The young Daoist, adorned with a lotus coronet, hastily bowed in gratitude, his voice tinged with apprehension. “I only ask that esteemed Scholar honor his promise and not inadvertently let slip a word of this.”

Within the academy tonight, only a handful of souls were present. Chen Ping’an, though the old Scholar’s closed-door disciple, possessed a steadfast tongue, never indulging in gossip. As for Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji, one was of a steadfast nature, the other a close acquaintance, both unlikely to bandy such matters about. However, the old Scholar was a creature of unpredictable whims. What if he returned to the Central Earth Literary Temple, drumming and setting off firecrackers, unfurling banners? Or worse, what if he merely exchanged casual words with friends like Yu Xuan and Zhou You, such trivialities easily escaping one’s lips after a few cups? Should the tale then reach the Blue Nether, and be amplified by the Profound Capital Temple, Lu Chen would surely gain a new sobriquet: “The Half-Loser.”

The impoverished old scholar, clad in Confucian robes, returned the courtesy with a formal bow. “Not at all, not at all. Sect Leader Lu merely disdains empty fame. I, on the other hand, am a man of clumsy speech. Should we truly engage in argument, Sect Leader Lu could grant me a hand and a leg as handicap, and still I would be no match.”

Was this the act of profiting while feigning humility?

The old Scholar exchanged a look with Lu Chen before turning to Chen Ping’an and the others, announcing that he wished to exchange a few private words with Sect Leader Lu. He then draped an arm around Lu Chen’s shoulders and steered him toward the door. The old Scholar was not tall, yet Lu Chen possessed a slender frame. The venerable Sect Leader was thus forced to crane his neck to the side as he was dragged away by the old Scholar.

Both the affable Daoist and the unruly old scholar seemed to hold the fourth position within their respective orthodoxies.

Ning Ji was somewhat bewildered. He had, after all, heard of Lu Chen’s name and his position as the White Jade Capital’s Sect Leader during his time in the Jade Proclamation Kingdom’s capital, courtesy of “Daoist Wu Di.” He knew, roughly speaking, that Lu Chen carried great weight “on the mountain,” a figure of paramount importance in the mortal realm. He only wondered why Daoist Lu, whose ancestral home was here, maintained his Daoist temple in South Wisteria City of the White Jade Capital, and why he was one of the leading figures in the Daoist faith.

Did this mean that his unseen grandmaster, in some way, was constantly gaining the upper hand on Daoist Lu?

Chen Ping’an had just offered his apprentice tea, and according to seniority, this old gentleman, addressed as “teacher” by the master and “old scholar” by Sect Leader Lu, was now Ning Ji’s grandmaster.

Ning Ji lowered his voice, his curiosity piqued. “Argue?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, explaining, “The master deliberately downplays it, speaking of it in common terms. In truth, it’s a proper debate. Both the master and Lu Chen participated in the triennial debates of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, though not in the same session. One delivered the opening address, the other the concluding remarks, both winning widespread acclaim. But as their cultivation and status grew, they no longer participated, according to the rules. Thus, they never met.”

Ning Ji pressed on. “Master, what was the outcome of Grandmaster’s debate with Daoist Lu?”

Chen Ping’an paused in contemplation, offering a fair assessment. “It’s uncertain. Victory is hard to predict. Lu Chen’s words are vast and unconstrained, his allegories unmatched, his momentum overwhelming. Like a sudden downpour in the wilderness, mortals can neither avoid nor escape. To oppose him is to face a breached dam. To accept him is to find sweet rain after a long drought, allowing parched fish to return to the river. The master’s discussions are reasoned and methodical, his arguments progressing in a steady, orderly manner. And his literary talent is exceptional, not in a flowery way, but in the way of paving a road, allowing successors to follow step by step.”

Hearing this, Ning Ji breathed a sigh of relief. He hoped that his grandmaster was erudite and skilled in debate, yet he did not wish for Daoist Lu to lose. A draw would be best, or better still, no argument at all.

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Misfortune befalls those who excel in letters. The master taught in a humble alley for many years, impoverished and struggling, meticulously calculating every purchase of books and paper. And Daoist Lu, when serving as a clerk in Qi Yuan, was once so destitute that he could not afford to eat, and had to borrow grain from the local River Supervisor.”

Though he spoke with casual lightness, Chen Ping’an had spoken of his anxiety earlier without any exaggeration. For should the master and Lu Chen engage in formal debate, the consequences for both worlds would be incalculable. A small coincidence, the chance meeting of the Literary Saint and Sect Leader Lu Chen in a rural academy, could give rise to countless far-reaching “inevitabilities” in the coming millennium.

Chen Ping’an, of course, did not wish for the master to engage in such an argument with Lu Chen on his behalf.

At this critical juncture, when the mountains and rivers of the Three Teachings were about to split into countless branches and tributaries, Lu Chen was even more unwilling to debate the Literary Saint, for neither side could emerge victorious. Only mutual damage would result.

Should the old Scholar become ruthless, he could at least delay, or even obstruct, Lu Chen’s union with the Dao at the Fifteenth Realm. Of course, the Literary Saint himself would pay a grievous price.

Among all the worlds, only a handful of individuals, perhaps no more than one or two, could accomplish such a feat, and the old Scholar was one of them.

Thus, his hasty return from beyond the heavens was a form of forceful declaration by the old Scholar and Sect Leader Lu Chen, or rather, by the entire White Jade Capital, or perhaps by the Dao Ancestor himself. He was willing to have his divine statue removed from the Literary Temple once more, to lose his position of companionship, all to protect his closed-door disciple on his path to the summit.

However, since the other party was Lu Chen, who preferred to avoid trouble whenever possible, the old Scholar maintained a keen sense of proportion and timing. If you give me face, I will give you face. This is the way of the pugilist world.

Simply put, the old Scholar’s aid in Yu Xuan’s successful union with the Star River and the acquisition of the River Diagram would incur a debt from the Daoist lineage, from the Daoist faith. While ordinary initiated Daoists could be indifferent, unaffected by such matters, Lu Chen and his master, the Dao Ancestor, held positions that demanded a certain level of consideration.

At a small wine table, the old Scholar and Lu Chen sat facing each other. The old Scholar produced two wine cups and placed them on the table, smiling as he requested the Sect Leader to provide two jars of fine wine from the Blue Nether. Lu Chen then produced two jars from his sleeves, one brewed in the Azure Cloud Pavilion of the White Jade Capital, the other in the Magnificent Yang Palace of Earth Lung Mountain. Each filled a cup. The old Scholar praised the other’s Daoist heart, likened to jade hidden within a mountain. Lu Chen returned the compliment, not by praising the old Scholar, but by remarking that the room beside them, where Chen Ping’an resided, was filled with the fragrance of books, a scent more nourishing than clear water for raising fish.
In bygone days, the Quasi-Sage once journeyed through the Azure Heavens. Beyond arranging for Grand Master Kou Ming to “scatter his Dao” in the Vast World, the Quasi-Sage also harbored the ambition to propagate his teachings and establish academies in foreign lands. However, the Grand Master then presiding over the Jade Capital, Yu Dou, disliked handling mundane affairs. Secluded in the Extraterrestrial Heavens, perpetually battling celestial demons, he was too indolent to even meet with the Quasi-Sage. Thus, several esteemed Daoist officials of the Jade Capital secretly engaged in discussions with the Quasi-Sage, resulting in a failure to reach an agreement. Yet, in truth, had the Jade Capital’s Daoist officials been able to foresee the scattering of the Three Sages’ Dao, they would never have refused such a proposal. As it stands, the greatest beneficiary is undoubtedly the Vast World, now flourishing with a hundred schools of thought, especially with Buddhist monasteries and Daoist temples blossoming across the land.

The reason those Jade Capital Daoist officials declined the Quasi-Sage’s offer back then, apart from fearing the unchecked proliferation of Confucian influence, stemmed from a certain Great Cultivator’s overthinking, leading him further astray from the truth. Perhaps someone like River God Gao Liang, who had experience in officialdom and public service cultivation, could have discerned the truth at a glance: it was simply because Grand Master Yu Dou did not show his face. The Jade Capital assumed that this was Grand Master Yu’s stance. If Yu Dou didn’t nod in approval, then there was no room for negotiation.

As one of the only two remaining Grand Masters of the Jade Capital, Lu Chen could certainly facilitate this matter. At most, he would journey to the Extraterrestrial Heavens to say a few words to his Senior Brother Yu Dou, and then relay the message to the Five Cities and Twelve Towers of the Jade Capital. It would merely entail an extra trip. However, Lu Chen, for reasons unknown, feigned ignorance of the matter, preferring to wander the lands, seek scolding at the Profound Capital Temple, or freeload off Great Cultivators like Gao Gu and Wu Shuangjiang.

“No one is as carefree as Grand Master Lu, drifting about unburdened, leaving no trace in his wake, and no record of his deeds.”

Since assuming the mantle of Jade Capital Grand Master, Lu Chen seemed to have accomplished nothing of worldly significance in the Azure Heavens, falling far short of his two senior Grand Masters.

The rare anecdotes that did circulate were mostly absurd and laughable tales.

“Master Wen had never wasted a moment. He observed human affairs as one would admire mountains and rivers. Wherever he set foot, achievements followed. If a scholar influencing countless other scholars isn’t a grand feat, then what is?”

The old scholar scratched his head, then, holding his cup in one hand and stroking his beard with the other, lamented, “Unaware of the approach of old age, my hair turns white in an instant. Alas, how feeble I have become!”

Lu Chen smiled gently, “Looking back on this lifetime of seeking the Dao, I find myself exceedingly fortunate.”

“Only Grand Master Lu can utter such words. Others dare not.”

“Do not harbor resentment upon waking. Do not scold your wife at dusk. Read more of the sages’ scriptures, and meet every matter with a chuckle. Self-cultivation, the way of the world, is as simple as that.”

The old scholar was rendered speechless.

Presumably, Chen Pingan, realizing that the discussion at the table was merely casual banter, walked to the doorway and asked his teacher if he wanted some late-night snacks. The old scholar patted his belly, nodding profusely, and jokingly said that it was a good thing, or else his inner temple would rebel. Seeing Chen Pingan standing without moving, the old scholar invited him to sit down and chat, suggesting he drink a little wine if he could, or tea if he couldn’t. Chen Pingan nodded and sat at the table, while Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji busied themselves in the kitchen preparing the late-night meal. They planned to stir-fry several more dishes to accompany the wine, as it seemed they were preparing for a second round of drinks.

Lu Chen smiled, “You don’t need to be so nervous. Master Wen and I won’t get into a quarrel.”

Generally speaking, as the teacher, the old scholar, had indicated he wanted to discuss matters with Lu Chen, Chen Pingan, as his student and disciple, should not interfere, neither publicly, privately, nor emotionally. It was not in accordance with proper etiquette.

Perhaps this was the unique privilege afforded to a closed-door disciple.

Lu Chen had also been a closed-door disciple for thousands of years and could empathize, he had to empathize.

Chen Pingan retorted, “Whether or not there’s a quarrel, the power rests with my teacher. What Grand Master Lu says is useless.”

The old scholar stroked his beard and smiled. Listen to that, how sincere, how heartwarming?

Lu Chen, hearing Chen Pingan address him as Daoist Lu rather than Grand Master Lu, and finding his words unceremonious, decided not to dwell on it.

The old scholar recalled something, felt around in his sleeve, but found nothing. He merely looked up at Grand Master Lu.

Lu Chen smiled and raised a finger to his lips, indicating that he understood the rules and would definitely keep his mouth shut.

Only then did the old scholar produce a copy of the River Diagram. It was ultimately a hasty endeavor, and the arcane truths it contained were likely only a tenth of the original.

The old scholar reminded Chen Pingan not to rush to open it, but to wait until he returned to the Upper Five Realms. Unfolding the painting to peruse its contents now would only cause his Dao heart to become deeply entangled.

It was only because his closed-door disciple had achieved success in cultivating his heart that the old scholar trusted him. Otherwise, even if one were an Immortal, they would not be able to handle this mere copy of the River Diagram, as bestowing it would be tantamount to harming them.

Chen Pingan nodded, silently tucked it into his sleeve, treating it as an uninhibited gesture at the drinking table, and making an exception to use a spell. Within his sleeve, mountains and rivers shrunk, and earth veins, like branches of an ancestral mountain, stretched out in a winding line, guiding it to the desk on the first floor of the bamboo building.

The old scholar laughed, “A fondness for studying arithmetic is a good thing. When you travel to the Central Earth Divine Continent in the future, you can seek guidance from those Old Ancestors of Arithmetic. They owe your Eldest Senior Brother a considerable favor. Feel free to ask any questions you have. If you happen to stump them, it will be a new debt of gratitude. Little Baoping, You Gan, and Ning Ji, these children, will then be able to justly demand knowledge from those old fogeys.”

The old scholar then produced a fleeting painting of time, not intending to preserve it for long. It was the type of ephemeral scroll meant for a single viewing.

Lu Chen understood the old scholar’s good intentions. Great Cultivators on the mountain were often different in person than in reputation. Since Chen Pingan was destined to make a trip to the Azure Heavens in the future, it was best for him to see the faces and hear the words of certain Azure Heavens cultivators sooner rather than later.

On the painting, in that Extraterrestrial Heaven, the starry river stretched endlessly, and thoughts were vast.

The old scholar squatted on the gourd, sighing deeply, taking a sip of wine with each sigh. Yu, the Old Immortal, the host, felt somewhat awkward.

The less the old scholar said, the more guilt Yu Xuan felt.

Only when the old scholar raised his wine jug and instead comforted Yu Xuan, saying, “The Celestial River’s fortune is renewed this evening. No need to worry about finding a place to relax. Ponder it, and you should follow him, and become a Daoist among the Stars and Rivers.”
Yu Xuan was starting to feel overwhelmed, simply because among those who came to congratulate Tianwai tonight, Liu Qi arrived empty-handed, without bringing any gifts. Subsequently, Gu Qingsong, who arrived at the Milky Way by boat, did scold Yu Xuan a few times. Besides him, Mr. Xu arrived with empty sleeves, and Cheng Longzhou from the Great Fu Academy was also a scholar, so their friendship was like water. Wei She of Aiai Continent, the esteemed master of the seventy-two peaks, a universally recognized tycoon, possessed unimaginable wealth. Perhaps it was because such incredibly wealthy individuals didn’t bother to talk about money, that the old scholar, who was eagerly waiting to help collect gifts, didn’t see even a shadow of a single immortal coin, let alone a magical treasure.

After Wei She’s visit, another great cultivator from Liuxia Continent, styled as Qinggong Taibao Jing Hao, hurried over. As a top immortal of Liuxia Continent, he had immediately sensed the anomaly in the Milky Way and, without hesitation, used the unique method of a Flying Ascention Realm cultivator to report to the Literary Temple, which then informed him that he could travel to Tianwai, but with limited time, not exceeding an hour.

However, when Jing Hao saw the old scholar next to Yu Xuan, he almost, truly almost, turned around and left.

Last time during the Literary Temple council, he had only distantly observed the commotion at Mandarin Duck Isle. At most, some guests at his manor and friends on the mountain had said a few unpleasant words.

Then, that Zuo You had come to question him with great fanfare. Although Zuo You only delivered one sword strike, it had left Jing Hao, who was praised for having mastered eighty kinds of Dao arts, severely injured.

Reading people have such terrible tempers. Even if you, Zuo You, possess unparalleled swordsmanship, you still cannot become a sacrificial sage in the Literary Temple.

Yu Xuan pretended not to notice the embarrassed Jing Hao and asked with a mental voice and a smile, “Old Scholar, what’s going on? I recall that Jing Hao only suffered one sword strike from Zuo You. Besides, your disciple isn’t one to dwell on past grievances. Once a sword duel is over, the matter is usually closed. Jing Hao shouldn’t be so terrified just by seeing you, right?”

This was Yu Xuan putting it mildly. Given Jing Hao’s personality, he would definitely try to curry favor with the Literary Saint if he had the chance and would also want to put some matters behind him.

Poor Jing Hao, the number one person on the mountain of Liuxia Continent, hesitated in the distance, caught in a difficult situation.

Indeed, if he had just been beaten up, Jing Hao would have swallowed his anger and endured it.

The key was that shortly after Zuo You left, another major figure, whom Jing Hao had to kowtow to, arrived. This person was also a sword cultivator, but he had a deep connection to Qinggong Mountain, where Jing Hao’s ancestral mountain was located.

If the ancient Shu region was this person’s place of enlightenment, then Qinggong Mountain was this sword cultivator’s place of cultivation.

Therefore, Jing Hao’s lineage was actually occupying the nest, “borrowing” the place. However, the true owner had disappeared for three thousand years after the Dragon Slaying campaign ended. Over time, except for Jing Hao, no one in the sect knew about this shocking secret.

The old scholar smiled and said, “Brother Yu, you may not know, but at the Literary Temple, Zuo You had just left when that Immortal Monarch Chen followed right after, essentially pouring cold water on Jing Hao’s head, scaring him badly.”

Yu Xuan became even more curious, “How so? Tell me about it.”

The old scholar said, “Jing Hao’s lineage has a deep connection with Immortal Monarch Chen. Their relationship is somewhat similar to… Gu Qingsong and Lu Chen. So, if the latter were to reappear, Jing Hao would have to give up that ancestral mountain, returning it to its rightful owner, even if Jing Hao caused a ruckus at the Literary Temple, it wouldn’t matter.”

Yu Xuan suddenly understood. So Qinggong Mountain was once the Daoist sanctum of the Dragon Slayer, Chen Qingliu?

Therefore, when the Dragon Slayer reappeared during the Literary Temple council, the most panicked cultivator in the world was probably Jing Hao, who considered himself “unworthy of the position and inferior in skill.”

Sure enough, after Chen Qingliu came to him, Jing Hao had instantly decided to move the entire sect out of Qinggong Mountain, enduring the short-term pain rather than living in constant fear. Although the sect would inevitably suffer a great loss of vitality, it was better than living in fear every day.

Unexpectedly, Immortal Monarch Chen, who initially intended to “reclaim the mountain”, seemed to have changed his mind, essentially giving Qinggong Mountain back to Jing Hao.

However, there was a catch. He made two small requests to Jing Hao. One was that Chen Qingliu liked a disciple who had been imprisoned by Jing Hao, and you must restore his status as the sect master.

At the time, Chen Qingliu said it was fine if he didn’t want to.

Of course, Jing Hao didn’t dare to refuse. No matter how unwilling his bones were, his head had to nod in agreement.

Chen Qingliu’s second request was that he might have a mountain friend who would travel to Liuxia Continent in the future, and if he happened to visit Qinggong Mountain, Jing Hao should pay close attention to him.

This mountain senior, whom Chen Immortal Monarch described as his “good brother,” was styled “Little Dragon King of Luopo Mountain.”

He also said that when Jing Hao met this friend in the future, he would be able to recognize him at a glance.

Therefore, Jing Hao later used various channels and means to send several capable confidants to Baoping Continent to inquire about the news of Luopo Mountain. However, the information that was sent back to Qinggong Mountain infuriated Jing Hao. He issued a strict and almost admonishing edict, scolding them severely. In the end of the secret letter, he wrote two words: Investigate again!

It turned out that there was indeed a cultivator in the form of a green-robed boy on Luopo Mountain in Baoping Continent, but according to the first intelligence report, he was a Yuan Ying Realm water dragon who had successfully taken a path in the Northern Ju Continent. Just a terrestrial immortal water dragon? No wonder Jing Hao would fly into a rage, telling them that they were a bunch of fools and asking if they took their master as an idiot?

The second intelligence report contained more detailed information, even digging out that the real identity of the one named Chen Lingjun was a small water snake. He had a close relationship with the water god in the Huangting Kingdom, which was a vassal of the Great Sui Gao clan. Chen Lingjun was a very lively… green-robed boy. It was only later that he met that young, undeveloped Hidden Official and became one of the “elders” who followed Chen Ping’an to Luopo Mountain.

This made the crafty Jing Hao even more suspicious.

A Dragon Slayer and a Yuan Ying Realm water dragon, calling each other brothers, who would believe that?

Jing Hao just wouldn’t believe it, but what could he do? He couldn’t just wait to be beaten to death before he believed it, right?

In short, no matter what the truth was, it couldn’t avoid Luopo Mountain and Chen Ping’an.
Since he couldn’t avoid Chen Ping’an, Jing Hao became even more apprehensive upon seeing the Literary Sage tonight.

The Ritual Sage hardly intervened in the specific affairs of the Literary Temple, and the Second Sage was in the Savage World, so the one truly in charge of the Literary Temple now was this old scholar, seemingly serving as a temporary head.

The old scholar smiled, “Brother Yu, you really weren’t wronged by those words Daoist Xiancha said to you earlier.”

Yu Xuan said helplessly, “One doesn’t strike a smiling face. As a cultivator with a lineage, I often attend ceremonies, and I can’t refuse. When participating in various banquets, the social interactions on the wine table are unavoidable, and I have to exchange a few pleasantries with people.”

Among the nine continents of the Vast Expanse, Flowing Cloud Continent was a land of first-rate scenic beauty. Accomplished cultivators from the mountains loved to travel there. Countless cultivators from other continents had built villas there, especially the famed hospitable Daoist couple from Heavenly Corner Cave. The Green God Mountain banquet of Bamboo Sea Cave and the Three Volts banquet of Heavenly Corner Cave were both extremely famous. Yu Xuan often traveled abroad, and Jing Hao was adept at joining in on the fun. He wasn’t exactly friends with Yu Xuan, but he was a familiar face. Jing Hao claimed to others that he was Yu Xuan’s friend, and Yu Xuan couldn’t very well issue a mountain and river gazette specifically to deny it.

So, Jing Hao braced himself and came here to offer a few congratulatory words to Yu Xuan and apologize to the Literary Sage.

The old scholar didn’t put on a stern face or anything, just smiled and didn’t say anything in response.

As expected of Jing Hao, who claimed to have attended over a thousand banquets, big and small. When the time came, he went all out, chatting and laughing with Yu Xuan, and occasionally interjecting a few words about Chen Yin’guan’s promising youth. He stubbornly chatted for almost half an hour before taking his leave.

The old scholar sat on the gourd, drinking his wine, and felt so awkward for Yu Xuan and Jing Hao that he wanted to dig a hole in the ground.

During this time, Jing Hao mustered his courage and subtly mentioned to the Literary Sage that his Green Palace Mountain welcomed Chen Yin’guan and Daoist Lingjun to grace their humble abode. He only requested that they give them a heads-up in advance, and he, Jing Hao, would personally welcome the distinguished guests on the border of Flowing Cloud Continent.

The old scholar was amazed. He had the cultivation level and the thick skin. He had to admit that some positions could only be filled by people like Jing Hao.

The old scholar then said something ambiguous, “After all, they are accomplished cultivators who are well-known in the mountains, they can’t be ignorant of worldly affairs all day long. After the family matters are resolved, they should pay more attention to matters beyond the mountains.”

Jing Hao’s expression became solemn, and he stood up, bowed deeply, and said with firm determination, “I respectfully heed the Literary Sage’s teachings!”

The Literary Sage’s so-called “matters beyond the mountains” were naturally matters of the world.

He understood that there would inevitably be cultivators from his Green Palace Mountain lineage in the Savage World, and the names of Green Palace Mountain cultivators should be on a merit ledger of the Literary Temple.

Once Jing Hao left, it was quiet again.

Yu Xuan asked with puzzlement, “Old Scholar, who is this Daoist Lingjun?”

As an old fox who had mastered the art of social interactions, Yu Xuan immediately understood Jing Hao’s hidden meaning. He was clearly treating this person with the same status as Chen Ping’an.

The old scholar smiled, “Extraordinary, quite extraordinary. When the Dao Ancestor was traveling around the old site of the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, this Daoist Lingjun was responsible for representing Fallen Mountain to entertain guests. When he first saw the Cave Master of Azure Firmament, he generously invited the old Daoist priest to his mountain as a guest, guaranteeing plenty of food. When he saw the Dao Ancestor, he was neither servile nor arrogant, possessing an imposing presence. He even advised the Dao Ancestor to change his name.”

Yu Xuan said with a shocked expression, “What?!”

Even though he had now reached the Fourteenth Realm, standing tall and looking far, Yu Xuan didn’t dare to say that he could go toe-to-toe with that Azure Firmament Cave Master, even for the next thousand years.

Moreover, it was said that this smelly-nosed old Daoist priest from the Eastern Sea Daoist Temple was notoriously vindictive and loved to bear grudges.

The Dao Ancestor was probably riding an ox on his travels, so what did Daoist Lingjun’s so-called “plenty of food” mean? Wasn’t that a direct provocation?

The saying, “Since emerging from my cave, I have been unmatched. I never show mercy when I can avoid it,” wasn’t some arrogant boast. Back then, this Cave Master of Azure Firmament in Fallen Treasure Shoal only suffered a loss when he encountered the Dao Ancestor. Otherwise, in the long ancient years, countless human “Daoists” had suffered at the hands of this senior.

As for asking the Dao Ancestor to change his name, what was the reason for that?!

Could there really be such a fearless… or audacious hero in the world?

The old scholar smiled, “Brother Yu, when you have time, you might as well take a trip to Fallen Mountain yourself, and you will know the purity of the atmosphere and the sincerity of the hospitality there.”

Yu Xuan nodded slightly. Before hearing about Daoist Lingjun’s heroic deeds, the old immortal might or might not have visited that Fallen Mountain in Treasure Bottle Continent. Now, he felt it was a must-visit.

He couldn’t imagine what kind of land could nurture such a man of unyielding spirit. How did it seem that he was even more extraordinary than Gu Qingsong?

Among the cultivators in the world, there were those like him, Yu Xuan, the old scholar beside him, and Lu Chen, who were relatively easy to talk to.

But there were also cultivators like the Azure Firmament Cave Master, Yu Dou, Zheng Juzhong, and Gao Gu, who were more serious and particular. Try making a joke to their faces and see what happens.

This time, Yu Xuan’s harmony with the Dao was indeed rather abrupt and unexpected. In addition, there were many rules and regulations for cultivators in the Vast Expanse who wanted to ascend to the heavens, and some mountain peak cultivators who had poor, bad, or just mediocre relations with the Literary Temple were unwilling to notify or plead with the Central Earth Literary Temple about this matter. Most of them were thinking of paying a visit to Yu Xuan’s sect in Central Earth Divine Continent to exchange a few pleasantries when he returned one day.

So, besides Gu Qingsong and Jing Hao, a cultivator with a thick skin, almost none of Yu Xuan’s mountain friends of similar cultivation level showed up today.

The old scholar’s place of harmony with the Dao was in the lands of Tong Ye, Poso, and Fuyao Continents. Even though he was in the heavens, it wasn’t difficult to call people.

However, the mountains and rivers of the three continents were scarred and desolate, especially the great cultivators in the Ascension and Immortal Realms, who had already dwindled to almost nothing.

Yu Xuan tentatively asked the old scholar politely, “Otherwise, should I inform a few close friends in Central Earth Divine Continent?”

The old scholar hesitated, “Wouldn’t that be inappropriate?”

There was no such thing as actively asking people for congratulatory gifts.

Wasn’t that the same as Fire Dragon True Man, who said, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t come to Crawling Peak, but your red envelopes must arrive. After all, even if the red envelope is thin, it’s still a token of your sincerity?”

Yu Xuan nodded along the way and changed his words, “It is a bit inappropriate.”

The old scholar immediately followed suit and changed his words, “Actually, it’s alright. After all, it’s such a joyous event, a once-in-a-lifetime affair, even rarer than being a groom.”

Yu Xuan was speechless for a moment.
“Is your closed-door disciple truly that destitute?”

“If I recall correctly, he and Bai Jing certainly didn’t lack for funds back in the celestial realms.”

“Even if we assume the worst, and he’s genuinely broke, would Chen Ping’an dare to initiate the grand canal project in Tongye Continent?”

Yu Xuan felt a touch helpless; this matter was being twisted into something quite different by the Old Tutor.

The Old Tutor craned his neck, gazing into the distance, and chuckled, “Oh ho, it seems folks from the Azure Vault are arriving. Yu, my friend, I’m envious. You have so many acquaintances.”

Yu Xuan glanced towards the distance and smiled, “They’re all strangers. Hardly what one would call friends.”

The Old Tutor sat cross-legged, tapping his wine flask against his knee. “The latest ‘Top Ten Under Heaven’ list from the Azure Vault… is the number of candidates a bit excessive this time?”

Yu Xuan nodded. “A full twenty-one.”

Even before successfully merging with the Star River, Yu Xuan possessed a comprehensive view of the human world.

In particular, cultivators specializing in the art of manipulating constellations were required to “pay their respects” to Yu Xuan through various secret methods, rendering the Old Tutor’s teasingly accurate.

Among them, White Jade Capital had three Daoist officials among the candidates. Of course, adding the just-arrived Shenxiao City Punishing Official, Hao Su, that number rises to four.

The first Azure Vault Daoist to arrive was an aged official from White Jade Capital, his ears dangling to his shoulders, white eyebrows covering his cheekbones. His appearance was austere, clearly an old celestial.

The old Daoist possessed an incredibly long lifespan. His two snowy white eyebrows were naturally long; those born with such eyebrows often enjoy longevity, especially those with “ear lobes draping down,” a classic sign of wealth, fortune, and long life.

Among cultivators from the Three Teachings and Hundred Schools, Daoists are commonly recognized as the longest-lived.

Even when faced with the Literary Saint, who was just a fraction of his age, the Elder Realized Being who left White Jade Capital’s Azure Cloud Pavilion still greeted him with a smiling, “Greetings, Old Tutor.”

Such was the unique stature of the Literary Saint.

Just as when Liu Qi came to offer congratulations to Yu Xuan, merely because the Old Tutor was present, he placed “Literary Saint” before Yu Xuan in his opening address.

This could be seen as a convention of the mountain and water officialdom, or as indispensable social etiquette, and, of course, as a genuine recognition of the Literary Saint’s scholarship.

The Old Tutor stood up, returned the gesture with clasped hands, and a beaming smile. “Greetings, Old Celestial Huang.”

Huang Jieshou, whose Daoist title on the White Jade Capital’s Golden Jade Register was “Equilibrium,” had the character “Xuan” bestowed by the Dao Ancestor for the nameplate of his library. Therefore, the Elder Realized Being consistently styled himself “Xuanhuang.”

He was the penultimate Lord of Azure Cloud Pavilion; the two subsequent Lords were both disciples of his lineage. In the past, Huang Jieshou proactively relinquished his position as Lord, merely taking up a position overseeing a Mountain-Quelling Palace, essentially guarding the Smoked Rosy Cave used by White Jade Capital to imprison convicts.

The Old Tutor inquired with a smile, “How did Old Celestial find the time to come here?”

Huang Jieshou pointed to a scant number of keys hanging from his waist, chuckling. “Not to deceive the Literary Saint, but this poor Daoist is now blessedly free from worldly affairs.”

It turned out that just recently, the Elder Realized Being had relinquished his remaining Daoist office, as well as his position as Palace Lord of the Mountain-Quelling Palace.

Huang Jieshou of Azure Cloud Pavilion, and Pang Ding, the Spirit Treasure City Lord, whose Daoist name was “Empty Heart,” were of the same generation, true veterans of White Jade Capital.

Among the Daoist officials of White Jade Capital still living, excluding those who dispersed their physical bodies and reincarnated, returning to White Jade Capital to continue their Daoist destiny, the Elder Realized Being was second only to Grand Master Kou Ming in seniority, even preceding Second Master Yu Dou.

Legend had it that in his youth, Huang Jieshou entered White Jade Capital for cultivation. Not many years later, he was fortunate enough to travel with the Dao Ancestor and Grand Master Kou Ming to the outer realms. Even then, the youth sighed, “How long will it be before the Yellow River runs clear?”

As for why the Old Tutor was so courteous, it wasn’t due to the other’s age and status. According to a certain saying from Daoist Sun of the Profound Capital Temple, Huang Jieshou was one of the few “good birds” of White Jade Capital. Huang Jieshou rarely participated in White Jade Capital affairs, but in the past, he made a rare appearance and uttered a dissenting opinion that caused quite a stir within White Jade Capital. Roughly, it was: What harm is there in yielding a great Dao path to the scholar Qi Jingchun?

Daoist Sun remained silent for a moment, then smiled and told the Old Tutor that this was merely the rumor on the outside. Huang Jieshou’s statement was actually more impolite.

“We Daoists merely cultivate for a longer time. Why obstruct a young man’s path to heaven, earned by his own ability?”

At the time, another aged Daoist of comparable status to Huang Jieshou retorted, “If Qi Jingchun can ascend to heaven, how can we obstruct him?”

However, Daoist Sun, despite being at odds with White Jade Capital, intentionally withheld this latter statement from the Old Tutor, refraining from mentioning it.

Knowing the feud between the Literary Saint’s lineage and White Jade Capital, Huang Jieshou did not offer any polite invitations to visit Azure Cloud Pavilion on this trip.

Afterwards, another refined gentleman-like Daoist arrived from the Azure Vault, the top cultivator from Mount Ruzhou, Daoist name Green Duckweed, a very cultured and talented individual.

He and Daoist Sun of the Profound Capital Temple, one being a certainty for eleventh place under heaven, the other unshakeably in fifth place.

However, this time, he failed to defend his eleventh-place seat.

The Azure Vault boasted nine female cultivators among the candidates.

Four of them arrived at the outer realms tonight, as if they had agreed upon it, arriving together.

Lei Yu, whose origins were from the demon race, her true form a water serpent, and one of the rare female cultivators without a Daoist name.

In Empty Mountain Lake, known as “Little Four Continents”, she was one of the two Lake Masters, occupying the largest island, a territory vast and comparable to Yong Continent.

Her ancestral mountain was named Overturned Boat Mountain, its main peak擱船尖(Gē chuán jiān -擱船尖 roughly translates to “boat-resting peak.”)

There was also the female Daoist Yang Qing, whose Daoist name was “Mirage”, rumored to be proficient in the Great Yi Divine Calculations, recognized as the best under heaven.

Yang Qing hailed from the Hongnong Yang clan of You Province. She was also the owner of the Sea Mountain Immortal Pavilion of the Mountain-Guarding Pavilion.

Although this female Daoist from a powerful clan was extremely old, she possessed the appearance of a maiden, her figure graceful and slender, like a sixteen or seventeen year old, with a face as red as flowers and eyes as black as lacquer.

There were also two female cultivators who were almost identical, with only slight differences: both had moles near their mouths, one on the left, the other on the right.

These twin sisters were named Xu Mian and Xu Yingning. The latter, Xu Yingning, seemed to differ from the rumored ugly appearance.

Besides being the mistresses of Green Mud Grotto-heaven and Paradise Earth Blessed Land, they were also the founding ancestors of the Dressing Table Attendant and Curtained Rouge Hand lineages.

A thousand years ago, they were merely at the Immortal Realm, then received guidance from an expert and secluded themselves from the world.
Now, the sisters have not only ascended to the Ascension Realm but have also made it to the list of ten candidates.

Upon seeing this old scholar, young in years but brimming with legendary tales, they bowed respectfully, addressing him as Sage Wen.

Though from two different celestial realms, secrets rarely exist atop mountain peaks.

His eldest disciple, the Embroidered Tiger Cui Chan, and his late-in-life closed-door disciple, Qi Jingchun, need not be mentioned.

It is rumored that this individual began practicing swordsmanship exceedingly late, yet cultivated the foremost sword skill in the vastness of the world, turning the “genius” from the Central Earth Divine Continent into a pejorative term.

Liu Shiliu, previously leading a boy wearing a tiger-head hat, questioned swordsmanship at the White Jade Capital, delivering a punch that reverberated, dragging that delicate boy as he fought and then fled.

The invincible True Lord was clearly present in the White Jade Capital at the time, yet did not retaliate.

They each held their own curiosity and questions.

Clearly, congratulating Yu Xuan was secondary; conversing with Sage Wen was the true purpose.

The female cultivator Lei Yu, of robust build, her body adorned with muscular contours, strangely did not give off a rough impression but rather possessed a rare form of beauty.

She was the first to speak, smiling as she asked, “Sage Wen, your student Liu Shiliu caused quite a stir when he questioned swordsmanship at the White Jade Capital. The boy with the strange hat beside him, was he truly the most favored in the world?”

It is known throughout the land that Bai Ye’s poetry is unmatched, and his sword skills even surpass it.

If Bai Ye were not a pure swordsman, countless admirers across the celestial realms would blindly follow.

If Bai Ye were willing to visit the Sword Qi Great Wall, he would surely be able to determine who is superior to Chen Qingdu.

The old scholar wore a blank expression. “Ah?”

Last time, at the Xuan Du Temple, he remembered Bai Ye as a fair-skinned, jade-carved child in a tiger-head hat.

Yang Qing smiled knowingly.

Previously, Liu Shiliu and Bai Ye had toured the Guarding Mountain Pavilion, and she had even enjoyed a brief respite in her maritime mountain immortal hall.

However, such matters should not be publicized.

Otherwise, she might, like Lei Yu, be utterly perplexed by this matter: why would a divine figure like Bai Ye, whether in the guise of a child or a youth, wear such a comical tiger-head hat?

However, the relationship between Liu Shiliu and Bai Ye is indeed strong.

She merely noted that after their departure, Liu Shiliu helped…Bai Ye adjust his tiger-head hat as he exited.

Even now, she found it amusing.

Lei Yu stated in a forthright tone, “Welcome, Sage Wen, to be a guest at my Gechuan Peak on Kongshan Lake! There’s plenty of wine and food, no need to worry! There are also some books; Sage Wen, just take whatever catches your eye!”

It is said that this renowned Sage Wen’s “wine tasting” skills are unparalleled. Coincidentally, the homemade wine of Kongshan Lake is no less exquisite than any immortal brew in the Azure Billow World.

The old scholar chuckled, “I naturally desire to go; I have long yearned for Kongshan Lake, my soul dreaming of it. It’s just that your Headmaster Yu might not welcome me.”

She grinned, “Sage Wen, just go. The White Jade Capital has no jurisdiction over our small Four Continents.”

Regardless of whether the rumors on the mountain are true, the invincible True Lord has indeed never set foot in Kongshan Lake in thousands of years, as if some kind of restriction exists.

The old scholar thanked the female Lake Sovereign.

Xu Mian softly said, “Sage Wen, there are many who sincerely admire Chen Yin Guan in our Azure Billow World, countless one might say.”

This was not mere polite talk. These Azure Billow cultivators who praised the young Hidden Official had a common trait: most of them held the White Jade Capital in mutual disdain.

Speaking of her Azure Mud Grotto-Heaven, it actually had few cultivators. For millennia, due to the mountain’s isolation, only occasional Upper Five Realm cultivators ventured out to the Fourteen Continents, selecting potential disciples to bring back to the grotto-heaven. As for her sister Xu Yingning’s blessed land, it was a similar situation, except that they were somewhat more aware of major external events due to their deliberate efforts.

Xu Yingning smiled, “Unlike my sister, among the younger generation, I prefer Cao Ci.”

The old scholar nodded with a smile, “Cao Ci is a young man who deserves any praise.”

Indeed, Cao Ci was the type who was unconcerned with worldly matters, and the world could not contend with him.

Therefore, others might not even envy someone like Cao Ci.

Furthermore, when the world thinks highly of Cao Ci, aren’t they also thinking highly of their closed-door disciple?

Xu Mian hesitated, then asked in a hushed voice, “Sage Wen, can I help a friend to ask Chen Yin Guan for a few seals and a folding fan? If possible, I would be bold enough to ask for two more seal manuals.”

The old scholar stroked his beard and smiled. If it were the kind of situation where a friend was created out of thin air, the old scholar, as a teacher, would not dare to rashly promise anything.

Last time, at the inn in the Dali capital, his closed-door disciple had lost his temper with his well-intentioned but clumsy teacher.

That was Chen Pingan; if it were Zuo You or Jun Qian, try it and see if they don’t knock your head swollen.

Xu Mian was quick-witted and understanding, and immediately smiled, “If it’s difficult for Sage Wen, then forget about it.”

The old scholar said, “I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll mention it to my student later. I imagine it won’t be a problem.”

Xu Mian thanked the old scholar, performing a graceful and respectful curtsy.

Afterward, several Taoists from outside the White Jade Capital came to congratulate Yu Xuan.

The old scholar waved his hand, gently dispersing a fading scroll of the river of time.

Chen Pingan silently noted the distinctive words and actions of each of the Azure Billow cultivators.

Lu Chen said something out of the blue, “To use injustice to make things just, its justice is also unjust.”

Chen Pingan nodded, then shook his head, a complex expression on his face. “The principle is correct, but things are not so simple.”

Lu Chen smiled, “After all, it’s a difficult problem that the Embroidered Tiger has given you, so indeed, the answer is not so simple.”

Afterward, the three of them ate late-night snacks together. Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji were not hungry, so they did not join the table. They deliberately left a wine table for their elders, and since they had nothing to do, they stayed near the threshing ground, one watching the mountains, the other listening to the water.

Zhao Shuxia was still thinking about the matter of draining the pond to catch the fish, while Ning Ji was reminded of a question that Taoist Lu had asked: what was the young man’s vision after becoming a scholar under Chen Pingan?

Ning Ji naturally could not provide an answer.

The Taoist asked the scholar, what can studying and sword practice achieve?

Coincidentally, Chen Pingan was lying on a rattan chair at the time, enjoying the cool breeze under the moonlight, and shared a piece of learning with Zhao Shuxia, his closed-door disciple in the way of boxing.
It seems the wisdom of this life springs from the books read in a past existence, as if the purpose of reading in this life is for the sake of the next.

At that moment, Ning Ji appeared thoughtful, as if he had gained some enlightenment.

Lu Chen merely smiled, allowing the youth, who was about to possess a clear lineage of tutelage, to contemplate further, to ponder deeply. He said that when an answer resided within his heart, and if they should meet again in the future, he should share his thoughts with Lu Chen.

Thereafter, ten thousand years passed in the mortal realm. The mountains and rivers remained vibrant and verdant, the golden orioles sang amongst the green bamboo, white clouds graced the azure peaks, and the bright moon illuminated Dragon Spring sword. With a newly sharpened three-foot blade, one might ask the Confucian scholars, who dares to quell the tempestuous waves? Which one is capable of calming the storms?