Standing atop the mountain peak were none other than a wisp of Chen Ping’an’s spirit and the Sword Holder.

Earlier, they had traveled far beyond the heavens together, heading to a secret place to forge swords.

The Founding Ancestor of the Military School sneered, “Putting on airs, finally acting like a real person.”

It was both the greatest praise and the greatest irony.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Living a life of defiance has led to this day. Old friends on the path have withered away. If it weren’t for you and that group of sword cultivators who wanted to seize the old Heavenly Court and break away from the Three Sect Ancestors, leading to the first great schism in the human world, your Military School would have established its own sect long ago. You wouldn’t have been first jointly executed and then imprisoned for ten thousand years. Thinking about it now, do you regret it?”

The Founding Ancestor of the Military School strode up the mountain, scoffing, “Your status has changed, and so has your tone. The previous you, a pure martial artist at the pinnacle, wouldn’t dare to speak to me like this. It’s raining in the heavens, haha, the heavens raining on a human ascent, Three Sect Ancestors, aren’t you afraid that over time, this kid will be assimilated by the Dao? They can’t break through the heavens, so they can only surround and trap it, staring blankly at Zhou Mi and that group of new gods for ten thousand years. Now another one appears in the human world, wouldn’t that be a waste of effort?”

Zhou Mi ascended to the heavens, while Chen Ping’an remained on earth, each occupying half.

Of course, it’s not to say that Zhou Mi or Chen Ping’an are the “reincarnation” of the Heavenly Court’s Lord from ten thousand years ago. Whether it was the scholar Jia Sheng of Hao Ran or Chen Ping’an of Mud Bottle Alley, they both reached their current state step by step, as if they had divided the inheritance equally.

The Founding Ancestor of the Military School was struck down the mountain by a sword from the peak, retreating to the foot. The burly man simply reached out and grabbed the abundant sword energy, as troublesome as a river of time, from his body, tossing it into the distance. A heaven-shaking tremor echoed tens of thousands of miles away. The burly man didn’t even look, simply resuming his ascent.

This time, there were no words, only silent progress until reaching the mountainside, where he was once again struck down by a magnificent sword light, like a waterfall cascading down the mountain.

The sword energy gathered and lingered, filling the mountain. The Founding Ancestor of the Military School forged a path with his fists, forcefully creating a massive opening, advancing against the current, laughing loudly, “Light and airy, weak and feeble. Compared to ten thousand years ago, your sword intent has decreased instead of increased. It seems the battle with that armored figure cost you dearly in divinity. Ha, dogs fighting, fur everywhere. Pitiful and lamentable, how can I compare to you two lovebirds? Half the divinity of the Heavenly Court Lord, half the new master of a ‘fallen’ place, plus the former Sword Holder with the highest killing power…”

The third sword cleaved the burly man in two, but the latter instantly restored himself. He neither continued to climb nor spoke again, simply standing there at the mountainside.

Chen Ping’an laughed, “Delivering three swords is enough courtesy.”

The tall woman smiled and nodded.

Only then did the Founding Ancestor of the Military School return to the mountain peak generously, his mood somber. But he remembered two things and endured it. A true man distinguishes between gratitude and resentment. Looking at Chen Ping’an, he felt slightly more amiable.

Chen Ping’an scrutinized the Founding Ancestor of the Military School, suddenly feeling strange.

He heard that this man before him was notoriously arrogant ten thousand years ago, saying many inspiring words and many shocking boasts.

For example, “Once I have pioneered a complete martial path, all races of the human world can ascend to godhood through their physical bodies, no longer relying on the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, nor needing to kowtow or offer incense to anyone. Only such a sect deserves to be called an Ancestor.”

Or, “Give me another layer of improvement in martial arts, and I can beat the Dao Ancestor with one hand.”

“Today’s meeting, any sword cultivators who are unwilling to bow their heads to anyone and wish to go to the Heavenly Court ruins to forge swords and become masters, come, stand on my side and spar with the Three Sect Ancestors on the opposite side.”

This Founding Ancestor of the Military School, although he lost, never yielded.

The tall woman smiled, “My memory is bad. I just remembered that coming here seems to have broken the rules. Little Master Confucius is a bit unhappy, reminding me to leave quickly.”

The Founding Ancestor of the Military School suggested, “Leave for what? Just stay here and fight Little Master Confucius. According to the etiquette of ten thousand years ago, whoever wins, listens to them.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Then you go back first.”

The tall woman nodded, “Master, don’t forget the Jiazi agreement.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “I have a good memory.”

Only when the Sword Holder, one of the Five Supremes, left this ancient star that was both a prison and a dojo did the Founding Ancestor of the Military School finally breathe a sigh of relief.

After all, the joint execution had damaged the foundation of his Great Dao too much, completely losing his true form. Enduring those “soft and weak” three swords had already made him feel a long-lost sense of being overwhelmed. Sitting cross-legged on the mountain peak, he began to peel off the lingering remnants of sword energy. Each time he threw out a strand of sword energy, it might contain several ancient sword Daos, smashing long gullies hundreds of thousands of miles long on this star dojo. Finally, he flicked away a pure “Sword Dao,” creating a crater hundreds of miles deep… If it weren’t for the Sage of Rites helping to conceal the celestial phenomena, the Yin-Yang, Five Elements, and Qintianjian alchemists of the human world would probably have suffered.

Chen Ping’an said, “Yu Shiwu of Zhenwu Mountain is willing to return those three portions of martial luck to you, Senior. Could you, for the sake of saving a few steps, preserve Yu Shiwu’s consciousness and memory as much as possible when retrieving those ‘martial luck,’ and try not to harm the foundation of his soul?”

It was indeed a bit of opening old wounds, the first dismemberment in the human world being a joint execution and dismemberment. Bringing it up as soon as they met was truly rubbing salt in the wound.

The Founding Ancestor of the Military School rested his fists on his knees, showing no signs of anger, and said calmly, “You can make another request.”

Did that mean he agreed to the matter?

Was he so easy to talk to? Then as a junior, he would have to chat a little more!

Although Chen Ping’an was confused, he still thought carefully and said, “My first disciple, Pei Qian, her photographic memory is different from that of ordinary alchemists. Do you have a good solution, Senior?”

The Founding Ancestor of the Military School, with his back to Chen Ping’an, softened his tone slightly, “Change your request.”

Although Chen Ping’an felt regret in his heart, he had no choice but to change his request, saying, “When you come down the mountain, Senior, you can visit my Lotus Root Blessed Land in your spare time.”

The Founding Ancestor of the Military School scoffed, “Who do you think I am, kid, like that Mountain God, finding a tree stump to sit on?”

Judging from his tone, he was clearly unwilling to help “guard the mountains and rivers” in the Lotus Root Blessed Land.
Having successfully negotiated with that esteemed senior regarding Yu Shiwu’s affairs, Chen Ping’an was genuinely surprised. He had anticipated numerous setbacks and even prepared for a complete falling out. Now that he had achieved his goal, he refrained from pushing his luck.

He knew better than to overstay his welcome.

Unexpectedly, the Primordial Military Strategist did not immediately dismiss Chen Ping’an. To come and go as one pleases? Did he think this was a privy prepared with cornhusks?

Chen Ping’an remained unperturbed. Since he was here, he would make the best of it. He turned his attention to observing the eleven martial cultivators standing atop the mountain. Now that his most prized disciple had usurped his tenth-realm position, Chen Ping’an, no longer blind to the obvious, wasn’t particularly shocked. To say he had no regrets would be a lie, but overall, he was more pleased than disappointed.

But why was even the ninth-realm version of Chen Ping’an, the one in red robes, ousted as well? After all, the one Chen Ping’an truly believed would remain entrenched here for eternity was himself. The “unprecedented in ten thousand years” version was a foregone conclusion. Even the cautious Chen Ping’an felt that this version of himself had the potential to remain “unparalleled for centuries to come.”

Regardless, losing two mountaintop positions in such a short span of time, less than a year, inevitably filled Chen Ping’an with a sense of melancholy. He hunched down, hands tucked into his sleeves, and gazed at the newcomer who had taken his place.

The individual was easy to identify. Among the eleven seats, this was the only unfamiliar martial cultivator. He sat cross-legged on the ground, back straight, hands folded in his lap. His arms were a mass of bulging muscles. His face was obscured by hair that cascaded to the ground, completely covering his features. The newcomer’s fist-energy was immense. Each strand of hair resembled a slowly cascading waterfall, swaying with his every breath.

His physique and bones were incredibly robust, his fist intent utterly terrifying.

Upon closer inspection, Chen Ping’an found something even more incredible. Each strand of hair was swarming with tens of thousands of vengeful spirits and malevolent ghosts.

The Primordial Military Strategist chuckled. “To lose to her, ascending from the mountaintop to the Unbounded Realm, is perfectly normal.”

“The further you go, the stronger they become. The path of martial arts will never allow you and Cao Ci, two young pups, to hog all the limelight.”

“How did that half-punch taste?”

Chen Ping’an answered honestly, “It had the delightful flavor of hotpot with wine.”

The burly man roared with laughter. “Good, that’s a good way to put it. Once my sentence is served and I return to the mortal realm, I’ll definitely have a hotpot with wine.”

Chen Ping’an tentatively asked, “If senior doesn’t mind, perhaps I could return to the mountain to prepare the hotpot and wine, and my true body could come here to enjoy a proper meal?”

The Primordial Military Strategist clicked his tongue. “You really don’t miss a chance to seize even the slightest advantage. Can anyone learn anything good from being around you?”

Chen Ping’an found it strange. Why did the Primordial Military Strategist’s words carry such an inexplicable meaning this time they met on the mountaintop?

What right do you have to criticize the atmosphere of my Fallen Phoenix Mountain?

The burly man said, “Within the next century, there will be quite a few fourteenth-realm cultivators. The question is, how many will be left after a thousand years?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Everyone relies on their own abilities to forge their path. Whether they blossom or bear fruit in the end, their futures depend on their own capabilities.”

Bearing the true names of demons, and harmonizing with half of the Sword Qi Great Wall, Chen Ping’an’s Immortal Transformation Robe could be called “Canonization.”

However, the battle against Ma Kuxuan resulted in the robe being shattered, creating several loopholes in the Barren World for those who sought to take advantage.

In the next moment, Chen Ping’an’s strand of consciousness returned to his true body, situated in a residence on Fufeng Ridge, with a clear view of Jumping Fish Mountain.

On the mountaintop, the burly man stood up and walked to a spot. He had to crouch down and lower his head to be at eye level.

The little girl, as black as charcoal, tilted her head, looking puzzled. Was this big idiot bragging to my master without thinking? He probably can’t handle spicy food or alcohol, and he’s just getting excited at the thought of hotpot and wine! Ha, what a big waste, not even close to my master.

The burly man, his gaze gentle, reached out to rub her little head, but the girl glared and snapped, “Don’t touch me!”

The man who had once replaced the first Daoist in the human realm, and continued his ascent, covered his face with a trembling hand.

Zhu Lian, the Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s Law Enforcement Ancestor, Long Ming, and the Northern Mountain God, Wei.

Their joint appearance was terrifying enough for the sixteen newcomers. Especially the arrival of the Northern Mountain Night Wandering God, both unexpected and logical.

On Jumping Fish Mountain, eight martial arts practitioners and eight Daoist cultivators lived separately.

Upon arriving on the mountain, Zhu Lian led them to their respective residences. The courtyards were clean and tidy, nothing more, neither opulent nor otherworldly.

The Law Enforcement Ancestor didn’t mention any rules or taboos, only instructing them to be mindful of their place and to feel at ease. As for what constituted “mindful of their place” or “at ease,” he didn’t explain.

Zheng Juzhong and Cen Yuanji, the main and assistant instructors responsible for teaching the eight martial artists, both resided on the mountain.

At first, Instructor Zheng wanted to be neighbors with Instructor Cen, but it didn’t work out.

The man who looked nothing like a master was adamant upon meeting them, declaring that he was one of the few martial arts masters in Treasure Bottle Continent, with a talent for martial arts and an even greater talent for teaching.

They had to cherish this opportunity.

In contrast, the woman who clearly had more of the air of a master, bluntly told them that her aptitude was ordinary and her martial arts skills were lacking. If anyone felt they were being misled, they could change instructors.

However, the individuals responsible for imparting the Daoist arts to the other eight had yet to appear.

Since Fallen Phoenix Mountain hadn’t said anything, they dared not ask. Immortals imparting knowledge was difficult to fathom with common sense. Talent, aptitude, temperament, opportunities, acquired habits, and so on, everything was taken into consideration.

They could only silently cultivate and refine their Qi, according to the Daoist arts they had previously learned.

Earlier, on the ferry, several young men and women had agreed to visit the gate of Fallen Phoenix Mountain when they had time. Now, they were all apprehensive and dared not harbor such thoughts.

They were afraid that as soon as they left Jumping Fish Mountain, they would be caught and told to pack their bags and go home.
Between Jumping Fish Mountain and Fallen Phoenix Mountain lies Mount Fufeng, a peak rumored to be a mountain as well. On clear days, one can faintly make out its scenery, and with luck, catch a glimpse of Jasper Peak, perpetually shrouded in mist. The ancestral hall of Fallen Phoenix Mountain is built there. The more indistinct the view, the more it stirs curiosity, fueling anticipation for the next ancestral hall meeting, to witness from afar the immortals riding the wind and the sword auras like rainbows.

In just a few days, the eight students’ impression of the two boxing instructors underwent a dramatic shift. The one surnamed Zheng, seemingly frivolous and without proper demeanor, was surprisingly skilled.

On the other hand, the female grandmaster surnamed Cen, either intentionally concealed her true abilities, unwilling to impart her full knowledge, or was simply a showy but hollow instructor. The boxing stances she taught were rigid, by the book, and nothing more.

Zheng Dafeng chuckled, deliberately remaining silent, even adding fuel to the fire, imparting several good techniques to the eight arrogant martial arts prodigies. If they weren’t promising material, the Great Li Dynasty wouldn’t dare waste Master Chen’s precious cultivation time by sending them here. They all possessed a nascent understanding of boxing intent and had been secretly assessed by the Directorate of Astronomy to have martial luck favoring them. Otherwise, the Great Li Dynasty wouldn’t dare send the next batch of carefully selected sword cultivator candidates to Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

During breaks from teaching, Cen Yuanji, when alone in the practice yard, would unconsciously purse her lips. At night, facing the lamplight and the precious boxing manuals, hand-copied by Master Zhu himself in his early years, she repeatedly considered going to Fallen Phoenix Mountain to find Master Zhu, or directly approach Chen Ping An, and admit that she couldn’t teach this boxing style. It wasn’t out of spite, but because Cen Yuanji genuinely believed her realm and aptitude were insufficient. If there wasn’t any grievance in her heart, Cen Yuanji would be lying.

As the setting sun sank in the west, the fiery clouds on the horizon blazed with scarlet brilliance, like countless corals shattered by ancient gods. The mountain willows swayed gently, and the twilight crags accumulated an ancient, iron-like gloom.

After leaving the Lotus Root Blessed Land, Pei Qian arrived at the Jumping Fish Mountain practice yard. She observed in secret for a while, and when Cen Yuanji announced a short break, Pei Qian sat on the rooftop.

In the practice yard, there wasn’t any whispering. After all, this was a vassal mountain of Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Who knew if an immortal might be using a divine ability to observe the mountains and rivers from afar?

Although they strictly adhered to the rules and dared not be disrespectful, their eyes spoke volumes.

This made Cen Yuanji feel a bit uneasy, but she could only pretend nothing was happening.

At the same time, it also made Cen Yuanji suddenly understand a principle Master Zhu had told her, but she hadn’t deeply appreciated back then: she was living in bliss without realizing it.

It turned out that everyone on Fallen Phoenix Mountain, from top to bottom, didn’t take cultivation realms seriously, truly. Not just in their eyes, but in their hearts, they didn’t take it to heart or care about it.

Cen Yuanji heard someone call out “Sister Cen.”

Hearing the familiar voice and the unfamiliar address, she came back to her senses and turned her head, seeing Pei Qian. Cen Yuanji was stunned. She simply nodded with a habitual smile, forgetting to clasp her hands in greeting. After all, they had always been so casual when they met.

When Pei Qian appeared, the practice yard erupted in commotion. Unlike the young Hidden Official, Pei Qian’s appearance was already well-known on the mountain.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many Jianghu women on Treasure Bottle Continent wearing black clothes and tied-up buns, all calling themselves “Zheng Qian.”

Pei Qian, Grandmaster Pei! One of the four martial arts grandmasters of Treasure Bottle Continent who earned the nicknames “Zheng Qingming” and “Zheng Spends Money” on the Great Li capital battlefield.

Pei Qian didn’t waste any words with them, saying she would suppress her realm to the Fourth Realm, and they could all attack together. She emphasized: all together.

One punch for each, she sent the eight people flying, writhing on the ground as if endlessly training on wooden stakes.

Pei Qian said coldly, “Are you all trash? You dare come here to learn boxing? Are you worthy of Cen Yuanji teaching you boxing?!”

“Get up! I’ll count to three. Those who can’t stand up will leave Jumping Fish Mountain on their own and seek other teachers. Aren’t you all so arrogant, thinking you’re superior? Are you afraid of not finding someone to teach you boxing?”

“Sister Cen is not someone you half-baked fools are qualified to look down on!”

Before Pei Qian could count to three, seven of them jumped up as if their butts were on fire, staggering to their feet. The weakest girl was helped up by a boy who looked just like her. But she was instantly flushed and numb, biting her lip, afraid to cry, after just a glance from Pei Qian.

Pei Qian said sternly, “Six steps of the stake walking for two hours. If you run out of energy, you have to crawl for two hours. Those who can’t do it, pack your bags and sleep at the foot of the mountain.”

Zheng Dafeng squatted in the distance, secretly gloating.

Pei Qian looked at these people, growing increasingly frustrated. They had all been studying martial arts since they were young. If you were in the Bamboo Lodge, you’d be kicked out on the first day.

When she was young, Pei Qian didn’t think much of it. She even secretly gave Cen Yuanji the nickname “Silly Cen” with Xiao Mili.

As Pei Qian grew older and her realm increased, she realized Cen Yuanji’s “difficulty.” Not that Cen Yuanji’s boxing practice was difficult, but that the boxing Cen Yuanji practiced was extremely difficult!

Pei Qian now looked at Cen Yuanji with not pity.

But with the respect of one pure martial artist for another pure martial artist.

Zheng Dafeng said with a cheeky smile, “Pei Qian, the way we teach boxing is mainly up to Cen Yuanji and me. If you’re willing to lend a hand and give some pointers, of course, that’s not a problem. But as for whether these eight stay or go, you don’t get to decide.”

Pei Qian mumbled, “I know.”

She had overstepped the rules.

Zheng Dafeng chuckled, “Don’t hold a grudge in your little ledger, and don’t secretly complain to the Mountain Lord.”

Pei Qian turned around and rolled her eyes.

Zheng Dafeng stood up, patted his butt, “See? You still think I’m bragging? I used to give Grandmaster Pei pointers on her boxing all the time, or do you think she would listen to your Master Zheng today? Besides, when Grandmaster Pei and your Master Cen were sparring, you were still wearing split pants. All of you, your boxing skills are not high, but your ambitions are ridiculously high. You’re either thinking about genuinely learning from Grandmaster Pei one day, or you’re thinking about having a chance to chat with Master Chen face-to-face. Bullshit…My lords, young ladies, don’t just stand there, start walking the stakes!”
Pei Qian approached Cen Yuanji, hesitating before finally speaking his mind. “Sister Cen, why belittle yourself? Isn’t the point of painstakingly practicing boxing, walking countless stances, and pursuing the ‘unmatched before me’ state, not just for sparring with others? Learning boxing and then teaching it to others should only become more important, shouldn’t it?”

Cen Yuanji looked into Pei Qian’s clear eyes, her lips still pursed, but a smile gradually appeared. She nodded and said, “Little Black Charcoal can even spout great principles now.”

Pei Qian’s composure instantly crumbled, a sheepish look on his face as he scratched his head.

Indeed, even the greatest heroes fear meeting their old neighbors.

Childhood embarrassments and mischievous habits are all too well-known by those nearby. No matter how wealthy or successful one becomes upon returning home, regardless of the facade, they can’t help but think, “Him? Her?”

Just then, a middle-aged man in a blue scholar’s robe and cloth shoes materialized, standing at the edge of the training ground.

His mere presence caused the eight children already on the verge of collapse to struggle even more. The simple six-step stance became distorted in various ways.

The blue-robed man smiled gently. “Study your boxing well. Cherish the opportunity to learn from Zheng Dafeng, and be diligent when learning from Cen Yuanji. If you can’t, then go back down the mountain, back to where you came from.”

With just those words, Chen Pingan led Pei Qian down the mountain.

Pei Qian seemed a little embarrassed. Chen Pingan chuckled, “You taught well. Next time, teach with a calmer heart, and it will be even better.”

Pei Qian nodded. “I lack patience. Truthfully, I was far worse than them back then. It was unreasonable for me to lose my temper today. Master, after thinking about it, I think I was angry at my past ignorant self.”

Chen Pingan smiled. “You’ve already criticized yourself so thoroughly, how can Master possibly rap your knuckles?”

Pei Qian grinned, his words sincere and not meant to deceive his Master.

Chen Pingan felt a small sense of pride. Cen Yuanji would finally stop looking at him with that “rogue” gaze, as if even if he didn’t seem like one, he was just pretending to be good.

It truly wasn’t easy.

Pei Qian said, “Then I’ll return to Tongye Continent now.”

Chen Pingan smiled, “You can stay for a few more days.”

During the busy tea harvest, the village school had a short vacation. The children were overjoyed, and the teacher felt that teaching was truly difficult, hoping that upon reopening, no more children would drop out.

Previously, at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, Chen Pingan had given an Old Deaf a Three Mountains Talisman, making it easier for this newly appointed Offering to travel to Fallen Mountain.

Old Deaf, oblivious to the talisman’s significance, regarded it as just an ordinary peak-level talisman. While its uses were wondrous, he didn’t think much of it, only feeling it was a pity that the talisman had a limit of three uses, after which it would consume the user’s own merit. Otherwise, wouldn’t anywhere with green mountains in this world be the talisman holder’s haven? What great escapism! Xie Gou, however, was well aware of the background of the Three Mountains Nine Marquis Gentleman. She deliberately did not reveal it to Old Deaf, this common Offering.

Zheng Qingjia, on Fallen Mountain, never waited for the “Little Mo Gentleman,” who was supposedly half of the Ancestral Master. He followed Gu Can to a place called Yunyan Kingdom in Tongye Continent. Gu Can said he had many old friends there, telling her to be prepared.

The former Master of the Eeled River, the Throne Great Demon Yang Zhi, was currently the Great Spring Dynasty’s female Offering “Jing Xing.”

There was also the Barren Desolate’s Taoting, who was once sickly and prone to laziness but now a rising star among the myriad factions, a fledgling Taoist of the Vast World.

The entire Golden Emerald City had long been refined into nothingness by Master Zheng. Master Zheng also taught her a technique to turn nothingness into reality. Once Gu Can selected the sect’s location, Zheng Qingjia could take it out, take root, and move to another place in the future as easily as raising a hand. As for the group of genealogy cultivators inside the Golden Emerald City, who were still kept in the dark, they did not have Zhai Guangyun’s treatment and were never released by Zheng Qingjia, trapped as if in a solar eclipse, fearful and apprehensive, wondering why the heavens had changed.

Once the intercontinental ferry left Chuzhou territory, Zheng Qingjia shook her personal disciple out of her sleeve. Learning that Hidden Official had returned to the mountain and even met with her master for a few words, Zhai Guangyun’s eyes were resentful, mumbling and complaining that her master didn’t care for her and didn’t fulfill her wishes… Gu Can smiled playfully, and Zheng Qingjia had to tell her personal disciple that someone was now in the Vast World. If you pester the young Hidden Official like this, be careful to have your head chopped off with a sword. Her Master could only help you pick up your head then, hoping she wouldn’t stir your true form and soul into a slurry together. Although Zhai Guangyun feared nothing, she was still very apprehensive about the unseen Ning Yao. The reason was simple: the higher Ning Yao’s realm, the more displeased she was with the Barren Desolate world. “Oh, a Ascension Realm sword cultivator, so amazing.”

“What’s so good about a woman who closes the door to her husband just because he drinks with friends outside.”

The young Hidden Official was good in every way, except that he was too devoted in love. If he learned from the former Hidden Official Xiao Xun and defected from the Great Wall of Sword Qi, that would be wonderful. Once he reached the Barren Desolate world, he would change partners every day of the year!

Who didn’t know that the Barren Desolate’s current common sovereign, the sword cultivator Fei Ran, and Zhou Qingmi’s closed-door disciple Zhou Qinggao, were famously the number one and number two Hidden Official supporters?

This Streamer Boat intentionally slowed down as it passed Shujian Lake. Zhong Su of Huangli Island saw the Confucian-robed youth at the bow. This old Nascent Soul cultivator, known as the one who looked most like a genealogy cultivator in Shujian Lake, took the initiative to board the ship, saying that he had changed his mind and was willing to leave the True Realm Sect’s genealogy to join Gu Can. Unexpectedly, Gu Can also said that he had changed his mind. Even if you, Zhong Su, were willing to join my sect today, you couldn’t be the first law enforcer and would have to start as a common registered Offering. Zhong Su’s expression darkened, but in the end, he still didn’t disembark. Instead, he sent a message to Huangli Island, summoning the group of disciples he had chosen to board the ship.

Chen Pingan had previously spoken frankly with Zheng Qingjia. Since he didn’t know that the mandarin duck friend would come to the Vast World, he had made a deal with Taoting, who had now transformed into a fledgling Taoist. The latter provided several secret methods for refining robes in Golden Emerald City. The fledgling Taoist would take 10% of all proceeds, and the two parties would settle accounts every sixty years.
Zheng Qingjia didn’t seem to care about Jin Cui City’s opinions. He simply stated that Lord Yin Guan didn’t need to worry about them at all. The weaving techniques mastered by Senior Tao Ting were already outdated. Jin Cui City’s unique methods for crafting robes had “broken new ground and taken a different path.” Besides, the Great Landscape had nine continents. Even if Jin Cui City’s robes sold well, they could only capture the market share of two or three continents, which was already the limit of their production. It’s always easier for intelligent people to deal with each other.

Throughout the east, south, west, north, and center of the world, there are gatherings and dispersals, and everyone must go their own way.

Cao Rong, a Heavenly Sovereign of the Bai Yujing Nan Hua City lineage, brought Zhao Fuyang back to Lingfei Palace, without formally registering him. He ordered him to seclude himself in a desolate Daoist temple on a mountain peak, allowing him to cultivate in atonement, striving to redeem himself. Cao Rong issued a decree to Zhao Fuyang, stating that whether he could become his direct disciple depended on whether Zhao Fuyang could reach the Yuanying realm without taking a shortcut. If he succeeded, he could become Cao Rong’s personal disciple. If not, he would be expelled from the mountain again and remain a wild cultivator until his death.

Furthermore, the dark and thin girl named Ni Qing indeed obtained the Daoist name “Qingni” in the ethereal ancestral hall of Lingfei Palace.

She even became Heavenly Sovereign Cao’s personal disciple, joining the ranks of the current Palace Master Xiangjun, who held the Daoist name “Dongting”, as a martial sister of the same generation.

Dreams come true, often making people want to slap themselves to confirm their reality.

The girl still remembered that on a dark night, a young Daoist with a lotus crown told her, “Daoist friend Qingni, if you join forces with us two, we can kill a Fourteenth Realm.”

Fortunately, the rogue Daoist, not forgetting his outlandish manner, added an explanation, “That is, fourteen First Realm Qi Refiners.”

How many people and events in the world seem ordinary at the time.

Fortunately, a woman with half a fellow villager’s “affection” was also cultivating in Lingfei Palace and would occasionally “disturb” her cultivation. Ni Qing knew what the other party was up to, but she didn’t care. The mountain was incredibly quiet, so quiet that even the sound of falling leaves could be heard clearly. It was always good to have someone to talk to and chat about things from their hometown.

The woman was named Yu Yiyou. She and her close sister Yu Rongyu were once personal maids to Prefecture Lord Yu Chunzhi of the Fenwan Prefecture. They each had their own opportunities. Yu Yiyou became a disciple of a Jindan Earth Immortal in Lingfei Palace and had just become a registered cultivator in the ancestral hall of Lingfei Palace. Yu Rongyu had also become a personal disciple of Xing Zi of the Golden Immortal Nunnery on Jinque Sect’s ancestral mountain. Yu Yiyou was happy for her good sister, but she also felt that she was even more fortunate, as the Golden Immortal Nunnery was, after all, one of Lingfei Palace’s “descending” branches.

However, the two women who reunited in a foreign land now had quite a difference in seniority. Yu Yiyou, who had not yet been conferred a title and had no Daoist name, had to call Ni Qing “Ancestor Qingni.”

The mountain deity of Zhui Yuan Mountain also went to the Yunxiao Dynasty and was able to fill a vacancy, becoming a mountain deity officially appointed by the imperial court.

The female martial artist Lü Mo went to the Hundred Flower Lake because Heavenly Sovereign Cao had specially issued a vague decree for her, stating that there was an opportunity there waiting for her to claim, “If you miss it, you’ll miss it.”

At the ruins of a water mansion that had been wiped out, Lü Mo saw an old turtle carrying a stele, reluctantly using it as his Daoist temple. He was a “young cultivator” who spoke slowly and had a catchphrase: “What about my fiery temper?”

Ni Qing could never connect the sword-carrying boy and the young Daoist with the young Yin Guan and the Master Lu of Bai Yujing.

She always felt that those two were like two bachelors squatting at the entrance of the village, wearing tattered cotton-padded jackets, exposing the cotton wadding, with downcast eyebrows and drooping eyes, hands tucked into their sleeves, looking at passing women with shifty eyes. It seemed that only like that were they truly themselves.

Qingbai House of Xieling hadn’t moved and hadn’t suffered any military disaster. Prefecture Lord Bai Mao, blessed with this fortune, couldn’t figure it out. He always felt that when the old Real Man Cheng Qian chatted with the Qingxing Kingdom’s court, they looked at him with admiration and favor that was a little too much. Prefecture Lord Bai couldn’t understand it. Could it be that a great figure had emerged from my ancestors and become a mountain immortal? But Bai Mao had carefully checked the family genealogy when he was young, and there was no such thing at all. Bai Mao greatly missed the two friends he had only recently met, one who liked to brag louder than the sky, and the other who was probably forced by livelihood to do some forced buying and selling…

Now Bai Mao always remembered that he seemed to have slapped the sword-carrying boy on the head near the well in the small town at the foot of the Hehuan Mountain.

If we meet again, should I try again?

Luopo Mountain didn’t wait for Xie Gou, who didn’t know where he was wandering, but instead waited for the old deaf man, You Yu, and his apprentice.

At the mountain gate, the old deaf man saw the muddleheaded white-haired boy again, an old acquaintance from the Sword Qi Great Wall prison.

You Yu, because it was the first time he used the Three Mountains Talisman and his realm wasn’t high enough and his body wasn’t strong enough, felt dizzy as soon as he stood still and obediently went to vomit.

The white-haired boy originally thought that the old deaf man was just a passerby from his own mountain. When he heard that the old deaf man wanted to be his family’s enshrined guest, he immediately became unhappy.

The old deaf man also saw that the other party almost had the words “disgust” written on his face, and he felt quite helpless. What was even more helpless was that the white-haired boy raised his chin, and, reminded, the old deaf man had to call out “Grandpa.”

The old deaf man didn’t forget to use silent speech.

Before the old deaf man became a formal enshrined guest, the white-haired boy began to make things difficult for him. Wahaha, once power is in hand, commands are issued. “You Yu doesn’t need to be introduced, I know him very well. Old deaf man, quickly report your name, Daoist name, origin, and cultivation realm.”

The old deaf man had to report his name, Gan Tang, Daoist name, Longsheng, where his former Daoist temple was located, and so on.

At that time, when Chen Pingan left the Ten Thousand Mountains, without outsiders present, the old blind man began to miss his beloved disciple.

Previously, the old blind man, showing leniency, saw that the Ascension Realm lackey had protected his beloved disciple Li Huai and hadn’t caused any major trouble, so he casually used the excuse of having no merit but hard work and casually threw a copy of an ancient Daoist book, the upper half of the Mountain Refining Art, to the tender Daoist. Now the tender Daoist was excavating a major canal in Tongye Continent, nominally helping to move mountains for the sake of Li Huai’s good relationship with Chen Pingan, but in reality, it was a literal Mountain Refining to prove the Dao.

Even someone as unruly as Tao Ting of the Barbarian World would occasionally feel a little uneasy. Was he being too clever and scheming too much against Yin Guan?
The yellow-robed old immortal was patrolling the great river, seeking to unearth the miscreant who had recklessly scattered talismans and delayed his mountain refinement. In a moment of distraction, he was seized and dragged to the depths of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

The tender Daoist knew not what transgression he had committed now. The state of his Dao heart was of little consequence; his gall bladder felt perpetually on the verge of bursting. He resigned himself to it. Habit, after all.

The blind old master chuckled enigmatically, “I hear you’ve started doing business with Chen Ping’an?”

The tender Daoist’s face was a mask of misery, his heart heavy with woe. *That wretch, Chen Ping’an! So I earned a few immortal coins from you, and you report me here? If you want to rob me, say so outright! Why the pretense of trade?*

The blind old master said, “Given you an inch, and you take a mile, eh?”

The tender Daoist revealed his true form, prostrating himself on the ground, “Trample me as you will!”

He waited an age, but the blind old master’s foot never came. The tender Daoist raised his head, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

The blind old master retrieved a Daoist scripture from his sleeve and tossed it at the tender Daoist’s mouth, “Fetch.”

The tender Daoist hastily seized the book in his jaws. The second half of the Mountain Refinement Incantation!

The blind old master said, “If, within a century, you still fail to achieve Dao union and cannot contend with that Zhuyan, you might as well resign yourself to enjoying your blissful existence in the Ascension Realm.”

The tender Daoist transformed back into human form, holding the book with both hands, tears of joy streaming down his face. He bowed deeply, offering his gratitude, “Tao Ting of the Wild Lands, thanks you, senior, for bestowing this Dao!”

The blind old master, however, paid no heed to Tao Ting’s profuse gratitude, simply telling him to get lost and stop being an eyesore.

As the tender Daoist returned to the Great River of Tongye Continent, two phrases echoed in his ears, refusing to dissipate.

“Now that you are merely in the Ascension Realm, your vision is limited. You see me as a frog at the bottom of a well sees the moon.”

“The day you are fortunate enough to ascend to the Fourteenth Realm, you will see me as a mayfly sees the vast sky.”

Xie Gou also returned to Fallen Peak, claiming that after wandering outside for a few days, he greatly missed Mountain Master Chen and Alliance Chief Guo.

Chen Ping’an mentioned that he planned to have Xiao Mo teach Daoist arts at Jumping Fish Mountain in the future.

The unspoken implication was clear, as plain as could be.

*Second Seat Xie, since your Xiao Mo is temporarily absent from the mountain…?*

Xie Gou immediately understood, stroking his sable hat, striking a self-assured pose, “Mountain Master, Mountain Master, I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”

Upon arriving at Jumping Fish Mountain, the sable-hatted maiden addressed the eight Qi Refinement cultivators directly, “My name is Xie Gou. I am Xiao Mo’s Daoist companion. In the coming days, I will teach diligently, and you will learn diligently, striving to stay and drink our wedding wine.”

The eight exchanged bewildered glances. They had imagined many ways to meet their Dao instructor, but never in such a manner, in such a setting.

Remembering the Mountain Master’s instructions, Xie Gou added a few words, “One of my Daoist titles is Bai Jing. I come from the Wild Lands, and I have slain several Great Demon Kings of the Thrones. Introduction complete. Prepare for instruction. Steel yourselves, for you are about to hear the Dao.”

Ignoring the stunned expressions of the youngsters, Xie Gou began to crack her knuckles. She had heard that the Mountain Master planned to make a trip to the Qionglin Sect in the Northern Ju Continent soon. Upon hearing this, Xie Gou perked up immediately, no longer feeling sleepy. As for temporarily replacing Xiao Mo to teach these eight wastes… Alas, she couldn’t say that. Who knew, perhaps one or two of them would become registered disciples of her own Clear Sky Peak’s ancestral hall in the future? Helping them impart Daoist arts was a trivial matter. A mere sliver from her fingernail would be enough for these fellows to study diligently for centuries, millennia!

As for what they were going to Qionglin Sect for, Xie Gou didn’t even bother to ask. What else could it be? Either seeking enlightenment through swordsmanship, or dismantling their ancestral hall.

Xie Gou was ecstatic about this. Her name was truly apt.

Elsewhere, dogs rely on the power of their masters. But the Mountain Master was different. The man relied on the power of his dog!

(End of Chapter)