Without Chen Ping’an needing to utter a request, Lu Chen understood perfectly, as if rifling through an abandoned painting, long forgotten in a scholar’s chest.

Atop Ink Splash Peak, the two cultivators stood like celestial deities, their gazes sweeping across the mortal realm. Mountains shrunk to the size of mustard seeds, rivers became mere silken threads, yet every detail of human affairs and objects remained vivid and clear, leaving nothing hidden.

Within this landscape painting, the grass-sandal-wearing youth who had wandered here was absent, as was Pei Qian, who had journeyed from Tongye Continent to Hehuan Mountain. All other events unfolded as before.

The sickly peddler and the man boiling offal were still slain by the young swordsman from the Zhang clan of Tiancao County. The crane-cloaked scholar and the headless female ghost with her umbrella still journeyed towards Fengle Town. The swarthy girl, disguised as Qingni, was still entrusted by Zhou Qiu to the grizzled, frog-bellied old warrior, Qi Song, and his disciple, Lü Mo, who led her away from the town. On the mountain cliffs, they still encountered Protector-of-the-Nation True Immortal, Cheng Qian, and Zhang Qiong, who was about to perform divination. Zhang Qiong still ceased his attempts with the tortoise shells simply because the girl’s arrival coincided with her menses, a taboo for divination. Since Lü Mo had not encountered Lu Chen, this female warrior, who in a past life had been a trusted attendant of the Dragon Daughter, lost the immense fortune to convert to the path of cultivation in this life. Because Lu Chen did not visit the Dragon King Temple at Hundred Flower Lake, the stone tortoise at the foot of the mountain continued to suffer in silence. Within the main hall, the Zhang Xiangdao family of Three Summer Prefecture remained unharmed in their water mansion lair. Yu Chunzhi and her daughters were seated, treating their esteemed guests, only with some altered words. The White Manor Master of Wedge Ridge, still possessing scholarly airs, refused to curry favor with anyone, drinking alone. He didn’t become a “sucker,” and the flower-and-bird painting that could have been bought for a single snowflake coin remained absent from his sleeve… Round after round, everyone in the manor drank heartily, oblivious to the unfolding of a scandalous plot. The Mountain Deity of Fallen Falcon Shrine, who should have been surnamed Chu, still succumbed to the effects of the alcohol. Yu Youyi tossed the severed head at the foot of the mountain and returned, sitting beside her… When the hour arrived, Qin Jue of Qingxia Island and the talismanic energy of Old Dragon City had already quietly departed Hehuan Mountain. Yu Chunzhi, who had been feigning amicability with Zhang Xiangdao, received a secret message. She found a pretext to lead her two daughters away from the main hall, ordering them to rendezvous with Yu Zhen and immediately retreat to the family shrine for shelter. Yu Youyi in the neighboring banquet hall looked conflicted. She proactively drank a cup of entwined-arms wine with the Mountain Deity, drawing sidelong glances from wild cultivators, spirits, and lewd shrine deities. The Mountain Deity’s face turned deathly pale, her heart sinking, as if sensing imminent doom. She could only stare blankly at Yu Youyi’s departing figure. At the mountain gate where Hehuan Mountain bordered Fengle Town, monstrous insects surged like a tide toward the Hehuan Tree. The Hehuan Tree, which had not bloomed for years, suddenly burst into blossoms resembling opened red umbrellas. Within all the banquet halls of Powder Pellet Manor, the scent of rouge and powder thickened like a dense fog. The crane-cloaked scholar collapsed like a drunken sot. Then, as if the mountains had crumbled and the earth had split, Fallen Falcon and Black Vine Mountains flipped over, a calamity of utter destruction appearing without warning. Within Powder Pellet Manor, walls collapsed, moss and lichen were torn apart, and countless fissures appeared. Madame Pipa, belatedly realizing the danger, let out a delicate shout. Summoning her spirit with great effort, she mobilized the spiritual energy in her qi repository, wanting to escape the perilous situation by riding the wind. But a familiar rain streamer struck her midsection. Demonic creatures that had established themselves in the Ape and Monkey Pass, along with the burly demon who had brought two seductive maids to sponge off the feast, were pierced through their bodies by ancient iron halberds, swift as lightning. Especially those lewd shrine deities who had revealed their golden bodies, attempted to join forces to resist the disaster. Among them, the Mountain Deity, Li Ting, raged, cursing Zhao Fuyang and Yu Chunzhi, calling them heartless dogs. Zhang Xiangdao and the youth with the title “Dragon Gill” had their heads smashed to pieces by Zhao Fuyang’s disembodied soul. Zhang Xiangdao attempted an escape technique but was dragged back into Powder Pellet Manor by the soul, his body and skin ground to dust, splattering blood everywhere. All the minor officials and clerks of Three Summer Prefecture Water Mansion failed to escape. Like two snakes entwined, the upper and lower mountains rolled violently on the earth. Dust obscured the sky, and muffled thunder shook the land for thousands of miles. Cheng Qian and Zhang Qiong, sensing the amiss, immediately instructed Qi Song and Zhang Yujiao to contact various forces, including Emperor Liu of Qingxing Kingdom. They only took Zhang Caiqin, wanting to stop Zhao Fuyang’s unscrupulous “path-proving breakthrough.” However, the momentum had already built. As Zhao Fuyang had predicted, not only did he succeed in “coiling the mountain,” advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm Mountain Serpent, but even his dao companion, Yu Chunzhi, also became a Nascent Soul Realm Sky Fox after a hearty meal, although her realm had not yet stabilized. Zhao Fuyang revealed his true form, dodging the attacking arts of Cheng Qian and others, and if he couldn’t dodge, he would take them head-on. Yu Chunzhi spared no effort in using various methods, even at the cost of her life, to stall Cheng Qian and Zhang Qiong, so that Zhao Fuyang could lead Yu Zhen and his other children to escape the encirclement. Eventually, Cheng Qian struck her with several thunder arts, and Yu Chunzhi fell to the ground, her fate unknown. Zhao Fuyang charged straight ahead, unhindered. Mountain and water deities and cultivators from various countries, seeing the opportunity amiss, made way for him, proactively avoiding his sharp edge. The Mountain Serpent did not harm people, only the female sword immortal, Zhang Caiqin, resolutely drew her sword, and the night turned as bright as day in an instant. Dense sword light fell like arrows, injuring the Mountain Serpent’s massive head. Unfortunately, it still failed to stop the Mountain Serpent’s fleeing figure. Instead, she was struck by the serpent’s tail. Zhang Caiqin was smashed into the cliff face of the Ink Splash Peak. After she retrieved her natal flying sword and spat out a mouthful of blood, she could only watch helplessly as Zhao Fuyang escaped into a secret mountain cave formation, his whereabouts unknown…

The painting’s scene changed. Inside a dilapidated small Taoist temple in the capital of Qingxing Kingdom, coiled within a barely noticeable artificial mountain rock crevice, was a bloody “little snake,” less than a foot long, with nascent dragon horns, already possessing a dragon-like appearance. The Mountain Serpent curled up, suppressing its shallow bloody aura, closed its eyes, and began to heal. Within the Mountain Serpent’s belly was another world. Yu Zhen, Zhao Yan, and others were saddened and filled with resentment. Within their mind’s ocean, the steady voice of Zhao Fuyang sounded, “Cheng Qian wouldn’t dare kill your mother.”

But for some unknown reason, Fengle Town at the foot of the mountain, during this calamity, seemed to have been pushed out of the battlefield by Zhao Fuyang’s tail, intentionally or unintentionally, like a piece of tofu on a table.

It was said that the ledger clerk of the mortal scholar at the foot of the mountain, even fell together with that table into the town, only being thrown into a confused state. None of the living people in the town died.

Cheng Qian hovered in the air above the border, the old True Immortal who appeared young, had an ashen face.
On the ground, Yu Chunzhi, who had been unconscious, suddenly sat up. She smoothed her temples, her expression calm, a mocking smile on her face.

Within Qingxing Kingdom, from the various deities to the mountain cultivators, and even the court troops that remained largely unscathed, a clamor arose, filled with discussion.

Especially the military generals of the two kingdoms besides the Liu family, shared a similar sentiment. For them, this campaign, though full of bluster but little action, was all the better. They had gained credit for expanding their territory for nothing. As for the Liu family of Qingxing Kingdom, hadn’t they tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice? And weren’t the Cuiqing Peak of the Golden Citadel Sect and the Zhang family of Tiancao County now locked in a deadly feud with Zhao Fuyang?

Inside a carriage, the Crown Prince of Qingxing Kingdom looked at the three imperial seals that had just been delivered, completely undamaged. What was Zhao Fuyang’s intention?

The old emperor wore a complex expression. He set aside a roughly written intelligence report and pondered for a long time before saying, “Immediately issue an order to imprison the fox demon Yu Chunzhi. She must be guarded securely, without fail.”

The young Crown Prince nodded and was about to leave the carriage when the old emperor, worried that he didn’t understand the critical point, felt compelled to explain in detail, “Don’t let True Man Cheng kill this fox spirit from the Joyous Union Mountain in a fit of rage. Remember this: if Cuiqing Peak objects, tell them the court will hand her over to the Lakeside Academy for disposition.”

Yu Chunzhi held a ledger, clearly recording the crimes of the visitors who perished in the Powder Pill Mansion tonight. Zhang Xiangdao of Shuyue Prefecture, Madam Pipa, those “great demons,” and Li Ting, the mountain god of Wuteng Shrine, were all listed. The thick volume contained verifiable records of dates and events. Then, using the word “et cetera,” she included the mountain goddess of Zhuichui Shrine and Bai Mao of Qingbai Mansion.

At the same time, when Zhao Fuyang, in his mountain serpent form, was struck by Zhang Caiqin’s sword, he had communicated to her telepathically, stating that the feud between Joyous Union Mountain and the Zhang family of Tiancao County ended there.

Therefore, this brand-new Nascent Soul Earth Immortal, who had been feigning an unstable realm from beginning to end, controlled the force of his serpent’s tail with great precision, not harming Zhang Caiqin’s foundations.

Lu Chen put away this special scroll of time and said with a smile, “There’s nothing interesting to see after this.”

Evidently, the pedigree cultivator, who held all the advantages on paper, lost to a pure, unrefined wild cultivator of the mountains and marshes.

Lu Chen smiled subtly. “In this light, Cheng Qian owes the Hidden Official two favors.”

Heaven and earth mingle their essence, forming their shapes, day and night ceaselessly working with all things to bring forth springtime.

The human realm at night was like a young man taking a temporary rest, waiting only for the dawn to continue his distant journey.

Chen Ping’an made no comment on that battle, but instead asked without warning, “Is the Dao fusion inspiration of Wu Continent related to your ‘De Chong Fu’?”

If Wu Continent relied solely on the path of refining objects, even with the “Creator” divine ability, one of the twelve high-ranking deities, she would still be unable to reach the fourteenth realm. Her Great Dao was too fragmented, difficult to unify. External objects became a burden to her Great Dao. No matter how many Immortal Armaments she forged, she could not take it a step further. At best, it would help her remain the foremost among the Ascending Realm cultivators, but eventually, with the passage of time, the distance between her and the new fourteenth realm Grand Cultivators like Wu Shuangjiang of the Years’ End Palace and Abbot Sun of the Mysterious Capital Temple would only grow wider.

“Careful what you say!”

Lu Chen, startled by Chen Ping’an’s blatant use of his name, violating all rules of the Jianghu, hurriedly waved a sleeve of his Daoist robe, activating a secretly crafted talisman to prevent that fierce old woman from Wu Continent from overhearing them and suspecting him of colluding with Chen Ping’an. Fortunately, they were not in the Azure Billows Heaven, and Lu Chen had a chance to remedy the situation. Otherwise, he would truly be in a sticky situation. Wu Continent had always been suspicious, and she was very patient, sure to pester the Headmaster Lu for centuries.

“This poor Daoist dares not take the credit. With her resilient Dao heart and excellent aptitude, whether she took this path to mend her ‘fragmentation’ or not, she would definitely reach the fourteenth realm, it was only a matter of time.”

Lu Chen raised a hand to rub his face, saying bitterly, “It was just a case of ‘one speaks without meaning, the listener takes it to heart’.”

Therefore, Lu Chen had no intention of bestowing favor, and Wu Continent would certainly not feel indebted.

Chen Ping’an continued to ask, “If I were to encounter her on a narrow road one day, would she rely on her realm to seize by force?”

Because in that essay, Lu Chen listed a series of people with incomplete forms, with defects in their limbs, yet complete in virtue, each with their own imperfections, such as blindness, deafness, lameness, and hunchbacks.

According to Wu Shuangjiang, the fourteenth realm female Daoist with the title “Taiyin” was now watching Chen Ping’an, who possessed “Execution” and “Survey.” Wu Shuangjiang had also leaked celestial secrets, saying that if not for Yao Qing’s protection and a secret pact with Wu Continent, Bai Ou, the female national preceptor of the Azure God Dynasty, who carried a Mountain-Cleaving Halberd, would likely not have survived Wu Continent’s scrutiny.

Wu Continent was indeed a ruthless person, having long refined her own soul, body, bones, flesh, and even strands of hair into emptiness. In short, she had refined herself into a Natal Item, undergoing the most thorough dismemberment, destroying to rebuild. In this way, she could use a Grand Void realm to contain all things. Therefore, Wu Continent was now “human in appearance but heavenly in emptiness,” existing between a Perfected Being and a deity.

Lu Chen used a euphemistic expression, “If you were a Full Ascending Realm swordsman, or if you were on equal footing with her in realm, she probably wouldn’t make things difficult for you. If you met on the road, you could nod in acknowledgement and go your separate ways.”

The implication was that as long as Chen Ping’an’s realm was insufficient, he would definitely not be able to keep those two ancient high-ranking deity relics when facing Wu Continent in the future.

Intuition told Chen Ping’an that as long as he went to the Azure Billows Heaven, he would encounter Wu Continent before reaching the Jade Capital, and that when they met, the atmosphere would definitely not be too harmonious.

The Headmaster Lu of the Jade Capital was good in one aspect: as long as someone humbly sought guidance, Lu Chen would certainly respond with sincere words.

Lu Chen reached out and picked up a stone from the ground. The so-called formation was just a smokescreen created by the sword-carrying youth, specifically to deceive those who liked to be suspicious. However, it was deliberately intended to mix the real with the fake, so that the other party, after “exposing the illusion,” would mistakenly believe that the sword-carrying youth was bluffing, just like an empty scabbard. Even if the straw sandal youth was just a clone of Chen Ping’an, how could he not know a few sword techniques?

“Though it’s hard for immortals to catch fish at noon.”
Having schemed and plotted meticulously for so long, Zhao Fuyang never imagined, even in his wildest calculations, that as he prepared to formally refine the mountains during his seclusion, he would be horrified to discover that both Zhuiyuan and Wuteng Mountains remained steadfast and unyielding as iron.

From the distant stone cliffs, the head of the Golden Gate Sect and the Zhang family patriarch of Tiancao Prefecture could only feel that Mansion Lord Zhao’s outburst was justified. If they were in his shoes, they would likely lose their composure as well.

Lu Chen chuckled and said, “One side is scolding with righteous indignation, while the other is being scolded not unjustly. A fortunate accident.”

A celestial raft, concealing its presence in the sea of clouds, carried Ancestral Master Xiang Jun, along with Wen Zizai and the old woman, and used a minor earth-shrinking spell to arrive at the foot of Mount Hehuan.

Wen Zizai, upon seeing the Hehuan tree teeming with insects and looking up at the furious visage of Zhao Fuyang at the mountain peak, laughed and said, “What’s all this commotion?”

Ancestral Master Xiang Jun still hadn’t explained her intentions to them, and instead of flying, she chose to ascend the mountain on foot.

A young clerk stood behind his table, eyeing the three distinguished-looking guests with trepidation. He stammered, unable to form a coherent question.

Wen Zizai released a sliver of his fist intent, causing a string of firecracker-like sounds to echo along the mountain path. He glanced at the peak from time to time, casually asking, “Ancestral Master Xiang Jun, this notorious rogue Golden Core cultivator, who’s committed countless misdeeds, wouldn’t it be better to just kill him?”

Ancestral Master Xiang Jun remained silent, striving to steady her Dao heart.

That ancestral figure, whom she had only been able to admire through the portrait in the Spirit Flight Temple’s Ancestral Hall, was likely somewhere on this mountain. She couldn’t help but feel extremely apprehensive.

She vividly remembered when she was young, after becoming a personal disciple, her master, Cao Rong, had taken her to the Ancestral Hall to pay respects to the ancestral portrait. The solemnity and reverence her master displayed when offering incense, treating the painting as if it were a deity, remained fresh in her mind.

But it was also possible that the ancestral master had only issued a decree to her master, instructing her to bring Wen Zizai here, while the Sect Leader himself might be watching from afar, observing the mountains and rivers?

She took a deep breath and reminded the two behind her in a hushed voice, “We’ll talk more after we reach the Powder Pill Manor.”

The old woman was even more anxious, wondering why this upper sect ancestral master had chosen to settle in this place.

However, Xing Zisi, the peak master of Qingjing Peak, reasoned that her Golden Immortal Convent had a clear conscience and no conflicts of interest with Zhao Fuyang, the lord of this mountain. Since that was the case, a clear conscience fears no shadows. After ascending the mountain and meeting Zhao Fuyang, she would simply adapt and respond as needed, and not betray her unease.

Zhao Fuyang looked down and was first surprised and then worried. Recognizing the old woman from the Golden Immortal Convent and noticing the female cultivator’s Taoist coronet, Zhao Fuyang quickly felt relieved. After hesitating for a moment, he retracted his Dharmic Image, put on a Taoist robe, and donned the lotus coronet he had treasured for many years. However, he quickly removed the coronet and presented himself in the attire of an enscripted Taoist of the Golden Gate Sect’s Golden Immortal Convent lineage. He bowed respectfully and said, “Zhao Fuyang, a rebellious disciple of the Golden Immortal Convent lineage, greets Ancestral Master Xiang Jun, Immortal Master Wen, and Peak Master Xing.”

Ancestral Master Xiang Jun frowned, seemingly puzzled.

No wonder Ancestor Lu had instructed her to come to Mount Hehuan; was it to help Zhao Fuyang extricate himself from his predicament?

Seeing as things had come to this, Xing Zi immediately explained to Ancestral Master Xiang Jun that Zhao Fuyang had indeed been an outer sect disciple of the Golden Gate Sect, and even a personal disciple of a certain granduncle in secret. However, a cultivator from Chuiqing Peak had made a mountain out of a molehill regarding Zhao Fuyang’s background and status. Zhao Fuyang, unwilling to implicate his granduncle’s reputation, had left the Golden Gate Sect in a fit of anger.

Ancestral Master Xiang Jun nodded, noncommittal, and said, “Let’s cast a concealment spell and settle down at the manor.”

She then instructed Zhao Fuyang to retrieve the gift list.

Even though Zhao Fuyang was extremely anxious, he remained composed and went to the foot of the mountain to get a register from the clerk. He then returned to the mountain path, bowed his head, and offered it with both hands.

During this round trip, Zhao Fuyang speculated that the reason he couldn’t refine the mountain, despite being the host, was that this Taoist palace master had tampered with something? Was she reminding him not to make a big fuss? And not to hurt the “fraternal affection” between him and Cheng Qian, who was also a disciple who had come down from the Spirit Flight Palace?

Ancestral Master Xiang Jun flipped through the gift list very quickly. She held the register, intentionally choosing an angle, and when she turned to the last page, her Dao heart was suddenly shaken.

Closing the register quickly, she sighed inwardly, but her eyes suddenly burned with fervor.

Indeed! On the last line were written the names of three guests: Chen Ren, Zheng Qian, and Taoist Lu Chen.

According to the gift list, the congratulatory gift was…two snowflakes each?

Worthy of my Ancestor Lu, he indeed enjoys playing in the mortal realm.

She just didn’t know who Chen Ren and Zheng Qian were?

Could the female grandmaster masquerading as Zheng Qian be Pei Qian of Fallen Mountain?

By the same logic, was Chen Ren the disguised name of that young Hidden Official?

In just a moment, the upper five realm female master experienced a slight daze, and when she looked down again, there was only the name “Taoist Lu Chen” on the gift list.

Ancestral Master Xiang Jun, who had some memories stripped away, was completely unaware. She simply put the register away in her sleeve and said, “Zhao Mansion Lord need not announce our visit tonight to the outside world.”

Zhao Fuyang bowed his head and accepted the order. Though she said he didn’t have to, he actually couldn’t.

After they entered the Powder Pill Manor, Ancestral Master Xiang Jun told Zhao Fuyang to attend to his own matters. When she finally stopped, she merely glanced around, somewhat disappointed, because she had not seen Ancestor Lu. But then again, if Ancestor Lu truly wanted to remain hidden, she would simply not recognize him.

At this moment, she felt that everyone in the banquet hall seemed to be Ancestor Lu.

Zhao Fuyang returned to the family ancestral hall, where his Dao partner, Yu Chunzhi, was out of sorts. If he couldn’t refine the mountain, did that mean he was going to sit and await his death? Yu Zhen and Zhao Yan were also at a loss, looking at each other in silence.

After pondering for a moment, Ancestral Master Xiang Jun chose a relatively quiet side hall and sat down with Wen Zizai and Xing Zi at an empty table. At the neighboring table sat a sword-wielding youth who seemed arrogant, a young woman with pigtails and freckles on her face, a scholarly skeleton ghost in a crane cloak, and a bald monk whose appearance could barely be considered handsome.

The secret matter on the mountain peak involved the White Jade Capital’s Sect Leader Lu and the White Bone Grandmaster. Could this seemingly low-level graveyard skeleton ghost at the next table be some kind of hint from the ancestral master? Could it be the one?
Xiang Jun couldn’t help but size him up several times. The scholar in crane cloak smiled and nodded towards the unfamiliar female cultivator. Xiang Jun’s ancestral master grew increasingly uncertain and doubtful. Could it be that the person before her was truly…?

The old woman sat upright, carefully guessing the purpose of Xiang Jun’s ancestral master’s visit. Wen Zai, after cautiously sitting down, was even more bewildered. He focused his qi and whispered, “Ancestral Master Xiang Jun, what is all this about?”

Xiang Jun, in truth, had no definite idea at this moment. Her entire mind was occupied with guessing whether the scholar in crane cloak was who she suspected. She could only give a perfunctory reply, “I have my own plans. You just eat and drink as you please.”

After hesitating for a long time, she mustered her courage and, as calmly as possible, used telepathy to inquire of the ghostly entity whose belt was adorned with a string of military tallies and jade pendants, “May I ask, who might you be?”

Lord Bai, realizing he was being approached by a young and beautiful female cultivator, felt his luck had finally turned and his heart began to itch with anticipation. But, after all, he prided himself on being a scholar who had read the sage’s books, and habitually put on airs. After a few coughs, Bai Mao recalled a line of elegant verse that Daoist Lu had flaunted earlier, thinking it could be used here. So, he grandiosely recited to the female cultivator, “We are but strangers passing by, why inquire of names? Amidst wine and dreams, even you should doubt yourself.”