Revisiting familiar grounds, yet everything has changed. The past events feel like a dream.

Shujian Lake, the Isle of Fine Scales.

Island Lord Tian Hu, who was originally in secluded cultivation, quietly emerged. Within a pavilion atop the mountain peak, she prepared a feast and sat facing a young cultivator clad in scholar’s robes and a silk headband.

Tian Hu’s face was pale, barely daring to utter a few words of greeting. She resembled a mischievous student listening to the teachings of an esteemed master.

The youth collected his thoughts and smiled, “Is Senior Brother Qin still so occupied?”

Hearing the questioning tone, Tian Hu quickly and carefully crafted her response, her voice trembling, “Qin Jue is acquainted with Zhao Fuyang of Zhuiyuan Mountain. I am also somewhat familiar with Yu Chunzhi of Hehuan Mountain’s Fenwan Manor. Over a century ago, Yu Chunzhi visited Qingxia Isle, and Master instructed me to entertain her. A few years back, Yu Chunzhi’s son, Yu Zhen, also secretly traveled through Shujian Lake and visited my Isle of Fine Scales. Therefore, Qin Jue couldn’t decline the invitation to Hehuan Mountain’s betrothal ceremony and departed alone to attend. I need to cultivate in seclusion and am unwilling to be associated with Hehuan Mountain, so I politely declined the invitation. The Hehuan Mountain feast is tonight.”

She answered truthfully, providing all the necessary information without adding any unnecessary details, fearing she might overstep and cause complications.

For example, Hehuan Mountain now calls itself Little Shujian Lake. How could Tian Hu dare to say more than one word about it?

In that moment, she deeply resented Yu Chunzhi. What bad luck that she had to know such a woman.

The youth took a sip of wine, which he had specially purchased from Chishui City before arriving on the island – a wine called Crying Crow. He teased, “Over a century ago? A few years back? It seems Senior Sister Tian’s words are still as ambiguous as ever.”

Tian Hu’s face turned snow-white in an instant. She hurriedly recited the two exact numbers.

The youth raised his palm, wiping his mouth and nose casually, “Senior Sister doesn’t need to be so nervous. It’s just calling itself Little Shujian Lake; it’s not the real Shujian Lake. Besides, what if it were the real Shujian Lake? It’s right beneath Senior Sister and my backside now.”

The snot-nosed kid from Mud Lane, now the White Emperor City’s Gu Can.

After leaving Shujian Lake many years ago, he had just returned to Baoping Continent from the desolate wilderness.

Gu Can asked abruptly, “Master didn’t agree to Liu Laocheng succeeding as the fourth Sect Master of True Realm Sect. Is it because he has ambitions to establish his own sect, or is he afraid of something, avoiding something?”

Tian Hu’s heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, almost unable to breathe. It was her fault for accompanying Master on a visit to Zhang Ye last time, where she heard things she shouldn’t have.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have to pretend not to know about Gu Can’s question.

“Senior Sister hasn’t done anything wrong, so why be so nervous? Is it a case of protesting too much? If I didn’t know Senior Sister’s character, I would suspect Senior Sister.”

Gu Can put down his wine cup, stood up, and leaned against the railing. “The pair of Flower God Cups on the table will be my congratulatory gift to Senior Sister, wishing you success in your secluded cultivation and advancement to the Nascent Soul realm in the future. They are not counterfeit copies.”

Tian Hu followed suit and stood up.

Gu Can said, “Zeng Ye is similar to Lu Caisang of Yellow Oriole Isle; they may not be considered friends, but compared to Senior Sister Tian and Senior Brother Qin and the others, they are different in my heart. In the future, Senior Sister, remember to take care of the Five Isle Sect. After becoming an Earth Immortal in the Nascent Soul realm, in the future hundreds of years of cultivation, help Zeng Ye with one or two acts of kindness in times of need. As for adding flowers to brocade, forget about it. I don’t want to owe Senior Sister favors for such things. When the time comes, someone will naturally remind Senior Sister to lend a hand, helping the Five Isle Sect through difficulties, so Senior Sister doesn’t need to think about when and how to act.”

Tian Hu not only didn’t feel burdened, but instead breathed a sigh of relief and said softly, “It is my duty; I will do my best.”

Gu Can smiled, “Senior Sister Tian is still the same, saying things with unwavering determination, but doing things as light as a feather.”

Tian Hu’s scalp tingled.

Gu Can said, “But you’re stronger than me.”

This time, after escaping from the desolate wilderness, he went to a ferry crossing and saw Song Banchai, who had become a powerful prince of Dali. But as long-time neighbors from the same lane, seeing each other again felt meaningless; it was better when they were young, yelling at each other through a door.

Gu Can suddenly raised the back of his hand and lightly pressed it against his chest. His handsome face twisted, and he muttered for no reason, cursing his master Cao Ci.

Because he had fought with Cao Ci, who had reached the God Realm, and lost miserably.

Gu Can looked into the distance at the island that used to be Liu Laocheng’s cultivation place.

Gongliu Isle is now the ancestral hall of the True Realm Sect.

The current Sect Master, Liu Laocheng, is a Celestial Immortal, and the first rogue cultivator above the fifth realm in Baoping Continent in over two thousand years. He is universally acknowledged to possess great luck.

The Chief Guardian, Liu Zhimao, goes by the Daoist name “Intercepting River” and is in the Jade Pure Realm. Law Enforcement Ancestor Li Fuchu. Currently, the top seats of the True Realm Sect are only occupied by this female cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm, who used to be a disciple of Jade Decree Sect.

Now, almost the entire vast water area of Shujian Lake is the private territory of this subordinate sect of Jade Decree Sect.

It’s “almost” because five islands have established their own sects and are not under the jurisdiction of the True Realm Sect, making them particularly conspicuous.

Gu Can turned his head elsewhere. Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi are currently cultivating there.

When Jiang Shangzhen served as Sect Master of the True Realm Sect, without deliberation by the ancestral hall and without notifying the upper sect, he privately made an under-the-table deal with the Dali Dynasty, “selling” five islands, including Baimao Isle in Shujian Lake, to Fallen Mountain for a very low price. The Ministry of Rites secretly recorded it, and the deeds were transferred. If one were to investigate, there would be many loopholes because the contract lacked the signature of Mountain Master Chen Ping’an. The True Realm Sect and the Jade Decree Sect were kept in the dark, and the matter was a fait accompli.

Because Jiang Shangzhen used both his identity as Sect Master of the True Realm Sect and his identity as Chief Guardian Zhou Fei of Fallen Mountain, it was as if he was selling the five islands from his left hand to his right hand.

Back in Fallen Mountain, when Zhu Lian learned of this, he couldn’t help but praise Zhou, the Chief Guardian, for his elegant strokes, calling it breathtaking and truly awe-inspiring.

Of course, Jiang Shangzhen paid for the celestial coin out of his own pocket; it was just a hundred Grain Rain coins.

Initially, the True Realm Sect and the Dali Dynasty did not publicly announce the matter. Afterwards, these five islands were registered under the name of Zeng Ye, a local ghost cultivator in Shujian Lake.
Later, the Jade Tablet Sect realized something was amiss and initially intended to make a mountain out of a molehill. They planned to drag Jiang Shangzhen, this corrupt embezzler, back to the Ancestral Hall of the Divine Seal Peak to berate him thoroughly.

However, at the first council meeting after Jiang Shangzhen returned to the sect, before anyone could even begin to question him, Xun Yuan abdicated the position of Sect Master, which was then assumed by Jiang Shangzhen instead of Wei Ying, the Peak Lord of Nine Yi Peak. Thus, the matter was dropped. Soon after, when the great war erupted, the savage demon clans besieged the Jade Tablet Sect, and such trivial matters were forgotten.

Over the years, Falling Mountain had never taken possession of this “exclave,” seemingly intending to allow Zeng Ye to establish his own sect there, to just set up his own independent faction.

In truth, this posed a certain hidden danger. If the Jade Tablet Sect and Wei Ying were to pursue the matter, dragging in the Great Li Dynasty court to initiate a lawsuit, the True Realm Sect might very well reclaim these five islands.

After all, besides being the head of the Jiang family, Jiang Shangzhen seemed to be a complete nobody in both the upper and lower sects.

Actually, among the forty-odd seats in the True Realm Sect’s Ancestral Hall, only a small number, less than twenty percent, belonged to registered cultivators from the upper sect.

Even so, the True Realm Sect never had to worry about being unable to maintain order, because the three successive Sect Masters—Jiang Shangzhen, Wei Ying, and Liu Laocheng—were each individually capable of intimidating the masses.

The Five Islands Sect, as it was now called, had nearly two hundred registered cultivators, almost all of whom were ghost cultivators and Yin spirits. However, if someone were to use aura-gazing techniques from afar, they would find that these islands were not filled with heavy, foul energy. On the contrary, they were quite pure and spiritual.

Inside the Ancestral Hall, only one portrait was hung, and it was not a portrait of the founder, Zeng Ye, but of a lean scholar in a blue robe, with a jade hairpin in his hair, his hands clasped behind his back, a gentle expression on his face.

In the Five Islands Sect, Zhang Ye had the status of an honorary guest elder, and his Azure Pavillion Sect was considered an ally of the Five Islands Sect.

As for the Five Islands Sect’s rustic name, it had always been heavily criticized. Ma Duyi had complained to Zeng Ye about it countless times, but changing the sect’s name was a major undertaking that required dealing with the Great Li Dynasty’s court, reporting to the Ministry of Rites in the Great Li capital for registration, verification, and approval. The process was cumbersome, and Ma Duyi, being only brave in her own territory, was also a ghost. How would she dare to go to the Great Li capital and face the world? Her last visit to Mr. Chen’s Falling Mountain in Old Dragon Province had already been the limit for Ma Duyi, and that was only because she and Zeng Ye were accompanying Gu Can at the time.

The female ghost Ma Duyi, as the second-in-command of the Five Islands Sect, had always lived in that fox-skin talisman, unwilling to move. She had no ambition or aspirations for breaking through in her cultivation. Instead, she was most interested in the business of the Humble Satchel Shop, where she could make big money with small investments.

She was also the Island Lord of Cloud Dove Island, the name of which came from the saying “cloud doves dragging rain.”

Gu Can suddenly asked, “The marriage banquet is tonight?”

Lord Tian Hu nodded. “If I remember correctly, it is tonight.”

Gu Can joked, “Is it the youngest, Zhao Yan, or the third daughter, Yu Youyi? If I remember correctly, she has a fling with the mountain goddess of the Falling Kite Mountain Shrine?”

Lord Tian Hu shook his head blankly. “It is indeed Yu Youyi who is getting married, but I have never heard of these Hidden Mountain of Joy secrets. Qin Que only said that the groom had actually been decided internally and that he was the youngest son of a Water Mansion Lord from the Hundred Flowers Lake in the southern territory of the Secret Cloud Kingdom.”

Speaking of this, Lord Tian Hu suddenly remembered the two Flower God Cups on the table.

Sure enough, Gu Can knew everything.

The Secret Cloud Kingdom was a land of rivers and lakes, with a vast lake within its borders called Hundred Flowers Lake. Although the name of the lake sounded gentle, it was an extremely turbulent and treacherous body of water. It was also known as Calabash Lake, simply because the connection between the larger and smaller lakes resembled a waist, shaped like a calabash. In the center of this “waist” waterway, a Dragon King Temple had been built, with incense offerings for thousands of years. The front hall enshrined a General Yuan to calm the waves, protect the water, and bless the region with favorable weather. Because at least half the year the lake was covered in fog and rain, passing through the Dragon King Temple in this stretch of water, the waterway was dim and often pitch black, with visibility only within reach. In times of great wind and waves, the priests of the Dragon King Temple would quickly light the lanterns and sound the bells and drums, so that ships could follow the light and sound and safely dock, waiting for the storm to subside before continuing their journey. Because of their meritorious deeds in protecting the land and calming the waters, emperors of various dynasties in the Secret Cloud Kingdom had repeatedly honored the two generals in the Dragon King Temple with titles and posthumous honors, eventually bestowing one with the title of King and the other with the title of Marquis.

However, for some unknown reason, in recent years, the Dragon King statue enshrined in the temple had collapsed for no reason, and the two “generals” enshrined in the front hall and accompanying the main hall had also disappeared. Then, a water sprite who had survived the war occupied the temple. In just over a decade, countless official and merchant ships had capsized and sunk there. Now, whenever passing through the Calabash Mouth waterway, local boatmen and passing travelers and merchants would face the direction of the old Dragon King Temple to burn incense and paper, and sacrifice cattle and sheep, and set off firecrackers, in order to pray for smooth sailing.

Gu Can laughed, “The feng shui turns, the Hundred Flowers Lake is not as good as our Bamboo Scroll Lake.”

Lord Tian Hu lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Gu Can said, “I still envy people like Zeng Ye, who become generals and ministers in a daze, and become dukes and high officials without realizing it. Perhaps this is called a fool’s luck?”

Lord Tian Hu hesitated for a moment and spoke from the heart, “It is indeed enviable.”

Gu Can said, “If you want to break away from the True Realm Sect and the registration of Azure Gorge Island, I can help.”

Lord Tian Hu’s heart fought an internal battle, but in the end, he shook his head. He really didn’t dare to get too involved with Gu Can. It was better to seek stability and advance to the Nascent Soul stage.

Gu Can laughed, “Then forget it. My Shigu, Han Qiaose, originally wanted me to find her a direct disciple, and I think you, Shijie, are the best candidate.”

Lord Tian Hu wanted to say something but stopped, and finally remained silent.

The weather warmed up, and the spring sun was melting, the scenery was bright, the birds were chirping, and everything was good.

Ma Duyi, carrying several long wooden boxes and a package on her back, arrived at the wharf on the shore of Cloud Dove Island, preparing to take a boat to Ancestral Mountain’s Withered Bone Island and its affiliated Heart Intestine Island.

Now, Bamboo Scroll Lake has as many rules as hairs on an ox, so that registered cultivators must have a book in hand and often read it to avoid violating the rules and regulations. For example, even a cultivator’s control of the wind has detailed rules and regulations. The routes are set, and cultivators of different identities have different roads. The True Realm Sect has given clear written regulations. This is the power of the sect.
The Five Islands Sect held no such restrictions on its own turf. However, compared to riding the wind, Ma Duyi preferred the leisurely pace of drifting across the lake by boat.

Almost all cultivators on Cloud Pigeon Isle were female. The boat was rowed by an old crone, seemingly frail, yet possessing considerable strength. She chuckled, “Island Lord, another harvest?”

Ma Duyi jested, “Whether it’s profit or loss depends on luck. If I find a bargain, you’ll get a reward upon our return. If I lose, it’ll be deducted from your monthly stipend.”

She had just acquired several calligraphies and flower-and-bird painting albums, intending to have two experts appraise them, discerning their authenticity.

The old crone chuckled, “Island Lord is truly thrifty and knows how to manage a household. I wonder which man will be blessed enough to marry Island Lord in the future.”

Ma Duyi laughed heartily, “Regardless of profit or loss, there’ll be a reward!”

At the Five Islands Sect’s “ancestral mountain,” Corpse Island, resided a guest elder. He was a specter whom Ma Duyi had “picked up” from the roadside in her early years. His clothes were tattered, yet he exuded an air of dignified grace. His impoverished appearance couldn’t conceal the nobility in his bones. He was named Deng Linjiong, inarticulate and timid, but possessed a profound knowledge of connoisseurship. He had a catchphrase: “This thing… doesn’t feel right.”

As for why it “didn’t feel right,” Deng Linjiong couldn’t articulate it clearly, unlike Yuan Jue, who could explain things in detail. However, antiques examined by Deng Linjiong that he deemed “not right” invariably proved to be forgeries or high-quality imitations.

Over time, Yuan Jue, who initially disliked Deng Linjiong no matter how he looked at him, went from grudging acceptance to genuine admiration.

The days were bright and sunny, the nights filled with gentle breezes and moonlight. Here, ghosts and humans coexisted harmoniously, creating a haven from the outside world.

Zeng Ye had become a legendary figure in the Shujian Lake region.

This wasn’t due to his exceptional cultivation talent, as he had yet to form his Golden Core, but rather Zeng Ye’s incredible luck.

The young man with a unique physique was noticed by Zhang Ye and taken away from Maoyue Island. This young man, initially destined to perish within his sect, was transferred to Qingxia Island, then chosen by the accountant Chen Pingan and later the young Hidden Official as an assistant. They lived as neighbors near the mountain gate. Later, when Chen Pingan left Shujian Lake, Zeng Ye followed Gu Can. Then, when Gu Can journeyed to other continents, Zeng Ye ultimately became a direct disciple of Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City. Before leaving, Gu Can “loaned” Zeng Ye a Taiping Wushi plaque issued by the Dali Ministry of Justice.

It was much later that Zeng Ye realized Gu Can’s extraordinary abilities. He had directly changed the ownership of the plaque to Zeng Ye.

Zhang Ye admired this greatly. Firstly, the Taiping Wushi plaques issued by Dali were acknowledged as more valuable than sect affiliations. The latter could only serve as a protective charm, while the former was a get-out-of-jail-free card. Secondly, Gu Can’s ability to transfer the plaque to Zeng Ye was extremely difficult. This wasn’t as simple as buying land and transferring deeds.

Then, one day, while strolling alone on Corpse Island, Zeng Ye accidentally found a secret manual on the ground. On the preface page, a prophecy was written: “A descendant surnamed Zeng will be destined to obtain this in five hundred years.”

Unfortunately, the ink of these words was still wet. It was a blatant lie.

Of course, this was Jiang Shangzhen’s doing.

The origin of this manual was indeed extraordinary. It was a precious scroll that even Jiang Shangzhen valued. A Daoist text that Jiang Shangzhen considered valuable was, needless to say, extremely rare.

It was originally obtained by Jiang’s ancestors from the Cloud Cavern Blessed Land. Because only ghost cultivators could study this book, and its requirements for a ghost cultivator’s talent and aptitude were extremely high, it had always been of limited use. Otherwise, it would not have been praised as “capable of creating a new path within the ghost way.” But even if this manual was of limited use, there were many ghost cultivators in the world, especially those elusive yet wealthy perfected ghost immortals. If Jiang Shangzhen truly wanted to make money, he wouldn’t have to worry about selling it.

He fortunately left Maoyue Island, became a page for the accountant Chen on Qingxia Island, received a Wushi plaque from Gu Can, and obtained a ghost cultivation manual of high rank, possessing five islands and establishing his own sect.

These five events occurring in rapid succession within less than thirty years made Zeng Ye the sect leader and founding patriarch of a new school.

Recently, a female ghost named Qu Tang had joined the Five Islands Sect. She possessed a stunning appearance and was at the Cave Dwelling realm.

The Five Islands Sect was a small sect with few cultivators in the Middle Five Realms. Therefore, after joining the register, she was promptly promoted to an ancestral hall worshiper.

For ghosts to wander in broad daylight, they must either achieve a certain level of cultivation or rely on spiritual artifacts that can shield them from the sun and the naturally flowing astral winds. Otherwise, they would suffer greatly, with their cultivation diminishing or even their souls scattering. However, some ghosts with a small degree of cultivation had no choice but to traverse mountains and rivers under the blazing sun. This was similar to “walking the water” for aquatic creatures, except that instead of transforming into a dragon, these ghosts were trying to evade impending doom. They had to leave their original “yin residence” to avoid unforeseen disasters. A bolt of lightning could strike them and cause them to vanish, wasting centuries of cultivation. This required them to find a talisman to pass through the mortal realm. The best candidates were often scholars with abundant literary energy. Finding someone with a “jade gauze-covered person” fate, as described in Feng Shui books, was even more fortunate.

As for those with strong martial luck, forget it. That was like moths to a flame. Martial artists had a strong fist intent and abundant yang energy, which ghosts would avoid, let alone deliberately approach to seek death.

Previously, Qu Tang had left an abandoned urban ghost dwelling. She had hidden under an umbrella, hoping to follow a scholar across the river, trying to evade the river god and the nearby city god, hoping to escape disaster. However, before crossing the river, she encountered a teal-robed immortal master who saw through her disguise. Fortunately, the master seemed to be testing her and didn’t truly harass her. Instead, he gave her a stack of yellow seal talismans and told her that after crossing the river, she could seek out a cultivator named Zeng Ye in Shujian Lake.

Heart Island, the largest of the five islands, was said to be the remains of a dissolved demon from Shujian Lake. The caves were numerous, and the paths twisted and turned, resembling an underground labyrinth.

Although it sounded eerie, it was actually a scenic place.
Yuan Qie, the current Island Lord of Xin Chang Island, was one of the many cultivators of Shujian Lake who died at Gu Can’s hands. However, Yuan Qie was naturally indifferent, and his resentment towards Gu Can after death wasn’t that strong. For many years, he had been following Zeng Ye and Ma Duyi. Back then, he was familiar with both Chen Ping An and Gu Can. Whenever they went out, Yuan Qie would often accompany Ma Duyi as a “Bao Fu Zhai” (pawn shop), buying antique calligraphy and paintings at low prices, helping to appraise authenticity and estimate prices, picking up many bargains. As one of the few meritorious veterans of the Five Islands Sect, Yuan Qie now serves as a venerated elder, a position somewhat akin to a strategist. His Daoist sanctum is in a cave on Xin Chang Island with a plaque reading “Loyalty,” where he drinks the soup after Ma Duyi eats the meat. He has accumulated a considerable fortune and taken in several orphaned young ghosts as disciples.

Ma Duyi didn’t expect Yuan Qie and Deng Linjiong to be together, playing Go, with Zeng Ye, that terrible Go player, watching from the sidelines.

Next to them, there was Qu Tang, brewing tea, her hair in a jade hairpin bun, lightly powdered, leisurely grinding phoenix团 tea cakes, truly a great beauty.

Ma Duyi opened her package, placing the treasures she had just bought at a low price on the table. Without hurrying the two venerated elders to help her assess them, she pulled up a chair and said seriously, “Qu Tang, Mr. Chen must have taken a liking to you. Even I, a woman, find you charming, let alone a man. Mr. Chen is known for cherishing beauty.”

Zeng Ye said displeased, “Don’t talk nonsense! Mr. Chen would never act like that. Don’t make such jokes in the future. You’re disrespecting Miss Qu.”

Qu Tang smiled, “Sect Leader Zeng, as long as that Mr. Chen doesn’t mind, I don’t care.”

Ma Duyi gave Qu Tang a thumbs up, then turned to look at Zeng Ye, clicking her tongue, “Sect Leader Zeng, after following Mr. Chen for so many years, you haven’t learned any real skills, but you’ve picked up this Confucian air about you.”

Zeng Ye laughed, “It’s good to learn even a little.”

Qu Tang asked curiously, “Is Mr. Chen an immortal with the ability to maintain a youthful appearance? Has he lived for many centuries?”

She had a nature that was detached from worldly affairs. Since coming here, she had lived in seclusion and had few friends. Moreover, the ghosts of the Five Islands Sect now prefer to cultivate on their own and rarely visit each other.

Yuan Qie and Deng Linjiong exchanged glances, both a little envious of Qu Tang.

She was a cultivator personally recommended by that young Hidden Official.

However, she seemed to still be kept in the dark, unaware of the true identity of “Mr. Chen.” Sect Leader Zeng and Island Lord Ma had tacitly concealed this matter from her.

Yuan Qie was born into a local aristocratic family in a small southern kingdom. He was recognized as a child prodigy. He was only sixteen when he served as a review official in the National History Institute. Later, he was promoted to Hanlin Academician and compiled the history of the previous dynasty. For more than forty years as an official, he was responsible for drafting imperial edicts and epitaphs for meritorious officials.

During his lifetime, Yuan Qie liked to engage in philosophical discussions and valued moral learning. When he was an official in the locality, he despised practical administrative affairs such as criminal justice, arresting criminals, managing grain and money, and keeping track of household registers.

The Yuan family had a vast collection of books, once hailed as the best in the southeast of the kingdom. Yuan Qie personally collected ten thousand volumes of books and built a new study called “Qing Yan Ju.” He had compiled two catalogs for the family’s rare and fine books and valuable calligraphy and paintings. An important indicator of a great collector is whether the family’s collection can be compiled into books based solely on the entries. However, after Yuan Qie left his hometown to cultivate Daoism, he lost his freedom in Shujian Lake, and communication was cut off. He could no longer take care of his family. In just two generations, the family had declined. The family collection was not well preserved and was either pawned off cheaply by unfilial descendants, or stolen and resold by cunning servants, with more than half being destroyed by concubines. Some years ago, Yuan Qie had returned to his hometown and was filled with grief at the sight of familiar objects.

Because of Zeng Ye’s relationship with Chen Ping An and Gu Can, and with someone to support him and Fallen Mountain as a backing, the cultivators of the Five Islands Sect are generally more comfortable in the drastically changed Shujian Lake. Compared with the outer disciples of the True Realm Sect who have not yet been recorded in the genealogy, the Five Islands Sect are not superior, but at least not inferior.

As for why Ma Duyi was always unwilling to restore her true appearance, she was extremely open-minded, saying that Su Shi had said, “This body is like an inn.” Since the principle is like this, then what’s the point of dwelling on it?

Zeng Ye suddenly said, “Ma Duyi, I’m planning to go to the Great Li capital.”

Ma Duyi asked, “Have you thought of a new name and want to personally register it with the Ministry of Rites? Or have you been corresponding with Mr. Chen behind my back?”

Zeng Ye shook his head, “I wouldn’t dare bother Mr. Chen with such a trivial matter. I just want to go out and relax.”

It turned out that Mr. Chen had sent a letter, inviting Zeng Ye to travel to the capital to broaden his horizons. The letter also introduced him to an old immortal, saying that the old Nascent Soul cultivator, Liu Jia, was the gatekeeper of that alley. Zeng Ye only needed to stop at the entrance of the alley, introduce himself, and say that he was familiar with Chen Ping An. He could also ask the young Zhao Duanming, who came from the Zhao clan of Tianshui, to accompany Zeng Ye to travel around the capital, saying that it was Chen Ping An’s intention.

Therefore, Zeng Ye wanted to follow Mr. Chen’s suggestion and take a trip to the Great Li capital.

Ma Duyi said angrily, “Trivial matter? How is it a trivial matter?!”

Zeng Ye laughed, “The name of the sect is fine as it is.”

In the night.

An ancient shrine surrounded by lakes on all sides, with a narrow stone staircase winding up to the mountain gate.

A young Daoist priest sat on the steps. At the foot of the island, by the water near the mountain gate, lay a stone turtle with a bald head, carrying a stele on its back. The stele, weighing ten thousand pounds, was engraved with a Daoist scripture on rainmaking.

This place used to be one of the many traveling shrines of a certain true dragon. She rarely stayed here in the past, but it is one of the few preserved traces.

With a seal cast on his forehead, and a dragon horn slightly stained.

Lu Chen sighed, the clouds and waters were both vast and distant, and all that floated by was the autumn in his heart.

Looking at the big turtle, Lu Chen smiled, “Don’t pretend to be asleep over there. Tell me, how did you escape the disaster? Why didn’t that Zhu Yan smash you with a single stick?”
The stone turtle carrying the monument suddenly came to life, twisting its neck and looking at the Taoist priest wearing a lotus crown. The old turtle seemed extremely guilty, its voice raspy as it said, “Back then, there was indeed a calamity approaching. I told Concubine Fei and Zhu Yan that I was old acquaintances with Headmaster Lu, that I was following his orders to guard the Hundred Flower Lake shrine, cultivating Taoist arts and comprehending the heavenly scriptures on my back, and that sooner or later I would go to the White Jade Capital to meet Headmaster Lu. I warned them that if they dared to cause trouble, Headmaster Lu would be angered. I dared not hide anything, that’s roughly what I said. Hearing this, those two Demon Kings let me off the hook, and even protected Hundred Flower Lake. It’s all thanks to Headmaster Lu’s influence, basking in his glory.”

Lu Chen clicked his tongue and said, “You spoke so arrogantly, and they actually believed it?”

The great turtle touched its head to the ground, muttering, “A lucky escape, a lucky escape, all thanks to Headmaster Lu’s blessing.”

Lu Chen waved his sleeve, and a meticulous brush painting appeared, depicting the figure of the martial artist woman surnamed Lu. He said, “My memory isn’t very good, and it’s inconvenient to perform divination frequently these days. Help me take a look, is she one of the many palace maids by her side?”

The great turtle’s eyes immediately gleamed with golden light. After a close look, it nodded and said, “It is, it is. Her appearance has changed quite a bit, but her temperament hasn’t changed much, especially those eyes, no mistake.”

Lu Chen dispersed the painting and smiled, “Old friend, it’s rare to meet, hurry up and pour out your grievances.”

“I implore Headmaster Lu, please have mercy and help remove the stone tablet.”

The great turtle said cautiously, “I beg for a human form.”

Lu Chen held his hand to his ear, “What? The wind is too strong, I can’t hear clearly. Speak louder! Nothing to ask for? Good, good, goodbye.”

After that Headmaster Lu left the island and the great turtle turned its head back towards the lake, a full hour passed before it spat.

About half an hour later, Lu Chen’s laughter echoed in the great turtle’s mind, “Cultivators are often filled with impetuousness; they are not vessels for condensing the Dao.”

The great turtle didn’t panic much. Headmaster Lu had one good point: he was magnanimous. Scolding him a few times wasn’t a big deal.

At the same time, the Taoist scripture on the stone tablet fell like rustling autumn leaves. After a moment, the stone tablet was still on the great turtle’s back, but the engraved Taoist scripture was gone.

The old turtle then condensed into a human form, filled with the aura of water element, holding a miniature stone tablet as its natal treasure. It raised its arm high and slammed it fiercely towards a water mansion at the bottom of the lake, slowly saying, “With my hot temper, you think I could tolerate you?!”

Hehuan Mountain, Fengle Town at the foot of the mountain.

In an alleyway, Liu Tie and the young girl walked in front, with Lü Mo following behind, about five or six steps away from them.

She only felt a blur before her eyes, and the vague figure of the young Taoist priest appeared, smiling and gently exhaling a breath towards her.

Like wind blowing sand, before Lü Mo, a small master martial artist at the fifth realm bottleneck, could even react, she was instantly melted into flesh and blood. Her bones were all transformed into countless golden starlight particles, scattered against the side of the wall.

Liu Tie took two steps forward, then suddenly turned her head.

Because Lü Mo, who should have been making steady and subtle footsteps, had suddenly gone silent.

Liu Tie breathed a sigh of relief. Lü Mo was still in the alley, but she seemed a bit absent-minded.

Lü Mo shook her head, feeling like she had inexplicably dozed off? But she felt like she had missed something.

The woman was completely unaware that after the Taoist’s breath had swept through her limbs and bones, she had essentially died and been reborn.

From then on, she underwent a complete transformation. Lü Mo, who originally only had a sixth-realm martial artist achievement in this life, was like having her bone structure reshaped, with an immortal skeleton of jade and gold.

Throughout the Hehuan Mountain region, no one could detect a strange scene.

The sign of Dao attainment that the Taoists of Golden Immortal Nunnery tirelessly sought, the manifestation of a golden snake no more than a foot long at the fingernail, as an extension of the tendons.

In this alley at the foot of the mountain, an extremely slender golden thread suddenly lit up. A scarlet gold little snake soared into the sky, dragging an extremely long tail in the night sky, reaching far beyond a thousand miles.

In an instant, that golden thread connected with a Taoist child in a Taoist temple of the Divine Edict Sect.

A golden lotus flower bloomed successively on Lü Mo’s shoulder and the Taoist child’s wrist.

The Heavenly Sovereign Qi Zhen of the Divine Edict Sect suddenly opened his eyes. He stood up and took a step that shrunk the mountains and rivers, looking at the fading golden thread in the mountainside Taoist temple. This was called Dao affinity.

The starting point seemed to be Hehuan Mountain on the border of the Green Apricot Kingdom?

Qi Zhen didn’t even dare to perform divination, he was just extremely surprised. Could it be that Headmaster Lu had returned to the Great World?

But why would he go to such a small place?

In the humble alley of the small town, the young Taoist priest stood with his hands in his sleeves, leaning against the wall, and yawned, smiling, “Returning you to your original appearance from three thousand years ago.”

Shujian Lake, a leaf-like boat floated with the waves.

Someone stopped their boat here. A faint mist enveloped the water. They came late to fish, with the new moon above and below, reflected on the lake surface.

Besides an old man fishing, a very handsome youth was also sitting at the bow of the boat. He was slender, with delicate features, dressed in white, and he wasn’t holding a fishing rod. He was just there to accompany the scenery.

The youth asked, “Senior Zhang, I heard that there used to be a Horizontal Wave Island here?”

The old man nodded and said, “You are a rare bookworm in Shujian Lake. I heard that in recent years, you have been secretly compiling a local history and chronicles of Shujian Lake?”

The youth hummed in agreement, “Nothing else to do, just entertaining myself.”

The old man suddenly pulled his rod, pulling a pale golden carp into his hands, and threw it into the fish basket.

The youth asked, “Senior Zhang, can I ask you a question?”

It was just a simple question, but the old man seemed to have heard a great joke. He couldn’t help but laugh out loud, and then burst into hearty laughter for a long time before regaining his composure, apologizing, “Island Lord Lü, I’m sorry.”

The youth, respectfully called Island Lord Lü, asked in confusion, “Why are you laughing, Senior Zhang?”

The old man looked at the moonlit lake and said, “If I remember correctly, Island Lord Lü was the previous Mischief King before Gu Can came to Shujian Lake, relying on having an Island Lord older brother who could potentially reach the Nascent Soul realm at any time, recklessly running wild and defying all laws. Unexpectedly, now that Gu Can has gone to White Emperor City, you, Lü Caisang, have also taken over Oriole Island, and even started compiling local histories. Back in the day, before you guys even opened your mouths to speak, would you ever ask me, Zhang Ye, ‘Can I ask you a question?’ You probably wouldn’t have bothered with half a word of nonsense before beating someone to death, right?”
Lü Caisang, upon hearing this, did not become enraged. Instead, he nodded. “Almost. Taking life and bestowing it, all based on personal whims. Back then, Shujian Lake was utterly devoid of rules.”

The old man sighed. “The Shujian Lake of the past resembled the desolate wilds. The only rule was the absence of rules.”

This old fisherman was once a veteran figure of Green Gorge Island. He was among the first to follow True Lord Intercepting River, Liu Zhimao, fighting and slashing a bloody path. Zhang Ye assisted the latter in becoming the short-lived sovereign of Shujian Lake. Later, first Liu Laocheng returned to Gongliu Island, then the iron cavalry of Great Li marched south, and finally the True Realm Sect took control of Shujian Lake. Zhang Ye then switched his identity unexpectedly, breaking away from Green Gorge Island and transforming into the Sect Master of Langhuan Sect. However, in the areas surrounding Shujian Lake, Langhuan Sect was considered a mountain sect that was utterly insignificant. Unlike Lü Caisang’s Yellow Oriole Island, which possessed a seat in the Ancestral Hall of the True Realm Sect.

Lü Caisang continued to ask, “Why did Senior Zhang not continue to follow Chief Liu?”

Liu Zhimao is now the Chief Consecrator of the True Realm Sect. In recent years, a rumor has been circulating with much detail that the current Sect Master, Liu Laocheng, had intended for Liu Zhimao, who is in the Jade Purity Realm, to succeed him as Sect Master. However, Liu Zhimao apparently declined. Given Zhang Ye’s close relationship with Liu Zhimao, and his acknowledged role as his right-hand man, it would be perfectly normal for Zhang Ye to enter the True Realm Sect and rise along with Liu Zhimao, who holds a high position of power in the sect. Obtaining an official position within the True Realm Sect would be as easy as turning his hand, and they might even make an exception for him. Even if he weren’t a Golden Core Earth Immortal, he could become a member of a sect’s Ancestral Hall. Even if the seat was close to the entrance, the difference between being inside and outside the door is like heaven and earth.

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “People have their own ambitions.”

Zhang Ye laughed. “You so-called Ten Heroes of Shujian Lake, in a mere twenty years, each of you has had your own opportunities. It seems that our old bones’ several cycles of sixty years cannot compare to you all. It could almost be compiled into a strange tale novel, filled with twists and turns, perilous situations, and not lacking in sensual elements. Once engraved and printed by booksellers, I believe sales would be quite impressive.”

Lü Caisang shook his head and said, “The so-called Ten Heroes have always been just nine.”

In the past, led by Gu Can, these nine people stirred up winds and summoned rains in Shujian Lake.

Lü Caisang’s Senior Brother Zhong Su was the previous Island Master of Yellow Oriole Island. The Senior Brother and Junior Brother were actually over five hundred years apart in cultivation age. Zhong Su successfully entered the Nascent Soul realm over a decade ago. Not long after emerging from seclusion, he began another closed-door cultivation. Therefore, whenever the True Realm Sect’s Ancestral Hall held discussions, it was often his successor, Junior Brother Lü Caisang, who took his place. Because Lü Caisang was the last disciple of the Yellow Oriole Island’s Founding Ancestor, Zhong Su valued and doted on Lü Caisang immensely. He was both a Junior Brother and a direct disciple, treated almost like a half-son.

Just like Huang He had once joked, that if Lü Caisang put on some rouge and powder, and stuffed two large steamed buns in his chest, he would be more beautiful than a woman. He could even be the leader of Gu Can’s group of scantily clad women.

Lü Caisang was already at the Dragon Gate Realm bottleneck, about to form his Golden Core. Therefore, this trip was his last relaxation before entering seclusion.

Liu Zhimao’s second disciple, Tian Hujun, became Liu Zhimao’s foremost disciple because her Senior Brother had been killed by Gu Can, also making her Gu Can’s Senior Sister. However, Tian Hujun had rarely shown her face in recent years. Despite being a Golden Core Earth Immortal, she was not as noticeable as her two Junior Brothers, Qin Que and Chao Che, who had yet to form their Golden Cores.

Fan Yan, the Young City Lord of Pool Water City, who was once acknowledged as a fool, turned out to be the most cunning and intelligent. He now held the position of “Traveling Official” in the Ministry of Justice in the central capital of Great Li.

Han Jingling, the former Prince in distress, became the Emperor of Stone Bristle Kingdom, while Huang He became a powerful minister in Stone Bristle Kingdom. The father and son jointly controlled the government, and were among the first to pledge allegiance to Great Li, following the Song Clan of Great Li’s lead. Yuan Yuan, the Young Island Master of Drumming Island, had been born into a fortunate situation that others envied. His parents were both Golden Core cultivators, which allowed Drumming Island to have two seats in the True Realm Sect’s Ancestral Hall. Unfortunately, Yuan Yuan’s own cultivation aptitude was average, and he was only at the Sea Gazing Realm. A few years ago, he obtained a large sum of immortal money and went out to do business. It was said that he was swindled twice, returning home empty-handed. At the end of last year, his wallet was full again, and he went out to make his fortune again. He seemed to be very familiar with a group of wealthy young men in the Great Li capital, calling each other brothers and frequenting Calamus River Restaurant. The friends he made were mostly officials’ sons who would say they could help him earn big money.

Zhang Ye turned his head to look at Lü Caisang and joked, “To be successful at a young age and have smooth cultivation, why do you look so worried?”

Lü Caisang softly said, “I always feel like a storm is brewing, but I can’t prepare for it.”

Zhang Ye nodded in appreciation and said, “Your ability to think like that means you have truly succeeded in cultivating the Dao.”

Lü Caisang grinned.

Zhang Ye suddenly asked, “How about becoming a guest elder in our Langhuan Sect?”

Lü Caisang twitched his lips, about to refuse, when someone patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, “I think Mr. Zhang’s suggestion is very good, you can agree to it.”

Yellow Oriole Island.

The sky was as blue as silk, and the light shook the railing of the Northern Dipper.

An old man, dressed as a Taoist, leaned against the railing after his morning rituals. The scenery of lakes and mountains stretched out for a thousand miles.

Golden light shimmered, but it was not from the magic robe he was wearing, but from the flowing Dao energy that filled his body.

The Qi around the old man rippled slightly, and a figure appeared out of thin air. This person ignored the island’s mountain and water restrictions and reached out to stroke the jade railing.

The old man did not turn his head and scoffed, “True Lord Liu, a rare guest.”

Liu Zhimao clasped his fist and said with a smile, “Forgive me, forgive me for intruding without invitation, disturbing Fellow Daoist Zaiyang’s quiet cultivation.”

In the early years, Green Gorge Island and Yellow Oriole Island were not on good terms. One was called True Lord Intercepting River, proficient in water magic, and the other called himself True Man Zaiyang, cultivating fire magic.

Zhong Su twitched his lips and said, “It’s good that True Lord Liu knows.”

“The color of the Yellow Oriole is already lovely, adding three or five calls from the leaves.”

Liu Zhimao gently tapped the railing and softly said, “It truly is a place too good to be true. It pleases both the eyes and the ears. The former is easy, the latter is difficult. So, I wanted to annex Yellow Oriole Island back then. However, due to True Man Zaiyang’s exquisite fire magic, although I had a chance of winning, it would be a pyrrhic victory. I really didn’t want us to engage in a鹬蚌相争 (yù bàng xiāng zhēng, idiom for a fight to the death where both sides lose) battle, allowing Gongliu Island to profit.”

Zhong Su smiled and said, “Mr. Wu of Water Lord’s Manor just left, and True Lord Liu arrived right after. What, did Liu Laocheng instruct you to come and knock me down a peg?”

The first Lake Lord of Shujian Lake, Xia Fan, was a ghost. He was born from battlefield spirits and was a scout for the Great Li border army, with many battle achievements.
It was highly probable that Wu Guanqi, the strategist of the Lake Lord’s Water Mansion, was originally a Da Li spy. Over at Yellow Oriole Island, Wu Guanqi visited as a guest and showered Lü Caisang with praise, subtly hinting to Zhong Su, as the senior brother, to consider a new path for his junior disciple’s future. On Drumming Island, Lake Lord Xia Fan himself paid a personal visit. Previously, during the New Year visits, the various chief officers of the Water Mansion made no attempt to conceal their movements, seemingly indifferent to the True Realm Sect’s opinion.

Liu Zhimao chuckled, “Brother Zhong Su, since we’re both dogs working for someone, why should we dogs bite each other?”

Zhong Su was an anomaly in Shujian Lake, utterly unlike a wild mountain and lake cultivator, possessing an air of refined elegance.

Back then, Yellow Oriole Island had significantly contributed to hindering Liu Zhimao’s unification of Shujian Lake, but it wasn’t a matter of competing interests. Zhong Su simply couldn’t stomach Liu Zhimao’s petty and despicable methods.

In Zhong Su’s words, even placing a dog on that throne would be better than having Liu Zhimao as the joint ruler of Shujian Lake.

Liu Zhimao smiled and asked, “After all these years, you still insist that wild mountain and lake cultivators are also Qi Refiners. Zhong Su, tell me, what are your thoughts on this?”

His old friend Zhang Ye was a proper cultivator of pedigree, yet he had spent his entire life wanting to be a wild cultivator.

Zhong Su, on the other hand, was a native wild cultivator of Shujian Lake, but always aspired to be a disciplined rogue cultivator.

One a longtime friend, the other a mortal enemy, both so inexplicably perplexing.

Palace Willow Island.

A cultivator of pedigree couldn’t do without rigorous lessons in their path.

Indeed, the more talented they were, the more individualized lessons their masters would give.

Guo Chunxi was a “unique individual” who received a surprising amount of individualized instruction despite having terrible talent.

This was thanks to Guo Chunxi being the personal disciple of Li Fuchu, the second-ranked enshrined elder of the True Realm Sect. However, aside from this illustrious status, he had little else to boast about. Talent, family background, looks, demeanor… he was utterly unremarkable among the island’s swarm of celestial masters.

Regarding why Guo Chunxi was so valued by Li Fuchu, there were many private speculations among the disciples. Some said he came from a small kingdom in the southeast of Treasure Bottle Continent and used to practice martial arts. Near his hometown was a celestial abode, apparently called the Azure Fungus Sect, a humble and obscure sect that no one had ever heard of. However, it was unknown how he caught Li Fuchu’s eye and was exceptionally accepted as a direct disciple. He was already quite old, in his thirties, yet he was only at the second level of Qi Refinement. Still, Li Fuchu seemed to highly regard him, personally teaching him cultivation techniques and bestowing upon him a magical treasure for absorbing spiritual energy. The other direct disciples, who were already in the middle five realms of cultivation, were naturally confused and envious. However, they dared not question their master’s decision and would always greet Guo Chunxi with a smile, calling him Junior Brother Guo in a manner that was both amiable and slightly obsequious.

The Azure Fungus Sect held a “Mirror Flower, Water Moon” performance every so often, usually at the High Pavilion with upturned eaves on the cliffside.

Guo Chunxi never missed a single one. He couldn’t bear to watch it, but not watching it was even more unbearable. After ascending the mountain to cultivate celestial arts, everyone said that cultivators had shallow ties with their families and deeper ties with mountains and rivers. Yet, he still sent a letter home regularly, telling his parents that he was doing well in a foreign land, always the same old story. He also sent a letter to the martial arts academy, chatting with his master, Xu Yuanxia, about the local customs of the mountain. After starting his cultivation, Guo Chunxi quit drinking. At first, he quit entirely, not touching a drop for several months. Later, after watching a “Mirror Flower, Water Moon” performance, he now quit almost every day.

Guo Chunxi had no interest in learning about the affairs outside the mountain. Just the daily routines of cultivation, breathing exercises, were enough to overwhelm him. He truly knew his own suffering. His talent was too poor. Those fellow disciples, even his grand-disciples, who understood things with a single word, made progress, enjoyed it, and thrived. But he couldn’t. Cultivation was a truly arduous task, both monotonous and slow.