In a realm betwixt worlds, a void of purest obsidian held only the faintest glimmer of starlight, where two forces poised, their killing intent thick enough to taste, ready to unleash a tempest of destruction.

Above, a vast, turquoise firmament flowed like liquid jade, an alien ocean suspended overhead. It was a living *Biluo*, a sky made action.

Below, a towering earthen rampart stretched across the cosmos, a wall of yellow soil as high as the legendary Sword-Qi Citadel, and impossibly long, like the petrified remains of time itself.

Far in the distance, twelve points of light blazed in a perfect golden circle, a celestial ward against the encroaching darkness.

These were the Twelve Earthly Branches, including the sword cultivator Song Xu, stationed within the grand city of Great Li. They stood in mountain and river geomantic locations to the north of Treasure Bottle Continent’s great rivers. Having received the decree to slay the White Day Ghost, each bore a Three Mountains Talisman gifted by Master Chen, their positions forming a ring like the lip of a porcelain bottle.

The she-devil, cloaked in a green disguise, had spirited away the souls of Emperor Yin Ji and others, along with the physical form of Prince Yin Miao, using forbidden arts. She sought to flee Treasure Bottle Continent and return across the seas to Middle Earth Divine Continent, bypassing the well-trodden path for a hidden, spectral route – a Stygian shortcut. All this was done under the nose of the cruel new National Preceptor of Great Li.

But a figure in azure robes blocked her path.

“This wretch is relentless!”

Grand Academician Cai Yu Shan’s shade, ephemeral and ashen, was shattered after his physical destruction. Now, his spirit chilled, he demanded of the towering, white-faced she-devil whose sleeves dragged on the ground, “Xian, how did he find us, even on this carefully laid path of shadows?!”

Xian was visibly surprised. Her vacant gaze fell upon the young sword immortal, barely of age, yet Ascended. Such youth achieving that height was unseen for three millennia.

High above, seven visible and two hidden vortices of cloud churned above Treasure Bottle Continent, from which nine beams of sword-light subtly shifted, ceaselessly monitoring her.

The acuity of the she-devil shivered. How could he wield Lu Zhi’s natal sword, “Northern Dipper,” with such mastery? What sorceries were these?

Cai Yu Shan’s voice was laced with desperation. “Xian! Waste no time! Break through and return to Middle Earth. Do not grant him the chance to weave more enchantments. The foundations of Great Li are likely in the hands of the Chen fellow. The National Preceptor’s ritual was but a charade…”

Xian remained unmoved, dismissing his words. A dabbler on the dragon-riding path could not command her.

If birds had their air currents and snakes their tunnels, then she, mistress of the underworld, had her own secret byways to elude the mountain and river deities and the city gods of the realm.

Yin Miao, his soul re-housed, stepped from behind her, followed by a newly-minted ghost, the Emperor Yin Ji, looking as lost and desperate as a hunted hound.

Chen Ping An smiled. “Yin Ji, is it true a mere prince receives better treatment than the emperor himself?”

The spectral Yin Ji sneered. “A Confucian disciple from the lineage of the Literary Sage, dares to strike down a mortal ruler? I will see how long your rampage lasts.”

Chen Ping An chuckled. “I saw you at the Middle Earth Literary Temple. You left quite an impression.”

Yin Ji frowned. “How so?”

Chen Ping An said, “Of all the emperors and monarchs I’ve met, you possessed the greatest yearning for immortality, bar none.”

Yin Ji seemed disarmed, his innermost desire laid bare. After a moment, he retorted, “What is strange about a sovereign with ambitions for the throne to seek eternal life?”

Indeed, to sword immortals and alchemists who sought to live as long as the Heavens, a mortal emperor was merely a being bound to decay, his lifespan inexorably waning.

Chen Ping An said, “To crave life and fear death is the way of mortals. But such obsession as yours is rare. And rarer still is one who would disregard the rules laid down by the Literary Temple, to secretly dabble in immortal arts. You are the second I’ve known of. Are you merely imitating the Song clan of Great Li?”

Yin Ji laughed. “At least I’m not the first. Indeed, your late Emperor of Great Li was the pioneer. Chen Ping An, you are an honest man. Had we met sooner, perhaps…”

Chen Ping An cut him off. “Perhaps you would have had no opportunity to come to the capital of Great Li. Did you settle the tab from the Old Oriole Lake feast? Should I ask Cao Zhao to do the honors?”

Yin Ji glanced around. “As Cai Yu Shan foretold, you are stalling for time, seeking to break this path of endless illusions!”

Chen Ping An said, “For the departed, respect is paramount. It is as you say, as you all say.”

Yin Ji forced down his rage. “Chen Ping An, let us speak plainly, for there are no others to overhear. Spare us and we will honor our alliance. The Song clan and the Yin clan can yield to Great Li’s leadership in the alliance. I can rally other powerful Middle Earth nations to the cause, as a gift. Your path to Ascension is novel; news of it would win you favor throughout the land and solidify Great Li’s standing with its people. You need that to secure your advancement. It would bestow a century of cultivation with no effort, a fortune at your fingertips!”

Cai Yu Shan looked alarmed. “Your Majesty, you mustn’t…”

Chen Ping An scoffed. “Are you three putting on a show? Is there a prize for the best performance?”

Yin Ji furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

Chen Ping An crossed his arms. “Yin Ji, step forward, the real Yin Ji, and speak for yourself!”

Cai Yu Shan looked sharply at Xian. How could his deception be revealed with her ancient magic cloaking his destiny?

Chen Ping An said calmly, “Given the extreme fear of death, and considering that only the crown prince of Great Duan, Cao Zhao, accompanied by his soul, and that Prince Yin Miao has Xian ever at his side, then the truth is clear, is it not? Who was I looking at when I asked, eh, Yin Ji?”

The young Yin Miao, in truth the Emperor Yin Ji, wiped a smudge of blood from his robes, looked up, and said with genuine admiration, “As expected, Junior Apprentice Embroidered Tiger, your schemes are profound indeed.”

Yin Ji continued, “Are you not curious as to how Xian accomplished this? You are skilled at learning from others. Acquire her secrets and gain a great power. Cui Chan’s accomplishments are not the end of the world. Chen Ping An, your power is far from it. Take charge of Great Li, and make the Emperor obey at your fingertips. Then change him at will!”

Chen Ping An waved a hand, as electricity coiled on his palm like golden vipers, casting his face in a dance of light and shadow. “You will master but a sliver of true mastery. You disgust me, and I will torment you before the end. Wei Jia was poached at Old Oriole Lake. But you, Yin Ji, will be steeped in boiling oil, like a hotpot. So, mind your tongue.”

The “boy emperor,” who now housed the bulk of Yin Ji’s spirit, grit his teeth. “Fourteenth realm, do you know what that means? You have seen the world. How can you be so rash?!”

Chen Ping An said, “I am well aware. I know well the weaknesses of a newly minted Fourteenth realm. Enough to weigh its flaws, as a reference when I next visit White Jade Capital. To paraphrase my friend Tuan Ni…a triple joy has come to pass.”

Yin Ji snarled, “A madman. You are a madman.”

The old Yin Miao sighed, beseeching. “Great Hidden Official, release us. Grant us release.”

Yin Ji struck Yin Miao across the face. “How could I give birth to a wretch like you!”

Cai Yu Shan bowed, urging, “Your Majesty, there is no time. The Five Mountain Gods of Treasure Bottle Continent have completed their formations.”

Yin Ji nodded. “Xian, strike swiftly. Kill him if you can, or retreat from Treasure Bottle Continent!”

The tall she-devil nodded, obeying only the “boy emperor.”

In the next moment, where Chen Ping An stood, Xian transformed that space into a prism of time, an enchanted ice pick. Chen Ping An was entrapped, cut off, unable to draw his sword. Would it hold him for a quarter-hour? Half a day? Even Xian could not be sure.

After all, the spell had only been cast on a scion from another continent named Wanyan, who was neither Ascended nor a sword cultivator. Then, it only held him for a few months.

The Twelve Earthly Branches instantly lost contact with their young National Preceptor.

Seeing the National Preceptor ensnared, Cai Yu Shan opened his mouth to jeer. But the ground vanished beneath him and Xian made no move to save him. Suddenly Cai Yu Shan’s senses were besieged by horrors. He was adrift in a realm of madness, a kaleidoscope of sensations and images forced into his mind, floating through a distorted hall of reality. Years or centuries, billions of colors flashed before his eyes. He convulsed in agony as an unseen hand churned his brain.

At last, he stumbled free, no longer adrift. He shook his head, and then he bent over, retching though there was nothing to vomit. He gazed about, finding himself in a rice paddy, surrounded by waving green shoots and blazing sun. He looked down and saw a handful of seedlings clutched in his hand. His back burned from the sun, his bare legs were crawling with leeches, and pus seeped from his eyes.

He roared Chen Ping An’s name in rage, spewing curses until his throat burned. He tried to cast a spell to break the illusion, but instead he fell into the muddy water. He scrambled to the edge, lamenting his fate. The world was false, yet the sensations were real. He desperately tried to pull a leech from his leg, only to tear it in two, sending him writhing in agony.

The scholar knew nothing of the farmer’s plight; the scholar was useless.

As he recovered, a blade slashed across his arm. He froze, yelped, and then screamed.

As the border soldiers said of the scholars of Great Li, you knew how much courage they had when you put a knife to their throats. Cai Yu Shan had little to start with.

All the members of the Great Li’s Earthly Branch had been picked by Cui Chan, except for the martial artist Zhou Haijing, who was the last to join.

Song Xu was Mao. He was a Golden Core realm sword cultivator at the bottleneck of his advancement. Second prince of Great Li, twin brother to Song Geng, and younger brother to Princess Song Lian.

Yuan Huajing was Zi, a Nascent Soul realm sword cultivator at the bottleneck of his advancement. A scion of the Upper Pillar Kingdom Yuan clan.

Beneath their feet, the geomantic locations they stood upon displayed the glyphs of the Earthly Branch they were assigned.

Master Chen had spoken frankly with them.

When Yin Ji brought up the forbidden magic, Han Zhoujin and Lu Hui had glanced oddly at Song Xu, being from the royal clan of Great Li.

Song Xu snapped, “If Chen truly meant to seize Great Li, could I even voice dissent?”

Yu Yu asked, “Come on, let’s check out the degree of danger to be faced.”

The answer was simple: “The other party is a she-devil in the Fourteenth Realm!”

The little monk clasped his hands and chanted a prayer. “Buddha, please protect me. I will donate oil tomorrow!”

After Treasure Bottle Continent came up with the notion of “martial arts grandmaster,” the rest of the world followed suit.

Only a martial arts grandmaster could hope to draw upon the luck of a continent, a truth well known through all.

However, when a qi practitioner mentioned that he drew on the luck of a land, particularly a continent, that was a more sensitive topic.

Very few qi practicioners dared to draw on the luck of a continent. For example, the master who aided Upward Soar Continent, Liu Tui, and the Sword Immortal of Golden Armor Continent who possessed “Upward Soar,” Song Pin, were qualified.

In the world of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Treasure Bottle Continent, at most only two qi practicioners could claim such. Fenglei Garden’s Wei Jin was the first swordsman to get into the Fifth Realm for over a thousand years. The other was Lakeside Study’s Liu Laocheng. No matter if it was the head of the Jiang family or the Heavenly Sovereign of Divine Talisman Sect, Qi Zhen, none dared to proclaim their relationship with the continent.

Those who were too eager might be punished in the way of Karma.

Since they already had luck on their side, why bother tempting Karma?

The disciples of the Earthly Branch, on the other hand, could proudly proclaim that they bore some amount of Treasure Bottle Continent’s luck. They had fought on the Capital battlefield to verify their position. They also gained the advantage of not being punished for their luck because of the Emroidered Tiger, which prevented them from hiding when they had taken the benefits.

The resources of the continent were channeled to the Earthly Branch, lest it be insubstantial.

Yu Yu, who wore a “Dog” glyph, said, “The national preceptor’s great assessment is beginning.”

The enchanting Gai Yan sniled, “I didn’t expect to meet someone of the same creed. It’ll be a great tonic if we succeed in killing him!”

Their martial arts coach was the head of the Four Martial Arts Grandmasters, Song Changjing. The Master Errant Knight of the Mo clan taught them swordsmanship. The Old Mountain Lord of Great Li taught them observation. Lady Feng always taught them weird ways. They were allowed to read whatever secrets were held in Great Li’s treasury.

The Great Li knights had seized countless daoist scriptures, the secret lore of various families, or the copies that were sent over. The pile was like a mountain of books.

They were good at killing earth immortals and jade purity immortals.

However, they had never experienced slaying immortals and provoking the Ascended.

However, the earth branch disciples had assassinated demons in the Capital Battlefield when the organization was first formed.

Thus, the various disciples of the Earthly Branch thought that they could walk freely throughout the land, even outside of the capital.

However, the eleven disciples who lacked a pure martial artist at the core of their formation suffered three defeats by Chen Ping An.

At the center of the realm, Yin Ji warned, “Xian, he won’t be delayed for a quarter of an hour. Chen Ping An is well-known for having many tricks, and he’s quite clever. You must seize the opportunity to destroy the formation!”

The tall she-devil nodded.

This boundless domain was created by her using countless strands of green hair. The goal was to suppress all living things.

Like a hat flipped upside down, it covered Chen Ping An and the disciples of the Earthly Branch.

Xian manifested an avatar ten thousand feet high, with the Emperor Yin Ji and Prince Yin Miao inside her sleeve.

The twelve glyphs glimmered at the edge of the domain, like a circle of moons, as its light tore at the darkness.

Without seeing what the she-devil did, the sounds of twelve firecrackers exploded in the air, as if she had instantly slain all twelve members of the Earthly Branch.

In the sleeve, Yin Ji remarked at the easy victory.

He had seen the twelve members of the Earthly Branch turned into mush, not an illusion.

However, in the next moment, the disciples were standing at the same place, completely fine, as they readied themselves for the next formation.

Xian had expected such a result. She unleashed a greater wave of power as black clouds swirled around their geomantic locations, intent on strangling them and crushing their domains.

It was still easy for the Fourteenth Realm she-devil to crush them within her personal realm, since none had entered the Fifth Realm.

However, the task was slightly more difficult this time around.

A disciple pulled out pieces of a golden statue from his sleeves and chewed on them.

“Are you fine?” Yu Yu asked.

“Yes.”

His name was Sui Lin, Tiger.

He specialized in the art of fengshui. He could reverse time within his small domain, a gift granted by Heaven. However, such an act came at a high price. If not for entering the Earthly Branch, the Earth Immortal would have been crippled.

The national preceptor, Cui Chan, had given them a way to avoid the dangers. They could ingest the statues of gods to pretend to be one themselves.

Song Xu’s flying sword, Post Road, would also split the damage among the members of the Earthly Branch.

It was as if they were the same creed.

They could share their thoughts with each other.

Lu Hui tested the waters, “Why don’t you try to curse like Chen?”

Sui Lin replied, “The tides of Karma have begun to wash ashore. Master Chen is watching. And the damages are adding up!”

Yu Yu’s plan was to defend against three attacks, delaying as long as possible. However, Chen had to be released by the daytime!

A rope as thick as a mountain slammed down on the earth domain of the female formation master.

The “Horse” glyph, Han Zhoujin, stepped forward. The skies above her changed as a palace with vermillion clouds appeared in front of her. The buildings were built along a mountain with chanting echoing through the land.

This domain was from a location from before. It was a part of the ancient Blessed Ground of Tongbai.

The rope smashed against the music being emanated from the palace, creating cracks within the barrier.

Han Zhoujin looked up, startled. It was more fragile than she thought.

As Xian saw this palace, her eyes grew cold. She had the unconscious desire to chop it up. Her rage grew as she lashed out, intent on destroying it.

A lash landed on Han Zhoujin, ending her life. All that remained was a riverbed.

Xian turned to the next target, a daoist standing on a hill. He leapt through the air, dancing across the rubble. Xian closed the mountain, suffocating him.

The next lash missed completely, creating a trench through the earth.

Xian was slightly shocked.

The glyph of boar was a female.

This Earthly Branch member was Gai Yan.

The skies above her were crushed down onto her.

Gai Yan was smashed into mush.

Gai Yan shot a look of derision at the she-devil. You can’t chew me!

The she-devil wanted to strike again.

With the flick of a wrist, she severed the sky.

But the river of time was unable to be cut, so she was dragged back.

The rest of the Earthly Branch disciples shuddered from the force.

Yu Yu shouted, “Not good, she’s getting away!”

A portal appeared with a bridge stretching across it. The she-devil walked down the bridge.

Yu Yu slapped his palms together, as glyphs stretched across his arms, like tiny moons. A tiny sword immortal stood on it with vermillion robes, a sight to behold.

Yu Yu said, “Go!”

The yin god shot forward.

The Earthly Branch were making good use of everything they had. Han had managed to refine a spot of ancient Tongbai.

To make up for what they lacked, they focused on improving their ability to kill.

Otherwise, it would just be a slow grind.

The Earthly Branch disciples stacked mountains onto the bridge. The she-devil crushed them like toys.

A beam of sword light descended down onto the she-devil. She batted it away with ease.

Chains formed by talismans wrapped around the she-devil. She ignored them and shredded them.

Sui Lin disregarded everything and healed the others. Han bit down and sent his domain at the she-devil’s back.

As the domain smashed against her, the she-devil grabbed the domain and threw it aside.

The sleeve shook intensely. The smell of burning flesh filled the air. The she-devil had almost crossed the bridge!

The sound of glass breaking resounded. On the other side of the bridge, a man in green robes stood.

The world had become like a narrow plank bridge.

The she-devil was angry, but she stopped.

Cai Yu Shan had crawled out, but he was soon kicked away. He had run back to see the images of what he was and had shouted that it was time to save them.

Yu Yu was relieved that Chen had stopped the she-devil.

He felt that if she had crossed, that the continent-spanning formation would be useless.

Right now, they did not even have time to unleash all of their trump cards.

Han was devastated.

Ge Ling said, “Focus!”

Han laughed, “Easy for you to say!”

The young daoist said, “With Master Chen in charge, it won’t be all for naught.”

Han nodded.

Chen had caused drastic changes to their cultivation journey.

Ge Ling was Goat.

In the Earthly Branch, the young daoist stood out, because he had a public office.

It was likely that Yuan would be the first to get into the Fifth Realm. However, Chen felt that Han and Ge would be the ones that could go the farthest.

That was because her domain was particularly valuable. As for Ge, he was resolute.

The glyph for Goat represented earth.

Lu Hui asked, “Is it Chen?”

The boy Gou Cun shook his head.

Yuan had stopped his flying sword Fire Waterfall, as he felt the differences in how they had done things.

The little monk began to chant.

On the bridge, the she-devil glared at Chen.

“A Fourteenth Realm she-devil? Do you think your eyes can kill me?”

The she-devil unleashed her full power.

The sky grew darker and darker as if the river of time had been stained black.

Chen glanced at her sleeve. “It seems like Song was right when he mentioned that you guys were colluding with White Jade Capital.”

As the shattered realm fell, it seemed like experts had snuck in from White Jade Capital.

It had been Pang Ding or the unknown daoist.

The sword immortal put his hands on his sword. “This path doesn’t lead there, turn around!”

The she-devil lashed out.

The swordsman stepped forward, with the force of a walking mountain.

His step broke the bridge apart as he punched the she-devil in the abdomen, shattering the bridge. He seized her wrists and ripped them apart.

The she-devil stepped back.

The she-devil revealed her surprise. Did you just usurp it? You are doing it for the sake of humans?

The she-devil broke apart. Sound echoed throughout the land.

Chen dropped the limbs and patted away the she-devil to the side.

The she-devil stood above the land, with pity in her eyes, “The enchantress wanted to eat me, who wants to eat you?”

He said, “Continue.”

The face of the she-devil was like a composite of numerous eyes, causing revulsion.

She was a god of the fourteenth level. Who were they to compete?

Chen unleashed his full powers, and the battle between them was fierce.

The power unleashed from it was so grand, it shattered the world, and even the fabric of time itself.

It tore the darkness asunder, and for a moment the sun shone.

Ge Ling felt the changes and knew it was time.

In the distance was the river of ghosts.

Those who fell into it became another victim, the earth a battlefield.

The wind howled, and the stars trembled.

The moon and sun grew dimmer, and the power between them could break the world.

The land changed as it was torn.

Chen was calm despite the great change.

He grasped the heavens, standing above all.

He would not yield, and he would stop them both.