Chen Ping An remarked, “On the road here, I saw the entirety of Golden Emerald City.”

Gu Can chuckled, “Even when rooted in the land, it’s still better than our Li Zhu Grotto Heaven.”

Chen Ping An nodded, “Mister Zheng desires more freedom.”

Gu Can sighed, “I was merely musing, a passing thought.”

“As was I,” Chen Ping An replied.

Liu Chi Cheng, usually a chatterbox, stood by, his eyes fixed on the floor, remarkably silent.

He couldn’t help but show respect: one was his Senior Brother, the other was Master Qi.

When the seal on the talisman array had weakened, Liu Chi Cheng had barely escaped. At first, he had been full of ambition, eager to make a name for himself in the Treasure Bottle Continent – to rise from where he had fallen, and perhaps bring a smile to his long-unseen Senior Brother’s face. Foolishly, he had thought there were no true masters on Treasure Bottle Continent, that a Jade Pure Realm cultivator could rule it. Then, in a desolate temple, Liu Chi Cheng had tried to take Chen Ping An as his disciple, only to discover that the boy, like himself, had a backer, a Senior Brother of his own.

He had recounted his Treasure Bottle Continent tales to his Junior Nephew, Fu Jin. Fu Jin, who usually showed him nothing but disdain, had stared with suddenly wide eyes.

Chen Ping An inquired, “How are the sales of the woven robes from Golden Emerald City progressing?”

Sensing the hidden meaning behind the question, Gu Can answered directly, “I do not wish to deal with the Literary Temple just yet.”

For overnight, on the very plains of Entire Pepper Mountain, a grand city had sprung forth, a sight to behold. Jewels shimmered, colors danced, and night turned into day.

Inside Golden Emerald City, the hundreds of cultivators whose names had been stricken from the sect rolls felt as though they had emerged from a land where the sun had been devoured. Most were female cultivators, outnumbering the males by a margin of seven to three.

Stepping out, they found that the world and their sect affiliations had changed. Surprise gave way to a shared sense of relief, and then to boundless joy, with dreams of the future.

The修士 of the wild lands had an innate admiration for power. Whether one was of the Upper Five Realms, or a Transcendent Realm cultivator, or a Demon King upon a throne – it all boiled down to respect for the strong.

Zheng Ju Zhong, somehow capable of moving the Golden Emerald City to the Profound Lands during the war between the two worlds, was indeed the first among demons.

Gu Can hesitated for a moment before saying, “There were a few dozen cultivators within Golden Emerald City, their hearts still yearning for the wild lands, plotting to contact them. Zheng Qing Jia discovered their treachery and personally executed them all.”

Chen Ping An remained neutral.

Liu Chi Cheng clicked his tongue. That fair maiden from Mandarin Duck Lake, so delicate and soft-spoken, was surprisingly ruthless. No wonder his Senior Brother had brought her to the Profound Lands – she possessed a certain worth.

Curiosity piqued, Chen Ping An asked, “How did you persuade Zhong Su of Yellow Oriole Island?”

Old Yuan Ying Zhong Su, one of the few local bullies who could stand up to River Cutter True Lord in the Book Brief Lake, was a maverick, setting Yellow Oriole Island apart from other islands.

Normally, Zhong Su wouldn’t have paid Gu Can any heed, for their paths were different.

Gu Can replied, “Against such stubborn, unyielding bones, one must offer one’s heart, treat them with utmost sincerity.”

Chen Ping An didn’t press for details, instead asking, “Will he serve as the Ancestral Master of Discipline?”

Gu Can nodded. “Zhong Su is impartial, unforgiving in matters of discipline, perfectly suited. Zheng Qing Jia handles the finances, both spending and earning. Liu You Zhou holds the title of Vice Sect Master, overseeing all and nothing at once. Yu Jin is the Chief Honored Guest, a figurehead of leisure. The handmaiden, Gu Ling Yan, has multiple roles: second-in-command of the Discipline Lineage, the head of the Appraisal Bureau, and temporarily overseeing the Ritual Bureau. The rest are the former White Emperor City folk, given positions in various bureaus and seats in the Ancestral Hall. That is the general structure of the sect.”

Chen Ping An said, “To possess three immortals at the founding of a sect is an excellent start. In terms of top combat power, you may be a lower sect, but you already surpass Fu Jin’s upper sect.”

Besides Han Qiao Se, an immortal in secluded cultivation seeking transcendence, there was Zheng Qing Jia, whose immortal title was Mandarin Duck and whose name had been bestowed by Zheng Ju Zhong. This female immortal from the wild lands would undoubtedly serve as the City Lord of Golden Emerald City for a long time to come. And then there was Yu Jin, the ghost who had fallen from the Transcendent Realm to the Immortal Realm. As a native of the Floating Clouds Continent, Yu Jin was returning home, a triumphant homecoming. Despite Gu Can’s dismissal of him as merely a nominal Chief, Yu Jin was no ordinary man. As the first emperor in the history of the Profound Lands who had almost unified an entire continent, he was a man of great talent and ambition, capable of bearing any such label.

Back when Fallen Phoenix Mountain had just been founded, it was nothing more than a shabby sandal-wearing youth, accompanied by a green-robed child and a pink-skirted girl.

Furthermore, the Mountain God Temple hadn’t even been moved yet; host and guest were blurred, like neighbors who did not speak.

Gu Can shook his head. “Senior Brother Fu is also secretly recruiting. He hasn’t been idle in the wild lands. His ambitions are high, so I doubt he’ll take in any riffraff. He might even deliberately reduce the number of disciples to attract more cultivators from the Upper Five Realms.”

Finally finding a chance to interject, Liu Chi Cheng said, “As the founding disciple of your Senior Brother’s sect, that title carries weight. Plus, Fu Jin himself is a sword immortal with great promise, even if he is a bit arrogant. But anyone who can stomach that arrogance will surely be no ordinary person.”

Chen Ping An said, “I forgot to ask the name of your sect.”

Gu Can replied, “It’s called Floating Clouds Sect. Rather pedestrian, I admit.”

Chen Ping An chuckled, “The Laiyuan Academy and all those local sects and immortal abodes have no objections?”

Liu Chi Cheng, without thinking, blurted out, “There’s the Tongye Sect in the Tongye Continent.”

Seeing Chen Ping An and Gu Can turn to him, Liu Chi Cheng gave an awkward smile. “Pretend I said nothing.”

Gu Can continued, “What objections could they have? Dare they object? If Zheng Ju Zhong’s disciple didn’t name his sect after the continent, they’d be surprised. Besides, there have been several Floating Clouds Sects in the history of Floating Clouds Continent, and none have fared well. They think the name is too grand, unable to bear such luck. One of them was even supported by Yu Jin when he was emperor, becoming the leading sect on the continent. But when the dynasty fell, the sect collapsed within days. Yu Jin mentioned this recently, shedding a few tears and saying it was martyrdom, that the female strategist who was his childhood sweetheart was very beautiful. But I checked the records – Yu Jin rarely speaks the truth.”

Gu Can paused, using his eyes to inquire about something.

Chen Ping An said, “I know nothing.”

Liu Chi Cheng was puzzled. A riddle?

But Gu Can already knew the answer.

The sword immortal Song Pin from Golden Armor Continent was likely the reincarnation of that woman.

That’s why she was able to gain recognition from the sword, “Floating Clouds”.

That’s probably why Yu Jin was willing to join the “Floating Clouds Sect” – he was after her.

Gu Can laughed for no apparent reason. “Past sects dreamed of having a Transcendent Realm cultivator to guard their mountain. They wouldn’t dare to hope for more. Except for Middle Earth Divine Continent, a continent with two or three Transcendent Realm cultivators was considered blessed and filled with talent. Things are different now.”

Liu Chi Cheng couldn’t stop laughing. If the topic was the number of Fourteenth Realm cultivators in a sect, he, Liu Chi Cheng, could talk for days.

Chen Ping An reminded him, “One bite at a time.”

Gu Can said, “Time waits for no one.”

Chen Ping An replied, “You have a bright future ahead of you. Why the rush?”

Gu Can suddenly said, “I used to be ignorant, unaware of the machinations of the mountain peaks. Now that my horizons have broadened, I will never allow myself to become the Xing Lou of Azure Sky.”

Chen Ping An was silent.

Liu Chi Cheng was lost in a fog.

Gu Can said, “The current strategist of the Golden Pu Dynasty is a personal disciple of the Azure Palace Grand Protector from Flowing Haze Continent, named Gao Geng. He sat beside Emperor Hong when I negotiated deals with him. He was very polite, a bit too eager. It’s clear that Emperor Hong trusts this new strategist implicitly.”

Chen Ping An chuckled. “Gao Geng spent some time at Fallen Phoenix Mountain with his master, Jing Hao. Chen Ling Jun probably took him to Mud Bottle Lane.”

Liu Chi Cheng muttered, “His master, Gao Geng, is just a run-of-the-mill Transcendent Realm cultivator. How can he compare to your master, Gu Can? This politeness is due to Mountain Lord Chen. Let’s be clear, one thing does not cancel the other.”

Gu Can gave a mirthless smile. “Since when have you and Chen Ping An become such close brothers?”

Liu Chi Cheng adopted the air of a Senior Uncle. “Gu Can, don’t smile like that. You look like a villain.”

Gu Can raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Chen Ping An couldn’t help but laugh, teasing, “Daoist Liu is really putting his life on the line with these jests.”

Gu Can, intending to teach Liu Chi Cheng a lesson, also laughed.

Gu Can asked, “You came alone?”

Chen Ping An said, “There’s also Xiao Mo and Xie Gou, but we came by Night Boat.”

Thinking he had misheard, Liu Chi Cheng asked, “Xie what?”

Chen Ping An replied impatiently, “Gou! Dog!”

Liu Chi Cheng burst into hearty laughter. He wasn’t mocking the unusual name; it just reminded him of something he’d heard on the Great Wall of Swords, something about seeing things from afar and up close.

Chen Ping An smiled. “Daoist Liu, if you meet my family’s Secondary Honored Guest, you can call her Dog, no need to be polite.”

Skeptical, Liu Chi Cheng asked, “Are you trying to trick me?”

Chen Ping An feigned surprise. “You guessed it?”

Liu Chi Cheng sighed deeply. Who could have imagined that the pedantic youth from the past would become like this today?

Chen Ping An asked with a smile, “Now that everyone is reaching the Transcendence Realm, aren’t you worried?”

Liu Chi Cheng looked troubled. “Of course I’m worried! I’m like an ant on a hot pan, my heart burning with anxiety.”

To say he wasn’t worried would seem unambitious.

But the truth was, Liu Chi Cheng wasn’t worried at all.

His master had returned to the mountains. His Senior Brother was already at the Fourteenth Realm.

Now that even two of his Junior Nephews had founded their own sects, he, Liu Chi Cheng, was the least worried person in the world.

Liu was born to enjoy a life of ease. Chen Ping An was destined to be a workhorse; how could you compare to me?

As they walked and chatted, taking a leisurely stroll through the bustling Golden Scrap Ferry, Liu Chi Cheng felt like he had forgotten something.

Inside a mountain shop that resold talismans and spiritual implements, the shopkeeper looked up again at the man who was touching everything but not buying anything.

The shopkeeper reminded him, “Customer, we have rules. If you’re not buying, don’t touch.”

The man replied, “I have money. I’ll pick what I want and package it all together.”

The shopkeeper sneered. “Then pay up!”

The man said, “Patience is key in business.”

The shopkeeper was enraged. “I know how to do business in Golden Scrap Ferry. I don’t need you to teach me.”

Unexpectedly, the man said, “To be honest, this entire Golden Scrap Ferry is now our sect’s territory.”

The shopkeeper was amused. “I didn’t know Emperor Hong of Golden Pu Dynasty had a son as old as you.”

The man said, “Is it possible I’m his father?”

The shopkeeper was speechless. This guy was outrageous, probably some wild 修士 who lived by the skin of his teeth.

He guessed correctly. Chai Bo Fu was indeed a wild 修士 from the Treasure Bottle Continent, calling himself Long Bo. He and the Xu氏 woman from Clear Wind City were fellow disciples.

But times were different now. He was now a named immortal master. Liu Chi Cheng had never seen anyone so adept at reading the wind and avoiding danger. Chai Bo Fu would throw away all pretense if the situation turned bad.

He had to admit, Chai Bo Fu was a master at falling and rising through realms.

Falling was a skill honed through practice. Although his current realm was not high, his foundation was solid.

Liu Chi Cheng was extremely curious about when Chai Bo Fu, who had gone back and forth between the Golden Core and Yuan Ying Realms so many times, would finally reach the Upper Five Realms.

Back then, Chai Bo Fu had looked wronged, his eyes resentful. “I want to know too.”

Chai Bo Fu had something else to say, but he wouldn’t dare: “Please ask your Senior Brother for me!”

Liu Chi Cheng patted his friend Long Bo’s shoulder, making up a lie to encourage him, lest Chai Bo Fu lose heart. “Don’t be discouraged, Daoist. As a friend, I’ll break the rules and reveal a secret. My Senior Brother is using you as a tool for enlightenment. The Golden Core and Yuan Ying are both called Earth Immortals, so there must be great learning between the two realms.”

Chai Bo Fu seemed to have been struck by a flash of inspiration, suddenly understanding. Tears welled up in his eyes, and without a word, he knelt and kowtowed in the direction of White Emperor City, his head striking the ground with loud thuds.

Liu Chi Cheng was shocked. Had he accidentally discovered the truth?

In reality, Chai Bo Fu didn’t believe it at all. He felt bitter inside. He had just returned to the Yuan Ying Realm a few days ago and hadn’t even warmed the seat. “Liu, you’ve already said that. What else can I do but kowtow and thank Master Zheng?”

Liu Chi Cheng was making it all up, and Chai Bo Fu didn’t believe a word.

But the truth was, Zheng Ju Zhong of White Emperor City did have such an idea. He wanted to redefine the term “Earth Immortal” for the cultivation of the human world.

On a mountain peak of Entire Pepper Mountain, where the old Descent of Purity Convent had once stood, Zheng Qing Jia had established a cave abode as a mountain Daoist temple separate from the Golden Emerald City. It was a serene and secluded place, perfect for escaping the summer heat.

Zheng Qing Jia was aloof, and even though she had taken in many personal disciples, few truly caught her eye, making it difficult to entrust them with her Daoist lineage.

There was only one exception: Zhai Guang Yun. Only this favorite disciple was allowed to visit her at the old Descent of Purity Convent site.

Zhai Guang Yun’s Dao age wasn’t long. She hadn’t yet reached the Yuan Ying Realm, so she couldn’t use the divine power to survey the mountains and rivers. Therefore, she strained her eyes, only able to make out the vague outline of Golden Scrap Ferry. “Master, Hidden Official and Sect Master Gu are such good friends. He’ll definitely attend the ceremony, right? Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense in terms of brotherhood and friendship.”

Zheng Qing Jia felt a headache coming on. Sect Master Gu had indeed gone down the mountain today, but who could guarantee who Gu Can was going to meet?

Zhai Guang Yun was an admirer of the young Hidden Official.

The last time they went to the Treasure Bottle Continent to find Gu Can, Zheng Qing Jia had shaken her out of her sleeve when she had visited Fallen Phoenix Mountain. But she didn’t dare let her meet Chen Ping An, fearing complications.

Unless one had been to the wild lands, one would never know the young Hidden Official’s transcendent status there.

Especially妖族 cultivators who had gone to the Profound Lands and returned to the wild lands. They had broken through their realms frequently on the battlefields of several continents. Now, many young talents were gradually becoming the backbone of the wild lands. These妖族 cultivators, without exception, had a deep impression of that bright red figure above the broken Great Wall of Swords.

Zhai Guang Yun said, “Master, Sect Master Gu seems like a scholar, very skilled at using people. Following someone like him is like taking a pill that sets your mind at ease.”

Zheng Qing Jia spoke with double meaning, laughing. “He certainly looks like one.”

It would be a grave mistake to treat Gu Can as a genuine scholar.

The mineral vein in Entire Pepper Mountain was a literal treasure mountain. Although repeated surveys showed that the ore had a high impurity content and wasn’t suitable for minting immortal coins, it couldn’t become the “Fourth Coin” besides Grain Rain, Slight Heat, and Snowflake. However, no one doubted that the Floating Clouds Sect, which held Entire Pepper Mountain, wouldn’t have to worry about money for a thousand years.

The Floating Clouds Sect and the Laiyuan Academy each held one-third of the jade mine. The latter would use the income to rebuild the dilapidated Floating Clouds Continent. The far-sighted emperor of the Golden Pu Dynasty, whose empire had only been restored for a few years, secretly made a deal with Gu Can, offering the Golden Scrap Ferry built on Luanjia Beach as a gift. Then they would discuss the ownership and sharing of the mineral vein. Soon, the Golden Pu Dynasty would have a new sect, and the four people who had followed Gu Can from Treasure Bottle Continent would be that sect’s “founding ancestors”: Huang Lie, the former strategist of Jade Promulgation, a Golden Core Earth Immortal, would serve as the sect master. In addition, Shen Ke, who had just broken through to become a Far Roaming Martial Artist, and the ghost Guan Kui, and the old Yuan Ying hag who went by the alias Pu Liu, would serve as important positions in the sect. Floating Clouds Continent had been devastated by war and the people were impoverished. This mountain could not be underestimated. Of course, it was the Floating Clouds Sect’s temporarily unrevealed “descent”.

Gu Can divided his one-third of the jade mine from Entire Pepper Mountain into three parts: one for the Golden Pu Dynasty, one for the covenant with the back mountain, and one for the Floating Clouds Sect itself, although nominally it still belonged to the Golden Pu Dynasty. He made a gentleman’s agreement with Emperor Hong to avoid being caught by certain moralists at the Laiyuan Academy.

Before the sect ceremony had even been held, Gu Can already owned a private ferry, an intercontinental ship, a city that seemed like a money tree, and a secret mountain sect.

Zheng Qing Jia rubbed her disciple’s hair, reminding her earnestly, “The Profound Lands are different from the wild lands. In our wild lands, we kill without reason, but in the Profound Lands, they kill with reason. From now on, you only need to focus on cultivating. The heavenly treasures, immortal opportunities, and positions that are yours will not be denied to you. But remember one thing: don’t provoke Sect Master Gu. Remember, if Gu Can wants to kill you, your master can’t protect you.”

Zhai Guang Yun nodded. “Master, don’t worry. I know the importance of things.”

Even with her beloved disciple’s verbal assurance, Zheng Qing Jia was still worried that she was used to the customs of the wild lands and the freedom of Golden Emerald City. “You also need to promise your master that you will not meet Sect Master Gu alone without permission.”

Zhai Guang Yun didn’t act spoiled or beg for forgiveness, nor did she make any false promises. She just said softly, “The young Hidden Official could defend a city, but he almost couldn’t leave Book Brief Lake. How can I, a mere ant, dare to be careless when dealing with Sect Master Gu?”

Zheng Qing Jia nodded with a complex expression, acknowledging her disciple’s promise, but then she reminded her seriously, “Don’t ever mention that again! To anyone!”

Zhai Guang Yun hurriedly agreed.

On the seashore, cliffs stood tall. This place was still thousands of miles away from the submerged veins of Entire Pepper Mountain. Two true Daoists had arranged to meet here.

The wealthy-looking man was Liu Ju Bao, the head of the Liu family of Crystal White Continent, hailed as the richest man in the Profound Lands.

The other was a thin old man carrying a green satchel, his identity being both the Daoist in charge of Entire Pepper Mountain and Lou Miao of the Qionglin Sect.

Liu Ju Bao’s attitude was interesting. Regarding his son’s association with Gu Can, the newly promoted Fourteenth Realm cultivator of Crystal White Continent had said nothing but, “I know.”

Liu You Zhou had not invited his father to the celebration, and Liu Ju Bao pretended that nothing had happened.

Liu Ju Bao chuckled. “Being taken over like this, doesn’t it bother the old owner?”

Wei She said, “Anyway, You Zhou is the second-in-command. Just think of it as keeping the wealth within the family. The elders have given a congratulatory gift.”

Liu Ju Bao said, “Not a small gift.”

Wei She didn’t think the matter was worth dwelling on, so he changed the subject, looking regretful. “I had planned to go to the Club Reed Continent with you to settle things, but I was too late.”

If the Fire Dragon True Lord hadn’t succeeded in his union with the Dao, everything would have been fine. They could have gone there and invited those剑修 who were always too proud to sit down and talk business.

Just to buy back the character “North.”

If the two Fourteenth Realm cultivators of Crystal White Continent arrived together in the Club Reed Continent and were greeted only by the Transcendent Realm Fire Dragon True Lord and the剑修 Bai Shang, then it would truly just be the Club Reed Continent from then on.

Liu Ju Bao had long held a deep desire to take back the character “North.”

Liu Ju Bao didn’t want to talk about the topic any longer. “Why did you change your mind and decide to go to the wild lands?”

Wei She didn’t hide anything. “I’m going to see Zhang Feng Hai, who walked out of Smoke Haze Cave. I hear he left the White Jade Tower and started a sect that cannot be underestimated.”

Liu Ju Bao laughed. “Daoist friend, are you planning to do business in Azure Sky?”

Zhang Feng Hai and his fellow Daoists were currently traveling through the wild lands. It wasn’t being announced, but the mountain cultivators had heard rumors.

Wei She neither admitted nor denied it.

Liu Ju Bao said, “How many portraits do you think will be hung in the Ancestral Hall on the main peak of Entire Pepper Mountain?”

Just Zheng Ju Zhong’s portrait, or would it be joined by Ancestor Chen Qing Liu’s portrait?

It was a question that was either big or small.

Wei She said, “Hanging one, two, or none… it seems like Gu Can could do anything.”

Liu Ju Bao chuckled. “Then we shall see.”

Wei She said, “Two great cultivators have arrived at the Descent of Purity Convent.”

Liu Ju Bao said, “You should learn from me and not even look. Otherwise, it might be seen as a challenge.”

Wei She smiled. “After all, it’s the site of my old Daoist temple. It shouldn’t be a problem to steal a few glances.”

As he spoke, Liu Ju Bao and Wei She saw a girl in a sable hat on the peak of Entire Pepper Mountain, curving her fingers at them.

“You new Fourteenth Realm cultivators who haven’t been around long enough to become old Fourteenth Realm cultivators, don’t act like big shots in my territory.”

Wei She exclaimed in admiration, “As expected of Bai Jing, her divine sense is sharp.”

But when he turned again, Wei She found that Liu Ju Bao had disappeared without a trace.

Wei She shook his head, smiled and洒然, and his figure became like a green crane. He used the Water Parting Spell and instantly entered the Sea of Return, heading straight to the wild lands.

On the mountain peak, Zheng Qing Jia recognized the identity of the young man in the yellow hat, blue shoes, and green bamboo staff, so she quickly pulled her disciple Zhai Guang Yun down to kneel.

She put her hands on the ground, her forehead touching the backs of her hands three times. With each kowtow, she repeated, “Zheng Qing Jia of Golden Emerald City, Daoist name Mandarin Duck, pays respects to the Ancestor.”

Xiao Mo said indifferently, “A bit of Daoist inheritance is enough for three kowtows. From now on, we shall address each other as Daoist friends.”

Zheng Qing Jia still did not get up. She just looked up and said, “If the Ancestor does not recognize me as a Daoist descendant, I dare not deny the Ancestor above.”

Xiao Mo said nonchalantly, “As you wish.”

Zheng Qing Jia stood up and bowed to the girl in the sable hat. “Greetings, Senior Bai Jing.”

Xie Gou sighed, complaining, “Too formal! Call me Gou!”

How would Zheng Qing Jia dare to be so presumptuous? Golden Emerald City had always been under the jurisdiction of the Dragging River. The new Lord of the Dragging River, the Demon King Fei Fei, would be the junior granddaughter of 剑修 Bai Jing in terms of seniority.

Zhai Guang Yun stood up blankly, and then, as if struck by inspiration, blurted out, “Zhai Guang Yun, a disciple of the Golden Emerald City lineage, greets Ancestor Grandmama.”

Xiao Mo was helpless.

Zheng Qing Jia looked nervous. The ancient deeds of Bai Jing were all related to moodiness. For example, the legend of a dangerous ambush led by two Demon Kings and participated in by more than a hundred cultivators. But the two transcendent realm cultivators who had planned it were killed, with one wounded. As for the rest, they were cut into pieces with a single sword strike. Bai Jing’s favorite way to deliver a strike was straight down the middle. The seriously injured female剑修 revealed her true form and devoured the corpses on the battlefield, not wasting a single piece.

Even a great妖族 like Zhu Yan would curse Bai Jing as a fierce woman when mentioning her.

At this moment, Xie Gou crossed her arms, making a face. She was extremely happy. “Oh! This little girl is sweet-mouthed. You deserve candy! Wahaha! Zheng Qing Jia is good at taking disciples. I like you.”

Xie Gou said, “Well, little girl, you can visit Fallen Phoenix Mountain often. By the way, what’s your name?”

Zhai Guang Yun answered timidly, “Reporting to Ancestor Grandmama, my name is Zhai Guang Yun. I have always admired Hidden Official.”

Xie Gou sighed. Hearing the last half of the sentence, she immediately changed her mind. “Then you shouldn’t go to Fallen Phoenix Mountain.”

I am only the Secondary Honored Guest for now, and my hat doesn’t compare to the Mountain Lord’s wife.

The Mountain Lord is good in every way, but the part where he is afraid of Ning Yao is questionable.

Xiao Mo was a little regretful. She shouldn’t have let her drag her here.

Xie Gou had originally planned to learn from Jing Qing and be as firm as iron. Even if she lost her position, she would still say a few words of tough love and advise the Mountain Lord. “You’re marrying a wife, so why are you afraid of Ning Yao?”

But Xiao Mo told her not to say it, so she listened to Xiao Mo.

They flew together to Entire Pepper Mountain. Chen Ping An only took a cursory glance at the scenery along the way, not visiting the other peaks.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Liu Chi Cheng had to ask where he would be staying. Gu Can told him to sleep on the floor.

Liu You Zhou was not on the mountain right now. He was in Golden Emerald City, learning about the weaving process of a robe.

Tonight was a night of beautiful flowers and a full moon. People were in high spirits because of happy events.

Tomorrow morning was the sect ceremony. For a young Sect Master in his thirties, it was a time of accomplishment and a promising future.

Gu Can sat alone on the railing of the viewing platform, gently resting his hands on his knees, patting them softly.

The handmaiden Gu Ling Yan knocked symbolically on the door and walked over, arms crossed, leaning against the door, looking at his lonely back.

Was it because Hidden Official didn’t come here to chat and catch up, but went to drink and chat with Old Master Shen and the others, that he was sulking?

Gu Can didn’t speak. She was bored and tapped her embroidered shoe on the floor.

“Hey, before the公子 went down the mountain, he specifically told the kitchen not to prepare anything. I guess he wanted Chen Ping An to cook himself? But what happened? This is what happened now.”

Gu Ling Yan obediently shut her mouth. Of course, she wouldn’t dare to rub salt in Gu Can’s wound. He would hold a grudge, especially when it came to matters related to Chen Ping An.

Gu Can said to himself, “It’s easy to cross high mountains, but the level ground is the hardest to walk.”

Seeing that he had finally started speaking, Gu Ling Yan echoed, “Daily diligence is very important. That’s the principle.公子 wants to become the Lord of a Continent, and this is just the beginning.”

He had been chosen by River Cutter True Lord Liu Zhi Mao for his good bones when he was young and was taken to Book Brief Lake, starting his cultivation path.

In the Book Brief Lake, which was filled with murderous intent and treacherous hearts, he relied on a Yuan Ying water蛟 to act violently, using killing to stop killing. He hated the word “rules” the most.

By chance, he followed Zheng Ju Zhong to White Emperor City and became a teacher and disciple. It was a refreshing change.

He broke through the bottleneck of the Yuan Ying Realm, killed his 心魔, and successfully reached the Upper Five Realms. From then on, there was a different world.

Now, at the age of thirty, he was a sect founder and one of the youngest Sect Masters in the history of the Profound Lands.

Gu Can didn’t turn his head. “Stop drinking the northwest wind with me. Go do your own things.”

Gu Ling Yan smiled like a flower. “Serving the公子 is a handmaiden’s proper job.”

Gu Can said, “I’m not in the mood to talk nonsense with you.”

Gu Ling Yan didn’t mind. She performed a blessing and quietly left.

Gu Can looked into the distance.

Looking back on his life, it was like a dream.

Before dawn, at least an hour before the ceremony, the first person to arrive at the plaza outside the Ancestral Hall was an outsider.

Having nothing to do, the man in the green shirt and cloth shoes was walking slowly on the white jade plaza.

If he remembered correctly, at the founding ceremony of the Green Duck Sword Sect, the leader of the upper sect was the last to arrive.

At Gu Can’s residence, Gu Ling Yan knocked on the door, helped her公子 wash his face and hands, and carefully整理ed his clothes.

When she mentioned the matter, Gu Can didn’t seem surprised. He just picked up the towel again, wiped his face, and smiled. “He’s always been like that with me.”

————

At dusk, on a country road, a green-robed boy swinging his sleeves walked through the village, stepping on the bluestone path towards the village school by the stream.

Dogs barked at him, so the green-robed boy immediately adopted a posture, putting on a fighting stance to confront them.

Finally, they ran away with their tails between their legs. The green-robed boy stood up straight, swung his sleeves, and snapped. “Trying to fight me? How dare you!”

Villagers who saw this scene shook their heads. Every village had an idiot. He wondered which village this boy had wandered from.

Near the school that had just finished class, the green-robed boy called out, “Brother Zhou! Brother Zhou!”

Jiang Shang Zhen, with a few books under his arm, walked out of the school and waved. “Here! Here!”

Chen Ling Jun hurried towards Chief Zhou. He couldn’t neglect his brother Zhou, who was teaching in the countryside for the Mountain Lord, all alone. He had to visit him.

Moreover, Zhao Shu Xia and Ning Ji were here. As a half-senior, Chen Ling Jun had to teach them some principles of dealing with people, which were not taught in books and were worth a thousand gold.

Zhao Shu Xia and Ning Ji were busy in the kitchen. Chen Ling Jun went to the door and ordered a few dishes, saying it didn’t need to be too fancy, but there had to be local wine. Zhao Shu Xia smiled and said okay.

At the dinner table, Chen Ling Jun brought a piece of news that made Chief Zhou feel mixed emotions and lose his appetite for wine.

Fallen Phoenix Mountain had no in-house mountain news, nor did it have any plans to start Mirror Flower Water Moon. However, the Green Duck Sword Sect would soon have its first Mirror Flower Water Moon, and news would be released to the public.

Hearing this, Jiang Shang Zhen complained that the lower sect wasn’t doing things right. How could the younger brother marry before the older brother? But then he thoughtfully said that Sect Master Cui must be really short on money. He blamed himself for not taking care of things and would tell the Jiang family in the Cloud Cave Blessed Land later.

Jiang Shang Zhen clinked bowls with Chen Ling Jun, rubbed his chin, and couldn’t help asking, “Is the news reliable? Or are you just making things up?”

Chen Ling Jun said unhappily, “I heard this news from Little Rice Grain. Do you think it’s reliable or not?”

Jiang Shang Zhen nodded. “Then it must be true.”

Jiang Shang Zhen asked, “Does the Mountain Lord know about this?”

Chen Ling Jun shook his head. “I don’t know. Mountain Lord has been in seclusion at the Floating Clouds Foot Daoist Temple recently, seeing no one except Little Rice Grain.”

Jiang Shang Zhen asked curiously, “Who’s going to show up, who’s going to host, who’s going to warm things up, and who’s going to鎮場子? There has to be some gimmick, right?”

The handsome men are all at Fallen Phoenix Mountain. It seems like Mi Da剑仙 is the only one who can make a number for them?

Chen Ling Jun ate with his cheeks bulging, saying vaguely, “I don’t know. I’ll ask Little Rice Grain to continue gathering information. The cooking is improving. Thumbs up.”

Seeing the green-robed boy give him a thumbs-up, Zhao Shu Xia smiled and nodded. “Keep up the good work.”

Chen Ling Jun turned his thumb towards Ning Ji. “Ning Ji, you’re doing a good job, too. You can open a restaurant in Locust Yellow County. I have a lot of friends on the road, and I guarantee your business will be booming.”

Ning Ji grinned.

In fact, Cui Dong Shan had sent a lot of mountain news to the peaks of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, all with the same content. He had asked Little Rice Grain to help him pass it on, so as to avoid being misunderstood as being biased.

He pleaded with the insiders of the upper sect to give their support. “Those with money should donate money, and those without money should donate support.” For example, those who were practicing martial arts at the Flower Shadow Peak and Oriole Language Peak of Jumping Fish Mountain had no money, but they could help promote the Mirror Flower Water Moon. And the people at Shrouded Cloud Mountain shouldn’t be forgotten either. Distant relatives are worse than close neighbors. We’re all family here.

Little Rice Grain had received those letters, but when she went to tell the Mountain Lord at the Floating Clouds Foot, Chen Ping An had suppressed them. In order not to embarrass Little Rice Grain, Chen Ping An had to write a letter, asking Sect Master Cui to find someone else to be the promoter and not to harm his own people.

Chen Ling Jun inexplicably remembered something the old cook had said, laughing until his stomach hurt.

“Nobody’s money is swept in by the wind.” Haha, swept in by the wind.

Zhao Shu Xia and Ning Ji were used to it and didn’t think it was strange.