The newly appointed Mountain Guardian, Venerable Gu He, acutely detected a subtle ripple in the Qi outside the Taoist temple. Duty-bound, he strode out of the side room to confront the intruder. He, this “newly appointed gatekeeper,” wore a violet-gold crown, a light crimson silk robe over gleaming armor, a jade belt cinching his waist, and held a jet-black iron mace in his hands. His aura was imposing as he stood on the steps, eyes flashing, and sternly proclaimed, “Who goes there? State your name! Halt immediately, lest you dare trespass upon this temple and find your head rolling!”

The uninvited guest was a refined old man in a cyan gown. His Dao strength was difficult to gauge, but he didn’t seem like a prominent figure, more like an aging scholar or a consultant to a county magistrate.

The man heard Gu He’s intimidation but remained silent, merely glancing at the unfamiliar face guarding the Taoist temple.

Gu He, however, assumed the man was intimidated. He felt a sense of self-satisfaction and sized up the seemingly composed cyan-robed guest. “Skinny arms and legs, don’t get frightened out of your wits by this Taoist!” The lanky Wang Yuanlu, the head disciple of the temple master, had previously reminded Gu He about hospitality: those who could travel by wind to this place were either admirers or old acquaintances of their master; it wasn’t necessary to offend them. He could either help announce the guest or, at the very least, record the visit for the master’s review.

Gu He, however, felt that such a mild approach was unsatisfactory. The fanfare was too small, the spectacle insufficient, unworthy of the Temple of the Dao and the title of Lord of the Azure Heavens.

So, he consulted with fellow Daoist Jin Jing and concocted this more intimidating opening, a preemptive strike to let all Dao officials know that the threshold here was high!

Although Gu He enjoyed grand displays, he had no intention of bullying others with his position; that would be too degrading. Seeing that the uninvited guest showed no signs of contradiction or offense, he softened his tone, “Young man, don’t play deaf and dumb. Our Taoist temple has strict rules. This place is not for casual tourists. Be careful not to disturb our temple master’s cultivation or you’ll regret it.”

He had said both stern and kind words. If the fellow was ignorant and unappreciative, perhaps he’d end up as a handyman in the temple, becoming a fellow sufferer with him and Jin Jing? A young Taoist boy, hearing the commotion, rushed over and, upon seeing the expressionless cyan-robed guest, looked as if he’d seen a ghost. Xun Lanling actually offered a rare, respectful bow, addressing him as “Senior Azure Lord,” and adding the congratulatory wish, “May your lifespan be boundless.”

Chen Qingliu smiled knowingly, merely nodding in acknowledgment.

Gu He urgently asked in a mental voice, “Daoist Jin Jing, could this guest be a remarkable figure?” Before Gu He could remedy the situation or the boy could explain, the old temple master, holding a horsetail whisk, walked out of the main hall, directly toward them. He descended the steps at the temple entrance, brushing past Gu He, and casually reminded him, “You owe me one realm.”

Gu He was struck by lightning, his body stiffening. “That fellow, surnamed Lu, tricked me, saying that you, temple master, had already reached the fifteenth realm! I believed it with a pure heart, how did I end up owing a realm?”

Descending the steps to greet the guest, the old temple master asked Chen Qingliu with a smile, “Fellow Daoist Azure Lord, did you report this long journey to the Confucian Temple of the Central Continent?”

With Chen Qingliu’s swordsmanship, crossing the world was easy, especially concerning the River of Time, which was his forte. So this question had a hint of deliberate needling. Chen Qingliu smiled, “Of course I needed to report. The Confucian Temple’s rules are as strict as Fellow Daoist Azure Heaven’s temple. I’m no longer at the age of reckless youth. My ambitions have waned with the years, and white hair has multiplied. Since I’m getting old, I must accept it. Besides, I’ve delayed three thousand years of cultivation, my realm has stagnated, and my Dao strength hasn’t increased at all. Occasionally, when visiting old friends, how can I presume upon the Confucian Temple, my employer? I can only follow the rules and ask for a few days’ leave.”

Gu He’s Dao heart trembled. “Good heavens, he’s complaining to the master face-to-face! What is it with the cultivators from the Great Brightness? First Chen Ping’an, then this ‘Azure Lord,’ are they all so vindictive and petty?”

The old temple master sighed, “The Azure Lord of the past was so full of vigor, with no regard for the barriers of the Great Dao.”

Chen Qingliu didn’t mind, “A hero doesn’t boast of past achievements.”

The old temple master asked, “Since you’ve been to the Savage Lands, have you seen Fellow Daoist Zhi Ci?”

Chen Qingliu nodded, “Our relationship is so-so. We didn’t click, just chatted a little.”

The old temple master laughed, “Zhi Ci, who created the world, is confined to his domain; and Azure Lord, who slays dragons, is now shackled. What kind of friends have I made?”

Chen Qingliu said casually, “From hate to pity, from love to resentment, this karmic entanglement has turned the human Great Dao into a ‘Heaven’s Scorn,’ a dead knot. It requires using another’s stone to grind one’s jade. Lu Chen has greatly misled me.”

The world seen in youth was a line, direct and clear. The world in adulthood becomes a tangled mess of love and hate.

Gu He was lost in the clouds, but Xun Lanling knew the gravity of the situation. Chen Qingliu’s casual words revealed the cause, process, and consequences of the dragon-slaying battle three thousand years ago. The old temple master took the lead, bringing Chen Qingliu along, as if choosing a place best suited to view the human world, and slowly said, “Those who attain enlightenment on their own are rare, but those who escape tribulation with external help are many. On one vein, Chen Qingliu took on the karma, and Qi Jingchun bore the heavenly tribulation, making a good start and a good end. No wonder you two see eye to eye; you are like-minded companions.”

Chen Qingliu said, “It’s a pity that Mr. Qi’s youngest disciple wouldn’t listen to advice, refusing to stay out of things, always wanting to meet challenges head-on to live up to expectations.”

The old temple master laughed, “Young people are like that, they must set the highest aspirations.”

Chen Qingliu said, “The more young people there are, the older the world seems.”

The old temple master asked, “Some things can’t be avoided. Have you thought about how to solve them?”

Chen Qingliu raised his thumb and rubbed his brow, “My sister and that unfilial disciple, both are stubborn. How can I control them?”

With the Lord of the Azure Heavens, who knew him inside and out, Chen Qingliu didn’t bother to hide anything. There was no shame he couldn’t air.

Thinking back to the past.

Vast through the ages, the cyan robe unchanged. Riding the ocean wind, towering over the waves.

The Immortal Lord cast his sword, striking ten thousand miles of water. A commoner’s wrath boils the hundreds of rivers.
At the entrance of the Daoist temple, Wang Yuanlu, hands tucked into his sleeves, squatted on the steps and softly asked, “Senior Brother Jinjing, who is it that our master treats so favorably, to personally go out to welcome him?” The fearless fire-tending boy was only wary of that Qingzhu senior, daring only to vaguely say, “His swordsmanship is extremely high, his killing intent heavy, yet he likes to regard himself as a scholar. Back when our Daoist center was still in Tongye Continent, he would change his appearance and identity every so often, taking the initiative to visit our temple. Master held this Daoist friend in special regard, and they would chat a lot each time they met.”

Gu He cautiously said, “Daoist friend Jinjing, have I kicked an iron plate?”

Xun Lanling glared, “Is it my fault?!”

The Daoist priest told you not to disgrace our master’s prestige, not to be completely blind and dare to shout at anyone you see.

Gu He couldn’t blame Daoist friend Jinjing at all, so he pretended to be heroic and laughed heartily, “Just put this debt on the Daoist priest’s head.”

Wang Yuanlu nodded, a righteous hero with an admirable spirit. If he had the chance in the future, he could team up with Qi Gu, and the three of them could travel the various continents together.

In the past, he always helped Qi Gu take the blame, suffering quite a bit. If he could find someone willing to take the blame willingly, why not?

Finally choosing a superb location, the old abbot looked at that world, sighed with emotion, and asked, “Then allow us bystanders to presumptuously look down and bid farewell to a carefree journey through the mortal world?”

Coming here was precisely for this matter, Chen Qingliu nodded, “It is my great fortune.”

Once, a young man in white pointed to the azure sky and spoke with utter sincerity.

In that higher sky, there should always be a few cries of cranes, far from the ground, yet they make people feel sad. Once you have seen them, heard them, it is hard to forget them.

Youzhou’s Difie Mountain is not only the ancestral home of the Talisman School, but also renowned throughout the world for its achievements in the art of Daoist alchemy.

The tall young Daoist priest, his heart stirred, put down the Daoist scripture in his hand, walked out of the building, and looked at the rolling sea of clouds between the mountains. Occasionally, flocks of immortal cranes gracefully flew out of the white clouds and into the blue sky.

Difie Mountain, the foremost of the seventy-two blessed lands in the mortal world, also possesses a sixth cave heaven. This mountain is like an accomplished and enlightened person who is in harmony with the Dao of Heaven, able to breathe and refine Qi on its own.

The spiritual energy of a province actively gathers here, as if subjects come to pay homage to the emperor. The spiritual energy of the mountains and rivers gathers into seas of clouds, gathering and dispersing regularly, refining into a majestic Daoist intent.

Daoists who cultivate here are constantly aided by heaven, naturally achieving twice the result with half the effort.

What a rare cave heaven and blessed land, truly worthy of being a Daoist holy land.

Even one as self-assured as him felt that occupying this place was truly undeserved. An old Daoist priest walked over and, seeing the prescient young palace master, stopped and made a Daoist greeting, with an apologetic expression, “Yin Xian of Cuiwei Palace, greets the palace master. There are distinguished guests visiting the mountain, led by a group of young disciples from the Hongnong Yang family, blessed with fortune. They specifically requested to see the palace master, saying they have something important to discuss, which must be discussed in person. Yin Xian has been negligent, troubling the palace master.”

Mao Zhui skipped over Yin Xian’s courteous words, frowned slightly, and mocked himself, “A bunch of wet-behind-the-ears brats, what important matter could they discuss with a mere titular palace master? Discuss how the Jade Capital is doing without the Dao Ancestor?”

How could Yin Xian respond to that?

Mao Zhui said, “Yin Xian, tell them directly that I am not receiving guests recently. If they are sensible, they can stay in the mountain and enjoy the scenery. If they continue to pester, just chase them down the mountain.”

Yin Xian hesitated.

In Youzhou, Huayang Palace and the Hongnong Yang family formed a tripartite balance of power, and their relationship had always been good. Although they had not signed a written alliance, they were better than allies.

Especially since Gao Gu’s most valued disciple came from the Hongnong Yang family, with this kinship, the mountain and the family were even more harmonious. Daoists entering the world and ascending the mountain to seek immortals each had their preferred choice.

Yin Xian said, “There are strange and extraordinary people hidden in that group that ascended the mountain.”

Mao Zhui said indifferently, “Troublesome? Then let Gao Fushou wield the talisman sword and summon the Taiyi Mountain God.”

The Taiyi Mountain God is the local deity of Difie Mountain and the Dharma protector of Huayang Palace.

Upon hearing this, Yin Xian looked troubled. Even when the master was alive, he would avoid disturbing that highly esteemed mountain god whenever possible, always regarding him as a peer Daoist friend, never having a precedent of dispatching or commanding him.

Although Senior Brother Gao is now the rightful master of the mountain, Yin Xian found it really difficult to ask Gao Fushou to hold the token and summon the god out of the mountain, and could not bring himself to do it.

Mao Zhui smiled mockingly and asked, “If Gao Fu finds it difficult, then you can do it yourself. Since when did the Huayang Palace Master need to look at other people’s faces when deciding whether to receive guests?”

This tall young Daoist priest, as an outsider, had just registered in the Huayang Palace genealogy and, for some inexplicable reason, had suddenly transformed into the current master of Huayang Palace.

However, Ancestor Gao Gu had been in charge of power for three thousand years, with such deep-rooted authority, no one dared to question Gao Gu’s decision.

The previous ancestral hall meeting, which lacked the ancestral master and had a strange young man, was uneventful. The entire Difie Mountain had no objection to Gao Fu taking over as the mountain master.

No quarrels, no disturbances, calm and peaceful, everyone continued to cultivate in peace.

Yin Xian nodded and said, “I will go and personally receive the guests.”

Mao Zhui said, “Just because Gao Gu is dead, it doesn’t mean outsiders can disregard the decrees of the Huayang Palace master.”

Upon hearing this, Yin Xian was refreshed, his eyes sparkling, and he said in a deep voice, “Indeed!”

Mao Zhui sighed inwardly, Yin Xian valued his master’s teachings most of all, and this provocation struck a weak spot.

Even one as high in realm as Yin Xian found it difficult to completely sever ties with the mortal world. The worries in the hearts of those who cultivate the Dao are like the sun and moon hanging in the sky. Before Gao Gu inquired about the Jade Capital, he left behind two palace master tokens and a secret letter, entrusting Yin Xian, a prudent immortal realm Daoist priest who presided over the affairs of Cuiwei Palace, to announce the contents of the secret letter. He handed over a talisman sword symbolizing the Difie Mountain lineage to the new mountain master Gao Fu, and at the same time passed on a Dharma robe representing the Huayang Palace lineage to the palace master Mao Zhui.

Gao Fu, who inherited the position of mountain master and commanded dozens of large and small Daoist lineages on the entire Difie Mountain, had only just entered the Jade Purity realm.

The so-called “talent” does not mean that Gao Fu was too old or of low realm. Rather, as the mountain master of Difie Mountain, being only in the Jade Purity realm was a bit lacking.
It was fortunate that Mao Zhui, who took over the Huayang Palace, was a celestial being of profound Taoist power.

This matter also took some deliberation. Those palaces and sects that had settled and taken root in the Earth Lung Mountain for many years yet remained independent of Huayang Palace, those Daoists couldn’t understand why the Ancestral Master’s arrangement wasn’t reversed, with the Mountain Lord and Palace Lord exchanging identities.

It was said that Yin Xian, the Celestial Sovereign of Cuiwei Palace, was not only Gao Gu’s direct disciple but also the specific handler of all external affairs of Earth Lung Mountain, highly respected and always convincing.

Now, many Daoist officials of various factions in the mountain who were familiar with Cuiwei Palace privately felt injustice for Yin Xian, wondering why this old Celestial Sovereign wasn’t given the responsibility of carrying both the lineage and the Taoist orthodoxy on his shoulders.

To have a newcomer like him, who had just arrived, become the master of Huayang Palace, Mao Zhui didn’t know what Gao Gu was thinking. Was he not afraid that he would recklessly squander the family fortune overnight?

The problem was that Mao Zhui, as the White Bone Immortal, had no hatred or resentment towards that White Jade Capital.

He was just one of Lu Chen’s mental reflections. In previous years, he was too busy avoiding the real Lu Chen to actively seek trouble with the White Jade Capital.

Or perhaps Gao Gu’s unexpected choice to entrust the palace to him was a kind of statement to the Dao Ancestor and this Azure Nether World, a way of sending a message?

Was it because Mao Zhui, the Daoist of Zhuxu Temple, had that great connection with Lu Chen and Nanhua City that he was the best candidate?

Was this understanding of Gao Gu’s intention a misinterpretation of his profound meaning?

Perhaps this was the difficult question Gao Gu deliberately left for Mao Zhui?

Once Yin Xian made up his mind, he had no more worries. Taking this opportunity, he spoke concisely and to the point, discussing some important matters with the new Palace Lord, hoping that Mao Zhui would make a decision.

Even if Mao Zhui just listened and ignored it, even if he turned a blind eye and a deaf ear, and didn’t care at all, that was also a kind of decision.

Yin Xian asked, “Nan Qiang has a high chance of successfully completing her seclusion this time. Does the Palace Lord want to meet her Mountain Guard Pavilion protector at that time?”

Huayang Palace also had a lineage of Sword Immortals, passed down continuously, but it was slightly dimmer compared to the Sword Immortal lineage of Xuandu Temple and had not been carried forward.

Female Daoist Nan Qiang, who presided over the Damu Temple, was a Jade Purity Realm bottleneck sword cultivator who was currently in seclusion. The protector of this female sword immortal was not a Huayang Palace Ancestral Master but came from the Mountain Guard Pavilion of another sect in Tongzhou.

Mao Zhui shook his head and said, “No need to meet.”

Such mountain friendships should develop on their own. Yin Xian nodded in agreement, without any hesitation, and changed the subject, “Recently, in the border area between the two prefectures, troops from several other prefectures have been constantly provoking trouble, attempting to incite war. How should the Huayang Palace disciples who are stationed there year-round decide? Should they follow the established practice, or…?”

Mao Zhui said, “Directly issue a secret decree to all registered Daoist officials holding important positions in the various dynasties, forbidding anyone from using troops without the explicit instruction of the Ancestral Master Hall.” Yin Xian explained in a low voice, “Palace Lord, I suspect that there may be some forces among them who want to add fuel to the fire and help Huayang Palace, so that our descent from the mountain will be justified. Therefore, their actions are equivalent to submitting a pledge of allegiance to us.”

Mao Zhui said, “I know, but there’s no need to accept their goodwill. How Huayang Palace Daoists should cultivate, and when they should enter the world, is not something they can casually speculate.”

Yin Xian hesitated to speak.

Mao Zhui said, “Fame and power are not to be entrusted to others. The first to receive this decree should be your Cuiwei Palace.”

Yin Xian smiled wryly, took three steps back, and bowed to receive the decree, “Yin Xian respectfully obeys the decree.”

After straightening his back and raising his head, Yin Xian looked at the tall, cold-looking youth. Mao Zhui understood and said with a normal expression, “One should fulfill their duties in their position. Now that I am the Palace Lord, no matter how remarkable Gao Gu was, he is still no greater than the survival of the entire Huayang Palace’s Taoist orthodoxy. But this does not mean that the death of Gao Gu will be lightly dismissed by Huayang Palace and Earth Lung Mountain. When I am leisurely cultivating, I, Mao Zhui, hate trouble the most, but when things really come to a head, I am also not afraid of trouble. Anyone with sense knows that the world is about to descend into chaos. How Huayang Palace should position itself, when the time is right, I will give you a clear plan. The White Jade Capital will give you the justice you deserve.”

A man of high moral character is bound to be solitary and upright.

Gao Gu, Gao Gu, this name is truly fitting. His Dao is high, his character is noble, he does not rely on external forces in his cultivation journey, and he does things in his own way.

Having received this assurance, Yin Xian’s eyes were filled with tears. He bowed again, but remained silent, expressing his gratitude.

Mao Zhui reminded him, “Remember to restrain the Daoist officials of the various lineages in Earth Lung Mountain. Do not be meddlesome and investigate the origins of Zhuxu Temple.” The fact that he was the White Bone Immortal was only known to a few people in Earth Lung Mountain, including Yin Xian and Gao Fu. It wasn’t that Mao Zhui felt that this identity was something to be ashamed of, but he was afraid that those with ulterior motives would seize the opportunity to make trouble.

In a chaotic world, one either dares to take the lead and charge forward, betting on a big gamble, relying on fate to forge a bright path. Or one simply doesn’t gamble on a vain destiny, patiently waiting for a certain moment.

Yin Xian was horrified. Were there Daoist officials in the mountain who were overstepping their bounds? He quickly bowed again, apologizing, “Palace Lord, rest assured, I will investigate this matter thoroughly and without hesitation.” Mao Zhui said, “After all, this matter involves the internal affairs of other factions in Earth Lung Mountain. Once it is verified, whether to deal with it leniently or severely is up to you. I only care about whether the outcome is clean and clear. If anyone violates the rules again after this warning, I will directly hold you accountable. Don’t blame me for putting on the airs of a Palace Lord and issuing an order to reprimand the entire Cuiwei Palace.”

Yin Xian laughed freely and said, “Palace Lord, you can rest assured. The Ancestral Master Hall’s regulations of our Huayang Palace have always been greater than some of the conventions of Earth Lung Mountain. Not using them usually is a matter of affection and harmony, but using them is a matter of rules and decrees.”

Mao Zhui nodded.

Do not underestimate the abilities and authority of a Daoist Celestial Sovereign just because Yin Xian is respectful and courteous towards Mao Zhui. Once he descends from the mountain, he will be walking the world on behalf of his master.

Yin Xian, as the second-in-command of Earth Lung Mountain, is acting on behalf of heaven in the You Prefecture, which the White Jade Capital has always found difficult to interfere with in its affairs.

Mao Zhui said, “Speaking from a position of comfort, you are burdened with mundane affairs all year round and cannot avoid them, making it difficult for you to calm down and hone your Dao body. But you still need to try to find time in your busy schedule. The matter of proving the Dao and ascending to immortality needs to be hastened.”

Yin Xian smiled and nodded, “The Palace Lord is kind, as it should be.”

Mao Zhui suddenly asked, “Do you still remember the path you took when you first came to the mountain?”

Yin Xian recalled the past and murmured, “The memories are still fresh.”
Being the esteemed disciple of one’s master has always been Yin Xian’s greatest pride.

“The lesser cultivates in the deep mountains, the greater cultivates in the world. The mountain dojo allows you to ease your heart, the mundane world allows you to see your heart.”

“To only cultivate amidst the world and perceive ten thousand hearts makes it difficult to settle one’s own heart. To only cultivate in the deep mountains and perceive a single heart makes it impossible to comprehend the Heavenly Heart.”

“The two are indispensable. Yin Xian, you were brought up the mountain at a young age by Gao Gu, but you do not know that your path lies beneath the mountain.”

“At that time, Gao Gu intentionally or unintentionally walked a path down the mountain with you, which was like a master leading you in, and then it was up to you to cultivate and comprehend on your own. Unfortunately, you were only preoccupied with sadness and failed to appreciate Gao Gu’s good intentions.”

“Since you admire Lin Shiyang of Crow Mountain, then go find him for a drink, and by the way, take in the customs and culture of the Crimson Gold Dynasty, what’s the harm? If you feel that some aspects of Yao Qing’s Dao arts are questionable, then go to the Azure Mountain Dynasty for a Dao debate. Why must there be victory or defeat, or such a competitive heart? You can very well appreciate the resplendent attire and spirited horses of the Wuling youths, and see for yourself the scholarship and Dao-seeking of the Daoist officials of humble origins. If you wish to see the most successful person in the world, then travel to Qizhou, knock on the door of the Xuan Du Temple, and say to his face that Bai Ye’s poetry is invincible. Walk through the countryside, beg a bowl of water from the local peasants, listen to the boatmen’s chants. During this time, whether you change your identity or appearance, just act as you please and do as you desire. If the Azure Canopy World is without the Dao Ancestor, it would still be like today, the Great Dao would circulate endlessly. If the Hua Yang Palace lacks Yin Xian to preside over affairs, it would certainly not work? I think not.”

Yin Xian paused for a moment, then suddenly realized, “I am enlightened.”

Mao Zhui had ulterior motives.

At the ancient battlefield of Zhuolu Ruins, there was an old debt and an old karmic tie that needed to be entrusted to Mao Zhui to settle when he had the time. The target was a female Daoist who had changed her appearance and returned to her old haunts.

Mao Zhui knew very well that Zhuolu had been reduced to ruins because of Gao Gu’s Dao duel with a female Daoist on the mountain peak. As for how to resolve the grievances, Mao Zhui did not need to worry. Gao Gu left a secret letter, and Mao Zhui only needed to hand it over to her.

Mao Zhui suddenly explained, “My departure this time is not to take a few glances at those Hongnong Yang clan disciples. Your current realm is not enough to perceive this matter.”

Earlier, a round of brilliant moonlight appeared, and for some unknown reason, Lu Chen manifested a colossal Dharma form that was unprecedented, making the entire Azure Canopy World as small as a village threshing ground.

The Daoist overlooked the earth, as if searching for something.

He wore a lotus crown, which contained boundless Dao intent, like a waterfall cascading into the world, scattering billions of golden rays like a net over the fourteen prefectures.

The key was that even veteran immortals as profound in Dao power as Yin Xian, who were close to perfect merit, were completely unaware.

Yin Xian asked doubtfully, “May I inquire about this matter?”

Mao Zhui hesitated for a moment, then revealed a secret with his heart’s voice, “Lu Chen’s realm has taken another step forward, reaching a new height.”

Yin Xian was speechless, his Dao heart shaken, his face full of astonishment, and he was shocked beyond words. Sect Leader Lu was already at the perfection of the Fourteenth Realm, how could he possibly take another step forward?!

He heard that the new sect on Rùnyuè Peak, Sect Master Zhang Fenghai and his party had just left the Azure Canopy World and traveled far to the wilderness, and the martial artist had followed them laboriously. Was Sect Leader Lu taking this opportunity?

Regarding the origin of the Great Dao for Xin Ku of Rùnyuè Peak, even among the cultivators on the mountain peaks, only a few knew the inside story. Ordinary Ascension Realm cultivators could not know about this matter. Yin Xian knew more because of his master.

Mao Zhui instantly guessed Yin Xian’s thoughts and shook his head, “Then you have underestimated Lu Chen’s Dao.”

A graceful solitary crane cries in the azure sky.

How lonely.

During the busy farming season, the village school was on vacation.

The children were very happy not to have to go to school and study for a few days, but they had to help with this and that at home, so they were a little depressed.

Master Jiang was not at the school, and Ning Ji and his senior brother Zhao Shuxia had been helping the families of those children recently, and it was always possible to freeload a meal or two.

After a busy day, the brothers walked between the fields. Today, they planned to have a small feast, choosing a piece of cured meat, chopping it up, and stewing it with dried bamboo shoots, and stir-frying a few plates of seasonal wild vegetables.

They saw yellow birds flying in the fields, sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes gathered, sometimes scattered.

Ning Ji inexplicably recalled a poem, the words were simple and extremely beautiful, like a catchy nursery rhyme.

“Drawing my sword to remove the net, the yellow bird is able to fly.

Flying, flying, soaring in the sky, comes down to thank the youth.”

Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji stopped almost at the same time.

From afar, they saw two people standing side by side by the river, as if waiting for a rabbit to come by. Judging by their aura and demeanor, they were definitely not ordinary people, but were high-level Daoist experts from immortal abodes. Zhao Shuxia condensed his voice into a line and whispered, “Ning Ji, something is wrong. It’s hard to tell whether they are friends or foes. I have already notified Divine Lord Wei with my heart’s voice. Before Divine Lord Wei arrives, if there is a dispute later, I will deliberately beg for mercy in a soft voice, seemingly using Master’s name to scare them. At that moment, you will not hesitate to offer the Three Mountains Talisman and return to Fallen Phoenix Mountain first.”

Ning Ji remained silent.

Zhao Shuxia said, “Listen to your senior brother!”

Ning Ji nodded.

“Zhao Shuxia, Ning Ji.”

The white-robed man called out their names directly, then smiled, “Wei Bo will not come, and don’t waste the Three Mountains Talisman. There’s no need to be nervous, it’s useless to be nervous.”

“Ning Ji, learn more from your senior brother, when facing an enemy, you need to be able to conceal your murderous intent.”

The man introduced himself, “My name is Zheng Juzhong, from White Emperor City. This one next to me, tentatively named Liu Xiang, is born from the manifestation of the Great Dao of the Boundless World, and is the one who, in the historical allusions compiled by Sect Leader Lu, does not get along well with the Sage Master.”

Earlier, Liu Xiang had stared at the child for a few moments, and now nodded, confirming that it was him.

Zhao Shuxia was slightly relieved, and Ning Ji, relieved as well, had a complicated expression.

Zheng Juzhong explained, “Earlier, Liu Xiang mentioned this place in his words, we are just passing by to see you. Liu Xiang has something to say, I have things to do.”

Liu Xiang smiled, “Believe that with Mr. Zheng’s wisdom, he would not need to deceive you, right?”

Zheng Juzhong smiled slightly, “It’s not always the case when something really happens.”

Liu Xiang said, “You can relay the content of what we say today to Chen Ping An.”

Zhao Shuxia said solemnly, “Mr. Liu, please speak.”

Liu Xiang slowly said, “I and several so-called Dao friends of the Boundless World have a good impression of Chen Ping An.”

“Just this one hurdle is difficult for Mr. Zheng to pass. This has little to do with the height of the realm.”

“There is no unprovoked love or hatred in the world. First, there was Shujian Lake, and then your teacher’s attitude towards Feng Yuanxiao of the Five Colors World and your student Ning Ji later on gave me more and more confidence.”
“Most importantly, your master is still very young.”

“In contrast, both Master Zheng and Palace Lord Wu, to put it nicely, possess a Dao heart as firm as a bedrock; to put it bluntly, they each have their own Great Dao to tread. As the saying goes, a large ship is difficult to turn, and this is the reason. In your master, Ningji, we can see boundless possibilities, a path that can be constantly corrected and gradually perfected. People say he enjoys self-denial and has a weak sense of self, but in my opinion, this is a tremendous advantage.”

During the Zhongtu Confucian Temple discussions, as the two realms stood opposed, Chen Ping’an, the first to advocate for war, was slow to establish merits on the desolate battlefield, inevitably inviting suspicions of lacking virtue. It was only because the current administrator of the Confucian Temple was the old scholar who had regained his divine position, coupled with Chen Ping’an’s significant contributions to the extraterrestrial battle previously led by the Sage of Rites, with the participation of figures like the Three Mountains and Nine Marquis Lords and Zheng Jizhong, that even though the Confucian Temple internally sought to downplay the matter, the upper echelons of Haoran remained fully aware, acknowledging that the young Hidden Official was not one to rest on his laurels. Otherwise, the six continents of Haoran, beyond Treasure Bottle洲 and Northern Ju蘆洲, would only voice greater criticism. Moreover, establishing a branch sect in Tongye洲 and excavating a Great Canal were indeed momentous undertakings. Before the Grandest Sage dispersed his Dao, he even visited Tongye洲, accompanied by Lü Yan, witnessing Chen Ping’an’s respectful offerings of incense to numerous mountain and water deities from other continents, willingly scattering his accumulated merits like lighting billions of lamps across the dark mountains and rivers of the continent.

Liu Xiang naturally would not turn a blind eye.

This was one of the Grandest Sage’s intentions.

It was as if he were speaking to Liu Xiang from afar, a neighbor and Dao friend, “Don’t be discouraged, take another look.”

“He served as the last Hidden Official and presided over the Sword Qi Great Wall war. The ancestral hall of the Zhongtu strategists, those meritorious generals enshrined within, all have a favorable impression of Chen Ping’an.”

Especially his dealings with those in charge of intercontinental ferries, which garnered goodwill in the eyes of many discerning individuals.

He is both a pure martial artist and a sword cultivator, both one of their own from the Confucian lineage of the Literary Sage, and a patriarch establishing his own sect on the mountain.

“Ning Yao and Fei Ran are recognized by their respective Great Daos, being the most worthy and accomplished individuals in the world.”

“As rulers of the world, their positions are the greatest protection one can have in this realm. To oppose them is to contend against the Great Dao of a world. Whether it is I, the Sundial of the Barren Lands, or Feng Yuanxiao of the Five-Colored World, our Dao heart is the will of Heaven.”

“Extending from this, Master Zheng initially had an impractical idea. Since I didn’t dare to agree, I won’t mention it today.”

Those accomplished in cultivation on the mountain peak would intuitively sense that the Great Dao is not an inanimate object; it possesses its own loves, hates, likes, and dislikes.

The old saying goes, “One side of water and soil nurtures one side of people.” Different places have different characteristics of water and soil. The Five Peaks have different earth natures. For example, the three rivers converging in Red Candle Town have completely different water natures.

Liu Xiang also feared that Jiang She might regroup and lead the strategists for another attempt, leading to the collapse of heaven and earth, smoke and fire everywhere, and the withering of all things and the suffering of living beings in the world.

Whether it was Jiang She, the founder of the strategists, or the previous Zhou Mi from Literary Sea, they sought to use their respective Great Daos to exchange momentary fragmentation of mountains and rivers for eternal peace, with Zhou Mi employing cruel methods, pursuing a permanent solution.

However, as manifestations of the Great Dao of their respective realms, Liu Xiang and his peers calculate things differently in the ledger of the Great Dao. They must be responsible for all sentient beings in the “present.” Liu Xiang, who once stood against the Grandest Sage in Haoran, Xin Ku from Yuefeng, a martial artist, the Sundial of the Barren Lands who recently became Dao companions with Fei Ran, Feng Yuanxiao, still a young girl in the Five-Colored World, and a wandering Buddhist monk from the Western Buddhist Kingdom carrying a Buddha niche.

Cultivation requires resources, let alone the art of war. “Armies march on their stomachs.” The preparation of military pay and provisions, the allocation of manpower, material resources, and financial resources, all derive from Heaven and Earth.

Since ancient times, “sacrifice” has been required to worship and reward the gods.

It’s like two people. One says, “You must lend me a copper coin, and tomorrow and the day after, I can earn several taels of silver.” The other only cares about the money in their pocket today.

How can they discuss business? How can they reach an agreement? Therefore, this almost irreconcilable fundamental difference is a contention of the Great Dao.

If Jiang She could find them this time and persuade them with some kind of “Dao” rather than simply suppress them with Daoist magic or martial force, he would have a certain chance of gaining the upper hand.

It’s not entirely impossible to negotiate.

The reason it is “almost” and not absolute is that Liu Xiang and his peers inherently detest cultivators seeking immortality. Great cultivators are like incurable boils, and immortal mansions and sects, along with the majestic cities and towns of the dynasties, form continuous scabies on the earth. Therefore, the outbreak of war is a kind of “skimming off the top” by the Great Dao of the world. Commoners and Qi refiners regard ancient battlefield relics as places to be avoided, but to Liu Xiang and his peers, they are merely scars. Zhou Mi’s greatest disadvantage in choosing the Barren Lands was that he was ultimately an outsider, an alien whose intentions were bound to be different. That is why Sundial has always tried to escape, even though Zhou Mi gave her a viable new path and even helped her devour Haoran’s Daoists, Sundial still refused to cooperate with Zhou Mi because their Daos were incompatible. Xin Ku from Yuefeng also internally rejected Lin Jiangxian from Crow Mountain for the same reason.

Unknowingly, imperceptibly, Liu Xiang spoke, and Zhao Shuxia recorded.

Ningji walked with Zheng Jizhong.

Ningji asked curiously, “What important matter is Master Zheng busy with?”

Zheng Jizhong said, “I encountered two powerful opponents on the Dao. Since neither is willing to yield, I have to contend with them.”

Ningji asked, “Can Master Zheng win?”

Zheng Jizhong smiled, “I dare not say for certain.”

Hearing this polite response, Ningji felt certain that Master Zheng would win.

Liu Xiang looked around and sighed, making a Daoist greeting.

Zheng Jizhong looked into the distance and asked, “Ningji, I heard that Headmaster Lu is your little master?”

Ningji blushed and said, “Headmaster Lu was just joking with me.”

Zheng Jizhong remained silent.

In the fields, it seemed a sparrow was circling low. In the heavens, the sparrow suddenly flapped its wings, soaring high into the blue sky, not knowing if it was to be free or to cast itself into a net. Ningji looked up, the boy saddened by the sight of the sparrow, and delighted by its flight. Losing sight of the sparrow’s trail, he was somewhat lost, unsure of what to say.