A group of visitors rested under the wisteria, enjoying tea and listening to Daoist ballads. They were greatly pleased, the melodious sound of the jade chime resonating, creating ripples of spiritual energy that washed over the ancient trees near the Daoist temple, making their leaves an even more vibrant green.

Since the Huayang Palace had not yet issued an expulsion order, they continued towards the Ancestral Hall, gradually ascending along the main divine path. At points with expansive views, they could see the Difei Mountain ferry in the distance, Daoist officials appearing as tiny ants scurrying about. A massive, inter-provincial dragon boat was particularly striking, hundreds of feet long and dozens of feet wide, its head and tail adorned with gold-plated scales and whiskers. The structures on board resembled jade palaces and heavenly mansions, planted with ancient pines and bizarre cypresses, like a complete Daoist temple. It was said that this famous ferry belonging to the Cuiwei Palace had hidden mechanisms at the bottom of its hold, densely packed with iron-cast coins like tabletops, called “suppression coins,” used to resist the tilting of the ship caused by turbulent waves and winds during voyages.

A fierce-looking young man broke the silence, asking, “That founding ancestor of the Military School, Ancestor Jiang, has been dormant for ten thousand years. This time, he has emerged from the mountains with his Daoist companion, creating quite a stir, and must have great ambitions. If you were him, what would you do? Using this place as a reference, how would you strategize?”

At the summit, Mao Zhui began to view these scions of aristocratic families with a new perspective. They may not be highly skilled or experienced, but their audacity and tone were remarkable.

Yin Xian was even more embarrassed. These reckless troublemakers, unaware of the immensity of the heavens and the earth, dared to discuss anything.

However, it was clear that the Hongnong Yang Clan was well-informed. Many officials of the dynasty had not even heard of the surname of the founding ancestor of the Military School.

A young man, holding a willow branch he had stolen from somewhere, swung it with a flick of his wrist, strolling leisurely and smiling. “The first step should be to take control of the ancestral home of the Military School, perhaps even make the Central Plains Martial Temple their private cultivation ground? But would Grand Duke Jiang, Mister Wei, and the others be willing to yield? This is a monumental problem that cannot be avoided. If it were me, I would strike at the ancestral home with one burst of energy. Since it’s the Military School, there must be… wait, Ancestor Jiang and Grand Duke Jiang, what a coincidence, they share the same surname, I wonder if there’s something to it.”

One dared to ask, and the other dared to answer. Truly a pair of sworn brothers who had hit it off from the moment they met.

There was nothing inherently taboo about discussing such matters.

It was similar to Qi Refiners in the Vast World, after a few drinks, declaring their intention to attack the White Jade Capital. But the problem was that they were currently on Difei Mountain, which made it inappropriate.

“Secondly, even if the Military School is united and willing to acknowledge him as their ancestor, they still need to see the attitude of the Central Plains Literary Temple. After all, the Vast World belongs to the scholars, and the approval of the Sage of Rites is crucial. The opinions of the Sub-Sage and the Literary Sage, whether they tacitly approve or oppose this matter, are also very important.”

“Finally, even if they overcome these two obstacles, whether or not that fisherman who refused to let the Supreme Sage disembark acknowledges the Military School’s Great Dao becomes the most important factor in determining legitimacy.”

“Three invisible battlefields, layers of obstacles, let’s see how that founding ancestor of the Military School arranges his troops, overcomes obstacles, and conquers cities and fortresses step by step. With one careless move, if the man with the surname Jiang fails to reach an agreement with the Literary Temple and insists on breaking ties, the hard-earned era of peace will revert to an era of chaos, becoming like the state of our Azure Abyss.”

An ancient-looking old man chuckled, “Is it possible that Grand Duke Jiang is fishing, and those who are willing will take the bait?”

“What do you mean?”

“Perhaps the ancestral home of the Military School has long wanted to stage another joint execution, devising a plan to make that founding ancestor bring about his own destruction, justly and rightfully eradicating him?”

“Then could there be someone else lurking in the shadows, ambitious and scheming for a long time, planning to usurp the position?”

“If the founding ancestor of the Military School had already established a connection with that fisherman, bypassing the Confucian Literary Temple altogether and joining forces with the Wildlands? Determined to completely change the world? Rearranging the Vast World?”

Once the topic started, they all held their own opinions, discussing and debating, creating a noisy scene.

At the summit, Yin Xian said, “The young man who started the conversation, his transit document identifies him as Shang Jiao, a rogue cultivator. He seems to be from the Small Four Continents, carrying a unique and dense aquatic essence from Thunderclap Lake.”

Nan Qiang had a different opinion, “He looks like a carefree playboy who just happened to return from admiring flowers near Thunderclap Lake.”

Yin Xian shook his head. “Daoists rarely travel with aquatic energy. The two lords of the lake, the one with the surname Wang and Thunder Rain, one is eccentric and the other acts recklessly. Outsiders wouldn’t dare to flaunt their connection.”

Mao Zhui said, “It’s hard to say for now what his specific family origins and school of thought are, but we can be certain that he has a deep connection with the Taiyi lineage. At the very least, he has interacted with that Wang surname who likes to raise geese more than once or twice. Just the pageboy beside Shang Jiao is extraordinary, not someone that ordinary people can control.”

The hermit of Mount Yin with the surname Wang, whose Daoist name is Taiyi, is the master of Dry Lake within the Small Four Continents. The old Daoist and the demon clan Thunder Rain are both among the candidates.

Nan Qiang couldn’t discern the origins of the indolent pageboy, and asked curiously, “Bizarre or divine?”

“Bizarre” referred to “old immortals” who had begun cultivating in ancient or even primordial times, or ancient objects that had become spirits, giving birth to a trace of true essence, transforming into human form, and embarking on the path of cultivation. The “divine” type was mostly reincarnated gods or “reincarnations” of great cultivators.

Mao Zhui said, “Ask him yourself when you meet.”

Nan Qiang smiled charmingly, “Since we can’t use immortal arts to see through their illusions, let’s treat it like guessing riddles, it’s quite interesting.”

Mao Zhui narrowed his eyes, and for some reason, changed his mind on the spot, saying to Yin Xian beside him, “Yin Xian, pass down the message, grant them permission to ascend the mountain. Meet them and chat a few words.”

It truly was a mixed bag of dragons and fish. After delving into the origins of their families and Daoist lineages, this group of over ten mountaineering companions turned out to represent at least four different places.

He wanted to see whether they were just boastful and engaged in armchair strategy, or if they possessed genuine talent and could hit the mark.

Yin Xian looked troubled. There were no established rules for how to receive guests here. Ever since Mao Zhui was promoted to Palace Master, no one had come to offer congratulations, which was a rare occurrence on the mountain.

Mao Zhui said, “It doesn’t matter, they can stay at my residence.”

Yin Xian breathed a sigh of relief. In this way, the Huayang Palace’s etiquette would be more than sufficient.

This mountaineering group, truly a mix of dragons and fish, included a pair of siblings from the Hongnong Yang Clan, accompanied by two maids and a Dao-protecting retainer.

The apparent identities that the siblings submitted at the mountain gate indicated that they were not Daoist officials. Yang Zheng, Yang [blank character]. The young man’s name was unusually rare.
The woman wore a woven hat with a veil, obscuring her face, yet revealing a graceful figure. A maidservant stood beside her, gently waving a folding fan adorned with magpies perched on branches, symbolizing “joy upon your brow.”

A handsome young man, wearing a Three Mountains Crown atop his head and a refreshing deep purple straight robe, cinched at the waist with a crimson sash. He possessed an arrogant air, often casting sidelong glances at others, rarely meeting their gazes directly.

At this moment, he was offering a treat, affectionately called “Smiling Dimples,” a sweet honeyed pastry, to his elder sister. She lifted a corner of her veil and delicately nibbled on it.

One of the two maidservants, though possessing a delicate and charming face, was dressed like a man, clad in a multi-colored brocade and gold thread narrow robe. A short saber, hanging from her belt, was particularly eye-catching. She bore the surname Yang and the name Yu Pian.

The other maidservant, called Dewdrop, held a round fan. She appeared slightly older, with only plain features. She wore a small cap, a wide yellow embroidered shirt over a tight-fitting blue inner garment.

A short distance away from the group stood a gaunt and expressionless man, seemingly intent on separating the Yang siblings from the “miscellaneous individuals” accompanying them on the mountain ascent. His true form, however, was that of a swordsman clad in five-colored armor, a face-covering helmet concealing his features. His robust figure was adorned with elaborate belts, fashioned with the patterns of brocade serpents, a design reminiscent of ancient military regalia. He wore a pair of cloud-patterned boots, akin to court shoes.

Besides them were two retainers of the Yang family. The elder had a strange and refined appearance, with three long strands of beard and narrow, elongated eyes, like a statue of a god or demon in a temple, exuding an eerie antiquity.

The middle-aged man beside him seemed to be a disciple, his expression reserved, his gaze frequently drawn to the fan-wielding maidservant.

There were also three siblings with different surnames. The man named Shang Jiao was accompanied by a young attendant named Xiao Bing. Xu Duan and the lean, taciturn red-faced man were longtime friends, having agreed to ascend the mountain together. Originally, they hadn’t planned to use illusions or false documents, but they accompanied the disciples of the Hongnong Yang family.

The little attendant looked sickly and listless, devoid of energy. The cool mountain air seemed to lull him to sleep.

The red-faced man communicated telepathically, “Third Brother, on the way here, in an inconspicuous and barren mountain wilderness, I encountered a secluded expert, a true hermit.”

Shang Jiao was unconvinced, “Not the type who seeks fame and recognition?”

The red-faced man said, “I probed him a bit, and his cultivation is definitely higher than mine. I shouldn’t have been so rash, but I couldn’t help it. Luckily, he has a good temper and didn’t mind. In the outside world, it would have turned into a fight. He doesn’t seem skilled in direct combat, but his cultivation is there. If I couldn’t kill him in one strike, he would definitely exhaust me to death.”

Shang Jiao was shocked to hear this, “His cultivation is higher than yours?”

This sworn brother of his, after all, bore the Daoist title “Fire Official” Luo Yi. He and Marquis Zheyin, Wu Xi, were both among the ten candidates of the Azure Vault Heaven.

Of course, “Shang Jiao” had access to many extraordinary people.

When it came to family background, friends, and connections with elders, even in the entire Azure Vault Heaven, this fellow who assumed the pseudonym Shang Jiao specifically for Miss Yang Zheng, was among the most prominent of the younger generation.

That was why he dared to discuss these matters on the home ground of the Earth Lung Mountain, almost in front of the White Bone True Immortal.

Thinking he was just relying on his status and background to be so presumptuous would be underestimating Shang Jiao, because he was simply too familiar with Earth Lung Mountain. His two elder sisters also wanted to see the place where their younger brother had cultivated in the past. The small Taoist temple where they had stopped to rest was where he used to…

The red-faced man nodded, “Without a doubt, at least one realm higher than me.”

Shang Jiao’s eyes shone brightly, and he immediately became interested, “You must help me introduce me. I don’t mind being turned away.”

The red-faced man chuckled, “Easy to arrange.”

Shang Jiao often had fanciful ideas, and he curiously inquired, “Why do some ancient books describe the Dao Ancestor as having ‘Daoist arts like a dragon’? Is it just subtle praise with a hint of criticism?”

Everyone seemed stumped by the question, and silence fell for a moment. After all, the Dao Ancestor was involved, and no one dared to say anything carelessly.

Even Yang couldn’t help but look towards Yang Zheng, thinking, *Sister, Shang Jiao’s question is tricky. Can you answer it after reading so many books?*

The veiled woman shook her head.

Shang Jiao continued to inquire, “And why is someone’s strategy, far exceeding their peers, described as ‘great wisdom bordering on the demonic’? Is it praise or an insult?”

Again, they exchanged glances, unsure of the answer.

The ancient-looking old man, who hadn’t spoken much, opened his mouth and smiled, “Daoist friend Shang, both sayings have their origins.”

Shang Jiao’s eyes lit up, and he sincerely asked, “How so?”

The old man slowly said, “Legend has it that in the ancient years, there was a naturally formed procession, stretching extremely long on the path of humanity, resembling a long, winding snake. During this procession, Daoists constantly heard the Dao, cultivated, and attained enlightenment, transforming like land dragons and snakes. When the Daoists parted ways, whether crying or laughing, they never forgot to kneel and bow to the Daoist walking in the front. Later, more Daoists joined, and eventually, there was the relatively simple kowtow.”

“The one walking at the very end of the procession was the Dao Ancestor.”

“Moreover, one of the Daoists at the very front of the procession not only listened to the Dao at close range, but also acted as a protector, imparting the Dao selflessly. Whatever they heard and understood, they would actively transmit it to those behind them, never keeping anything to themselves. Whenever there was a great drought, they would not hesitate to expend their own energy, transforming their forms, riding the clouds and mist, and performing water arts to bring down sweet rain, accumulating no small merit in the human realm. Unfortunately, later on, their clan made a grave mistake, their merits and demerits becoming halved, incurring the wrath of Heaven, resulting in a calamity. Only one in ten thousand could escape.”

“As for the other metaphor, it describes a woman skilled in alchemy, who was of the demon race but possessed great innate wisdom, so at that time, there was no derogatory meaning at all.”

Hearing this, Shang Jiao sighed, “How does the old gentleman know these old stories?”

The old man couldn’t help but chuckle and retorted, “Of course, I heard it from others, what else could it be?”

Shang Jiao laughed heartily and cupped his fist in apology.

The old man seemed to be stirred by the topic, and within his eyes, as deep as an ancient well, strands of gold swam, like hidden dragons in the abyss.

Even after many years, after all, he had witnessed, heard, and experienced it all personally, events that happened close by. It would be difficult to forget, and there was no need for self-deception.

Yang followed up with a question, “Five-colored soil is understandable, but what about ten-thousand-year-old soil?”

Could it be that the soil found everywhere in the human realm also had an age, with varying degrees of Daoist seniority?
Yang was such a chatterbox. No wonder his elder sister, Yang Zheng, always said he must have been a mute in his past life, and this life was just making up for it.

The old man chuckled and replied, “Among the Five Elements, the Earth element is the most difficult to keep pure. If you don’t believe me, look down at our feet. This land that bears all things and all living beings, if it’s too…clean, like the purest water, can it nurture fish?”

The veiled woman nodded. This statement was extraordinary, comprehending profound principles, and wonderfully indescribable.

Yang immediately viewed the old man in a new light. The young master only knew this Yang family retainer, who styled himself the Deaf Daoist, was from a poor family in the Lesser Four Continents, and often freeloaded at the Yang estate. In terms of Daoist arts, he only achieved minor success, but he was fond of collecting, skilled in appraisal, and a master of bibliography. Yang had seen him twice before at the family, and had thought of him as a “pure conversation scholar” who was only good at mooching off people, never expecting he actually had some skills.

The one who was the least interested in these worldly matters, and couldn’t even get a word in, was the middle-aged man beside the ancient-looking elder, who seemed preoccupied.

Seeing that the man named Tian Gong was incredibly bored, Shang Jiao took the initiative to chat with him to pass the time. If there was something to talk about, it wouldn’t be so dull.

Tian Gong also regarded “Shang Jiao” as one of those accompanying figures, like himself, so he felt a sense of camaraderie and chatted with him in a somewhat imperfect You Province Mandarin, feeling grateful in his heart.

Of course, it wasn’t that Tian Gong had lustful thoughts about the maid named Dewdrop. Tian Gong didn’t have that kind of audacity. A trusted attendant of the direct descendants of the Hongnong Yang clan, even if she was just a servant, was not someone he could aspire to.

He just felt that her eyebrows and eyes had a slight resemblance to someone from his hometown. Therefore, Tian Gong couldn’t help but take a few more glances, but Tian Gong knew very well that it must be a coincidence.

A person’s accent, whether it was strange or grating, still had differences.

Although both spoke You Province Mandarin, Yang’s had a strange feel to it, while Tian Gong’s, from the moment he spoke, made it clear he was an outsider from another province.

There was always a saying in the Azure Firmament world: “Fear neither heaven nor earth, only fear the Hongnong Yang clan of You Province speaking Mandarin.” Therefore, there was a jest that when chatting with the Hongnong Yang clan, one either let it in one ear and out the other, or simply didn’t engage at all. If one even thought about responding, one had to listen very carefully, otherwise, they wouldn’t understand at all. Xu Xuyuan found it very difficult to converse with Yang. Before, when he was leisurely traveling through the You Province with his two elder sisters, he had experienced the might of the people there when passing through Hongnong County. For example, the market women’s scolding was both vicious and ingenious, liking to curse older men as old soft-shelled turtles, and those idle vagrants as floating corpses. Or, for example, cursing themselves instead of their husbands, only needing a sentence like “I will definitely be a widow in the future,” which was extremely skillful.

Furthermore, the ladies and gentlemen of Hongnong County often drank and played finger-guessing games at banquets. Although the women’s natural voices were soft and gentle, their demeanor was bold, rolling up their sleeves and extending their hands, their eyebrows and eyes flying, so they had a unique charm. The onlookers at the table, listening to the finger-guessing, were truly admiring beautiful scenery, a refreshing experience.

In fact, this Shang Jiao’s real name was Xu Xuyuan, especially his two elder sisters, who were both remarkable enlightened individuals.

The master of the Azure Mud Grotto Heaven, Xu Mian. The sovereign of the Heaven and Earth Blessed Land, Xu Yingning.

Again, two mountain peak cultivators who had entered the top ten candidates.

Xu Xuyuan glanced at the veiled woman. In their hometown, there was a custom that when a woman was about to marry, she would wear a “wind, flower, snow, moon” coin on her body when she left the pavilion, with the legend that the love between the couple would be eternally good.

This type of coin had heavy copper content, beautiful inscriptions, and fine quality. When wealthy families built houses, they would embed it in the main beam, allowing the owner to make a fortune.

Marriage between aristocratic families was truly like gambling, once the bet was placed, there was no return.

What a pity, such a beautiful woman, with no intention of being a good wife and mother, indicating her intentions with this action, that she would marry herself to the Dao in this life.

Xu Xuyuan, when going out, had decided on a principle: all within the four seas are brothers. Anyway, his family fortune wasn’t small, so he would use money to pave the way, exchanging real gold for sincerity. If friends borrowed money from him, was that really borrowing? It was just taking back the money they had deposited with him. Mountain friends “borrowing” magical treasures and secret spiritual books was the same principle. In short, Xu Xuyuan never let the word “money” outweigh the word “friend.”

Xu Xuyuan solemnly asked, “May I ask, Fellow Daoist Jin Sheng, why do you yearn so much to cultivate and become an immortal? Do you have some previous life connection, some prior wish, that you remembered by chance in this life, and thus sparked the desire to seek the Dao and become an immortal?”

This kind of situation was a common occurrence on the mountain.

Tian Gong had no master or formal initiation, so he had no Daoist name yet. But similar to the Deaf Daoist’s self-styled name, Tian Gong’s Daoist name, “Jin Sheng,” wouldn’t be recorded in the White Jade Capital.

Don’t let Xu Xuyuan’s casual way of speaking with Luo Yi fool you. When he first met someone like Yang, a proud son of heaven, he was even more reckless. After getting a little acquainted, if Yang had his thoughts guessed and asked him a question, Xu Xuyuan could carelessly drop a line like, “No one knows a son better than his father” with a smile.

On the other hand, when interacting with Tian Gong, he always valued etiquette and took extra care of him, often initiating conversation to prevent Tian Gong from feeling lost and unsure of what to do.

Tian Gong didn’t hide anything and told the truth, “At first, it was to seek wealth and status, later, it was to seek longevity.”

Xu Xuyuan curiously asked, “After experiencing hardships and finally becoming a genuine immortal, what are Fellow Daoist Jin Sheng’s feelings?”

Tian Gong said embarrassedly, “Brother Shang Jiao, you’re joking. What kind of immortal am I? I’m already at the age of confusion, yet my Daoist cultivation is still meager, with no progress in sight. I’m fortunate to have met you and to be able to travel together. All along the way, I’ve only felt like I’m just filling a spot poorly.”

Xu Xuyuan smiled and said, “If I may be so bold as to ask, is the Deaf Daoist your initiator?”

The Lesser Four Continents weren’t small. The White Jade Capital’s campaign to suppress the extraterrestrial demons led to the sinking of one continent into a lake. The vast waters meant many rogue cultivators and private Daoists who didn’t get along with the White Jade Capital liked to build their power there. Xu Xuyuan wasn’t unfamiliar with the customs of the Lesser Four Continents, but he had never heard of any Deaf Daoist.

Tian Gong shook his head, unwilling to say more.

Since it involved extremely private Daoist lineages, Xu Xuyuan didn’t ask further. He changed the subject and casually asked, “Fellow Daoist Jin Sheng, how do you view cultivation?”

Tian Gong pondered for a moment and said, “Studying the Dao is like reading ancient books.”

“Well said.”

Xu Xuyuan nodded and smiled, “Fellow Daoist Jin Sheng, I’ll treat you to iron pot stewed goose when we get the chance.”
Before ascending the mountain, through intermittent, proactive conversation, Xu Xuyuan learned that this Tian Gong claimed to have loved immortal cultivation since childhood, but he had not found the right method. He suffered from a lack of guidance from a wise master, was deaf in one ear, and had damaged his internal organs. Later, he went out to seek immortality, trekking through mountains and rivers, searching for enlightened people who could cure his illness and lead him to become an immortal. Fortunately, Heaven never bars all roads, and he really found a Qi Refiner playing in the mortal world in the marketplace. After many tests, the expert saw that his Dao Heart was firm, so he led him up the mountain to cultivate genuine immortal methods. Therefore, Xu Xuyuan guessed that the “Deaf Daoist” was Tian Gong’s mentor who had gone astray and become deaf in one ear in the past.

Xu Xuyuan’s best choice for a mentor in his mind was Hua Yang Palace’s Gao Gu. For this reason, he made a special trip to a Taoist temple on Difei Mountain, became a resident Taoist, hid his name for over a hundred years, learned talismans earnestly, and diligently refined pills. Unfortunately, Gao Gu watched for several years but never chose Xu Xuyuan. Perhaps he was unwilling to let the young man continue to waste his time, he took the initiative to show himself and advised him to descend the mountain and seek another wise master. Gao Gu had made his attitude so clear, Xu Xuyuan was embarrassed to stay in the Taoist temple stubbornly. Especially since Gao Gu suggested that he take a trip to Xiao Sizhou, so Xu Xuyuan went there and really met the old Daoist who raised geese, and learned some methods from the Wang family, but they had no formal master-disciple relationship.

Tian Gong only took it as a polite remark, smiling and nodding in agreement. In a foreign land, drifting and without support, it is inevitable to feel lonely. Being able to find a congenial friend was an unexpected pleasure for him.

Luo Yi knew the inside story and was helpless. Xu Xuyuan’s iron pot stewed goose, it’s best not to eat it if you can avoid it.

Xu Xuyuan said with a mental voice, “Daoist Jin Sheng, like me, you are using a pseudonym, right?”

Tian Gong hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Xu Xuyuan patted Tian Gong’s shoulder, “To be honest, my real name is quite famous. But it’s better not to mention it. Making friends is about connecting hearts, not dealing with names.”

Tian Gong smiled, “My real name is unknown. It’s the same whether I say it or not.”

Xu Xuyuan took Tian Gong’s shoulders and lowered his voice, “Then let’s both be honest, and tell each other our real names?”

Tian Gong just shook his head.

Xu Xuyuan lowered his voice and said, “Actually, my surname is Chen, and my name is Ping An. Just know it, don’t spread it around.”

Tian Gong was stunned on the spot, staring blankly at this person.

Was it because he was shocked by “Shang Jiao’s” thick skin, or did he suspect that he had misjudged him, mistaking “Shang Jiao” for the kind of person who could be a friend? Was his enthusiastic diligence just a theatrical performance by the other party?

Xu Mian’s eyes widened suddenly when he heard this, and he reminded with a mental voice, “Remember not to call the Hidden Official by his name!”

Xu Xuyuan looked embarrassed.

Huang Zhen patted the back of Xu Xuyuan’s hand and smiled, “Since Daoist ‘Shang Jiao’ has been honest, then I can’t be impolite. My given name is, ‘Wood, Water, Fire, Earth are all false’.”

Xu Xuyuan released his hand, looking puzzled.

At this moment, a Hua Yang Palace Daoist came up the mountain, saying that the Palace Master invited everyone.

While still pondering, his sister Xu Yingning smiled and helped him solve the puzzle, “Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, the five elements are missing gold. Since they are all false, there must be a true one. The gold radical plus the character for true is ‘Zhen’, right? It also matches Tian Gong’s ‘Jin Sheng’ Daoist name.”

A single character for “Zhen”.

Xu Xuyuan suddenly realized, a single name Zhen? Then what is his real surname?

Xu Yingning saw that her younger brother was not insightful and ignored such obvious clues. Isn’t Tian Gong’s “name” the answer?

Just as she was about to solve the puzzle for him, she raised her head and saw the plaque and couplets of the Wan Juan Lou, so she changed her mind.

Luo Yi asked, “Why are you so concerned about this Tian Gong?”

Xu Xuyuan joked, “What, do you think our brother Tian Gong has ordinary aptitude, and a rustic flavor, and can’t enter your eyes? This is called a mud leg looking down on a mud leg!”

Luo Yi smiled dumbfounded. Scholars like to talk nonsense. Luo Yi, as the founding emperor of the largest dynasty in the state, is only good at making scholars, or chopping off their heads one by one.

In fact, Luo Yi came from a very low background. He rose step by step from a border army soldier to his current high position. Naturally, he would not look down on Tian Gong because he saw that he was not from a wealthy family. Moreover, what is a wealthy family? Recalling the founding battle that determined the fate of the world, when his troops marched into the old capital, several streets were said to be rivers of blood, all flowing from the mansions of those yellow and purple noble families. The horses’ hooves were slipping.

At that time, a strategist beside him advised, feeling that this was inappropriate, “Shouldn’t we control it? Killing too many will easily lose people’s hearts. It won’t look good in later history books.”

Luo Yi sat high on horseback, his expression indifferent, and only replied, “We must control it, the knives are too slow.”

Xu Xuyuan quietly said, “My two elder sisters, have high vision and accurate judgment of people, it’s well-known. I won’t mention how they evaluate brother Wu Xi. I’m just saying about you,”

He glanced at Xu Mian, a stern-faced man, hmm’d, and was silent for a moment, “We’re family, don’t say two families’ words. Call me brother-in-law in the future.”

Wu Xi did not call himself emperor like Luo Yi, but he was the recognized retired Emperor of Pei Zhou. As a result, the Empress Zhu Xuan of the Yu Fu Dynasty in the neighboring Yong Zhou seemed to have lost her mind and overstepped her authority, building a universal retreat and divining the four states. Pei Zhou happened to be one of them.

As such, it was naturally impossible for Wu Xi to accompany his two sworn brothers to travel the mountains and rivers together. Especially since the destination was Hua Yang Palace, if Wu Xi dared to show himself on Difei Mountain at this time, it would be no different from raising a banner and rebelling in the eyes of the Bai Yujing Daoist officials.

In his earlier years, after learning that the Liju Cave Heaven had landed and become a blessed land, the ambitious Wu Xi had always wanted to find an opportunity to travel to the Vast World and invite the True Dragon King Zhu to come to the Azure Underworld.

Arriving at the top of the mountain, Cuiwei Palace’s Yin Xian and Da Mu Guan’s Nan Qiang had been waiting for a long time.

Palace Master Mao Zhui did not wait at the door. Indeed, even if the head of the Hongnong Yang family arrived, Mao Zhui, who possessed dual avatars, would not necessarily deign to greet him.

Yin Xian led them into Palace Master Mao’s courtyard, a main room with an eight-immortals table and four wooden benches, all made of local materials and carved by Mao Zhui himself. The main hall had neither a plaque nor a shrine. On both sides of the room, one was Mao Zhui’s residence and the other was a study, neither of which had doors. The interior was completely visible.

Those descendants of the illustrious Hongnong Yang family felt very curious. It was estimated that this was the first time they had seen the so-called “humble abode” written about in books, a commoner’s house?
Yang casually found an excuse to go alone to the Viewing Fish Pavilion by the deep pool. Seeing no one around, the young man’s playful spirit arose. He suddenly struck a pose of the Golden Rooster standing on one leg, his fingers pressed together, his eyes wide, muttering incantations.

“Hark, North River Serpent, West Lake Crocodile, South Sea Fish, East Sea Carp! May you not be underestimated, may mortals not belittle you. How could spirits be mere creatures of the pond? Once they meet wind and cloud, they transform into dragons!”

Yang realized that Deaf Daoist and that Tian Gong were not sitting there, but had also come to stroll. The young man lost his interest and went to Old Master Mao of Huayang Palace to broaden his horizons.

Entering the courtyard, crossing the threshold of the main hall, he saw that his elder sister had already removed her face-covering veil. Wow, truly making the humble dwelling shine! Yang smiled brightly and went straight to the point, “Palace Master Mao, can I take a look at your study?”

Mao Zhui said, “As you wish.”

Before Yang Zheng could stop him, the young man had already hurried to the study, staring at the few scholar’s objects on the table. His gaze stopped on an inkstone that still held dried ink, and he muttered to himself, “This kind of brick-and-tile inkstone, even knowing it has its unique qualities, I can’t see any good in it.”

This statement was, of course, meant to imply something.

*You, Mao Zhui, being favored by Gao Gu, must possess remarkable Daoist magic. But forgive my poor eyesight, I can’t see any of your transcendent and unique qualities.*

The woman wearing the veil rebuked him with a mental voice, forbidding him from being impolite, and threatening to send him down the mountain immediately if he dared to say another word. At the same time, she smiled softly and said, “When a young man admires an inkstone, he only sees its beauty, not its flaws. In the end, it’s still a matter of insufficient experience and maturity.”

Yang quickly clasped his fist towards the main hall, begging for forgiveness, “Good elder sister, please don’t scold me. I finally snuck out after scaling the walls, and I’ve been scolded countless times along the way. I’m full of scolding already.”

Perhaps due to the noble family’s inescapable arrogance, even after receiving Yang Zheng’s warning, he still didn’t greet the host, but arbitrarily picked up the inkstone on the table to casually read the inscription.

*The sword light suddenly rises, awakening the Black Dragon. Confined in a muddy pond, long slumber revealed. Rivers and lakes moisten, the night is long, and the water is cold, its chin pearl like a lamp. Wind and thunder force it, scales rise like whiskers. A thousand years in a dark room, my heart is spiritually sharp, a single point is illuminated, and the heavens and earth are filled with light.*

Not to mention Yin Xian, who valued etiquette most, and found the boy rude, even Nan Qiang, who was already quite informal, couldn’t help but frown. Do you really think Huayang Palace is your own home?

On the contrary, Mao Zhui maintained his calm and unperturbed demeanor. Back in the days when he was renting out picture books outside the Zhuxu Temple, after closing up, all the picture books were full of fingerprints and even snot.

Yang Zheng stood up, went to the study, grabbed the young man’s ear, and pressed him onto a long bench.

Earlier, when Mao Zhui stood at the door, watching the guests entering one by one, the White Bone True Person’s first glance fell on the maid behind the veiled woman.

*Such audacity, daring to come to Di Fei Mountain.*

At this moment, Mao Zhui looked at the lively “young man,” the true protagonist.

Inside the Viewing Fish Pavilion, the old man didn’t even need mental communication, as if he could isolate himself from the world by the water’s edge, and confidently deceive the White Bone True Person, he smiled and said, “Too much talk leads to mistakes, you shouldn’t have mentioned the name thing to Shang Jiao. His family is big and his business is great, he can afford to make mistakes, but can you? Of course you can’t, one wrong step and it will be an irreversible disaster. Your master sent you here, settling down in Thunder Marsh Lake, equivalent to entrusting me to take care of you, not for you to make mistakes. Eating bitter gourd, you suffer in silence. When you’re out, be careful and learn more from that fellow Hidden Official of similar age.”

To turn a depressed life into a magnificent one, that is a hero.