The spring grass was lush, the moon lingered, and the babbling stream seemed to vie to offer wine.

Chen Pingan asked Zhao Shuxia to bring out bamboo chairs for the guests and went to prepare a late-night snack. Nothing too fancy, just whatever was available.

Lu Chen quickly spoke, “Shuxia, you just go busy yourself in the kitchen. This poor Daoist will fetch his own chair. Besides the snack, I have wine accompaniments here.”

Otherwise, Sect Leader Lu feared he wouldn’t have a seat and would have to squat while drinking.

Lu Chen, familiar with the place, went into Chen Pingan’s house and carried out a small table and two chairs. After sitting down with the young man, our Sect Leader Lu didn’t forget to wipe the tabletop with his sleeve.

Chen Pingan smiled and asked, “Ning Ji, have you thought it over? No regrets?”

The young man’s eyes were firm as he nodded, “Mr. Chen, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be your student. I will remember Sect Leader Lu’s kindness and repay it when I have the chance in the future.”

Chen Pingan glanced at Lu Chen. It was obvious, even with his backside, that this fellow had taken the boy through a river of time.

Lu Chen began to embellish his role, waving his hand, “A trivial skill, no effort at all, none whatsoever.”

A river of time was not something anyone could casually wade through. Even grand cultivators hesitated to freely roam within it. Even those in the Ascension Realm were often forced to do so when their physical bodies decayed, and they were about to disintegrate, relying on the river of time to “wash their hearts and renew their faces” or to try their luck and find a lost blessed land from the annals of history. They feared encountering unexpected reverse currents, especially whirlpools shaped like funnels, which could easily trap cultivators, causing them to disappear without a trace. Many grand cultivators in history were said to have failed in seclusion, but in reality, they had disappeared into the river of time like clay oxen entering the sea, their efforts benefiting others. Later generations of grand cultivators could then salvage fragments of their golden bodies from the river of time, originating from such instances. Moreover, there were even more bizarre phenomena, such as whirlpools forming lakes or rivers flowing backward into pools. The scene where “Chen Pingan” and the sword-wielder invited Bai Jing to sit at the same table in the Riding Dragon Lane shop was a manifestation of the Great Dao in such a situation.

In the mountains, only truly peak cultivators, wielding certain treasures, could impart and protect the Dao to their disciples in this manner. This action tempered the physique and provided immense benefits, especially nourishing the cultivator’s three souls and seven spirits. However, the risks were enormous. One wrong move, and many highly promising Dao embryos could become complete imbeciles because their memories and spiritual consciousness would drift like drowning objects, lost and confused, impossible to recall afterward.

Chen Pingan himself had traversed it a few times. The first was with Mr. Qi, and the second was at the Observing Dao Temple in the Lotus Root Blessed Land, where he experienced a hundred or two years of time scrolls alongside the old Daoist abbot.

Lu Chen glanced at the solemn young man beside him and praised, “Ning Ji performed very well. He didn’t need my assistance at all. He quickly adapted to walking in the time scroll.”

Chen Pingan nodded. “That’s impressive. I remember the first time I waded in, I felt dizzy and nauseous, almost vomiting on the spot.”

Lu Chen smiled, “That’s the difference between mediocre earth-grade aptitude and exceptional, heaven-bestowed talent.”

The straw sandal-wearing boy whose natal porcelain was broken was indeed of mediocre earth immortal aptitude. Lu Chen’s assessment was objective.

Chen Pingan didn’t mind. On the contrary, he was pleased. Who would dislike their student or disciple for having outstanding innate talent and a superior aptitude for learning the Dao?

Ning Ji was embarrassed and clasped his fists tightly on his knees, appearing awkward.

The young man didn’t yet realize that the praises from Sect Leader Lu and Mr. Chen were not mere flattery, nor did he understand the danger of wading across the river. He mistakenly believed it was the kind of praise for “other people’s children” that was often exaggerated.

“Taking on a disciple has its benefits, of course, great benefits. As for the price… I’m sure you understand it better than I do.”

Lu Chen’s smile faded as he asked, “Chen Pingan, have you thought this through as well?”

Truthfully, finding Ning Ji so quickly surprised Lu Chen.

This was like trying to catch a fish at noon – nearly impossible.

Originally, Lu Chen had prepared to wander the Vast Bright World for a short three to five years, or a long seven to eight years, using the opportunity to clean up some of his past mistakes and resolve some karmic debts, such as the old turtle at the Dragon King Temple in Hundred Flower Lake, and the Dao seed on Shi Rou in Riding Dragon Lane, as well as Zhu Lu, who was supposed to become one of the Eldest Brother’s protectors. Of course, there was also Gu Qingsong, who went by the Daoist name Xiancha. He needed to decide whether to let the old boatman die completely and enter the Southern Hua City register or take the old boatman to the Jade Capital together. Lu Chen was still considering this. Furthermore, due to the last true dragon three thousand years ago, Lu Chen owed Feng Yi, the “moxa cauterized forehead” woman, a debt of gratitude. All these major and minor matters made Lu Chen feel quite weary.

Chen Pingan nodded. “As long as Ning Ji himself has thought it through, I have no problem with it.”

Lu Chen said, “I should thank you for this.”

Planting flowers with intent, they may not bloom; unintentionally inserting a willow branch, it may thrive.

As long as Lu Chen found Ning Ji, regardless of the reason, no matter how difficult or easy the process, the Confucian Temple only looked at the result, and it would count as a significant merit for Sect Leader Lu, clearly recorded in the ledger. The higher the position one held, like Lu Chen, the more one understood the inside information and the more one understood the preciousness of adding a few strokes to the Confucian Temple’s merit book, especially at this crucial moment when the three ancestors of the three teachings were about to scatter their Dao. To give a simple example, a wealthy family or rich household leaving money, property, or even books to their descendants might not be effective, but the seemingly ethereal ancestral grace and blessings would be perfectly accurate and never fail.

Chen Pingan said, “It’s nothing. Besides, Daoist Lu accompanying Ning Ji on this journey is enough as a thank-you gift.”

Lu Chen was silent for a moment, seemingly unable to think of a suitable thank-you gift, so he placed a pot of wine on the table. “Tonight, we’ll just have a small drink, not too much, lest we get drunk and lose our composure, making a fool of ourselves in front of the younger generation.”

Chen Pingan looked at the pot of Spring Slumber Wine from Cultivating Cloud Peak and exclaimed in amazement, “Sect Leader Lu, are you already so familiar with Mountain Master Huang?”

Lu Chen boasted without shame, “Very familiar, why wouldn’t we be? We hit it off right away.”
Now Lord Huang Zhong of Cultivating Cloud Peak has become the new Mountain Master of Cloudglow Mountain, causing quite a stir in Treasure Bottle Continent. A Golden Core Earth Immortal with shallow experience taking over Cloudglow Mountain, which possesses the potential of a sect candidate… Take Cai Jinjian of Emerald Cypress Peak, for example. Her age is similar to Lord Huang Zhong, yet she is already in the Nascent Soul Realm, but she still failed in this “dynastic change.” It’s inevitable that outsiders will have some thoughts, wondering if the Ancestral Mountain lineage is deliberately suppressing the rapidly rising Emerald Cypress Peak.

Many ancient sects and immortal abodes face similar situations. Closer to home, for instance, the shift in power at the Golden Immortal Convent of Pure Serenity Peak, and the guest becoming the master at Verdant Favor Peak.

Slightly further afield, the Tile Carving Mountain lineage of Chen Jiu, a foreign affairs disciple of the Bamboo Branch Sect, a vassal force of True Sun Mountain, also faces a similar situation. The current Sect Master, Guo Huifeng, is not actually from the lineage of the founding patriarch. Therefore, cultivators like Liang Yuping of Chicken Foot Mountain have some thoughts in their hearts.

This is like future Solitary Mountain. A certain Mountain Master may not be a direct or indirect disciple of Pei Qian and Guo Zhujiu. It’s possible they’ll be from the Dao lineage of other vassal mountains, perhaps a disciple or grand-disciple of the Law-enforcing Chang Ming, or perhaps a disciple from the line of Wei Wenlong and Chen Lingjun. In short, on Solitary Mountain’s Golden Jade Register, it will be a “fork in the road,” a separate branch. In the future, when Solitary Mountain disciples recognize their ancestors, the ancestor will of course be Chen Ping’an, unchanging for a hundred generations, but the spirit tablet of the sect’s ancestral master may not be his.

Lu Chen suddenly asked with a grin, “Chen Ping’an, if Solitary Mountain has such a day in the future, won’t you, the first Mountain Master, feel a bit awkward?”

Chen Ping’an dismissed it with a smile.

Lu Chen turned to the kitchen and shouted, “Tree Down, my bowl of noodles, add cilantro if you have it, if not, that’s fine. But don’t skimp on the chopped chili and garlic! The more, the better!”

Ning Ji stood up and helped bring over several bowls of steaming noodles, with plenty of side dishes, mostly bamboo shoots and tofu prepared by the academy itself.

Zhao Shuxia had a good feeling about this new Junior Brother who seemed to have fallen from the sky.

The young boy was thoughtful and quickly noticed Zhao Shuxia’s kindness and closeness towards him, which brought Ning Ji some peace of mind.

Lu Chen picked up his chopsticks, ready to eat.

But the Sect Master caught out of the corner of his eye that Ning Ji and Zhao Shuxia both took their first bite after Chen Ping’an picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. Then they silently lowered their heads and started eating their noodles.

Lu Chen, who had been holding his chopsticks in mid-air for a long time, became the last one to eat the noodles. So, at this midnight snack, only I, the poor Daoist, am an outsider, right?

Lu Chen was furious! If he had been more resolute earlier and taken Ning Ji as his direct disciple, wouldn’t it be a situation of master and disciple versus master and disciple, two against two, with no disadvantage in numbers?

Chen Ping’an seemed to have guessed Lu Chen’s frustration and joked, “Sect Master Lu, it’s not too late to go back on your word. Knock Ning Ji unconscious with a club, stuff him in a sack, and just run away.”

Lu Chen adopted the old Scholar’s signature tone and sighed, “Say less of those heart-wrenching nonsense words! This poor Daoist acts with integrity and uprightness. I can’t do such things.”

To take Ning Ji as a personal disciple, with Chen Ping’an personally teaching the Daoist arts to this boy with a difficult fate, the many apparent benefits ultimately boil down to one thing: Solitary Mountain can have another Daoist genius like Chai Wu, or perhaps even surpass him in future achievements. Even conservatively speaking, Ning Ji is very likely to become an Ascension Realm cultivator in the future, and a very young one at that, appearing out of nowhere and shocking everyone.

But the troubles are not small either. Ning Ji’s Daoist foundation has already determined that he will not make things easy for Chen Ping’an and Solitary Mountain on his future path of cultivation. This is somewhat similar to the old Scholar taking Liu Shiliu as his personal disciple. But Chen Ping’an’s Senior Brother Jun Qian, when he became a student of the old Scholar, not only had a high cultivation realm, but more importantly, his self was already tending towards clarity. In addition, the old Scholar was at the height of his powers at the time, so apart from some gossip on the mountain, it didn’t cause much substantial damage to the Literary Sage lineage.

But Ning Ji’s life experiences, especially his temperament, are full of countless unknowns.

The young Hidden Official, who had just been able to relax a little, is probably going to be busy for decades again.

First there’s Pei Qian, then there’s Ning Ji. Haha, Lu Chen grabbed a large bunch of noodles, his mood instantly improving. With his cheeks bulging, he inhaled a few breaths with great effort.

While eating the noodles, Lu Chen suggested in a muffled voice, “Rely on the mountain for resources, rely on the water for food. There are so many mountain vegetables and wild herbs, and there are so many fish in the Wu Creek. Next time, it would be nice to make a casserole for a midnight snack, especially those times in winter, when it’s freezing outside and steam is rushing towards your face. The taste is amazing! If there’s a brazier at your feet, and you warm a jar of yellow wine or glutinous rice wine… just thinking about it makes my mouth water.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Difficult.”

It’s not that making a casserole is difficult, but that it will be difficult for you, Lu Chen, to eat it. Now that matters in the Grand Azure World are settled, and there are undercurrents in the Azure Billow World, it’s unlikely that Lu Chen, the White Jade Capital Sect Master, will stay here for long. Earlier, Cui Dongshan sent a confidential letter to Solitary Mountain, listing the latest ten candidates and potential candidates in the Azure Billow World. No matter how you look at it, White Jade Capital wouldn’t dare to take it lightly.

Lu Chen sighed, then raised his head and asked casually, “Chen Ping’an, do you remember when you had your first drink?”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and said, “When I was training my fists, I couldn’t take the hardship, so I think I borrowed some wine from Wei Bo. After that, it was out of control. I can’t even quit drinking now.”

Lu Chen asked with a smile, “I’ve always been curious about one thing. Do you really like drinking?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Anyone who asks that kind of question is someone who doesn’t like drinking themselves.”

Lu Chen took out a few salted duck eggs from his sleeve and placed them on the table. “These are a specialty from a place called Gaoyou. They’re very famous, the ducks from Wapi Lake. The Wapi in ‘Dao is in Wapi.'”

Chen Ping’an and the others all took duck eggs and gently cracked them open, not being polite with Sect Master Lu.

Lu Chen lamented for no reason, “Grandmasters everywhere, Real People filling the sky. What else can we be doing in the next thousand years other than walking on the Shanyin Road?”

Chen Ping’an nodded in agreement, “Dazzling.”

Lu Chen said, “Gu Can has returned to his old haunts and is now in Shujian Lake.”

Chen Ping’an nodded.
Lu Chen was like a well-informed spirit, relaying news, “In the desolate lands of the wild north, two groups clashed due to a rogue cultivator known as Qing Mi. A life was saved, another taken, neither side willing to yield. Because it was in the desolate lands, the Ten Heavenly Stems held all the advantages, and thus their escape was mostly due to Cao Ci, who had entered the first layer of the Divine Realm. This was no surprise. The other was Gu Can, whose performance from beginning to end was remarkable. Ultimately, Gu Can was responsible for their victory, as the fight would have dragged on endlessly without him. Chun Qing and Xu Bai, among other young prodigies, must feel a mix of gratitude and apprehension towards Gu Can, a complex feeling indeed.”

“As for how Gu Can performed this feat of miraculous accomplishment, it was thanks to an old locust leaf, seemingly useless yet cherished for years. The ‘Zhao’ little celestial master, ‘Xu’ Bai, and ‘Cao’ Ci were divinely aided. Although Yu Juanfu and Chun Qing, with their uncommon surnames, didn’t directly benefit from the locust leaf, they still reaped some of the rewards. Because Gu Can kept it hidden, it came as a surprise. This shifted the balance of power, allowing Cao Ci to seize the opportunity, relying on his martial fortune to deliver a punch equivalent to the power of the eleventh realm, completely shattering the formation.”

“Gu Can even managed to abduct a female cultivator from the Ten Heavenly Stems of the desolate lands, named Zi Wu Meng, with the title ‘Spring Night.'”

“Heh, like master, like disciple. Mister Zheng stole an entire city of gold and jade, and the disciple is following suit.”

Hearing this, Chen Ping An put down his chopsticks, frowned slightly, and asked, “What’s he doing at Shujian Lake?”

Lu Chen laughed, “At Shujian Lake, he didn’t visit Liu Zhimao’s Qingxia Island, nor Zeng Ye’s Five Islands Sect. He only met with Senior Sister Tian Hujun, Huangli Island’s Zhong Su, and finally, a commoner from a city by the lake. The young man failed at his studies and relied on his strength to work as a palanquin bearer, earning meager wages carrying dignitaries and scholars who came to Shujian Lake for sightseeing. Gu Can, being nostalgic, sought out this former neighbor and chatted with him. After a discussion, he lent the young man a sum of silver, planning to open a shop together. Gu Can only invested money, not labor. Hmmm, so Gu Can is also a… junior partner?”

Hearing this, Chen Ping An’s eyes showed a hint of a smile.

Lu Chen held his chopsticks in one hand and shook his sleeve with the other, pretending to be calculating, “Logically, they should be drinking celebratory wine after their escape. However, Gu Can turned around and fought with Cao Ci, pestering him relentlessly. Gu Can got angrier and angrier as they fought, and Cao Ci was forced to use a bit more force, injuring Gu Can severely.”

Chen Ping An said, “Foolish!”

Lu Chen nodded, “He’s a bit clueless, picking a fight with Cao Ci of all people.”

While Sect Leader Lu chatted with his master, Zhao Shuxia silently ate his late-night snack.

Ning Ji heard about Gu Can and Cao Ci for the first time and was curious. Lu Chen turned and smiled, “This Cao Ci is extraordinary. He is your master’s arch-rival and a formidable obstacle on your master’s path of martial arts. Their Green and White Dispute even has a wager with countless immortals betting heavily.”

Chen Ping An smiled, “I’ve never won against Cao Ci. All my challenges have ended in defeat. However, Cao Ci’s character is impeccable. We’re not exactly rivals or friends, just acquaintances without any real animosity or grudges.”

Ning Ji nodded, “Master is a scholar who aspires to the Three Imperishables. Martial arts are not his primary occupation.”

This peculiar journey with Sect Leader Lu was not in vain. The young man learned many things from books.

The young man meant that if Mister Chen focused solely on martial arts, he could surpass Cao Ci.

Chen Ping An smiled and nodded, “That’s right.”

Zhao Shuxia chuckled to himself.

Even with the utmost respect for his master, Zhao Shuxia didn’t believe that his master would necessarily win against Cao Ci even if he dedicated himself to martial arts.

Zhu Lian once joked with Zhao Shuxia in private that, in the next century, Cao Ci could claim to be second to none in martial arts.

Zhao Shuxia was naturally somewhat frustrated at the time. If Cao Ci reached the pinnacle of martial arts, invincible in the world, how would his master stand?

Zhu Lian then joked again, why would Cao Ci call himself second?

Zhao Shuxia, not being quick-witted or skilled at debate, couldn’t answer for a moment.

Zhu Lian answered himself, maybe Cao Ci was just too powerful. No one could match him, but Cao Ci always felt that someone could contend for the first place.

But the fight would have to be to the death to determine the true victor. So, it could only be someone in the future who could contend with the Cao Ci of the past.

Zhao Shuxia nodded. At that time, his mind was filled with his master, whom he revered, and naturally, he felt that only his master could compete with Cao Ci among the martial artists in the world.

Zhu Lian laughed, “Does that person have to be a mountain lord who cultivates on the mountain for a long time? What about you, Zhao Shuxia? Aren’t you a pure martial artist?”

Lu Chen admired Ning Ji even more. This young man hasn’t formally become a disciple yet, and he hasn’t even been to Luo Po Mountain.

What would happen when Ning Ji met the old cook Zhu Lian, Junior Brother Cui Dongshan, Senior Sister Pei Qian, especially figures like Immortal Jia, and was influenced by them every day?

The atmosphere of Luo Po Mountain was so strange.

Truly, birds of a feather flock together.

Chen Ping An suddenly asked Lu Chen, “Do you think the great canal of Tongye Continent can be successfully built?”

Lu Chen smiled without hesitation, “When the time comes, heaven and earth will work together. How can it not succeed? It’s such a grand undertaking that minor setbacks are inevitable. Just consider it a good thing that requires more effort.”

Chen Ping An then raised his white bowl and passed it towards Lu Chen, “I’ll borrow your auspicious words. Cheers!”

Lu Chen raised his white bowl and lightly clinked it, “We’re good brothers, cheers, cheers!”

Chen Ping An spending more effort running a school and being a teacher than returning to the upper five realms.

Lu Chen asked in a voice transmission, “Have you identified the exact heart demon in the bottleneck of the Nascent Soul Realm?”

It seemed like a rhetorical question, since Chen Ping An had already tried to break through at the dojo on Secret Snow Peak, and more than once, how could he not have encountered a heart demon?
However, Chen Ping’an nodded, answering in a deep voice, “I can roughly confirm it.”

The mountain night wind was cool, Lu Chen held his wine bowl, gazing at the string of bells hanging under the eaves of the academy, swaying slightly yet silent.

However, the corner of Headmaster Lu’s eye was on the young martial artist who, when standing beside Chen Ping’an, became quite inconspicuous: Zhao Shuxia.

It could even be said that Lu Chen’s appearance this time was largely to have a few words with Zhao Shuxia, who greatly resembled Chen Ping’an.

Precisely because of this similarity, in the eyes of certain experts, he appeared like a counterfeit painting or calligraphy, at most receiving the evaluation of being a second-rate authentic work.

But Lu Chen was not among those “certain” individuals.

Similarly at the wine table, compared to the woman martial artist with the hair tied in a bun from within the Powder Pellet Mansion of the Harmonious Joy Mountain, Chen Ping’an’s eldest disciple, Pei Qian.

Lu Chen was more concerned about this closed-door disciple on Chen Ping’an’s path of martial arts.

It wasn’t to say that Zhao Shuxia’s martial arts achievements would necessarily surpass Pei Qian’s. Earlier, when Zhao Shuxia was practicing his fist techniques on Sending Journey Ridge, Lu Chen had made a rough calculation. Zhao Shuxia’s martial arts height was, indeed, unable to surpass his senior sister Pei Qian. After all, Pei Qian was already a martial artist at the pinnacle realm, while Zhao Shuxia was only a fifth realm martial artist who had just broken through a few days ago, a pure martial artist destined to have no connection with the words “strongest” in this life.

Therefore, Lu Chen’s appreciation for Zhao Shuxia was just an intuition without reason, and for cultivators like Lu Chen, intuition itself was an elusive and profound truth.

After finishing supper, Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks.

Chen Ping’an and Lu Chen continued drinking, this time the wine was the homemade spirit that Chen Ping’an had cadged from a child’s home on the mountain.

Another guest arrived, a veritable neighbor elder.

It was none other than Gao Niang, the newly appointed Water God of the Slender Eyebrow River, who had just obtained a peculiar treasure.

This river god, appearing as an old scholar, held an empty wine pot in his arms. This item had been discovered by the bailiffs patrolling the waters, seeing it floating on the Slender Eyebrow River. Those yamen runners from the Water Mansion were unable to move or capture it, exerting all their strength without being able to budge it in the slightest. They reported this to their superior officials, allowing those Water Mansion aides bearing the titles of Water Immortals to circulate their water techniques, yet they still could not change the wine pot’s downstream drifting route. Unexpectedly, the River God Gao Niang appeared and easily took hold of it. He felt as if the wine pot was a living creature with spirituality, like the so-called self-recognizing master in folklore books, startling Gao Niang. He subconsciously wanted to throw it away, but it stuck to his hand, and he couldn’t get rid of it even if he tried. Gao Niang lamented inwardly, mistakenly believing he had been tricked and was about to suffer a great misfortune. The surrounding Water Immortal runners and shrimp soldiers, unaware of the truth, naturally offered thunderous flattery.

Gao Niang calmed down and found that the wine pot, like a hot potato in his hand, seemed to have no abnormalities. On the contrary, it had a subtle sense of resonance with the Great Dao. After thinking it over, he decided to make a trip to the academy at the source of the Slender Eyebrow River as a precaution. If it was an object of unknown origin harboring hidden dangers, he could have the well-informed Hidden Official help him take a look and peel it off. But if it was a personal gift from the Hidden Official, he should thank him in person, which would be reasonable.

Chen Ping’an saw the wine pot, remaining calm and composed. He smiled and beckoned, “Brother Gao, come sit over here.”

Having received the Hidden Official’s decree, Gao Niang first walked quickly, but slowed down as he approached the wine table.

He had already glimpsed an empty wine pot on the table, and Gao Niang felt a sense of relief. It was the exact same shape as the wine pot in his hand.

“Ning Ji, a newly accepted student at the academy.”

Taking advantage of Gao Niang’s skillful change of pace, Chen Ping’an smiled and introduced, “This Daoist Lu is an extraordinary person with profound Daoist arts, but he looks young and doesn’t appear old.”

Lu Chen quickly put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and remained seated. He turned sideways, cupped his fist in the other hand, and smiled, “A pleasure to meet you, greetings to the River God Lord. This humble Daoist is a close friend of Mr. Chen, sharing both weal and woe.”

Gao Niang hurriedly bowed in response, “This humble god Gao Niang, thanks to Mr. Chen’s care, temporarily serves as the Water God of the Slender Eyebrow River. Greetings to Immortal Lu, it is an honor.”

Could the Hidden Official’s mountain friends be ordinary?

Not to mention bowing, wouldn’t kowtowing a few times be the proper etiquette and affection?

Just last time, he drank wine here with the Wind and Snow Temple female cultivator Yu Huiting. Afterwards, Gao Niang had the honor of participating in a secret meeting regarding Dragon Palace matters, just occupying a seat, the kind where he couldn’t say anything. As a result, Yu Huiting was quite amiable to him, chatting a few more words. What an honor! Even those Dali military cultivators looked at him with greater respect.

Zhao Shuxia brought another bamboo chair over, smiling, “Mr. Gao, please sit.”

Gao Niang quickly thanked him. Because he was holding a wine pot, he had to take the chair with one hand. Ning Ji had already taken the initiative to get up, carrying the chair and sitting next to Zhao Shuxia.

Lu Chen said, “Brother Gao, are you bringing wine?”

Gao Niang’s expression immediately became awkward.

Chen Ping’an helped to smooth things over, “Such a treasure, flowing downstream, is naturally for those who are destined to obtain it. Brother Gao should keep it well.”

Gao Niang was secretly delighted. A treasure light flashed, and the wine pot fell from his hand. Gao Niang quickly reached out to catch it, not caring about anything else. He took out a jade green rope made from incense and the essence of water luck from a temple from his bosom and tied it around his waist.

Lu Chen smiled, “A distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. To be able to have harmonious neighbors, Brother Gao has good fortune.”

Gao Niang nodded vigorously, “Good fortune, being able to be a neighbor of the Hidden Official is all the blessing of this humble god.”

Zhao Shuxia had already brought a white bowl for Gao Niang.

Ning Ji was only curious about that respectful title the River God Lord used for Mr. Chen. Was it some kind of official position?

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Good karma in the world, one thing at a time, is all mutual.”

There’s no harm in being too polite. Without saying a word, Gao Niang drank two large bowls of homemade wine, toasting the young Hidden Official and Immortal Lu separately.

Since this humble god is not good with words, then all the true feelings and enthusiasm are in the wine.

Perhaps he didn’t expect the wine to be so strong, Gao Niang choked on a sip, puzzled. Where did this homemade spirit come from, with such a domineering kick?
Chen Ping’an returned the toast with a bowl of his own, but Lu Chen merely sipped the wine, sighing, “Meeting Brother Gao tonight reminds this humble Daoist of an old friend, also surnamed Gao, Gao Gu, the ‘Gu’ of loneliness. He had few friends, truly countable on one hand, and always liked to say that physical forms are not kin, much less external possessions. Yet, he loved to drink alone, though he never once became drunk in his life. It seems you two share a certain destiny.”

Gao Niang hastily held the bowl with both hands, “Surely Immortal Lu’s friends are all celestial beings from the Daoist sects above the clouds. How dare this lowly River God of the Thin Eyebrow River presume to associate with such exalted company?”

Gao Niang’s polite words were no exaggeration. The old friend Lu Chen spoke of, Gao Gu, was indeed an old Daoist immortal whom a mere Thin Eyebrow River God could not casually aspire to know.

In the Azure Firmament World, at the Huayang Palace on Earth Lung Mountain, resided the Youzhou Daoist Gao Gu, with the Daoist title “Immense Peak.” He was one of the top ten figures in the Azure Firmament World, with a great chance of reaching the Fourteenth Realm through his mastery of alchemy.

The small table held no delicacies, only a few side dishes for drinking. Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji were merely chewing on sweet potato dried given to them by an elder.

Gao Niang soon experienced the young Daoist’s skill at idle chatter. He could truly spin a yarn. The whole table simply listened as he prattled on.

“The Heavens and Earth are so vast, the myriad beings so numerous, humanity spans tens of thousands of years, yet we, Brother Gao, meet at this place, at this time, to drink this village brew! Such fate! To not empty the wine jars before us would be unconscionable!”

“Alas, Brother, your words are lacking. At the wine table, there is no distinction of seniority, no talk of noble or humble birth. One only considers the quality of the wine, and then one’s drinking prowess. Furthermore, why must Brother Gao be so self-deprecating? Though this humble Daoist is lax in his cultivation, I am remarkably accurate at judging faces. Though you are advanced in years, your vitality is not diminished, a rare quality! At a glance, one can tell you are a learned scholar, versed in poetry and books, yet unburdened by pedantry. Destined to receive a posthumous title, to become a spirit after death, serving as the Rightful God of this Thin Eyebrow River! What constraints can life and death impose upon you? What if your aged eyes struggle to read? Simply deliver verses that startle even in death, speak of matters that astound with a courageous heart!”

“A lone rider in green robes, hailed by ten thousand voices,
A decree urgently sent from the Imperial City of old.
Chickens and dogs share a single boat,
Who is the guest, and who is the host?”

“What we once delighted in, in the blink of an eye, has become a relic of the past, yet we cannot help but be moved by it. Having become relics of the past, those who read these words later will also be moved by this writing, be moved by this writing!”

“Brother Gao, we are both Daoist friends, momentarily players in the game, and perpetually observers. Shall we not depart together? To achieve immortality within the drunken realm of wine?”

Gao Niang occasionally interjected, pleased by the young Daoist’s accessibility, yet also with a slight sense of unease. Could it be that he was… encountering a fellow practitioner and a rival?

Had this Immortal Lu gained experience in officialdom? Otherwise, how could he be even more boastful than himself?

At first, whenever the Daoist mentioned Gao Niang, the River God would quickly propose a toast, drinking a bowl or half a bowl of the local brew. But even the best tolerance could not withstand Lu Daoist’s endless stream of rhetoric. His persuasion was truly formidable. After all, for a once-in-a-century, once-in-a-millennium drinking session like this, Gao Niang had to set aside his status and drink genuinely. Moreover, even Lord Yin Guan had begun to help him deflect drinks, with flimsy excuses, claiming that there was little of the common village wine left, and they needed to save some for drinking to stimulate their minds while preparing lessons for the students.

Finally, Gao Niang’s complexion changed. He hastily excused himself with a word of apology, staggering unsteadily to a distant spot near the academy to vomit.

The River God did not dare use his divine powers to dispel the effects of the alcohol, only remembering to wave his sleeve to disperse the foul odor.

Chen Ping’an, his face also flushed red from drinking, chuckled, “If Daoist Lu truly wishes to increase the water flow of the Thin Eyebrow River, there are better methods than this.”

Lu Chen smiled and said, “If Gao Niang knew the truth, he would drink all the wine here, drink and vomit, vomit and drink, willingly spewing out his very innards.”

It turned out that for every few ounces of wine Gao Niang drank at the table, the Thin Eyebrow River would increase by a few pounds of water flow.

Lu Chen clasped his hands behind his head, leaned back in the bamboo chair, burped, and looked up at the sky, murmuring, “Gao Niang’s drinking table is probably like our mortal realm ten thousand years ago.”

After vomiting, Gao Niang felt refreshed. Returning to the table, he actively asked for more wine. Together with the Immortal Lu, they drank another three, maybe four, pots of immortal wine. As for where the wine came from, the River God, usually so observant, could no longer remember clearly. He only remembered getting thoroughly drunk, rolling up his sleeves, and playing finger-guessing games with Daoist Lu. Finally, Gao Niang’s head crashed heavily onto the table, and he fell into a deep sleep, snoring like thunder.

Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji didn’t drink, and couldn’t sleep anyway, so they had gone for a stroll elsewhere.

Lu Chen looked at Chen Ping’an, whose eyes sparkled, and scolded with a laugh, “Your alcohol tolerance is too much! It has nothing to do with drinking etiquette.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Did I urge you to drink? Even with the worst drinking etiquette, it can’t surpass yours.”

Chen Ping’an, who became clearer the more he drank, had truly only been drunk a few times in his life, countable on one hand. He seemed to have only been drunk once in Yellow Millet Paradise as a youth, and then again when he went to see Xu Yuanxia.

Lu Chen was about to speak when he raised his hand, covered his mouth, and ran off. After a while, he swaggered back to the table, collapsing into the bamboo chair, “It’s been a long time since I drank like this.”

He remembered the last time was long ago, at a small restaurant in a humble alleyway. At the table were Yao Kejiu, who had returned from the White Jade Capital to his hometown of Divine Firmament City to take office as city lord, with the Daoist title “Mimicking Antiquity,” as well as Lu Chen, Sun Huaizhong from the Xuan Du Temple, and Gao Gu from the Huayang Palace. They drank until the world spun and the Heavens turned dark. Afterwards, Yao Kejiu said that Headmaster Sun had helped Lu Chen leave the table, while Gao Gu said that Yao Kejiu carried Lu Chen away. Headmaster Sun then said that he had personally dragged the Sect Master’s leg out of the alleyway. So the alleyway, filled with chicken droppings and dog feces, was particularly clean that night.

Lu Chen took out a porcelain bottle, poured out a few fragrant pills, popped them into his mouth, chewed them loudly, and then passed the bottle to Chen Ping’an, laughing, “These will sober you up, immediately dispel any dizziness.”
Originally, Chen Ping’an was stubbornly enduring it, but for some reason, as soon as he heard about relieving the dizziness from alcohol, his stomach started churning. He cursed under his breath and ran to the edge of the threshing ground, squatting down and throwing up towards the stream for a good while. Returning to his seat, he leaned back against the chair like Lu Chen, gently rubbing his stomach. Gao Niang was still snoring away. Lu Chen picked up his chopsticks again, took the last few snacks from the plate, and said with a smile, “It’s rare for cultivators to get drunk a few times.”

“The way you see Ning Ji this year, that’s how we saw Chen Ping’an back then.”

Lu Chen said, “If I had told you back when I was a stall vendor in the small town that I’d be where I am today, would you have believed it?”

In fact, many of the younger generation in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven had long placed their bets at the table, and even a few of the most talented had lost everything in the very end.

Chen Ping’an said, “To have achieved what I have today, stepping here step by step, good fortune has played a very large part.”

Lu Chen smiled, “Now, in all the heavens, perhaps 99 out of 100 people would think so. The one remaining would either be an old acquaintance like me, or someone close to the Fallen Mountain. After all, as the saying goes, ‘If your destiny only holds eight measures of rice, you won’t fill a peck even if you travel the world.'”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Lu Chen picked up his chopsticks, glanced at Gao Niang, and said with a smile, “You need to remind him later, that nasty habit of his, shaking his chopsticks three times in the air after picking up food, it’s disgusting to watch.”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “He’s just drunk.”

Lu Chen put down his last chopstick, chewing carefully on the last snack, “Life is like a tree bearing a thousand flowers, but as they fall with the wind, each finds its own landing place. Some fall to the ground and become dust beneath the tree, like a person dying in their hometown. Others drift with the water, heading far away like a wanderer who never returns. Some brush against the curtains by a door and fall onto the bed, while others fall into the pigsty. Each has their own distance, nobility, and baseness. Your Confucian sages say this isn’t karma, but in my eyes, isn’t it just a cage? Even the greatest transformers of ancient times couldn’t escape it.”

Gao Niang suddenly woke up as if startled, and shouted in a loud voice, “If fate comes, welcome it and master it!”

After saying that, he fell back asleep, the River God not forgetting to reach out and touch the wine gourd at his waist, muttering with a smile, “Made it, made it big.”

Chen Ping’an was taken aback. Was he truly drunk or pretending? Truly asleep or feigning?

Lu Chen couldn’t help but chuckle, saying, “I knew it, Brother Gao is truly talented. In his muddled state, he speaks the truth after getting drunk. That’s all it is.”

A Fallen Mountain with “the truth revealed,” two generations of gatekeepers, Zheng Dafeng and the Daoist Immortal Wei.

Xiao Mo, Bai Jing from the Barbaric Wilderness using the alias Xie Gou, these two Ascendant Realm sword cultivators, one at his peak, one perfected.

And that white-haired child, the newly appointed scribe Konghou, a Transcendent Demon of the Ascendant Realm.

Plus, those young people and children who had entered the Fallen Mountain one after another, all like plants and trees welcoming spring, thriving and flourishing, making good use of the season’s bounty.

Lu Chen said, “Earlier, on the peak of Splashing Ink Peak, Cao Rong asked me a question, saying that the dispute within the Wen Temple, the Three-Four debate, was it leaning more towards the Literary Saint?”

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “What’s the truth?”

Lu Chen said to himself, “Legend has it that in ancient times, the gods had no concept of day or night.”

“For ten thousand years, all that those on the mountains know now is that it was the Little Master who created the characters, the Rite Saint of Grand Righteousness who cast the tripods, who separated heaven and earth, severing the connection between them.”

“In fact, the Rite Saint’s action completely cut off the possibility of human Daoists reaching the Sixteenth Realm.”

“The three founders of the three religions all knew this, especially my master, who calculated this result ten thousand years ago, before that riverside discussion.”

“When humanity and human hearts each had their own good and evil, there truly was a distinction between heaven and earth.”

“So the Literary Saint’s doctrine of the inherent evil of human nature, while seemingly opposed to the Second Saint’s doctrine of the inherent goodness of human nature, actually allowed him to join forces with the Second Saint to once again prop up heaven and earth.”

Hearing this, Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment, still not taking out any wine.

He had set a rule for himself at the schoolhouse: no use of magic.

Lu Chen smiled, “Do you know why the Literary Saint favors you, his closed-door disciple, the most?”

Chen Ping’an remained silent.

Lu Chen slowly said, “Cui Chan is too clever, so he has no patience for the foolish people of the world. Plus, he looks too far ahead, so he’s filled with worry and anxiety about the world. He once wanted to end it all with the world, but in the end, he shook hands with this world that disappointed him so much, saying goodbye to all those he cared about without a word.”

“Cui Chan should diligently study Buddhism, treating all living beings with equality, then overcome the barriers of words and completely transcend the confines of heaven and earth. For him, it would be easy.”

“Zuo You has always been tolerant of the common people down the mountain, otherwise he wouldn’t have set out alone to sea, searching for immortals, just worried that his sword energy would affect the mountains and rivers everywhere. But he’s always had a bad temper with the cultivators on the mountain, because deep down, he always feels that cultivators should have a Dao heart that matches their cultivation. In short, a person’s actions should be commensurate with their learning. So after Zuo You learned to wield a sword, the higher his sword skills, the more conflicted he became, because he felt that, no matter how high his sword skills, it wouldn’t help.”

“Zuo You should have gone to the deep mountains to learn the Dao, abandoning benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness, seeking only the Dao and virtue.”

“Liu Shiliu, because of his background and age, had no distinction between good and evil when he first looked at the world. Even when he took the Old Scholar as his teacher, he only recognized the Old Scholar as a person, nothing more.”

“So your senior brother, Jun Qian, could actually become a god, at least to the height of the ancient twelve high-ranking gods.”

“Qi Jingchun, most regrettable.”

“As for you.”

Speaking of this, Lu Chen picked up an empty wine gourd on the table, tilted his head back, shook it vigorously, smacked his lips, and said with a smile, “Chen Ping’an, you’re truly pitiable.”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “Lu Chen, we’ve been friends for years, don’t disturb my Dao heart.”

“Young, I did not fit worldly ways, my nature loving hills and mountains. In middle age, I came to love the Dao, late in life, I settled at the edge of South Mountain. Old age brings forgetfulness, only longing I cannot forget.”

Lu Chen picked up the bamboo chopsticks, tapped on the wine bowl, and chanted leisurely, “Those who abandon me, yesterday’s day cannot be kept, those who trouble my heart, today’s day is full of worries.”
“Touching Fish – A gentle spring breeze lifts the embroidered curtain. Facing the dogwood, another year has passed. Listening to the mountain spirit’s songs, the year draws to a close. Stay, let us share the mortal world’s intoxication. Farewell, plum blossoms elsewhere.”

Beside the wine table, aside from Lu Chen’s voice, Chen Ping’an remained silent, only the thunderous snores of Gao Niang rose and fell.

Not far away, Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji were already on their way back to the school. On the bank of the stream stood an ancient tree, its branches lush and verdant.

Having more or less established their identities as fellow disciples on this journey, the two found themselves surprisingly compatible despite their slightly different backgrounds, likely due to their similar experiences.

In short, both had endured hardship in their youth, a thorough and genuine suffering akin to swallowing several dry flatbreads without water.

They paused here. Across the stream was a small, emerald-green pool. Ning Ji had witnessed countless times in that scroll of time, robust village boys entering the water, wielding iron hammers with bamboo handles, raising their arms high, and forcefully striking the stones. The fish hidden beneath would be stunned, likely by a blow akin to thunder, almost floating to the surface, ready to be collected and placed in a fish basket.

Some would even carefully select areas where fish congregated, first piling stones upstream, creating a dam of sorts, ultimately enclosing an entire shallow pool.

Ning Ji chuckled and said, “Daoist Lu said that scholars should understand how to drain a pond to catch all the fish. Catching fish in the stream is much the same.”

Zhao Shuxia couldn’t help but smile wryly. Had Master Lu perhaps mixed up the order of things?

However, Zhao Shuxia quickly frowned.

Seeing that Zhao Shuxia had no intention of moving, Ning Ji, with nothing better to do, squatted by the bank, casually tossing stones into the small pool.

Earlier, Daoist Lu had passed by this place and remarked with a smile that in late spring, when flowers outside the mountain had withered, this tree alone would flourish, holding its own beside the stream.

Upon hearing the phrase “draining a pond to catch all the fish,” Zhao Shuxia, though merely a martial artist, inexplicably recalled a scene from the mountain.

What if the fish in the stream were likened to the Qi refiners of the mortal realm, and the water flowing from the mountain, gathering here, was seen as the spiritual essence of the world?

Fish in water was only natural. They might not even recognize water as water. Then, shouldn’t Qi refiners, existing within the world, also consider cultivating Qi as something completely natural?

Zhao Shuxia’s gaze shifted upwards, from the stream to the mountain, to the mountaintop, and finally to the sky.

Ning Ji finally spoke, “Senior Brother Zhao, what are you thinking about?”

Zhao Shuxia snapped out of his reverie, withdrew his gaze, and smiled at the boy, “Nothing.”

They returned to the school together, and then held a very simple ceremony.

Essentially, Chen Ping’an sat on a chair and drank a bowl of tea offered by Ning Ji.

The only onlookers at this apprenticeship ceremony, besides the boy’s fellow disciple Zhao Shuxia, were Lu Chen, his hands tucked into his sleeves.

Ning Ji kowtowed, and Chen Ping’an helped the boy to his feet.

Just then, a disheveled, impoverished old scholar strode across the threshold, laughing, “Good, good!”

Seeing that the situation was not favorable, Lu Chen tried to slip away, but the old scholar, reaching up on tiptoe, grabbed his neck, forcibly hooking his arm around his shoulder, and said with a reproachful tone, “Why are you leaving? It’s rare for us brothers to meet. We have to, hm?” He raised a hand in a gesture of raising a cup to drink.

Lu Chen reached out and vigorously patted the old scholar’s arm, stating decisively, “Truly, I’m sorry. I’m busy with affairs and must return!”

The old scholar nodded to Chen Ping’an and the others, smiling brightly, while dragging the Master Lu towards the wine table outside, saying, “It’s just a moment for a drink. Let’s chat for a bit. You participated in the argument, and I participated, and both of us won, just one early and one late. It’s a pity we didn’t meet. Let’s make up for it today, chatting and drinking. As for winning or losing, what’s the point of dwelling on it? Master Lu, be open-minded.”

Lu Chen raised both hands, “This Daoist concedes!”

The old scholar released his arm, stroked his beard, and smiled, nodding, “Master Lu has great magnanimity. Conceding only half, it will surely be a fine tale passed down in the future.”

Ning Ji looked blank.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “He is your teacher’s teacher.”

Ning Ji then wanted to kowtow, but the old scholar quickly stepped forward, holding the boy’s arm, “No, just bow. Sincerity is enough.”

The boy turned to look at his teacher. Chen Ping’an nodded with a smile, and the boy respectfully bowed to the old scholar.

The old man quickly straightened his clothes, stood upright, and received this bow with a smile.

The teacher transmits knowledge, and the student receives instruction, both must be calm and peaceful. The teacher is rigorous in his scholarship and serene in his demeanor, and the student is respectful and polite in his learning, both at ease.

The old scholar beamed from ear to ear. This was excellent.

The gratified old scholar turned to Lu Chen and said with a smile, “Rest assured, tonight’s ‘conceding only half’ will absolutely not be spread!”