**A Realm of Azure Skies, the Xuan Du Temple**

Within a peach blossom grove, an aged Daoist priest strolled alongside a fair-faced youth, a tiger-headed cap perched upon his brow. Behind them lumbered a portly man, his gaze darting about, searching for fallen peach branches.

A company of sword cultivators, travelers from the Sword Qi Great Wall, had dispersed throughout the Azure Skies, finding refuge in the Jade Capital’s Divine Firmament City, the Sui Chu Palace, and the Xuan Du Temple.

The Xuan Du Temple had only received the miserly fat man, though the young sword cultivator seemed to strike up an unlikely rapport with the ancient temple master—or so he believed.

In truth, Yan Zhuo had been secretly trading under the temple master’s name for years, building a rather substantial enterprise. Xuan Du Temple was a behemoth, its tributary peaks beyond counting, and with dozens of kingdoms and vassal states under its sway, the temple’s lineage alone boasted nearly a hundred thousand Daoist officials.

The old temple master turned a blind eye, for the wealth remained within the family. Should Yan Zhuo ever swindle funds from the Jade Capital and offer him a gilded plaque, the old man would have no qualms about having Lu Laosan inscribe it.

After a long deliberation, the temple master spoke frankly, “Bai Ye, would you ever consider becoming the abbot of Xuan Du Temple?”

Bai Ye, seemingly unfazed, shook his head. “An impossibility.”

The temple master nodded. “I knew it was a long shot, but I had to ask, just in case.”

Silence hung between them for a moment. Then, the temple master tried again, “Abbot is out, and the supervisor’s secular affairs are even more troublesome than being the abbot, so that’s out too. What about becoming an elder?”

The position of temple master could be either a formality or a hands-on role; he could manage everything, big or small, or delegate to the supervisor. The position of elder was the pillar of the Daoist temple, an example for the people to follow. The elder needs to have distinguished merit and proficient in laws.

A bit like the mountain sects of Haoran, where one person serves as both chief patron and guest elder.

Bai Ye shook his head again. “I truly wish to remain undistracted.”

The temple master sighed. “To make you a mere functionary… even if you were willing, I wouldn’t have the face to do it. The Azure Skies would laugh at us.”

Larger temples typically had eight great functionaries, as well as three supreme ones, five masters, and eighteen heads.

Yan Zhuo, sensing the somber mood, volunteered, “Old Temple Master, if you wouldn’t mind, this junior could…”

The temple master cut him off. “I would mind.”

Yan Zhuo, not entirely mad, had no aspiration of becoming the abbot or an elder. But for the past few years he had been trying to get the position of Ten Directions Hall master, which is responsible for helping wandering monks.

Suddenly, the temple master said, “Yan, if you ever reach the Jade Clarity realm, I’ll find an opportunity to hold a meeting in the Ancestral Hall and casually suggest you become the accounting functionary. But I must warn you, I haven’t managed things in years, and my influence in the temple is lacking. It might not succeed. Don’t get your hopes up. If it happens, great. If not, don’t blame me.”

Yan Zhuo rubbed his hands together and grinned. “Understood, understood.”

As one of the eight great functionaries, the accounting functionary of Xuan Du Temple, given its immense scale and wealth, was roughly equivalent to a Minister of Revenue in a great dynasty.

The temple master turned his gaze elsewhere, then took his leave. Bai Ye hesitated, as if wanting to say something. The temple master smiled knowingly. “If the opportunity arises, replant the peach trees.”

The old temple master performed a spatial shift, and in one step, he arrived elsewhere in the peach grove, near a stream. There stood a nun, her face as youthful as a maiden’s, yet her hair as white as snow.

The temple master bowed. “Senior Sister.”

The maiden simply nodded in acknowledgment, gazing at the sky.

Xuan Du Temple had always claimed she was in seclusion.

In truth, she was wandering in the world and had returned with full merits. Waiting for the right time to rain.

A far-reaching scheme for rainy days.

Thus, her appearance was without sisterly affectation.

The “maiden” lowered her gaze to the stream. “Peach blossoms flow away, disappearing into the distance.”

This line came from Bai Ye’s “Response to a Commoner in the Mountains.”

Her name was Wang Sun, with the Daoist name “Empty Mountain.” She was once recognized as the most gifted Daoist official in Xuan Du Temple’s history—it could even be said that her younger disciples had been beaten by her since they were small. Among them was the current temple master, Sun Huaizhong.

A child heard the word of Dao, that was the praise from outside. She did not achieve anything at an old age, that was how she thought about herself.

***

At the Sui Chu Palace, outside the Stork Tower, the river flowed eastward. A pillar stood in the middle of the river and there were a lot of buildings.

The old Nascent Soul sword cultivator, Cheng Quan, stood with an old friend by the riverbank, though their heights were vastly different. The old sword cultivator stood beside a child, his face youthful but his demeanor aged.

It was Nalan Shaowei, one of the top ten sword immortals from the Sword Qi Great Wall.

He had “manifested” slightly later than Chen Xi of Ascension City, for the Sui Chu Palace had been overly courteous, procuring for him a celestial shell of a great Ascension realm cultivator—a rare relic left behind by a sword cultivator who had dissolved.

On the riverbank, a young Daoist official stood leaning against a railing, his mind lost in thought, gazing across the river, which seemed a chasm.

On one side, a throng like ants; on the other, sparse figures. For in his eyes, the river was a boundary, separating those above the Fourteenth realm from all other sentient beings.

Nalan Shaowei glanced at the young Daoist official by the Stork Tower. “The Sui Chu Palace cultivators are either in seclusion or preparing to enter it. How is it that I always see this fellow wandering about?”

Cheng Quan said, “His name is Gao Ping, with two Daoist names, ‘Taihang’ and ‘Zouge.’ Sounds ominous. Gao Ping is the record-keeping Daoist official of the Sui Chu Palace, seemingly for many years. He’s never been promoted and is responsible for all the temple’s Daoist records and diplomas. But Gao Ping also seems to have another official title unique to the Sui Chu Palace, ‘Literary.’ I’ve never heard of it before. If Hidden Officer Chen Pingan were here, he’d surely understand the intricacies.”

Nalan Shaowei nodded. “It’s an ancient title from the Haoran world, quite old. The official hat is small, but you can’t hold the post without some knowledge. It’s not used much these days.”

Cheng Quan looked at Nalan Shaowei in surprise.

Nalan Shaowei chuckled and scolded, “What’s with that look? Is it so strange that I know the origin of ‘Literary’? Don’t make it seem like you’ve discovered Chen Ping’an doesn’t know it.”

Cheng Quan chuckled. “When it comes to swordsmanship, you’re temporarily a cut above Hidden Officer, I’ll admit that. But when it comes to book learning, you can’t compare. You just got lucky.”

Nalan Shaowei changed the subject. “Have you interacted with him?”

Cheng Quan nodded. “I’ve encountered him a few times in the tower and by the river. He’s a quiet one, we haven’t chatted much. There are rumors about him in the Sui Chu Palace. He only seems to get along with the gatekeeper nicknamed ‘Little White.’ He seems to like playing chess. Palace Master Wu occasionally joins in, but there’s a strange rule: they only play the first forty moves.”

Nalan Shaowei nodded. “I used to play with Sun Juyuan and the others. I won more often than I lost.”

Cheng Quan asked, “Do you really know how many lines are on a chessboard?”

Nalan Shaowei scoffed. “You just have to be rude, don’t you?”

Cheng Quan grinned. “Shall we spar?”

Nalan Shaowei ignored this master of the Sword Qi Great Wall’s pre-battle trash talk, instead gazing at the young record-keeping Daoist official. Perhaps he’d have the chance to play a few games with him.

By the Stork Tower, Gao Ping murmured, “When Sword Immortal Nalan has time, he is welcome to visit. I would like to replay the final battle of the Sword Qi Great Wall with Sword Immortal Nalan.”

Nalan Shaowei chuckled. “I don’t understand those fancy things. You’ve got the wrong person. You should talk about that with those youngsters at the Summer Palace.”

Gao Ping smiled. “Sword Immortal Nalan is too modest. It would just be armchair strategy.”

Nalan Shaowei remained noncommittal.

Gao Ping bowed, then turned and walked into the Stork Tower. Behind the closed door, the record-keeping Daoist official’s gaze fell upon a map of the Nine Provinces, with subtle changes almost every year.

In the future, Wu Shuangjiang, the palace master of Sui Chu Palace, may only account for half of the question to Bai Yujing.

The other half would be the Nine Heavens.

***

Snowflakes as large as palms fell in a flurry.

A barefooted monk in purple robes walked silently across the border between two provinces, arriving in a desolate and impoverished land with scant spiritual energy. He gazed at a cliff.

A master resided within the mountains.

Ninety generations of monks, seated precariously in the deep valley, had held unwavering ideals through thousands of years.

Jiang Xiu, having parted ways with Ya Xiang Yao Qing and left the Qing God Dynasty, had come to hear his counsel.

Receiving an ambiguous answer, Jiang Xiu simply smiled and continued his journey.

He quietly entered the territory of You Province.

In the Zhuolu County, rumored to be the site of an ancient battlefield, in a place called Jiamaying, there was a Chan River Bridge.

A village woman emerged from a Tongtuo Lane, carrying a pole across the bridge.

Two bamboo baskets hung on either end of the pole, each holding a child.

Jiang Xiu smiled. “She carries two ancestors on her shoulders.”

***

In a remote corner of You Province, there was a small Daoist temple named Zhu Xu.

Outside the gate, a book stall stood at the corner of the street, offering both martial arts novels and picture books, for rent only. For a copper coin, one could read a book.

Children in split pants and loafers sat on benches and some hoodlums chatted and flipped through the books.

The stall owner was a fair-skinned young Daoist, with thick brows, large eyes, and a sturdy build. His name was Mao Zhui, yet without a Daoist name.

Zhu Xu Temple was a small temple in a small county. Mao Zhui was the provisions officer of the temple, in charge of the kitchen.

But he was a Daoist official of the ninth rank. When walking in the street, he can be called “Lord.”

His master was a Daoist servant, the third in command, only behind the abbott and director.

The young Daoist official didn’t make much money from his book stall. In his youth, he had been a mountain runner, entering the mountains to gather herbs, catch centipedes, weave cricket cages, willing to do any job to earn money.

Logically, as a Daoist official with a decent appearance, he shouldn’t be a bachelor. But the neighbors said that this Mao Lord seemed a bit slow. He often spaced out, or would suddenly be filled with tears while eating, without a sound. Over time, no one dared to offer him a proposal.

Mao Zhui held a piece of sauce meat wrapped in oil paper, with seven or eight cloves of garlic, chewing slowly.

A young Daoist walked by, wearing a mixed scarf on top of a circle cap, revealing his hair, secured with a boxwood hairpin.

The Daoist turned toward the name of the temple. “A good temple, taking from the surplus to add to what’s lacking.”

The Daoist looked at Mao Zhui.

In a temple of this size, he was a powerful cultivator.

Mao Zhui looked over to the temple and then back to the stall. The street was small and he did not feel like dealing with this person.

The young Daoist smiled. “It took a lot of effort to find this place. No wonder Headmaster Lu couldn’t find you.”

Mao Zhui said, “It’s not that he can’t find me. He just doesn’t need to find me yet.”

The young Daoist smiled. “Well, I just arrived here first.”

“Qing God Dynasty can’t protect you. Yao Qing is too careful, and his realm is lacking. So I said hello.”

“When the array of my Earth Lung Mountain is turned on, and you hide in the old ancestral cave of the Huayang Palace, protecting you for a hundred years shouldn’t be a problem. All the expenses to turn on the gate can be reimbursed by the Qing God Dynasty.”

Mao Zhui said, “Aren’t you worried that he will appear the next moment?”

“Firstly, my attainments in formation and methods of concealing celestial secrets are not too bad.”

The young Daoist walked to the stall, picked up a long bench, and sat down. “Also, having Xuan Du Temple and Sui Chu Palace is already against Bai Yujing. Having one more Earth Lung Mountain is nothing. Righteous!”

In You Province, a great power was no less than that of Bingzhou Qing Shen Dynasty.

Anyone who falls into the hands of a Bai Yujing is going to be severely punished.

These are nothing, everyone knows that Yu Dou never intentionally targets anyone, but focuses on the matter itself.

Every time he asked someone, he had to chase the responsibity on the master. Someone with license did not accept this and went to Bai Yujing to request a statement and fairness.

Not only was this person a part of the Yang clan, the younget Daoist’s youngest disciple.

As a result, this past Daoist official of the Yang clan not only had their crimes added, but also affected the family.

Back then, an old Daoist stood on the border and stared at Bai Yujing.

And he was the ancestor of the Earth Lung Mountain Huayang Palace, Gao Gu, Daoist name “Juyue”. He was the number one alchemist.

Mao Zhui shook his head. “You’re still underestimating that person.”

Gao Gu smiled. “Or am I overestimating myself?”

Mao Zhui smiled. “I’ll wait until I eat my sauce meat and garlic.”

***

In Hongzhou of Dali, a new harvesting institute has been set up.

The Chief official Lin Zhengcheng was sitting next to the fire, waiting for a group to arrive.

The neighboring Yu Province had previously established a weaving bureau, nominally overseeing the weaving of imperial and official textiles within the province. The first official was Li Baozhen, a young officer with military merit.

The three people greeted him. Lin Zhengcheng didn’t react much. They all sat around the fire.

Lin Zhencheng turned his head and looked at the old man. “Zhu He, it’s been a long time.”

Zhu He nodded and smiled: “It’s been almost twenty years.”

Turning to Zhu Lu, he asked, “Are you married?”

The woman shook her head lightly. “Not yet.”

Lin Zhengcheng nodded: “I know that your heart has always been high.”

Li Baozhen was envy that the pair can talk to Lin Zhengcheng, while he was merely greeting a senior official.

Like the Yu province magistrate, he cannot investigate the affairs of a level 4 official. So they keep to themselves.

Lin Zhengcheng flicked the charcoal in the brazier, “You need to use wisdom and be discreet to survive.”

Li Baozhen nodded and smiled: “You need to know how to manage the fire and what to do with the coal. Also, you need to keep an eye on people who are warming themselves next to the fire.”

Lin Zhencheng nodded, he knew that he can have a conversation with this man.

Lin Zhengcheng casually asked: “After so many years, do you have any thoughts about this?”

“Don’t underestimate anyone.”

Li Baozhen replied: “There’s so many different people. You have to especially pay attention to those who don’t have much.”

Zhu Lu hesitated and said softly: “Lord has always liked to deal with people from all walks of life, and not many Da Li officials.”

Lin Zhengcheng smiled: “A dragon doesn’t take action until necessary.”

Lin Zhengcheng said: “If you want to hear someone say a dragon is flying, it still needs more. Of course, I am just a clerk, no need to take it seriously.”

Li Baozhen smiled: “I only know how precious the old words from the past are after leaving the homeland for many years.”

Lin Zhengcheng still said very little. The atmosphere was awkward.

Li Baozhen took Zhu He and Zhu Lu and left after the greeting. They traveled back to the Yu province and went to the top of the mountain.

Under the night, Li Baozhen spun a ball of spirit energy.

Both were silent.

Zhu He hopes to leave the government and go to the South and build a legacy.

Zhu Lu was thinking about the past.

She had split off from the group that went to school.

If that didn’t happen, would she have arrived at the Da Sui academy.

The two groups were split in two.

They encountered someone named Aliang who said he was a swordmaster.

In the end, the three parted ways and went along different paths.

Li Baozhen and she followed the second lord, a member of the Fortune Street Li clan.

They found out that a swordmaster went to the green sky world.

Li Baoping has become a scholar. Even Li Huai has become an elite scholar of the Da Sui Academy.

There were three new people that joined the team, Cui Dongshan and the Lu’s family. They traveled to the Da Sui academy.

Yu Lu was expected to be powerful soon. Xie Xie has become a divine spirit.

Especially Chen, who now buys mountains and is doing very well.

She wondered if she should have been there at the school. However, she was content following Lord.

After finding out that Chen has gained power in the mountain, she became wary and her father comforted her and said he wouldn’t care.

After this, the truth finally hit her.

Zhu He asked her: “What are you thinking about?”

Zhu Lu smiles and shakes her head: “Nothing.”

There was a mountain called the Candle Peak.

A general who has not married yet looked at the view.

According to the Da Li’s rules, one can be promoted to patrol officer and that is the highest you can get. Most of the general has followed Song Zhangjin. And the generals reside on the long border.

The man had deserted his guards. The Fuzhou slowly came and landed on the mountain.

The general was unconcerned.

A grade four official, there was no point.

Li Baozhen cupped his hands and smiled: “I’ve seen General Cao.”

Cao was silent and said, “What is it?”

Li Baozhen was silent.

The general frowned and said, “What’s up?”

Li Baozhen smiled and said: “I just want to catch up with someone who remembers the past.”

Cao Yu, was from Shishan and followed the Da Li iron Calvary, and retreated all the way and made many great accomplishments.

Cao would pay respect every year. There were rumors that he was trying to create a new group. But he did not care.

Cao said, “We don’t know each other that much.”

Li Baozhen asked, “When is General Cao going to return home?”

If Cao Yuan would return home, he would be powerful.

Li Baozhen knew Cao’s real ID. Cao Mao was Yu Mao and originally followed King Han and his title was “Spear Poet.”

He ended up killing the King and following S Gao Shan.

Li Baozhen shook his head: “Why ask when you know?”

Cao Wu said: “Is this the Emperor’s intent?”

Li Baozhen was smiling: “The emperor trusts General Yu. There’s so many great fighters. The emperor won’t stop General Yu’s great accomplishments.”

Cao was saying there was nothing to fight for with a weaver.

Li Baozhen smiled: “We’re old comrades.”

Cao sneered: “We’re not the same village, what do you mean by that?”

Li Baozhen said: “We’re the same zodiac. In my hometown, being the same zodiac means old comrades.”

Zhu He and Zhu Lu kept a straight face. The Lord was acting crazy again.

Cao Wu lost his patience: “If there’s nothing else, don’t create anything.”

Li Baozhen threw rocks outside the cliffs: “We’ve both met that man and both have suffered in his hands.”

Cao Wu was silent.

Cao Yu, was from Shishan and followed the Da Li iron Calvary, and retreated all the way and made many great accomplishments.

Yu killed Han Xin and he decided to defect.

Li Baozhen sent a private message: “Other than that, I’ve met a debt collector. He promised me a spot, and I think you too. Da Li Patrol Agent.”

Cao Yu asked, “What about the last name of the general of that time?”

The Yu family had a saying, they need to thank the debt collector.

This debt collector kept the name and wished Cao to become a Da Li patrol agent.

Li Baozhen asked to join forces to catch a fish. After that, he will ensure a high status and be honored after death.

Li Baozhen said, “Even when the hero is old.”

Cao extended his finger and said: “The world is on horseback, with the moon in the sky.”

Li Baozhen sighed, “Let’s pretend I never came.”

Because that was Cao’s answer.

Both were powerful fighters and honor and life were on the field.

In the past, they ran into Chen and his servants. They had an incident with a noble and was going to be killed. Chen was the one that saved them.

They had many promises from a man named Zeng who helped them.

Li Baozhen continued: “I am like Dong Shuijing, we are collectors.”

Yu asked: “Can you just speak what you want?”

“I invite you to assist with the catch of the target.”

Li Baozhen said: “After it’s done, I can guarantee that Yu will reach a high rank and can even find a new path. Yu can be a great mountain God and follow Da Li.”

Li Baozhen threw a stone. It was done.

This was Cao’s answer.

They have met Chen Pingan and met the debt collector, Zeng.

***

In the merit land, a criminal threw bait into the lake.

The youth, Lau Chai, never asks for his name or why he came.

The youth asked: “I heard you can catch different fish with different sticks.”

Lao Chai laughed and said: “Master only need one stick. Beginner needs many.”

The youth said: “It sounds like a master’s words.”

***

Crimson was in isolation.

A group came to see Bai Je.

There’s a young boy with makeup and looking lively.

The boy asked: “Grandpa, can you help me?”

Bai Je said: “What is it?”

She asked if she can enter the other world.

Bai Je asked if he knows Chen.

“We’ll make an agreement. If I fight the Sage, come back. Let me speak to the Sage. Otherwise, I can’t interfere.”

She looked like she did not expect it.

Bai Je said: “I guess you are a little bit in love.”

“I am not sure. But he is always hiding.”

Bai Ge asked if she can change her name to Xie Gou.

Bai Je said: “The name is not my speciality.”

There was a bunch of angry people because this traitor.

“No one is strong in this world.”

Bai je looked at their faces and the group retreated.

“Small, huh?”

***

Lin Zhen Cheng was alone and awake.

She said that the only thing they had was luck. She did not know that her origin was not something that was common.

There’s a phrase, Yu Chen’s friendship.

Her last name was Li.

Her old name came from a girl in Baiyu Jing.

Chen Lu was the one who went to Baiping Continent.

Lin asks if he was not going to tell her.

There will be many result and no if’s.

Lin said that she was so important, why not help her?

The way Zhu Lu was acting could be a path that was right for her.

“Do people come to this world to improve, it’s all up to them.”