From the ruins of a Dragon Palace long lost to the Tung Leaf Continent, a vision emerged: Within the crumbling hall, a maiden clad in white; without, a wandering scholar in verdant robes.

Neighbors they were, reunited in a foreign land, yet no warmth of camaraderie graced their meeting.

Far to the south, upon Treasure Bottle Continent, stood the desolate mountain, Falling Phoenix. In a bamboo tower on the central peak, Spirit Gathering, a longsword, sheathed, adorned a wall. Its very presence shimmered with power, like dragons and serpents etched upon the stone, poised for flight.

Suddenly, a flash of steel! The blade left its scabbard, soaring beyond Falling Phoenix in the blink of an eye. Its light, a brilliant arc, cut through the heavens, swiftly crossing the northern borders of Grand Li.

Mount Warden Wei Bo could barely veil the sword’s departure. Thankfully, its speed was such that mortals could only catch a fleeting glimpse, leaving no lingering trace.

Standing atop Cloud Cloak Peak, Wei Bo, filled with unease, sought out Zhu Lian upon Falling Phoenix.

Zhu Lian merely smiled, offering a simple balm: “Fear not, all things shall pass.”

Wei Bo took some comfort. Even in a strange land, Chen Pingan was not without allies: Cui Dongshan, and the enigmatic Master Xiao Mo.

Within the Dragon Palace’s heart, Qiu Du, the ancient dragon, recalled her failure to discern the blue-robed swordsman’s true power at the tea stall beside the Edict Scale River. The old crone had believed him a celestial swordsman at the least, perhaps even ascended, to dare confront a true dragon without flinching.

For even Wei Ying, the grand swordsman of Jade Decree Sect, would be hard-pressed against the woman called Wang Zhu within this ancient dragon domain, so long as the field of battle remained unchanged.

Chih Kuei asked, her eyes gleaming with mischief, “Old crone, if this swordsman and I were to clash, whose side would you take?”

Without hesitation, the old dragon declared, “This one is bound to the Dragon’s will, ready to face fire and water at her command!”

For if Vinegar could train under this true dragon, her path to greatness would be assured, her future boundless.

The girl possessed exceptional talent. Should she master the arcane arts of water, she might one day found a great sect, or even ascend to the hallowed peaks of the Central Continent.

Like the Fire Dragon True Man of Prawning Peak, whose mastery of flame was unparalleled, crushing the ascended Madam Dan within the confines of Verdant Water Pit, forcing her to cower in shame.

Chen Pingan could only chuckle.

One dared to ask, the other dared to answer.

Were they merely playing at governance?

Yet the old dragon harbored no true malice.

Years of imprisonment by the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Masters had dulled her ambition, quenched her desire for immortality. Now, all her actions were for the sake of the young girl.

All beings with spirit possess their own nature. The traits of dragons and serpents, in particular, were often pronounced.

Chih Kuei, standing at the foot of the dais, glanced at the old dragon.

The old crone reminded her of the gossiping washerwomen of her homeland, all bluster and no bite, swayed by the shifting winds.

And so, Chih Kuei felt a strange kinship.

Suddenly, she whirled about, her inner spirit trembling.

Then, her gaze shifted, icy and malevolent, settling upon Chen Pingan, standing outside the hall.

If before her bloodlust had outweighed her intent, now the opposite was true.

Resentment bloomed within her heart, like a viperous weed, defying all reason.

As if to say, *Even you seek my demise!?*

Chen Pingan, for his part, seemed blind to her anger.

Chih Kuei’s face hardened. With a cold sneer, she turned her back to the door, ascending the steps towards the dragon throne. She spun around, her hand resting upon its arm.

The Dragon Palace, now but a half-opened door to the past, pulsed with a palpable power, sensed even by Qiu Du. The old dragon shuddered, her eyes wide with alarm.

She recalled a time, long ago, when dragons roamed the land, dispensing rain according to ancient law. She had served as a teacher here, within this very Dragon Palace. A tempestuous era, when sword immortals had come in force to challenge its might.

That formidable inquisition, thankfully, had ended with little bloodshed, thanks to the wise intervention of the Eastern Sea Dragon Lord.

Blue robes. The surname Chen.

A gentle demeanor, yet decisive action.

There had been such a swordsman in those days, rising from obscurity in the Great Era, his origins shrouded in mystery. Before the dragon slaying, he had appeared in Ancient Shu, within the Cave-Heavens of Cicada Transformation, and with only his blade, presided over a gathering of swordsmen, leaving the Sword Path of Treasure Bottle Continent diminished ever since.

The old dragon’s face turned ashen. Her voice trembled as she asked, “Are you the Dragon Slayer!?”

Chen Pingan remained silent.

Chih Kuei chuckled. “Truly, it is your way.

Always cautious, always guarded, never seeking ultimate gain, only to avoid error.”

Common folk parade their riches, as if to brighten a night walk.

But this neighbor of hers seemed indifferent to his newfound wealth.

She had sensed it before the sword-light reached the Dragon Palace.

This so-called Chen Pingan was merely a puppet, a talisman animated by ancient, forgotten arts.

A series of overlapping seals,

The real one lay beyond the palace.

No wonder this one was lifeless, its presence obscuring the celestial gaze, concealing its origins. Add to that his affinity for water, his sword’s inherent power to sever the small world, and this substitute had slipped unnoticed into the palace.

And there, another figure in blue emerged, sword in hand.

Two Chen Pingans now stood.

The latter extended two fingers. In that instant, the former faded away, transforming into a miniature, ethereal flying sword, like a breath of spring air.

Chen Pingan drew the Well Moon back into his sleeve, his spirit returning to his true body as he subtly dispelled the layered seals upon the sword.

This talisman technique, he had learned from his friend Liu Jinglong, the youngest Sect Master in the history of Grand Emblem Sword Sect, a master of both sword and formation.

Chih Kuei’s face darkened. “Why did you dissolve the pact?”

Chen Pingan did not bother to answer.

She hadn’t asked before binding it. Why should he seek permission to break it?

Chih Kuei seethed, but her anger quickly morphed into a radiant smile, as memories flooded back.

This mud-caked peasant from Mud Jug Lane was still the same as ever, a familiar face.

Song Jixin had often been driven to fury by Chen Pingan. The two boys, separated by a wall, were often toyed with by Song Jixin for entertainment by provoking him, taunting him, and throwing a basket of mean comments to him.

But the neighbor yard’s reply was always absent, leaving Song Jixin feeling frustrated. Instead of verbal conflicts, there was only silence that made Song Jixin’s “wild punches fall into the air”.

Chen Pingan would only show a facial expression or a gaze at most, or just a light statement.

This was enough to frustrate Song Jixin, often nearly bursting in fury and flipping over the wall for a fight, his fists clenched and veins popping, but ultimately there was no way to do it. In terms of a fight, Song Jixin had never had the confidence to actually have a showdown with Chen Pingan ever since he was young.

For example, if Chen Pingan was annoyed by Song Jixin, he would say casually, “When I was an apprentice at the kiln, how much was my monthly salary? I couldn’t afford spring couplets at the end of the year.”

That simple statement had a lot of underlying meanings. It would make Song Jixin, whose mind opened up early, think about it. He would tend to overthink and feel stabbed in the heart. For example, was Chen Pingan saying that although you, Song Jixin, have money and live without worries, I earn money by my own ability. Further, it was like repeatedly suggesting to Song Jixin that you were the illegitimate son of the kiln supervisor, so you don’t need to visit graves on Qingming Festival, and all your money fell from the sky…

Back then, Chih Kuei thought that this silent neighbor just wanted to be a good person. Otherwise, if he was willing to talk and curse, maybe the widow in Mud Jug Lane and Granny Ma in Apricot Blossom Lane wouldn’t really be Chen Pingan’s opponent.

Chih Kuei smiled. “You’re not one to care for appearances. Why play the hero when your realm has fallen?”

Chen Pingan, Night Wanderer in hand, strode across the threshold, entering the hall. He examined the dragon pillars, saying, “In Grand Li’s capital, some of the Earthly Branch cultivators were saying, ‘Now that the State Preceptor is gone, why not…’ I overheard them. Their end was not pleasant.”

Chih Kuei scoffed. “Do you think you can replace him?”

The one who could truly control her was gone.

Chen Pingan seemed to disregard Chih Kuei’s ascended realm, drawing ever closer.

Suddenly, she laughed coldly. “You brought helpers?”

Chen Pingan raised his sword, his left hand gently caressing the blade. Its surface shimmered, clear as an autumn sky.

He gazed into its depths, and it returned his gaze, reflecting a serene, limpid pool.

Chih Kuei studied Chen Pingan’s sword hand. She stretched languidly, yawning, as if her mood had suddenly lifted.

A woman’s heart, a needle at the bottom of the sea.

Qiu Du’s expression was bewildered.

Was this some twisted lovers’ quarrel?

A tale of unrequited love and bitter hatred?

Chih Kuei spoke in a voice only Chen could hear, “Now that I am the Eastern Sea Water Lord, will I still be plagued by those lurking dragon raisers?”

Chen Pingan replied in kind, “Indeed. They only await your mistake.”

Chih Kuei stepped off the dais, laughing. “A few words?”

Chen Pingan nodded, turning towards the palace door.

Chih Kuei gathered her robes and hurried after him.

Leaving behind an utterly dumbfounded old dragon.

As they walked from the hall, Chih Kuei asked, “Did you seek me out specifically?”

Chen Pingan shook his head. “It was chance. I followed in case that old dragon was unaware and you took revenge.”

Whether Qiu Du’s purpose in revisiting this place was to gather the Dragon Palace treasures or something else, once Chih Kuei knew of it, she would certainly pay the price.

Chen Pingan knew not just of the promise between Central Earth Confucian Temple and Chih Kuei, but also his neighbor’s temper. She held grudges for the smallest of things, remembering every slight from their hometown. Now, faced with something that was completely within her right, Chih Kuei’s hand might strike too heavily.

Furthermore, he worried that the Buried River within Great Fountain Dynasty, once part of the old river’s trunk, would be affected by the commotion.

The only surprise was their meeting here.

In their hometown, for sixty years, Qi Xian had been restricted from contacting her.

Yet how could it have been Qi Xian’s “oversight” that Chih Kuei, free at last, climbed from that iron-bound well on a snowy night and stumbled back to Mud Jug Lane?

It had been intentional.

And so, Chen Pingan had warned Chih Kuei to be careful at Qi Du Shrine.

Otherwise, even if Chen Pingan were a teacher by nature, he would not have bothered with Chih Kuei. They would have simply gone their separate ways.

Chen Pingan asked telepathically, “In Mud Jug Lane, the houses beside our own have been empty for as long as I can remember. Abandoned, without an owner. I couldn’t find anything in the kiln record, nor later in the Yellow Pagoda County household registry. Do you know anything?”

Chih Kuei walked beside Chen Pingan, turning to smile. “Is this you asking for my help?”

Chen Pingan nodded. “It is.”

They were neither kin nor enemies, and neighbors to boot. What harm could come from a few idle words?

Chih Kuei merely smiled, as if she had no intention of speaking.

She raised her head, strolling through the Dragon Palace with an air of leisure.

She recalled a time when this mud-stained peasant would help her carry water back to Mud Jug Lane when they crossed paths.

In winter, she would carry a sack full of charcoal, because she didn’t want to run another errand. Back then, she was the most unfortunate creature held down by the Great Path of the small town. She always thought the road was too far and it was particularly heavy.

Song Jixin and Liu Xianyang were so small-minded, but neither of them had ever misunderstood in this matter.

Neither of them thought Chen Pingan had any bad intentions.

She clasped her hands behind her back, gazing ahead. “Do you think I am good for nothing except my realm?”

Chen Pingan considered the question before offering an answer.

And it was that very hesitation that made her face darken, as if he would have preferred to blurt out an affirmative.

Chen Pingan slowly replied, “Not entirely.”

Perhaps recalling some tales of their shared homeland, Chen Pingan’s expression softened.

He remembered the naive straw-shoed boy who had first witnessed Qi Xian begging for a favor.

Later, Chen Pingan would revisit the Scroll of Fleeting Time, discovering that the girl had once cursed at the old locust tree.

Which, in Chen Pingan’s opinion… felt quite satisfying.

Chen Pingan shook off his reverie. “Those others… how did you meet them?”

Dragon raisers and Dragon ascenders, only a word apart, yet their goals were worlds apart.

Chih Kuei was growing impatient. “We met along the way. We each needed something. My future water palace requires those who can truly accomplish something.”

Chen Pingan did not try to restrain her. Instead, he said casually, “All we have seen on this journey, it is either good fortune, or ill.”

Chih Kuei frowned. “Not good people and bad people?”

Chen Pingan smiled. “Therein lies the rub.”

Chih Kuei scoffed. “Why don’t you just become a teacher?”

To his surprise, Chen Pingan nodded. “I have already chosen a school.”

In a private garden of a former dragon lord, a vast expanse of lily ponds, sat a reed boat, bearing four figures: an old man, a beautiful woman, a burly warrior, and a handsome young man.

All were now retainers of the true dragon, Wang Zhu, the newly appointed Eastern Sea Water Lord.

The beautiful woman, dressed in courtly attire, her hair in a flowing cloud style adorned with golden hairpins, her face lightly powdered, wore a bronze mirror and a crystal jade on her slender waist. She turned to the old man at the stern, asking, “Li Ba, do you think the Lord and that Hidden Official will come to blows?”

The old man, Li Ba, his white hair wispy, his bones thin but his spirit clear, shook his head. “Without animosity, they will not fight.”

Beside him, the burly warrior sat cross-legged.

The young man, a mountain god of some accomplishment, his skin like jade, his beauty like that of a peerless courtesan, lay back in the boat, his hands behind his head, legs crossed, leisurely swinging a wine flask. The amber liquid dripped in a single stream into his mouth. He shook the empty flask, sat up, and looked in the direction of the Great Hall. “Heavy sword energy. Truly worthy of one who became a swordsman on the Great Wall of Swords.”

The beautiful woman, her eyes sparkling, gazed at the warrior who sat like a stone. “Xi Man, if you were allowed to fight him solely as martial artists, hand-to-hand, could you win?”

According to the list of the top ten young people of several worlds, it was said that the young Hidden Official was a Ninth Realm martial artist when he defended the city. Later, when he returned to Great Era, he fought back and forth with Cao Ci in the Confucian Temple merit forest.

The warrior, clearly a master of martial arts, said simply, “He would defeat me even if he let me use only one hand.”

Pure martial artists often see the world only in terms of martial artists.

This local demon of Great Era, Xi Man, had carefully considered the matter. He had no chance of defeating the Old Ape of Moving Mountain in the Righteous Yang Mountain, who was also born with a strong physique, so how could he fight with Chen Pingan.

That would not be sparring, but certain death.

The woman scolded, “How old is he, and how old are you? Why don’t you just die?”

The warrior sneered, “If that’s the case, everyone except Cao Ci and Chen Pingan should stop practicing martial arts.”

Chih Kuei’s four attendants, one Immortal, two Jade Purity, plus one mountain-peak martial artist.

Besides Human cultivators, there was also a ghost immortal and a demon, but they were all registered and identified in the Confucian Temple.

After the young man sat up, he remembered something. “The Green God Mountain wine from the wine shop on the Great Wall of Swords cost a lot of money, and I even asked someone for help to get a pot, but it made me wonder about life.”

Could it be that the wine at the Green God Mountain banquet before was fake wine?

The burly warrior nodded. “It was indeed difficult to drink. It’s not scary to drink bad wine, it’s scary to drink fake wine. If it were me, I would have to stand in front of the pharmacy before drinking it.”

In his words, the warrior habitually reached out and scratched his crotch.

The woman glared and complained, “How disgusting, can’t you change this bad habit?”

The burly warrior said in a muffled voice, “I can’t change it.”

He also had a catchphrase that Gong Yan couldn’t stand the most, “Don’t look up, brother, we don’t have that blessing.”

Of this group, the woman’s name was Gong Yan, nickname A Wu. She was a local cultivator from Swaying Wing Continent and was once the female founder of an old sect, but after a battle, she was now homeless.

Gong Yan was quite gloating about the situation in Mountain Water Grotto. Later, she met a female sword cultivator with the surname Nalan there. She was a foreigner with an unknown realm, possibly a nascent soul realm. She claimed to be from the Inverted Mountain Water Crystal Palace.

The two made a few big deals. The foreign sword cultivator who was in charge of Mountain Water Grotto at the time was a prodigal woman. She probably had connections in the Confucian Temple of Central Earth and dared to openly sell her family property cheaply. Gong Yan accepted everything and made a good harvest as if she was shopping on the street.

The old man’s name was Li Ba. His hometown was from Golden Armor Continent, his Taoist name was Burn Palm. He was once a close friend of Wan Yan Old Jing of Golden Armor Continent. He devoted himself to Taoism and served as the national teacher of a great dynasty under the mountain. However, he assisted three emperors in succession, all of whom were useless. Especially the last talented emperor of a fallen dynasty, he even filed a memorial with the Qingzhang Taoist Temple, which was under the jurisdiction of National Teacher Li Ba, planning to confer himself as the Cult Master Taoist Emperor.

When the water god escorting business of Great Era came to a temporary end, the Lord Wang Zhu promised them that after the event, they could choose a good tree to roost on according to their wishes. For example, two of them were determined to cultivate in the Water Palace for a long time, and the other two planned to settle in the Great Li Dynasty capital of Treasure Bottle Continent, because they were quite optimistic about the Fan King Song Mu.

A snow-white figure, like a cloud falling into the lotus pond, stepped on a green lotus leaf, swaying and barely stabilized his body. He stretched his neck and looked at the handsome man sitting in the middle of the reed boat, shouting, “Oh, isn’t this the famous one who likes ‘white bones lying on pine clouds’, calls himself ‘drunkard of Jiangdong’, claims ‘my ambition is beyond the sky’, and claims to ‘remove heart prison, guard heart zhai, and make heart palace’, and it is rumored that a breath of sighing can attract wind, rain, clouds, fog, thunder, and then almost got killed by Zhang Tiao Xia for snatching a fishing spot, Jade Taoist Huang Man?”

The white-clothed boy put his hands on his waist, “Let me catch my breath, I’m exhausted.”

The uninvited guest stared at the four people in the boat for a moment, and then the white-clothed boy turned to look at a waterside pavilion on the shore, smiling and asked, “In this small place, I am fortunate to see so many extraordinary people. Master Xiao Mo, tell me, what is this called?”

In the waterside pavilion, a frail scholar in a yellow hat and green shoes, holding a green bamboo staff, appeared at some point. Hearing this, he smiled and replied, “It can probably be considered that you can see great wild scenery without leaving the door, and you can meet great people by following the alleys.”

Sitting there, Huang Man did not expect that he would be exposed at a glance. He smiled and asked, “Who are you?”

He had used several layers of deception and hid his name for more than a hundred years. Logically, he should not have been seen through at a glance.

The four strange men in the boat only heard the white-clothed boy say seriously, “I am Dongshan.”

Cui Dongshan shifted his gaze and looked at the old man. His face was full of medicinal smell and was very bitter, showing a surprised face. “Ah? Isn’t this the national teacher Li Ba of Flowing Glow Continent? Yes, yes, he must have been heartbroken by the extremely respected Wan Yan Old Jing and is unwilling to stay in his hometown, a sad place. If it were me, I would also change places to relax.”

Cui Dongshan suddenly took out something from his snow-white sleeve, and then stood on one leg and held up a demon-revealing mirror, aiming at the woman, “Hey! Where are the goblins and ghosts running, why don’t you show your true form quickly!”

It didn’t work? The white-clothed boy frowned slightly, put the ancient mirror into his sleeve, and then took out a new one from his sleeve. He jumped, changed positions, and moved horizontally, landing on a green lotus leaf next to him. When he was in the air, he threw up the ancient mirror, caught it after changing hands, and shouted “Freeze!”

After that, he took out two more ancient mirrors. The most famous four demon-revealing mirrors in Great Era had all been shown off by the white-clothed boy. Among them, two were made by the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion and the sect where Fu Lu Yu Xuan was located, and the remaining two were the rule mirror called “Mountain Mirror” in Golden Armor Continent and the Water Mirror of Great Dragon Spring, respectively. The latter two absorbed and refined the essence of the sun and the moonlight, each with its own strengths. The Mountain Mirror had great killing power and broke obstacles quickly, while the Water Mirror could better find the traces of goblins and ghosts, and there was no escape.

The four people in the reed boat looked at each other.

Especially Gong Yan, who was being targeted, didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Had they encountered a mountain immortal who had something wrong with his mind?

The white-clothed boy, who had turned around and returned to the original place, put away the demon-revealing mirror in frustration, “Ha, misunderstanding, misunderstanding. I blame this sister for being too beautiful. The old saying in Jianghu says that if you meet someone in the mountains, it’s either a ghost or a fox demon.”

Xi Man looked at the old man, and Li Ba nodded, indicating that he could take action, grasp the measure, and see if he could find out the depth of the other party’s Taoism.

The burly warrior’s body burst out, and the water level of the lotus pond around the boat suddenly dropped. The distant lake water stirred, and the water channels rose in layers, spreading to the shore, except for the waterside pavilion where the yellow-hatted youth was located, which was unaffected.

The Ninth Realm martial artist Xi Man struck the white-clothed boy’s forehead with an elbow. The other party had no power to fight back and was nailed into the water like an arrow. After a while, the white-clothed boy poked his head out in the distance, wiped his face, swam over, reached out and grabbed a lotus branch swaying with the water, and then grabbed a lotus leaf that was falling towards him, turned over and jumped onto the leaf surface, stomping his feet and cursing, “Thief, dare to commit violence and injure people, this is not over, you wait, I will go and call someone, if you have the ability, don’t run…”

Cui Dongshan suddenly stopped talking, with a look of self-pity on his face, stomping his feet and saying, “I never thought that I would still live to become the person I hated the most back then. My actions are like the playboy on the street who teases a good woman and is beaten to the ground by a hero, and then only dares to run away after getting up, while running away, he still yells and throws harsh words at people?!”

Xi Man gathered his voice into a line to remind the other three, “This person is difficult to deal with.”

The woman glanced at Huang Man and sneered, “Jade Taoist, can you tolerate this?”

Huang Man smiled, “Be careful not to capsize in the gutter, I can tolerate it a little longer.”

Xiao Mo watched the farce from a distance and had no intention of getting involved.

He was just a loyal follower of his master. Besides, this Sect Master Cui was his master’s proud disciple, so there was no need for Xiao Mo to worry about his safety.

Cui Dongshan looked at the plump and beautiful woman and took out a rule mirror with the inscription “On the Great Mountain” from his sleeve again, “Ah? The ancient mirror hanging on this sister’s waist looks so familiar. Are we seeing a fellow villager, with tears in both eyes?”

Gong Yan said helplessly, “This guy is so annoying.”

Xiao Mo leaned against the pavilion pillar and raised the mountain walking stick in his hand, “I advise you not to mess around. It’s easy to have murderous intent, and it’s hard to undo the damage.”

The white-clothed boy seemed to have found a backer, put his hands on his waist and laughed loudly, “Did you hear that, did you hear that? My Master Xiao Mo said that you should be honest, disciplined, and restrained, and speak politely to me!”

Xiao Mo did not deny it. If this Sect Master Cui was just a passerby they had just met, his words and deeds would indeed be annoying.

In the boat, the Jade Taoist, who had the highest realm, seemed to be unable to bear the absurd behavior of the white-clothed boy and planned to take action himself.

In an instant, the yellow-hatted youth came to the reed boat, standing on the edge of one side of the boat, lightly pressing the mountain walking stick against the Jade Taoist’s eyebrows.

A green bamboo staff, like a blue long sword, with blood oozing from the Jade Taoist’s forehead at the tip of the sword.

“Taoist Huang Man, cultivation is not easy, cherish your life.”

Xiao Mo smiled, “Walking the world, often standing by the river, how can you not get your shoes wet? Only knowing how to fight and kill will not go far.”

The white-clothed boy started to be a demon again, clapping his hands quickly but without sound.

Xi Man was about to make a move, but the whole person flew out, as if he had been hit by hundreds of sword energies at the same time. He stepped on the water surface of the lotus pond, retreating again and again. Those invisible sword energies were very measured, as if they were just to knock a Ninth Realm peak martial artist out of the boat.

A man and a woman appeared on the shore of the lotus pond.

Xiao Mo then put away the mountain walking stick, left the boat, disappeared in a flash, and came to his master’s side.

As soon as Cui Dongshan saw his teacher, he immediately changed his appearance and followed Xiao Mo to Chen Pingan’s side, introducing Huang Man and Li Ba in his heart.

After Chen Pingan heard this, he bowed to the four people in the boat from afar, and then asked Cui Dongshan to call Qiu Du to leave this place together.

Chih Kuei suddenly said telepathically, “Chen Pingan, give that old dragon a message, saying that I will let her take away 10% of the Dragon Palace treasures. This Dragon Palace will close in an hour. If she has the guts to come here to steal things and the guts to disobey my orders, then the old dragon will bear the consequences.”

Chen Pingan laughed, “Worthy of being the Eastern Sea Water Lord, what great official power.”

Chih Kuei rolled her eyes back.

Chen Pingan waited outside the Dragon Palace ruins for about half an hour with Cui Dongshan and Xiao Mo, and Qiu Du rushed out the door in a panic.

They returned to Immortal Capital Mountain together.

Cui Dongshan walked forward in the wind with a swimming style, giggling, “Teacher, Miss Chih Kuei now knows how to recruit troops, which is still very progressive.”

Nowadays, in Great Era, in addition to the Central Earth Five Mountains, including Sui Mountain, Nine Doubts Mountain, and Smoke Branch Mountain, there are also the Five Lakes and Four Seas. The divine rank of these mountain and water gods is relatively the highest, and they are all from the first rank on the gold and jade genealogy formulated by the Confucian Temple. However, although the Five Lakes Water Lords have the same rank as the Four Seas Water Lords, the difference in the waters they manage is a world apart.

Among them, the master of land water transport in Central Earth Divine Continent, the largest of the Great Era Nine Continents, is Madam Dan of Verdant Water Pit.

According to the territory division of the Four Seas Water Lords, the Eastern Sea waters managed by Chih Kuei include the vast waters outside the land of East Treasure Bottle Continent and Southeast Tung Leaf Continent.

Therefore, the reason why Chih Kuei chose this Dragon Palace ruins in Tung Leaf Continent is because the focus of her future management of the Water Palace, in addition to pursuing the tranquility of rivers and seas within her jurisdiction, also needs to support the strong prosperity of the Yao Dynasty of Great Fountain in central Tung Leaf Continent, the Yu Dynasty in the north, and the Yuan Clan of the old Great Abyss, these new and old dynasties, in order to help Chih Kuei increase and strengthen her own dragon energy.

And that new South Sea Water Lord will be in charge of South Po Sa Continent and Southwest Swaying Wing Continent.

Therefore, if Chen Pingan wants to mend the mountains and rivers of the three continents, the people he really needs to deal with, besides this old neighbor Chih Kuei, also include Li Yihou, who used to be the Jiao Yue Lake Water Lord. They had met once in the merit forest. He was one of the distinguished guests who congratulated his teacher on his restoration to Confucian Temple status.

Because of that Mountain and Sea Sect’s Mountain and Water Gazette, it is estimated that all mountain-peak cultivators now know that Chen Pingan has obtained a share of the water transport of Yiluo River in the wilderness world.

Perhaps that new South Sea Water Lord will soon secretly send envoys to take the initiative to visit, and it is even possible that Li Yihou will take time out to personally visit Falling Phoenix Mountain.

Cui Dongshan asked the old crone with a smile, “Embarrassing or not?”

The old crone’s smile was forced.

It was indeed extremely embarrassing, and she couldn’t wait to dig a hole and crawl in.

If it was according to a mountain saying in Tung Leaf Continent, this would be called “Jiang Shangzhen looking in the mirror, not a person inside or out”.

How could she have imagined that this Chen swordsman, who hid his strength, was not only the Hidden Official of the Great Wall of Swords, but also a neighbor of that true dragon for many years.

During that half hour before, Wang Zhu accompanied her all the way and even helped the old crone choose a few water magic treasures. Not accepting? How dare Qiu Du not accept them.

Chen Pingan comforted with a smile, “Old Mother doesn’t need to feel awkward. Some misunderstandings that are in line with human nature will be resolved when they are explained. There is no need to have any resentment because of this.”

Many things that are difficult to let go of, today’s thoughts and concerns will be turned into a smile next year.

The old crone felt a little relieved, “Chen swordsman is generous, I was indeed short-sighted before and judged a gentleman’s heart with the heart of a villain. Now I have ended up in a ridiculous situation, which is my own fault.”

Qiu Du had already made up her mind to change her original intention when she came. For the sake of Vinegar, what does face matter? Since she knew the true identity of this Chen swordsman, what else was there to be vague about? The old crone seized the opportunity and said, “Chen swordsman, this time I am visiting Immortal Capital Mountain with Mountain Lord Ye for the sake of Vinegar’s future. Even if Sect Master Cui doesn’t invite me, I will shamelessly follow Mountain Lord Ye, not daring to hope that Vinegar will become Chen swordsman’s direct disciple. I only ask that Vinegar has a name on the gold and jade genealogy of the Immortal Capital Mountain Ancestral Hall.”

What kind of guest is that, that’s narrow-minded.

As for that Eastern Sea Water Lord, Wang Zhu, who is still the only true dragon in the world, the old crone had chewed out some aftertaste.

She and this blue-clothed swordsman who is outstanding in both style and law, have been neighbors for many years, and there is definitely a story between them!

Xiao Mo smiled and revealed the secret to his master in his heart.

On Xiao Mo’s side, it is best not to think about things for cultivators below the Ascension Realm.

Therefore, Chen Pingan said bluntly, “To be honest, even if Old Mother dares to send Vinegar Girl to Immortal Capital Mountain for cultivation, I wouldn’t dare to accept it.”

Before, in that marriage shop by the river, the girl dared to recklessly connect him and Huang Yiyun with a red thread. She was fearless and her personality was too jumpy.

To put it bluntly, the little girl is a person who does things without considering the consequences.

Qiu Du carefully glanced at the blue-clothed swordsman.

For no reason, she remembered something, and the old crone felt a little guilty.

Vinegar does like to match people randomly.

Not only did she secretly draw a red thread for Chen Pingan and Ye Yiyun before, but in fact, just this year, she met two foreigners, an old Confucian scholar and a taciturn man, who were traveling in the Crimson Scale River. During this time, they took a break at the tea shed, and Vinegar almost caused trouble.

Cui Dongshan whispered, “Teacher, I dare to accept it.”

His own upper sect is truly a place where dragons and tigers are hidden, and there are many talented people and swordsmen like clouds and masters like rain.

But my lower sect is in its early stages and urgently needs talents. That little girl, according to Xiao Mo, is from an ancient moon household lineage. Although her blood is thin, her cultivation talent is indeed good, “with hope for Jade Purity”.

With hope for Jade Purity, that is a certainty for the Nascent Soul Earth Immortal. Don’t underestimate the Earth Immortal, in peaceful times, Earth Immortal cultivators are often the signboard of a sect outside the mountain, and it is still a gold signboard, just like Huang Yiyun’s Pushan Cloud Grass Hall, does Ye Yiyun really manage things? It is still the law-enforcing Tan Rong and the disciples Xue Huai who are running around and working hard.

Besides, this old dragon has one good point, she is protective!

Isn’t that a natural fit with our sect style?

Chen Pingan glanced sideways.

Cui Dongshan immediately changed his words, “Teacher is right!”

When the group returned to Immortal Capital Mountain, Secret Snow Peak, Ye Yiyun immediately found Chen Pingan and said that the two masters and disciples could each ask for a fight.