The suspicion had already taken root in Zhou Qiu’s heart. *Could this be* Pei Qian? The martial woman, her hair and garments aligned with the whispered legends, and her very presence stirring the fabric of heaven and earth in a way that defied understanding. It seemed impossible. The mere fact that she was here, in this place, was a riddle Zhou Qiu could not solve. With effort, she quelled the tempest within and dared to ask, “Are you the Pei Qian of Fallen Mountain? The one who used the alias ‘Zheng Qian’ during the battles near the Grand Li auxiliary capital?”

Though confined by circumstance within the bounds of Joyous Union Mountain, Zhou Qiu’s knowledge was not altogether lacking. She had pored over a dozen or so *shan shui dibao* (mountain and water reports) obtained through various clandestine routes. The name of one of the Four Great Masters of Treasure Bottle Continent was burned into her mind. Such was the weight of reputation. At the auxiliary capital, along the banks of the Great Dike, “Zheng Qingming” had slain demons and rescued innocents with equal measure, moving through the demon ranks as if they were naught but gossamer threads.

Pei Qian clasped her fist in a gesture of respect and smiled, “Sister Zhou, I am unworthy of the title ‘Grand Master.'”

Zhou Qiu turned her gaze towards the sword-bearing youth. If the woman before her truly was Pei Qian, then who else could the one she called *shifu* be?

Just moments ago, she had thought the young man possessed a kind heart, a good soul, yet plagued by an incurable habit of grandstanding.

Now, she realized he was not boasting, not spinning yarns for amusement. His pronouncements, which she and Bai Mao had dismissed as fanciful, had been veiled truths.

Drawn by the commotion, Liu Tie hurried into their presence.

Zhou Qiu clasped her fist in greeting, “I am Zhou Qiu, Upper Cavalry Commandant of the Grand Li border army, a court mage under the command of Supervisor Su, serving in the Great Liang Battalion. I greet Master Chen.”

The armored warrior added his voice, “I am Liu Tie, a scout captain of the Great Liang Battalion. I greet Master Chen!”

Chen Ping’an returned their courtesy, “I am Chen Ping’an of Fallen Mountain. I greet Commandant Zhou and Captain Liu.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Pei Qian’s face, and she regarded Zhou Qiu with a renewed interest.

The rank of Upper Cavalry Commandant, in the old system of the Grand Li border army, was a martial honorific of the fourth rank. It did not equate to a position of authority, but had Zhou Qiu survived the war and left the battlefield alive, she would have been entitled to a highly valuable martial honor. She could have joined the local garrison, and started with a fifth rank position. Or she could have served in the Grand Li Ministry of War, and become a director. Even had Zhou Qiu become a departed spirit and returned home, she would have been entitled to become a city god and enjoy incense offerings.

They settled once more, and Zhou Qiu initially intended to yield the seat of honor to the famed Hidden Officer, but Chen Ping’an remained where he was.

Chen Ping’an inquired, “I witnessed in the Grand Li capital the imperial court dispatching mages, along with the mountain and river gods and city gods, to lead the spirits of those who fell in the southern kingdoms of Treasure Bottle Continent back to their homes. Why did you not join that journey north?”

Liu Tie hesitated, then offered a rough explanation, “It is because my comrades’ attachment to this place is too strong. If we leave the bounds of Joyous Union Mountain, we become lost, our spirits fading. We have unfinished vows here. We would rather be forsaken ghosts than depart without fulfilling them.”

Even facing Chen Ping’an, the armored man held back a part of the truth, as the visitor held no official affiliation with the Grand Li court, and none with the border army.

Zhou Qiu laughed, “There is little point in concealing it any longer. Li Ting, the shrine god of Wuteng Mountain, commands a demon mage named Gu Feng, a capable lieutenant. Gu Feng, formerly a licentious shrine god on the border of Green Apricot Kingdom, secretly conspired with the Wildlands military council, divulging the route of one of our elite cavalry units, suggesting an ambush. I was both a court mage and responsible for military intelligence, and I noticed something amiss with that licentious shrine priest. The demon council, fearing a double-cross, dispatched a scout patrol to probe the route. It was then that Captain Liu and I crossed paths with them. Among the Wildlands scouts was a sword cultivator. We learned of it long after we were dead, that sword cultivator had joined the Hundred Sword Immortals of Mount Tuoyue. Of course, the demon attempt to ambush us was ruined. For many years, we have lacked proof, though we learned that the licentious shrine priest had long been close to Li Ting. It is possible that Li Ting was the mastermind behind the scheme. After two failed assassination attempts, Zhao Fuyang of Joyous Union Mountain, perhaps wary of our former station, did not completely crush us. Instead, he allowed us to settle in Fengle Town, saying that if we had the ability, we could kill that Grand Review Deputy, and he would not intervene. But he also made it clear that he would not punish Gu Feng based on pure rumor, as he would need solid proof. He said that if we brought proof, he would send Li Ting down the mountain himself with his head chopped off.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “So Commandant Zhou believes that Zhao Fuyang and Yu Chunzhi are unlikely to be colluding with Wildlands demons?”

Zhou Qiu said, “At least, I have found no indication or clues. The Grand Li intelligence agencies would have repeatedly screened and verified wartime intelligence after the war. Joyous Union Mountain has endured all these years, and so at the ministries of war and justice, it must have been judged that they did not conspire with the Wildlands military council.”

Liu Tie added, “After all, they’re two Gold Core cultivators. If they had any hidden schemes, they wouldn’t have lived this long. The auxiliary capital isn’t ignorant. I heard that our Prince Luo founded a private intelligence agency that punishes suspects severely.”

The cotton-clad Daoist finally seized an opportunity to interject, smiling, “I am acquainted with Prince Song Mu. I used to meet him frequently in the Mud Bottle Lane of Huaihuang County in Chu Prefecture of Grand Li.”

Zhou Qiu and Liu Tie could not gauge the truth of the Daoist’s claim.

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Ignore him. He is merely a freeloader.”

The Daoist protested, “I am at most a *ceng* (蹭, to sponge off of) loadee, not a *pian* (骗, to cheat) loadee.”

A dozen armored veterans crowded in the alley outside, their eyes wide as they watched the sword-bearing youth, the maiden with the hair tied in buns, and the cotton-robed Daoist within.

Most had youthful faces, and the eldest was no more than Liu Tie, a robust man in his thirties.

They found it amusing to see Captain Liu, a man notorious for his lack of decorum, sitting ramrod straight.

They had never seen him act this way in front of any general. Normally, he would offer a few perfunctory greetings and smiles before reverting to his usual self, muttering about how being a scout had stifled his career, and how it would be difficult to say who would give a general greeting. “Women fear marrying the wrong man, and men fear choosing the wrong trade, and you are laughing, at least I am a captain. What about you?”

Of course, those “usual” times were from their lives.

Chen Ping’an said, “Let them come in and sit.”

Zhou Qiu shook her head, smiling, “There’s no need.”

Liu Tie nodded, “Let them stay at the entrance. They are a restless bunch. They’ll watch the fun and then leave.”

The men clustered at the entrance, not raucous, but some could not resist asking.

“Chen Ping’an, how high are the walls of Sword Qi Great Wall?”

“Are there really hundreds of thousands of sword cultivators at Sword Qi Great Wall?” Chen Ping’an, as a Hidden Officer, is that an official position? How high?”

Liu Tie glared, “Insolent! Dare you address Master Chen by his name?”

Zhou Qiu’s eyes narrowed with a smile. “Do not address him by name. Call him Young Master Chen.”

Liu Tie sighed, “Just fooling around.”

The armored man shouted towards the entrance, “Behave yourselves! Master Chen is a closed-door disciple of the Literary Saint, a scholar! Don’t embarrass the Great Liang Battalion!”

“Master Chen, I am from the Salt Granary Commandery of Yun Prefecture, very close to Dragon Prefecture. My ancestors were merchants and often went to Red Candle Town.”

“Master Chen, I am from Songyou County of the capital region. My great-uncle said he studied at Cliffside Academy when he was young, and Master Qi taught him penal law and mathematics.”

Pei Qian looked up at the rooftop. It was Qi Song, the chief guest of the Zhang family of Heaven’s Census Commandery, a martial expert in the Golden Body Realm.

Having sensed the anomaly originating here, Qi Song had hurried over to investigate, despite his unease.

Meeting her gaze, the halberd-bearded old man repressed his doubts and projected his voice, cautiously asking, “Zheng Qian?”

No mage, especially no martial artist who had fought at the Grand Li auxiliary capital, could fail to recognize the Grand Master “Zheng Spends Money.”

Pei Qian nodded.

Qi Song immediately announced his name.

Pei Qian returned the greeting with clasped fists, “I have long admired your name.”

The Zhang family of Heaven’s Census Commandery seemed to have a Gold Core Realm elder who had met her in the auxiliary capital. It was merely a brief encounter, no words exchanged.

Qi Song knew this was merely Pei Qian’s politeness, but it was enough to make the journey worthwhile. He would have something to boast about to Zhang Qiong and Cheng Qian.

Seeing the liveliness within the courtyard, Qi Song was too experienced to intrude. He offered a perfunctory invitation, saying that Pei Qian could find him for a drink any time she was free.

Chen Ping’an said, “Mistress Zhou, Brother Liu, let me draw a Divine Travel Talisman and a Spirit-Protecting Talisman for each of you, so you may return home. As for Li Ting and Gu Feng here, leave them to me.”

Liu Tie looked towards Zhou Qiu. Zhou Qiu hesitated. To refuse the offer seemed affected, but to accept left her feeling empty.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “There is no need to rush. I will first take Pei Qian to Joyous Union Mountain for a bit of fun. You can discuss whether to leave or stay, and we’ll talk about it when we come down the mountain. Both options have their arrangements, so there’s no need to feel conflicted.”

Zhou Qiu and Liu Tie rose and clasped their fists in thanks.

Zhou Qiu felt a tangle of emotions. The sword-bearing youth, whose identity had just been revealed, seemed to have transformed completely.

She could not reconcile the image of the easygoing young man in straw sandals with the steady, understanding Hidden Officer before her.

Liu Tie was the first to leave the courtyard, leading his loyal scout spirits out of the way. Despite their garrulousness tonight, they were mostly silent ghosts, be it riding in the night or huddled in the alleys of Fengle Town.

As they walked in the alley, Pei Qian covered her face with a mask carefully crafted by the old chef. She turned her head, lightly smoothing a lock of hair, and now she looked like a young woman of pale yellow skin with freckles.

Pei Qian recounted their journey to the ancient site, glossing over certain details.

Even speaking in a voice only her master should have heard, it was likely that the Jade Capital Heavenly Leader could hear it plainly.

“According to Master Zhong’s calculations, the site is very old and suppresses a mountain senior who cannot be easily judged as good or evil. Because of the passage of time, the daoist meaning of the text on the stone tablet has almost completely dissipated. In addition, the fragmentation of the rivers and mountains of Tongye Continent has affected the stability of the stone tablet, so there are signs of breaking out early. When the stone tablet shakes and often collides with the river of time, it’s like a side riverbed connecting the underworld is opened up. The river water ebbs and flows irregularly, so the two mages were able to enter it by mistake, but they were not drowned in the water.”

Lu Chen had planned to be an audience and listen to a storyteller without spending money, but Mount Chen had asked Leader Lu what he thought, so he had to say: “Most likely it was done by Mr. San Shan Jiu Hou. The one suppressed in this site by the stone tablet and copper coin sword is a military cultivator who almost became enchanted a long, long time ago. That’s why Mr. San Shan Jiu Hou will take action himself, erect a monument, and place a sword so that she cannot escape. It is both a suppression and a well-intentioned protection. Otherwise, she would try to tear the net apart, the human world would be uninhabitable.”

But Lu Chen didn’t tell the whole story. He believed that Mount Chen must have guessed the other party’s identity.

The basket-carrying woman who tried to take the copper coin sword was the Second Ancestor of the Military.

Chen Ping’an recalled the woman by the campfire, smiled, and asked, “Are those two young mages who got this blessing mountain hermits?”

According to Pei Qian, they would practice by Li Xisheng’s side.

Pei Qian replied, “They are not casual cultivators, and they are not very old, less than twenty years old. They are from the same school. The girl’s name is Miao Jia, and her junior brother is called He Zhou. They are both mages, from a small sect called Su Ni Mountain in the southern part of Tongye Continent, majoring in Yin-Yang family’s five-element supernatural powers and minoring in the Military family’s spells. Their sect was broken by the Wildlands demons, so their master crushed a mountain-suppressing talisman that had been enshrined in the ancestral hall for many years. The talisman was originally intended to send them out of the battlefield and give them a chance to survive, whether they could survive or not would depend on fate.”

“Miao Jia and He Zhou were very lucky. In the end, through a secret ‘Tong You’ supernatural power of the Su Ni Mountain, they were able to ‘walk the water’ and accidentally entered the receding riverbed. They were not washed away by the river of time, and they walked to the end of the branch road. It was like boarding a boat at a ferry and successfully breaking into the secret realm. They have been practicing there for many years. Miao Jia also obtained the hub magic weapon that presides over the great formation, which is a very crude ancient pottery jar.”

“Their realms are not high. Miao Jia is now in the Cave Mansion Realm, and He Zhou is a sword cultivator who temporarily attained enlightenment when he was walking in the water. He is now only in the fourth realm, but he has a very strange natal flying sword that can create illusions. People will see what they are afraid of. As long as their Dao heart is flawed, no matter how high or low the mage’s realm is, they will be exploited. The Dao heart and divine sense will be like being trapped in a quagmire, or like being imprisoned in a mirror. They cannot escape without breaking the inner demon. Miao Jia has very good qualifications for cultivation. She obtained a Dao book with only patterns and no text in the site. Under her own understanding, she has become a mountain eyebrow painter who can weave mountain and river paintings based on her imagination. In addition, she obtained the pottery jar, she can control the heaven and earth spiritual energy in the site, and it is seamless to cooperate with He Zhou’s flying sword supernatural power.”

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked, “How big is the capacity of the pottery jar? Is it just enough to hold a liter of water?”

Pei Qian thought for a while and nodded, “About the same.”

Lu Chen said, “That Miao Jia’s aptitude is not very good. It’s just that she has been immersed in the refined Dao Qi in the site for a long time, and it has gradually changed and transformed her, so she has golden jade bones and has been forcibly tempered into a Dao seed. That young man is a sword cultivator, and his aptitude is much better than that of his senior sister, but he is naturally repelled by the small world ancient site. It is of little benefit for He Zhou to cultivate there, but it will be suppressed. Fortunately, their bones are so good that they can easily lose their Dao heart and be occupied by the scattered evil energy that the ancient monument copper sword cannot suppress. They will become a Tong You bridge for that senior, and their true body will still be trapped. The Yin God and Yang God’s outer body can return to the human world and then smash the stone tablet and take away the copper coin sword and come out a few years earlier.”

“As for why the two lower five-realm Qi refiners can enter the site safely, they can’t do it with their own Dao practice. They were still discovered by that senior in a gurgling river of time. I saw two faint auras of my Dao lineage, like two fireflies twinkling in the endless night, so I deliberately salvaged them.”

Speaking of this, Lu Chen lowered his voice and revealed the secret in one sentence, “The pottery jar, which is the hub of the great formation, is not only the earliest thing in the world used to determine the volume, but also the urn of a military mage. This is uncertain, just a guess.”

Lu Chen then smiled, “As for the senior’s hand-held bamboo basket, it is not difficult to guess. It must be a heavy treasure. It is not certain that the bamboo basket will be empty when drawing water. It can be used to salvage fragments of ancient gods’ golden bodies floating in the long river.”

Because Pei Qian, who was sharp-eyed, discovered the site first, she had climbed to the top of that strange mountain.

Zhong Kui and Yu Jin are both ghosts. And the pair of boys and girls can be regarded as half military mages.

This is probably the so-called destiny.

At some point, the young Daoist in cotton clothes had a branch in his hand, poking it on the street, and the tip of the branch was bouncing on the ground, making a clattering sound.

In fact, what Bai Mao, Zhou Qiu, Liu Tie, and the others saw as the Jade Capital Leader Lu were actually different appearances. For example, when a girl looks at Lu Chen, it is the original appearance of wearing a lotus crown. What Zhou Qiu sees in the Daoist is a handsome young man with clear eyebrows, but what Liu Tie sees is a young Daoist with thick eyebrows and big eyes.

It’s just that no one in the world would doubt what they see is true.

Chen Ping’an said, “I’ve always forgotten to ask, what did Leader Lu come here to do?”

Logically speaking, Lu Chen had met him at Sanhua Beach on Caiyu Mountain and had chatted at the foot of Luopo Mountain. Lu Chen would not go to the trouble of coming here to wander around again.

Lu Chen was a little embarrassed. He raised the branch in his hand, shook it, bypassed his shoulders, pointed south, and then pointed in the direction of the Green Apricot Kingdom’s Golden Tower Sect, “There is a vein that has been twisted and turned, and it has accidentally involved the poor Daoist. Disasters without reason, the poor Daoist is suffering in silence.”

Chen Ping’an asked curiously, “How do you say that?”

Lu Chen did not hide it.

Cao Rong, the leader of Lingfei Temple of the former White Frost Dynasty, is one of Lu Chen’s direct disciples left in Haoran World. This matter is known throughout the continent.

The founder of the Golden Tower Sect in the Green Apricot Kingdom is a disciple of Lingfei Temple who has had his name and Daoist title removed from the records.

Zhao Fuyang of Joyous Union Mountain was once an outer disciple of the Golden Immortal Temple of the Golden Tower Sect, but the secret techniques and supernatural powers he learned were very orthodox, because an ancestor of the Golden Immortal Temple liked Zhao Fuyang and did not care about the latter’s goblin origin, so Zhao Fuyang was regarded as an unregistered disciple of this ancestor.

It is said that moving Wuteng Mountain here to join the fallen Kite Mountain came from a secret “mountain carrying” supernatural power passed down by the Golden Immortal Temple.

In addition, Yu Chunzhi’s Daoist companion’s rain flag can create mist and pray for rain. Presumably, it was also a secret technique of the Golden Immortal Temple that Zhao Fuyang taught her.

The ancestor of the Golden Immortal Temple who carefully taught Zhao Fuyang was a closed-door disciple of the founder of the Golden Tower Sect. According to the genealogy, he was also the martial uncle of Cheng Qian, the current leader of the Golden Tower Sect, of Hanging Green Peak.

For this reason, Lu Chen personally went to Joyous Union Mountain, of course, on the premise that he had calculated that a certain “Chen Ping’an” was touring here. Otherwise, Zhao Fuyang’s life and death would be left to fate.

Once involved with Chen Ping’an, Lu Chen would have to take action himself, fearing that a mess would be made more messy.

Earlier, when he was wandering around the two mountains, Lu Chen discovered that the old master of the fallen Kite Mountain’s Mansion was affectionate and secretly enshrined three portraits of his ancestral master in the ancestral hall of the Mansion.

In the center of the portrait is the former leader of Lingfei Temple, Immortal Lord Cao Rong.

On both sides are the founder of the Golden Tower Sect, in the form of a middle-aged female Daoist, and the ancestral master who imparted teachings to Zhao Fuyang, wearing a python robe and jade belt, with sword-like eyebrows and purple beard, and messy hair.

If not for Yu Chunzhi’s persuasion, Zhao Fuyang would have hung a portrait of Leader Lu on the wall at a higher place.

The portrait of Immortal Lord Cao of Lingfei Temple was inscribed by Zhao Fuyang, a disciple of Golden Immortal Temple of Pure and Peaceful Peak, after bathing his hands.

But the problem is that Lu Chen doesn’t want a disciple like Zhao Fuyang at all.

On the top of Splash Ink Peak.

After the entire Joyous Union Mountain and Fengle Town shook violently, Zhao Fuyang’s face turned pale. The local immortal mansion lord immediately activated the spiritual energy in his body, and his face quickly turned rosy.

Yu Chunzhi turned her head to look at Joyous Union Mountain. Her face was uncertain, and she tried her best not to show any anxiety. She quickly asked in her mind, “Fuyang, is this a sinister trick by Cheng Qian or Zhang Qiong? Did they deliberately trick us out so they could secretly set up a formation at the foot of the mountain and catch us off guard?”

But the heart-palpitating and majestic aura flashed by and did not seem like a sign of building a formation, which made Zhao Fuyang and Yu Chunzhi a little confused.

Zhao Fuyang said in his mind, “As long as we are in the Joyous Union Mountain area, we are not afraid of Zhang Qiong’s sneaky actions.”

Yu Chunzhi looked at Cheng Qian. The old fox looked as calm as usual, but Zhang Caiqin frowned slightly, as if she was also suspicious.

Zhao Fuyang did not leave, but instead turned from his initial tough attitude to bargaining, “Cheng Qian, I can take a big step back and return the key jade seal used to confer the title of Crown Prince to the Green Apricot Kingdom’s Liu family in the near future, but you must promise to exchange it for three to five jade seals from other countries within half a year. Anyway, there are now many countries that have been restored and new countries in the southern part of Treasure Bottle Continent, and there are many imperial jade seals scattered all over the place. Our Joyous Union Mountain has few connections, but with the connections and wealth of the Golden Tower Sect and the Zhang family of Heaven’s Census Commandery, it is not difficult to accomplish this for the Liu family emperor.”

Yu Chunzhi did not expect that her husband would take the initiative to make this concession. The two sides had not discussed it in advance. She was surprised but said nothing.

Cheng Qian smiled, “Since we are exchanging things for things, let’s be straightforward. Three imperial seals will be exchanged for three imperial seals. Let’s not waste our words here. Please, Mansion Lord Zhao, give me a definite answer now.”

Zhao Fuyang said, “This recruitment and the subsequent wedding banquet will continue until tomorrow night, so the day after tomorrow, I will send my confidants to the Green Apricot Kingdom’s capital with the three jade seals.”

Cheng Qian nodded, “Then it’s settled.”

Zhao Fuyang laughed heartily, “Now that we have reached an agreement, can Real Person Cheng and Sword Immortal Zhang sell me a favor? Either come to my mansion for a wedding drink and sit for a while, just to show your face to prevent the guests from having wild thoughts, or you two will have to leave the Joyous Union Mountain area temporarily. Otherwise, all the distinguished guests in the mansion will be terrified and will not enjoy their drinks. They will be worried that their lairs and Daoist temples will be turned upside down.”

Cheng Qian shook his head, “There is no need to climb the mountain for a drink. Caiqin and I did not bring any congratulatory gifts. Don’t worry, we will leave Splash Ink Mountain now. I only hope that Mansion Lord Zhao will keep his word and let our emperor see those jade seals within five days. Otherwise, I will be selling the two Mansion Lords a favor tonight, but I will lose face in front of His Majesty, which is not appropriate. Oh, please also help Mansion Lord Zhao to send a message to Qi Song and Lu Mo, telling them to leave the town tonight and not be angry with you there. Just say that it is the meaning of Family Master Zhang Qiong.”

Zhao Fuyang cupped his fists to say goodbye and left Splash Ink Peak with Yu Chunzhi. On the way, Yu Chunzhi turned her head and saw blood oozing from the corner of Zhao Fuyang’s mouth. She was shocked and said anxiously, “What’s going on?!”

The previous anomaly in the town had only injured her husband so badly?

You must know that Zhao Fuyang’s true form is a white python, which belongs to the descendants of the Flood Dragon. He is naturally strong and has been cultivating the method of Coiling Mountain. The entire Joyous Union Mountain is a veritable “Daoist temple.”

Unless a Nascent Soul or a Gold Core Sword Immortal took action, it would be impossible for Zhao Fuyang to be injured.

Zhao Fuyang had not yet suppressed the chaos within the mountains and rivers of his human body and said in his mind, “Let’s talk about it after we return to the mountain.”

Yu Chunzhi carefully said, “Do you really not need to lure them up the mountain?”

Zhao Fuyang sneered, “We can’t swallow it. Cheng Qian is no ordinary local immortal, Zhang Caiqin is a sword cultivator, and if Zhang Qiong, who is hidden somewhere, is added, be careful not to burst your stomach.”

Cheng Qian raised his palm and performed the Palm View Mountain and River supernatural power. He exclaimed in surprise. It turned out that the place where the anomaly occurred in the town was covered in clouds and mist, and he could not see it clearly. It seemed that a master was sitting there, deliberately confusing the Qi and interfering with his vision.

Zhang Caiqin said in her mind, “Uncle Cheng, shall we leave now?”

Cheng Qian smiled, “Yes, so as not to alert the enemy.”

It didn’t matter whether Zhao Fuyang was using a delaying tactic or had other intentions, Joyous Union Mountain was destined to have a double celebration of weddings and funerals.

Zhang Caiqin’s long sword was unsheathed with a clang, and the sword light was as bright as a rainbow in autumn. She tapped her toes and stepped on the long sword, flying far away with the sword and following the old real person who looked like a young man. The two of them once again drew two rays of light that pierced through the night.

It turned out that the troops and horses of the Green Apricot Kingdom and the other two kingdoms had gathered on the edge of Joyous Union Mountain as agreed. Moreover, the transfer of troops was extremely secretive, and no news was leaked in advance. Many generals leading the troops did not even know who they were going to attack. Emperor Liu of the Liu family personally led a group of royal bodyguards, various mountain and river gods, and elite border troops to join forces with the other two countries to encircle and attack Joyous Union Mountain from three directions.

Just the Liu family of the Green Apricot Kingdom sent out 3,000 imperial guards, 8,000 border cavalry, and 20,000 infantry, plus the Yue Mountain Lords and dozens of gods who had been temporarily conscripted to the border army’s garrison. The various peaks of the Golden Tower Sect, with Hanging Green Peak as the leader, had also sent down their direct disciples to serve as temporary court mages for the Green Apricot Kingdom.

Emperor Liu of the Green Apricot Kingdom and the monarchs of the other two countries agreed to start the encirclement and suppression of Joyous Union Mountain together between Hai time and Zi time tonight.

However, even if the mages and gods used various supernatural powers and spells to open the way, and with the help of ferries and talisman boats, the army would still be able to see Joyous Union Mountain by dawn tomorrow.

Only a few people knew the inside story in advance, including Emperor Liu of the Green Apricot Kingdom, Real Person Cheng Qian, the old ancestor of the Zhang family of Heaven’s Census Commandery, and Sword Cultivator Zhang Caiqin. The emperors and national teachers of the other two countries would not exceed ten people in total.

Naturally, the Green Apricot Kingdom and the Zhang family of Heaven’s Census Commandery contributed the most. They promised that after this eradication of Joyous Union Mountain, Emperor Liu of the Green Apricot Kingdom would only take a symbolic piece of land in this area of thousands of miles, and the rest would be divided by the two countries. Once they joined forces to pacify the Joyous Union Mountain area, the Liu family of the Green Apricot Kingdom would strictly follow the established route and collect the spoils of war from the dozens of large and small Daoist temples and caves along the way as the only income from the Green Apricot Kingdom’s campaign. In addition, the entire treasury of Joyous Union Mountain, as well as the Fallen Kite Mountain Mansion and the Black Powder Mountain Mansion, including the two mountain god temples, all the treasures and all the income would not be touched by the Green Apricot Kingdom and would be divided by the two allies after the war.

Zhang Caiqin’s sword light and Real Person Cheng Qian’s wind-riding figure suddenly disappeared. After that, both sides concealed their auras and sneaked for more than a hundred miles before finally arriving at a mountain ridge with gloomy and cold winds.

The mountains and fields were vast, and the vegetation was lush and secluded. On both sides of the rocky slope, the ancient trees were hundreds of years old, and there was a bleak and desolate silence.

A burly old man with white hair and beard sat on a huge rock on the cliff and asked with a smile, “Did Zhao Fuyang not realize the danger he is in?”

Cheng Qian sat cross-legged on the side and nodded, “Relying on a newly built mountain-protecting formation, and there are no hostile Nascent Soul local immortals in the surrounding countries, if I were him, I would also take it lightly. With his and Yu Chunzhi’s realms, they can defend and run away. He is certain that we don’t dare to forge a mortal feud with Joyous Union Mountain.”

Zhang Caiqin called the old man great-grandfather, and the old man smiled and nodded.

They had formed an encirclement around Joyous Union Mountain, trapping it like a turtle in a jar.

The Joyous Union Mountain held a grand recruitment wedding banquet tonight, and all kinds of monsters and demons gathered together, which saved them a lot of trouble. Otherwise, there would be thirty-odd large and small Daoist temples and mansions in this area of thousands of miles, which would inevitably have some fish slipping through the net.

Zhang Qiong sighed, “It seems like a fantasy, but it is effective. Putting aside his origin, Zhao Fuyang is indeed a rare cultivation genius.”

Cheng Qian said, “After all, he used the side door method on the wrong path. In the long run, the Dao heart will be invisibly guided by the nature, instead of using the Dao heart to temper the nature, which will only mislead others and himself.”

On the mountain, side door method is actually a commendatory term.

Zhao Fuyang and Yu Chunzhi, one python monster and one fox demon, occupied the two sides of a large river in their early years. They seemed to be minding their own business, but in fact they had already become Daoist companions, sharing the same energy and supporting each other. This central river of Treasure Bottle Continent later became a section of the main channel of the Great Dike. Zhao Fuyang, whose true form was a white python, first used secret methods to coil around the mountain and completely refined the entire Fallen Kite Mountain before helping Yu Chunzhi move Wuteng Mountain over and teaching her a superior art of the bedchamber. The two mountains were nestled together in a state of joining tails, improving their Dao practice.

Zhang Qiong did not comment on this but joked, “This pair of Daoist companions are really using the sky as their quilt and the earth as their bed, fighting in the wild. It’s really too much for an upright person like me to see.”

Cheng Qian reminded, “Zhang the old, don’t be disrespectful. Caiqin is still here.”

How many brothels did you Zhang Qiong break through when you were young? You owed a lot of love debts on the mountain and under the mountain. Who called himself “Jiang Shangzhen of Heaven’s Census Commandery”?

Zhang Qiong said sullenly and asked, “How is Yu Chunzhi’s Gold Core aura?”

Cheng Qian said, “After seeing her today, she is not to be underestimated. Although she does not show any signs of needing to retreat for now, it should not be too late.”

Zhang Qiong clicked his tongue and said, “That is, like Real Person Cheng, you are both at the bottleneck of the Gold Core Realm? Zhao Fuyang is fine, after all, he received the true inheritance from your Golden Tower Sect. In terms of lineage, he is not much inferior to you as the sect leader. He has a good innate origin and even better qualifications for cultivation. I am convinced if he enters the Nascent Soul Realm. The white python coils around the mountain and turns into a Flood Dragon, and the Yin Flood Dragon spits out miasma clouds, hehe, what a grand aura. But if Yu Chunzhi, a fox demon, also enters the Nascent Soul Realm along with Zhao Fuyang, it will be fun. She is a fox spirit. Wouldn’t ordinary Gold Core mages be easily manipulated by her and be easily drained of their yang energy? Fox demons who are affectionate are also the most vengeful. If she escapes this encirclement, I will definitely hide far away.”

Leaving aside Zhao Fuyang, whose Gold Core was already complete, just seeing the fox demon Yu Chunzhi at Splash Ink Peak this time, Cheng Qian discovered that she also showed signs of being at a bottleneck. From this, it can be seen that the shortcut to Dao practice that Zhao Fuyang personally pioneered has indeed been taken by them. If Zhao Fuyang was given more years to concentrate on preserving his mind and refining his Qi, and to collect more jade seals from fallen kingdoms to absorb the Dragon Qi and temper Joyous Union Mountain, he and his Daoist companion might really hope to enter the Nascent Soul Realm together within sixty years.

From this, it can be seen that it is no exaggeration to say that Zhao Fuyang is a hero.

Zhang Qiong smiled, “I guess Zhao Fuyang can’t figure out why the other two countries, which have constant border frictions, are willing to join forces with the Liu family of the Green Apricot Kingdom.”

Cheng Qian’s expression was calm, “From ancient times to the present, fame and fortune have always been inseparable.”

It seems that the Liu family of the Green Apricot Kingdom is seeking fame, and the other two countries are seeking profit, each taking what they need. In fact, the monarchs of the other two countries are now extremely polite to Emperor Liu, and I believe they will only become more polite in the future.

After all, except for the Green Apricot Kingdom, no dynasty under the mountain in the entire Treasure Bottle Continent has been able to invite that great figure to personally attend the ceremony, not even the Grand Li Dynasty that still occupies half of the continent’s mountains and rivers.

The Summer Lake Mansion of Hundred Flowers Lake sent a large group of people this time. The long snake of fire that Bai Mao and the others saw from Splash Ink Peak was the formation of this water mansion. It seems that the Summer Lake Mansion is determined to marry the third girl of Joyous Union Mountain.

Lake Lord Zhang Xiangdao brought his Daoist companion, Wei Chan, and his young son, Zhang Hanquan, to