor, and the latter, for both emotional and logical reasons, will regard the former as a partial “maiden’s home” in their future path of cultivation.

Yu Xuan taking the initiative to send Daoist Ding and the others to the Fallen Phoenix Mountain is a good example.

Of course, there is also the Grandmaster Wen from Spiritual Flight Palace, who came in a huff and stayed with a smile.

Nowadays, Wen Zixi no longer considers himself an outsider.

What Wen Zixi is thinking, no one knows. The Fallen Phoenix Mountain doesn’t even pay him a salary! On the contrary, Zheng Dafeng has repeatedly taken advantage of him, leaving him with a mountain of debt. Yet, Wen Zixi “repaid evil with kindness,” spending much effort in meticulously compiling a boxing manual, tricking the martial arts students, claiming it was an entry-level secret of the martial world, belonging to the most basic of basics. If they couldn’t even learn this, it meant they weren’t cut out for martial arts.
He also suggested to Zheng Dafeng that the children of Yingyu Peak and Huaying Peak should engage in brawls, twice a month. Since he would be watching, at most they would suffer some minor injuries and wouldn’t be fundamentally harmed. After learning so many fists and comprehending so many immortal techniques on Jumping Fish Mountain, it was necessary to drag them out to see what they were truly capable of. Zheng Dafeng, as the senior master of Yingyu Peak, accepted these suggestions one by one. Xie Gou, the chief instructor of Huaying Peak, had no objections either. However, in private, she instructed that Gan fellow to quickly help the eight children who couldn’t learn anything well and were useless at everything. She secretly taught them several quick-mastered movement techniques and immortal arts.

The result was that the cultivation geniuses of Huaying Peak were utterly defeated by the martial arts geniuses who were ruthless and skilled at cooperation.

Feeling utterly humiliated, Chief Instructor Xie went out to relax.

Gan Tang, who had originally regarded working odd jobs on Jumping Fish Mountain as a chore, directly built a thatched hut on Huaying Peak and didn’t return to the Sword Worship Terrace.

Zheng Dafeng personally cooked and set up three tables for a celebratory feast, asking them if they enjoyed beating up Qi Refiners. Wen Zixi reminded them to not be arrogant in victory or discouraged in defeat, deliberately emphasizing the “discouraged in defeat.” This made the children laugh heartily. Zheng Dafeng and the Wen brothers exchanged toasts, saying that half the credit for their great victory should go to the Wen brothers. It turned out that Wen Zixi took this seemingly joking match extremely seriously, helping to draw accurate maps beforehand, setting up ambush locations, and planning how to lure the enemy deep, when and where to encircle them… he even used military tactics.

It seemed that Grandmaster Wen was having a good time in Fallen Mountain.

In fact, during the celebratory feast, Zheng Dafeng also pointed out a flaw, feeling that their acting skills were lacking. He said that when they were their age, their mountain lord was already doing such and such.

The two tables under the eaves, filled with young boys and girls, were instantly silent. They all perked up their ears and ate their meals with their heads down.

The key was that there was a white-haired boy squatting at the door, writing furiously: “On such and such day of such and such month, Martial Head Zheng Dafeng of Jumping Fish Mountain publicly praised the mountain lord, the original text is as follows…”

Zheng Dafeng smiled awkwardly, pretended to be calm, and waved his hand, “Ha, drink, drink! Eat meat, eat meat!”

Forcing a smile, Zheng Dafeng called out to Sister Konghou, wanting to win her over. The white-haired boy stood up, put away his paper and pen, spat, cursed “Disgusting!” and left triumphantly with the evidence.

Taking Xie Gou with him, they entered the territory of Yunyan Kingdom, walking neither fast nor slow, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way, with clear mountains and rivers, lush willows and abundant flowers.

They passed a temporarily unowned abandoned lotus pond, with a cool fragrant breeze and upright lotus leaves, evoking memories of a time when they concealed a beauty’s waist.

He believed that the young men and women on the continent of Tongye would become more and more beautiful.

There are some people…

Carefully walking on the path of the world, painstakingly trying to please this world.

We are all afraid…

Afraid of harming the people in this world.

Inside a fly-infested restaurant at Yulin Ferry, a white-clothed youth with a red mole between his eyebrows and a young woman with a bun hairstyle were eating supper at the same table. They ordered a grilled fish and two catties of bulk-sold homemade Yiyi wine. The youth was unruly, squatting on the long bench, holding a wine cup, mumbling and chattering incessantly. The woman was dignified, chewing slowly and silently, only listening to the youth who couldn’t stop rambling even with the Yiyi wine and delicious food.

The content of the youth’s idle chatter was as grand as the heavens, like people in a city tavern casually discussing million-tael deals.

“Liu, the God of Wealth of Aiai Continent, and Mr. Fan, the ancestor of the Merchant family, actually walk paths that are not superior or inferior. One’s path lies in dispersing wealth, the other’s lies in gathering it. Both fall within the realm of harmony with people.”

“It is rumored that every snowflake coin’s casting and spending is imprinted with a trace of Liu, the God of Wealth’s thoughts. Of course, that’s just a rumor. If that were the truth, it would be too terrifying.”

“The Confucian Temple cannot control how Liu, the God of Wealth, merges with the Dao, or when and where he merges with the Dao. Mr. Fan is one step behind, unfortunately. The Sage of Rituals’ rules are too strict. After all, he is in charge of the Hundred Schools of Thought.”

“Previously, Mr. Fan scattered money in Baoping Continent on a large scale, which was a subtle probe by the Merchant family. To be precise, it was a method of surveying. Of course, we don’t need to doubt Mr. Fan’s original intention and purpose. He naturally has his heart towards the Great Way, and his attitude towards money is even more detached. But he can’t withstand the Sage of Rituals’ slyness. Mr. Fan and the Merchant family scattered countless money, almost moving out half of their family fortune. It was clearly a great contribution to the Great Way, but when it came to awarding merits after the war and launching the war in the Barbaric Desolation, they gambled everything on Mr. Fan’s merging with the Dao, hoping for a rising tide to lift all boats, but the result was a complete failure. The Confucian Temple only raised the status of the Merchant family, so the entire Merchant family was dumbfounded. It’s obvious that this path is impassable. Should the disciples of the Merchant family continue to scatter money on the Barbaric Desolation battlefield? This is a very worrying question. Mr. Fan didn’t say anything. Those managers of the Merchant family wondered if giving half of the family fortune wasn’t enough, so they decided to take a big gamble? Emptying out the entire family fortune, that should be enough sincerity, right? Among the Hundred Schools of Thought, which family is more generous than our Merchant family?”

Speaking here, Cui Dongshan smiled and asked, “Eldest Senior Sister, guess what?”

Pei Qian shook her head and said, “I can’t guess.”

Cui Dongshan slowly said, “The Merchant family hasn’t been poor since becoming one of the Hundred Schools of Thought. Now they have become poor fellows who shoulder righteousness and have clean sleeves. No one would believe this kind of thing if it were spread out. But if the Sage of Rituals doesn’t nod his head, Mr. Fan won’t be able to cross that threshold. The Merchant family, having spent all their money, almost had internal conflicts over this, full of complaints. Some were bloodshot-eyed gamblers, not believing that the Confucian Temple wouldn’t nod its head. Some wanted to quickly find a way to stop the losses and bargain with the Confucian Temple. Others wanted to take the opportunity to establish their own families, such as the Ji Ran family and several other Dao lineages.”

Pei Qian asked, “What is that Mr. Fan’s attitude?”

Cui Dongshan said to himself, “As long as you seek profit, as long as there is a trace of impurity, you are destined to fail. But no one gets up early without profit. There’s no business in the world that doesn’t make money, right, Eldest Senior Sister?”

Pei Qian said absentmindedly, “Right, I guess.”
Cui Dongshan grinned, “Not long ago, Liu Youzhou was bewitched and went to hang out with Gu Can. Otherwise, he would definitely be hovering around Senior Apprentice Sister.”

Pei Qian was puzzled. “Does he really like me? Isn’t it just you guys making a fuss?”

Cui Dongshan chuckled, “Liking Senior Apprentice Sister, who is perfect in every way, isn’t that a perfectly normal thing?”

Pei Qian shook her head, her expression serious. “It’s not normal.”

Cui Dongshan said helplessly, “Senior Apprentice Sister, you can’t always think of yourself as a little black charcoal, can you?”

Pei Qian rolled her eyes.

Cui Dongshan changed his reasoning, “Even the ugliest woman has someone who likes her.”

Pei Qian nodded. “That reason is more reliable.”

Cui Dongshan quickly added, “Said by Sword Immortal Mi, I’m just borrowing it.”

Having eaten half of the grilled fish, the Eldest and Youngest Apprentice siblings used their chopsticks together to turn the grass carp over. Cui Dongshan sucked on his chopsticks.

Pei Qian took a sip of Yi wine and began to wander her thoughts again. Cui Dongshan said, “That undersea Dragon Palace, before opening it, we need to make a list. Otherwise, there’s no way to accurately estimate its value.”

“Generally speaking, as long as we don’t compete for the ownership of the immortal mansion ruins in the south, the Jade Tablet Sect won’t covet this Dragon Palace. That’s called reciprocity. In short, we have the chance to take the entire Dragon Palace.”

“Then, selling it, we’re guaranteed to be rolling in wealth!”

Pei Qian only heard him with one ear and out the other. Just then, a middle-aged man walked into the restaurant and asked bluntly, “Mr. Cui, will you sell this wine cup?”

Cui Dongshan smiled without saying a word. As long as this guy asked, the price would definitely not be a problem.

But Cui Dongshan seemed to be deliberately arguing, “Even if I were willing to sell it, Mr. Fan might not be able to afford it.”

Mr. Fan smiled. “Then a gentleman does not take what others cherish.”

Cui Dongshan became anxious all of a sudden. He shifted his butt and made room for Mr. Fan, inviting him to sit down. Mr. Fan didn’t stand on ceremony and asked the waiter for a set of bowls and chopsticks.

Pei Qian put down her chopsticks and took the initiative to greet the Ancestral Master of Merchants across the table. Mr. Fan nodded with a smile, “Great teachers produce outstanding students. Mountain Lord Chen can be called a grandmaster of both practicing and teaching boxing.”

Cui Dongshan clicked his tongue in wonder. “A merchant, that’s a merchant!”

When you’re out and about, you have to talk about fate.

Pei Qian, who was still a little black charcoal, didn’t dare to look too much at the Old Sword Immortal on the city walls when she traveled with the Great White Goose in the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Looking too much would hurt her eyes.

The last time was in her hometown’s Lotus Root Paradise. Pei Qian looked up at the majestic old Daoist priest beside the well.

She only learned much later that this Old Master of the temple was the true Heavenly Sovereign of the Lotus Root Paradise.

With the Wine Spring Cup, people who love to drink don’t need to brew or buy wine.

Isn’t that the same as a poor bachelor who can’t afford a wife but can meet goddesses in his dreams every night?

Mr. Fan picked up a piece of fish and asked with a smile, “Really not selling?”

Cui Dongshan sighed. “We can haggle back and forth, of course, but not selling is truly not selling.”

Back then, Cui Dongshan had secretly visited Sun Juyuan’s private residence, and the two had a heart-to-heart talk.

Sun Juyuan, who possessed a Wine Spring Cup, was elegant and refined. He had never been to that up-and-coming wine shop, so he naturally hadn’t written a “no worries” plaque.

As for whether Sun Juyuan had bought a “Hundred Sword Immortal” or “Two Hundred Sword Immortal” seal album, it was unknown.

He got along well with Cui Dongshan, an outsider.

“I am Dongshan.” “I am Xihe.”

The only hero who dared to talk back to his face.

Anyone who has been to the Sword Qi Great Wall will always have some memorable people or events.

Sun Juyuan, who had no good feelings for the Vast Expanse World, had a “but,” which was not unexpected by Cui Dongshan.

“But.” “Have I agreed to let you cross the city wall?”

Mr. Fan suddenly asked, “I have been unable to find the path to Harmony. Does Mr. Cui have any good advice?”

Cui Dongshan looked strange. “An Ascension Realm asking a Celestial Realm about how to achieve Harmony?”

Mr. Fan frowned and said, “Have you really forgotten, or are you playing dumb?”

Cui Dongshan looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”

No wonder he calls himself Mr. Cui instead of Sect Master Cui. Could it be that the old bastard owes this guy a huge debt and the creditor has come to collect it? Easy, default on the debt!

Mr. Fan said, “Earlier in the capital of Great Li, Mr. Cui said that the Sage of Rites would never allow the status of merchants to be too high. It would always be lower than the Way of Heaven’s Yin and Yang, the Way of Earth’s Farmers, and the Way of Humanity’s Poetry and Prose. In short, it’s probably that as long as I am still the Ancestral Master of Merchants, I will never be able to enter the Fourteenth Realm. No matter what method I use, the Sage of Rites will not ‘yield the Way’. But Cui Chan said he had a way to point out a path to Harmony for me.”

Cui Dongshan blinked. “He really said that? Word for word, not a single word missing?”

Mr. Fan felt helpless. “Sect Master Cui, do you think I would joke about such a thing?”

For merchants, making money is their natural profession. Generally speaking, if Mr. Fan wanted to achieve Harmony, he would make money, becoming the richest person in the world.

The facts proved that this road was impassable. So he went in the opposite direction, scattering money like scattering the Dao. Not only was he the first in making money, but he was also the first in spending it. Between the gathering and scattering of money, the human world was filled with countless large and small, invisible “paths of wealth,” but it still didn’t work. In fact, Mr. Fan had expected this.

Cui Dongshan rubbed his chin, thought for a while, and said cautiously, “To be honest, that old bastard suffered a loss at the wine table when he was young, so he hates businessmen the most. Mr. Fan, you know, that person is the most petty and narrow-minded. He can hold a grudge for a long time, so… maybe, probably, possibly, perhaps he deliberately tricked you.”

Pei Qian glanced at Mr. Fan, who was trying hard to hold back his anger. It was obvious that he wanted to curse.

Since there was nothing to talk about, Mr. Fan said goodbye without wasting a moment.

Cui Dongshan asked, “Mr. Fan, what are you doing?”

Mr. Fan endured and endured, finally managing to hold back from cursing. He said angrily, “Going out to make money!”

Good for you, Embroidered Tiger, you’re really acting like you’re robbing the rich to help the poor?!

Cui Dongshan muttered, “Settle the bill first.”

Mr. Fan took a deep breath, turned to wave at the boy in white, and said with a smile, “You, come here.”

Perhaps the Ancestral Master of Merchants at this moment…
His reflections were, as Cui Dongshan himself put it, “What a handsome young man, pity he’s not mute.”

Cui Dongshan said, “I won’t go over. Just toss the silver here.”

Pei Qian reminded him, “Don’t take too much.”

Cui Dongshan shook his head, swaggering. Little Senior Brother was known for his skill and audacity, fearing no one.

Pei Qian said, “Master seems to be on his way here.”

Cui Dongshan jumped up as if his backside was on fire, hurrying towards the entrance. “I’ll accompany Mister Fan for a stroll.”

Mister Fan walked in the alley, not directly using “Shrinking the Earth to an Inch” to avoid annoyance.

Cui Dongshan clasped his hands behind his head, grinning. “When those above desire something, those below will pursue it even more fervently. Those who are most skilled at earning money might escape the allure of wealth, but those who are most ruthless in their pursuit never will. Now, and in the future, the merchants’ disciples will emulate your ancestral masters, learning how to make money by following your examples.”

Mister Fan said, “I understand the principle.”

Cui Dongshan smiled. “The key lies in the heart. Earning money is simply a matter of a virtuous man obtaining it through proper means. How much one earns is one thing; how ruthless one’s heart is, is another entirely. The foundation of a merchant lies in integrity. And how does integrity arise? It comes from willingly earning less when one could clearly earn more. But the question is, on the path of wealth, can integrity ever be the greatest common divisor? There are countless similar questions. You merchants are full of paradoxes, riddled with loopholes. If you cannot reconcile these contradictions, you are destined to fail to attain the Dao.”

Mister Fan shook his head. “Don’t bother me with such shallow reasoning.”

Cui Dongshan sneered. “Shallow?! If I were the Sage of Rites, no matter how much money you earn, among the hundred schools of thought, you would always be at the bottom.”

Mister Fan remained silent.

Cui Dongshan tiptoed and patted Mister Fan on the shoulder. “Old Fan, earning money isn’t shameful.”

Mister Fan smiled wryly, speechless.

Cui Dongshan withdrew his hand, flicked his sleeves, then clasped them again, saying calmly, “Cui Chan promised to show you a path, and he wasn’t deceiving you. In fact, it wasn’t in the future, but in that very moment. From that moment on, you were on the path that Cui Chan laid for you. From that moment until now, the only thing you needed to do was to align the path of wealth with the path of the heart. Therefore, he was also indeed deceiving you, deliberately using the Sage of Rites to scare you. After all, the hundred schools of thought are different from ordinary cultivators. Attaining the Dao and reaching the fourteenth realm, passing the test of the heart, is not so easy. At the last meeting in the Confucian Temple, the Sage of Rites deliberately elevated the status of the entire merchant class, but refused to make an exception for you alone. Wasn’t that a test for you? The Embroidered Tiger wanted you to give up hope. If you still harbored a glimmer of hope, then the Sage of Rites would make you give up again. Mister Fan, do you believe that once you walk out of this alley, you will be in the fourteenth realm?”

Mister Fan was pensive, both believing and doubting.

Cui Dongshan extended his hand.

Mister Fan looked puzzled.

“After listening to my words, you won’t give me some money?”

Cui Dongshan exclaimed angrily, “The three of us drink wine and eat meat without paying the bill? That’s a joke!”

Mister Fan smiled and took out a tael of silver, handing it to the white-clad youth.

Cui Dongshan turned and walked towards the restaurant, while Mister Fan walked alone in the alley.

Hurrying into the restaurant, Cui Dongshan placed a few pieces of broken silver on the table and winked at Pei Qian.

Pei Qian asked, “What?”

Cui Dongshan said in a mental voice, “I’m afraid of getting beaten up. Let’s run quickly.”

The moonlight was like water, spreading across the mortal realm.

In a remote corner of Liuxia Continent, the country of Cloud Rainbow was not large, and the capital city was even smaller.

The Cloud Rainbow Country was a vassal state of a large dynasty. According to regulations, it had to offer tributes to the suzerain state every year. However, it had always been the case that the offerings were less than what the suzerain state gave, because everyone knew that the Cloud Rainbow Country was truly poor, with barren land and scarce resources. Only sincerity was required, and subsidies were also provided. Therefore, the Cloud Rainbow Country’s envoy convoy was famous for arriving empty-handed and leaving laden with gifts.

Small as the sparrow was, it had all the necessary organs. The capital city had government offices as numerous as the hairs on an ox, said to be even more exaggerated in number than in the suzerain state.

It was said that the reason the lesser kingdom had seen such a good fortune for a century or so was that the guardian deity favored the small dynasty with plentiful harvests, political harmony, no wars, and good weather.

The capital city had a Willow Shade Lake, with willow-lined embankments, and tourists thronged throughout the year. All sorts of painted boats and pleasure boats were arranged like wild geese by the water’s edge, with singing and dancing day and night. Along the lake, mansions of ministers, residences of grand secretaries, private residences of powerful eunuchs, and prominent families were densely packed, boasting of their wealth. Each family’s courtyards and private gardens were gathered here, so the carriages and horses were noisy every day, the attendants were clamorous, especially during the morning court and evening return, a scene of bustling noise and traffic jams. The women competed for beauty, impatient with loneliness, often wearing palace-style makeup, riding in sedan chairs and horses, passing through the willows, their voices as sweet as orioles, and the people more beautiful than the flowers.

In this prime location, there was a young, impoverished official working in the Ministry of Revenue. Although his salary was meager, he at least had an official position, unlike those impoverished scholars whose bellies were full of ink but couldn’t earn a few coins. He rented a house here and even hired a burly personal maid who always carried an inkstone in her satchel. The reason why this pair of masters and servants were able to pick up this bargain was only because it was a haunted house. In short, the master’s official position wasn’t high, and the maid had no beauty, so they were inconspicuous.

The maid was named Yan Gua, and the young official was named Shao Benchu.

The master served as a sesame-sized official in the Ministry of Revenue in this remote small country, a principal clerk. It sounded good, but the official hat was actually very small. Fortunately, it was in the donation department, which sold official positions, so there was some profit. However, his true body stayed in the house, often falling asleep, literally “daydreaming.” Instead, he liked to read late into the night, poring over all sorts of miscellaneous books, a night owl.

His Yang Spirit doppelganger would go to the Ministry of Revenue every day to clock in and take his post, doing his work extremely conscientiously, handling complex official affairs with great skill, with an experience that didn’t seem believable. Unfortunately, he had no one in court to rely on. As for his Yin Spirit, it was responsible for cultivation, nourishing the spirit and soul of the true body, so he was cultivating every moment of the day, year-round, with twice the result for half the effort.

In the important place of the capital city, by the emperor’s side, it was somewhat taboo for mountain cultivators to travel far with their Yin Spirits, especially officials, entering and exiting the government offices, busy with official duties.
She, a Painting-Stone Deity from Mural City, who had come to Flowing Haze Continent, was ostensibly there to protect the Dao for her master, but in truth, she had little to do each day. Her master even encouraged her to explore the capital, but after a few outings, she lost interest. She had seen a few lantern festivals, but the Imperial Advisor was not even a Golden Core cultivator. To mountain cultivators, not to mention the capital, the entire Cloud Mist Kingdom was a small place with mediocre spiritual energy, unremarkable mountains and rivers, and a commonplace national fortune. The neighboring countries along the border had been peaceful for a long time, like amicable neighbors, each minding their own business, so for over a century, they had largely remained at peace.

Therefore, even the Imperial Advisor’s realm was only Dragon Gate. His cultivation skills were meager, though his Daoist temple looked quite impressive.

Her only interest was to follow her master to the celestial veil of Flowing Haze Continent every half year to capture lightning and refine the Thunder Pool.

The residence was small, and rented, just a three-courtyard compound. Considering her master’s background and current official rank and salary, it was a bit of a strain. Therefore, her master often had to create paintings and calligraphy to sell for silver, so naturally, there were no extra maids or servants.

However, on that Night-Sailing Ship, her master was the Lord of City of Appearances, using the alias Shao Baojuan.

She felt indignant that her master was not among the selected Young Ten of the Realm, chosen in recent years.

Her master was open-minded, comforting her that in the mortal world, virtue mismatched with position would only result in a notorious reputation. In the mountains, however, a lack of power was far more serious.

Her master also said that with his current paper-thin cultivation, he indeed couldn’t make the list. He would die if he encountered any of the top ten in a conflict over the Great Dao. At most, he could barely occupy a spot among the ten reserve candidates.

“What is your aspiration, Master?”

“In officialdom, as a humble person from a poor background, I hope to become a Prime Minister who can help the Son of Heaven manage Yin and Yang.”

“In cultivation, I strive to reach the Ascended Realm one day. Then I can go to the Azure Firmament and see if there’s an opportunity to continue being an official.”

“Master, do you like being an official that much?”

“I remember when I was a child, during the rite of choosing, I grabbed an official seal.”

“An official fanatic.”

It seemed that his ancestors had only been local officials.

“How did Master get to know the Censor Hao Su?”

“A sleepwalking incident.”

Shao Benchu chatted idly with his maid while reading the latest mountain and river gazette.

The gazettes of the various Confucian schools did not write about the war situation in the Wildlands. However, Shao Benchu had his own channels and knew that a young cultivator from the Legalist school had emerged on the battlefield. His Daoist name was Baiguan. He had been unknown in the Vast World, but he shone brightly on the Wildlands battlefield, attracting much attention.

Legalist disciples initially focused on building a village, independently constructing its mountains and rivers, local customs, and human relationships. They followed a step-by-step process, from nothing to something, from small to large, from simple to complex. Gradually, they expanded their territory, from prefectures and counties to a state, shaping mountain and water deities, building City God Temples, Civil and Military Temples, Wenchang Pavilions, and Buddhist and Daoist temples. They established immortal mountain peaks and Jianghu sects, eventually allowing people, objects, and events to flourish. According to each Legalist’s preferences, the myriad things within their “jurisdiction” would have different focuses. The only downside was that when placed within the White Paper Blessed Land, even banished immortals couldn’t feel the passage of time. Furthermore, directions, timekeeping, weight, and other factors were far from “real,” as if separated by a sheet of paper. The Legalist school was among the schools of thought most distant from the ways of the mortal world.

And that young cultivator had independently created an elite cavalry of tens of thousands of soldiers. Although these troops were too reliant on the right time and place, and would be greatly weakened once they left the White Paper Blessed Land, they were also vulnerable to targeted immortal spells. Nevertheless, this feat by the Legalists was unprecedented in the previous great war in the Vast World.

They would be most suitable for temporary rushes in certain battlefields of the Wildlands in the future.

Shao Benchu felt somewhat regretful that he had never been to the Wildlands.

In a village school, Jiang Shangzhen, who had become a teacher, was reading late into the night with an earthen pot of wine and a plate of peanuts.

On Fallen Boulder Mountain, Little Rice Grain spread out a “Astronomical” diary. Most of the time, she only recorded the daily weather, whether it was cloudy or sunny, and whether the sky was full of clouds or clear blue. But sometimes she also wrote about the roundness of the moon, or how flamboyantly the azaleas bloomed in the mountains that year. One bowl of the Old Cook’s handmade sour plum soup was never enough. It wasn’t her greed or the Old Cook’s exceptional skill, but only that the bowl was too small.

Or, like today, she secretly slept in and found the sun shining brightly outside the window, and the heavens were in a good mood.