(Apologies for the late update.)

Chen Pingan ultimately chose to inscribe the base with the inscription “Where there is a will, nothing is impossible” and the side with three thousand words. He simply enjoyed carving a lot, finding it more challenging.

The Old Temple Master seemed to have known this choice all along and casually asked, “The closed-door cultivation is a true seclusion. Where did you send the three wisps of your mind to wander?”

Chen Pingan replied, “With the help of True Master Huan Yun’s six talismans, I sent them to Rain Dragon Sect, the Jade Forest Sect in Northern Ju Continent, and a major waterway in the central part of Tong Ye Continent, each with a specific purpose.”

The Old Temple Master chuckled, “Having reached a higher realm, you’re finally starting to settle old scores and reckon with people? Or is it that now your Dao Companion has reached the Fourteenth Realm, Chen Daoist feels confident and stands tall? If that’s the case, no wonder you got along so well with Pavilion Master Liu, becoming kindred spirits.”

Their paths, though different, led to the same destination. One relied on his senior brother, and the other on his Dao Companion.

No, to be precise, one relied solely on his senior brother, whose realm was his junior brother’s. And the other relied on both his Dao Companion and his senior brother?

If you’re so capable, why only have one Dao Companion? Why not have as many as your senior brothers?

If one could truly have such good fortune, it would be earned through ability. Why bother with painstaking cultivation? Choosing a Dao Companion from each world, wouldn’t one be able to walk sideways wherever they went?

Chen Pingan found it strange. It seemed that ever since the Old Temple Master and the Dao Ancestor visited the small town, the Old Temple Master had become particularly critical of him on this visit to Fallen Mountain.

It didn’t make sense. Little Millet was hosting guests at the foot of the mountain, and that was their Right Protector’s forte, ensuring everything was impeccable.

The Old Temple Master had visited Cloud-Veiled Mountain last time, and Wei Shenyou was also extremely experienced in hospitality. The nightly banquets were not just for show.

Xiao Mo was still an old friend, and Xie Gou was considered half a sister-in-law, wasn’t she? Therefore, Mountain Master Chen was puzzled as to what had gone wrong.

Could it be because Chen Lingjun had met the Dao Ancestor?!

Because Chen Lingjun couldn’t say anything related to the Three Daoist Patriarchs, Chen Pingan had overlooked the possibility that the young boy in blue might have met the Old Temple Master as well.

Chen Pingan still remembered the scene when this fellow first met Master Ruan. It was truly…a disaster, an unpleasant memory. (Note: Chapter 180, “Like a Divine Being”)

The Old Temple Master glanced at the items piled on the table, each sealed with subtle restrictions, but nothing that could hinder his discerning eye. Inside were treasures of all kinds, revealed at a glance.

The Old Temple Master asked with a smile, “Refining artifacts like this, you’ve truly become a ‘living treasure’ walking on two legs. Chen Great Daoist is bold because of your skill, feeling that I’m not worth a visit to your continent, so you’re upping the ante? Are you going to compete with Wu Zhou on this narrow bridge of artifact refining, vying for a place?”

Chen Pingan said, “Artifact refining is just a supplementary skill. I won’t compete with Wu Zhou on the Great Dao. If she really wants to kill and steal, I can only defend myself.”

The Old Temple Master held a brick in one hand, then took out a vegetarian purification tablet from a spatial artifact. He looked up at the already refined items within the towering Dharma Idol. Within one of the Qi Nodes, a tree burl pot that could slowly absorb the spiritual energy of the wood element had been refined long ago. Chen Pingan had placed it in the wood residence where the Five Elements Natal Objects were, as a supplementary item, with a distinction between lord and subject. Seeing this scene, the Old Temple Master shook his head and chuckled, “What fortune. Clearly, you obtained both items at the same time, but you chose a spiritual instrument that isn’t even a magic treasure. You abandoned this semi-immortal weapon and chose to pick up a sesame seed while losing a watermelon? Or do you feel like you have a large family and a big business, and you don’t have to worry about food and clothing in this lifetime, so you’re just playing around?”

Chen Pingan looked at the vegetarian purification tablet in the old Taoist’s hand, then quickly lowered his head to continue carving, his Dao Heart as calm as an ancient well, without the slightest ripple.

Good things come to those who wait. What’s the rush?

Once this senior leaves, he will refine it immediately.

True Master Huan Yun had helped assess it in the past, recognizing that the cloud-patterned vegetarian purification tablet was a mind-purification tablet from the Daoist lineage, but he couldn’t see through its grade as clearly as the Old Temple Master.

The Old Temple Master turned over the purification tablet with the character “Heart” engraved on the front. On the back was a line of anonymous ancient poetry: “Misty fields beside the ditch, the sun and moon sway essence at the gate.”

With the grade of a semi-immortal weapon, it carried the Dao intent of an immortal weapon, allowing cultivators to see their shadows and perceive their true hearts.

Unfortunately, it contained some hidden flaws. Ordinary cultivators would be overjoyed to obtain it, refining it without hesitation. But it wasn’t suitable for Chen Pingan, who was on the path to ascend to the peak. Remembering the black-clothed girl’s hospitality, the Old Temple Master decided not to scam Mountain Master Chen and said a few more words, “This item is incomplete, and its Dao intent is flawed. Medium refinement is just right. It’s not suitable for large refinement as a Natal Object, be careful of being taken advantage of by extraterrestrial demons, ruining a hard-earned foundation of Dao cultivation.”

Chen Pingan nodded and asked, “Is this mind-purification tablet and the green brick from the unknown Daoist temple on the mountaintop similar in material, with slight differences?”

The Old Temple Master weighed the green brick in his hand and smiled, “It should be large differences with slight similarities. The mystery within, you’ll know when you meet a congenial senior on the mountain in the future, just ask.”

Chen Pingan stopped asking, knowing when to stop and not daring to fleece the Old Temple Master.

As for this treasure, he obtained it from a martial artist named Huang Shi, it was a case of becoming friends after a fight, with a good beginning and a good ending. (Note: Chapter 545, “Why Dare Not Speak Out”)

But after parting ways, there had been no news of the martial artist Huang Shi in Northern Ju Continent. He didn’t know if he had avenged his great hatred.

The Old Temple Master marveled, “What are you refining so many mirrors for? The proportion is a bit high. Like women’s clothes and hairpins, for beauty?”

Chen Pingan honestly said, “As the senior said, slight similarities with large differences. Walking the pugilistic world, it’s always good to have more skills. Similarly, since this junior has chosen artifact refining as a supplement, I’ll refine whatever I have on hand. I don’t dare to be picky.”

The Old Temple Master said something out of nowhere, “That little dragon-bearded child is a good person.”

Chen Pingan nodded, “Immortal Lord Long Ran indeed has the air of antiquity.”

Situ Mengjing, with the Daoist name Long Ran, is an Immortal Realm cultivator and now the Mountain Master of Little Dragon Pool in Tong Ye Continent.

As the upper sect of Little Dragon Pool in Tong Ye Continent, Great Dragon Pool in the Central Earth could only be considered a second-rate sect because it lacked a Flying Ascendant Realm cultivator to guard the mountain.

But in terms of wealth, Great Dragon Pool could actually be considered first-rate.

For cultivators, whether those with formal lineage or wild cultivators from the mountains and marshes, there were several essential items for traveling: search maps, demon-revealing mirrors, and obstacle-breaking talismans.

These affordable and practical items could really save lives in critical moments. And when it came to demon-revealing mirrors, one couldn’t avoid mentioning the mirror makers of Great Dragon Pool.
The world’s demon-revealing mirrors are mainly divided into six lineages. Two of these lineages are so difficult to forge, with extremely high requirements for materials and the artisan’s skill, that they are almost lost to history. Of the remaining four, the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion and the Flying Immortal Palace each possess one, but they are always given as gifts and never sold, making them priceless. Furthermore, the Great Dragon湫 monopolizes one lineage of demon-revealing mirrors, with their artisans forging nine types of “Water Mirrors.” Cultivators wielding such treasures can not only part water but also suppress a multitude of aquatic demons. Combined with the “Mountain-Guiding” Rule Mirrors jointly controlled by several forces on Golden Armor Continent, they divide into “Mountain” and “Water.” These two types of treasures are particularly favored by cultivators who refine the sun and worship the moon.

For cultivators who traverse mountains and rivers, seeking the hidden and visiting immortals, how wonderful would it be to have a Rule Mirror in one hand, a Great Dragon湫 Water Mirror in the other, a Dragon Tiger Mountain treasure mirror hanging at the waist, a Flying Immortal Palace talisman mirror tucked in the bosom, and two more hidden in the sleeves!

But is this what I want?

The question is, if I agree, does the silver in my pocket agree?

People like Cui Dongshan, when they go out, prefer to flaunt their wealth, fully loaded. In his two sleeves, who knows how many treasures he has stuffed.

He specifically configured a complete set of six demon-revealing mirrors for himself.

Chen Ping’an borrowed some treasures from Cui Dongshan, who was both his prized student and the lord of a lower sect.

Between teacher and student, upper and lower sects, borrowing is never about returning.

Chen Ping’an paused his “knife carving” to rest, hesitated, and asked, “Senior, do you know about the ‘Twenty People’ on the mountain?”

The old Daoist laughed, “I know, but we don’t speak of it. It belongs to an old almanac with no records. Such riddles, like ‘Lu Zhengchun,’ one of the three, are more interesting when self-solved.”

Chen Ping’an was expressionless and rubbed his wrist.

Back then, on that night-sailing ship, Xingguan Hao Su, returning to the Vast Heaven World, brought his disciple Du Shanyin and maidservant Ji Qing and met Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao.

Hao Su had lingered in Appearance City for quite some time, and Shao Baojuan, the young city lord, had appeared in Stipulation City long ago and seemed to be at odds with Chen Ping’an.

And that Shao Baojuan, of course, was an alias, but he was indeed a cultivator with profound blessings and great opportunities. In the hemp-clothing sect’s mural city, Mountain Lord Chen gained nothing and did not win the favor of any goddess attendants. Shao Baojuan, however, won the favor of the Inkstone-Hanging Goddess after only one visit, willing to follow and serve him. Later, in the Ghost Domain Valley, atop Mount Jixiao, he easily took away the “Thunder Pool.”

In contrast, a certain Bao Fu Zhai, despite diligently discovering this immortal opportunity earlier and recognizing the text written on the crooked stone tablet, “Dipper Pivot Court Sword Washing Pool,” could not even move the Thunder Pool with its grand origins, let alone take it away. Chen Ping’an, even exerting all his strength, could only dig up a few sections of golden bamboo canes. (Note: Chapter 495, “Good Man Brother”)

Before Hao Su left the ship, he gave Ning Yao a crucial piece of insider information, mentioning the “Twenty People.”

Although Hao Su did not say much, it was enough as a hidden clue.

The Sword Qi Great Wall’s Xingguan, Appearance City’s Shao Baojuan on the night-sailing ship. These were not hints but rather explicit instructions to Chen Ping’an.

Later, the Immortal Han Yushu’s “invitation” further verified the truth of the matter.

This was why Chen Ping’an did not consider Nan Guangzhao a weak Ascendant. It was not that Nan Guangzhao’s Ascendant Realm was too flimsy but that an Ascendant Realm swordsman was hiding behind the scenes, using the information given by the other “Nineteen People.” Nan Guangzhao was, in effect, secretly studied and targeted by Hao Su for many years. Hao Su ultimately tailored a series of trump card sword techniques specifically for Nan Guangzhao. If he still didn’t die, Nan Guangzhao was not only not a weak Ascendant but simply a strong Ascendant of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master or Fire Dragon True Man level, or even a candidate for the Fourteenth Realm.

Han Yushu, an immortal and the sect master of the Ten Thousand Jade Sect, a blessed land on the Tongye Continent.

The skin he gave to Jiang Shangzhen had returned to Chen Ping’an’s hands.

At the same time, Chen Ping’an wanted to ask Jiang Shangzhen about an old matter.

However, Jiang Shangzhen smiled and shook his head, saying it was taboo to speak of one’s superior. After all, he was still a Jade Tablet Sect registered disciple and should not be so talkative.

Chen Ping’an did not ask further.

Earlier, on Fuliao Continent’s Quanjiao Mountain, Chen Ping’an had also asked Situ Jiyu some things.

And the old Daoist’s seemingly irrelevant statement, “Situ Mengjing is a good person,” was actually the key point.

It was a well-placed “separation” of Situ Mengjing from the Great and Small Dragon湫.

Chen Ping’an asked while carving, “What is it that Zou Zi seeks?”

The old Daoist pondered for a moment, feeling that this was a good question worthy of consideration by those involved and answering by onlookers, and slowly said, “Local shaking, overall balance. The latter allows the former, the former obeys the latter. If any link has any flaws, Zou Zi will feel the need to examine and adjust.”

Chen Ping’an asked with some resentment, “Does he have OCD?”

The old Daoist laughed, “A little.”

Looking across the heavens now, is there still a veritable Fourteenth Realm “pure” sword cultivator?

And Tian Wan of Zhengyang Mountain’s Cornel Peak, Zou Zi’s junior sister, randomly pairing couples, matchmaking, manipulating the sword dao’s fortune of a continent.

Liu Xianyang, Wind and Thunder Garden’s Li Tuanjing, Wind and Snow Temple’s Wei Jin… were all making “wedding clothes” for the sword cultivator in white robes in the Northern Entirely Reed Continent.

On the Northern Entirely Reed Continent side, there was also Xu Xuan, which also involved the Jade Forest Sect and Sect Master Lou Miao.

Because Liu Jinglong had reminded Chen Ping’an that Xu Xuan was very likely the behind-the-scenes speaker of the Jade Forest Sect, then the thriving Jade Forest Sect would be the money bag of the Sword Immortal Bai Shang, and the disciple Xu Xuan was the one in charge of this money bag.

In the Northern Entirely Reed Continent, wherever there was money to be made, there were busy figures of the Jade Forest Sect.

Just speaking of the Honing Mountain, it was a recognized treasure basin, and the nearby Hundred Springs Mountain was a money tree, with continuous mansions and many established dojos, most suitable for watching battles.

Before both sides went up to the arena, they signed a life-and-death contract and went to Honing Mountain, leaving their lives to fate.

The Jade Forest Sect, openly and secretly, had many such treasure basins and money trees, big and small.

In addition, the Jade Forest Sect was also not idle in the White Snow Continent and Treasure Bottle Continent. Similarly, doing big business, the reputations of the Mule Horse River Liu Clan and the Sanlang Temple Yuan Clan were at the opposite end of the spectrum from the Jade Forest Sect.

In addition, based on the natal porcelain that he had pieced together, Chen Ping’an repeatedly deduced and came to the conclusion that there should be four to six fragments of the natal porcelain currently scattered outside.
The suspects are the Grand Li Empress Dowager, Zheng Yangshan’s Tian Wan, Apricot Blossom Lane’s Ma Family, the Central Earth Yin-Yang School’s Lu Clan, Zou Zi, and the Jade Forest Sect, which secretly engaged in years of Natal Porcelain trade with the Grand Li Song Clan.

Earlier, Chen Pingan journeyed to the Grand Li capital’s Imperial Palace. The Empress Dowager Nan Zan’s piece of Natal Porcelain has now been found by Chen Pingan, hidden in Song Jixin’s residence next door.

Tian Wan had previously fallen into the hands of Cui Dongshan and Jiang Shangzhen once, so she has been “forced” to clear her name.

As for the Central Earth Lu Clan, which indeed intended to scheme against Chen Pingan, they can also be excluded from suspicion in this matter.

Because when Chen Pingan was a guest at the Department of Celestial Observation, he personally questioned Lu Shen, who stated unequivocally that they did not possess such an item.

Chen Pingan is no fool, pressing the matter with the question of whether the Lu Clan never possessed it at all, to which Lu Shen replied that they did not.

The Apricot Blossom Lane Ma Family has become the Jade Promulgation Kingdom’s Black Gauze Street Ma Family. Chen Pingan also failed to find any shards of Natal Porcelain, and after questioning them face-to-face, the Ma couple genuinely did not hoard any, a fact confirmed by Ma Kuxuan.

Finding Zou Zi will be even more difficult than locating the swordsman Pei Min; he could only wait, waiting for that swordsman Liu Cai, whose two Natal Flying Swords were conveniently suppressing Chen Pingan’s two flying swords.

So, the only ones left to try his luck with are the Jade Forest Sect of the Northern Ju Continent.

Years ago, when Chen Pingan traveled in the Northern Ju Continent, he had his eye on this extremely profitable Jade Forest Sect.

Because the Jade Forest Sect was the largest buyer of Natal Porcelain from the Hidden Dragon Grotto-Heaven back then, bar none.

A sliver of Chen Pingan’s mind, riding the “Night Ferry” talisman vessel, landed on the shores of the Northern Ju Continent, heading straight for the Jade Forest Sect’s territory.

Like the Rain Dragon Sect, there was no need for any verbal exchange of answers; the “Nascent Soul Realm Tian Su” avoiding a meeting was an answer in itself.

Treasure Bottle Continent, the Night Wanderer Banquet of North Peak Cloud Shawl Mountain. Tong Ye Continent, the bounteous fortunes of the female Taoist Huang Ting of Peaceful Mountain. Northern Ju Continent, the number of times the Jade Forest Sect Ancestral Hall had been challenged by swordsmen.

All were very famous.

The wind and rain were gloomy, making the midday sky as dark as the dead of night.

On Ancestral Mountain of the Jade Forest Sect, in a seemingly ordinary roadside pavilion halfway up the mountain, sat a refined-looking white-haired old man, with a string of common copper coins hanging from his waist. Beside him, a crutch leaned against the pavilion post. This purple bamboo crutch, with nine segments, was over ten feet tall, with a jade cicada inlaid at the head.

Inside the pavilion were two children who had previously been passing by, taking shelter from the rain after seeing the old man. They were both newly accepted direct disciples of the Ancestral Hall, who had only recently begun their path of cultivation. When they saw the old man, they greeted him as Ancestor, and the old man called out their names, asked them to sit down and talk, and then inquired about their recent progress in cultivation. The two promising cultivators answered fluently, showing no timidity. After all, they were both scions of wealthy families, possessing talents like fine jade. Even if the person questioning them was the sect leader, they did not seem particularly restrained. Moreover, Sect Leader Lou, Ancestor Lou, was famously approachable.

Things that Jade Forest Sect cultivators could be proud of, aside from money, were few and far between.

Among these few, the most puzzling to outsiders was the fact that the Fire Dragon True Man of Bare Mountain Peak, a man known for his incorruptibility, had once visited Hundred Springs Mountain, a place known for raking in wealth.

Opinions on this matter varied, with all sorts of speculations. In truth, the reason was simple: on the mountain road of Hundred Springs Mountain, there was a pavilion called Sunning Books.

The Sunning Books Pavilion was slightly higher up than the Sprining Well Pavilion halfway up the mountain.

Back then, Fire Dragon True Man passed by and wanted to sit there for a while.

Probably at his age, at his cultivation level, how outsiders looked at him and what they thought of him didn’t matter so much.

Of course, at that time, the members of the Jade Forest Sect Ancestral Hall mobilized en masse, a huge crowd, heading for the Sunning Books Pavilion, wanting to meet Fire Dragon True Man. Even if they couldn’t strike up a conversation, they could at least squeeze into the pavilion, sitting shoulder to shoulder, listening to the old True Man casually chat with Sect Leader Lou about the historical origins of the Sunning Books Pavilion, absorbing a bit of immortal Qi. But when they arrived, the old True Man was gone.

Erect a monument outside the pavilion? Inscribe the content, writing something like “Fire Dragon True Man visited here on such and such day of such and such month?”

They had the intention, but not the courage.

But after that, the sect rule that tourists were only allowed to reach the Sunning Books Pavilion was changed to only being allowed as far as the Sprining Well Pavilion on White Snake Path.

Sword Immortal Ji Yue of Ape Cry Mountain had genuinely smashed the Jade Forest Sect Ancestral Hall before.

Last year, there was another unprovoked challenge by a swordsman, which landed squarely on the spot.

Because it truly broke through the illusions and demolished a genuine Ancestral Hall, the commotion was immense, and no matter how the Jade Forest Sect tried to cover it up, it was destined to be unavailing.

Afterwards, that woman, Li Cai of Floating Weed Sword Lake, was truly ruthless, directly admitting the matter through the Mountain and Water Gazette. The Jade Forest Sect could only pretend that nothing had happened.

Li Cai has now fallen to the Nascent Soul Realm, but the Jade Forest Sect would rather break off relations with an Immortal Realm cultivator than provoke someone who had been to the Great Wall of Sword Qi, as it would offend the public.

Sword cultivators in the Boundless World are all very valuable, and few are willing to be wandering wild cultivators.

Sword cultivators with established lineage, in fact, are numerous, and often act even more untamed than wild cultivators.

One of the children asked, “Ancestor, is it really the work of that Sword Immortal Li?”

The old man smiled, “Just assume it’s her. To be pragmatic, the truths and falsehoods of the world are just a name, and the only truth is money.”

Secretly spending money to hire people to challenge their own Ancestral Hall from time to time, the Jade Forest Sect can be considered the only one of its kind in the entire Boundless World.

Of course, the Ancestral Halls that these sword cultivators smashed were all illusions that even many direct disciples of the Jade Forest Sect would mistake for real.

In fact, Lou Miao knew very well that those who had challenged his Ancestral Hall were Liu Jinglong of the Grand Tenuity Sword Sect, Rong Chang, the chief disciple of Li Cai of Floating Weed Sword Lake, and Liu Zhiqing of the Golden Crow Palace.

But the old man, as the sect leader, merely pretended to be senile, never mentioning this truth to anyone.

Another child asked a question that many fellow disciples wanted to know the answer to, “Ancestor, the rumors from the outside world are all sorts of wild tales, saying such nasty things. Does it not upset you, does it not anger you?”

The lean old man smiled and said, “Being upset is just being upset for nothing. As long as it doesn’t interfere with making money.”

The two children exchanged glances, then looked at this old sect leader, whose temper was as good as it could be, with even greater admiration.

No wonder their families down the mountain said that an old man’s features must be gentle, easy to have late-life blessings.

A child asked: “Does that thief Jiang have some irreconcilable hatred with Ancestor?”
The old man shook his head and chuckled, “There’s no personal feud at all. I’ve never even met the man. To be constantly thought of by that Jade Decree Sect’s old Sect Master Jiang Shangzhen and Mountaintop Zhou’s Chief… it’s purely an uncalled-for calamity.”

In Northern Ju Continent, the only local cultivator who could compete with the outsider Jiang Shangzhen in terms of reputation was Lou Miao, the Sect Master of the Jade Forest Sect, bar none.

The Jade Forest Sect, renowned for its conscience, never profiting, and its Sect Master Lou, with his clean sleeves and iron shoulders bearing righteousness, boldly declared to fight against an entire continent, regarding sword immortals as mere floating clouds.

Lou Miao’s fame reached its current heights in no small part due to Jiang Shangzhen’s energetic promotion back then.

Lou Miao’s Jade Purity Realm was the most genuine, the most authentic. It had to be true talent and real learning, capable of crushing sword immortals, with a combat prowess in the same realm that could be called invincible under the heavens.

Otherwise, how could Sect Master Lou be compared to Yuan Lingdian of Finger Peak and Yuan Yang of the Two Lang Temple, both recognized as being able to casually defeat a Central Earth immortal with their Jade Purity Realm cultivation?

Regarding this statement, all three on the list were actually unhappy.

Perhaps that Jiang rogue’s idea was “simple and honest”: my reputation is bad, so I need to drag someone down with me to be a fellow sufferer. Sect Master Lou, you’re the one.

If asked for the reason, Jiang Shangzhen would probably say, “Of course, it’s because your foundation is good.”

If it were just some “humorous remarks,” Lou Miao wouldn’t care. The only time the Jade Forest Sect mobilized en masse was when “someone claiming to be a direct disciple of Qing Mi, a rogue cultivator who ascended from the Frost Continent,” went to such an outrageous extent that they raised the Jade Forest Sect to a level comparable to White Emperor City, saying that Lou Miao was to the Jade Forest Sect what Zheng Juzhong was to White Emperor City, an individual representing an entire sect. Even talisman master Yu Xuan, Zhao Tianlai of Dragon Tiger Mountain, and the Fire Dragon True Lord of Crawling Peak, no matter how high their cultivation, didn’t have that kind of ability.

This was unbearable! Lou Miao finally personally posted a bounty, offering a large reward, and the Jade Forest Sect was united in hatred, vowing to kill the Jiang rogue!

Another child asked a naive question, “Grandmaster, that Jiang rogue throws so much dirty water on you. Will you fight him if you meet someday?”

Lou Miao shook his head and said, “It won’t come to blows.”

That child said dejectedly, “Now, the Jiang rogue’s reputation isn’t as purely bad as before. Occasionally, some people say a few good words about him.”

This was attributed to two things: Jiang Shangzhen taking over the position of Sect Master of the Jade Decree Sect from Xun Yuan, and in a situation where a continent had been destroyed, single-handedly, wandering around, being able to kill demons and establish merits under the noses of several old throne demon kings.

The Jiang rogue being so capable of running was thanks to the experience he accumulated in our Northern Ju Continent.

Then there was Mountaintop’s Chief Offering, “Fatty Zhou,” whose true identity had come to light. It turned out to be the Jiang rogue who had a mother-in-law in every village. At first, people in Northern Ju Continent couldn’t believe it.

The last-generation Hidden Official, Chen Ping’an, once had an extremely high reputation in Northern Ju Continent, almost on par with the respected Fire Dragon True Lord. Now, of course, it was still very good, even though the mountain had an additional “Chief Zhou” who never wiped his butt after defecating. Mountain Lord Chen and Mountaintop were considered to have a slight flaw in their otherwise flawless reputation.

Many fairies and female cultivators felt sorry for that young Hidden Official, thinking that he must have been very poor when he first established the mountain in his hometown.

Otherwise, how could he have let Jiang Shangzhen take advantage of the situation?

The old man smiled and said, “Good and bad, right and wrong, aren’t so clear-cut, especially after passing through the eyes of the world. It’s even harder to talk about fairness in one’s heart.”

The child couldn’t help but ask, “Even a clay Buddha has a bit of anger. Is Grandmaster really not angry at all?”

Lou Miao smiled and said, “How is it possible not to be angry? If I could kill him, I would have killed him long ago. If the opportunity arises in the future and I can kill him, I will definitely kill him.”

Perhaps it was because the old man’s expression was too amiable and his tone was very calm that even though he said “kill” several times, the two children didn’t feel any murderous atmosphere at all.

They bid farewell and left.

Lou Miao nodded with a smile and exhorted them a few more times, saying some nonsense about diligently cultivating and not being discouraged when encountering difficulties. After the children with the umbrella tucked under their arm gradually went down the mountain,

The old man suddenly stood up, gazing intently at the mountains and rivers on the edge of the sect’s territory. However, the strange feeling only flashed by. The old man hesitated for a moment and didn’t investigate further.

Instead, he turned his head and looked towards Crawling Peak in the north.

That was the real important matter.

Northern Ju Continent had countless sword cultivators, but the only flaw was that there had never been a Fourteenth Realm grand cultivator stationed in the mountains and rivers.

However, Lou Miao knew that the Fire Dragon True Lord, who was said to be a leader in both the black and white paths, had actually failed to attempt Harmonization twice.

Once was at Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion, where he spent decades reading through books and delving into thunder techniques, only to come out of seclusion after a brief period.

Another time was when he switched to cultivating water techniques, “comprehending Dragon Tiger,” trying to merge the paths of water and fire, yin and yang creation. Unfortunately, he was still a bit short.

So this time, when the Fire Dragon True Lord returned to his dojo from the Barren World, Lou Miao was still not optimistic. Since the Fire Dragon True Lord failed to harmonize with the great rain of the Three Teachings Patriarchs scattering their dao, now that the rain had stopped, it would be even more impossible to harmonize.

But on that Crawling Peak, the old True Lord borrowed a prayer mat and a pot of wine.

The so-called closed-door harmonization seemed so simple.

Compared to the seriousness, caution, and meticulous planning of other Ascension Realm Completion cultivators, trying to accomplish everything in one fell swoop, the Fire Dragon True Lord seemed to never take the usual path in his conduct, teaching, and spreading the dao.

But the danger within was beyond the comprehension of outsiders.

The Fire Dragon True Lord had already “scattered his dao” once when he went to get the prayer mat and sit down, but it was still not enough.

As a great celestial master of Dragon Tiger Mountain with an outside surname, the old True Lord abandoned his thunder techniques, returning his dao techniques to heaven and earth.

Then he got up to borrow a pot of wine to drink. By the time he finished the pot of wine, he had unconsciously “scattered his dao” again.

Time passed, and he discarded the water techniques that he had painstakingly cultivated, just like the wine pot he casually threw out of the mountain.

It turned out that the Fire Dragon True Lord had abandoned both thunder and water techniques, going all in, dropping two realms in a row!

Then, relying solely on fire techniques, he rose three realms in a row, entering the Fourteenth Realm and successfully harmonizing with the dao!

Lou Miao pondered for a moment, leaned on his walking stick, and returned to his dojo, isolating several layers of heaven and earth, preparing to attend a secret meeting. (Note: Chapter 692, “The Water Has Not Fallen, the Stone Has Not Appeared”)

The old man glanced at the jade cicada on the top of the walking stick, his expression indifferent. It had two meanings, constantly reminding himself not to engage in emotional disputes with younger generations like White Robe and Jiang Shangzhen.

After surviving a catastrophe, keep quiet like a cicada in winter.
Having lain dormant for ages, he roars to shake the world.

A man and two women walked along the banks of a great river, bustling with activity.

The slender young woman had vacant, listless eyes and a sabre at her waist. She was affectionately known as Dou Kou. She was not only a martial artist, but also a sword cultivator, one of the Hundred Sword Immortals of Mount Tuoyue, and ranked quite high among them.

Her natal flying sword was named “Ghastly Apparition.”

The man had a wooden, dull expression, appearing like a mere manservant of the alluring woman beside him.

The night was deep and dark as they traversed the mountain wilderness. Yet, the beautiful woman’s clothes remained spotless, and her embroidered shoes were untouched by mud. She cautiously said, “Qingrang, just a few more steps, and we’ll cross the border into the territory of the Yunyan Kingdom.”

Her Daoist name was Xianzao, and she hailed from the Frost Snow Division of Guanghan City. Guanghan City was one of the three sects under the Great Demon Fei Fei. In terms of seniority, Xianzao could call Fei Fei her Grand Ancestral Master, but she dared not.

The man said languidly, “As long as that Daoist nun isn’t in the capital of the Yunyan Kingdom, everywhere is safe.”

If it weren’t for this, neither of the women would be willing to follow this man.

The sabre-wielding woman sneered, “What boastful words.”

The man smiled slightly, “Is this considered boastful? I’ve heard that true masters of Dao, when they exhale a breath of Dao energy, can cause immortals to decay into skeletons, change the color of the sun and moon, and alter the heavens and the earth.”

Xianzao covered her mouth and chuckled, “With our current levels – one Nascent Soul and two Golden Cores – what’s the point of discussing the supernatural powers of the Fourteenth Realm?”

The sabre-wielding woman looked up into the distance and frowned, “There are two living people over there. Do we really not need to detour?”

Qingrang curled his lip. “Why hide? Just a couple of lovers, temporary companions.”

They arrived at a dilapidated, abandoned temple, where someone had already stopped to rest and lit a bonfire.

Several large chunks of sika deer meat were roasting, the golden oil dripping into the fire with sizzling sounds.

The burly man was eight feet tall, his arms bulging with muscles. His face was as white as paper, his eye sockets sunken, without a trace of color, yet his eyes gleamed with fierce, sharp light.

Anyone could tell at a glance that he was no good person. The woman who had become his makeshift wife was actually of average appearance. The man had simply been celibate for too long. Now that the mountains and hills were strictly controlled, he couldn’t afford to be picky. He had then seduced this woman who claimed to be a rogue cultivator, and as soon as he removed her clothes, she revealed a body of white flesh like mutton-fat jade, truly with skin like solidified cream, enchanting and extraordinary. During their battles in bed, the woman would wail softly. Such was a natural enchantress.

At this moment, the man was reaching his hand into the woman’s collar, supporting her red bodice. The beauty in his arms couldn’t withstand such force, and her eyes were like silk as she begged for mercy from the brute who didn’t understand how to cherish beauty, her voice as delicate and sweet as a nightingale’s song.

They entered the courtyard and went to the main hall of the temple, which was five bays wide but had fallen into disrepair. The carved lattice windows were decayed and rotten.

In the center was a vermillion lacquered altar table covered with dust, and two worthless gilded bronze vases lay shattered on the ground.

The pale-faced man, hearing the rustling footsteps outside, immediately turned his head towards the hall’s entrance. But once he saw, he couldn’t take his eyes away.

He didn’t look at the sabre-wielding woman, who was skinny and had no flavor.

The young lady beside her was the true beauty.

As for the man with a restrained expression, heavy breathing, and clumsy footsteps, he was just an eyesore.

However, the world was different now, and caution was the key to lasting safety. The strong man still didn’t act according to his usual temperament and violently kill them.

The beautiful woman moved, hiding behind the thin sabre-wielding woman, and peeked her head out, timidly saying, “This good sir, the government has its laws, and the pugilistic world has its rules. Even those outlaws who are neither righteous nor virtuous have many commonly accepted customs. For example, when robbing on the road or stealing at night, they never easily kill if the victim doesn’t resist or if there’s no enmity. Raping women is especially forbidden. Is that not so?”

The man probably hadn’t read any books and was immediately confused by this set of terms.

The woman in his arms smiled radiantly, not bothering to cover her chest at all. In this wilderness, where did this group of pedantic people come from?

The muscular man twitched his mouth, reached out and grasped a plump object, causing the woman to yelp in pain. The man said, “Little brother, let’s make a deal. I’ll trade her for the two women beside you. Just consider it two for two, how about it?”

Qingrang asked with a smile, “How is it two for two? Did you not attend school as a child?”

The man raised a hand, pointed at Qingrang, and grinned fiendishly, “Does your little life not count?”

Qingrang chuckled, “Not into that. If you have the ability to take them, just enjoy them yourself.”

He was the first to step over the threshold of the main hall, shaking his head and laughing, “I actually find you, with your sturdy build, quite pleasing. I can fetch water and personally help you wash your ass clean.”

Qingrang didn’t stand on ceremony, picked up a sika deer leg, and began to tear into it. The man’s face was repulsive, but his skills were not bad.

The muscular man and the woman in his arms looked at each other. Was this how people acted in the pugilistic world these days?

Xianzao and the sabre-wielding woman followed into the hall together, covering her mouth and giggling, “Alright, Qingrang, you’ve been hiding this so well. No wonder you’re not interested in us.”

The sabre-wielding woman asked in her mind, “Why come here?”

Qingrang hesitated for a moment, and then said, “Before entering the mountain, I sensed a divine sense remotely scanning this temple. It was extremely fast, and I felt that this place would be safer.”

Xianzao nodded and clapped her hands, smiling, “Makes sense!”

The sabre-wielding woman also nodded, sat cross-legged by the fire, and picked up a piece of sika deer meat.

But at that moment, a middle-aged scholar carrying a book chest, with a mountain walking stick in hand, stood outside the threshold of the main hall, “A dark and windy night for murder, have I disturbed everyone’s entertainment?”