(Apologies for the late upload)

Ink Splash Peak, one of the few lofty mountains within the bounds of Joyful Union Mountain, remained unclaimed by anyone. There had been attempts to establish Daoist abodes there, but whenever Lord Yu, of the Yu Estate, felt bored, he would casually toss magical treasures towards Ink Splash Peak, wielding a Rain Banner as if playing a game of pitch-pot, causing the mountain rocks to tumble. Over time, it became a no-man’s-land, hence the many large pits and spiderweb-like cracks all over Ink Splash Peak.

High Daoist masters often possessed techniques to maintain a youthful appearance. Cheng Qian, a Daoist with five hundred years of cultivation, wore a Heavenly Immortal Grotto Robe of extremely high quality, and a simple, gilded bell hung from his waist. The seemingly rejuvenated Daoist breathed with long, steady breaths. Each minor cycle of his cultivation displayed the grand spectacle of the sun rising and setting, and the shifting of stars. However, Cheng Qian had cast an illusion, appearing to ordinary Middle Fifth Realm cultivators as a young Daoist in a green robe.

Due to the two Daoist Lord consorts, Zhao and Yu, having three daughters and one son, Yu Zhen, as the nominal “crown prince in waiting” of Joyful Union Mountain, held his breath. After all, he was facing a Land Immortal proficient in water, fire, and thunder techniques. In terms of one-on-one combat, this current Sect Master of the Golden Citadel Sect was an expert. He had once fought evenly with a demon clan Golden Core Sword Cultivator on the Great Li capital battlefield, showcasing his brilliance. The Emperor of Green Apricot Kingdom had invited Cheng Qian to serve as the National Protector True Man, offering the position three times, but Cheng Qian declined each time.

The Fu Qi, clad in an ink-green python robe, was more interested in the female sword immortal from Heavenly Cauldron County.

Old Dragon City and the Golden Citadel Sect of Green Apricot Kingdom had no prior interactions, neither owing favors nor bearing grudges. He believed that a Daoist Immortal wouldn’t arbitrarily attack him just because he was standing next to Yu Zhen.

During their journey, Yu Zhen had given him a rough overview of the situation at Joyful Union Mountain. The reason for stopping at Ink Splash Peak was to remove the python robe Dharma garment bestowed upon him by the clan’s ancestral hall.

Cheng Qian smiled faintly, “Please trouble Young Master Yu to tell Lord Zhao that this poor Daoist will not be attending the celebrations in the mountain tonight, lest I disturb the esteemed guests’ drinking pleasure.”

Indeed, it would be like a group of bandits celebrating a victory, suddenly having a county constable, whose sole purpose is to capture bandits, appear. It would be more than just a party pooper.

Cheng Qian continued, “However, among the three jade seals, the Imperial Heirloom Seal should be brought back to the capital by this poor Daoist tonight. As for the other two, there is no rush. If the two Lords of the mountain find it difficult to part with them, consider them loaned by His Majesty to the two Lords of Joyful Union Mountain for temporary use as scholar’s objects. But no later than the end of the rainy season, they must be returned to the Green Apricot Kingdom’s royal family. Young Master Yu, this poor Daoist will wait here for news, half an hour. If Joyful Union Mountain does not send the Imperial Heirloom Seal, then this poor Daoist will personally ascend the mountain and retrieve all the seals, saving Zhao Fuyang a trip to the capital.”

Yu Zhen’s face was full of bitterness, and Fu Qi, as an outsider, also sensed that something was amiss.

The Liu Clan of Green Apricot Kingdom had clearly made up their minds to break ties with Joyful Union Mountain.

Joyful Union Mountain was divided into upper and lower mountains: Drooping Kite Mountain with the Misty Abode governed by Zhao Fuyang, and Wisteria Mountain with the Powder Pill Abode, governed by Yu Chunzhi. In addition, there were two mountain god shrines, with Li Ting being the mountain god of Wisteria Mountain Shrine.

Regarding the three seals, Joyful Union Mountain’s initial asking price was the sealing of the mountain gods of Drooping Kite and Wisteria Mountains. The Emperor of Green Apricot Kingdom would personally perform a Feng and Shan sacrifice on the scale of enshrining a great mountain, officially recognizing the two mountains and ordering the construction of shrines. This was, of course, an outrageous demand from the two Lords, an absolutely impossible request. If the Liu Clan Emperor truly dared to be so “condescending,” he would only become a laughingstock among the kings and generals of the continent and the immortal masters on the mountains. However, business negotiations always involved a back-and-forth process of exaggerated demands and on-the-ground bargaining. In fact, the two sides had previously held secret discussions and reached the point of having a Vice Minister of Rites officially recognize the two mountains, but they were stuck on the issue of the cost of building the mountain god shrines: whether the Liu Clan’s internal treasury would pay, or whether Green Apricot Kingdom would grant recognition and Joyful Union Mountain would pay the fees themselves.

Yu Zhen hesitated for a moment, his voice slightly strained, “True Man, why make things difficult for a junior who hasn’t even reached his doorstep?”

“It’s better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. Since I happened to encounter Young Master Yu at Ink Splash Peak, it is Heaven’s will that we should have this conversation.”

Cheng Qian said indifferently, “It’s just passing on a message, what difficulty is there? What, Young Master Yu doesn’t even give this poor Daoist that much face? Does he think that because he has attached himself to a branch of the Fu Clan’s Yan Yu Hall of Old Dragon City, he has become too proud? If this poor Daoist remembers correctly, the Fu Clan’s Yan Yu Hall lineage specializes in raising idlers. According to ancestral teachings, those without imperial examinations or military merit are not allowed to serve as offerings or retainers for mountain immortal abodes or secular dynasties.”

The old True Man, who looked like a youth, was clearly reprimanding Fu Qi, whose status was still refined.

Fu Qi was not annoyed, but became even more curious. What backer had the Liu Clan Emperor of Green Apricot Kingdom recently found, that Cheng Qian would even disregard the Fu Clan of Old Dragon City?

It should be known that the Clan Head Fu Qi, although he had stepped down as the City Lord of Old Dragon City, was now a Jade Purity Realm cultivator, and possessed two half-immortal weapons. Compared to the Fu Clan of Old Dragon City, the Golden Citadel Sect couldn’t compare in terms of cultivators, wealth, or connections. Just the relationship between the Fu Clan of Old Dragon City and the Great Li vassal king Song Mu alone was known to everyone in Treasure Bottle Continent.

Of course, the Yan Yu Hall of the Fu Clan was just one of the Fu Clan’s six branches, and couldn’t be equated with the entire Fu Clan of Old Dragon City. And it was true, as Cheng Qian said, that they were rather unsupportable. Clan ancestral hall meetings had a minimum of twenty and a maximum of forty people, and the members of the Fu Clan’s Yan Yu Hall had only a symbolic seat for centuries. To put it bluntly, the Fu Clan was using them to raise wastrels.

However, even though the Fu Clan’s Yan Yu Hall was not influential within the clan, it was definitely not something that the Golden Citadel Sect could casually provoke. None of the peaks of the Golden Citadel Sect had Nascent Soul cultivators stationed there for more than three hundred years.

Cheng Qian waved his hand, “Half an hour is enough for Young Master Yu to discuss a plan with the two Lords. Remember, whether this matter succeeds or not, Joyful Union Mountain must give this poor Daoist a definite answer.”

Yu Zhen, in his hemp clothing and straw sandals, sighed, cupped his fist, and took his leave, “This junior will return to the mountain and relay the message to the True Man.”

Taking Fu Qi with him, they flew towards Joyful Union Mountain. Yu Zhen’s face was gloomy. After flying tens of miles away from Ink Splash Peak, Yu Zhen laughed telepathically, “You must be laughing at me.”

Fu Qi laughed, “Brother Yu thinks too highly of himself. As for being laughed at, who can compare to us Fu Clan disciples of Yan Yu Hall?”

Yu Zhen teased, “Yes, there are, the sword immortals of Righteous Sun Mountain.”
Fu Qi grasped his collar with one hand and formed a hand seal with the other, silently chanting a Daoist incantation. The python-patterned robe he wore shrunk into a ball and disappeared into his sleeve. “This venerable Real Person seems to be a master of arts as well, a rather diverse cultivation path.”

The “arts” Fu Qi spoke of were not the ancient methods of divination, but the art of calculation. Such practitioners excelled in numerology and were skilled in astronomy and calendrical calculations. However, their status among the Hundred Schools of Thought was never high, much like that of merchants. The saying “If one plus one must truly equal two, then what about the refining of Qi, objects, and elixirs?” was often used on the mountain to mock them.

Yu Zhen asked, puzzled, “What makes you say that?”

Fu Qi said, “If I didn’t see you two at each other’s throats, I would have suspected that Cheng Qian and the two Palace Lords were from the same lineage.”

Yu Zhen said impatiently, “Stop with the riddles.”

Fu Qi explained, “The Dharma robe Cheng Qian wears exhibits the wondrous and ceaseless flow of Daoist energies. It’s an extraordinary sight, far from being an ordinary Dharma treasure. It might even be a treasure of the Golden Citadel Sect that the Ancestral Hall intentionally keeps hidden. Its quality is no less than, and perhaps even surpasses, the Flowing Fire Golden Bell hanging from the Real Person’s waist. Even that Green Spirit Talisman, rumored to command ghosts and spirits, cannot compare. If I’m not mistaken, the robe itself is a heavenly scripture.”

Yu Zhen asked, “You can see through a Land Immortal’s illusion?”

Fu Qi chuckled, “A minor family skill.”

On Real Person Cheng Qian’s Dharma robe, the energies of Yin and Yang were faintly visible, vast and primordial, rising and falling, never ceasing. The pure and turbid energies interacted and coalesced into mountains and rivers, wind and rain, snow and frost.

Yu Zhen teased, “What does this have to do with the art of calculation, Fu Qi? I swear, I’m always impressed by you scholars. Your books are so full of words, but they lack substance.”

Fu Qi revealed the key, “Cheng Qian’s robe encompasses heaven and earth and embodies the mysteries of the divine. The crucial point is that the seven luminaries rotate to the right, which is clearly visible. This is a treasure of immense age, possibly even older than the Golden Citadel Sect itself.”

Yu Zhen scoffed, “What are you even talking about?!”

Fu Qi was exasperated. “It’s tiring being friends with a boorish fellow like you.”

He patiently explained to his friend, who had a basic understanding of literature, what the “seven luminaries” were, also known as the “seven celestial bodies,” which are astronomical terms referring to the sun, the moon, and the five planets: Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn. The difference between left and right rotation was a matter of great debate at the peak of Vast Righteousness Mountain. Confucians and arithmeticians had been arguing endlessly about the left and right rotation of the seven luminaries. Several Confucian sages who compiled astronomical calendars, along with the Lu family of Yin-Yang masters from the Central Earth, and several arithmetician patriarchs, had engaged in many written battles. In the early days, the theory of right rotation of the seven luminaries held absolute sway and had almost become the established doctrine. The theory of left rotation was almost nonexistent. Later, a great figure emerged from the Confucian Temple and completely changed the situation. Left rotation became the established rule and official doctrine. That was why Fu Qi was able to determine that the Daoist robe Cheng Qian wore, with its right-rotating celestial phenomena, was extremely old. Ordinary Qi refiners would indeed find it difficult to access such “high and mighty” inside information. Fu Qi was simply from the Yan Yu Hall lineage, which had a rich collection of books, and he had the money and leisure to learn these seemingly unimportant杂学 that were unrelated to the practice of Qi refining.

However, there were some secrets that Fu Qi did not reveal. For example, Cheng Qian’s Dharma robe likely had the ability to connect the realms of Yin and Yang, to understand the way of day and night. In simple terms, it could help Cheng Qian travel the path of the netherworld.

Fu Qi reminded him, “Brother Yu, remember to tell your uncle and aunt that I am a rogue cultivator from the Yunxiao Dynasty, a humble mountain dweller.”

Yu Zhen nodded and smiled. “And remember not to get caught by my sister. It’s because we’re friends that I’m giving you this advice.”

Over at Splatter Ink Peak, Zhang Caiqin asked, “Senior Cheng, will Zhao Fuyang really hand over the Jade Seal of the Successor of Heaven so willingly?”

The Daoist with the appearance of a young man said confidently, “Normally, he would probably think I’m bluffing and ignore me, and I would have to make a trip to Joyous Union Mountain myself. But tonight, when Joyous Union Mountain is at its most prosperous, Zhao Fuyang and Yu Chunzhi will be suspicious and uncertain, and they won’t dare to take it lightly.”

If Zhao Fuyang refused to see reason, he would have to clean up the sect on behalf of his martial uncle.

Fu Qi’s joke had actually hit the mark. Zhao Fuyang had indeed been a disciple of the Golden Citadel Sect, favored by an Ancestral Patriarch of the Golden Citadel Sect, who had personally made an exception to transmit a secret oral formula to Zhao Fuyang. However, due to Zhao Fuyang’s demonic origin, he had never been able to join the direct line of the Ancestral Hall. Later, there was another incident, and Zhao Fuyang left the Quiet Peak Golden Immortal Temple lineage in a fit of anger.

In fact, Quiet Peak was the ancestral mountain of the Golden Citadel Sect, and the position of Sect Master had always been firmly held by the Golden Immortal Temple. It was only in Cheng Qian’s generation that Drooping Green Peak surpassed it.

Zhao Fuyang was originally a mountain python. He had obtained a great opportunity at the Golden Immortal Temple and, after cultivating and attaining Dao, left the Golden Citadel Sect and became a rogue immortal. By collecting the jade seals of fallen kingdoms to absorb dragon energy, he sought to supplement his cultivation, hoping to refine the mountain and attain the Dao, cultivating to the Golden Immortal Fruit Position spoken of by the Quiet Peak lineage. At that time, Zhao Fuyang would not need to undergo the dragon transformation tribulation, and would be able to transform into a Jiaolong, leaving Joyous Union Mountain, which was both a Daoist temple and a cage, and roam freely across the vast world.

A Nascent Soul Realm mountain jiaolong was enough to rampage across Treasure Bottle Continent.

Cheng Qian looked at the younger generation beside him with admiration and smiled. “Caiqin, no matter what, now that that great figure has agreed to attend the ceremony, Green Apricot Kingdom has nothing to worry about.”

The venerable Real Person narrowed his eyes and looked at the distant outline of Joyous Union Mountain. “If the borderlands of our Green Apricot Kingdom are full of such insignificant characters, demons and ghosts, each one of them unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth, daring to call themselves the Small Shujian Lake, turning these thousands of miles of mountains and rivers into a smog, it’s simply outrageous. Fortunately, there’s still some time before the mid-year ceremony, or I would really have no face to meet that Chen Yin-guan.”

Zhang Caiqin nodded.

If Chen Ping’an were to travel south to the capital of Green Apricot Kingdom to attend the ceremony in the middle of the year, then the existence of this place would inevitably be exposed, and if this young Hidden Official heard of such a ghost-infested territory, it would not be a mere eyesore. Not only the Liu family of Green Apricot Kingdom and the Golden Citadel Sect, but also the Zhang family of Heavenly Administration Commandery, to which Zhang Caiqin belonged, would feel extremely uncomfortable.
In brief, it was because of her previous trip to Oxhorn Ferry with Hong Yangbo, where she unintentionally encountered that young mountain master also idly browsing at the Wrap Shop. To her surprise, he agreed to attend the crown initiation ceremony of the Crown Prince of Azure Apricot Kingdom. This led the Azure Apricot Kingdom’s Willow Emperor and the Guardian Real Person Cheng Qian to resolve, at any cost, to join hands with the Zhang clan of Celestial Cao Commandery and secretly coordinate with the courts of the other two kingdoms. They were determined to cleanse the area within a thousand miles of Mount Harmonious Union, thoroughly eliminating all demons.

If Mount Harmonious Union thought that Cheng Qian’s appearance was solely for the sake of the three jade seals, they were sorely mistaken.

Cheng Qian stared at Mount Harmonious Union, and smiled faintly: “There’s a common saying in the markets, ‘Three inches of dust on a sunny day, a street of mud when it rains,’ to describe a difficult road.”

Zhang Caiqin knowingly smiled, “Uncle Cheng, that’s why we need to sprinkle the streets with clean water and pave them with yellow earth.”

All for the sake of the grand arrival of Chen Yuguan of Fallen Mountain.

Cheng Qian asked, “Caiqin, your ability to persuade this person to come to the capital is a great achievement. Hong Yangbo, that taciturn fellow, was vague in his letter. Can you elaborate?”

It was said that this Mountain Master Chen rarely gave anyone face.

Zhang Caiqin looked embarrassed, and said, “Uncle Cheng, I have nothing to hide. It was really just good fortune, relying on the fact that he had visited Azure Coin Market a few times in his early years, and formed a bond of friendship with Uncle Hong.”

Cheng Qian smiled and did not ask further.

But when talking about that young Hermit Official, the old Real Person couldn’t help but think of the young woman with a bun hairstyle on the battlefield of the former capital. Her boxing skills were truly unmatched.

If this “Zheng Qian,” or rather, Chen Yuguan’s senior disciple, Pei Qian, were to appear in that small town, that would be interesting. He wondered what the two Prefecture Lords would think?

On the Mount Harmonious Union side, Powder Pellet Manor was located on the lower mountain, at Wisteria Mountain. Among them, the Garden of Leaving Bitterness was the private garden of Prefecture Lord Yu Chunzhi.

The two Prefecture Lords, Zhao and Yu, personally escorted their distinguished guest to this place, where the spirit wall was actually an enormous snowflake coin.

As Qin Que skirted around this “spirit wall,” he glanced at it out of the corner of his eye. It was wide, but rather thin.

Yu Chunzhi had once traveled through the Book of Documents Lake, and had a good relationship with Tian Hujun, a female cultivator from Azure Gorge Island. They often exchanged letters in the past.

However, at that time, Tian Hujun had not yet formed her Golden Core, and was still a Dragon Gate Realm cultivator. Moreover, her lineage identity was not Liu Zhimao, the Intercepting River True Lord’s chief disciple, but his second disciple.

It was just that the senior brother had unfortunate luck, encountered a junior disciple of some demon king, and the two became enemies. He was casually killed, and even his master, Liu Zhimao, did not pursue the matter.

Now, Tian Hujun was the Island Master of Plain Scale Island, a local Golden Core cultivator of Book of Documents Lake, and a lineage cultivator of True Realm Sect, with a seat in the Ancestral Hall of Willow Palace Island.

However, compared to that junior disciple surnamed Gu, there was still a vast difference, dwarfed by the other. After all, the latter was now a direct disciple of Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City, and there was even a rumor that Immortal Han Qiaose doted on this grand-nephew extremely.

As Qin Que sat down in the banquet hall, he noticed wooden carvings sculpted on the beams, depicting the three old gods of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity, and a little immortal boy, with the auspicious meaning of lucky stars shining brightly, filling the hall with joy.

In fact, the entire banquet hall was a pretentious creation of Yu Chunzhi. She had dismantled a magnificent ancestral hall from a powerful clan of a dynasty down the mountain. She had artisans label each component, moved it piece by piece to Wisteria Mountain, and finally reassembled it, almost identical to the original residence.

The upper mountain and lower mountain of Mount Harmonious Union, Plunging Kite and Wisteria, were all changed mountain names. They were once famous mountains with great origins. Plunging Kite Mountain was once the Crown Prince’s mountain of a great nation, built with imperial family temples. The emperor dispatched a consort general and a vice minister of works, leading tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians, spending ten years extensively repairing the mansion and building over twenty imperial temples and Taoist abbeys. Its status was second only to the Five Sacred Mountains, and the court had a permanent commissioner stationed there. After the change of dynasties, it was abandoned. Speaking of the foot of Wisteria Mountain, the predecessor of this Powder Pellet Manor was historically the magnificent private residence of a county princess.

Two hosts and one guest sat in the grandmaster chairs, chatting about recent landscape anecdotes of Treasure Bottle Continent.

For example, the Spirit Flight Abbey in the neighboring country of the southern Cloud Soar Dynasty had been elevated to a Taoist Palace, following closely behind the Grand Blessing Chan Temple, and obtaining the title with “Sect”.

Qin Que’s master was the Chief Liu of the True Realm Sect.

Now, throughout the entire Treasure Bottle Continent, even including the Grand Blessing Temple of Buddhism and the Spirit Flight Palace of Taoism, how many titled with “Sect” existed?

Yu Chunzhi spoke directly, half-jokingly saying, “Brother Qin, Liu Laocheng is an immortal now, surely aspiring to immortality. Is it possible to have True Lord Liu take over the position of Sect Master of the True Realm Sect?”

Qin Que smiled and did not take the bait. He didn’t dare to casually comment on such a topic that could lead to certain death, so he merely praised Sect Master Liu’s diligent governance.

Zhao Fuyang took a sip of the cloud mist tea stir-fried at the shrine on Mount Plunging Kite and smiled, “I heard that the Grand Monk of the Grand Blessing Chan Temple just held an enthronement ceremony last year. Although the Hermit Official of Fallen Mountain did not personally congratulate him, he asked the Mountain Lord of the Northern Peak, Wei, to send a couplet. The Grand Blessing Temple also attached great importance to it, hanging it together with the couplet of the Profound Sky Temple of the Central Earth.”

Qin Que looked composed, but in reality, his mood was complicated. He nodded, “Indeed, there is such a thing.”

If he could, Qin Que would never want to see that person surnamed Chen again in his life, even if the other had been the accountant for his Azure Gorge Island for a period of time.

Yu Chunzhi said, “Everyone says that this Grand Monk’s Buddhist Dharma is profound, with the two Zen Buddhist allusions of patching a tattered robe with colorful clouds and releasing a tiger back to the mountains, famous throughout the continent. In fact, there is another public case, but it is relatively less widely circulated in Treasure Bottle Continent. I only heard Fuyang mention it. It is said that the late Emperor of Grand Li once summoned this high monk and discussed Zen with him. As a result, when they walked in the Imperial Garden, the birds were startled and flew away, and the foxes and rabbits fled.”

“The late Emperor of Grand Li then smiled and asked, ‘I only heard that enlightened monks walk in the mountains, and ferocious beasts not only do not disturb them, but instead become close to them, willing to be guardians. Why is it like this today?'”

“And guess what, the old monk actually replied, ‘This old monk is fond of killing.'”

“Brother Qin, you are knowledgeable and well-informed. Regarding this matter, do you know if it is true or false?”

Qin Que nodded and said, “Coincidentally, I heard my master mention it. This matter is not false. My master also said that the Grand Li National Preceptor was also present at the time, and once said to the old monk, ‘Monks don’t have that many inner thieves to kill. Isn’t it like raising a tiger to cause trouble?'”

Yu Chunzhi was stunned. What did that mean? She then turned to look at her husband.
Zhao Fuyang pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, “Truly the words of a celestial being high in the clouds, fanciful and inconceivable.”

Afterwards, Yu Chunzhi mentioned a few embarrassing incidents about Zhengyang Mountain. Nowadays, on Baoping Continent, not mentioning the sword immortals of Zhengyang Mountain, or having a good laugh at them, wouldn’t be considered a proper conversation.

In fact, the three of them discussing these matters, even if they were poking fun at Zhengyang Mountain, which had only recently been promoted to a sect, was like wealthy people in a remote county chatting about the richest man in the country.

Qin Que himself was merely a Dragon Gate realm cultivator. If it were just for this level of cultivation, it wouldn’t be enough to make the two Palace Masters of the Harmonious Joy Mountain, both of whom were Golden Core cultivators, treat him with such courtesy, even flattery. In reality, with the combined skills of Zhao Fuyang and Yu Chunzhi, killing a Golden Core cultivator wasn’t impossible. Last time, the Zhang Clan cultivator from Tiancao Prefecture aggressively attacked Harmonious Joy Mountain, and the two sides had already engaged in a real battle. If it hadn’t been for that old Pure Yang paragon intervening, they might have kept a Golden Core Earth Immortal as a guest on Harmonious Joy Mountain.

Yu Chunzhi was old friends with Tian Hujun, and Zhao Fuyang was also friends with Qin Que. Back when Zhao Fuyang left the Golden闕 Sect in resentment, he had considered settling down near Shujian Lake. However, his cultivation methods didn’t align with Shujian Lake, and more importantly, Shujian Lake was simply too treacherous. Not to mention Liu Laocheng of Gongliu Island, who was already in the upper five realms at the time, but also Liu Zhimao of Qingxia Island and Zhong Su of Huangli Island – none of them were easy to deal with. Zhao Fuyang was just a Dragon Gate cultivator back then, so of course he didn’t dare occupy an island and establish a manor for cultivation. Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, a century had gone by. Zhao Fuyang couldn’t imagine that Qin Que, a ruthless man who was a rogue cultivator at heart, could become a registered cultivator of a sect.

The Fourth Miss appeared at the entrance of the banquet hall with the mountain god, Li Ting.

She removed her veiled hat, revealing an oval face quite similar to Yu Chunzhi’s.

Yu Chunzhi’s expression was loving as she introduced her to Qin Que, “Brother Qin, this is the youngest of our family, our darling. Her name is Zhao Yan. Fuyang has spoiled her rotten since she was little. Fuyang can’t bear to let her marry, and I don’t dare to let her go. I can still discipline her when she’s by my side. If she marries, I’m afraid she’ll be kicked out by her in-laws in a few days, crying and running back home. What a disgrace!”

The woman quickly performed a deep bow, “Zhao Yan greets Uncle Qin.”

Qin Que said amiably, “I’ve heard the Eldest Mistress say that the Fourth Miss has excellent aptitude for cultivation. She entered the Cave Realm a little after twenty years old, a true prodigy! In my opinion, Harmonious Joy Mountain should just recruit a son-in-law and have him marry in. Don’t let her marry far away. Don’t let the fertile water flow into another’s field.”

Li Ting quickly clasped his hands and bowed, “Little god greets Immortal Master Qin.”

Registered cultivators have their own way of life and dealing with the world. Wild cultivators also have their own ways of surviving.

Baoping Continent has a little booklet, its author unknown, which records the individuals from the Immortal Mansions and powerful clans of the continent that are best left undisturbed. A list, over a hundred people long.

For example, Qin Que and his junior brother Chao Che from Qingxia Island are both on this list, although their rankings are relatively low.

Shujian Lake alone accounts for nearly a tenth of the list, along with young cultivators such as Lü Caisang of Huangli Island and Yuan Yuan of Guming Island.

Of course, Golden Core Earth Immortals like Tian Hujun, the lord of Sulin Island, naturally didn’t need to be on the list.

Zhao Fuyang said, “Li Ting, there are no outsiders here. Just get to the point.”

Li Ting said, “Reporting to the two Palace Masters, Zhang Yujiao and Jin Lou’s attitudes are rather evasive. They haven’t agreed, nor have they said they will force their way up the mountain. They are currently in the town at the foot of the mountain.”

Zhao Fuyang then introduced the two cultivators’ identities and backgrounds to Qin Que.

Yu Chunzhi smiled sweetly and said, “Those two children, worthy of being registered cultivators, are frolicking and flirting all the way to the territory of Harmonious Joy Mountain.”

Zhao Fuyang said, “That Zhang Yujiao is a mid-five realm sword cultivator, not to be underestimated. If something were to happen to him here, the Zhang Clan of Tiancao Prefecture would feel like a piece of their heart has been cut out, and they wouldn’t let it go. Li Ting, pass down the order that as long as they keep their agreement and don’t cause trouble on the mountain, no one in the town is allowed to provoke them.”

Li Ting clasped his hands and accepted the order, “This official respectfully obeys the Palace Master’s decree.”

No one knows a daughter like her mother. Yu Chunzhi asked with a smile, “Yan’er, what does that young sword immortal look like?”

Zhao Yan pulled up a chair and sat down, nodding and smiling, “Quite handsome.”

If Qin Que wasn’t present, they wouldn’t be chatting like this.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Zhao Fuyang turned to look outside the door, catching sight of two figures, and coldly snorted, “You’re finally willing to come back.”

It turned out to be Yu Zhen and Fu Qi.

Yu Chunzhi immediately became displeased and glared at him, “Yu Zhen finally comes home after so long, and you’re pulling a face. Just because he’s not your biological son, you treat him so coldly?”

Zhao Fuyang said, “If Yu Zhen were my biological son, and he dared to be away from home all year round, just wandering around and not willing to share any of the responsibilities of the two palaces, I would have already hung him up and beaten him several times.”

Yu Zhen’s expression was awkward. In fact, Zhao Fuyang, his stepfather, had treated him well, acting as both father and master, carefully imparting his knowledge and skills, and even bestowing upon him a powerful artifact that could be a mountain-protecting treasure, more so than his own father.

Yu Chunzhi asked with a smile, “And this young man is?”

Yu Zhen introduced with a smile, “A friend of mine, surnamed Yan, named She, is a rogue cultivator from the Yunxiao Dynasty. We went through that strange Autumn Wind Temple together and forged a life-saving friendship.”

Zhao Fuyang said with a smile, “Young brother has a good name. ‘Yan Er Yu Le, Shi Zhong Bu Yi.’ (May you feast and be merry, and never cease in enjoyment.) If that could truly be the case, then you would be a carefree little immortal.”

Fu Qi quickly clasped his hands, “Junior pays respects to Palace Master Zhao and Palace Master Yu.”

Yu Zhen was different from his sister Zhao Yan. He had been to Shujian Lake before and was familiar with elders like Tian Hujun and Qin Que, so he directly said, “Just now, Cheng Qian and Zhang Caiqin showed up together at Spilled Ink Peak. Old Paragon wants father to hand over the three jade seals tonight. After the plum rains end this year, the remaining two will be returned to the Liu Clan of Qingxing Kingdom. If Harmonious Joy Mountain doesn’t agree to this, then starting from the moment I left Spilled Ink Peak, within half an hour, Cheng Qian will personally come up the mountain.”