The truth was unveiled: Qi Tingji would soon become the first Lord of Ascension City, while Chen Ping’an was to be formally appointed Great Li National Preceptor on the Grain Buds Day.

Nine sword cultivators of the Upper Five Realms, and with the addition of Lu Zhi, Shao Yunyan, and Madam Tuoyan, the total was a grand twelve.

How many cultivators of the Upper Five Realms did the entirety of the Treasure Bottle Continent hold, if one disregarded the mist-shrouded and humble Fallen Mountain?

Upon the highest city walls, amidst the dance of life and death, they offered the brightest sword light in all creation.

That draught of fiery liquor, to the sword cultivators of the Sword Qi Great Wall, would never be enough, even after ten thousand years of savoring.

The decision for Qi Tingji to assume the Lordship was, in truth, entirely acceptable to old sword spirits like Gao Shuang.

As long as the new Sect Master simply bid them wait and see, it meant that next time the Five Colors Sky unfurled, they could freely “return home.”

The notion of Chen Ping’an taking up the mantle of Sect Master was not so difficult to accept, seeing as he was the last Hidden Official of the Summer Palace and Ning Yao’s Dao Companion.

Of all the continents, the Northern Bulu Continent and the Treasure Bottle Continent harbored the greatest kinship towards the Sword Qi Great Wall. In equal measure, the native sword cultivators of the Great Wall held these two continents in the highest regard.

“Our Treasure Bottle Continent’s Chen Ping’an of Fallen Mountain, once served as the last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall.”

“Our Sword Qi Great Wall’s young Hidden Official will soon become the Great Li Dynasty’s new National Preceptor.”

For only sword cultivators truly understand sword cultivators.

Qi Tingji, an old sword immortal who etched his name upon the city walls and head of the Qi Clan, knew the deepest desires of these wandering blades.

For example, the Liu Clan of the Snowy Continent had long sought Xie Songhua as a family retainer, offering seemingly enticing terms. But before Chen Ping’an intervened, negotiations had not only stalled but nearly ignited a feud. In her exasperation, Xie Songhua had delivered a sharp retort to the Clan’s elder “persuader”: “You come to me to ask of swords!”

The problem lay with the Liu Clan’s overbearing merchant spirit. They knew not that Haoran sword cultivators came in two varieties: those who had been to the Sword Qi Great Wall and those who had not. And they understood even less what those who had journeyed to the Great Wall truly desired. Coin? Of course, none disdained wealth, especially sword cultivators, for the forging of a blade was a bottomless pit. But if coin was all you offered, why would Han Huaizi, Xie Songhua, Pu He, or Li Cai have ever gone to the Sword Qi Great Wall?

Gao Shuang, Huang Ling, and those other wandering blades who had long departed their homeland toiled and risked their lives in the savage heartlands. Many perished, others survived, only to return home to find Ascension City within that Five Colors Sky, and the walls of the Sword Qi Great Wall cleaved in two.

What, then, did they truly desire? It mattered not whether the Haoran world remembered the sacrifices of the Great Wall, nor whether they offered gratitude. But the Haoran world must know one thing: the sheer might of the Sword Qi Great Wall, a cloud of sword cultivators, and feel a deep-seated dread.

Qi Tingji rose to his feet, patted his chair, and smiled. “Remember to keep this guest chair for me. You continue your deliberations, I have fulfilled my duty.”

Before departing the Hall of Ancestors, Qi Tingji shattered the jade plaque that bore the title of Dragon Elephant Sword Sect Lord and his name on either side.

Little Mo observed as some of the purple-gold lines that extended from Qi Tingji vanished altogether, while others dimmed significantly.

Truly a man of decisive action.

Qi Tingji saw everyone rise to their feet and waved his hand, saying with a smile, “Spare yourselves the formalities. I am merely stepping down as Sect Lord. My Daoist estate and cave abode remain here. No need to see me off.”

“Those making bids henceforth, be not coy. Those haggling, be not vague. We are all family within these walls. Family does not speak with two tongues. Argue as you will, but once beyond the doors of this Hall, let none whisper complaints or harbor grievances, lest you become a laughingstock.”

“Wu Manyan, you three remain a while longer. The Hidden Official has matters to impart. When you follow your master to the Five Colors Sky, you will enter the Summer Palace directly and become sword cultivators of the Hidden Official’s lineage. As for Suspended Bow Blessed Land, I shall not take it with me. It remains for the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect.”

Qi Tingji departed the Hall of Ancestors alone. The doors opened of their own accord. When Qi Tingji crossed the threshold, the doors slowly began to close.

As the two doors were about to merge, Qi Tingji turned his head and peered through the crack at the young Hidden Official still standing within.

Chen Ping’an asked in his heart, “Is this what the old Sword Immortal calls ‘minor matters’?”

Qi Tingji laughed heartily, then turned and strode away, circumventing the courtyard and passing through the first gate of the Hall of Ancestors, arriving at the white jade railing of the viewing platform. He faced the sea, gazing out at the vast expanse of turquoise waters. Suddenly, Qi Tingji felt his Daoist heart lighten, as if the heavens and earth revealed a new countenance.

Shao Yunyan said, “I shall craft a new Sect Master jade plaque for the Hidden Official at my earliest convenience.”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Only at that moment did Madam Tuoyan, whose mind was still in a muddle, realize that the young Hidden Official was also the Sect Master of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, not merely that Fallen Mountain had become its superior sect.

In truth, Chen Ping’an had discussed the matter in detail with Qi Tingji in the Five Colors Sky. Lu Zhi would certainly not accept the position of Sect Master. The competent Shao Yunyan could fill the void, with Gao Shuang, the most respected of the wandering blades, serving as the Law Enforcing Ancestor. Zhu Su, hailing from a prominent Jade Scepter Street family and skilled in accounting, could manage the treasury without issue. Madam Tuoyan would remain the Chief Guest, her status unchanged. However, should any of the wandering blades particularly desire that title, negotiations could be held. “Old Sword Immortal, you bargain with that wandering blade, and I shall strike a deal with Madam Tuoyan, exchanging benefits for the title.” Furthermore, among the Daoist couple Guo Du and Ling Xun, and the master and disciple duo of Mei Kan and Mei Dandang, at least one should assume the role of Vice Chief Consecrator… Qi Tingji had readily agreed, saying, “All minor matters.”

As a result, Chen Ping’an was outmaneuvered by Qi Tingji. Indeed, the old ginger was spicier?

Madam Tuoyan had recovered her composure. She secretly rejoiced as she remembered that Wei Wenlong, the Dao Lord’s direct disciple from Upside Down Mountain’s Spring Banner Fast who journeyed to Fallen Mountain, was its God of Wealth. Now that Fallen Mountain was the superior sect, what would happen when master and disciple met again? She glanced at Shao Yunyan, who was clearly pondering the same question.

Madam Tuoyan deliberately poked the hornet’s nest, asking with a smile, “How shall you address each other when you two masters and disciples meet? How shall your seniority be reckoned?”

Shao Yunyan pretended not to hear.

Zhu Su and the others also felt a slight awkwardness. Xing Yun and Liu Shui, two wandering blades with whom they were familiar, had urged them to join the Azure Canopy Sword Sect, but they had declined. When word reached the Tongye Continent, no doubt they would hear comments akin to “Why go to such lengths?” Greatly delighted, they thought the Hidden Official had handled the matter splendidly.

Wu Manyan and the others were quite pleased. They could both see that new world and enter the Summer Palace to become sword cultivators of the Hidden Official’s lineage – a double blessing. They were still young, and their longing for such distant journeys outweighed their nostalgia for home.

Shao Yunyan proposed, “Hidden Official, your statement that everything remains as it was must be rescinded. The specific division of labor within the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect must be redefined. We should seize this opportunity to finalize it quickly.”

Madam Tuoyan was somewhat surprised. Shao Sword Immortal was bold indeed.

Shao Yunyan explained, “I have long considered and weighed this matter. Regardless of who is Sect Master, I would have raised it during this Hall of Ancestors assembly. All of you present, continue to accept disciples and manage affairs. The sect’s listed disciples will only increase. We must not delay the future of those young children’s Great Dao!”

Gao Shuang nodded and smiled. “We cannot simply idle our days away, burying ourselves within Suspended Bow Blessed Land to cultivate our swords. The extent of our respective achievements and Dao attainments is known to me and Jin Zuo and Xuan Yang, at least. If all of you here intend to depart from the sect’s registry in sixty years and journey to Ascension City in the Five Colors Sky, then, in my personal opinion, we should contribute some effort during this time. We cannot allow the young people of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect to think of the initial Consecrators and Guests as a bunch of freeloaders. As for basking in the glory of past accomplishments, what accomplishments do we have with regard to the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Then let us first determine the internal positions and division of labor within the sect?”

In the superior sect Fallen Mountain, the Law Enforcer was Chang Ming, whose Daoist name was Spirit Spring, the Chief Consecrator was Jiang Shangzhen, and the Treasury was managed by Wei Wenlong.

On the Azure Canopy Sword Sect’s side were Cui Dongshan, Mi Yu, Cui Wei, Zhong Qiu, and a Chief Guest, Qing Tong, whose identity was not yet public.

“The Sect Master decides all. What is there to discuss?”

Lu Zhi spoke first. “If the Hidden Official can manage a Summer Palace well, surely he can manage a Dragon Elephant Sword Sect as well.”

Was this setting the tone?

Shao Yunyan smiled wryly. Where did one find such Hall of Ancestors deliberations? In truth, he had prepared his speech long ago, simply to maintain appearances and make Gao Shuang and the others feel more comfortable. At heart, Shao Yunyan, as the owner of Spring Banner Fast, had deceived so many Haoran ferry owners and managers into seating themselves and partnering in profit. If he was not of one mind with Chen Ping’an, who was?

Wu Manyan was full of admiration. Mr. Lu was as decisive as ever.

Lu Zhi added, “I shall not be the Chief Consecrator. I shall be a mere registered consecrator. The position of Chief Guest belongs to you, determine it as you will.”

Having inexplicably lost her title of Chief Guest, Madam Tuoyan, though her face was bitter and her heart reluctant, dared not utter a word.

Chen Ping’an pondered for a moment and said slowly, “Then I shall offer an initial proposal for your consideration. Raise any objections on the spot. I am the Sect Master, Shao Yunyan shall be the Deputy Sect Master, Lu Zhi remains the Chief Consecrator, Gao Shuang shall be the Law Enforcer, Zhu Su shall manage the finances and be our God of Wealth. Guo Du shall be the Vice Chief Consecrator, Mei Dandang shall be the Chief Guest, and Madam Tuoyan shall be the Vice Chief. Jin Zuo and Xuan Yang shall be responsible for the dissemination of Dao teachings and sword training to all sect disciples. Mei Kan shall manage the opening and operation of Suspended Bow Blessed Land, and Huang Ling shall be responsible for secretly contacting wandering blades from various continents.”

Gao Shuang was dismayed. “I only said to find something to do. I never wanted to be the Law Enforcer. Let Sword Immortal Huang Ling do it. I’ll switch with him.”

When Huang Ling heard the distribution of duties, he was delighted, feeling that the young Hidden Official truly understood him. Such an arrangement suited him perfectly! He had no fondness for the Haoran world, but he was extremely fond of its immortal wines. Contacting wandering blades from various regions would require him to travel frequently. When he heard Gao Shuang’s despicable attempt to benefit himself at others’ expense, he immediately put away his wine gourd and began to scold him. Since their seats were adjacent, Gao Shuang immediately turned his head, not forgetting to raise his hand to shield himself from the flying spittle.

Zhu Su, the female sword immortal, cupped her fist towards the young Hidden Official, the new Sect Master, and said with a smile, “I have always believed that I am more skilled at earning money than practicing the sword. It is my old profession! Shao Sword Immortal is too concerned with propriety and small streams of profit. I have long been concerned for him.”

Madam Tuoyan was in high spirits. Being a Vice Chief Guest was acceptable.

She cupped her fist towards Shao Sword Immortal, congratulating the Deputy Sect Master.

The addition of a Deputy Sect Master caught Shao Yunyan off guard, but he was not one to be daunted, nor did he decline. In good conscience, this Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, even under Qi Tingji, would truly fail without him. Besides, as Deputy Sect Master, the next time he saw Wei Wenlong, at least master and disciple would not be speechless, each more awkward than the other.

Jin Zuo, hailing from Tai Xiang Street, and Xuan Yang, who had once owned a sword immortal private residence known as “White Down Hermitage,” exchanged smiles and nodded in greeting. They would be colleagues henceforth. In Zhu Su’s words, they both shared a common bad habit: a fondness for playing mentor. Now they were perfectly positioned to impart Dao teachings and sword techniques to the young sword cultivators… to their hearts’ content!

Chen Ping’an said, “As long as the division of labor is finalized today, I repeat: Fallen Mountain shall not interfere in any affairs of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect henceforth. At most, we shall rotate a Hall of Ancestors meeting among Fallen Mountain, the Azure Canopy Sword Sect, and the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect every twenty or thirty years.”

Chen Ping’an said, “If there are no objections, shall we proceed on that basis?”

Clearly, there were no objections.

Chen Ping’an looked at Little Mo, who nodded and stood up, “shaking out” eighteen people from his sleeve.

In the Five Colors Sky, Elder Master Jiang smiled and revealed the secret: during the Wen Temple assembly, Elder Li, who was usually deaf and mute, had spoken up to help Ascension City, seemingly regarding the settlement of accounts.

Chen Ping’an then explained to Ning Yao that he had chatted with Elder Master Li on the steps during the previous Wen Temple assembly. The old gentleman was meticulous in his conduct and scholarship, and had even examined him. In closing, Chen Ping’an did not forget to boast, “I have a good affinity with elders.”

Little Mo had used his Divine Sleeve Universe to bring eighteen people from Ascension City in the Five Colors Sky to the Haoran world. Among them was Nian Xin, the seamstress, who had resigned from her position as a disciple in the Penal Official lineage.

Two sword cultivators of the Hidden Official’s lineage had proactively requested to train in the Haoran world: Dong Bude and Fan Dache.

The others were mid-tier sword cultivators with good aptitude, their ages ranging from sixty to one hundred years. They were half men and half women, thoughtful, discreet, and steady in their actions.

Dong Bude would next go to the New Rain Dragon Sect, where Nalan Caihuan had only recently become the Sect Master, to familiarize herself with the customs, local conditions, and mountain rules of the Haoran world. Afterwards, she would secretly contact Song Pin, Pu He, and other old sword immortals and local powerhouses, and select a location in the Golden Armor Continent or the Flowing Glow Continent to establish a new sect.

Fan Dache refused to heed the Hidden Official’s suggestion to go to the Northern Bulu Continent or the Tongye Continent. He only wanted to follow the Hidden Official into the National Preceptor’s residence and serve as a confidential secretary and advisor. Chen Ping’an had no choice but to let him have his way. Fan Dache had only recently put aside his anguished love affair. He had fought demons on the battlefield without neglecting his cultivation, and had broken through his boundary and entered the Summer Palace. He had finally let go and felt he had turned the page, but then a girl with rosy cheeks had met him on the street and happily called him Uncle Fan, and his heart had ached once more.

The Hidden Official had been right. Before the gate of love, there were no sword immortals.

He had already secretly sent a flying sword letter to Chen Sanqiu in the Savage Wastelands, telling him that Dong Bude had come to the Southern Prosperous Continent, and urging him to take the initiative.

Chen Ping’an had already introduced them to the general situation in Ascension City. Now, they were making an appearance to familiarize themselves with each other, especially Sword Immortal Huang Ling.

Regarding the other group of unconventional wandering blades who had entered the Haoran world through Upside Down Mountain, Qi Tingji and Chen Ji had provided several names and addresses.

Dong Bude and the others were well aware of what they needed to do and whom they needed to see next.

For example, Huang Ling would travel along a predetermined route with several young wandering blades to “visit.”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Today’s Hall of Ancestors assembly is concluded. Only Shao Yunyan and Huang Ling need remain. I shall discuss some details with Dong Bude and the others. Everyone else may go out and enjoy the scenery. Oh, right, He Qiusheng, you may stay and listen as well. Dong Bude and Fan Dache are your seniors in the Summer Palace.”

Ning Yao and Lu Zhi were the first to rise. Little Mo sat by the door, and Xie Gou also wandered out.

Ning Yao spoke in her heart, telling Lu Zhi that the Jade Firmament Cave Master had invited Lu Zhi to visit Bright Moon Splendor in the future. Lu Zhi said with a smile, “The Hidden Official is already paving the way for my Dao integration?” Ning Yao said it was not Chen Ping’an’s idea, but the old Daoist Master’s suggestion. Lu Zhi nodded. “Then I shall go and take a look.”

A “Plum Blossom,” the alias of Xie Gou, whispered to Mei Kan, who shared his surname, “Mei Kan, how did your beloved disciple get such a tricky name? Combining it with the surname, the pronunciation is easily misunderstood. It sounds like ‘No Backbone.’ Say it a few times. Isn’t that right?”

Mei Kan was stunned. He murmured it a few times. It did sound that way. Did he need to persuade Mei Dandang to change it?

Little Mo said, “Sword Immortal Mei, do not listen to his nonsense. Daoist Friend Lei Ze’s name is excellent. It is clearly taken from Mr. Bai Ye’s ancient poem, ‘I, too, am a free and wandering man, brushing off my sleeves, we can share a song.’ As a demon race sword cultivator, he bowed to Sword Immortal Mei as his master, and together they embarked on a long journey, leaving without lingering over their accomplishments. A sword immortal acting as a chivalrous hero.”

Little Mo then spoke to Xie Gou in his heart, “Mei Dandang’s sword Dao foundation is related to both thunder and water techniques. He did not choose his name randomly.”

Mei Dandang had originally wanted to go to the Suspended Bow Blessed Land Daoist temple to cultivate his sword. He was the kind of madman who would willingly devote his entire life to the sword Dao.

Qi Tingji had once concluded to Lu Zhi that among the current sword cultivators of the Upper Five Realms, Mei Dandang was the only one with a chance to achieve Dao and ascend.

Changing his mind at the last moment, Mei Dandang came over, full of admiration. “Mr. Little Mo is erudite and talented. He is truly a kindred spirit. I do admire Bai Ye, and I am, to a degree, proficient in assassination. Before reaching the Upper Five Realms, I had always considered myself a wandering assassin.”

Mei Kan was extremely proud of this prized disciple, and did not hide his regard and appreciation. “He reached the Immortal Realm at the age of two hundred. Even in the Sword Qi Great Wall, he would be considered a first-rate genius.”

Xie Gou did not cater to anyone. “That’s not quite right. If you had been born in the Sword Qi Great Wall, where battles raged constantly, would you have lived to be two hundred years old?”

Mei Kan was momentarily speechless, his expression somewhat awkward.

This time, Little Mo did not have the slightest intention of “polishing” Xie Gou’s words. Xie Gou’s statement was simply fair.

Mei Dandang pondered for a moment and nodded. “That’s true.”

Mei Dandang, whose Daoist name was Lei Ze, was an Immortal Realm sword cultivator.

The key was that his master, Mei Kan, was only in the Jade Purity Realm, which meant that his sword cultivation aptitude was truly exceptional.

He wanted to engage Little Mo, who was already at the Fourteenth Realm, in a sword duel.

This proud demon race sword immortal wanted to determine the exact difference between two realms, to what extent it differed as heaven and earth.

He was not afraid of losing. He was only afraid that, upon arriving in the restrictive Haoran world, a seed of apathy would sprout in his Daoist heart.

Mei Dandang’s eyes burned with passion as he asked, “Mr. Little Mo, may I experience the Grand Dao landscape of a pure sword cultivator of the Fourteenth Realm?”

Little Mo hesitated. It was not that he looked down on Mei Dandang’s Immortal Realm, but he was afraid that he would not be able to control the force of his sword. Closing himself off at the Sword Worship Terrace to stabilize his realm had been his intention when he had returned to Fallen Mountain. He was different from Xie Gou. In ancient times, he had passed down several cave lineages.

Lu Zhi, not far away, found it amusing. Showing off cultivation aptitude was misdirected towards Little Bai, and boasting of courage was misplaced on Little Mo.

Qi Tingji suggested with a smile, “Why don’t you go to a wide-open area on the sea and have a friendly sparring match?”

Little Mo thought that was a good idea, so he asked Mei Dandang to head to the sea first, at least three thousand miles away, and he would arrive shortly.

Qi Tingji squinted and looked into the distance. The sun sprinkled gold, and the turquoise sea was like a mirror. Far away, a tiny mustard seed was faintly visible amidst the clouds and water.

He thought, “Liu Tui, this fellow, has come at just the right time.”

Qi Tingji spoke to him remotely in his heart, saying that he did not need to go to the Treasure Bottle Continent to find Chen Ping’an. The young Hidden Official was currently on the mountain.

A Stream Glow ship sped across the sea, suddenly turned around, and headed straight for the coastline of the Southern Prosperous Continent. The ship’s master was Liu Tui.

This old ascension who had fallen in realm and now a new immortal was clad in white robes with a jade belt and wore a jasper lotus crown. He had the appearance of a youth, but his eyes were sinister, and his Dao energy was thick and sharp. It was clear that he was not an easy person to get along with.

The Sky Ballad Township’s subordinate sect owned a White Porcelain Cave Heaven in the Flowing Glow Continent. It possessed a mineral that was naturally like porcelain and jade, imbued with spiritual energy. It was a treasure trove. If not for that, the Sky Ballad Township’s recent decision to renovate Jade Firmament Mountain would never have been proposed.

On this Stream Glow ship were several guests, mostly sword cultivators. There was a young earth immortal Daoist couple, Yan Houdao and Tian Xian. Tian Xian was the female Golden Core sword cultivator who had confronted “Ascension Realm” Wang Jia in Quan Jiao Mountain.

Her courage and spirit were truly not to be trifled with.

Even Ning Yao knew that Tian Xian’s grandmaster came from Rui Cheng’s Dragon King Hall, surnamed Hong. She had been to the Sword Qi Great Wall in her early years and owned a sword immortal private residence. She had a good relationship with Lu Zhi.

Now that she was the Hidden Official, Ning Yao had flipped through some secret records of the Summer Palace. Her focus, of course, was on those annotations and notes.

Hong Yi was the previous Law Enforcing Ancestor of Rui Cheng’s Dragon King Hall. She had been in secluded retreat for many years. She had also founded the mural lineage of the Fan Zhi Princess Temple. Its members were all sword cultivators, mostly women.

Tian Xian was Hong Yi’s great-granddisciple. She and her Daoist companion, Yan Houdao, had originally wanted to serve as guests of the Azure Canopy Sword Sect in the Tongye Continent. To that end, they did some practical work, hoping to eventually be offered a consecrator status. Unexpectedly, the Azure Canopy Sword Sect had sent a flying sword letter to the Fan Zhi Princess Temple, written by Sect Master Cui Dongshan himself. The letter directly addressed them as consecrators.

It was a truly unexpected joy.

This time, they were traveling through the Soaring Clouds Continent with Hua Qinggong and Nie Cuie, who were all long-time acquaintances. They had agreed to first visit the Sky Ballad Township and its ancestral mountain, Jade Firmament Mountain, and then travel to the Southern Prosperous Continent and tour the Tongye Continent. Legend had it that the Falling Treasure Beach at the foot of Jade Firmament Mountain still held over a dozen immortal treasures, waiting for a fated individual.

For some reason, the Sky Ballad Township had never dug three feet deep to gather all the heaven-defying treasures. They simply allowed them to appear and disappear on the Falling Treasure Beach. When a cultivator obtained a treasure, the Sky Ballad Township never interfered. They even escorted them back to their immortal residence and Daoist temple, or to a dynasty. Therefore, the entire Soaring Clouds Continent praised the Sky Ballad Township’s past ancestors, saying that their merits were boundless and their righteousness unparalleled!

Liu Tui and Jing Hao, whose Daoist name was “Azure Palace Grand Protector,” were close mountain friends. He had never gotten along with the Heaven’s Corner Cave Heaven.

Therefore, Jing Hao’s direct disciple, Gao Geng, who was in the Jade Purity Realm, had gone to the Golden Purity Dynasty in the Soaring Clouds Continent to serve as the state-protecting master. Liu Tui had informed the Hong Clan emperor.

Liu Tui had many red confidantes along his cultivation path and had never lacked for beauties by his side. He had incurred many amorous debts in his youth.

It was only when he sought ascension that he restrained these thoughts and focused on finding the path to Dao, abandoning the entanglements of love that hindered his Daoist heart.

It was said that Tian Xian’s grandmaster, Hong Yi of Rui Cheng’s Dragon King Hall, had some distant family connections with the Hong Clan ancestors of the Golden Purity Dynasty.

Such was the mountain world. Twisting and turning, one could always find some connection: a past Dao friend’s junior, a marital relationship, or an enemy from a past grievance.

Hua Qinggong was a Nascent Soul Realm sword cultivator. Her parents were both mid-mountain cultivators, children of a Daoist couple. On the mountain, they were hailed as immortal offspring, but few were able to walk the path of cultivation, especially to truly succeed. Their situation was similar to the top scholars in the imperial examinations of past dynasties. They had a high starting point, but their ultimate Daoist achievements were limited. Hua Qinggong was an exception.

She was extremely famous in the three western continents of the Haoran world. Like Pu He, she was a sword immortal figure. Simply put, she had a good family background, a powerful sect, a love of traveling, a bad temper, and a wild streak.

Previously in Quan Jiao Mountain, she had asked the young Hidden Official to convey a message, hoping to obtain a registered guest status in the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect. The reason was that her family branch had established a hall in the Southern Prosperous Continent. It was a second-rate, bottom-tier mountain sect that had not produced a genius in a hundred years, but its business had grown increasingly large. The main hall wanted to bring out Hua Qinggong, who had been bottlenecked for many years, and have her preside over affairs for a few decades to see if she could reverse the decline and prevent it from becoming a mere mountain clan in another hundred years. To forge iron, one needed to be strong oneself. Relying solely on hiring consecrators and buying guests to maintain appearances was not a long-term solution.

Standing together on the bow of the ship and enjoying the scenery, Liu Tui said with a smile, “Daoist Friend Manpo, you seem to have met that young Hidden Official in Quan Jiao Mountain previously. What are your thoughts?”

Nie Cuie did not know why Liu Tui was asking this, but she said truthfully, “I couldn’t see him clearly. I only thought to keep him at a respectful distance.”

That blue-clad man appeared to be very gentle and his eyes were clear, but Nie Cuie knew very well that she was still looking at him through a haze.

Her master had taught her that those who truly possessed deep Daoist power and had achieved cultivation of the mind would never let you think of them as particularly clever at first glance.

Liu Tui said, “This time, Daoist Friend Manpo deliberately accompanied Tian Xian and the others on their travels. Whether it is the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect or the Azure Canopy Sword Sect, could it be that old Jing wants you to use a beauty trap on the Hidden Official? It’s a good idea, but I don’t think it will work.”

Nie Cuie said helplessly, “Sect Master Liu, please don’t joke with this junior.”

Liu Tui only suffered from a higher seniority. Otherwise, with Nie Cuie’s appearance and aptitude, if he were eight hundred or a thousand years younger, he would have forced his Daoist friend Jing Hao to raise a generation.

Of the three continents, there were two women whose beauty surpassed all.

They were Song Pin, who possessed the famous sword “Soaring Aloft” in the Golden Armor Continent, and Nie Cuie, whose Daoist name was “Full Spirit,” of Azure Palace Mountain in the Flowing Glow Continent.

Since they were equally famous, naturally neither found the other pleasing to the eye. When they occasionally met, they would each glance sideways and say nothing more.

To Nie Cuie, Liu Tui, who was both a Daoist friend and a mountain ally of her master, was the kind of dangerous mountain peak figure that became more dangerous the closer one got.

Such figures were filled with sharpness in their eyes, words, and bearing.

They were always ambitious, as if constantly telling others a fact: a certain object should be mine, a certain person is of no consequence, you will listen when I speak…

Therefore, deep down, Nie Cuie wanted to see Liu Tui reduced, his momentum diminished.

However, it was difficult to witness such a scene.

After all, her master and Yang Qiangu, both former peak Daoists, were Liu Tui’s peers. Even the Heaven’s Corner Cave Heaven Master Shu Nanyuan was a recent ascension. Not long ago, Liu Tui had even declared that ascensions who hid in their turtle shells were not worth a fart. As for Yang Qiangu, why was his realm the highest but his war contributions the lowest in his mountain? It was truly strange…

It was said that Liu Tui was extremely respectful and grateful only to Old Sword Immortal Qi, who had saved his life.

Her master had privately evaluated Liu Tui with her and her junior brother Gao Geng, saying that Daoist Friend Liu was a true carnivore.

As for you, your seniority is low, your Daoist power is shallow, and your strength is small, so just respect Liu Tui. There is no need to fear him.

Liu Tui said with a smile, “The returning ghost Yu Jin in Soaring Clouds Continent, Quan Jiao Mountain, has an unresolved relationship with Song Pin. Song Pin was able to have the famous sword ‘Soaring Aloft’ recognize her as its master at a young age, which naturally has its reasons. This fatso Yu Jin is also a wonderful person. He went to Jade Firmament Mountain to find me long ago, wanting to invite me out of the mountain, saying that he would accomplish the feat of making a continent into a single country, making the entire Soaring Clouds Continent take his surname, and asking if I wanted to be remembered for ten thousand years by posterity. I was still very young at the time and almost got carried away, but I was scolded by the ancestor. Ding Ding, who now founded the Sky Fish Dynasty in the Five Colors Sky, is imitating Yu Jin in every way. Yu Jin is willing to assist Gu Can, finding a place to rest his ass in the ancestral hall of the Soaring Clouds Sect, which may not be without some small thoughts of rekindling old relationships.”

Hua Qinggong and the others had truly heard these mountain peak secrets for the first time.

Liu Tui did not say that Emperor Yu Jin and that female national preceptor’s Song Pin’s previous life actually had no romantic entanglement, but rather a dangerous Great Dao competition. Song Pin, who vaguely possessed the aura of becoming a continent’s Dao Lord, wanted to take it a step further, usurping the throne and establishing herself as emperor, but was schemed against by Yu Jin. She therefore dissolved her immortal body, but Yu Jin’s price was not small, which planted the seed for his subsequent path to ghost Dao. A dynasty quickly disintegrated. This was why the famous sword “Soaring Aloft,” which was manifested by the fortune of most of the continent, left the Soaring Clouds Continent and went to the Golden Armor Continent to find Song Pin’s reincarnation, choosing to automatically recognize her as its master.

Perhaps any great cultivator who had stayed on the mountain peak for a long time was a well-versed expert in the historical truth of a continent. Unfortunately, they did not write books.

Liu Tui’s mood was actually far from as relaxed and carefree as it appeared.

After all, he was about to meet that young Hidden Official whose fame was unparalleled at the moment. Moreover, he owed their Fallen Mountain a great favor.

Liu Tui, piloting the Stream Glow ship to the ancestral mountain of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, had always only made others’ heads hurt. The old-fashioned ascension from Soaring Clouds Continent was actually tangled up over one thing: how should he address the other party when he saw Chen Ping’an later?

It was important to know that, benefiting from that “torrential rain,” Liu Tui had actually returned to ascension, but he had not announced it to the outside world. Instead, he had deliberately claimed to be in closed-door cultivation in White Porcelain Cave Heaven, but it had yielded little results… Liu Tui simply wanted to see which dogs in Soaring Clouds Continent saw him fall in realm and Yang Qiangu walk out of the Merit Forest and leaned towards the back mountain.

Yang Qiangu knew about his return to ascension, but the two had a gentleman’s agreement. Liu Tui had also wanted to hide it from Jing Hao for a while, but he had been seen through at a glance in Quan Jiao Mountain. After ending his trip to Fallen Mountain and returning to Soaring Clouds Continent, Liu Tui would first settle accounts with a group of rebellious guys, and then make them control their mouths, or even deliberately fuel the fire…

Liu Tui’s principle of making friends was simple. Those who traveled the rivers and lakes had to talk about the ethics of the rivers and lakes. Whoever respected him, he would respect them even more. Whoever pitted him, he would pit them even more.

Suddenly, a sword light blazed in the sea, instantly cleaving the sea surface for hundreds of miles, seemingly being slightly impeded by another sword light. The sword light shifted its course slightly, passing near Liu Tui’s Stream Glow ship from several tens of miles away. Thunder roared, and only the afterglow of the sword qi stirred up waves of shock, let alone Hua Qinggong and those other earth immortal sword cultivators who had not yet reached the Upper Five Realms. Even a great cultivator like Liu Tui, who had seen the scenery of the mountain peak, felt shocked and had to control the Stream Glow ship to rise a hundred feet, glimpsing the fleeting sword light still leaving a chilling sword intent crystal surface on the sea, lasting for a long time.

Presumably, the sword fighters had also noticed the existence of the visiting Stream Glow ship.

The second sword light, originating from the ancestral mountain of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, deliberately changed its trajectory. The brilliant sword qi cut through the sky, like a thunderous rope as thick as a mountain peak, wantonly turning and changing direction in the air. The sword cultivator who was solely taking the sword on the sea, whose Daoist power was already not weak, was still forced to manifest a majestic Dharma, holding a giant sword, transforming into five colors, and entangled with the elusive golden sword qi for a moment. The blade clashed with the sword light, and countless sword qi burst open. Within a thousand miles, it was like a rain of fire falling. The Dharma