Beyond the celestial vault, where starlight wove a tapestry of untold brilliance, stretched the boundless expanse of the Silver River, a celestial river vast and eternal.

Upon this shimmering expanse, atop a gourd of colossal size that drifted amidst the stars, sat an aged, diminutive Daoist clad in a purple robe. Beside him stood a venerable scholar, stroking his beard with a knowing smile, his gaze fixed on the void with eager anticipation. With a tone both conciliatory and tinged with underlying unease, he spoke, “Brother Yu, you are now a cultivator of the Fourteenth Realm, a pinnacle unseen since antiquity. ‘Tis said that at such heights, worldly possessions become but encumbrances. Should friends or kin arrive to offer congratulations, would you permit this humble one to relieve you of the burden of their gifts?”

Yu Xuan had achieved Dao Harmony in this very place, and in doing so had been gifted a radiant scroll of immense power, the River Diagram.

Born from the starlight of the celestial river, this Diagram was nothing less than a map of the heavens, a treasure beheld only by those blessed saints of virtue, and even then, only by the grace of fortune.

Thus, Yu Xuan’s acquisition of this artifact was a stroke of unparalleled luck, a gift granted by fate itself, a bounty bestowed by the Great Dao.

Even Yu Xuan, a man who had never known poverty, whose eyes remained unblinking even at the sight of celestial weapons, could not entirely suppress the smile playing upon his lips. A part of him felt a pang of self-reproach for failing to achieve a state of indifference to worldly gains. Fortunately, the old scholar had swiftly interjected, “Brother Yu is indeed a Daoist of profound self-cultivation. Were it me, I would be beside myself with delight, grin splitting my face from ear to ear. My heart and realm pale in comparison, alas.”

The aged Daoist, clutching the scroll, raised his arm and chuckled, “Were it not for the Sage of Letters, none of this would have come to pass. Should any Daoist arrive bearing gifts, all shall be bestowed upon the Sage.”

As for the old scholar’s own rumored attainment of the Fourteenth Realm, and the inherent contradiction within his words, Yu Xuan chose to overlook them.

Leaving aside the Sage’s aid, which had allowed Yu Xuan to achieve Dao Harmony ahead of schedule, the River Diagram itself, a treasure born from the very fabric of creation, was beyond measure by mere mortal coin.

The old scholar withdrew from his sleeve two jars of wine, pilfered from some unknown source. He tossed one to Yu Xuan, and took a swig from the other, reddening slightly as he said, “Alas, this poor soul is as bare as a pauper’s bone. Forgive my humble offering, Brother Yu.”

Yu Xuan laughed, “A gentleman seeks the Dao, not sustenance.”

The old scholar nodded vigorously, “Indeed, indeed. A gentleman sorrows over the Dao, not poverty.”

Taking another swig, the old scholar craned his neck towards the mortal realm, hastily warning, “Brother Yu, someone approaches! Conceal the Diagram swiftly, lest they mistake you for flaunting your treasures.”

Yu Xuan sighed, “Sage, I confess, I am yet unable to do so. I can only clutch it in my grasp.”

Fresh from achieving Dao Harmony, Yu Xuan lacked the power to fully contain the River Diagram, even to shroud it with illusions.

To conceal it within his sleeve was beyond his capabilities, let alone refine it into a treasure of his own. In truth, Yu Xuan was destined only to safeguard the Diagram, not to master it.

A man is like a library, and the River Diagram akin to the texts within.

Yet, even so, Yu Xuan would derive immense benefit from its presence, able to pore over and contemplate its secrets throughout the long years of his cultivation.

His mastery of talismanry, already unparalleled, could be elevated yet further. That single step forward was the difference between mortal and immortal.

Even now, with but a few calculations, Yu Xuan realized that the dozens of great talismans that had once been but castles in the sky were now within his grasp.

The old scholar offered, “Allow me to try.”

Without hesitation, Yu Xuan tossed the River Diagram towards the Sage of Letters.

The scholar raised his sleeve, and the Diagram vanished within.

Yu Xuan stared, dumbfounded.

The old scholar shrank back, clutching his sleeve as if fearing it would burst, then hastily lifted himself, poised to flee with his prize.

Yu Xuan, however, remained calm.

With a sheepish grin, the old scholar resumed his seat, filled with remorse. “Forgive me, forgive me. It happens whenever I drink too deeply. A mere habit, nothing more.”

The first visitor from the mortal realm was a figure of surpassing grace, a jade pendant come to life, a sprig of willow tucked into his belt.

It was Liu Qi, the willow-wielding ferryman of the desolate realms, alone and apart from his companion Cao Zu. His arrival was hardly unexpected.

For this Liu Qi was none other than Liu Sanbian, a name of some renown.

Born of noble lineage, why would he choose such a common moniker? The scholars speculated, whispering of an astrologer by the name of Zou Zi who had divined his fate and chosen his name.

The River Diagram that Yu Xuan now held in trust had appeared but a handful of times in the millennia of history. Once, a Daoist of great renown, said to be an unacknowledged master of the Fire Dragon True Man, known only by the title “White Cloud,” claimed to have witnessed the emergence of the River Diagram from the celestial river. He would later leak these secrets, leaving behind a cryptic “Three Transformations of the Dragon Diagram” and two obscure symbols.

Liu Qi arrived as a rainbow of light, stopping before the Sage and Yu Xuan, bowing with a smile, “Greetings, Sage of Letters. Congratulations, True Man Yu.”

Yu Xuan rose, returning the gesture with a Daoist salute.

The old scholar leaped to his feet, reciprocating the greeting.

Back in the Temple of Literature, the old scholar had requested a calligraphy sample from both Su Zi and this talented Liu Qi. What was the value of such works? To haggle over price would be a vulgarity.

Liu Qi had once pioneered the Willow Sinew Realm, a controversial practice that had stalled the progress of many an aspiring cultivator, a self-inflicted wound.

Recognized as one of the most underrated Grand Cultivators of his time, Liu Qi had finally earned the respect of all.

Upon the seas, where the demon-god Yang Zhi held absolute dominion, Liu Qi had managed to overwhelm her with his spellcraft, a feat that inspired countless scholars.

Chen Qingliu, the Dragon Slayer, had visited the Temple of Literature after the council, paying his respects to the Sage, who had returned to his position.

The mentor of Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City, after being plied with drink by the Sage, spoke from the heart. One utterance in particular had caused the old scholar to strike his table in delight.

According to Chen Qingliu, had Yang Zhi, in her attempted escape to the desolate realms, encountered him instead of Liu Qi, the Temple of Literature would not have needed to escort her to the Central Continent.

He implied that had he been the one to draw his sword, the ancient demon-god would have met her end.

The old scholar did not doubt his words. It was the truth, plain and simple.

Besides, this man was the mentor of Zheng Juzhong. What harm was there in a bit of boasting?

Who dared to disagree? Let them seek out Zheng Juzhong at White Emperor City and accuse his master of boasting. Let them dare…

Chen Qingliu casually inquired, “Did Liu Qi truly unleash over three hundred spells?”

The old scholar nodded. The outside world spoke of three hundred and fifty-six, but the Temple of Literature could not confirm the exact number. Regardless, it was less than four hundred.

Chen Qingliu smiled, “He possesses some skill, then.”

The old scholar knew full well that Liu Qi was destined to reach the Fourteenth Realm.

Su Zi, with Bai Ye by his side, and Grand Celestial Master Zhao Tianlai, with the Pure Yang Lu Yan, their prospects for the Fourteenth Realm were far less certain.

Regardless, the young woman named Chai Wu had ascended to the Upper Five Realms at the Green Ripple Sword Sect thanks to Liu Qi’s efforts.

Thus, the old scholar declared with a silent chuckle, “Better early than late, better now than never. I hereby offer my congratulations to Liu Qi on his imminent Dao Harmony.”

Liu Qi paused, bowing once more in gratitude.

His journey was not in vain.

Without lingering, he departed.

The old scholar returned to his gourd, resuming his wine, slightly disappointed by the lack of a gift from Liu Qi.

Soon after, an old boatman with a bamboo pole appeared, leisurely rowing across the celestial river.

It was Gu Qingsong, the eldest disciple recognized by Cao Rong but not by Lu Chen, a Daoist known as Immortal Raft.

The Silver River sparkled, the mortal path for boats had ended. Only the Celestial Raft could sail upon the Silver River.

The old scholar leaped to his feet, hurrying towards the approaching boatman. He stepped onto the bow, greeting him with unbridled enthusiasm, “Ah, Immortal Raft! Long time no see. What’s this? You seem less spirited than usual. Did you spar with another formidable Daoist? Shall I offer a word on your behalf?”

Gu Qingsong blinked in confusion. He had never met the Sage of Literature, fourth in position at the Temple of Literature. Never exchanged more than a passing greeting.

The old scholar had risen to fame swiftly, seemingly appearing from nowhere. Before Gu Qingsong knew it he had taken his place at the Temple of Literature.

Then just as quickly the old scholar had been thrown in jail. Gu Qingsong had always taken these events as mere gossip, but now, the old scholar’s tone suggested a long-lost friendship. Had he lost his memory? Had he missed something?

The last time Gu Qingsong had sneaked into the Hall of Merit, it was only to meet Chen Ping’an, the veteran philanderer with unique insight into love.

And that meeting had been a business deal. He had taught Chen Ping’an a unique escape technique, and Chen Ping’an had imparted a secret strategy, indeed quite remarkable and useful!

The old scholar seized Gu Qingsong’s hand, shaking it vigorously. “Your name has long been on my lips, I’ve heard of you for so long. Immortal Raft, you are a true soul! I admire you, I admire you.”

Gu Qingsong understood. Chen Ping’an must have said some sincere words of praise to the Sage.

The old boatman, rarely given to flattery, nodded, “Chen Ping’an and I, we can be considered kindred spirits. Old scholar, spare me your flowery words. Enough, lest I break out in goosebumps. It’s not necessary.”

With that, Gu Qingsong turned towards Yu Xuan, unleashing a famed innate ability, “Old Yu, have you stumbled upon another stroke of luck? Truth be told, if you shared but half of your good fortune with me, I would have already paid respects to my master at the Jade Capital in Azure Sky!”

Yu Xuan glared but remained silent.

He had suffered at Gu Qingsong’s hands before.

Gu Qingsong asked, “Why the long face? Don’t think yourself the equal to the 15th Realm!”

The old scholar marveled. The man lived up to his name.

He had seen smooth talkers before, but none as skilled as this.

So, Lu Chen hadn’t accepted Immortal Raft as a disciple, not out of unwillingness, but fear?

Yu Xuan chuckled.

Gu Qingsong snapped, “A young cultivator of the 14th Realm, yet thousands of years old. Don’t let it get to your head. If I recall, or if the Temple of Literature hasn’t been lying again, the old scholar reached the 14th Realm in mere decades. Yet, look at him. He met me just now and is showing off?”

Yu Xuan rubbed his temples, sighing, “I fear you.”

The old boatman bid farewell to the old scholar and Yu Xuan, turning his boat around. He spat, “I came to offer congratulations, only to be greeted by eyes that stare from the top of the head. Heartbreaking, a waste.”

Yu Xuan could only offer a wry smile, not daring to retort.

The old scholar watched, silent and breathless.

Gu Qingsong suddenly turned, “Old scholar, you’re a good man, unlike some others. Your positions should be reversed, that would be a fair reflection of the natural order. And if it wasn’t for certain people, it would be even better, call on me anytime for drinks!”

The old scholar quickly said, “Very well, very well. I surely will.”

Gu Qingsong steered his boat back towards the mortal realm, heading straight for the Osmanthus Island ferry.

The old scholar returned to Yu Xuan’s side, asking, “What was that about? Have you offended Immortal Raft before?”

Yu Xuan grimaced, “The trouble is, I still don’t know why that fellow would block my door and shout curses.”

The old scholar was curious, “What did he shout?”

Yu Xuan replied, “Something about the upper beam being rotten and the lower beam being crooked.”

The old scholar laughed, “With so many disciples and descendants, being cursed by Immortal Raft is certainly something to be nervous about.”

Yu Xuan sighed.

The third to offer congratulations was Xu, the Sage of Characters from Zhaoling, a celebrated scholar. Though the old man did not reside within the Temple of Literature alongside the other sages, nor did he belong to the orthodox Confucian lineage, he was a reader of great merit, much like the old man who now resided in the Treasure Bottle Continent’s imitation Jade Capital. Both belonged to the truest kind of hermits.

When Master Xu was done with the formal greetings, the old scholar finally had a chance to speak up, raising his thumb and saying in a deep voice, “Master Xu, you might not know this, but my last disciple mentions you constantly, he can’t praise you enough, like this!”

Master Xu smiled calmly, “Sage, you can simply call me by my name, furthermore, I don’t deserve the praise of Chen Yin’guan.”

The old scholar sighed, his eyes resentful as he said, “What Chen Yin’guan, stop being so distant, since we are brothers, just treat Chen Ping’an as one of your own juniors, if you see him later, just call him nephew.”

Upon hearing these words, Master Xu didn’t know how to respond.

The world knew of the Sage’s temper and how overprotective he was, if you were polite with him, he wouldn’t be polite with you.

Then there was the current Mountain Master of the Great Talisman Academy in Willow Leaf Continent, Cheng Longzhou, who came from a ten-thousand year old Flood Dragon.

He had often visited the celestial sphere.

Naturally, they spoke of the dredging of the Great Ditch in Willow Leaf Continent.

The old scholar was happy beyond measure, “When it comes to words of ambition and grand deeds, my last disciple doesn’t say much, but he does them.”

Cheng Longzhou laughed, “Chen Yin’guan’s efforts in filling the gap in Willow Leaf Continent are admirable.”

The old scholar was silent for a moment before laughing, “It’s nothing, there’s no way I wouldn’t cede way to my teacher. The apprentice surpasses the master.”

Then there was Wei She of Snowy Continent, a talented cultivator who had been expected to attain the Fourteenth Realm.

After the Master of the Seventy-Two Peaks left, Grand Cultivators came one after another to congratulate him, and even some Daoist ascetics from Azure Sky.

The last to congratulate him was the monk Shen Qing, nicknamed Chicken Soup Monk.

“Great monk, we need to have right and wrong in our hearts, we need to have right and wrong. Right?”

“Yes.”

—-

Falling Phoenix Mountain, stone table on the cliff outside the bamboo house.

The bright moon hung in the air, like a great jade plate from a wealthy family.

A girl in a pink dress and a little girl in black clothes with a cotton cloth bag slung across her shoulder were admiring the moon together, whispering as if they never run out of things to say.

Tonight’s gossip and snacks were not pastries and melon seeds, but the petals of rhododendrons, the spoils of the Right Protector’s solo mountain patrol tonight.

The stone benches were not short, Nuan Shu could put both of her feet on the ground, but the little girl, who was a little shorter, had her boots dangling in the air when she sat down.

Little Millet suddenly leaned on the table, asking Sister Nuan Shu to reach out her hand, Nuan Shu didn’t know why, but still reached out her palm, Little Millet raised her palm, breathed gently, then shook her fist hard a few times, finally slapping Sister Nuan Shu’s hand, then said seriously, “Pei Qian says that the top experts who can fly over roofs and walls can transfer a Jiazi of internal strength to others at any time, but I’m not good at martial arts, but! My hand has Immortal energy in it, Sister Nuan Shu, I’ll give it to you, keep it safe!”

Nuan Shu was still confused, but still made a fist with her palm and smiled softly, “I got it.”

The little girl nodded, crossed her arms, turned sideways, faced outside the cliff, swung her legs, and tapped the stone bench with her heels again and again, saying angrily, “Actually, I was going to give it to Pei Qian, but she hasn’t come home for so long, so I can’t blame me.”

At this point, Little Millet turned her head and explained, “Because Pei Qian has only been going to the private school for a few days, and she likes to skip class early in the morning, unlike Sister Nuan Shu, you read books every day, you don’t need the Immortal energy that I got from the calligraphy.”

It turned out that it was the last time the good Mountain Master had spread out Su Zi and Liu Qi’s calligraphy on the table in front of Little Millet, and they were definitely genuine.

After all, their teacher had personally asked them for it, if that could be fake, then there would be no truth in the world.

At that time, Little Millet reached out and touched the two calligraphy works, thinking that she must have been touched by some Immortal energy.

It was late at night, one had to clean the courtyard in the morning, and one had to patrol the mountain, so they went back to their residences together.

Before they left the stone table, they found that the lights were still on in the bamboo building on the first floor, and the good Mountain Master was still reading under the lamp. Nuan Shu raised her finger to her mouth, and Little Millet nodded hard, she knew.

Nuan Shu first sent Little Millet to the gate of the courtyard, and said goodbye to Sister Nuan Shu, Little Millet didn’t move in a hurry, and when Sister Nuan Shu had gone far away, she walked closer to the door, squatted down slightly, like she was doing a horse stance, put her hands together as if gathering her Qi at her dantian, slowly stretched out her palm, pressed her palm against the door, and shouted lightly, then “opened” the unlocked courtyard door, hearing the creaking sound of the opening door, the little girl in black put away her palm, stood upright again, took a big step across the threshold, very satisfied, and nodded, according to what Pei Qian had seen in martial arts novels, she had at least thirty years of internal strength in this palm.

The Right Protector didn’t bolt the door when she came home, and never locked the door when she went out, the door lock was just for show, it used to be convenient for Pei Qian to visit, and later it became a habit.

When Little Millet arrived at her residence, her room was also a study, she shook her head and walked to the desk, lit the oil lamp, and sat down in the chair with a plop, her feet stomping hard on the ground!

The tables and benches in the room were all made by the old chef himself, so they looked small.

There were not many books on the table, they were neatly stacked together, most of them were read by Pei Qian when she was a child, and then given to Little Millet.

Little Millet tilted her head, took off the beloved cotton cloth bag that she carried with her every day, put it on the table, and patted the bag gently, and said with a grin, “Generous!”

The old North Mountain region of Great Li, the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, Youyi Peak.

Liu Xianyang was in closed-door cultivation.

It was said to be closed-door cultivation, but it was actually just closing the door and sleeping, but it wasn’t the kind of dozing off as before.

Sheyue, who was using the pseudonym Yu Qianyue, knew very well that Liu Xianyang’s closed-door cultivation this time was extraordinary and of great importance, so she simply stayed outside Liu Xianyang’s house, never leaving.

In any case, with her Great Dao foundation and cultivation level, she wouldn’t feel tired even if she didn’t close her eyes for a year and a half.

The boy named Li Shenyuan finally chose Xu Xiaoqiao as his teacher, and was cultivating on Zhumai Peak.

Liu Xianyang had said before that after leaving the closed-door cultivation, he would take a trip to Hongzhou, in addition to that side being the place where the ancient Shu Sword Immortals had ascended together, leaving behind Immortal cocoons, the Hongzhou Yuzhang County area, which produced giant trees, also left behind some traditions of entertaining gods and sacrifices that were passed down from ancient times.

Sheyue heard a burst of footsteps, she turned her head, a simple man was climbing the mountain on foot, came to this Youyi Peak, saw the round-faced girl who was wearing cotton clothes all year round, nodded, and on Yu Qianyue’s side, the man who Liu Xianyang called Ruan the Blacksmith still had a smile on his face.

Ruan Qiong put his hands behind his back, his footsteps were very light, when he arrived here, he only asked in a whisper, “Is he in closed-door cultivation?”

Sheyue nodded, explaining, “This time is different from before, it may be more dangerous.”

Ruan Qiong also nodded, if not for this, he wouldn’t have made this trip to Youyi Peak, but the man still said in a seemingly understated tone, “Xianyang is just a person who can’t stay idle, I’ll have to trouble Girl Yu to take care of him more in the future.”

Sheyue thought of the conversation that Liu Xianyang had before he went into closed-door cultivation, her face flushed slightly, it was rare for her to have some shyness, but she was not the kind of shy girl, and said, “Mr. Ruan, if I really become a Daoist couple with Liu Xianyang, will it cause some unnecessary trouble for the Dragon Spring Sword Sect?”

Ruan Qiong shook his head and said, “No.”

Sheyue hummed softly.

Ruan Qiong looked at the house, he had only been here for a little while, then turned around and left, as if remembering something, but didn’t turn his head, still with his hands behind his back, just slowed his pace slightly, and said, “If, I’m just saying if, Liu Xianyang does something wrong in the future, and he’s read a few books, so he has a lot of crooked ideas, and you can’t win an argument with him, or he’s stubborn, and he doesn’t want to admit his mistakes and apologize to you, just tell me, I’m not the Sect Master anymore, but I’m still his teacher, so I can still scold him a few times.”

Sheyue smiled brightly and said, “I remember it.”

In Sheyue’s impression, Master Ruan didn’t seem to have said so much to anyone before.

Ruan Qiong just sped up his pace, and after not taking more than a few steps, he hesitated, the man stopped, and said, “According to the customs of the town, there are generally two wedding banquets, one in the man’s hometown, and one in the woman’s home, so one banquet will be held in Huaihuang County, and the other one, if Girl Yu doesn’t mind, will be held in our Dragon Spring Sword Sect, just pick a mountain outside of Youyi Peak, after the wedding banquet, that mountain will be Girl Yu’s Daoist temple, just consider it a little gesture from me, the elder. As for Liu Xianyang’s best man, according to the rules, he has to drink at both weddings with the groom, and he can help Xianyang block some of the alcohol.”

Hearing these words, and looking at the back figure that seemed to have taken a lot of effort to say these homely words, Sheyue felt some sadness for no reason.

—-

Book Brief Lake, Su Lin Island, as the Island Master, Tian Hujun, after the young cultivator who now didn’t know if he could be considered a junior brother left, she was still a little dazed and afraid.

On Gongliu Island, Zhou Caizhen, a young female cultivator who was strolling in the moonlight, learned that the young scholar in Confucian robes who seemed to be smiling and amiable in front of her was Gu Can, who was notorious and infamous, especially when he said the shocking words in a very casual tone, settling new and old scores together, beating the old Sect Master Liu to death? Zhou Caizhen was even more frightened and pale, her intuition told her that the other party was not joking, but what the other party said after reporting his identity was the very sentence, I’m joking, don’t take it seriously.

Gu Can sacrificed a talisman boat and left Gongliu Island by boat, as the Gongliu Island where the True Realm Sect Ancestral Hall was located, Immortal Liu Laocheng and the female cultivator from White Emperor City, Han Qiaose, were sitting opposite each other.

It was just that the young woman who claimed to need to work for Gu Can for a hundred years had disappeared without a trace, completely ignoring the formations and restrictions that Liu Laocheng had personally set up, she appeared on Gu Can’s talisman boat, looked at the young scholar in Confucian robes who was sitting cross-legged on the bow of the boat, and laughed, “The sects of the Vast World, compared to my hometown, pay more attention to the rules, there are so many messed up organizations that I can’t even remember them.”

Gu Can asked, “Won’t my aunt start fighting with Sect Master Liu? Didn’t I ask you to stay there and mediate the fight, what are you doing here?”

She smiled enchantingly, “Fighting? How will they fight, where will they fight?”

Gu Can said calmly, “Ling Yan, unfunny jokes, don’t say them if you can.”

She pouted, after all, this guy was a little biased towards Han Qiaose.

This barbaric female cultivator who styled herself as Gu Can’s maidservant, Daoist title “Spring Nights,” now using the alias Ling Yan, was recently helped to take by Gu Can, and she was very satisfied.

In her hometown in the barbaric world, she was called Zi Wu Meng. Of course, it was also an alias, the last person who helped to take the name was Zhou Mi of the literary sea.

She moved from the stern of the boat to the bow of the boat, sat next to Gu Can, leaned her head on his shoulder, after a moment, she found it boring after having secretly cast a unique secret technique, so she sat up straight again, glanced at Gu Can’s crotch, and grumbled in her heart, such an iron heart, she didn’t have the slightest ripples of lustful thoughts.

In the secret realm on Gongliu Island where Liu Laocheng used as his Daoist temple, she was dressed as a maidservant, which was common in the wealthy households of the mountains, but now she had changed into a Daoist robe, and her beauty was unparalleled.

Her sleeves were thin, fluttering like blue clouds. Her waist was slender, and there were all kinds of amorous feelings between her eyebrows and eyes.

She asked, “Gu Can, how did you do it?”

Gu Can said, “In the boudoir, the phoenix is upside down, the love of the quilt, the joy of fish and water, to the extreme of planning, in such a beautiful situation, just have to make the white bone view, guard one, drive away the two demons, cut the three corpses, drive away the five ghosts, subdue the six desires and seven emotions.”

She fell backwards and said, “It’s no fun to be with you.”

It was better than the chatterbox Benged Zhenjun, at least the other party needed to stabilize his Daoist heart a little when he saw her, and then nag a few hypocritical words, similar to the seven-foot body, wearing the sky and treading the earth, resisting to the death.

As one of the celestial stem cultivators carefully selected by Zhou Mi, her original appearance on the mountain was a masked face and a zither bag on her back, almost no one had seen her true face.

Now, all kinds of faces were naturally transformed by her at will after taking off the mask, and unlike ordinary illusion, as long as she was willing, the appearance, figure, dress, and demeanor of her that the world saw were the people they longed for day and night. Similar in form and spirit, almost indistinguishable.

Therefore, when Jiang Shangzhen first saw this female cultivator who didn’t know if she was an aunt or a sister in the barbaric world, his first impression was that she was good at having children, she had a great figure, and she was really plump and jade-like.

It was just that the Daoist aura that she manifested in the small world was extremely terrifying, even a lecherous fellow like Jiang Shangzhen was like being doused with a basin of cold water.

It turned out that behind Zi Wu Meng, there were countless hanged ghosts hanging in the air, not touching the sky or the ground, and swaying slowly. One of her natal items was a silk fan, painted with thousands of ladies, all lifelike, with expressive eyes, and they were whispering in the paintings, but they were all beautiful faces and white bone skeletons. And as a sword cultivator, Zi Wu Meng’s guqin was the flying sword “Jing Guan”, and one of the natal powers of this flying sword was to weave a dream, and she could envision an infinitely real Wuding River, and let the river of time, or a Wuding River, stagnate within a certain range.

Previously in White Emperor City, Han Qiaose didn’t like her when she saw her.

The reason was very simple, this little bitch was too good-looking!

Don’t let Gu Can become addicted to the joy of men and women, if this woman and Gu Can became a halfway couple, Han Qiaose wouldn’t care too much, someone like Gu Can should be surrounded by a group of beauties.

What she couldn’t stand the most was Gu Can’s silence, so she found a topic to talk about, “This True Realm Sect, is just a lower sect of the Jade Gui Sect in Willow Leaf Continent, right, do you know how many organizations there are? There are more than twenty of them, there are seven or eight under the Hall of Ancestors who manage the laws, and it seems that there are ten more under the ancestors who manage money…government offices? I just can’t figure it out, what’s the difference between the True Realm Sect’s Economic System Bureau and the Rites and Systems Department. And what’s the point of dividing the Distribution Department and the Transportation Department’s Treasure Vault Bureau, when they all manage a little bit of immortal money?”

Gu Can turned a deaf ear, just closing his eyes, slowly breathing in and out, and silently studying a water method.

The female cultivator who was lying on the bow of the boat, raised her legs, and shook one leg gently, casually asked, “How do you feel about revisiting the old place?”

Gu Can looked natural, and smiled, “The punishment wine is hard to drink.”

Zi Wu Meng twitched the corners of her mouth, “Are you finally willing to stop being a mute?”

Gu Can continued to say, “Just talking about the Economic System Bureau and the Rites and Systems Department, similar mountain government offices, are actually very simple, to give an example, one can decide how many chairs the Ancestral Hall puts, and the other decides who is qualified to sit on them. Of course, the Rites and Systems Department is also responsible for managing the golden jade registration of a fairy mansion sect, so the cultivators who work here are more beautiful officials, and are more noble than the Economic System Bureau cultivators.”

Zi Wu Meng suddenly realized, “So, I understand, that’s a little interesting.”

Gu Can smiled calmly and said, “A mountain, whether it’s a Sect name, or a small sect like the Five Island Sect, there are arrangements for a lot of people, and there are also settings for a small number of people, the only thing I’m afraid of is that the organization is bloated, there are a lot of redundant staff, and I’m even more afraid that there are a lot of people, and each of them is full, and they have to find something to do, as if only in this way can they be worthy of their titles and status, and that’s very troublesome.”

Zi Wu Meng wasn’t very interested in these things, in the barbaric world, she had always been alone, the demon kings Yang Zhi and Fei Fei had both successively recruited her, but because she had that talisman on her body, so even if Zi Wu Meng stole the Wuding River and refined it, Yang Zhi and Fei Fei had to hold their noses and admit it, they were worried that this action was secretly instructed by Zhou Mi of the literary sea.

She turned around, propped her cheek with one hand, and poked Gu Can’s arm with her finger, “Tell me, why did you have to fight with Cao Ci, knowing that you were bound to lose, what were you trying to do? Besides, why is a Qi refiner fighting with a pure martial artist?”

About this “master”, Zi Wu Meng actually knew very little, except that he was the junior brother of the companion Fu Jin, and the direct disciple of Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City, about Gu Can’s hometown, at most, she knew from the conversation between Han Qiaose and Liu Laocheng that Gu Can had cultivated here for a few years when he was young, and it seemed that he had been the closed-door disciple of a chief enshrinement of the True Realm Sect who was a Jiejian Zhenjun, Book Brief Lake was his place of origin, other than that, she didn’t know anything, and even when Gu Can went to see a tattered Jindan female cultivator, he wasn’t willing to take her with him, just leaving her by Han Qiaose’s side, to mediate the fight? How could she mediate, although she was a genuine Yu Pu Realm sword cultivator, Han Qiaose and Liu Laocheng were Immortals, and they weren’t the ordinary people who had died in her hands in her hometown. But it was worth it for her to be a door god, it wasn’t a complete waste of time, not to mention that she was undoubtedly Gu Can in Han Qiaose’s eyes, in Liu Laocheng’s eyes, there was also a woman, and Zi Wu Meng had copied her down, but the woman’s appearance was blurred, and she disappeared in a flash.

Gu Can said, “There’s no reason, I just don’t like Cao Ci.”

Zi Wu Meng pretended to be surprised and said, “I’m even more surprised, Cao Ci doesn’t seem like a repulsive guy, just like me, I would think that it’s an honor to become a Daoist couple with him, really, if Cao Ci is willing, I’ll definitely recommend myself to his bed. So, you won’t be angry, right?”

Gu Can finally opened his eyes, and seemed to think that her statement wasn’t a nonsense.

Zi Wu Meng was immediately filled with shame and anger, “Gu Can, are you still a man?!”

Gu Can just looked ahead, expressionless, with his hands folded on his abdomen, a cool breeze blowing his face, and the young scholar in Confucian robes with a black jade hairpin in his hair, with his hair blowing slightly at his temples, made Gu Can even more ethereal, and said, “To say the ugly words first, at least within a hundred years, don’t like me. After a hundred years, after clearing the debt, you and I can go our separate ways.”

Zi Wu Meng instantly put away that pretense, sighed, and her eyes became resentful, and her face changed with it, like an extremely beautiful and gentle girl with autumn waves in her eyes and amorous feelings.

After that, it was probably because of the flow of her state of mind, but after only a few blinks of an eye, there were seven or eight different appearances and expressions, but in the end, she still returned to her previous Daoist appearance, sighed faintly, and said in a soft voice, “Gu Can, you seem to be only in your early thirties, right, I really don’t