Having crossed the vast ocean, and with a fair reckoning of the pace of the visitor from Fallen Mountain journeying south, Chen Ping’an was in no particular rush. He spent his days practicing the arcane sword-art of displacement, his form dissolving into a dozen or so shimmering sword-lights. Upon the jade-green waves, he traversed the mortal realm with a swiftness that seemed to defy the river of time itself. More precisely, each sword-light followed the faintest currents of this temporal river, moving with the grace of a water strider upon a boundless pond, as if one without rank walked among the unranked.

After countless repetitions, Chen Ping’an had achieved a level of mastery comparable to Ning Yao’s first attempt at this very technique. Was this what they called ‘the slow bird flies early’, or ‘diligence makes up for deficiency’?

Pausing on an isle nestled close to the shores of the Azure Bottle Continent, Chen Ping’an perched upon a branch, cupping his hands in a gesture of water magic. A spring bubbled forth within his palms, and he splashed the cool water upon his face.

Little Mo, seated nearby with his verdant bamboo staff resting across his lap, remarked, “Young Master possesses a rare talent.”

Chen Ping’an scoffed, “Spare your honeyed words. Flattery holds no sway with me.”

Little Mo replied earnestly, “That sword arts differ in their execution depending on the wielder is common knowledge, a simple result of a swordsman’s current cultivation. But the master who taught me this art said that the true genius is one who can draw the most profound essence from any sword technique. Such practice is known as ‘breaking through barriers’.”

Chen Ping’an considered this, wiping the water from his face and shaking his hands. “Tell me more,” he urged.

Little Mo continued, “A swordsman’s talent cannot be measured solely by the speed at which they grasp a blade at the start. That is merely the distinction between the commonplace genius and the ordinary. It is a shallow understanding. When *I* execute this art, I do so with ease, but my own swordsmanship does not improve, and my inner world gains nothing. But with you, Young Master, it is different. This reveals a deeper truth about swordplay: the art is but an instrument, the swordsman is the living soul. To offer an example, as I travel north with you, my use of this technique is akin to drinking alone, using my own spirit as wine. It brings no increase in refined sword-intent, only a depletion of spirit. But when *you* wield it, Young Master, you drink from the very essence of the world, tempering your body, and increasing your sword-intent. The stamina of a swordsman comes from this. You, and that Zong Yuan from the Sword Qi Great Wall, both possess this quality – a tenacity, a delayed but immense potential. As the years pass, your path will broaden and your Way will become complete.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, smiling, “That explanation is quite refreshing.”

It seemed that Little Mo and Old Immortal Jia, despite their differing approaches, ultimately followed the same road.

Little Mo paused, gently stroking his bamboo staff. “Many so-called ‘obvious’ prodigies miss a great deal in their pursuit of the Way. They might compensate with more sword arts and divine abilities, but in the end, every cultivator’s inner world has a finite capacity for Dao. When the bottleneck arrives, the climb to the Heavens becomes impossibly difficult, and they suffer greatly.”

“This explains why those of us, including Bai Jing, Yang Zhi and myself, ascended to the Ascension Realm with such ease, yet now struggle to break through that barrier. We walked too quickly, focusing only on visible accomplishments, while neglecting the intangible absorption of Dao-essence. We overlooked what we should have heeded. At heart, we trusted only in sword arts and powers, not ourselves.”

“There are pros and cons. The benefit is that the Ascension Realm cultivators of the Savage Lands are renowned as the deadliest in all the worlds. The drawback is that the number of demon cultivators reaching the Fourteenth Realm is consistently lower than that of human cultivators in the other three worlds.”

Chen Ping’an observed, “The implications of that last statement are considerable.”

Little Mo explained, “Therefore, when we now display our sword arts and divine powers, it is an act of recollection and tracing. But for you and Zong Yuan, it is a step-by-step ascent, both looking to the path ahead and reflecting on the road traveled.”

“Of course, the innate talent of Zhu Yan and Yang Zhi is somewhat inferior to that of Bai Jing and myself.”

Chen Ping’an replied, “I shall have Cui Dongshan pass on these insights to Chai Wu and Sun Chunwang. I am certain they will find them useful.”

Little Mo smiled gently. “I have already discussed this with them during the trip on the Wind Vane Ferry. They seemed to be listening. However, such abstract principles can only be truly digested when combined with their own trials, and when experience confirms theory.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “There are no exceptions.”

As the saying goes, “If you seek the path uphill, ask the one who has walked down.”

*Damnation! It seems that only geniuses can truly converse.*

Chen Ping’an, affecting a casual air, said, “You may soon reunite with your old friend Yang Zhi. He has recovered his freedom from the Confucian Temple, thanks to a significant transaction with me, and will be involved in the canal excavation in Green Leaf Continent.”

Little Mo and Qing Tong were barely acquaintances, having merely crossed paths, but Little Mo and Yang Zhi were true old friends.

Hearing this, Little Mo turned to look at his Young Master, but discerned no emotions or disturbance in his Dao-heart, and suppressed his curiosity.

Suddenly, Chen Ping’an’s expression shifted as he withdrew a talisman from his sleeve. A bright smile spread across his face, and his aura underwent a complete transformation, making him seem a different person.

Little Mo visibly relaxed.

The talisman in Chen Ping’an’s hand was crafted from a “Heavenfall Verdant Decree”, an exceptionally valuable item gifted to Cui Dongshan and Jiang Shangzhen by Wu Shuangjiang of the Night-Voyaging Ships. Such talismans were once used by Daoist sects in the Grand Azure World to “invoke the White Jade Capital’s Grand Master”. To draw upon the talisman, Cui Dongshan used a method called “Manifest Talisman”, in the style of talismans of profound mystery. Each person involved in the correspondence was supposed to carry a copy of the same talisman, but their separation by great distances, such as being across continents, would weaken the effect, making the writing on the talisman blurry. Furthermore, there was some lag between the sending and receiving of the talisman. The writing was in a unique “devil-script” invented by Cui Dongshan. Chen Ping’an was the only one who had ever seen the key to decipher it, so even if the talisman fell into other hands, it would appear to be unreadable.

Chen Ping’an pocketed the talisman, stood up, and said, “Little Mo, I must return to Immortal Capital Mountain. I have to see a senior and must travel with haste. I shall use the Three Mountains Talisman. You can return to Fallen Mountain and await me there.”

Earlier, when they left Demon Suppression Tower, Qing Tong had observed that Chen Ping’an could use the Three Mountains Talisman to cross vast distances without consuming his own merit, because the talisman’s incantation was like the auspicious greetings sent by the Old Scholar. Chen Ping’an had estimated that he could use it eight times without crossing continents, or at most three times if he did. Little Mo had also learned the technique, but it was not wise to use his three chances too early, so Chen Ping’an decided to return alone to Green Peak Sword Sect.

Little Mo hesitated, “Might I accompany you, Young Master?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “It will take but the time it takes for three incense sticks to burn, and I will only be choosing two familiar mountains, Tranquil Peak and Cattail Peak. What could go wrong? There’s no need to worry. I shall use the Three Mountains Talisman again on the return to Fallen Mountain, and we should arrive in Golden Locust County around the same time. You don’t have to rush too much, Young Master Zhu is on the mountain; a delayed return should not be a problem.”

Chen Ping’an nodded vigorously. “There will definitely be no problems.”

Little Mo asked curiously, “Which senior is visiting Green Peak Sword Sect that warrants such ceremony?

After all, few guests could compel the Master of Fallen Mountain to personally receive them, be it Mountain Elders such as Dragon Tiger Mountain’s Grand Celestial Master Liang Shuang, or Martial Grand Masters like Cattail Peak’s Ye Yunyun. Perhaps the only exception had been General Yao Zhen of Great Spring Dynasty, whom Chen Ping’an had left Immortal Capital Mountain to seek out on a northern-bound ferry.

As for Liu Jinglong, Zhong Kui, and Zhang Shanfeng, his relations with them were too good, and they were considered his peers, so there was no need for formalities.

Chen Ping’an smiled. “It is Senior Song from the Spirit Tomb Mountain Shrine of Azure Bottle Continent.”

Little Mo understood, and said that he was not surprised that this matter would cause the Young Master to use the Three Mountains Talisman twice.

Little Millet, the Earpiece God, had told him that the Young Master had met a Senior who liked hotpot and checking the almanac before heading out.

The letter from Cui Dongshan contained simple information: Song Yushao from Comb Water Country had visited Green Peak Sword Sect, but left when he learned that the Master was not at home, without revealing his identity.

Immortal cultivation could grant agelessness, and allow immortals to choose their appearance at any age, but the aging of mortal friends could not be reversed. The next time a young man ventures down the mountain, some of those men might no longer be there.

Chen Ping’an had planned to visit three places after entertaining Bai Jing on the return to Azure Bottle Continent: Spirit Tomb Mountain, Fairy Tour County, and Hong Prefecture Timber Mill.

He was certainly going to these places, and he intended to remain at the shrine and county for a while, taking his time.

With the Three Mountains Talisman in hand, Chen Ping’an found himself at the gates of Tranquil Peak.

A brilliant sword-light shone for a long time from the ancestral hall at the peak, its aura piercing the heavens.

This was Huang Ting’s way of declaring to the mountain abodes in the northern continent that anyone who dared meddle with Tranquil Peak would face her blade.

Following tradition, Chen Ping’an lit three mountain incense sticks at the foot of the mountain, paying his respects to the never-met Marquis of the Three Mountains.

He glanced up at the sky, where an ancient sword hung, its sword aura like a slender, pure-white waterfall cascading upon the summit of Tranquil Peak, never dispersing.

It would take too much effort for Huang Ting to create a similar spectacle with one of her natal flying swords, and she could not have maintained such an effect for very long.

This sword seemed to be a relic of an ancient sword immortal that Huang Ting had brought back from the Five Colored World. She said that she had simply picked it up from some unknown mystical realm.

The sword was sentient, and had taken the initiative to recognize her as its master. She had simply gone there to join in the fun, but the magical sword insisted on choosing Huang Ting, despite her protests.

This was nothing like Chen Ping’an’s experience with the “Carrying Home on Your Back” structure in the Northern Reed Continent.

No wonder Jiang Shangzhen’s luck and Huang Ting’s fortune were known as two wonders of Green Leaf Continent.

Moreover, the disciple Huang Ting had taken in the Five Colored World was her first. That girl was also the first native to be born in that new world.

Huang Ting’s accidental act was something that even Cui Dongshan and other schemers could never have found.

Currently, Tranquil Peak only had Huang Ting and two retainers: Yu Fushan and Daoist Longmen, who went by the name Guo Ran.

Even Tan Yingzhou had abandoned his master, and had instead followed Zheng Yougan on the Willow Shade Ferry to visit Cattail Peak with Ye Yunyun and the others.

Chen Ping’an walked to the summit and found a two-courtyard estate of white jade, which must have been built by Guo Ran.

Yu Fushan sat on the steps at the entrance, and merely smiled and clasped his fist when he saw the youth in the green shirt. Chen Ping’an returned the gesture, stepping over the threshold to find Huang Ting and Guo Ran busy inside, a desk littered with documents, records, and copies of the ancestral hall’s geographical records. Huang Ting had been compelled to leave Green Leaf Continent for the Five Colored World by the Old Celestial Master and the previous Master of Tranquil Peak. Now that she had returned home, she needed to re-establish the bounds of Tranquil Peak’s territory, as well as the mountain fiefdoms that had either declared independence and renegotiated land deeds with the now-reinstated local government, or fallen into other hands, with new sects founding their own ancestral halls. Huang Ting needed to contact each of these parties.

Chen Ping’an stood near the doorway. Huang Ting looked up and said impatiently, “I am the chief guest retainer of Green Peak Sword Sect, and you will soon be a junior retainer of Tranquil Peak. We’re not strangers, so what are you being cautious about?”

Chen Ping’an pulled up a chair and sat next to Guo Ran. They exchanged a nod of respect.

Leaning back in her chair, Huang Ting massaged her temples and groaned, “If not for Guo Ran’s help, I would be completely lost. I don’t know when I could have rebuilt the ancestral hall. And our guard retainer at the entrance is useless.”

Yu Fushan did not mind the comment. He laughed and said, “I lack the ability. I am ashamed.”

Huang Ting was beautiful, and everything she said seemed right.

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Those who are capable are asked to do more. With Senior Longmen here, making plans, the restoration of Tranquil Peak’s traditions is just around the corner.”

Huang Ting smiled at the young Founder of the Junior Sect. “As a junior retainer, shouldn’t you show your support?”

Understanding, Chen Ping’an said, “I have already started writing a book. I just need Cui Dongshan to help me fill in the details. I expect to send it here in a few days.”

Huang Ting nodded. Only now did she realize the difficulties of being a competent mountain lord.

Chen Ping’an picked up a ledger from the desk and began browsing it, saying, “Huang Ting, I repeat my previous offer: if you need spirit money, Fallen Mountain has plenty of Rain Grain Coins. I can lend them to you, with interest, of course.”

Jiang Shangzhen had estimated that to restore Tranquil Peak to even thirty percent of its former glory would cost three or four thousand Rain Grain Coins. Fallen Mountain could easily take out around fifteen hundred Coins to help Tranquil Peak overcome its immediate difficulties.

Huang Ting shook her head and pointed to the treasure pouch on the table. “I don’t want a loan. Money can be repaid, but favors are harder. Look at the treasure pouch first, and take whatever catches your eye. I’m no expert in identifying treasures, and I only trust my gut. If I had known I could return to the Grand Azure World so soon, I would have taken more. Now that I think about it, I visited two ancient secret realms for nothing, which is my own fault. When you go down the mountain, just take the pouch with you and help me sell it. There’s a shortage of these things in Green Leaf, Azure Bottle, and Floating Yao. What do you say to keeping one-tenth of all profits? If you’re concerned, we can discuss the split. I don’t care how you ‘slaughter the pigs’ to find ignorant people to sell to. The higher the price you get, the more you get, Chen Founder.”

Chen Ping’an did not refuse. He put the pouch in his sleeve. “Agreed. One-tenth is mine. Rest assured, I will set high prices. Afterwards, you can have the pouch back, and we can split the profits nine to one.”

Yu Fushan joked, “Chen Hidden Official, are you going to take advantage of those you are familiar with?”

Chen Ping’an stood up, dusted off his sleeves, and returned the chair to its original position, and said, “I am very familiar with you, Fellow Daoist Yu.”

Yu Fushan immediately fell silent.

Chen Ping’an clasped his hands in farewell. Guo Ran suddenly stood up. “I’d like to have a word with Chen Founder.”

Huang Ting looked at the records on her desk and sighed, then found a suitable candidate to be the next Sect Master. She was truly not skilled at these matters.

Chen Ping’an asked Yu Fushan to join him on a stroll.

Chen Ping’an said, “Fellow Daoist Yu, you may need to find time amidst your busy schedule to oversee the diversion of the rivers and tributaries for the central Green Leaf Continent Canal excavation. In return, you will have the official right to travel through the Great Canal, and there will be no objections.”

Yu Fushan might not be good with administrative affairs, but he was good at the ways of the world. “Surely the Hidden Official can see how busy I am. Tranquil Peak is one of the initiators of this canal. Both logically and ethically, I cannot refuse to participate. In the future, I would like you to determine a price for the favor of this great incense of becoming a dragon. Do not hesitate to name the price, whether it is a few spirit coins, as I am like Huang Ting in this matter: I would rather owe you money than a favor. To be frank, I have nothing to my name, and I will pay back as much as I can. Please help me pay in advance, and I will compensate you in the future. Anyway, consider it my debt to Green Peak Sword Sect. It has nothing to do with Tranquil Peak.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, smiling. “Fellow Daoist Yu, by helping with the canal excavation, you will be able to better familiarize yourself with the waters of the main canal. That way, you will kill two birds with one stone.”

Yu Fushan asked, “Did the Hidden Official have this planned from the start?”

Chen Ping’an countered, “You cannot say that I was plotting. It would make me appear to be ill-intentioned, and you would seem to be taken advantage of.”

Yu Fushan used a self-defeating tactic. “If I had been smart, I would not have stayed in a small place all these years, just so I could stay out of trouble. It is no surprise that a shrewd man like Chen Hidden Official has taken advantage of me.”

Yu Fushan gave Chen Ping’an no chance to retort and left as soon as they finished discussing business.

The sun was setting, as if someone had lit a fire on the horizon, turning the clouds scarlet.

“The beauty of lakes and mountains lies in their obscurity, and life’s pleasures should be seized while young.”

Guo Ran, with his youthful appearance, wore a peachwood hairpin in his hair and a dark robe.

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Thank you for your hard work, Senior Longmen.”

Guo Ran said, “I have merely contributed what little I can. The depth of Chen Founder’s concern and the scope of his ambition in the matter of Tranquil Peak’s restoration are beyond my comprehension.”

For some reason, he felt that Chen Founder, who had never even set foot on Tranquil Peak, had long regarded himself as half a Tranquil Peak cultivator.

Chen Ping’an jested, “Now that we are both guest retainers, I presume I will not be turned away when I visit Iron Tree Mountain of the Central Earth Continent?”

Guo Ran said, “I may stay here for a few more years, but I will write a letter to my elder sister. She will greet you.”

A thousand miles away, there was no one in sight, only the lonely feeling of viewing the distant landscape from a great height.

“Of sunsets, the saddest sight is of those seen from high towers.”

Guo Ran remarked, “Having something to do is a good thing for Huang Ting. It distracts her.”

That was why Guo Ran would deliberately allow Huang Ting to make decisions on many of the non-essential details. It was not just because Huang Ting was the mountain lord and he was a retainer.

He wanted to make things difficult for Huang Ting.

Chen Ping’an said softly, “Once it is done, she will feel slightly more at peace.”

Wu Shuangjiang’s Year’s End Palace was called the “Boy’s Cave” by the Azure Sky World.

Was Tranquil Peak not the same?

Chen Ping’an planned to give the *Book of Scarlet Inscriptions* as a gift during the ancestral hall’s completion ceremony. According to Lu Chen, the book’s material was excellent. If they alchemized the 1200 characters into the book, they could form a vast memorial ritual that would serve as the protective formation for Tranquil Peak. Since the book had been gifted to him by Li Xisheng, Chen Ping’an had asked Lu Chen to inquire with Li Xisheng, who had incidentally mentioned this matter to Li Baoping during a recent visit to Green Peak. Li Xisheng had said that he seemed to be aware of it and was not bothered by it.

Li Xisheng also said that he would definitely visit Tranquil Peak if the opportunity arose.

Li Xisheng, who was temporarily a Confucian scholar, was also one of Grand Master Kou Ming’s three purified qi, the founding ancestor of Tranquil Peak’s Daoist branch.

When the previous Master of Tranquil Peak had ascended to the Heavenly Monarch Realm, he had lit incense to invoke a spirit, but he had failed to summon Grand Master Kou Ming to the ancestral hall, which he had deeply regretted.

Chen Ping’an bid farewell to Guo Ran and headed to Cattail Peak.

Guo Ran smiled and clasped his hands. “Chen Founder is a true pure Confucian, speaking of principles in a simple and straightforward manner, with genuine learning, not with strange ideas.”

Chen Ping’an said awkwardly, “I am not worthy of such praise from Senior Longmen.”

Tan Rong’s Daughter of Myriad Stones Studio of Cattail Peak was a well-known establishment both on and off the mountain in Green Leaf Continent.

There were several tight-knit groups among the Grand Azure World’s ferry stewards, who often gathered for a mirror-moon gathering, where they would chat and exchange rare goods, often creating new pathways to wealth. Tan Rong had once arranged with two foreign ferry stewards to buy two versions of printing manuals from a sect on Silverfrost Continent for a high price, but he had stopped talking about it after acquiring the two new seals. He sat behind a table with two new, eye-catching seals, waiting for someone to ask about them.

They chatted about many mundane matters until finally someone asked, “Tan Rong, what are those new matching seals on the table? Let me see the seal marks so I can see if your seal-carving skills have improved or worsened.”

Tan Rong smiled and turned the seals around, revealing the side inscription and his name, but not the actual seal marks.

The mirror-moon fell into silence.

The engraver was “Fallen Mountain Chen Ping’an”.

Someone immediately shouted, “Fake!”

Another said, “Old Tan, why bother?”

Someone else sighed, “Tan Rong, Tan Rong, is a little bit of fame really worth it? It’s not worth it. We all know each other; it’s not like you to put on airs.”

Tan Rong flew into a rage, but he smiled and stroked his beard, his anger gone as soon as he saw someone enter from the entrance! It was better to arrive early than to be late!

An old ferry steward who had attended the first meeting of Inverted Mountain Spring Pennant Studio pulverized several snowflake coins and threw them into the mirror-moon, saying sternly, “Tan Rong, don’t do this sort of thing. It’s taboo. It’s only because I know your character and Cattail Peak’s reputation, or else I would have told the new Hidden Official about this over a few drinks. Don’t think I don’t know the new Hidden Official’s handwriting. The engravings on these seals are weak and without strength. Who are you trying to fool? I’ll take you to the city walls sometime and show you the calligraphy carved by the Hidden Official… ah, Hidden Official?!”

The old Golden Core steward had once worked with a junior Nascent Soul shipowner to record the proceedings of the Spring Pennant Studio meeting.

A young man in a long green robe suddenly appeared in the mirror-moon, standing next to Tan Rong. He clasped his hands together, shook them, and said with a smile, “Judging by the voice, is that Ferry Bell’s Liu Yu?”

Even through the mirror-moon, the old steward felt his scalp tingle and his spine chill, but he did not dare pretend to be deaf. He said in a trembling voice, “It is.”

Another female cultivator quickly threw money into the mirror-moon and said timidly, “Shipowner Liu Shen of ‘Nishang’ greets the Hidden Official.”

Chen Ping’an folded his sleeves and nodded, smiling.

Before ending the mirror-moon gathering, Tan Rong clasped his hands and said, “I wish you all a late Happy New Year. I hope you will all prosper in the coming year.”

The mirror-moon was filled with a flurry of greetings.

Li Baoping and the others had already left Cattail Peak and were continuing their journey south. They would follow the Pearl River into the sea before landing on an island.

With Pei Qian, Zhong Kui, and Yu Jin present, they would not be afraid even if they encountered the Myriad Jade Sect of Three Mountain Blessed Ground.

However, there was a new disciple in Cattail Peak’s ancestral hall: a man called Cui Wanzhan, who was believed to be a nepotistic appointment. In reality, he was an incarnation of Cui Dongshan, but Chen Ping’an could not meet him for now.

Earlier, an old man in a green shirt had come to Green Peak Sword Sect, but had left after hearing that Master Chen was not on the mountain.

Like an elder in a family, they might care, but they pretended not to.

Their words would be light, and their descendants might miss the hidden meanings in their expressions, eyes, and words.

Leaving Cattail Peak, Chen Ping’an arrived at Snow Peak. Cui Dongshan looked aggrieved. I couldn’t force Senior Song to stay, could I?

Would I dare?

With Song Yushao’s stubbornness, if Immortal Capital Mountain insisted on keeping him as a guest, and made him uncomfortable, Master, you would blame me.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Where did Senior Song go?”

Cui Dongshan smiled. “It seems that Senior Song never intended to travel much in Green Leaf Continent. After leaving Green Shirt Ferry, he went straight north. Right now, he might be walking around an old city of the Great Abyss Dynasty. It might be the place where you and Zhong Kui met. The other ghost towns are not worth seeing, but there is a mound that seems to serve as the new City God Temple. It is busy there. Senior Song will definitely want to stop and take a look.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Get back to work. I will go find Senior Song myself.”

Cui Dongshan smiled coyly. “Master, I have good news. Chai Wu is already in the Jade Purity Realm. He has finished refining his natal sword that Little Mo gave him. So Green Peak Sword Sect has another Jade Purity swordsman.”

Chen Ping’an was speechless.

Cui Dongshan said, “I did not hide anything on purpose, so when they heard the news, Sun Chunwang, Bai Xuan, and the others became even more serious about their sword practice. Sun Chunwang is okay, but Bai Xuan is so shocked he does not seem to understand what is happening. He kept saying it was impossible, and was crouched on the ground, hugging his head. He and He Guyu were feeling better, but no one was jealous of Chai Wu’s quick advancement. After all, they are swordsmen from the Sword Qi Great Wall. They have wide horizons and strong Dao-hearts. There will definitely be some who refuse to accept this result, but that only proves that some of them have more ego than others. Those will continue to be troubled by this matter for at least a month.”

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “What an ego.”

That was the sort of person who could talk Qiu Zhi of Nine Diagrams Peak into signing that book of heroes soon after meeting him.

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked two unrelated questions, causing Cui Dongshan to sweat.

“Have you ever fished for eels by the rice paddies?”

“The *Guanzi* says, ‘Having a name that fills the world is worse than having none at all.’ Dongshan, what do you think?”

As Cui Dongshan was about to speak, his Master’s form turned into a dozen sword-lights that flashed past Immortal Capital Mountain.

Dumbfounded, Cui Dongshan mumbled, “Does Master truly want to go against the Confucian Temple?”

“If so, Master will be facing Ritual Sage.”

Cui Dongshan did not want to say anything bad about his Master, so he could only swear at Yang Zhi.

For the first time, Cui Dongshan thought it was good that his Master’s realm was not high enough.

He lost control and cursed Yang Zhi for being a fool who fell for it, and walked right into the trap!

Was she jumping on the cutting board?

Or did she believe that since she was relying on the rules of the Confucian Temple, and was far away from the battlefield, that Master would not dare attack?

Did Ritual Sage mean for this to happen?

Was this a bet with Zou Zi?

The formerly ghostly battlefields of the Great Abyss Dynasty had become clear and bright.

At dusk, an old man with a cotton bag slung over his shoulder slowly entered the city gates. It was the same state as the other places he had visited: destroyed walls and listless.

He looked towards the City God Temple, and was slightly surprised, then went to take a look.

The old man had been wandering the world, but he never went too far from home.

Not long ago, he had found his grandson Song Fengshan and granddaughter-in-law Liu Qian, and had told them that he wanted to visit Green Leaf Continent.

Song Fengshan and Liu Qian had tried to dissuade him, but he was determined, so they had let him go alone.

As for why the old man suddenly had this idea, they knew the reason. It was thanks to Wei Wei, the Mountain God of Split Ridge Mountain, who had sent a secret letter to Liu Qian, whom she considered to be a close friend, to tell her about the upcoming Green Peak Sword Sect Branch and Fallen Mountain. Anyway, it was just a small matter of sending a letter via flying sword, and they could gain goodwill in the process. After all, Liu Qian was now a colleague acknowledged by the Imperial Court and in the Ministry of Rites’ Water and Mountain Register.

In fact, the couple knew that the old man had really wanted to visit the Northern Reed Continent and the Northwestern Flowing Rosy Continent with Yu Prefecture.

He had wanted to go to the former when he was young, as the Martial Grand Master of Comb Water Country thought that there was no difference between swordsmen and sword cultivators. If there was a difference, he would know once he visited.

He had wanted to go to the latter when he was older. He always wanted to visit these two places, but never had.

Song Fengshan was worried about his grandfather going to Green Leaf Continent, where the demons of the Savage World had wreaked the most havoc, and which was now the most troubled place.

Chen Ping’an had already visited Spirit Tomb Mountain with his Dao Companion Ning Yao and had even drunk with him, but he had to rush to the Colorful Clothes Country, so he had not stayed.

Song Yushao was too embarrassed to ask the youth to stay. He was old and did not want to abuse his age. It was good that the young man was busy, but he did not want him to be idle.

As for why he had not been invited to the Fallen Mountain Branch celebration, Song Yushao did not care, but he was a bit resentful. How could a mortal like him attend those mountain events? Besides, the kid’s Branch was not in Azure Bottle Continent. He was probably thinking he was too old to walk.

Rats.

Next time they met, he would scold him.

There were only a dozen living people in the city.

The leader was Hong Chou, a burly man in armor with a sword. The man and the woman Wang Manmeng were lovers.

Wang Manmeng was a rogue cultivator who had a slender waist and plump buttocks.

According to a lecherous fatty, she had the ‘perfect shape’.

These few rogue cultivators and martial artists had come to make a quick buck.

The old saying was ‘horses get fat from night grass’, but it did not work for people. They were about to make a fortune when they ran into a scholar named Zhong, and his fat attendant. The group was forced to do good deeds in the ghost town. They became carpenters, building wheelbarrows to gather the bones scattered throughout the city, and building righteous halls to store them. They also became philanthropists, finding Feng Shui spots to build graves, and identifying the identities of the bones. They had to check the files and gazetteer in the city’s administrative offices. They had never read, copied, or practiced calligraphy so diligently.

They were now sleeping well.

Some of those who worked hard during the day would dream about reciting names all night long, disturbing people’s sleep.

Recently, the group had developed a conflict. Gu Qiu had announced on the morning of the Establishment of Spring that they were free to leave, as the city’s matters had been settled. They should have broken up and divided the spoils, but Wang Manmeng and the others wanted to stay and work with Gu Qiu, hoping to become government retainers and glorify their ancestors. But her lover Hong Chou thought it was meaningless to stay here, so they might as well form a group and find a place to establish a sect, then sell themselves to the Imperial Court for a better price. They had not been able to decide on what to do, so they had been living in two adjacent former government residences, each with a library called the Library of Seven Thousand Volumes and the Library of Eight Thousand Volumes.

Currently, a row of people were squatting on the broken city walls, as if they were sunbathing.

They had nothing to do.

They saw an old man in a long green robe appear on the street. Judging by his gait, he seemed to be skilled.

A thin young man laughed. “Old man, what are you doing in this desolate place?”

He would have called him an ‘old thing’ in the past.

Seeing that the old man did not respond, the thin man deliberately exaggerated, “Old man, you have to be careful. It’s going to be night soon. This is a haunted place full of evil spirits. Don’t be arrogant, thinking you can walk around just because you know a bit of martial arts. Be careful to not get tricked. Those methods are strange and not something that ordinary martial artists can deal with.”

The old man smiled and nodded. “I am a traveler from afar. I can barely understand your language. Thank you for your concern.”

The thin man asked curiously, “Where are you from?”

The old man replied, “Azure Bottle Continent.”

The group felt a chill down their spines.

They would not offend the people from Azure Bottle Continent. That was now the consensus in Green Leaf Continent.

After all, that place produced talent.

For example, the last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall was from Azure Bottle Continent.

Before leaving the ghost town, a fat man named Gu Su swore that he was a close friend of the young Hidden Official. He said that Chen Jianxian was ten feet tall, with a thick waist, a ferocious appearance, and a face that could suppress evil spirits. He even suggested that those of them who were not cultivators should call out the name ‘Young Hidden Official’ when walking at night.

Of course, they did not believe him, because that fat man who salivated over Wang Manmeng could not be friends with the Hidden Official. They still had to praise him, as they had suffered at his hands. They were either hung up or tied to the beams, and it was terrible. The worst thing was that while dozing, the beam riders would suddenly wake up and see a bleeding woman combing her hair, and faint. Upon waking up, they would find themselves in the arms of a female ghost, which was more than enough to break their minds.

Those days in the ghost town felt like years.

Song Yushao went straight to the City God Temple.

He could roughly tell how the local Feng Shui was.

The fact that there were no bones in the city was enough to show that there was a decent City God here.

Gu Qiu, the true master of the ghost town, was now in the old City God Temple.

A ghost girl named Xiao Fang served as his maid.

Gu Qiu came from a noble family in the Great Abyss Dynasty. His father had been the official in charge of the textile bureau. He had been a successful county magistrate.

Before leaving, Zhong had said that he could recommend Gu Qiu to the new Emperor and receive a proper title as the City God.

However, Gu