Two figures, Zheng Juzhong and Lu Chen, were whispered to be on the cusp of the Fifteenth Realm, paragons of power few could fathom. Their next meeting, it was said, would either be when the autumn winds blew cold, or when the spring blossoms painted the world anew.

Lu Chen was no fool. He heard the unspoken in Zheng Juzhong’s words, understanding he was close to returning to the mortal realm. At last, he wouldn’t have to play the staring game with the man from the Zheng family. His heart, as Abbot of White Jade City, fluttered with relief.

“Back to the Azure Heavens, back to the White Jade City,” he mused, “a string of firecrackers is in order!”

As for why Zheng Juzhong occasionally folded miniature, colorful paper boats and set them adrift upon the River of Time, Lu Chen chose not to ponder. Some mysteries were best left untouched.

Seeing Zheng Juzhong rise, as if preparing to depart, Lu Chen impulsively spoke, attempting to delay his exit. “Brother Huaixian,” he began, testing the waters, “such an opportunity is rare. Perhaps we could speak further?”

Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City, styled Huaixian, bore no Daoist name, or so it seemed.

Zheng Juzhong offered a wry smile. “What, Abbot Lu, is White Jade City still short-changed, despite Jiang She weathering a calamity on your behalf? Take a page from another’s book: a hint is enough, know when to quit while you’re ahead.”

Lu Chen rose quickly, his expression sincere. “It is likely our next meeting will be less amiable. Surely you won’t begrudge this humble Daoist a few more words?”

Zheng Juzhong casually scooped a handful of the River of Time, laughing. “I am all ears for the Saint’s instruction.”

Lu Chen waved his hand, chuckling. “Not at all, not at all. You flatter this humble one, esteemed Zheng.”

Zheng Juzhong took the first step, Lu Chen following suit. Side by side, they walked and talked. The heavens were vast, seemingly devoid of emptiness, yet that very absence was presence itself.

Lu Chen began, “Jiang She faces, perhaps, three choices. The best, he goes to the Barren Lands, raises his banner, and openly establishes a sect, proclaiming himself its founder.”

Zheng Juzhong remained silent, a meaningless agreement would only be redundant.

Jiang She and Bai Ze were anomalies amongst anomalies, one of the Ten Heroes of ancient times, the other a contender. With the two realms locked in a deadly dance, Jiang She could use the war to nourish his cultivation, for the path of a military cultivator often lay through the chaos of the world. The other, it seemed, would hold the line for the Barren Lands, preventing a cataclysmic defeat at the hands of the Verdant Domain. The more brutal the war, the more Bai Ze, a mere Qi cultivator, would be forced to violate his Daoist heart and ascend to the Fifteenth Realm. Such wonders were rare indeed.

Lu Chen continued, “The current chieftain of the Barren Lands, the sword cultivator Feiran, is not driven by great personal ambition, making him amenable to reason. Of course, this requires a fair trade, profitable to both sides.”

“Feiran is a remarkable individual, he reminds me of our own Zhang Fenghai of White Jade City, both young and accomplished, their Daoist power matching their ambition. Feiran espouses inner sanctity and outer rule, a fusion of kingly and domineering ways, clearly positioning himself as a ‘wielder of the Dao’. Yet, he is not inherently bloodthirsty, but rather driven by circumstances. Were Jiang She to enter the Barren Lands, jointly holding the reins of power, it would be a harmonious balance, giving the Barren Lands a set of rules without making them overly rigid. Both sides could accept it.”

“The timing is perfect. Too early, and the demon clans of the Barren Lands, not yet humbled by the Verdant Domain, would refuse, those untamed beasts desiring only freedom from all restraint. Too late, and the momentum would be lost, even a Fifteenth Realm Jiang She would be insufficient. Now, the Verdant Domain, from mountain to valley, is too uniform in its aspirations.”

Zheng Juzhong finally spoke, “A wise man plots, but timing is paramount.”

Lu Chen nodded, smiling. “Forceful words!”

Zheng Juzhong shifted the conversation. “Jiang She will not go to the Barren Lands.”

Lu Chen was puzzled. “Why?”

Zheng Juzhong explained, “Zhou Mi chose Feiran as chieftain only to avoid his foremost disciple, Shouchun, from gaining too high a position too quickly, making him a target. Feiran is a safer buffer. But Shouchun, the most bloodthirsty, will inevitably replace him as the war progresses. Feiran, who became a Daoist partner with Guikei, is ready to move to the background to pursue the 15th realm in peace to avoid being targeted by people like Zou Zi. Zhou Mi’s intention to let Shouchun to be the next chieftain means anyone who wants the spot need to be approved by him. Jiang She is traveling to the Barren Lands to confirm the truth and to know whether Lu’s plan is going to work for him.”

Lu Chen frowned. “Shouchun?”

Zheng Juzhong offered no explanation, continuing, “It is a pity Feiran was born in the wrong place. Had he been in the Verdant Domain, his Daoist accomplishments would be boundless. Looking further ahead, beyond seven or eight centuries, Feiran’s potential is greater; he might even become another Sage of Rituals. It would be intriguing if Feiran and Chen Ping’an switched places.”

Lu Chen adopted an inquisitive demeanor. “Pray tell, esteemed Zheng, why Shouchun?”

There was a saying in the Barren Lands: “North Yinkuan, South Shouchun.” Moreover, Shouchun was the chief disciple of Zhou Mi, the Sage of the Written Word. Yet, even so, Lu Chen felt the reasoning was incomplete.

Zheng Juzhong said, “On the Night Voyage Ship, Jiang She deliberately asked Chen Ping’an, ‘Daoist arts can be borrowed, but what of the hearts of the people?’ The answer is simple, they cannot. ‘When fortune arrives, all the world lends a hand’, and one aspect of that is the mysterious favor of the people’s hearts. This cannot be borrowed, it is given, as rivers flow to the sea. Why borrow when one can take without repayment? Thus, Jiang She is offering Chen Ping’an… well, a military tactic.”

Lu Chen seemed to understand while giving his own opinion. “There is no need to repay, but one can repay if one wishes.”

Zheng Juzhong nodded. Rain would fall.

Lu Chen clicked his tongue. “To think the founder of the military arts has such talent, discussing the ‘heart’ within the Night Voyage Ship’s Spirit Rhinoceros City, unafraid of Chen Ping’an grasping the key and achieving a spiritual connection?”

But Lu Chen was still puzzled. “In the Barren Lands, regarding the quantity of popular support, does Shouchun surpass Bai Ze?”

Zheng Juzhong replied, “Shouchun is second for the time being.”

Lu Chen’s expression grew strange.

Zheng Juzhong smiled faintly. “The Grand Abbot of White Jade City has been missing for over a century, causing a dispersal of popular support, leading to this present situation where Abbot Lu, a native of the Verdant Domain, is most favored in the Azure Heavens.”

Bai Ze in the Barren Lands, Lu Chen in the Azure Heavens.

Lu Chen blushed with shame. “I am unworthy, utterly unworthy.”

Zheng Juzhong stated, “Even Wu Shuangjiang would not miscalculate.”

In other words, Zheng Juzhong certainly would not.

Zheng Juzhong said, “The only blemish is that neither you nor Bai Ze have managed to distance yourselves greatly enough from the heroes behind you.”

Lu Chen reached up to wipe his brow. “Good, good, a good thing.”

Lu Chen asked quietly, “And in the Verdant Domain?”

Zheng Juzhong teased, “Surely Abbot Lu does not desire to shoulder everything, to double your fortune?”

Lu Chen looked embarrassed. “This humble one is but a reed in the wind, how could I compete with elder brother Huaixian?”

Zheng Juzhong asked, “Are we finished talking?”

Lu Chen immediately returned to the topic. “Jiang She could also open a gateway in the Azure Heavens, perhaps forming an alliance with White Jade City, joining hands with senior brother Yu to swiftly quell the rebellions in several provinces.”

Zheng Juzhong laughed. “Yu Dou might not agree.”

Lu Chen said, “Senior brother Yu might not disagree.”

Zheng Juzhong said, “In any case, if Yu Dou refuses, Jiang She will choose White Jade City’s opposition. What the Taoist Zhang Jue of the Five Pecks of Rice failed to achieve, Jiang She and his allies might succeed.”

Lu Chen said, “Might not succeed?”

Zheng Juzhong said, “Whether a scholar who values face is beaten black and blue or suffers internal injuries, the difference is not as great as Abbot Lu imagines.”

Lu Chen sighed, changing the subject. “Jiang She could also run to the Five Colors Heaven and start anew, spreading the Dao there, the evolution of martial arts flowing like mercury, earning him great merit. Furthermore, Jiang She has a close relationship with ancient sword cultivators, and the young sword cultivators of Ascension City naturally favor him. Moreover, immortal opportunities are ultimately ethereal, the barrier for a mortal master to become a Qi cultivator is too high, but the path of martial arts ascends with steady steps. Martial arts and boxing can be practiced by anyone, even if the accomplishments are not high, they will not be in vain. Within a few centuries, the Five Colors Heaven will be filled with dragons and snakes, martial arts will flourish, and its fortune will overwhelm all other Daos. Perhaps the great opportunity for Jiang She to reach the Fifteenth Realm awaits him there. What do you think, Zheng?”

Zheng Juzhong did not comment on this conclusion.

Lu Chen asked curiously, “Setting aside your own opinion, Zheng, what are the chances of success there?”

Zheng Juzhong said, “No one dares say they will certainly win, no one can guarantee the other will certainly die.”

Lu Chen was filled with helplessness. “This friend of mine truly surprises me every few days.”

Zheng Juzhong said, “If I were you, I would not have dragged my feet, I would have either decisively killed him and ran, or knocked him unconscious and taken him to White Jade City to cultivate the Dao.”

Lu Chen sighed heavily, his face clouded. “That is why you are the master of White Emperor City, and I am but the Abbot of White Jade City.”

Zheng Juzhong laughed, saying, “We each have our own desires. I care about the process, you only seek the result.”

Lu Chen laughed. “No wonder you only enjoy playing Go. Chess masters, once determined to play a draw, make for a very boring process.”

After a moment of silence, Zheng Juzhong said something irrelevant, “Remember when Bai Ze helped the Sage of Rituals in engraving names on the tripod, recording the names of all the demons and spirits in the world, a total of eleven thousand five hundred and twenty?”

Lu Chen instantly understood. “Eleven thousand five hundred and twenty, a ‘great number’ that few pay attention to now.”

The meeting by the River of Time ten thousand years ago, the founders of the three religions made a pact for ten thousand years, and ten thousand years later, there was a dispersing of the Dao.

This meant that the next fifteen hundred and twenty years would determine all the major events and trends within the next ‘great number’ period.

An individual’s fortune is often smaller than a nation’s national fortune, a nation’s fortune is smaller than the vast fortune of a realm, and the rise and fall of a realm’s fortune is smaller than the operation of the Heavenly Dao of the entire world.

Zheng Juzhong said seriously, “The Sage of Writing and Zou Zi both greatly admire your ‘On the Equality of Things’, but I am particularly fond of your phrase ‘Daoist arts will split the world’.”

Lu Chen said lazily, “Perhaps this humble one is acting like one of my disciples, worrying about matters beyond my concern.”

Zheng Juzhong slowly said, “The rise and fall of a thousand years, all in a dream. May I ask, friend Nanhua who wrote the Nanhua, to which chapter have you read?”

Lu Chen immediately had a headache, whenever the word “dream” was mentioned, the Abbot would feel apprehensive.

The two walked side by side, the scenery along the way was lifeless and dull, seeing a living person here was as difficult as ascending to heaven. Truly a road without travelers.

If the world was an inn, then this room was too empty.

Just as Zheng Juzhong guided the way, they found the future Fourteenth Realm cultivator hiding in this place, the very person who had repeatedly interrupted Chen Ping’an’s cultivation in the Fufeng Dojo for no reason.

If he had not seen it with his own eyes, Lu Chen would never have imagined that it was this person who had ambushed Chen Ping’an. But once he saw it, Lu Chen suddenly understood, and instantly realized the reason.

Lu Chen said with a smile, “Haha, half a hometown acquaintance meets another, tears welling up in their eyes. This Daoist friend must be harboring an incredible treasure.”

He remembered the sword cultivator Bai Jing, now the second seat of the Fallen Mountain, Xie Gou Xie, who had two natal flying swords with similar abilities.

Those two natal flying swords were named “Upstream” and “Downstream”. While the names seemed ordinary, no cultivator of the same realm wanted to court trouble with her.

For Bai Jing, the so-called tempering of flying swords was simply to lengthen the river sections of Upstream and Downstream, while widening the riverbed and deepening the water level.

If Bai Jing succeeded in combining with the Dao and entered the Fourteenth Realm, it was believed that within the next thousand years, most new Fourteenth Realms, even within their own dojos, would still be extremely wary of her.

Lu Chen was not afraid of this, this humble Daoist was a close friend of Chen Shanzhu, the kind who would drink and laugh together upon meeting.

The Fourteenth Realm cultivator, like a floating duckweed drifting in a whirlpool, said frankly, “Surely with the status of Lord Zheng and Abbot Lu, you would not be tempted to seize treasure, would you?”

Zheng Juzhong smiled and asked, “Huang Zhen, can you guess our thoughts?”

Lu Chen laughed playfully, “Lord Zheng might as well remove the ‘our’.”

Huang Zhen asked, “Lord Zheng is traveling here, at the cost of consuming your cultivation, in an attempt to travel upstream along the River of Time, seeking a suitable opportunity to kill Abbot Yu?”

Lu Chen’s eyelids twitched slightly.

Zheng Juzhong shook his head. “Once one is recorded in history, there is no point to make clarifications.”

Lu Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

Huang Zhen continued, “Then what does Lord Zheng seek in returning? If you seek to inquire about the future, I must refuse, revealing heavenly secrets has dire consequences.”

Zheng Juzhong said, “I only wish to find Abbot Lu a person to chat with.”

None would dare encounter Zheng on the road.

Huang Zhen’s eyes were complex, within a few years, the new Ten Heroes of the world and the candidates would be freshly selected, perhaps half of them as expected, and half beyond imagination.

Lu Chen casually asked, “Is this fellow similar to a Chen Ping’an who received a skewer of candied haws when he was young?”

Zheng Juzhong laughed, “Almost.”

Lu Chen raised his hand, shook his Daoist robe sleeves, and pretended to calculate,啧啧 in amazement, “First hatred, resenting that his mother failed to ask Ruan Xiu for silver, the young boy dared not hate a high and unattainable woman of the military arts, so he placed the blame on his peer, Chen Ping’an, jealous of the latter’s lucky break, hating that he could know a woman like Ruan Xiu. Second hatred, after many years of laborious cultivation, neither successful nor mediocre, the middle-aged man finally mustered the courage to go to the gate of Fallen Mountain, only to be politely rejected with the reason of being closed off for twenty years, cutting off his path to cultivate and become an immortal. On the road home to the prefecture, his face burned, hating that he had lost face, turning to hate everything and everyone at Fallen Mountain. Third hatred, hating that fellow villager of the Lu family who was a dog to the Xu family of Qingfeng City, and hating himself even more for having to be a lackey to that dog. The new and old grudges and many resentments from then on… this humble Daoist cannot predict.”

Exposed by Lu Chen’s casual revelation, Huang Zhen remained calm, only saying, “He himself admits that he survived by eating a hundred families’ rice.”

Zheng Juzhong said indifferently, “Revenge is the most single-minded path.”

Lu Chen sighed with emotion, looking at the person before him, at least a veritable Fourteenth Realm, scheming for so many years, even willing to imprison himself here, acting as a half-dead corpse guard, what great hatred could he have for his fellow villager, Chen Shanzhu?

They left this place, heading towards the location of the Eunuch.

Huang Zhen looked at the backs of the two cultivators, especially Lu Chen’s lotus crown, and said softly, “A pleasure to meet you.”

Zheng Juzhong asked, “When Abbot Lu saw most of the paintings of the River of Time, do you remember how much Chen Ping’an of Mud Bottle Lane weighed at birth?”

Lu Chen rubbed his chin, pondered for a moment, and said, “It seems like a fat boy, about seven pounds.”

But the first time they met, the boy was already tanned and skinny as a bamboo pole.

Earlier in the Lu Sect temple, one of Chen Ping’an’s avatars had an exchange with the abbot before departing.

“Please teach me the meaning of the patriarch’s arrival from the west.” “What is the price of rice in another country?”

“May I ask, abbot, is gradual cultivation and sudden enlightenment one path, or two?” “Benefactor, how many pennies is one penny?”

The old monk countered by asking the scholar copying scriptures, “What is the style of your mountain?” The middle-aged scholar answered, “Correct mistakes when we are wrong, and encourage ourselves when we are not. Not afraid of starting thoughts, but afraid of slow realization.”

The scholar finally asked, “The myriad things return to one, where does one return?” The old monk raised his arm, pinched his fingers together as if lifting something, and answered with a smile, “Receive a green Qizhou cloth shirt weighing seven pounds.”

Zheng Juzhong said, “Does Abbot Lu know that when Chen Ping’an was leading those children on their path to learning, and stopped at an immortal inn in the Yellow Court Kingdom, Chen Ping’an spoke a half-truth that deceived the newly acquainted old scholar?”

Lu Chen said helplessly, “How could this humble Daoist know such a thing?”

Zheng Juzhong laughed. “A copper coin.”

Lu Chen asked, “Is it very important?”

Zheng Juzhong shook his head. “It is actually irrelevant, I just cannot figure it out.”

Lu Chen became even more curious. “So concerned?”

Zheng Juzhong said, “I promised Cui Qian a transaction.”

Lu Chen could not help but ask, “Elder brother Huaixian, who do you think is the strongest fighter among my junior master Bixiao, senior Zhici, and Bai Ye?”

Zheng Juzhong said, “The half-Fifteenth Realm who can ask such a question is even stronger.”

Lu Chen was taken aback.

Half-Fifteenth Realm?

The last part of the hundred-mile journey is the hardest.

Zheng Juzhong said, “Bixiao Cave Master’s combination with the Dao is, after all, limited by the natural timing and location of her own Dao. Having all three at once is actually a drag on her Daoist heart. But Bixiao Cave Master’s ambition does not lie in the level of lethality.”

Lu Chen was shocked, Bixiao, his junior master, could really hide her strength!

“Daoist Zhici must rely on the Ten Thousand Mountains to suppress his own cultivation, the depth of his Daoist power is unimaginable. When this senior retrieves his two eyeballs, he will have a great feat.”

Hearing this, Lu Chen was even more shocked, and could not wait to ask, “Ah? Could it be that Bai Ye, who is recognized as wielding an immortal sword with the highest lethality, is at the bottom?”

Zheng Juzhong lost patience, only glanced sideways at Abbot Lu.

I have discussed so much with you, and you still think Lu Chen is a fool?

Lu Chen adjusted the lotus Daoist crown on his head and laughed dryly, “I am just a little indignant for Bai Ye, if I could get a word or two of truth from you, Lord Zheng, then I would have more confidence when arguing with others in the future.”

In ancient times, Jiang She had a good relationship with Bixiao Cave Master, often going to Luobao Beach to drink. Not long ago, Jiang She placed his true body in the Barren Lands, mainly for two reasons. One was to see if it was suitable to enter the Barren Lands, and the other was to visit the Ten Thousand Mountains, to meet the old blind man. To see if he could persuade Daoist Zhici, with whom he also had a good relationship, to change his mind.

Zheng Juzhong said, “Zhou Mi did consider killing senior Zhici, otherwise he would not have had Shouchun accompany Zhongguang to the Ten Thousand Mountains, causing this chief disciple to have an eyeball removed.”

This object was eventually picked up and chewed by Taoting, the watchdog.

At that time, not only the Great Ancestor of the Barren Lands was watching the situation, but in fact, Zhou Mi was standing by, ready to strike with all his might.

However, the Great Ancestor of the Barren Lands did not want Zhou Mi and the old blind man to engage in a life-and-death struggle, for reasons of his own, both publicly and privately.

It should be known that Mount Tuoyue was originally evolved from a descending platform, and that platform was the spoils of Zhici’s ascent to heaven, forging his own path.

Later, Zhici saw the infighting was chaotic, and was disillusioned. In addition to gouging out his eyes and throwing them in the Verdant Heaven and Azure Heaven, he also gave the descending platform to the demon race who was willing to say “chewing the true body supplements Daoist power” before ascending to heaven, who was the first co-ruler of the barrenland. Therefore, the Great Ancestor of Mount Tuoyue owed the old blind man a great favor.

If Chen Qingdu had not joined forces with Guanzhao and the Dragon Lord, without warning, there would have been a sword cutting Mount Tuoyue, damaging the roots of the Great Dao of the Barren Ancestor, otherwise the latter could have entered the Fifteenth Realm. Therefore, it did not matter to the Great Ancestor of the Barren Lands whether Zhici cut away the territory of the Ten Thousand Mountains or not.

The Great Ancestor of the Barren Lands persuaded Zhou Mi, “As long as you bypass the Ten Thousand Mountains, you will be sure to win, why take the risk now?”

Zhou Mi nodded and said with a smile, “If I am not sure, I will wait.”

Once the demon race of the barrenland successfully broke through the Sword Qi Great Wall, if the war in the Verdant Heaven was deadlocked, failing to seize three continents in a row, occupying the Tongye, Fuyao, and Jinjia continents, but leaving an old blind man with a vague stance behind the battlefield, it would be a great taboo in the use of troops, and Zhou Mi, who did not allow any variables, would naturally regard the existence of Zhici and the Ten Thousand Mountains as a major problem. As long as Zhici was not removed, the demon race of the barrenland would always have worries.

Why did the Great Sword Immortal take Ning Yao to the Ten Thousand Mountains? Why not just see the old blind man alone?

Why did he tell Ning Yao that it was enough to hear the old blind man say “I won’t help anyone”?

It should be known that with Chen Qingdu’s consistent temper,

Liu Cha, the bearded hero who did not know each other, the number one sword of the barrenland, had taken the initiative to help the old blind man move mountains.

The figures who could enter the “eyes” of the old blind man were all outstanding people of the world.

As for the ambush against Bai Ye in Fuyao continent, Bai Ye knew it was a trap, but still went with his sword. At that time, the old demon race of the barrenland almost came out in full force.

Most importantly, with the advantage of the right time, right place, and right people, Zhou Mi personally presided over the overall situation from beginning to end in the siege.

Before starting the war between the two realms, Zhou Mi acted alone in the barrenland world, who was he eating and who did he need to help?

Even Zheng Juzhong could not help but sigh when mentioning Bai Ye, “Only he was targeted by Zhou Mi like this.”

Lu Chen nodded vigorously. “I have a good relationship with Bai Ye.”

Zheng Juzhong said something for no reason, “In the Hehuan Mountain realm, Abbot Lu and that ‘Bai Mao’ were very compatible?”

Lu Chen could not understand why Zheng Juzhong asked this, and exclaimed, “Is there a trick to it?”

Zheng Juzhong said, “Sometimes, I really envy Lu Chen’s carefree spirit.”

Lu Chen laughed. “Actually, it’s just laziness.”

The black cat in the Liju Cave in Baoping continent often appeared in Apricot Blossom Lane and occasionally went to Yang’s shop.

In Tongye continent, when Chen Ping’an took Pei Qian away from the Lotus Blessing, on the way to the north, in an inn in a small town, Pei Qian saw a white cat at the window, and poked it with a walking stick. As a result, the little black girl was startled, it turned out that the white cat could speak human words and scolded her for being a crazy girl. (Note, Chapter 330 “Crossing Mountains and Rivers, Stopping Where Yao Is”)

Lu Chen laughed playfully, “Who could imagine that Jiang She’s true body in this life is possessed by a woman’s Yin Spirit.”

After the ten-thousand-year sentence was over, Jiang She reappeared. It was relatively easy for Lu Chen and others who knew too much to understand why he found Chen Qingliu, the slayer of dragons.

It was definitely not as the outside world imagined, that if he could ally with Chen Qingliu, Jiang She would have a connection with Bai Emperor City and Zheng Juzhong.

But Jiang She’s Yin Spirit, the “true body”, was actually Xie Shiji.

This involved a conspiracy about suppressing the first ancestor of the military.

At that time, Cao Ci and his senior sister Dou Fenxia, who were riding the wind at sea, were going to the barrenland through Guixu. They saw Jiang She fishing in the sea of clouds, and Jiang She was accompanied by Zhang Tiaoxia, whose Taoist name was Longbo.

The existence of Zhang Tiaoxia involved another plan of the second ancestor of the military.

When Cui Qian divided his spirit into two and entered the Liju Cave as a “boy in white”, he was still Cui Qian, who was responsible for playing chess with his younger brother Qi Jingchun. On the surface, it was an extremely dangerous battle of the Great Dao. The brothers turned against each other, seemingly competing with Qi Jingchun for the inheritance of the Tao, so as to improve their realm and help the Dali Dynasty complete the Southern Conquest.

Cui Dongshan had some words that revealed heavenly secrets with his student Wu Yuan, who was the first county magistrate of Huaihuang County, and gave two examples to prove the deep intention and far-reaching calculations of the battle of the Great Dao on the mountain.

In addition to being jointly executed and deprived of his martial arts, Jiang She only retained a yang spirit as an incarnation to live in, while the Yin Spirit was placed in a blessed land, constantly reincarnating, slowly eroding his spirit.

As for the second ancestor of the military, the fault was smaller than Jiang She, and the sentence was shorter, so he was able to keep only one soul occupying the body, and always maintain his sanity. However, his other three souls and six spirits were separated and placed in the nine blessed lands of Verdant Heaven and Azure Heaven, either cultivating the Tao or practicing martial arts. Whether it was a Qi soldier reincarnated, or a normal death of a martial arts master, the achievements of each person in each life were not low. And none of them knew their true “previous life” and foundation of the Great Dao. (Chapter 82 “Teacher and Student, Senior and Junior Brother”)

Lu Chen said, “I still can’t guess who the two ‘avatars’ of the second ancestor of the military are.”

Zheng Juzhong said, “Every change in the heavenly opportunity will cause a lot of variables, allowing them to become fish that slip through the net and smoothly leave the sight of the saints. Abbot Lu doesn’t care, it’s normal not to guess all of them.”

There was a reason why the vast Verdant Heaven, only Baoping continent, which had the smallest territory, had two ancestral temples of the military.

It was because Baoping continent once held two avatars of the second ancestor of the military, one was Gao Jianfu of the Shentao sect, who was known as the golden boy and jade girl with Lu Chen’s disciple He Xiaoliang.

The other was a scholar from the north who was studying in Guanhubei academy in the central part of Baoping continent. He was a Dali scholar with lofty ambitions, wanting to win the title of gentleman of the Confucian academy with real talent. And this scholar’s later reincarnation, as a Dali official, held a lantern and saw the vengeful female ghost who claimed to be “Mrs. Chu”.

On the Tongye continent, there was the sword cultivator Lu Fang, who had gone to the Lotus Blessed Land to practice.

In the Fuyao continent, there was a human monarch in full armor, who was now in the Five Colors Heaven. However, this person’s previous life was a Qi cultivator from the Jinjia continent.

In Central Earth Continent, there was Zhang Tiaoxia, the number one martial artist in the past.

The last avatar in the Verdant Heaven was Xingguan Hao Su.

In the Azure Heaven, there was a Taoist named Zhu Dazhuang, who had many Taoist names, such as “Green Duckweed”, who was now the first person in the mountains of Ruzhou.

Zheng Juzhong stopped and smiled, “Huang Zhen is waiting for a rabbit, he has great ambitions, his real plot is not just to disgust Chen Ping’an, he also wants to try to kill Abbot Lu.”

Some people in the world, after suffering, want to eat people.

It was a pity that Huang Zhen was too timid, he did not dare to seize the opportunity that was sent to his door, and his Taoist heart was suspicious, afraid that Zheng Juzhong wanted to take advantage of him.

It was not surprising, if Huang Zhen had always been bold, he probably would not have seen him and Lu Chen.

Lu Chen did not care, and took out a book from his sleeve, tore off a page, and quickly folded a lotus-shaped paper lantern.

Holding the lotus lantern in his hand, Lu Chen suddenly asked, “According to Cui Qian’s plan, if Jiang She is killed, who will be in charge of the military in the future?”

Zheng Juzhong smiled. “Since Lu Chen is so lazy, why ask for the answer?”

Lu Chen breathed lightly on the flower lantern.

One character, two pronunciations. Is the difference huge? Are the sounds different but the meanings the same?

Lu Chen’s eyes were dazed for a moment in the River of Time.

He pushed it gently, like releasing a river lantern.

Our life is like a lamp.

————

Jiang She was forcibly dragged into a place, which was a vast and boundless ancient battlefield ruins.

The verdant color of the blue sky seemed to drip onto the earth.

You can see a towering ascending platform that once allowed male earth immortals to achieve godhood.

In addition, you can see in the northwest, a pillar connecting the clouds to the sky is slanted, but it is not decadent at all, and its momentum is still strong. Layers of clouds are like all kinds of seal characters, and a series of dull thunder roars reverberate. In ancient times, the gods of heaven and earth were arranged, the Taoist law flowed, and the cycle was endless. At this moment, Chen Ping’an used his own way to treat his own body, and set up a low-lying vortex in which the River of Time was rapidly rotating for Jiang She. The Night Voyage Ship, which was still sailing in the Verdant World, seemed to be as thin as paper, but the journey was far beyond imagination.

The starting battlefield of the water and fire war.

Jiang She slammed the long spear “Breaking the Formation” in his hand heavily on the ground, using this to test the reality of this world. The result was very clear, it was real. Very good! Just what I want!

Jiang She was forced to be here, and a familiar ancient meaning enveloped his mind, further confirming that this place was not fake or an illusion. Although he was not afraid at all, he became more and more energetic. This battle-hardened first ancestor of the military could not help but tighten his heart, not daring to underestimate it in the slightest. After all, the other party had put on such a big show, triggering the phenomenon of changing the sky. In the depths of Jiang She’s heart, he finally regarded Chen Xiaozi as an opponent who could compete for victory.

But Jiang She quickly remembered many stories and old people. Seeing that the host was still slowly walking down the steps, as if he had no intention of attacking for the time being, Jiang She did not restrain his complex thoughts. After he came back to his senses, Jiang She slowly squatted down and pinched a little soil with his fingers.

Floating clouds return to the emperor’s hometown, and the vast sea turns into dust. Ten thousand years is like a moment yesterday.

Jiang She raised his eyes slightly and looked at the man who was about to walk to the bottom of the sacred path steps. What a boundless realm, flawless golden body, supreme divine position… Finally full? Getting closer and closer to being half of one.

A pair of pure golden indifferent eyes, a slender figure, wearing a green shirt, hands in sleeves, and majestic Daoist spirit. He was silent for a long time, looking at Jiang She.

Jiang She took a deep breath, stood up, patted his hands, and looked around. It was just a simple patting action. Several earth dragon scrolls rose from the ground around Jiang She, and the momentum was fierce, sweeping outwards. The dust on the ground was flying, and the strips of earth dragon scrolls were thousands of feet high, but compared to this realm, they were still as small as weeds, which showed how vast and broad the battlefield was. Jiang She’s heart suddenly widened, and he laughed, “The host is hospitable, it is indeed a good place to stretch your legs.”

Neither side was in a hurry to attack, for the simple reason that they each had something to ask for.

This sudden fight was destined to have a far-reaching impact. When narrow roads meet, the two sides compete on the Tao, and neither side wants any mistakes.

Suddenly, the world opened, and a magnificent golden rainbow of light fell from the sky, breaking the barrier, and instantly landed on the steps of the divine path. The entire world shook with it. A tall woman in white with fluttering clothes appeared next to Chen Ping’an, but the position she stood was one step lower. The height between the two was similar. She glanced at Jiang She, who was as small as a mustard seed in the distance, and smiled at Chen Ping’an, “Master.”

Chen Ping’an was expressionless, took a step down, and nodded. “The hundred-year agreement had to be brought forward.”

The arrival of the sword wielder triggered an increasingly fierce shaking of the world, like throwing a giant mountain into a lake, a wave of time and air suddenly dispersed.

Jiang She stood there, motionless, allowing the aura to sweep over him. The two earth dragon scrolls that happened to be in the way were instantly shattered by the long river water flow. Jiang She narrowed his eyes, and the endless sword intent rushed towards him. Jiang She did not even draw the long spear standing on the ground, allowing the sword intent to rush past him, his sleeves fluttering, and there was a subtle sound of silk tearing and breaking, but Jiang She’s burly figure remained standing tall, like a pillar in the middle of the stream, separating a turbulent river.

After a moment, Jiang She’s expression returned to normal, he just raised his arm and waved it a few times to disperse the remaining sword intent around him. The infinite golden light around him swayed, “If the sword wielder hadn’t fought with the armored one outside the sky, I would have been intimidated by you two lovebirds.”

Hearing this, Chen Ping’an did not