Here is the rewritten content in a fantasy style:

At the foot of the forlorn mountains of Luopo, stood the gates of their sanctuary.

A burly man, his presence like a mountain range, descended from the heavens, accompanied by a boy clad in a tiger-skin cap, a sword strapped to his back.

“We have arrived,” Jun Qian declared, a smile gracing his lips.

Bai Ye, his gaze sweeping over the sprawling peaks and their intertwining veins of earth energy, nodded in agreement. “The feng shui is favorable.”

Jun Qian chuckled, “Aye, but the spirit here is even finer.”

A figure in a blue robe, an Immortal Warden named Nian Jing, scrambled to his feet, a scroll of scriptures clutched in his hands. “Might I inquire as to the names of my esteemed guests?” he asked with a respectful bow.

Jun Qian returned the gesture with a cupped-fist salute. “I am Liu Shiliu, a senior brother of your mountain lord, known as Jun Qian. And this beside me is my friend, Bai Ye.”

The Warden was taken aback, twice over. He bit back a smile, his face stretched taut with the effort. With a sudden flash of inspiration, he offered a Daoist salute, his head bowed low. “This humble Daoist, Nian Jing, by the mountain lord’s grace, serves as gatekeeper. I greet Immortal Liu and Sword Immortal Bai.”

His first surprise came from learning that this was indeed the “Jun Qian” mentioned by their lord, Chen. The second shock arrived with the name “Bai Ye,” yet the appearance and garb of the visitor…

Jun Qian, however, was equally startled by the sight of the Daoist hairpin adorning the Warden’s hair.

*Little Shidi,* he mused, *not only can he charm the darling Mi Li, but he has also managed to ensnare a…Daoist?*

Millennia had passed since they last met, and the meetings were numerous.

Nian Jing straightened, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. Why had the white-haired child not yet made an appearance? As the Keeper of Records, he was usually the first to greet any visitor, but today he was nowhere to be seen.

Jun Qian smiled and inquired, “Warden, where might we find our Mi Li?”

Nian Jing replied, “Her morning patrol ended some time ago. She has taken a liking to surveying the Huanghu Mountains lately. She is most likely there now.”

Jun Qian hummed, a thoughtful expression on his face. *It seems my little Shidi’s mountain has drawn some notable figures of late.*

Nian Jing hesitated, then offered the fair-faced youth a customary greeting. “Sword Immortal Bai, a fine name indeed.”

Bai Ye raised an eyebrow. “How so?”

The Warden felt a twinge of awkwardness. It had only been a polite pleasantry, and now he was being asked to expound upon it?

The air thickened with an uncomfortable silence, a void that the absent Jade Old Immortal would have gleefully filled.

Jun Qian chuckled, offering an explanation. “Warden, this *is* Bai Ye.”

Nian Jing sighed internally. The youth had already identified himself as such, what else could he call him?

Jun Qian continued, “There is an unspoken custom here: to partake in tea before ascending the mountain. What say you?”

Bai Ye responded, “When in Luopo, do as the Luopians do.”

Jun Qian led Bai Ye to a nearby table, where they both took a seat.

In truth, Jun Qian was hoping to relax and enjoy some melon seeds while they waited for the young girl who served as Right Protector of Luopo Mountain for his little Shidi.

As for what Bai Ye was thinking, it hardly mattered.

As if in response to a silent summons, a small figure in black streaked down from the rear mountains, leaping from the peak of Jiling Mountain.

The Left Shixiong of their virtuous mountain lord? She had met him before. The rumors were false. He wasn’t so bad, but he was affable and accessible!

He was the table-sized Sword Immortal!

The man known as Jun Qian was equally impressive. He also was kind.

He also had fists the size of bowls, just like it said in the books about chivalrous heroes who roamed the world and used their fists to defeat the world’s enemies.

The Right Protector of Luopo Mountain, an Initiate no less, arrived with a sheen of sweat upon her brow.

Behind her trailed a white-haired child.

Without Mi Li to shield him, the Keeper of Records was not quite ready to show himself.

It was the white-haired child who had delivered Mi Li to the foot of the rear mountains. Yet, Mi Li insisted on walking the rest of the way herself, her tiny legs carrying her swiftly towards the mountain gate.

The white-haired child relented, watching as Mi Li’s legs moved like wagon wheels.

The Keeper of Records knew his place. Mi Li ran faster and faster, past the gate, before she stopped to stand perfectly still. She stopped in a full out sprint before she stood completely motionless.

Standing motionless, she grinned. “Mr. Jun Qian, you have come!”

Jun Qian rose, a smile spreading across his face. “Mi Li, we apologize for the delay.”

He glanced at Bai Ye, who sighed and joined him in standing.

Mi Li fixed her gaze upon the boy in the tiger-skin cap, her small face furrowed in concentration, her sparse, pale brows drawn together.

While she was merely holding back laughter, to onlookers, it seemed as though she was sulking.

Bai Ye, amused by her struggle, chuckled. “You may laugh if you wish.”

Mi Li scratched her cheek and shook her head vigorously.

The white-haired child, uncharacteristically timid, piped up. “Mr. Jun Qian, and this Sword Immortal Bai… I am the Keeper of Records. As per the customs of our mountain, may I record your names?”

Bai Ye replied, “I am Bai Ye, from the Central Continent of Hao Ran, now studying at the Xuandu Temple in the Green Azure World.”

Mi Li gasped.

She surreptitiously gave Mr. Jun Qian a thumbs up.

Upon hearing this, Warden Nian Jing staggered and fell off his bamboo chair, a book slipping from his sleeve. In a flash, he kicked the volume towards the house of the Da Feng brothers.

As if realizing such treatment of a book was disrespectful, he tiptoed over, collected it, dusted it off, and tucked it back into his sleeve.

He then retrieved a sacred tome from his other sleeve, holding it reverently as he resumed his seat, pretending to read.

The white-haired child quickly inscribed the names of the two visitors in his register, then retreated as quickly as possible. He was there for official business only! He left the rest of the welcoming duties to Mi Li.

At the table, tea had already been laid out, a testament to the Warden’s impeccable hospitality.

Mi Li glanced at Mr. Jun Qian, and Liu Shiliu looked back at Mi Li.

*Might we appear to be lacking in hospitality?*

*Rest assured. We will not.*

Mi Li produced a handful of melon seeds from her sleeve, piling them before Bai Ye, then another heap for Mr. Jun Qian.

She felt a little awkward. She reached for her beloved cotton satchel.

Bai Ye smiled and divided half of his seeds with the black-clad girl.

Wei Bo, the mountain deity of Piyun Mountain, had arrived. He gave the table a wide berth and gave them a respectful salute. “Little god of Piyun Mountain, Wei Bo. I greet Mr. Liu, Mr. Bai.”

Jun Qian returned the greeting with a cupped-fist salute.

Bai Ye merely nodded in acknowledgment.

Had he sought such formalities, he would not have chosen a remote island as his sanctuary.

Wei Bo asked, “Shall I inform Mountain Lord Chen of your arrival?”

Jun Qian waved it off. “No need. Let him attend to his duties. We will not bother him here. Bai Ye prefers to be left undisturbed.”

Mi Li paused, her hand hovering over her cotton satchel.

Jun Qian added, “Mi Li is an exception, of course.”

Mi Li grinned and handed out dried fish with a flourish.

Bai Ye glanced at Jun Qian.

Jun Qian smiled. “Eat, why don’t you? I have tried them. The taste is quite remarkable.”

Bai Ye reluctantly picked up a dried minnow, chewing it thoughtfully as he watched the little girl covertly observing him. “The taste is…acceptable.”

Mi Li beamed, pulling out a bag of fish from her satchel and setting it on the table with a thud.

She patted her satchel. “More!” she declared with finality.

Bai Ye was speechless.

Jun Qian burst into laughter.

*His friend Bai Ye was finally getting what he deserved.*

***

Lu Chen had first sent a missive to the Xuandu Temple. It was as good as a personal letter. He was so familiar with the Xuandu Temple. He would go visit as if he was going home. Everyone in the world knew this.

Before leaving the Great Balance World, he had given the mountain lord Chen a small hand. But was it really a favor? He and Mountain Lord Chen were friends from humble beginnings!

After that came a true journey.

In South China City, Lu Chen, did something he never did. He bathed, dressed and fasted. He was ready to close himself off. Then he went against the currents.

He treaded through the water. He was wearing a lotus crown. He saw many strange and bizarre sights along the way.

His Taoist robes dragged along behind him. They left a trail of rainbow-colored glass.

However, nobody saw this.

Lu Chen finally found a “visitor.” The person vanished in a flash. Lu Chen couldn’t even talk to the person. He recognized it as a woman immortal. She glanced at Lu Chen and moved along.

Then he met a barefoot giant. He was as big as a mountain. Every step was thunderous. The splash under his feet carried countless pieces of glass. They sprayed everywhere.

Lu Chen waved his sleeves and collected a few pieces of glass. He laughed and thanked the stranger for the glass. The giant just charged on without a word.

Being able to meet people on this road was as hard as reaching the sky. It was impossible to see a person’s face clearly.

Lu Chen didn’t dare to count the time. There were countless whirlpools. If he wasn’t careful, he would get trapped.

The scenery around the “banks” were vague. If he looked too long, he would get a headache. It was hard to even remember them.

Time passed. Lu Chen was prepared. He had spent the past three thousand years coming here, so he was already prepared. He had also been pulled into Buddha’s world.

Lu Chen stopped and exhaled. He was finally there!

The blue talisman in his robe was now ash.

He had arrived at a large body of water. It was smooth like a mirror. There were countless grains of sand under his feet. They were so colorful and brilliant.

The “water” was like a thin layer of glass. Looking closely, each grain of sand was a star. There were layers upon layers of them.

At the horizon, there was something like an iron chain. It was like a line across the sky. It was causality.

However, Lu Chen couldn’t find the ancient god.

Their job was to watch the dead and transgressors.

Even if he turned around now, it would still be a worthwhile trip. He had seen many “living things.” There were all sorts of ghosts, gods and immortals.

There was a woman he couldn’t see. She was wearing a green dress. She had an ethereal beauty.

She was kneeling down with a table in front of her. There were a few ancient wine vessels.

There was a mountain that was constantly sinking. It was bigger than the Five Peaks, but it might be smaller than a speck of dust.

There was someone on the summit holding a head. The head had holes like a beehive. The holes were eyes. They blinked and buzzed when they saw Lu Chen.

There was a monster that kept speaking. It wrote with its fingers and sang Buddha chants with its nose. He seemed to dislike being interrupted. He roared, “Shut up!”

Then he repeated himself. The two words were “freedom.”

Then he cried and muttered, “Not enough.”

On a snowy plateau made out of countless coins, there were all sorts of altars with incense that swirled then fell.

Someone must have been entertaining the gods for immortality.

Next to the plateau was a wooden boat with a purple robe that had dragons on it. They laughed, “The path is gone. How can you connect heaven and earth? You’re just a small bug!”

There was a man with long eyebrows and white skin. He looked like an ancient immortal. It must have been rare to see a person here. His face became clearer. He sat near the chain with a halberd across his lap. He must have been here a long time. His voice was like sandpaper. He asked, “Who are you?”

Then he realized he was speaking to himself. “It’s been eight thousand years.”

Lu Chen didn’t understand the language, but he could count.

So it was an immortal from the future.

At least it meant immortals could still come here. But maybe there would be pure martial artists.

There was a woman without eyebrows. She examined her hand and then looked at Lu Chen with curiosity.

There were a few others that faded in and out.

Lu Chen guessed they were connected to the Barbarian World.

The demonic cultivators were strong. They were willing to break all the rules.

There was an old man in a tall hat. He staggered towards Lu Chen. He used the Barbarian language, “Is Lu Fayen dead?”

Lu Chen laughed, “If you’re his friend, you can cry. If you have a grudge, then you can rest easy. He’s already been eaten.”

The old man nodded and stared at the young Taoist.

Lu Chen asked in the Barbarian language, “What is your name?”

The old man squinted, “I don’t have a name. I used to use Zhang Jiao. Let me think. I’ll have to think hard. I killed Barbarian martial artists. They were always so arrogant. They just didn’t fight on the stage.”

Lu Chen nodded enthusiastically, “I asked an expert what to do if an opponent on stage wouldn’t cooperate. He said that all sorts of punches would turn into brawls.

The old man nodded, “That expert knows a lot. Unfortunately, I can’t meet them.”

Lu Chen still nodded, “Don’t meet them. I think you’d get killed.”

The old man stared at Lu Chen for a moment. “I think you really did meet him.”

Lu Chen took a step forward. The old man backed away, “Why learn swordsmanship? Shouldn’t a cultivator focus?”

Lu Chen stopped, “Trying to scare me, old geezer.”

The old man hesitated, then vanished.

Lu Chen squatted down and reached out to the layer of glass.

He saw a butterfly in the “water.”

A pair of pure golden eyes opened and looked down at the young Taoist.

To this ancient god, even a Taoist that was thousands of years old was still young.

There were no words and no ripples.

It was like a drum or thunder.

“Lu Chen, you tried to cross over three thousand years ago. Are you going to try again?”

Lu Chen staggered and sighed. He pulled out a cushion and placed it on the water.

Lu Chen sat down, crossed his hands, and started to meditate.

An ancient Taoist approached on the head of a monster.

“What is that Taoist doing here? Is he an immortal or a fourteenth realm? Who is his teacher? Tell me!”

Lu Chen didn’t answer.

“Whoever you are, I’m the same generation as the first Taoist! You should call me ancestor and gain a great advantage. Then you can brag about it!”

Lu Chen just focused his breath.

“Little Taoist, tell me if there are many cultivators like you. Can you count them all?”

“Tell me if anyone beat the mute Taoist!”

Lu Chen opened his eyes, “He’s my master. I’ll go invite him over.”

“Never mind, I don’t have any grudges with him.”

The old Taoist stopped talking.

The monster heard all of that. It was sad and cried.

The woman reached her hand to Lu Chen and smiled, “Is there a new master of Blue Hill?”

Lu Chen bowed, “There is no more Blue Hill.”

The woman gave a complex expression.

“You came here to do what?”

“I’m preventing anyone from coming here to exchange blows.”

If they exchanged a fourteenth realm for a fourteenth realm, that would be a loss.

The god said, “You have your reasons, and I have my duties. You can’t stay here. Leave.”

Lu Chen said, “My brother comes here all the time!”

The god said, “That’s different. Kou Ming can use the wind.”

Lu Chen was sad, “I can read dreams.”

The god said, “Taoism and magic are different.”

Lu Chen asked, “Can’t you close one eye?”

The god said, “What do you think?”

Lu Chen fell over and grabbed the water.

The god said, “They can’t leave, but you don’t need to waste your cultivation here.”

Lu Chen stood up.

He staggered.

Then Lu Chen moved heavily, and he pulled a curtain open with his fingers.

Black light poured into the world.

The god shouted, “Stop!”

Lu Chen wiped the black light away, “I apologize.”

A laugh rang out, “Not bad for being cornered.”

Lu Chen put his hands on his hips, “Who’s there?”

Lu Chen knew the person.

It was a god from the ancient Heavenly Court.

The guy that drove South Hairpin’s carriage had once been the manager.

The god was his boss. However, he wasn’t one of the twelve high gods.

He asked, “Will Ma Kuxuan die?”

Lu Chen said, “I already saved him once. He should have died to Chen Pingan.”

The god didn’t say anything and returned to his seat.

Lu Chen sighed.

There was one god that he had to be polite to.

These gods had brand new names.

There was a god called Zhenwu.

Another god had a moon in a tree.

She was called Guang Han.

Lu Chen put his hand to his ear but didn’t hear anything. He asked, “Can we both retreat?”

It was silent. That meant the god agreed.

Lu Chen vanished. He reappeared in a misty area.

The Taoist stood alone.

Lu Chen wore a solemn expression.

He was here to wait for Zheng Juzhong!

***

Dong Shuijing opened the door, “It’s Lin Yupu. What an honor.”

Lin Shouyi crossed the threshold and held his hand, “Hurry up.”

Dong Shuijing was confused, “Why?”

Lin Shouyi said, “A gift.”

Dong Shuijing laughed, “Are you copying Wei Shan?”

Lin Shouyi said, “I borrowed some valley rain money from Chen Pingan. I need to return it.”

Dong Shuijing laughed, “I thought you were getting married.”

Lin Shouyi raised his foot to kick him, but Dong Shuijing dodged, “Scholars don’t use their hands.”

Lin Shouyi said, “Let’s do this quickly.”

Dong Shuijing lit the stove and cooked two bowls of wontons.

While Dong Shuijing was busy, Lin Shouyi sat at the table and stared at the willow tree.

He didn’t look at the well.

Dong Shuijing brought the wontons over, and Lin Shouyi averted his gaze.

Lin Shouyi took the chopsticks, “Do you know why Chen Pingan called us here?”

Dong Shuijing shook his head, “I didn’t ask.”

Lin Shouyi ate the wontons and criticized them. Dong Shuijing ignored him.

They had never liked each other since school. It wasn’t because Lin Shouyi was rich. It was because he was always frowning.

Then Dong Shuijing disliked Lin Shouyi even more.

It was because of Li Huai’s sister.

She was slender and had a gentle face.

Dong Shuijing asked, “How much do you owe Chen Pingan?”

Lin Shouyi said, “A hundred.”

Dong Shuijing nodded, “I can loan it to you.”

Lin Shouyi said, “Valley rain money.”

Dong Shuijing raised his eyebrows, “I thought it was snow money.”

Lin Shouyi called him a rich person.

Dong Shuijing said, “You have such a good relationship with Chen Pingan. Why are you borrowing from me?”

Lin Shouyi said, “They’re digging canals in the Tongye Continent. It costs a lot of money.”

Dong Shuijing said, “Do I not have costs?”

Lin Shouyi spat, “You only earn money.”

Dong Shuijing was good at earning money. Lin Shouyi admired him.

He wrapped up spiritual mountains and planted flowers in pots. He sold these to officials and nobles.

He told them that it was for their children. The plants needed to be cultivated for many years.

They would then be recorded, and the children had to take them home in a certain year. Of course, they could also get their money back. But they couldn’t take their plants home early. Unless the family was poor, the children could exchange the plants for money. The company would also keep the family genealogy…

Many nobles were tempted, and there were many copycats.

Lin Shouyi admired Dong Shuijing.

This was just one of Dong Shuijing’s many businesses.

Dong Shuijing cursed, “Worthless!”

Lin Shouyi said, “You’re the worthless one!”

They were like chickens fighting.

There were layers of clouds above, and people below.

Ma Yuan had drunk some wine.

Unlike most scholars, Ma Yuan liked to memorize prefaces.

The vice minister of law Zhao Yao was traveling on a military ship with his superiors Ma Yuan and Guan Yiran.

Zhao Yao had been called by the “small junior uncle.” Guan Yiran was visiting friends, Chen Pingan and Jing Kuan.

The ship went past the Northern Mountain, meaning it was close to Horn Crossing.

Ma Yuan stood on the balcony and started to compose poems.

Zhao Yao and Guan Yiran were drinking. Guan Yiran said, “Uncle Ma, are you writing? Do you want me to publish your poems? There are so many offices in the capital that I can sell copies to all of them! I can earn a lot of money!”

The minister ignored him and raised a finger.

Zhao Yao said, “Even if the minister uses a pen name, they can still sell.”

Guan Yiran teased, “Zhao, are you trying to brownnose? Our Uncle Ma is going to the Sunken Sun. Are you trying to get on his good side?”

Zhao Yao asked, “Are you still a minister there?”

Guan Yiran said, “The high officials know this. Ask him.”

Ma Yuan came inside, “It’s fine. You can rely on Zhao Yao. If the high positions don’t change at all, then it would be too stale.”

Guan Yiran laughed, “That’s bad news for you. Zhao, let’s drink.”

Zhao Yao didn’t know what to say.

The master of the Ma clan had been the minister of revenue. Now, he was just the minister of law.

Mu Yan had been promoted to minister of revenue.

The offices of law were happy because Ma Yuan was good at earning money.

There had been a competition over who had contributed more to the war, Shen Chen or Ma Yuan.

Cao Ping and Yan Jiao had gone to the Sunken Sun.

The master of the Ma clan was a fat man. If Ma Yuan wasn’t wearing official robes, he would just look like a rich person. However, Ma Yuan was a famous scholar, and he had beautiful handwriting. The ancestor of calligraphy said that Ma Yuan’s writing was the opposite of his looks.

Ma Yuan was talented and could be considered to be the national teacher’s arm.

Ma Yuan and Liu Qingfeng had been the quickest promoted in recent years.

The reason Guan Yiran could speak so rudely was because his grandfather had been Ma Yuan’s teacher.

Also, Ma Yuan never cursed Guan Yiran because he was good at bookkeeping.

It was night. Eastern Jewel Bottle Continent, the Blue Phoenix Country.

Li Bao had been the minister of rites for many years. Today, he was hosting someone nobody had heard of.

Liu Suyi.

This young cultivator was local.

Li Bao had looked like an old scholar. When he closed his office, he became Li Baozhen.

Li Baozhen had changed his identity in this country. He had been quickly promoted and became the minister of rites.

He had hosted many exams. He had earned the title of a national exam writer.

In addition, Li Baozhen was the person behind many of the old colonies. He had the factions of the mountains and Jiang Hu under his control.

Liu Suyi hadn’t wanted to meet Li Baozhen, but his house had been robbed. He knew that Li Baozhen was behind it.

There were two bowls on the table. One was ink, and the other was water.

The office didn’t have any Confucian books. It just had miscellaneous books.

Li Baozhen poured himself a cup of wine and sat down. He gestured for the guest to not be polite.

Liu Suyi hesitated and sat down.

Li Baozhen asked, “Do you still see Wang Yifu?”

Liu Suyi didn’t answer.

Liu Qingfeng had been an officer in a small county. Wang Yifu had been a soldier. When Liu Qingfeng moved, Wang Yifu followed as a driver. Liu Suyi had been a scholar. He was close to Wang Yifu because they often drank with Liu Qingfeng.

Wang had asked Liu Qingfeng how he viewed the mountains.

Liu Suyi didn’t remember much. He just remembered that Liu Qingfeng had said the people of the mountains were just stronger people.

Li Baozhen pointed to a book on the table, “You’re a careful person. Why would you write this down?”

The book was a plan to take down an important person.

They were about the same age, but their levels were far apart.

Liu Suyi didn’t say anything.

Li Baozhen asked, “Or is this just a thought from Minister Liu?”

Liu Suyi finally spoke, “If it was from my master, then you getting the book would be part of the plan.”

Li Baozhen nodded, “That’s probably right.”

Li Baozhen had once helped a faction cover up a scandal by fabricating a similar scandal. Then a rumor came that damaged the sect. They proved themselves again. Then, when the real scandal was revealed, nobody cared.

Li Baozhen had asked Liu Qingfeng about it. Liu Qingfeng just said, “You can’t drum up the same excitement for the same events.”

In return, the sect had sent a lot of money to the government.

Li Baozhen didn’t know if justice was delivered to those harmed.

The book recorded a scheme that targeted Chen Pingan through Ruan Xiu of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect.

Chen Pingan and Luopo Mountain’s sudden rise would make more sense.

They had secretly engaged in a lifelong pact.

Then two sects that publicized this were destroyed by sword qi.

Nobody believed that this was from Luopo Mountain.

But this was just the first step.

People would guess that Positive Sunlight Mountain was behind it.

And what about Ruan Qiong of Dragon Spring Sword Sect? What was his relationship with Luopo Mountain?

The second stage was Book Slip Lake, and it involved Gu Can.

Li Baozhen turned and said, “Gu Can is like the ink. However, you turn it, it’ll still be black. Chen Pingan is like the water. If you mix it with ink, then it’ll become muddy.”

Liu Suyi nodded.

“Do you have a grudge against Chen Pingan?”

“No.”

“Did you dislike him at first sight?”

“He was just like my master, gentle and approachable.”

They had first met at the Lion Forest. His master had let a poor boy go, causing their cart to fall into a pond.

Chen Pingan had been impressive. Chen Pingan had told the boy to admit he was wrong and to fix it.

“Then you think he’s too lucky? You’re jealous? You want to get justice for your master?”

“I’m not jealous. I studied him, and he deserves all of that.”

Liu Qingfeng and Ma Yuan had been the quickest promoted.

People knew that Liu Qingfeng was monitoring Song Mu. However, Song Mu treated him with respect.

Liu Qingfeng had stopped capital from becoming Song Mu’s fiefdom.

Liu Suyi and Wang Yifu had followed Liu Qingfeng for a long time. Liu Qingfeng had died because he wasn’t a cultivator.

However, Liu Suyi didn’t hate Chen Pingan.

Before he died, Liu Qingfeng said that it was not through schemes but righteousness that he had been able to get so far. He had deliberately left his work unfinished because he didn’t want anyone to copy him.

Li Baozhen’s actions were “exploiting people.”

Li Baozhen asked, “Then why are you doing this?”

“I don’t want anything.”

Li Baozhen was very surprised, “Is this just pure malice?”

Liu Suyi closed his mouth and eyes.

Li Baozhen spun his cup, “Liu Qingfeng must have told you to betray him if someone threatened you so that you could survive.”

Liu Suyi nodded, “You’re right. He told me to forget about the conversation so that you wouldn’t believe me.”

His master had wanted him to become the second Li Baozhen but smarter.

Li Baozhen asked, “Do you know why I didn’t do that?”

Liu Suyi answered, “Because you knew that he would do that. You didn’t think it was interesting.”

Liu Suyi countered, “How do you know that he didn’t know that you would do that?”

Li Baozhen stopped smiling.

Liu Suyi laughed, “It’s because you fear a living Liu Shangshu. No, even dead, you’re still afraid of any schemes he left for you.”

Li Baozhen started smiling again, “Then let me ask you. Is there such a thing?”

Liu Suyi sneered, “If I say yes, you won’t believe me. If I say no, you’ll still doubt it. What’s the point of me answering?”

Li Baozhen slammed his cup down and clapped, “Liu Suyi, I’m done asking. Do you have anything to say?”

Liu Suyi closed his eyes, “We’re just waiting to die.”

Li Baozhen sneered, “You think you’re Liu Qingfeng?”

Clapping came from outside the office.

Liu Suyi laughed, “He’s here.”

He had not mentioned Chen Pingan once, but Li Baozhen had kept talking about Chen Pingan.

Li Baozhen looked and asked, “Who?!”

A man in a green robe entered, “Too bad Liu Shangshu isn’t here. I’m still here. You don’t get to kill Liu Suyi.”

Behind him was a young assistant.

Li Baozhen asked, “How is it you?!”

“Coincidence?”

Chen Pingan pressed Liu Suyi’s head and twisted it, “You need to start behaving.”

Li Baozhen wanted to call out his big brother, but he couldn’t speak. He couldn’t even use his spirit.

Li Baozhen realized that Chen Pingan now had golden eyes.

***

In the Cloudy Skies in the White Emperor City, there were countless swords that moved in all directions and speeds. Zheng Juzhong had spent the past three thousand years collecting them. Even so, many swords had been derived through his Dao.

Zheng Juzhong looked at a star map, “This won’t work.”

Another Zheng Juzhong shook his head, “Maybe.”

“Is there nobody to ask? There is no Cui Chan.”

“Wait.”

“How about we start a game with Kou of Jade White City?”

Kou Ming’s Dao was high like a dragon.

“Only Fu Jin and Gu Can have come here before.”

Fu Jin had sat here for a month.

Gu Can had asked, “If a swordsman has a sword, do they need to find the sword’s magic?”

“Of course, but it’s hard. Finding a magic is like fishing. If it’s hidden, you have to look hard. If it’s obvious, then you can get it easily. It’s not related to the sword. It’s just luck. Some swords’ magic is obvious. On the other hand, some swords are too hard. Some experts refuse to say they’re swordsman. Their sword skill is too low. There are very few wild swordmen because the sects are too good at finding them. It’s hard to find swords. There’s sword energy in the Great Wall of Sword, Northern Loo, and Old Shu. It’s far easier to make a swordman there.”

“If a swordsman has two or more swords, does that mean they are better?”

“Of course. A sword can complement each other. However, it still doesn’t mean that they will be good. For example, your master has only one sword. But all the swords related to water can’t compare to his one sword.”

“Is naming a sword hard? Should I keep it a secret?”

“Excluding dumb naming, the sword will be bad if the name is too big or too small.”

“Can a sword come by fate?”

“It’s predestined. Swordmen rely on fate.”

There was a flag at the top with a chess table.

An old man stood with his hands behind his back.

Han Qiaose said, “Master has come to White Emperor City.”

Zheng Juzhong said, “Let him wait. I’ll be right there.”

Learning sword skills wouldn’t help much.

Zheng Juzhong had tried that.

So he abandoned that path, and he dropped his immortal body.

Zheng Juzhong still couldn’t reach his Dao as a swordman.

So he had to find a different path. Bai Ye had taken a good path.

The two Zheng Juzhong merged and looked at the swords, “Like a person’s family name, name and title.”

Many swordmen had come here. However, Zheng Juzhong had learned very little.

This wasn’t a full Heaven.

As for Fu Jin and Gu Can, they were lucky to have their memories.

By the flag, Chen Qingliu played chess.

Zheng Juzhong appeared, “Master.”

“Don’t call me that.”

Chen Qingliu didn’t look up, “It might shorten my life.”

Han Qiaose was used to this.

Her master and master brother rarely met. They always acted like this.

It had been three thousand years since they had seen each other.

She didn’t know about the bond between her master and the blind Taoist. She also didn’t know about Northern Loo’s driver.

Her master’s roots didn’t come from the Great Balance, but from a blessed land.

Han Qiaose had first met her master as a girl. Her master had a guard named Xie Shiji.

Han Qiaose had been impressed by her.

Xie Shiji had served as a maid. Her master called her senior sister.

Later, her master had taken the trouble maker Liu Daoshun as a small disciple. Xie Shiji treated him well and gave him gifts.

Han Qiaose couldn’t understand this.

She asked Zheng Juzhong, and he said, “A fool recognizes a fool.”

But then Zheng felt close to Xie Shiji.

Zheng Juzhong said that Liu Daoshun was a fake fool, but Xie Shiji was a real fool, so she was actually smart.

Chen Qingliu threw a piece down, “Do you know why I didn’t teach you sword skills?”

“Master can say a few more words.”

Zheng Juzhong wanted his master to talk more.

If there was anything that Zheng Juzhong did bad, it didn’t exist.

Zheng Juzhong had gone to Iron Tree Mountain to threaten Guo Ouding.

Zheng Juzhong was considered to be the number one demon in the world.

Even that old scholar had said they had good skills in picking disciples.

But Chen Qingliu just didn’t like Zheng Juzhong.

He was too smart.

Zheng Juzhong had liked playing chess when he first started cultivation.

Chen Qingliu had thought that this was too useless. He challenged him to guess black or white.

He had guessed correctly thirty-six times!

The boy didn’t look at his hand but stared at Chen Qingliu’s eyes.

Chen Qingliu wondered if he had been lucky or if he had met a monster.