In the realm of Nanyuan, the imperial city of Daliang stood proud. Chen Ping’an, a figure well-acquainted with its every alley and byway, led the way to a bustling night market stall, famed for its grilled fish.

A river, known as the Azure Celery, wound its way through the outskirts, its waters teeming with plump, succulent carp. Grilled carp paired with Daliang’s crisp lotus root was a delicacy sought after by nobles and commoners alike, celebrated for its affordability and taste. However, upon the first bite, Chen Ping’an discerned a subtle deception. The fish, while indeed a carp, had merely spent a few days in the Azure Celery’s embrace, a “passing-through fish” rather than one born of its waters. He cast a glance at the young proprietor, whose features mirrored those of the former owner. Time, it seemed, had taken its toll, and the elder had passed down the stall and its secrets. The spiced oil and accompanying condiments remained unchanged, yet a certain quality, a certain integrity, was missing. Perhaps the stall was struggling, for the true Azure Celery fish had become a prized possession of Daliang’s wealthy elite. Thus, the added ingredient in this humble stall’s offering was nothing more than the bitter tang of survival.

It was Chen Ping’an who had guided them to this humble establishment, a simple table against the wall, flanked by two long benches. Liu Xianyang, with characteristic haste, claimed a spot in the middle of one bench, banging his fist upon the table, demanding drink.

Gu Can stood beside the table, and Chen Ping’an gestured for him to sit. As Gu Can settled, he subtly nudged the bench away from Chen Ping’an’s side. Only when Chen Ping’an shifted, preparing to sit, did Gu Can return the bench to its rightful position.

Once, on the fields of their homeland, the boy’s head barely reached the youth’s shoulder. Now, they sat side-by-side as equals.

Chen Ping’an raised a bowl, taking a slow sip of the wine, a rustic brew made of lotus root, thankfully retaining its familiar taste. “Gu Can,” he inquired, “does White Emperor City possess any treasured tomes regarding the art of ‘Auspice Gazing’?”

Gu Can replied, “Indeed, a great many. Master was clearly interested in the myriad esoteric arts that sprung from that discipline. The White Emperor City boasts a dedicated scripture bureau, compiling all scrolls gathered from across the Nine Continents. They maintain an intricate catalog, updated every decade, with categories for historical chronicles, general histories, and regional gazetteers. The sheer volume rivals the royal archives of a small kingdom. Members of the Ancestral Hall, such as Han Qiaose and Liu Chicheng, have their own personal copies, allowing them to select texts relevant to their studies. When I first arrived, I lacked the rank to enter the Hall, as only those above the Fifth Tier were permitted. However, I persuaded Han Qiaose to lend me her keys, allowing me to peruse her library at will. I meticulously reviewed the catalog, even making unauthorized copies. I recall over two thousand three hundred books dedicated to the history of the various courts of Heavenly Observation and the methods of ‘Auspice Gazing’.”

Chen Ping’an sighed, “Above the sea of clouds, another sea of books.”

While the White Emperor City, perched amidst the colored clouds of the Middle Earth Continent, was renowned, its inner workings remained shrouded in mystery. The specific members of the Ancestral Hall, the structure of its institutions, the relationships between its various schools of thought, were all subjects of conjecture.

Whenever the cloud-wreathed city was mentioned, cultivators on the mountainside offered only veiled allusions. Only the great banner proclaiming “Serving the World First,” which had stood unyielding for three millennia, hinted at Zheng Juzhong’s unwavering dominance on the grand chessboard. Tales circulated of Han Qiaose’s ambition to master twelve grand sorceries, or of Liu Daochun’s ever-expanding Glazed Pavilion. Those who incurred wrath would seek refuge in White Emperor City, donning gaudy pink robes and shouting their names to the world. Or, the focus would turn to Fu Jin, Zheng Juzhong’s foremost disciple, a sword immortal who bore a gourd vine cultivated by the Taoist Ancestor himself. Speculation abounded as to whether his skill with the sword would ever rival that of Pei Min, or if he would ever be able to catch the Left and Right.

Liu Xianyang chewed on a large piece of fish, interjecting, “Off topic! You two are clearly wandering from the point.”

They were conversing in their shared dialect, a tongue of their homeland.

Liu Xianyang sought to provoke Gu Can, knowing he was deliberately steering the conversation to the wonders of White Emperor City. As he had been in his youth, Liu Xianyang was a sharp-tongued rogue. Any attempt to engage him in polite, meaningful conversation would result in a deluge of vulgarities.

Gu Can explained, “Upon reaching the Jade Purity Realm, I earned the right to possess my own personal library. After careful examination, I concluded that after removing duplicates and extraneous descriptions, the number of unique, rigorously edited texts explicitly detailing the art of ‘Auspice Gazing’ was roughly sixty-two.”

Liu Xianyang scoffed. “How precise! Gu Can, you are becoming a master of textual criticism. You could easily preside over a Confucian academy, instructing in the subtleties of language. Is it true that they call you ‘Madman’? A touch of madness is good for a scholar. In the Chen family’s Academy of True Scholars, one of the instructors, specializing in Lu’s ‘Inner and Outer Chapters,’ declared that only one and a half people truly understood the essence of those writings.”

Chen Ping’an retorted, “Can you not simply drink your wine? Gu Can and I are discussing important matters.”

Liu Xianyang grinned. “If you can guess the identity of those one and a half, I shall remain silent.”

Gu Can ventured, “Lu Chen himself, and the instructor?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head.

Gu Can immediately understood.

The answer was surely more outrageous. Even Lu Chen, the author himself, was only worth half. The instructor, the commentator, was the “one.”

Liu Xianyang laughed. “Gu Can, I’ve always said that even combined, our wits fall short of Chen Ping’an’s closed-mouth brilliance.”

Gu Can responded, “When have I ever argued with that? Our disputes were always about whether you or I was smarter.”

“Carry on, then. I’ll just eat and drink, trying not to offend your delicate sensibilities.”

Liu Xianyang raised his wine bowl, swirling the liquor within, and then speared a piece of grilled fish. “This scene begs for a poem! Who shall provide it?”

Gu Can rolled his eyes. Liu Xianyang was being intentionally difficult.

Chen Ping’an smiled, reciting, “Dimly, I yearn for home, as carp is set upon the chopsticks. A small bowl of lotus wine, to banish ten thousand sorrows.”

Liu Xianyang exclaimed, “Where did you steal that from?”

Chen Ping’an smiled knowingly. “It is titled, ‘Moonlit Night: Sword Passes Daliang City, Friends Dine on Fish and Drink, an Impromptu Composition’.”

Liu Xianyang asked, “Did you truly improvise that? May I borrow it?”

Chen Ping’an replied, “It is yours to take.”

Gu Can said, “I have brought those sixty-odd volumes with me. I wished to present them to your Falling Phoenix Mountain as a belated gift for the establishment of your sect.”

Liu Xianyang inquired, “Does the Falling Phoenix Mountain not have a subordinate sect? Will you not offer them the same?”

Gu Can shot him a sidelong glance. “What is it to you? Have you provided anything? If you, Liu Xianyang, have given so much as a single copper coin to Falling Phoenix Mountain, I will immediately strip myself bare in the alleyway and defecate in the street. And with each passerby, I shall announce my name.”

Liu Xianyang stroked his chin.

In their homeland, they had a saying, “You Gu Heart,” signifying a deep-seated connection to one’s own. This differed from the more bookish term “hesitant.” To say someone “You Gu Heart” was a genuine compliment. In this regard, Liu Xianyang, whose heart had been boundless from a young age, paled in comparison to the runny-nosed boy from Mud Vase Lane. And when it came to a sense of home, Liu Xianyang, who had yearned for the wide world since his youth, could never match the home-loving Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “Are you and Zhu Lian in league?”

Gu Can cautiously studied Chen Ping’an’s expression before offering a slight nod. “Some ideas were mine. Master Zhu simply helped them along.”

Years ago, when Gu Can returned home with Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye, Zhu Lian had delivered the charcoal basket to Gu’s household, following Chen Ping’an’s instructions. As he handed it over, Zhu Lian offered a knowing remark, hinting at his own desire to leave the mountain, were it not for the many domestic responsibilities that kept him tethered.

Gu Can understood. Soon, an exchange of hidden letters began. After Gu Can left for White Emperor City and sailed aboard the Immortal vessel, he and Zhu Lian maintained a secret correspondence. Zhu Lian, through these missives, learned that Gu Can had begun to plant seeds of discord, not only in the Book Brief Mountain, but also in the Right Sun Mountain and the Xu clan of Qingfeng City. Due to limited resources and cautious maneuvering, those early spies could not access to the inner secrets of either faction. But once Gu Can became Zheng Juzhong’s personal disciple, his infiltration efforts leaped forward. One such pawn was a bewitching female ghost in the Middle Fifth Tier. Gu Can gifted her a water magic manual and a cache of rare spiritual artifacts, enough to sustain her until she reached the Golden Core Realm. She then “accidentally” met a young sword immortal from the Water Dragon Peak of Right Sun Mountain, who took her as a concubine in a Right Sun Mountain-affiliated sect.

Thereafter, her sole task was to do nothing.

Gu Can had promised a one-time transaction, vowing that she need not risk her life. When she was needed, she would receive a secret message. It could be a decade, a century, or never. She had doubted his promise, so the kind Confucian youth said a few words.

“Lady, do not try to gain profit for nothing. What I am giving you is more than enough to buy your life twice over on the old Book Brief Mountain.”

“Now that the price is fair, why tear down the pretense and make us both embarrassed? You would not even deceive yourself.”

Another pawn was a mountain bandit who was a Golden Core Earth Immortal. He had once crossed swords with the accountant that brought Gu Can along, and almost died. Soon after arriving in White Emperor City, Gu Can arranged for a reward to be delivered to the outlaw. Through his aunt Han Qiaose, he selected two “upper-middle” quality Taoist books from White Emperor City. One was of value to a Earth Immortal in cultivation. On the letter, Gu Can made an offer, and the other Taoist book was sent along. The bandit was free to do what they wished with the additional text. He was only considered to be bound to the offer in the letter if he used the additional text. Gu Can would consider him bound by contract, and take his life.

These actions were completed without promises or written contracts. He trusted them to act accordingly.

Later, Zhu Lian, under the alias Yan Fang, opened a rouge shop in Qingfeng City, and had met with two of Gu Can’s spies.

This helped Zhu Lian succeed in stealing from the Fox Kingdom.

Chen Ping’an watched Gu Can, who seemed to hesitate, and shook his head with a smile. “Three years as a family head, and even a dog will get tired of you. I am used to shirking my responsibilities. I will turn a blind eye to your relationship with Zhu Lian.”

Gu Can said nothing in explanation.

Chen Ping’an said, “When I returned to our hometown, I discovered the Blessed Land had been promoted to two ranks. I thought that it would be a good chance to observe the origin of the first local sword cultivator with a method similar to ‘Heavenly Sight’.”

Liu Xianyang and Gu Can could not help but ask in unison, “And?”

Chen Ping’an smiled bitterly. “There was a conclusion, but it was taken from me by an outsider. Trying my luck like that… It really is hard to say.”

Liu Xianyang laughed. “You never change.”

Gu Can kicked Liu Xianyang beneath the table, and Liu Xianyang cried, “Be careful, you almost hit my crotch. I will be marrying soon!”

Gu Can said, “Then, say less.”

Liu Xianyang was angry. “This is not an unreasonable thing to say. Not one of us was born with a silver spoon in our mouth. If I was a boy born in Fortune and Peach Alleys, those words would mean nothing. Since I was young, I knew I had to work for it. The martial arts I have were things I learned by watching. Children who are poor grow up earlier.”

Chen Ping’an had to intervene, because it was always the same with Liu Xianyang.

Gu Can thought for a moment, and raised his bowl. “A toast.”

Liu Xianyang lowered the bowl. “You hesitated. I am heartbroken by your insincerity.”

Gu Can cursed him using a barrage of insults from their hometown.

Chen Ping’an just smiled. Liu Xianyang was not a match.

At the end, Liu Xianyang had no choice but to take a drink. Why did he have to provoke Gu Can?

Liu Xianyang asked, “Chen Ping’an, why aren’t you helping me? We are both sword cultivators. I am much better at trying my luck, right?”

Gu Can almost started cursing, but he stopped. What bad karma had struck the Dragon Spring Sword Sect to get this sect leader?

Chen Ping’an said, “I have thought of this matter, but does that seem appropriate to you?”

*I would like to, but what would the Dragon Spring Sword Sect say? Would they want to take something from Fallen Phoenix Mountain?*

“If something goes wrong, I might not be able to attend your wedding, much less be your best man.”

Liu Xianyang sighed. “That is fair. We will forget about it for now.”

Chen Ping’an raised his wine bowl. “It is rare for us to meet. Let’s drink together.”

They drank, and Liu Xianyang set down his bowl and grinned. “We don’t like listening to reason. Like borrowing a charcoal basket in the winter, warming up for a moment, and then having to return it. We might as well not have it.”

Gu Can said, “It is like seeing someone walking in the winter, seeing other people holding charcoal baskets, and telling them why they are able to get through the day.”

Chen Ping’an chewed on his fish and drank some wine. “Let’s not be teachers. Let’s just get through the day. Is the taste there? The answer is there. We will work as we need to and bear fruit.”

Liu Xianyang was amazed. “What are you saying? Are you drunk already?”

Gu Can said, “Drinking uses the mouth. Why don’t you stop talking?”

Liu Xianyang said helplessly, “Chen Ping’an, aren’t you going to say anything? Aren’t you going to stop this snot-nosed brat who spews crap from his mouth, or I will come after you!”

Chen Ping’an slapped Gu Can’s head. “You lose when you win an argument. You don’t understand that simple concept? Drink your wine.”

Chen Ping’an had hit Gu Can, but Gu Can was looking at Liu Xianyang, who cried to the heavens. “Can all of you just let me have my way, and all of us are sect leaders.”

Who would have thought that once would become sect leaders?

Gu Can looked at Liu Xianyang, and drank a bowl of wine. He filled the bowl again, and drank again. As he did so, Liu Xianyang started to panic. This was not the strongest wine, but Gu Can was drinking too fast. He motioned at Chen Ping’an, but Chen Ping’an just shook his head, so Liu Xianyang looked at Chen Ping’an and asked what was going on. Chen Ping’an just knew, but would not say anything.

There was not a family to depend on. Gu Can was raised by his mother, but Liu Xianyang only had his grandfather.

Liu Xianyang’s grandfather was a famous drunkard, and almost every day he would stop by the wine stores to drink.

He could not always afford it, so he would beg the store owner to give him a drink. This made the stores known, but Liu Xianyang did not go to school, and instead worked on the farm. Almost every fight he had was because someone was talking about his grandfather. After he met Chen Ping’an and his follower, Gu Can mocked Liu Xianyang, and it was the first time Chen Ping’an got mad at Gu Can. Afterwards, Gu Can stood on the farm and cried. After Chen Ping’an put a hand on his head, Gu Can asked why he could not speak when Liu Xianyang had said bad things. Chen Ping’an had said, “Have you ever heard Liu Xianyang talk about your mother?”

The boy was silent, and the boy wiped the tears and snot of the boy.

In the sunset, the youth walked back with the child. Liu Xianyang smiled, and shook the fish at them.

Liu Xianyang was a forgetful person, and had no memory.

But Gu Can could not forget.

At the table, Liu Xianyang started boasting. “Of course, my potential is the highest, Gu Can’s is second, and Chen Ping’an is at the bottom. Just give us a few hundred years, and things will change! Do not speak of all of the realms, even when the cultivators of other realms see us, especially Liu Xianyang, they would have to think twice, especially with Gu Can.”

Chen Ping’an said, “You can start cursing.”

Gu Can smiled. “You have spoken the truth.”

They raised their bowls.

Once, the last hidden officer defended the city, and wondered if he could live to go back home.

Liu Xianyang studied from Confucianists, but was only known for not getting on the young talent lists.

Gu Can went to White Emperor City and disappeared.

“Liu Xianyang’s sword, Chen Ping’an’s fist, and Gu Can, all he needs to do is cultivate. After this drink, we will work hard and cultivate well, and will not be scared of fighting! Let us ask about everything.”

When Gu Can was young, he did not have these thoughts. Chen Ping’an would not say such things. Only Liu Xianyang would.

—-

At the border between Northern Jin and Sung Rye, Lake Autumn’s Air had an island in the middle, and on that island was Taoist Great Wood Temple.

There was a wooden couplet with extremely long wording. The writing was done by the head of the temple, who copied it from a book. If one could see the original book, the energy would be much more ancient.

> Sitting in the well, the sky is small, but the sun and moon are clear. Sword light across, nobody in the eye, end the king’s matter, see the North Star, how many immortals are there. A bird is tapping, the Great Wood Temple is understanding heaven. Who is on the path?
>
> Autumn water is ambitious, white bones are in disarray. River crossing, no one can stop them, Cao Official sending spiritual texts, read together the Southern Bloom, I have achieved immortal. The world of mortals goes around and around, inside the box, the green snake asks about truth and profoundness. I am the land immortal!

A visitor who read this without knowing ancient text would not even be able to read everything.

The head of the temple, Palace Flower, was also the Water Lord. She was an extremely beautiful female who was about thirty years of age. She had an ancient sword slung behind her.

It was said that she was a martial arts master and an undead, and with her old sword, she travelled everywhere and finally stayed at the great lake, where she became the Lord. Becoming a god was like a cultivator going to the immortal realm.

The visitors to the island were placed into a system of ranks, and there were seven people at the Fallen Flower Pavilion to drink tea.

The six visitors were, Great Lake Mountain Sect Head Gao Jun, and Five Reverence Mountain Lords, with their own aliases.

Gao Jun wore a silver lotus coronet, Taoist robes, and boots with talismans.

She passed over the doorstep last, doing a sword gesture and salute. “Greetings, Lord Palace Lake and everyone.”

Everyone thought of Yu Zhenyi.

She became a Core Formation Realm and then raised a Golden Core.

She was the best sect leader possible.

Gao Jun knew all of these Lords from the past.

Water God Palace Flower wore a Taoist robe and a gossamer garment. When she did so, the room would glow, so it was no longer needed to light it with candles.

A Mountain Lord who looked to be middle aged smiled. “Head Gao, it has been a while since we last met.”

He held a green jade tablet with an immortal riding a raft. The inscription said, “Sixty More Years.”

He was the Central Mountain Lord, Mountain of Greatness River of the World, also called Zheng Fengzhou.

Previously, Gao Jun had discovered a immortal ruin on top of the mountain.

At the time, Gao Jun had not understood what was a god and what was an immortal.

The two had talked, but they were both wary, and would not speak of cultivation.

An old man wearing a high coronet and holding a whisk smiled. “It looks like it has only been a few years, but Sword Immortal Gao has improved greatly, how congratulatory.”

“If these cultivators, who steal natural luck, can take a lucky land, their cultivation will get even better.”

Gao Jun sat down on a cushion next to Autumn’s Air’s Lord, showing how important she was.

This was a respect for Gao Jun.

“Highest Dao and Virtue.”

The one who congratulated Gao Jun was the Northern Mountain Lord, known as Jade Charter Old Immortal.

Gao Jun had met him when it was extremely hot down the mountain, but there was snow on top of the Northern Mountain. He had ridden a white deer and was holding a whisk, claiming he was the Mountain God, and treating her as if she was from a lower nation.

A young scholar wearing white robes looked at her with infatuation, and said gently, “Miss Gao, it has been a while, I have missed you.”

This was because she was not yet married, so he wanted to snatch her.

At the Western Mountain, Gao Jun had met a Daoist who was a scholar, also called Song Huaibao, who was a poor student of Nanyuan Kingdom. He had built a mansion on the mountain, called a Blurred Realm.

The Western Mountain was the first to conscript non-humans.

It would seem that the one with the most members was the Western Mountain, which had gotten far ahead.

The Southern Mountain Lord, was a wooden “child” called Huaifu.

He had flowers in his hair, was wearing flax clothes, and sandals.

Now, Gao Jun could see what his great path was.

The one that Gao Jun was more respectful of was the Eastern Mountain God.

He was the only Great Mountain Lord to be a undead.

Before ascending the mountain, Gao Jun had seen an evil dragon who summoned wind and waves. It had been stopped by a god, who held a seal, and banished it to the deep pool for three hundred years.

Beyond these, Gao Jun had seen many other things.

The entire new mortal realm seemed vital.

All of it was what Yu Ancestor had called the arrival of “Rain From Heaven.”

Tonight, the Mountain Lord was the host, and the five mountain lords had come.

Gao Jun took the tea from the female Lord, and said, “I went to the stars and just came back.”

As soon as Gao Jun started, Song Huaibao started with a smile, “How did it feel? Is it as it says in the book, that we are sitting in a well and calling the sky small?”

He had never liked the couplet.

Song Huaibao had almost left immediately.

He did not want to be here, if not for Gao.

Gao Jun said, “There is a sky beyond the sky. There, cultivators like me are called Core Formation, just entering the doors of the Earth Immortal. There are many of them.”

Huaifu said darkly, “According to the Respecting Hall, there were some ‘banished immortals’ who did what they wanted and caused all sorts of trouble. Recently, there was Zhou Fei and Lu Fang. Some died in the capital, some did not and left over the wall. I believe your sect has records of it.”

Everyone was silent.

Zheng Fengzhou broke the silence. “Head Gao, how powerful is the highest cultivator in the heavens? Is there a reference?”

Gao Jun smiled bitterly. “I cannot measure their power.”

On the north side of the Precious Vase Continent, she had asked if she could see a Core Formation cultivator spar.

But Wei Bo had just shaken his head.

He told Gao Jun to read the texts, there was no need to fight.

At the same time, Wei Bo hinted to not speak of it.

Jade Charter Old Immortal shook his whisk. “I am curious what we are.”

Gao Jun said, “This is one of the seventy two blessings of heaven. It used to be called Lotus Flower, but now it is called Lotus Root.”

The old man crushed his cup, and glared at Gao Jun. “What?! We are just one of the seventy-two blessings?!”

Gao Jun waved her sleeves, and the cup pieces fell to the ground.

She continued, “Beyond the blessings, there are ten great heavens, and thirty-six small heavens. The heavens are often just the dojos of great cultivators.”

The female Lord asked, “If the heavens have owners, that must mean the blessings do as well?”

Gao Jun nodded. “Belonging to the Fallen Phoenix Mountain. The Fallen Phoenix Mountain is located in the Precious Vase Continent. The most recently formed one is the Five Color Heaven, and they say to traverse realms, one needs to be at least a ascension.”

She did not add “at the start.”

That meant there were higher realms above ascensions.

Jade Charter could not help but curse. “What the hell is a ascension?! Can they tear the sky?”

Female Lord Palace Flower frowned and said, “Her name is Sui Youbian!”

The ladies all respected Sui Youbian.

Jade Charter tugged his lips, saying he would respect her if she became like Palace Flower.

Gao Jun said, “Sui Youbian is a cultivator on Fallen Phoenix Mountain. She is a martial artist turned Taoist, and is ranked as one of the ten youths of the Precious Vase Continent. I guess she is in the Core Formation.”

Jade Charter was speechless.

Song Huaibao laughed. “How sad, though I do not know how she was revived, but she is now just a lackey. That must be what is called getting into heaven? She just gets a salary?”

Song Huaibao spoke to himself. “As expected, I was right, It is better to be alone.”

He wanted to meet Sui Youbian. He had a list with dozens of women on it.

He had come here to meet them.

Song Huaibao sighed. “What a pity for Sui Youbian.”

He hated that fate was good, but he wanted to be with beauties.

What a pity for Sui Youbian, since she joined Fallen Phoenix Mountain, she must be married with someone else.

He covered his heart.

Huaifu asked, “How strong is Fallen Phoenix Mountain? What tier is it at?”

Gao Jun shook her head. “The roots of Fallen Phoenix Mountain are deep. I do not know everything about it. One example… A green child seems to be a Water Dragon in the Core Formation Realm. But the Immortal Master seems to be not one of the leaders, and about the same power.”

She hated that child who was always getting drunk.

How could she explain it?

Whenever the child saw Gao Jun, he would greet her with a smile.

One reason to know this was that the old chef had said it.

The child struck the table and said to respect Chen, and not underestimate Core Formation cultivators.

It was hard to get to ask any of them, but Wei Bo showed her a report.

Jade Charter grimaced. “It seems no one is asking what matters. Gao, how many people are cultivating on Fallen Phoenix Mountain? What does the Precious Vase Continent look like?”

Gao Jun said, “Not many cultivators, less than a hundred. The Precious Vase Continent used to be a hundred countries, but is the smallest of the Nine Continents.”

Jade Charter wanted to curse. Why could the smallest continent have a hundred countries?

Gao Jun explained. “There is a saying that those in the Middle Fifth Tier can be old, as they have a hundred years. That meant those of the mortal realm have many factions and lineages. A Core Formation cultivator can be considered normal if they are sixty, but sword cultivators are different. Even if they reach the Middle Fifth Tier at one hundred, they can be considered talented. Sui Youbian is one of those pure sword cultivators.”

“Sword cultivators are seen as one strike and the law is broken, and are the most feared. But we do not have a local sword cultivator.”

Zhao Fengzhou said, “If it is Fallen Phoenix Mountain, there must be a head?”

Gao Jun said, “Chen Ping’an.”

Huaifu asked, “The sword immortal who appeared in the Nanyuan Capital?”

Gao Jun nodded.

Some had interesting expressions, some did not believe it, and others were relieved.

Those who thought it interesting were happy to be meeting him. Those who did not believe it wondered why the young man who fought with Zhong Qiu and the others had not displayed overwhelming power, but they could see that the match with Ding Ying had been close.

Those who were relieved were happy to see a cultivator of this realm.

Was Chen Ping’an an old immortal who simply looked young? If so, that would mean that he was not too talented.

Or was he a young man whose natural gifts only activated later in life? If so, perhaps the local cultivators were talented, they just lacked high-level texts?

The Eastern Mountain Lord asked, “Am I able to understand, that Gao is calling us here, but Fallen Phoenix Mountain is leading?”

Gao Jun admitted, “Yes.”

Zhao Juran asked, “There are rules? Do you know what they are?”

Gao Jun said, “I do not know, but I can guess. Fallen Phoenix Mountain wants to make rules for us.”

Zhao Juran asked, “Are you being forced, or do you still favor your home?”

Gao Jun said, “I can say now, you can rest assured!”

Zhao Juran smiled and nodded.

This Mountain Lord was not one to favor the discussion because it would all be for naught.

He had fought in war, and was wary of tricks. He was known as a peerless figure.

At this moment, Song Huaibao became serious, and said in his mind, “When secrets leak, the king will die, the matter will die. Lord Gao, we can close the doors and speak.”

Gao Jun thought and nodded, saying in her mind, “I wish that everyone can keep these words to themselves. I will set up a formation, and Palace Lord, please summon mist around the island.”

Palace Flower nodded. “Easy, it is natural for Autumn’s Lake Air to have mist.”

Gao Jun pulled out a wooden box, and moved the wood, and lights were shone into the night, rotating around.

“First, I must say that Fallen Phoenix Mountain is not evil, and they have charm.”

She had found that the sword youth had something special about him.

“If we were on the river, he would be a grandmaster, with virtue. I have seen him and his sect. It looked like what I thought a heaven would look like.”

“Back then,” because she had seen what real heavens are like.

The true person takes the sun and moon as a dojo.

Song Huaibao said, “You haven’t even started and you are speaking ill of yourself?”

Zhao Fengzhou said, “Even in gentlemanly strife, they must show their best and compete, even to the death.”

Jade Charter was ready to show weakness. “If he can sit down and talk, there is no need to fight to the death.”

The female Lord tugged her lips.

The old man was weak.

Gao Jun said, “There is a Fox Kingdom. It is there since Fallen Phoenix Mountain moved it. They cannot leave it easily. The master of it is Pei Xiang, also a cultivator in the Core Formation Realm, though she is not good at fighting, she is very good at bewitching people. Besides Sui Youbian, there is Zhong Qiu. There is also the old demonic chief, Lu Baixiang. I did not meet them.”

Gao Jun knew Pei Xiang, and always saw her with the Zhu.

Gao Jun had thought about revealing Zhu Lian, but in the end, she decided not to.

Her concern was that Lord Water would want to take revenge, or that Jade Charter would think that Zhu Lian likes killing people, so it might leak.

Song Huaibao said, “I cannot trust myself, much less others. Other than Gao, even Palace, and the five Lord, must swear and will be struck down for it.”

Zhao Juran looked at Song Huaibao, nodding. “That is good.”

The female Lake had been listening, but something was off, and she looked to the outside.

In the court, she saw the Fallen Flower Pavilion.

Where was Zhu?

Why could he not come again? Kill him again?

After sending Liu Xianyang and Gu Can to Nanyuan, the old chef of Fallen Phoenix Mountain left on the boat for the site of a river dojo.

After getting there, he took back the boat, and stood in front of a house. Zhu Lian looked back and sighed. All there was to be seen was the road, and the grass was everywhere. Zhu Lian lit a fire.

It had been a hundred years, but things had changed. It was now a homeland.

A homeland was an answer, and as you went away, the worse it became. Each thought was a mark on the test. The examiners were less and less happy.

Zhu Lian sighed that he had no wine.

At this time, a woman in color skirts descended from the moon, her shoes above the ground.

She was gaunt and cold.

She said harshly, “Did you not know this is the god’s land?”

The old man shook his head. “I was just passing by.”

She was suspended in the air.

She reminded him, “I will be lenient this time, but leave quickly.”

The old man was eating cakes, and asked, “This manor had no owner long ago, how has it become your land?”

She was cold. “Who are you, how do you know about the Lower Cloud Manor?!”

The old man said, “You cannot trust pretty girls, she promised to recognize him even in death, but does not.”

She became alive, and said carefully, “Are you…”

After only saying a few words, she was crying. She took a breath and asked him what he remembered about her. “Do you remember who I am, what is my name?”

Zhu Lian finished the cake and said, “I don’t lie, especially to women. So sorry, I don’t remember your name.”

She looked, “As expected of you. Zhu Lian. As expected, Zhu Nanhua.”

It was such a evil thing to say, but it sounded like loving words.

It was always the same, if they would not believe it and mocked them, they would end up just the same.

She looked at the manor. This Lord had never tried to rebuild the “Lower Cloud Manor,” because she did not want to.

Even though it was broken, it was still like what it was.

There were peach blossom trees next to the stream, and a pavilion.

Old friend visited, she did not dare.

There was a white scholar burning incense.

She was still unwilling to ask him if he remembered her.

His face had changed, his eyes had changed, everything had changed.

But she still knew he was her.

Zhu Lian smiled and said, “Why would I lie? I would be hurt.”

She was stunned.

In the middle of Lake Autumn’s Air was the Great Wood Temple.

Nobody knew about it, but those that were female knew.

> The heart is in the lake, the forehead is on the mountain.

She had been waiting for him.

How hateful.

She collected her thoughts and pointed. “Hurt? Easy… Go die!”

Since Zhu Lian dared to live again, everyone must kill him, it would make her happy!

The strips of color turned to the old man’s shoulder, but since he did not dodge, she became angry and moved it to his head. The old man fell and was surrounded by dust.

The old man dusted the dust, and