A bird in the cage of heaven and earth, a swallow in the jianghu hall, a moon at the bottom of a well of the Dao heart, a wild goose at the edge of a cloud of wealth, and a duckweed on the water of life.

Standing in the pavilion by the water, with hands tucked into sleeves, counting with fingers, an old man, a guest elder of the Yang family, who called himself the Deaf Daoist, slightly frowned, changed his mind, and decided to chat a few more words with Huang Zhen. He seemingly casually asked, “Do you know your master’s true identity?”

Huang Zhen shook his head blankly, only knowing that his master and fellow townsman, Ma Kuxuan, who had passed on his teachings, had an extraordinary background, could command spirits, and was a top figure among the younger generation of cultivators in Baopingzhou. In the battle of Old Dragon City, he had shone brilliantly. Ma Kuxuan naturally possessed the capital to be arrogant and look down upon others. In contrast, Huang Zhen had been away from home for many years, all alone and adrift, how could he not respect and awe such a master, and yearn for him?

The four small prefectures had always been the least subservient to the rule of White Jade Capital. Historically, the Dao Officials of White Jade Capital rarely appeared here. Of course, cultivators from the four small prefectures, no matter how good their aptitude, rarely proactively entered White Jade Capital to receive official registration. It was a situation of mutual dislike for three thousand years.

Huang Zhen was silent for a moment, feeling ashamed of his inferiority, and said, “My master is like a dragon in the sky, but I am a loach in a muddy pond. I only hope that in the future, when I achieve minor success in cultivation, I will not disgrace my master’s reputation too much. Other than that, I dare not hope for more.”

The Deaf Daoist remained noncommittal about this and said to himself, “The so-called deaf means not hearing things outside the window.”

Huang Zhen tentatively said, “Is senior’s real Daoist name ‘Dragon Daoist’?”

The old man chuckled, “Not even bothering to slay, where would the Dragon Daoist come from?”

The old man quickly changed the subject and revealed the heavenly secret to Huang Zhen, “There are three reasons why Ma Kuxuan threw you into the four small prefectures instead of elsewhere in Azure Netherworld. Firstly, the lady of Leize Lake, Leiyu, her true form is a ‘Hui’, which is dragon-like. Secondly, Leize Lake is a layered lake, containing a vast true intent of thunder law. For thousands of years, Leiyu was the first to steal this opportunity, open a cave dwelling, and refine a small portion of the thunder law, already reaching the peak of the Ascension Realm. If we trace it back to its origin, Leiyu is merely a thief who took advantage of the situation, and Ma Kuxuan is the true owner who left his home for many years and abandoned his old residence. Leiyu naturally feels guilty about this, which is why she looks at you favorably, treats you exceptionally well, and secretly takes great care of you. The last and most crucial reason is that I chose to live in seclusion in Leize Lake and have refused White Jade Capital’s invitations and recruitment three times. However, this secret matter is unknown even to the Palm Master Yu and Palm Master Lu. And I have my reasons for choosing to hide in Leize Lake to avoid the world. Family scandals should not be publicized, so I will not go into detail about this. You just need to understand one point, the majority of the thunder law true intent that Leiyu has not yet refined is the foundation of your future path to enlightenment. When you descend the mountain and return to Leize Lake, I will have Leiyu vacate the cave dwelling, allowing you to reside within. You will then sever all ties to the mundane world. How much time Huang Zhen needs to spend cultivating before leaving seclusion will be entirely up to your will. Whether it’s minor achievement or great achievement depends solely on your own fortune.”

Huang Zhen nodded and asked, “Will I have a chance to meet my master again?”

As long as there is a path, Huang Zhen is not afraid of long-term obscurity.

To cross the world and return to his hometown in Haoran, one must start at the Ascension Realm.

At this moment, Huang Zhen did not consider himself a cultivation genius. Even the Upper Five Realms seemed like flowers in a mirror and the moon in the water, unattainable.

The Deaf Daoist shook his head and said, “There is no chance.”

This was not to make a final judgment about Huang Zhen, nor to predict that his future achievements on the Dao would not be high.

It was because that Ma Kuxuan had already perished. In that case, how could the master and disciple reunite.

“The Great Dao wept, and the heavens rained heavily.”

“A state’s mountains and rivers sunk into a lake.”

Those islands are now the peaks of the mountains from yesteryear. The so-called four small prefectures are the four largest islands among them. Unlike Haoran, Azure Netherworld has more mountain qi and less water qi. In the past, the four small prefectures were the most densely populated area with mountains in the world.

Countless majestic cities and immortal cave dwellings filled with spiritual energy are sleeping underwater. For three thousand years, there have been many cultivators who coveted this treasure, but they were all discovered by Leiyu and the old Daoist priest with the Daoist name Taiyi. They were either directly suppressed, arrested and imprisoned, or “redeemed” with objects or money, and then thrown out of the four small prefectures, with the oath that they would never again step into the waters of the two lakes in this life.

Huang Zhen had been with the old man for these years and was not unfamiliar with these old histories, but he dared not show any impatience.

The Dragon Daoist sighed regretfully, “Gao Gu is ultimately not as smart as Yao Qing.”

How many things in the world, like a wild goose stepping on snowy mud.

The Dragon Daoist suddenly asked a baffling question, “In your hometown, what kind of person must not be an official in the imperial court?”

It was not a difficult question. Huang Zhen blurted out without thinking, “Those of low status.”

However, after a little more thought, Huang Zhen felt it was inappropriate and shook his head, “Junior cannot think of the answer.”

Those of low status cannot be officials, that also seems wrong. In the Dali Dynasty, many people escaped low status and either joined the army or entered officialdom.

The Dragon Daoist chuckled, “Perhaps it’s the old man who has been an official for many years, has been greatly demoted and returned to his hometown, and is being monitored by the local officials.”

Huang Zhen was bewildered.

Could it be that this senior was also an official in a certain dynasty?

The Dragon Daoist looked up at the sky and said out of the blue, “Things in the world are really strange. The name of Manhuang Zhoumi’s study is Haoran Study.”

Remembering a saying that originated from Haoran, he clicked his tongue in admiration. The old man stretched out a withered hand, “With one hand on the spot, I will eventually reclaim my valiant spirit.”

Not everyone is qualified to be a guest of the Hongnong Yang family. The old man has another identity and is known as the best fish painter of his generation.

His proud work is a collection of eighty-one paintings of water on silk, compiled into an album.

The old man chuckled, “I envy you all so much, you still have the strength to love and hate.”

The young man stared with wide eyes towards tomorrow.

The old man needed to try hard to remember yesterday.

Flowing water cannot be held by the green mountains.

Mao Zhui communicated with the two women through divine sense, “Hua Yang Palace will not form an alliance with you. As for the attitude of Difu Mountain, you need to discuss it with the mountain master, Gao Fu.”

Xu Mian smiled, “Forget it, since Palace Master Mao is unwilling to agree, Mountain Master Gao will probably be even more cautious.”

Xu Yingning said, “We just came here to try our luck. It’s best if it works out, but it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t.”

Mao Zhui reminded them, “It’s time for you to let Xu Xuyuan leave Azure Netherworld.”

Xu Mian nodded and said, “With Palace Master Mao’s words, our trip here is not in vain.”

Xu Yingning let out a surprised “Yi” and was inwardly surprised, “Why is she here?”

Seeing that Mao Zhui was pretending not to know, Xu Yingning did not say anything.

Mao Zhui shifted his gaze towards the veiled woman, but his eyes fell on “Yang Po”, and said, “Fellow Daoist Shenlou is already in the mountain. You can go to the Free and Easy Pavilion to meet her.”

Yang Po’s eyes sparkled, and he nodded, “Let’s go now.”

It turned out that this “handsome young man” wearing a three-mountain crown and a dark purple robe was the real Yang Zheng, the noble lady of the Hongnong Yang family.

The one with a short knife hanging from his belt and disguised as a maid named “Yang Yupian” was Yang Po.

On the other hand, the woman wearing a veil was the real maid, Yang Yupian.

One has to admit that the Hongnong Yang family is indeed full of handsome men and beautiful women. Almost every man is handsome and refreshing, and there is also a nest of beauties.

Yang Zheng ate the steamed buns and praised, “As expected of the Real Person of White Bones. That’s right, since he can see through life and death, how can he not see through poverty and wealth? My clumsy little tricks are laughable.”

Seeing that Palace Master Mao had seen through the truth, Yang Yupian immediately changed her position and stayed in her place.

The guardian of the Hongnong Yang family also removed the illusion and revealed his true form. He was tall and imposing, carrying a long sword and wearing armor of five colors.

He embodied the literary fortune, martial fortune, official fortune, and incense fortune of the Yang family.

He first spoke a few words to Yang Zheng through divine sense, and after getting permission, he bid farewell to Mao Zhui and left the place to meet with the Mountain God of Taiyi Mountain alone.

Mao Zhui said to the maid holding a circular fan, “Shall we chat a bit?”

Normally, the difference in status between the two parties was immense, like heaven and earth. To be favored by such a great cultivator, she seemed not at all surprised, and the siblings Yang Zheng and Yang Po also had their usual expressions.

Huang Zhen had felt somewhat familiar with her before, and it was not an illusion.

This maid in a yellow dress and a small cap was using the alias Dewdrop. Her real name is Zhu Lu, who was brought back to Azure Netherworld by Lu Chen, and he took her on a trip to the ancient battlefield of Zhulu.

Mao Zhui had already seen through her identity and was too lazy to speak through divine sense, saying directly, “Gao Gu has a letter he wants me to give you.”

Zhu Lu showed a look of sarcasm, “Am I, such a rebellious traitor, still worth a personal letter from Grand Ancestor? It’s not just a perfunctory oral message?”

Mao Zhui didn’t mind and simply took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Zhu Lu.

Before sensing that Lu Chen had begun to collect his mind and create a Xu Xu Guan, the Real Person of White Bones had not been hiding much. He liked to travel around the world and had extensive knowledge, practically a living almanac. For example, during the battle of Zhulu in Youzhou, Gao Gu fought fiercely with a female Daoist priest, and the Real Person of White Bones observed from a distance, being one of the few witnesses.

Zhu Lu hesitated for a moment, but still took the envelope that was as light as a feather. She turned slightly to the side, took out the letter paper inside, glanced at the contents, looked depressed, quickly put it back in the envelope, and put it in her sleeve.

Huang Zhen and Zhu Lu, this man and woman, happened to be the two people in their hometown who hated Chen Pingan the most.

A meeting in a foreign land, still they went their separate ways, each still needing to go their own way.

At the Fish Watching Pavilion, the old man seemed to be moved and looked at Huang Zhen, saying with deep meaning, “To hurt yourself with likes and dislikes is not the right path for cultivation.”

Love and hate are both double-edged swords and boomerangs.

Huang Zhen’s expression froze, and finally, his mind was made up. He said softly, “Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. I can’t care about that much.”

The old man was already unwilling to get too involved in such personal grudges and no longer tried to persuade him to change his mind, “When you return to Leize Lake and have your own Daoist temple, just cultivate well.”

Huang Zhen nodded and said, “That person is now at the height of his power. I will never provoke him without complete certainty.”

The old man joked, “It’s already brave of you not to be scared out of your wits.”

Sensing Huang Zhen’s thoughts, the old man chuckled, “I am a realm-less person. I have neither a physical body nor a soul. I am虚无缥缈. Whether you say I am a point of true spirit or an obsession, in short, I am unburdened by official duties. My identity is dispensable, an insignificant existence.”

Children who are eager to grow up always think that childhood is a book that can never be finished, and eagerly rush to read a book for teenagers.

But the old man knows the taste of old age, it is the fleeting years, the sky is suddenly late, and I am indeed old.

He took out a green talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Huang Zhen, “Hold this talisman, visualize in your mind, and you can shrink the ground to Leiyu’s Plum Peak Daoist temple. She will naturally lead you to the Thunder Pool cave dwelling underwater. Go.”

Huang Zhen took the talisman with both hands, carefully put it away, knelt down and kowtowed, thanking the old man.

The old man hesitated for a moment and reached out to help him up.

Huang Zhen stood firm, visualized the Plum Peak in his mind, a golden light flashed, and he disappeared without a trace.

A female Daoist priest who looked like a young girl appeared here, made a bow, and said respectfully, “Greetings, Senior.”

The old man smiled and said, “I am not worthy.”

On the livelier side, Mao Zhui suddenly said to Nan Qiang, “Have Gao Qiong come over here, I have something to tell her.”

Nan Qiang didn’t understand, but still did as she was told.

Apart from Hua Yang Palace and Difu Mountain, only a few great cultivators knew that Gao Gu’s ancestral home was not Youzhou, but a remote small country in Ruzhou.

Flowers bloom inside the wall, fragrance wafts outside the wall.

Descending the mountain to temper the heart and guiding others up the mountain is also one of the Daoist practices.

There are over a hundred officially registered Daoists in Damu Guan, and Gao Qiong is just one of them. Her aptitude and bone structure are ordinary, only because the sword cultivator Gao Qiong has a different immortal destiny that others cannot envy. She is from the same hometown as the Patriarch Gao Gu. Moreover, Gao Gu personally led her up the mountain to cultivate.

In Difu Mountain and Hua Yang Palace, there are countless Daoist officials in the mountain, only Gao Qiong has this honor.

Nan Qiang went to Damu Guan and led Gao Qiong back together by sword. The latter was trembling and looked reserved.

Mao Zhui said, “Grand Patriarch ordered you to return to your hometown immediately after leaving seclusion. When you return to the mountain, there is no time limit, just follow your fate.”

Gao Qiong immediately made a bow and said, “I respectfully obey the decree of the Palace Master.”

Anyway, the one issuing the decree and the one relaying it are both the Palace Master.

Nanshan Country, Ruzhou, Yingchuan County, Xu County. State, country, county, these four names, except for Ruzhou, are completely unknown.

Gao Qiong left home when she was young and still remembers that there was a small Daoist temple in her hometown, but it was similar to the neighboring Changshe County. The incense in both small temples was very ordinary. It seemed that there was not even the “grand quietness” on the mornings of the first and fifteenth of the lunar month, and the “cessation of grand quietness” on the evenings of the fourteenth and thirtieth.

Nan Qiang said, “Palace Master, can I escort Gao Qiong for a while?”

She had no impression of Nanshan Country at all, only knowing that there seemed to be a Guluo Country and a sect called Jindai Sect, which was barely somewhat established.

Mao Zhui nodded and said, “As you wish.”

Yin Xian asked, “Palace Master, can I travel with them?”

Unexpectedly, Mao Zhui shook his head and said, “This time’s journey down the mountain will put the trip to Ruzhou at the end. You can go to Bingzhou first, set off immediately, and do not delay.”

Yin Xian also did not think much and smiled, “Understood.”

His own Youzhou has the Xuanyuan Dynasty, in addition, Ruzhou has the Scarlet Gold Dynasty, and Bingzhou has the Azure God Dynasty. These are all among the few prosperous dynasties in Azure Netherworld. It doesn’t matter whether they go early or late.

Mao Zhui waved his hand and said, “You don’t need to worry about matters in the mountain.”

In the small pavilion, sitting opposite each other, the old man, whose demeanor was as solemn as a clay statue of a god in a temple, couldn’t help but say, “Fellow Daoist, forgive me for being blunt, but exhausting yourself like this, worrying and thinking hard, is absolutely not the way to longevity… Being fond of being a teacher is an old habit that cannot be changed.”

Yang Qing smiled and nodded, “I have been taught.”

The female Daoist Yang Qing, Daoist name Shenlou, is one of the ten candidates in Azure Netherworld.

She was born into the Hongnong Yang family, but her name has long been removed from the Yang family genealogy. She voluntarily left the family that year and became the deputy mountain master of Shoushan Pavilion and the owner of Haishan Xian Guan. Yang Qing showed extremely high cultivation talent since childhood, especially in Ziwei Doushu and Taiyi Shenshu, like a divine beast.

And her younger brother is the key figure who caused Gao Gu and Yu Dou to turn against each other.

On the surface, the death of one person directly led to the Hongnong Yang family, Difu Mountain, and Shoushan Pavilion, the entire Youzhou, completely falling out with White Jade Capital. But fundamentally, it was a kind of invisible struggle for the Dao. For example, a person’s complete selflessness and absolute correctness, to a world, is like acting on behalf of heaven.

In terms of family lineage, Yang Qing, who appears to be a young girl, is the grand-ancestor of the siblings Yang Zheng and Yang Po.

The old man asked, “What scene did Fellow Daoist Shenlou see?”

Yang Qing was silent for a moment and said through divine sense, “Appalling.”

Not long ago, Yang Qing entrusted her friend Leiyu to send a letter to the Yang family.

Yang Qing rarely appeared in public. The last time she appeared was when she went with Leiyu outside the heavens to congratulate Yu Xuan on entering the Fourteenth Realm.

On that confidential letter, which could no longer be called a family letter, there was a reminder, or more accurately, a warning, from Fellow Daoist Taiyi.

There was also a scene that she herself had deduced and witnessed, which was rendered into written words, a prophecy.

“Mountain flowers are about to burn, flowing water is like fire, several states sink, and the people suffer.”

The great tribulation of a chaotic era is approaching. Vaguely, some people are seen picking stars, commanding gods, destroying cities, and opening the heavens.

Yang Qing sighed deeply in her heart.

Yang Zheng, Yang Po, and these young talents of the family are all destined to be people who will face the tribulation.

Not only the Hongnong Yang family and Shoushan Pavilion cannot stay out of it, the entire Azure Netherworld has its own tribulation.

If every thought and intention is the cause, then what is currently received is the effect. So who dares to claim to be free of debts and surplus? Even if this life is like this, what about previous lives and previous existences? It is always a matter of collecting debts and repaying them. For a cultivator, to achieve perfect merit in the vast mundane world, how difficult it is.

Yang Qing took this opportunity to ask the old man for some advice on cultivation. The old man answered everything without reservation, withholding nothing.

When the group walked towards the pavilion, the two parties who had been discussing the Dao in the pavilion stopped talking.

The Dragon Daoist smiled, “What a magnificent event.”

Luo Yi smiled, “It is indeed a coincidence. It’s a pity there is no historian to record it from the side, so it cannot be recorded in history.”

The old man said self-deprecatingly, “I am a person who cannot be seen in the light and is even less presentable. It is not advisable to stay here for long, so I will not exchange too many greetings with all the enlightened seniors.”

Standing up, the old man was about to leave Difu Mountain.

At this moment, inside Hua Yang Palace, near a Free and Easy Pavilion, there appeared a total of five candidates for the top ten in Azure Netherworld.

Real Person White Bones, Mao Zhui.

Shoushan Pavilion, female Daoist Yang Qing, Daoist name Shenlou.

Xu Mian, the owner of Qingni Cave Heaven, founded a Daoist lineage, and is the ancestor of the makeup female officials.

Xu Yingning, occupies a heavenly blessed land, she is also the founding ancestor of the Curtain-lifting Red Hand.

“Fire Official” Luo Yi, the founding emperor of Hengyang Dynasty.

In contrast, Xu Xuyuan, whose realm was somewhat insufficient, was quite helpless, “So I was just there to make up the numbers.”

He had fallen in love with Yang Qing at first sight and had always been open about his admiration for her.

A woman three years older is worth holding a golden brick. Xu Juan married Chaoge, so why couldn’t he marry Yang Qing?

Yang Po, who had a male-female appearance, reached out and pressed the short knife, his eyes burning.

The young man, fearing that the world would not be in chaos, was unwilling to be a peaceful idle person, and wholeheartedly wanted to be the mainstay of the turbulent times, taking chestnuts from the fire. Wealth, fame, and achievements all depended on this one action. Whether it was a chessboard, a chopping board, or a battlefield, honor and disgrace, life and death, one had to go through it vigorously to be considered not to have lived in vain.

Each with their own thoughts.

Yang Qing murmured, “It’s best if there’s nothing in the quiet.”

The Dragon Daoist sighed with emotion, thinking to himself, “The third innate flying sword is probably about to appear.”

At this moment, a Daoist priest arrived at Difu Mountain.

His appearance, even without any words, still made all the Daoist priests in the mountain, regardless of their realm or age, their Dao hearts unstable and feeling suffocated.

This Daoist priest, who had been the Palm Master of White Jade Capital for eight thousand years, was clearly a visitor at the foot of the mountain, but made Difu Mountain seem like a guest.

In the mountain, Mao Zhui had a complex mood, Yang Qing looked serious, and the sisters Xu Mian and Xu Yingning were like facing a formidable enemy. Even Luo Yi, who had never wanted to antagonize White Jade Capital from beginning to end, felt extremely awkward.

In an instant, the entire Difu Mountain was filled with dazzling light that flashed and disappeared everywhere, which was the sound of the arrays being quietly activated.

What if this place was not White Jade Capital, what if the other party was not wielding a sword and wearing a Daoist robe, what if there were five candidates in the mountain at this moment.

However, Yu Dou did not climb the mountain.

He stood at the mountain gate and looked around before leaving.