Chen Ping’an and Lu Chen walked shoulder to shoulder through the alley of that secluded village. Their footsteps, one thousand-layered cloth shoes and the other cotton shoes, rustled like falling leaves.

Passing a house, a village dog in the yard, startled by the footsteps, suddenly woke up and barked fiercely towards the gate. Soon, the barking spread to nearby houses, only to quickly subside into silence.

Meanwhile, Lu Chen leaned against the wall, imitating dog barks a few times, and raised his hand as if to throw a stone. The village dog inside the yard whimpered, tucking its tail and shrinking back.

Lu Chen shook his sleeves and quickly caught up with Chen Ping’an, who had slowly walked to the alley entrance and stopped. Rubbing his hands, Lu Chen said, “Although it’s human nature to prepare for famine every year and guard against thieves every night, there’s no need to be wary of this Daoist and Mountain Master Chen. What do you think, Chen Ping’an?”

Chen Ping’an replied, “Headmaster Lu, you can embellish yourself all you want, but there’s no need to include me.”

Lu Chen suddenly chuckled, “In this world, one dog barks at a shadow, a hundred dogs bark at the sound.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Among humans, one person speaks falsely, a thousand spread it as truth.”

Lu Chen clapped his hands and exclaimed, “Excellent! That could be written as a wooden couplet with gold characters on a black background, and I’ll have it properly framed and placed in the Guanjian Temple. We can each add our names as the calligraphers, making it a delightful piece.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “If you’re willing to lose face like that, I have no objection.”

Lu Chen rubbed his hands and sighed, “A night wanderer may commit no evil, but cannot stop a dog from barking.”

Chen Ping’an didn’t respond. Recalling something, he said, “Within Yuzhou, on the mountain where the Vinaya School temple is located, there’s a mountain deity who has listened to the morning bells and evening drums for many years, yet has been unable to attain a human form. Could I trouble Headmaster Lu to offer some guidance?”

Lu Chen agreed with a smile, raising his hand. “A small matter, nothing more. Just so.”

A task as easy as lifting a hand.

Leaving the village and reaching the main road connecting the three villages, Lu Chen stood by the riverbank, observing his reflection in the water. He sighed, as if holding a mirror, wondering if the image was truly him, his original self.

Chen Ping’an’s earlier words about “proofreading” had indeed struck a chord with Lu Chen, despite his exaggerated reaction at the time. It resonated deeply within him.

However, there was a significant underlying issue: future readers often mistakenly regard carefully edited versions as flawless originals, leading to the spread of misinformation that, over time, deviates wildly from the original meaning.

For cultivators, the path of cultivation, the pursuit of enlightenment and attainment of the Dao, is essentially about seeking a “knowing of the underlying reasons,” finding one’s way through obscurity, with the scenery along the path aligning with one’s inner state.

Lu Chen, with a hint of melancholy, said softly, “I once met Sun Guan’s junior brother, and his disciple as well. After our conversations, I realized that their ideas clashed with those of the Dao officials of Bai Yujing.”

Chen Ping’an squatted by the roadside, picking up a few pebbles and gently tossing them into the stream. “Is it that the majority of Dao officials in Bai Yujing believe that cultivation is the way of profound Daoist arts, while that Xuan Du Temple master and disciple believe that cultivation can be the way of the road, the way of simplicity?”

Lu Chen hummed in agreement, not finding it strange that Chen Ping’an had guessed the answer. After a moment of silence, he rubbed his cheeks. “Let things be as they are, I won’t trouble myself unnecessarily.”

Even if the sky were to fall, there was still his experienced elder brother, Yu Dou, to bear the weight.

Chen Ping’an stood up, and the two continued towards the lowest village. Lu Chen said with a smug grin, “Earlier, within the Scroll of Time, Ning Ji actually changed his mind twice, not wanting to be your student, planning to leave and follow me to Bai Yujing to cultivate. So, tonight, the one whom Ning Ji spoke of as someone whose kindness he would remember and repay is you, not me.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Was one of those times when Ning Ji learned about his background and didn’t want to cause me trouble?”

Lu Chen nodded.

Perhaps there is a type of self-inflicted hardship called empathy, constantly thinking of others.

Just as Chen Ping’an had guessed, after Lu Headmaster explained the truth to Ning Ji, the pitifully orphaned boy was filled with fear and his face turned pale. He fell into a great panic, feeling like a universally hated troublemaker, an unwelcome jinx wherever he went. Therefore, whether it was the Daoist Wu Di or the school teacher Chen Ji, once they became master and disciple, it would bring a lot of unnecessary trouble to the latter. Ultimately, it was definitely not as good as the Bai Yujing Lu Headmaster, who was so capable of… bearing burdens.

So, Lu Chen, both amused and exasperated, simply spilled the beans, telling Ning Ji about Chen Ping’an’s multiple identities. This finally made the terrified boy feel reassured and changed his mind. So, Teacher Chen was so young, yet had already accomplished so much.

As a result, Lu Headmaster became even more annoyed, walking out of the Scroll of Time, taking the boy on a miniature journey across three continents, meeting more than a dozen people. First, Pei Qian, as Chen Ping’an’s first disciple, then the Intercepting River True Lord of Book Brief Lake, some old Sword Immortals of Zhengyang Mountain, and the Jade Liquid River Water Goddess who had been determined to replace her Water God temple in recent years, a vengeful ghost in a wedding dress, a young Jiaolong that had eaten a snake gallstone to awaken its intelligence and cultivate, eventually attaching itself to the Yunlin Jiang clan, and even a trip to the Lock Cloud Sect in Northern Ju Continent… Finally, they visited a certain Fallen True Lord who had just returned to his hometown not long ago.

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “The second time Ning Ji changed his mind, was it because he learned my true identity and saw me as half an enemy?”

Lu Chen shook his head. “Although Ning Ji isn’t experienced in worldly matters, some of his views are simple but not naive. This kind of character is partly innate, but also forged through hardship, like herbs simmered into medicine.”

A person’s distinct personality, deep like layers upon layers of palaces, has countless shadows even in the sunlit hours of the day.

A talent that shines brightly is a Wen Chang Pagoda. A hatred for evil is a City God Temple. Open-mindedness or optimism is like a pavilion, open on all sides.

Depression is like falling into a bottomless well, dark and without sunlight. One is alone with oneself, isolated from the world, unable to escape.

Lu Chen didn’t say the unspoken words: Just as some wealth in the world is meant to be earned by certain people, similarly, you Chen Ping’an accepting Ning Ji as a disciple, and Ning Ji worshipping you as a teacher, is a natural and inevitable occurrence.
Chen Ping’an did not inquire about the specific reasons for the youth’s second change of heart, but simply asked, “Why did Ning Ji ultimately decide to follow me as a disciple?”

Lu Chen cautiously asked, “Can you promise me first that we’ll discuss things properly? A gentleman uses words, not fists. And even if fists are used, please don’t… hit the face.”

Chen Yin Guan’s methods when seeking a duel were underhanded, with a fondness for striking the face. Since the debate at the Wen Temple, his reputation had spread far and wide. It was estimated that cultivators from several celestial realms had heard of it. Perhaps the Daoist officials from the Azure Sky Realm might find it slightly perplexing – was it appropriate for a Grandmaster of martial arts to engage in such behavior? However, those from the Five Colors Heaven and the Wild Desolate Heaven would likely remark, “Truly, he never loses in a transaction, that Second Shopkeeper.” and “Worthy of being called Chen Yin Guan, the head honcho of that Summer Palace.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Between friends, we can chat casually as we walk, wherever the conversation leads. Of course, I won’t get angry no matter what we talk about. Besides, I can’t beat Headmaster Lu anyway.”

If it weren’t for the second sentence, Lu Chen would have truly believed him.

Lu Chen first moved away from Chen Ping’an before hesitantly saying, “I showed Ning Ji your current true appearance.”

At the village school, the teacher, Chen Ji, also taught the Classic of Filial Piety. The book began with the saying, “Our body, hair, and skin are received from our parents; we dare not injure or wound them. This is the beginning of filial piety.”

So, while Chen Ping’an was explaining this passage, Lu Chen touched the boy’s forehead, opening Ning Ji’s celestial eye, allowing him to see Chen Ping’an’s visage.

Neither man nor ghost, Chen Ping’an would be unable to reshape his true form and regain a normal human appearance before reaching the Immortal Realm.

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “What’s the big deal? He saw it, he saw it.”

Lu Chen breathed a sigh of relief, “After all, it’s your personal matter. I needed to let you know.”

However, Lu Chen only revealed half the truth.

The real reason Ning Ji had resolved to follow Chen Ping’an was because Lu Chen had taken the boy to see not only those who were “avoiding” Chen Ping’an, but also those people and events that Chen Ping’an had once, or still, dared not face directly. Most importantly, he showed Ning Ji Chen Ping’an’s heartfelt acceptance of the saying, “Repay kindness with kindness, but how to repay evil with kindness? Repay evil with justice, and kindness with kindness.”

This brought immense relief to the boy who had experienced a tragic life.

However, Lu Chen later retrieved all the “memories” of Ning Ji’s observations and thoughts, returning them all to the Headmaster, like a debt paid in full.

As they reached the last village, Lu Chen suggested with a smile, “How about we go take a look at the ruins of that terrestrial Dragon Palace? Quietly going, quietly returning, just enjoying the scenery. It won’t bother anyone.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Alright.”

For many years, Chen Ping’an had maintained the habit of writing travelogues about mountains and rivers.

With a single step, the two were instantly transported to the verdant landscape of the Dragon Palace realm. Outside, it was nighttime, but here, it was bright daylight. The sky had no sun, yet it was still luminous. Several towering peaks within the secret realm were adorned with ancient seal-script steles. Among them, two peaks faced each other, with steles at their bases inscribed with “Cloud Root” and “Rain Foot” respectively. The summits bore the inscriptions “Clouds gather and scatter like flowers bloom and fall” and “Rain reflects the Golden Mountain”.

Among the towering mountains, one stood out for its solitary height. A large river flowed past its base. However, Lu Chen did not lead Chen Ping’an there, but instead, took him to the foot of an inconspicuous hill, saying with a smile, “Long ago, I passed by this place and climbed this mountain, without disturbing anyone. At the time, I felt it was a feng shui treasure land where one could become an Immortal, attain the Dao, or achieve Buddhahood.”

Reaching the mountainside, they found a pool of water, its jade depths unfathomable. Lu Chen pointed at the mirror-like surface of the water, explaining, “This is the true entrance to the ancient Dragon Palace’s secondary palace. The Great Li Dynasty is still in the dark about it. If you don’t remind them, it might be decades, centuries, or even longer before the last emperor of the Great Li Song clan realizes that he and his ancestors, although seemingly entering a mountain of treasures and possessing it, have picked up sesame seeds while losing watermelons.”

“Times have changed. Back then, when the local Dragon Lord was first demoted, his dragon aura was still potent. Whenever wind and rain were approaching, white clouds would envelop this mountain, like wearing a bamboo hat. The surrounding kingdoms could accurately predict the weather with it. During times of severe drought, the local people would come here to pray for rain. As long as they saw a lizard emerging from the pool and climbing onto the shore, they could return home, for rain would soon follow. If there were floods, they would come here to pray for the Dragon Lord to stop the rain. As long as a small snake entered the water, the heavy rain would surely cease.”

“Every year on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, besides the common people airing their clothes and scholars airing their books, there was also the practice of airing dragon robes. So, on this day, one could come here to observe the number of snakes and lizards ‘sunbathing’ on the shore of the pool. Whether the total number was a mere three to five, or as many as ten or more, it was always clearly visible. This allowed them to predict the amount of rainfall for the coming year. Knowing in advance whether the year would be dry or flooded, they could prepare accordingly.”

Lu Chen asked with a smile, “Would you like to enter this Dragon Palace’s secondary court and explore its mysteries?”

From ancient times until three thousand years ago, throughout the mountains and rivers of the Vast Sky Realm, any Flood Dragons that had achieved success in cultivation, especially Dragon Lords who could establish their own residences, liked to amass and hoard treasures of the world. This terrestrial Dragon Palace’s secondary court could be regarded as a treasure vault, somewhat like that old dragon’s “private stash.”

It wasn’t that Lu Chen looked down on the Great Li Dynasty’s Imperial Observatory and geomancers, but in the ancient Shu region, Sword Immortals were as numerous as the clouds, and they often used Flood Dragons to refine and consecrate their swords. Therefore, any terrestrial Dragon Palace that could gain a foothold here had a few tricks up its sleeve and wasn’t to be trifled with. So, as long as Chen Ping’an didn’t reveal the secrets of Heaven, the emperors of the Great Li Song clan were destined to be unable to break the palace’s restrictions with the vision and skills of their geomancers. Recklessly opening the restrictions without a high-level expert to oversee the process, such as Wei Bo’s Pure Gold Body not having reached the Ascension Realm, would only invite the ominous sign of a giant turtle flipping over, causing the mountains and rivers of Chu Province to collapse, countless people to die within the province, and affecting the overall natural fortune of the entire Northern Mountain region.

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “Let’s not.”

We scholars should be upright and honorable, and maintain some integrity.
Originally, opening a school here was never about the Dragon Palace ruins. Otherwise, with Chen Pingan’s cultivation, if he truly desired this secret realm, even if he couldn’t unlock all its secret restrictions, wouldn’t he have Xiao Mo? And that money-grubber Xie Gou?

Lu Chen said, “If we gain anything, a fifty-fifty split?”

Chen Pingan still shook his head.

Lu Chen said, “A thirty-seventy split? I get thirty, you get seventy?”

Chen Pingan decisively said, “Let’s go!”

We of the Baggage Shop must learn more from Wei Shanjun’s way of making money. Never mind hosting a few night banquets, even a miserly wretch passing through the Northern Mountain region would have to have a few feathers plucked.

Lu Chen stood by the pool, raised two fingers, closed his eyes, and began chanting, sounding like a water-repelling spell.

Mist rose, and above the ancient pool’s surface, a vermilion gate inlaid with rows of door studs gradually appeared, majestic in its aura. Outside the gate were a white jade stele and a hitching post. The stele’s inscription roughly reminded visitors that idlers were forbidden, and those with invitations must dismount; mortal emperors and generals had to walk, and mountain immortals had to sheath their swords outside the gate, forbidden from flying or roaming on the wind. Those who trespassed must kowtow before retreating, and they might be spared death.

Lu Chen laughed, “This temple’s master has quite the inflated ego.”

Chen Pingan asked, “Have you divined the general scenery inside?”

Lu Chen shook his head like a rattle-drum, complaining, “Exploring mountains and seeking the secluded, what’s the fun if you know the scenery before even climbing?”

Chen Pingan said, “Correct yourself, we’re not visiting immortals, we’re seeking wealth and treasures.”

Lu Chen laughed, “It’s all about the same anyway. The two of us traveling the world together, we’ve even been to the desolate hinterlands and Tuoyue Mountain, what place in the world can’t we go? Even if there are accidents, they’re still pleasant surprises. What’s there to fear?”

Chen Pingan was speechless for a moment. Lu Chen’s reasoning wasn’t entirely wrong.

As the two stepped inside, they were instantly met with a blinding white light, a sudden downpour of sharp sword light filling the heavens and earth.

Chen Pingan stopped, unmoving.

Observing the sword light’s patterns, it was indeed the style of a sword cultivator at the upper five realms.

But with Headmaster Lu at his side, Chen Pingan appeared completely oblivious, looking as though he was just waiting to be executed.

Lu Chen looked like a dim-witted goose, even more like he was willingly offering his neck.

The dazzling sword light that filled the world vanished in a flash, but although the sword light retreated like a tide, the sword energy didn’t immediately dissipate. The killing intent was still heavy, as if falling into an ice cave, chilling to the bone. Lu Chen shivered, then reached out and rubbed his eyes. At the end of their vision, a disheveled, barefoot man appeared, his face like jade, holding a wine cup, reclining on a dragon throne. Regarding the two uninvited guests at the entrance, the host seemed both puzzled – how could cultivators who could enter this place be so inadequate? – and disappointed – was it just a lucky accident that brought these mortals?

The handsome man, wearing a crown and a dragon robe, asked calmly, “What year is it in the outside world?”

The young Taoist asked timidly, “What’s he saying?”

The man in green robes answered cautiously, “Probably the dialect of ancient Shu, hard to understand.”

“We’ve run into a tough customer. What do we do?”

“Why don’t you kowtow to this senior a few times?”

“Wouldn’t that be bad?”

“What’s bad about it? It never hurts to be polite.”

“If it works, that’s fine, but I’m afraid it’ll backfire.”

The man on the dragon throne, who had previously withdrawn the overwhelming sword energy at the crucial moment, still didn’t sit up. He merely glanced sideways at the two who had barged into the secret realm, taking in their inner landscapes and relative cultivation levels with a single glance.

As for the two fools’ whispers, the man in the dragon robe didn’t care. He swirled the wine in his cup and sneered, “If you can’t understand my words, do you not recognize the words on the stele outside?”

Chen Pingan seemed to be focused on his own breathing, pretending to be foolish and ignorant. However, that didn’t stop him from communicating with Lu Chen through “heart-voice language.” This wasn’t the technique of cultivators, which would create ripples in the spiritual energy of the world. This wouldn’t even disturb the waters of the heart. It was merely that his and Lu Chen’s thoughts, under the enhancement of Lu Chen’s Daoist arts, were no different from spoken words. These thoughts moved swiftly like fish beneath the surface of their respective minds, unseen by anyone on the shore.

“Is he the Dragon Palace master? Or a sword immortal of dragon origin?”

It was already difficult for dragons in the human world to attain enlightenment and take form. Becoming a sword cultivator was even rarer.

“It’s hard to say whether he’s the original owner or a cuckoo in the nest, but his identity as a sword cultivator is real. He’s been stuck at the Jade Purity realm for many years. This fellow’s background is quite complicated. He also seems to be a heroic spirit whose soul hasn’t dispersed after death. But I don’t know how he managed to convert his dragon energy into pure Yang energy, making him indistinguishable from the living. Ah, that’s it! It must be the work of that Pure Yang friend!”

Lu Yan, whose Daoist title was Pure Yang, had traveled the human world before traveling the Azure Vault Realm, leaving behind many immortal traces, but unfortunately, none of them had become widely known or popular.

For example, Lu Yan had once taught fire techniques to a group of old dragons in the Solar Palace, stepped on carps into the sea at the edge of the Cai Shi River, and ridden a wooden crane outside a tower to ascend to immortality in the Azure Vault.

Chen Pingan was slightly surprised that a Jade Purity realm sword cultivator stuck in a bottleneck was hidden here. Was he hiding here for a long time to escape those who hunted dragons?

“It doesn’t matter. A well can’t hold a big fish, and a small hill can’t produce a towering tree. This is just a terrestrial Dragon Palace, after all. The experts and the Daoist arts and swordsmanship can’t be too high. Strange things can’t be too strange. Oh, this wine cup seems a little familiar? This trip was worth it, this trip was worth it.”

“A gentleman doesn’t take what belongs to others. I advise you not to be so unethical.”

In the Sword Qi Great Wall, there have been five “Wine Spring Cups” in history. Sun Juyuan, Yan Ming and Qi Tingji each had one. This object is the favorite of all good wine lovers in the world.

Since there was already a sword cultivator cultivating here, whether it was the old master who had never moved or an opportunistic newcomer, Chen Pingan no longer had any interest in exploring the Dragon Palace.

However, the sword cultivator, who was already a ghost, said something that made Chen Pingan not immediately turn around and leave.
“Are you a disciple from the academy near the Temple of Literature? Your Confucianism emphasizes illuminating virtue, so if there’s a ‘Great Learning,’ there must be a ‘Lesser Learning.’ Reading begins with recognizing characters – their forms, pronunciations, and meanings are all indispensable knowledge. To enter this place, one must be more than just a common Confucian scholar. If you recognize the ancient seal script on the stele outside, why feign ignorance before me? Or do you take me for a fool?”

Lu Chen began to disclaim any connection, raising a hand. “Esteemed Senior, surely you can see that I am a Daoist.”

The man sat up, swirling the priceless wine cup in his hand. Leaning forward, he narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Little Daoist, you finally understand human speech, eh?”

Lu Chen was instantly filled with awkwardness.

Chen Ping’an was impressed.

The Acting Sect Master’s skills were truly unmatched.

The man asked, “Is the Dragon Gate leading to the Yellow River Grotto-Heaven still there?”

Lu Chen nodded vigorously. “It is, it is! It’s by the ancient Spirit Mound, amid a desolate city and towering mountains, next to the White Emperor City in the colorful clouds.”

The man scoffed. “Colored clouds hang like leaves on the Spirit Mound, Daoist yellow dust buries horses’ heads.”

This was the first time Chen Ping’an had heard this saying. He recalled a helpful voice from Lu Chen, explaining the true meaning: “Before White Emperor City was built, it was the site of an ancient battlefield, unknown in historical records, called Spirit Mound. It was extremely tall, and the colored clouds looked like leaves hanging from branches. In ancient times, Daoist Immortals, among the Earthly Immortals, often built thatched huts there to cultivate, awaiting a vague and uncertain immortal opportunity. It’s said that because my Master once admired the moon there, the Daoist aura became denser. However, countless Daoists flocked to Spirit Mound seeking opportunity, but none succeeded. Many Daoists, unwilling to return empty-handed, either underwent a ‘corpse liberation’ leaving their remains, or became piles of bones. Later, Bai Ye cleaved the Yellow River Grotto-Heaven with a sword, bringing the waterfall to the mortal realm, adding countless waterways to the Grand Brightness World. And even later, Mister Zheng claimed it for himself.”

Hearing this story, Chen Ping’an understood why Zheng Juzhong had asked such a question.

Lu Chen bowed, saying, “May I inquire about Senior’s Daoist title?”

The dragon-robed man smiled. “My Daoist title is ‘Restless Lord.’ Does it still circulate in the world outside?”

Lu Chen nodded. “Rest assured, Senior. From today onward, the ‘Restless Lord,’ a title with excellent meaning, will be widely spread in the outside world!”

The Restless Lord Sword Immortal chuckled, his expression desolate. He waved his hand. “Take whatever treasures you can carry, but no more than three items each. As for the grade of the treasures, rely on your own discernment.”

Finishing here, the dragon-robed man seemed to be teasing, “Wealth moves hearts. Don’t start fighting over the spoils before you leave this place. Since I’ve told you my Daoist title, you should know that I am a Daoist who appreciates tranquility, so if you want to fight, go outside.”

Logically, the two outsiders who accidentally stumbled into this place should be grateful and thankful.

Unexpectedly, they had encountered a rascal who defied common sense.

The young Daoist with a poor scholar’s air was staring blankly at the wine cup.

The slightly older scholar in Confucian robes began to examine the dragon throne.

The dragon-robed man smiled. “Don’t push your luck. You have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Hurry and search for treasure.”

Chen Ping’an was puzzled. Was he being so accommodating?

Lu Chen smiled, explaining, “His Daoist aptitude is average. He only reached the Jade Purity Realm with the help of external objects. Therefore, the mountains, rivers, pavilions, flowers, and trees here are all burdens. This place is both his refuge from disaster, a blessed land, and a forbidden zone, becoming a prison he cannot escape. The more we take, the less burdened he becomes. He’s just worried that if he’s too accommodating, we’ll become suspicious and refuse to leave with anything. Three items per person, no more, no less, is enough for him to build a bridge to the outside world.”

Chen Ping’an speculated, “Has he almost completely refined everything here?”

“There are few items left.”

“In a sense, could it be considered a kind of Daoist transformation?”

“It barely qualifies, and his technique is clumsy. It can’t withstand scrutiny. Compared to Lady Dan Dan of Green Water Pit’s refining methods, he’s far behind.”

“Since he’s so eager to escape, and hasn’t used means of the Upper Five Realms, such as seizing souls or refining us into puppets, could that be considered benevolent enough?”

“He also suspects your and my true cultivation levels, and our backers. He fears we are the kind of enlightened masters, like Pure Yang Daoist, who dislike revealing their Daoist powers. Of course, if it were an ordinary Qi Practitioner, having been imprisoned for so long, it would be rare not to have lost their mind. They wouldn’t care so much. They would have already attacked, killed you and me, taken over our bodies, or used water-repelling magic to hide within our meridians and vitality. They would definitely test our Daoist depths.”

“It seems the title ‘Restless Lord’ wasn’t taken in vain.”

“After all, he’s half a fellow countryman. Perhaps it was a title bestowed by Pure Yang Daoist.”

The dragon-robed man looked up at the sky, his expression complex, and mocked himself. “Year after year, nothing changes. I have long accepted my fate. Quiet and ancient, empty and desolate, I have already decided that this life will either be spent drunk or asleep. But I can’t help but feel uneasy, wondering if Heaven will forgive me.”

Lu Chen smiled. “The reason why Senior Restless Lord thinks this way, unable to see through the sky of the Dragon Palace Villa, unable to break through the bottleneck of the Jade Purity Realm, is naturally because Senior’s vision is narrow. One who looks south cannot see north.”

He addressed him as “Senior,” but the content of his words was as if the Senior was guiding a junior. As a guest, he was very impolite.

The dragon-robed man laughed instead of being angry, his eyes playful. “Today’s Daoists, they all speak with such grand tones.”

Lu Chen stared straight at the flood dragon, sighing softly. “Truly, the hearts of parents under Heaven are all the same. They set up such a Daoist place for him.”
Within the Daoist sanctum, the geomantic fortune and the total amount of spiritual energy were evidently meticulously calculated by an expert. It was enough to reach the Jade Purity realm, prolong life, and maintain a sliver of true spirit from dissipating, yet not enough to ascend to become an immortal, lest the aura leak out and betray its presence. The nature of the dragon lineage’s cultivation path involved traversing water or coiling around mountains, so this dragon scion was destined to stagnate in the Jade Purity realm. Thus, it could only patiently await, relying on some unseen will of heaven, for a fated individual to open the door and enter, while granting it sufficient opportunities to understand the outside world. This was why, upon seeing Chen Ping’an and Lu Chen, it immediately asked about the current state of affairs, ultimately seeking confirmation that the Dragon Slaughtering Campaign had truly ended.

Lu Chen couldn’t help but sigh, “It is often said that the love of parents for their children is shown in the far-reaching plans they make for them.”

Chen Ping’an surveyed the surroundings. The fields within the secret realm’s Daoist sanctum were like a repeatedly tilled field. He believed that the old dragon must have left behind some secret techniques and spiritual manuals.

“To base one’s life on farming and scholarship is a long-term strategy,” he mused.

Lu Chen nodded. “There’s truth to that. Learning is no different from farming – focus on cultivation, not the harvest.”

The dragon-robed man’s eyes burned with desire. “Rest assured, take your treasures. But as compensation, you must answer me one question: in the ancient Shu region, are there any rebuilt Dragon Palaces?”

The blue-clad guest nodded upon hearing this.

The young Daoist shook his head.

The dragon-robed man heavily struck the armrest of his chair, letting out a cold snort.

Then, the two rascals looked at each other, each blaming the other with their eyes. *Were you born witless? Did a door slam on your head as a child?*

The young Daoist, seemingly enraged out of embarrassment, chose to throw caution to the wind. He suddenly roared, striking a golden rooster stance, his two fingers joined together, pointing at the dragon-robed man. “So what if you’re just a terrestrial immortal water dragon? What dangerous situations haven’t I, your Daoist master, seen? Today, I’ll fight you! You little devil dragon, I’ll use my thunder techniques to properly experience your water magic!”

Afterward, the “Dragon Gate Realm” Daoist and a “Golden Core Realm” water dragon exchanged blows, each displaying their skills. They fought evenly matched, meeting their match, putting on a flashy and lively spectacle.

Chen Ping’an had already retreated far away, giving them space to avoid being “caught in the crossfire.”

The dragon-robed man ceased his attacks and laughed. “Interesting. So you’re a Dragon Gate Realm cultivator. Little Daoist, tell me, how did you manage to deceive my eyes?”

In his mind, he was suspicious and uncertain. *Could it be that the cultivators of today’s Treasure Bottle Continent are so powerful in their Daoist arts? Is he from some sect or Daoist temple?*

The young Daoist, whose legs were trembling slightly, refused to lose face. He loudly laughed, “We didn’t know each other before fighting, esteemed Daoist friend Cao Jun! Your skills are impressive!”

“I won’t take anything from here. Isn’t the Iron Talisman River Water Mansion lacking a water deity? Since we agreed on a three-seven split earlier, then three hundred years from now, I’ll come and take him to the Azure Mystery Heaven, where he can cultivate for seven hundred years. For this water dragon, it’s also a protective charm. Otherwise, as soon as he gets outside and hears that Immortal Lord Chen has emerged from seclusion after many years, he’ll definitely be so scared that he’ll retreat back here, afraid to face anyone. If he continues to waste time here, in less than a hundred years, he’ll either dissipate into nothingness or turn into a vengeful ghost. A good Dragon King’s secondary residence will be reduced to a gloomy haunted house. If one is not careful, the entire Dragon Palace ruins will be implicated. A water dragon who has lost his mind and is also a Jade Purity realm bottleneck swordsman – unless you’re willing to take action personally or have Xiao Mo make a trip here to kill him, he’ll cause trouble in the area and end up being forcibly suppressed by Wei Bo.”

Anyone else would likely ask how that could be considered a three-seven split.

Chen Ping’an simply nodded, indicating that it was settled.

The dragon-robed man inquired, “Which immortal residence are you enshrined in the Ancestral Hall of? Whose disciples are you two esteemed masters?”

Lu Chen shook his head. “Enshrined? Neither of us. Our cultivation is not high enough, and we still lack the qualifications. Let alone enshrined, we don’t even qualify to be promoted to inner disciples. This Daoist friend Chen and I are both from small to medium-sized sects. For example, Daoist friend Chen’s mountain is called Falling Phoenix Mountain, not far from here. Esteemed Daoist friend Cao Jun will know once you go there. As for me, I used to be as advanced in my Daoist practices as he was.”

The dragon-robed man was once again astonished. Were these two just outer disciples of their respective sects?

Lu Chen turned to look at Chen Ping’an, who was slowly walking over. “Daoist friend Chen, your mountain, in our Treasure Bottle Continent, is considered… a second-rate sect?”

Chen Ping’an walked to Lu Chen’s side and smiled. “Barely. The kind that’s at the bottom of the second-rate or the top of the third-rate.”

Lu Chen asked with a smile, “May I ask your name, esteemed Daoist friend?”

The dragon-robed man hesitated for a moment and said, “Bai Deng.”

Chen Ping’an said, “To be honest, three thousand years have passed since the end of the Dragon Slaughtering Campaign.”

Lu Chen chimed in, “On our way here, we brought wine to brave the mountain rain. It seems that the outside world has already cleared up after the rain.”

The dragon-robed man, who claimed to be named Bai Deng, slumped into the dragon throne, laughing and crying at the same time, muttering, “Three thousand years, a full three thousand years…”

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “Esteemed Daoist friend Cao Jun, how did you endure three thousand years of solitude here?”

Bai Deng came back to his senses and smiled. “My ancestral family has a Daoist book, containing profound and subtle meanings, wonderfully indescribable. The book says, ‘Use eyes to see eyes, use ears to hear ears, use the heart to restore the heart.'”

Lu Chen chuckled.

Chen Ping’an’s heart stirred slightly, and he silently remembered this principle.

Bai Deng waved his hand, issuing a silent order to leave.

Lu Chen waved goodbye, his smile bright. “Esteemed Daoist friend Cao Jun, we’ll meet again if fate allows.”

As they walked out of the old dragon’s secondary residence, Lu Chen smiled. “I chatted with that Mountain Monarch. He hinted that he had gained enlightenment and has already successfully refined his form.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Thank you.”

“Between friends, there’s no need for politeness.”

Lu Chen said apologetically, “It seems we didn’t gain anything. A wasted trip.”

Chen Ping’an smiled in response.

Lu Chen hugged the back of his head, preparing to go down the mountain. He turned back to look at the deep pool. “Shall we return to the academy?”

The second shopkeeper of the prosperous wine shop at the Sword Qi Great Wall had earned a lot of money from selling wine, plus the winnings from those almost-sweepingly successful betting games, and the income from the joint sale of seals and fan surfaces with Fatty Yan’s shop.

However, all the earned immortal money was quietly scattered by the second shopkeeper in a concealed manner, returning it to the sword cultivators of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

How to earn money is the way of dealing with the world. How to spend money is the essence of being a person.
Therefore, even with the slightest bit of wit, Lu Chen understood exactly what Chen Ping’an would do with any gains he made here.

Chen Ping’an nodded. “I did.”

However, for some inexplicable reason, neither of them moved an inch.

After a moment of silence, they spoke almost simultaneously, each revealing a profound secret.

“This Daoist finally understands why you chose the name ‘Chen Ji’ (Past Traces).”

“Lu Chen, you are actually a sword cultivator, aren’t you?”

Again, both fell silent.

Lu Chen spoke first, smiling as he asked, “Chen Ping’an, taking ten thousand steps back, assuming, just assuming, that this Daoist is indeed a sword cultivator, can you guess the name of my flying sword?”

Chen Ping’an countered with a question, “Autumn Hairs?”

Lu Chen had a discourse on swords, “A Treatise on the Sword,” and his private study built within the Jade Pivot City of the White Jade Capital was named “Gazing Upon a Thousand Swords” by Lu Chen.

Furthermore, within the “Discourse on Levelling All Things,” which the Old Scholar greatly admired, Lu Chen had a line: “Nothing in the world is greater than the tip of an autumn hair.”

Lu Chen’s eyes sparkled with brilliance. He struck his palm with his fist and said in a loud voice, “A splendid name! Then this Daoist will retreat ten thousand steps, and so it shall be!”