Beneath a boundless tree laden with blossoms and fruit, a young man in a coronet and a stalwart old Daoist sat in leisurely conversation, the shade of the tree like flowing water.

Originally, there was nothing beneath the tree. But the coroneted man, one of Chen Ping’an’s incarnations, subtly willed it, and a stone table and two stone benches appeared. Carved into the table was a chessboard, an imitation of the game played by the pines at the heart of Small Dragon Pool Ancestral Mountain.

This was true mastery, the ability to create and transform at will. The old Daoist master raised a hand, and two jars of chess pieces appeared on the table, not black and white, but multicolored and mixed together.

Chen Ping’an glanced at them, unable to discern their true nature. The old Daoist casually asked, “Do you know where Liu Qi is seeking to merge with the Dao?” Chen Ping’an shook his head. Literary fortune was a vast category encompassing the harmony of people. After Bai Ye, who embodied poetry, made way, whether Su Shi or Liu Qi would fill the void was a matter of fierce debate among many.

But regardless, the world still regarded Ci poetry as secondary to Shi poetry. No matter how heroic Su Shi was, or how amorous Liu Qi was, they would always be a step below Bai Ye.

At the same time, Chen Ping’an was aware of an inside story: Liu Qi, holding half of the Book of Marital Fate, had gone to the Azure Billow Heaven to establish a blessed land for Ci poetry.

Seemingly seeking to merge with the Dao, with Bai Ye already ahead, not wanting to be subservient, he was in fact seeking the remaining half of the book, attempting to forge a new path to reach the Fourteenth Realm.

This led to a great Dao conflict with Wu Shuangjiang of the Sui Chu Palace. As it stood, Liu Qi had returned to the Great Balance and successfully merged with the Dao, indicating they had made a secret deal long ago.

Presumably, Liu Qi had first conceded a step, and Wu Shuangjiang had then helped him find a new path. Chen Ping’an’s attempt to refine myriad things, filling over fifteen hundred Qi repositories, was similar to Liu Qi’s attempt to refine the two halves of the Book of Marital Fate – one principal, one auxiliary, complementing each other.

The old Daoist commented, “Everyone says Bai Ye’s poetry is unmatched, the most contented in the world, but they don’t know what Bai Ye truly desires. Whether writing poetry or practicing swordsmanship, it’s all about expanding the mind to encompass eternity.”

“Compared to him, Liu Qi seems rather petty.”

“Bai Ye is close to the Dao, Su Shi is close to Buddhism. Therefore, Su Shi still has a chance to merge with the Dao, just not in the Great Balance.”

“A thousand years from now, dragon or worm will be decided in this one move. It all depends on how much Daoist power you all accumulate in the next century.”

“We are fortunate to be in a golden age unseen for ten thousand years. If you don’t work hard, when the lesser years come, even if you try to revitalize yourself, it will be more effort for less gain.” As the old Daoist spoke, he placed a pile of colored chess pieces on the board. Go was like Xiangqi, a watershed. Facing each other, positioned in the center, were Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City, Ning Yao of the Five Colored World, Fei Ran of the Barren Wilderness, Zhao of the Heavenly Master’s Residence, Zhang Fenghai, a Daoist official of the old White Jade Capital in the Azure Billow Heaven, and Yao Qing of the Azure God Dynasty. Few could be counted, less than the fingers on two hands. This central dividing line on the chessboard actually comprised three lines: Zheng Juzhong alone on one, Ning Yao and Fei Ran on another, and Zhao, Zhang Fenghai, Yao Qing, and others on the third.

There were also some pieces representing newly promoted Fourteenth Realm cultivators. Further out on the board were some young Ascension Realm cultivators. Finally, there were those who had attained the Dao through a single great rain, whose Dao achievements were limited, and the aged and frail Ascension Realm cultivators, destined to never achieve true immortality.

On the other side of the dividing line, the first chess pieces placed by the old Daoist were naturally himself, Old Blindman, Chen Qingliu, Wu Zhou, and a small group of other old Fourteenth Realm cultivators.

Upon closer inspection, the chessboard was tilted, with the old Daoist and his group positioned at the higher end, and the new and old Ascension Realm cultivators at the lower end.

The heroes and sages, gods and spirits of several heavens were all in the game. Chen Ping’an stared at the chessboard, softly saying, “To act before Heaven is to defy it; to act after Heaven is to obey its timing.” The old Daoist nodded.

“Indeed.” An Ascension Realm cultivator could not defeat a Fourteenth Realm cultivator. This was an unbreakable iron rule. In the last ten thousand years, there may have been only two exceptions.

Ning Yao and Fei Ran, the masters of two heavens, when they were still in the Ascension Realm. Their status made them enigmatic.

However, when Wu Shuangjiang appeared on the Night Ferry, she had no intention of “testing the law,” unwilling to personally verify the truth of the matter. But to say that Fourteenth Realm cultivators could easily crush Ascension Realm cultivators, especially to the point of certain death, was not entirely true.

Sword cultivators were variables. Therefore, strong Ascension Realm cultivators, especially those at the peak of the Ascension Realm, perfected sword cultivators, became the best touchstone for determining the strength of new and old Fourteenth Realm cultivators.

Encountering a Fourteenth Realm cultivator with insufficient killing power, sword cultivators like Xie Gou and Little Mo might be able to forcibly break through the barriers and escape unscathed.

The reason Wu Shuangjiang had imitated four Immortal Swords was because the Palace Master of the Sui Chu Palace, the war god enshrined in the Military Temple, felt her killing power was insufficient.

Wu Shuangjiang’s trip to the Great Balance was clearly well-prepared. After all, when Sun Daochang “lent” his sword to Bai Ye, three Immortal Swords were in the Great Balance. Although Bai Ye’s Immortal Sword “Tai Bai” had been divided into four at the time, Bai Ye allowed it to choose its own masters, with Chen Ping’an, Zhao Yao, Fei Ran, and Liu Cai each taking one part.

The four of them came from different factions, but they were all sword cultivators, all young. The deadliest sword tip had found Chen Ping’an, who was then guarding the city.

So Wu Shuangjiang finding Chen Ping’an on the Night Ferry could be seen as finding the Immortal Sword “Tai Bai.” The sword hilt with the heaviest sword intent had chosen Fei Ran. The half of the sword blade with the most sword qi belonged to Liu Cai.

The remaining half of the sword blade, containing Bai Ye’s sword art inheritance, had fallen into Zhao Yao’s hands. This was why Zhao Yao, who had “accidentally” met Bai Ye on a remote island, now had a grand ambition to reforge the four swords into one, returning them to a single blade.

Zhao Yao considered himself half of Bai Ye’s personally taught disciple, half of his student. The old Daoist picked up a chess piece and said, “Qing Rang is going to become suspicious. Daoist Yun Shen of the Jade Talisman Palace has gained such a complicated and tangled web of cause and effect for nothing. He must be cursing.” Qing Rang was certainly not an incarnation of Yan Shi. In fact, Qing Rang and Chen Ping’an had similar origins, nothing special about their past lives, nothing extraordinary about their origins.

As for why such a person could have his current level of talisman mastery, perhaps this was what was meant by “Heaven never abandons anyone.”
Enjoying the scenery while traveling, one hopes to see new sights, as even Heaven and Earth desire fresh perspectives. Chen Ping’an, wearing a troubled expression, asked, “Is Teacher Yan a close friend of the Old Senior?”

The Old Abbot smiled and replied, “Or what did you think? The old coot’s age is not short. He used to freeload wine here often, sporting a wine-soaked nose, slovenly and garrulous, a veritable wine-guzzler. However, he and Xiao Mo weren’t quite compatible; they never spoke when they met.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Xiao Mo once mentioned that he used to brew wine with the Senior, and they often wouldn’t exchange a single word for years.”

The Old Abbot stroked his beard and smiled faintly, “That is the true essence of friendship. There is no need for words, long silences are not awkward.”

“As for Xiao Mo and Yun Shen, while they appear equally silent, the truth is they have nothing to say to each other. Their respective realms of cultivation, dispositions, and temperaments are all there, unyielding, and neither is willing to make the first move with idle chatter. However, Teacher Yan’s luck is rather poor. Despite his evasive maneuvers, he failed to avoid tribulations twice and resorted to spiritual severance and reincarnation. I have long advised him that a Taoist should walk the grand path, and his Dao-heart should not be so timid and hesitant. Alas, his nature dictates his actions. He understands the principle but falters at crucial moments. This time, hasn’t his good fortune been snatched by a fellow Daoist, Yu Xuan, through sheer ability?”

“As an added bonus in this deal, when you travel to the Savage Desolate, help me make a trip to the Jade Talisman Palace and cut down Teacher Yan with your sword, helping him to shed his mortal coil.”

Chen Ping’an was stunned.

Is this how deals are made? After the price is agreed upon, one adds an extra item? Besides, even if I were to go to the Savage Desolate World, it wouldn’t be a leisurely scenic tour.

The Old Abbot paid him no heed, gazing at the five “guests” trapped within. Without any calculations, the Old Abbot could see Chen Ping’an’s intentions. Heaven has the Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Following the Heavenly Qi on Earth, they divide time and nurture, giving birth to all things.

Rotating and reciprocating, they perpetuate life endlessly. Yu Shiwu, a military cultivator from True Martial Mountain, the vessel of a shared beheading in the past, was successfully persuaded by Cui Chan to obtain two portions of Martial Luck from the Martial Temple Ancestral Court of the Central Earth, allowing Yu Shiwu to possess three portions of Martial Luck simultaneously.

He is undoubtedly associated with the Metal element. Xiao Xing is her true name, with a pseudonym Xu Jiaoqie, and Daoist name Youren. Her emerald robe is named “Great Countenance.” Her true form is an ancient celestial bird that delights in carrying fire, hence she was granted fire techniques and progressed rapidly in cultivation.

Yu Qing, who served as a cook in the Ma Manor for many years, is from the Cherry Green Robe lineage of the Wronged Souls Washers, her true name being Gongsun Lingling.

She is associated with the Water element. The sword cultivator Douchou is associated with the Wood element. Unfortunately, Fairy Algae from the Frost Snow Department of the Cold Moon City, like Gongsun Lingling, is also associated with the Water element.

Therefore, the Five Elements could not be completed. The Old Abbot laughed, “That Qing Rang, just from hearing the alias, one knows he is associated with the Earth element. You missed him.”

Chen Ping’an murmured, “If it were truly such a coincidence, shouldn’t one feel terrified?”

The Old Abbot’s expression was playful as he nodded, “That does seem to make sense.” Without waiting for Chen Ping’an to speak, the Old Abbot changed the topic, making an evaluation of the talents:

“If we were to divide them into ranks, Yu Shiwu and that Xiao Xing would be top-tier talents, Douchou would be a second-class material, Fairy Algae would be even lower, and Gongsun Lingling is not worth mentioning. Thus, the latter two can be replaced. Imprisoning Gongsun Lingling here is of little significance. As time passes, she will be the first to deplete her talents. Douchou can barely keep up with Yu and Xiao’s pace, and eventually, Gongsun Lingling won’t even see Douchou’s shadow.”

Chen Ping’an was puzzled and asked a crucial question, “Xiao Xing is able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Yu Shiwu?”

The Old Abbot scoffed, “It’s merely an immortal’s trickery. You are at the same realm as her, and you can’t see through this bit of deception?”

Chen Ping’an was naturally willing to humbly seek guidance, “I would like to hear the details.” He only saw that Xiao Xing’s true form was an owl, a bird that has been extinct in the mortal realm for a long time. Legend has it that an ancient sage once saw a bird resembling an owl floating in the azure sky, and when its beak pecked a tree, flames would erupt.

The Old Abbot pointed at Xiao Xing and said with a smile, “She cultivated fire techniques, so she is destined with the Fire element? Who taught you that logic? Old Scholar, or Lu Xiao San?”

Chen Ping’an was speechless.

The Old Abbot ceased to say more; it’s not worth wasting words if the conversation doesn’t click. Having no choice, Chen Ping’an had to pull out Sect Master Lu to take the blame:

“It was Lu Chen.” Anyway, Lu Chen himself said it; addressing him as Sect Master Lu would seem too distant. Talking to the Old Abbot is not difficult.

The logic is clear. The old Taoist’s thinking, although at an extremely high realm, doesn’t like to speak “profound words” or “grand pronouncements.” The content and meaning are never obscure; he doesn’t intend to make people guess and ponder. It’s like a vast river, where others’ thinking can either flow downstream or upstream. Both are acceptable; just don’t think about being a bystander on the shore, being vague and self-righteous.

As expected, the Old Abbot then continued, but slightly digressing, “How did you find Qing Rang? Tracing the origins, did it stem from you successfully sketching a mental image of Douchou from Xiao Xing’s memories?”

“Wood overcomes Earth; it was the Wood element sword cultivator Douchou who implicated the Earth element Qing Rang.”

“Earth overcomes Water; Qing Rang suppresses and restrains the Fairy Algae of Cold Moon City.” Hearing this, Chen Ping’an was even more confused, “According to this, Xiao Xing is of the Fire element, and Fire overcomes Wood, wouldn’t that perfectly restrain Douchou? Is that set of Five Elements counteractions the correct one?”

The Old Abbot said, “Among the Five Elements, Wood generates Fire. Yu Xisheng once said, ‘Owls become old spirits, which are wood spirits, and fire originates from their nests.’ A scholar? Haven’t you heard?”

Chen Ping’an searched his memory for a moment and couldn’t help asking, “Who said that, and when?”

The Old Abbot stroked his beard and pondered, then slowly said, “About two thousand years ago, in a book building in Qing Tong, I saw it in an obscure collection of miscellany.”

Chen Ping’an’s expression was slightly stiff, but he could still maintain a smile.

“Xiao Xing is a nearly unique case of Heaven-bestowed Wood generating Fire, possessing both destinies. If it’s about this matter, your efforts are all focused on swordsmanship and boxing, you don’t read much, so it’s understandable.” The Old Abbot slowly said, “But you, who often learn fortune-telling from Lu Xiao San, wouldn’t know that in the Five Elements and destiny, only Fire and Earth can reside together?”

In this way, a caged bird, within its mental world:

Yu Shiwu, Metal. Douchou, Wood. Fairy Algae, Water. Xiao Xing, born with divine anomalies, can be both Wood and Fire. Chen Ping’an, born on the fifth day of the fifth month, possesses both Fire and Earth.

“This train of thought is without branches, distinct and clear.” The Old Abbot gave a neither high nor low evaluation, “You’ve finally done something proper. When you attain Dao and ascend in the future, you will be remarkable compared to cultivators of the same realm.”

With the Five Elements complete, the Heavenly Qi will have a trajectory.
It can replenish the Yuan Shen of cultivators, nourish the soul, and strengthen the physique. Sword cultivators can rely on their Natal Flying Sword to nourish their Divine Soul and body, while pure martial artists pursue the path of physical ascension to godhood.

Furthermore, with the increasing number of items refined during the Great Refinement, it is equivalent to more than fifteen hundred Qi Residences, each “household,” with its own treasure to guard the home. It is difficult to say how high Chen Ping An’s future Dao achievement will be, or how strong his cultivation will be, but it is worth looking forward to his ability to withstand beatings.

“Don’t feel repulsed just because Zou Zi talks about the Five Elements and has the merit of spreading them.”

“Hanging corpses on swords in the mountains, who are you trying to scare? Zou Zi’s ambitions are higher than the heavens, and he never intentionally targets anyone. He wants to be the equilibrator of this world.”

“If you let Gu Can of Mud Bottle Alley go, you will not let yourself go.”

“If you do not let Ma Kuxuan of Apricot Blossom Alley go, you will let yourself go.”

“Physical body, magical treasures, immortal arts. Destiny, fate, merit. Family, master’s teachings, Daoist temples. Among them, destiny is important, but it is not the most important.”

“In short, cultivators are those who work hard on these nine things, adding and subtracting, patching and mending. Those who strive to cultivate increase their Dao power, and those who act in secret consolidate their Dao foundation.” The old temple master randomly selected five chess pieces of different colors from the chessboard and suspended them in the air. According to the principle of mutual generation of the Five Elements, a line was connected between each chess piece, forming a complete and self-circulating circle of the Great Dao.

He glanced at Chen Ping An. Chen Ping An understood and picked up four chess pieces from the chessboard, using one of the chess pieces from the old temple master’s circle as the starting point to form another circle.

The old temple master nodded, then picked up four more chess pieces, creating another Five Elements circle in the air above the chessboard.

Three circles, interlocked. Chen Ping An pondered in silence and looked back at the old temple master. The old temple master smiled knowingly, withdrew the circle that used a certain attribute of the second circle as its starting point, and reconnected it to the node of the first circle.

Chen Ping An asked, “Can Zou Zi withstand it?” The old temple master did not give an answer, but said, “Today’s sermon ends here, the time is about right.” Chen Ping An did not dare to expect more and asked, “What about the mountain gate and the mountain road?” The young man in green was still running into walls there.

The old temple master smiled and said, “What, is Daoist Chen going to stand up for that little snake from the Imperial River?” A mere Nascent Soul Realm was not worth the Azure Firmament Cave Master’s attention.

If it was an ascension, he would probably already be in the Daoist temple in that bright moon’s brilliance. Chen Ping An tentatively said, “The younger generation unintentionally offended the senior, a small punishment as a warning?” To be honest, even now, Mountain Master Chen does not know what his own offering said or did that made the old temple master so difficult to forgive.

The old temple master asked in return, “I will impart some cultivation secrets to you, and you will teach me how to do things?” Chen Ping An felt powerless, mainly because Chen Lingjun encountered the Azure Firmament Cave Master, which made him, as the mountain master, feel guilty no matter how he thought about it.

The old temple master stood up and said, “The Immortal Realm is still manageable, but when one proves the Dao and ascends, they can be considered a behemoth in the human world. Every time they go out, it is inevitable that they will cause waves. Wild cultivators like Feng Xuetao don’t care about worldly karma, and strong ascensions like True Man Fire Dragon had secret methods, wandering the human world and avoiding karma as much as possible. What is to be feared are those who are neither here nor there, half-baked, and the splashes they make may be a long-awaited rain or a flood of natural disasters and man-made calamities.” A thousand-year-old soft-shelled turtle and a ten-thousand-year-old tortoise.

The former refers to Earth Immortals in a general sense, and the latter refers to Ascension Realm and Fourteenth Realm cultivators. If Ascension Realm cultivators want longevity, they must have a tortoise shell.

It is best to have an alternative Daoist temple. The old temple master suddenly said, “Do you know why that effeminate kiln worker chose to commit suicide, if we don’t talk about long-term karma, but only about his life? Was he really talked to death?” The ancient Heavenly Court’s Rain Master turned into a man.

The kiln worker Su Han suffered all kinds of calamities and broke free. Chen Ping An remained silent for a moment, then nodded and said, “It was a long time before I truly understood that Su Han made that choice because of my existence.” The old temple master nodded.

“To be able to recognize this principle and dare to admit it, shows that you still have some responsibility. It was not in vain for him to give you a chance to be close to the Great Dao of Water.”

“If you want to be a good person, you must do good deeds. If a good person does good deeds, will there necessarily be good results? Don’t just feel at ease, this matter is still worth considering for all eternity.” It was because Su Han was seriously ill and needed Chen Ping An, a kiln worker apprentice, to decoct medicine and take care of him every day that the two of them spent time together day and night, forming a small world of their own.

Therefore, in Su Han’s world, there were only good people. When Su Han could get out of bed and walk, and leave this small world, he returned to the complex world, the Saha world where people’s hearts and actions were difficult to judge as good or bad. The things that Su Han had long been accustomed to became unbearable, and the hardships that he did not take seriously became genuine hardships.

In a sense, it can be said that Chen Ping An’s existence contributed to Su Han’s death, which is a plausible line of reasoning.

At least in Chen Ping An’s own mind, and in the eyes of the old temple master, it is a clear line of cause and effect.

The old temple master smiled and said, “Don’t you think I’m being demanding of you?” Chen Ping An shook his head and said, “I don’t think so. Giving hope to others is itself a kind of demand. In this world, having hope and something to look forward to means you are not truly poor.” The old temple master gave a sound of agreement, for the first time not concealing his admiration.

Poor and rich are not actually antonyms, poverty and wealth are. The opposite of poor is actually…

“Accomplished.” The ancient character for poor, with a hole above and a crouching figure below. The meaning is that a person is curled up underground, how can they be accomplished, with no way out.

The old temple master asked, “Do you know why I both gave you a quarter of the Lotus Root Blessed Land and added a Five Peaks True Form Diagram to the Fallen Mountain’s mountain-protecting formation?” Chen Ping An said, “Some things can only be said by seniors, if juniors say them themselves, it would be self-praise and boastful.” The old temple master smiled and said, “You are mistaken. Your attitude towards the world and your willingness to practice it are indeed more in line with my path of combining with the Dao, but that is not the real reason.”

“My views are exactly the opposite of Zou Zi’s. He is a pessimist, thinking that if a person like you were to reach the Fifteenth Realm as a sword cultivator, it might lead to the worst possible outcome. He thinks this world cannot bear it, even if it is only a possibility. I dare to bet.”

“You created this gambling table yourself, you can be proud of it.”
“How is it possible to view Cui Chan and Cui Dongshan as separate entities, yet perceive Xie Gou and Bai Jing as a single person?”

“Don’t rush to answer; think deeply about the reason.” On the sacred path leading to the mountain gate, not far from the archway, Xiao Mili asked curiously, “Jing Qing, what are you doing? I’ve already patrolled the mountain and come back; why are you still wandering around here?”

What’s so interesting about this sacred mountain path? Chen Lingjun, unable to maintain his pretense any longer, sat on the steps and tentatively said, “Right Protector, are you familiar with that tall, elderly Daoist?” To be a good informant for the Fallen Peak, one must be cautious, meticulous, and speak with utter precision, observing in all directions.

“The Old Immortal is amiable and friendly to everyone; it’s hard to say whether we’re truly familiar.” However, curious about his connection to Jing Qing, Xiao Mili straightforwardly asked, “Do you have something to discuss with the Old Immortal? Want me to pass on a message?” Chen Lingjun nodded pitifully.

“Just tell him I know I was wrong and ask him to be magnanimous.” Xiao Mili scratched her face.

“The problem is, I can’t even find the Old Immortal.” Chen Lingjun whispered, “Call out the Daoist title of the Azure Sky Cave Master a few times, and say some heartfelt words. I reckon the Old Daoist will hear you without having to search.” So, Xiao Mili placed her walking staff and golden carrying pole by her side, her expression becoming serious, frowning, closing her eyes, and clasping her hands together.

Chen Lingjun asked curiously, “What are you doing, performing a ritual?” It’s just chatting with that Daoist, no need to make it so dramatic, right?

Xiao Mili, with her hands clasped, opened her eyes and complained, “Jing Qing, sincerity, it’s about sincerity. Good Mountain Master said, ‘Sincerity moves the heavens, and a single thought echoes through the mountains.'” Chen Lingjun actually remembered…

“… half” of it, questioning, “Wasn’t that what Immortal Wei Daoist said to us last time while chatting idly?” Xiao Mili, who had just closed her eyes, had to open them and glare, saying, “Couldn’t it be Good Mountain Master who said it to Immortal Wei Daoist?” Chen Lingjun suddenly understood.

Secretly grumbling, he thought, ‘Damn, Little Mo’s friend has some real power. This time, even my own master seems unreliable.’

However, before Xiao Mili could sincerely “make a wish,” the Old Daoist and Mountain Master Chen jointly appeared on the sacred path. Although not their true forms, Daoist Chen Ping’an had changed his attire.

The Old Abbot looked kindly and ruffled the black-clad little girl’s head, while Mountain Master Chen playfully pressed down on the green-clad boy’s head.

Chen Lingjun carefully assessed the situation, feeling relieved, and immediately tugged at Xiao Mili’s wooden hairpin. The Old Abbot asked, “Why not bring him up the mountain?” Chen Ping’an said, “He’s not worthy.” The Old Abbot said, “If he were on the mountain, instead of guarding the gate, within a century, the Fallen Peak would experience a series of inexplicable, immense fortunes. Everyone would share in them. There would be no ambush by a Fourteenth Realm or a potential one; Azure Soil would have been found by Yellow Court long ago, and Xiao Xing would likely have been smoothed out by the shifting fortunes of the Lotus Root Blessed Land. You wouldn’t need to protect Daoist Ding on his path, and you could freely cultivate the Ascension method he spontaneously comprehended. Perhaps benefiting from this, Little Mo or Xie Gou would have a chance to determine their Daoist paths early on. In short, the benefits would be so numerous that you couldn’t imagine.” Chen Ping’an curiously asked, “If we greedily seize such divine merits, what will happen after a century?” At the time, he had roughly determined Daoist Immortal Wei’s identity but hadn’t thought much about it. Just offering respect and reverence was enough.

Taking him as a disciple? He wouldn’t even dare to think about it. As a compromise, adding Immortal Wei to the ancestor hall register of Azure Peak, Chen Ping’an still felt it wasn’t right to take such advantage.

Building merit and establishing a purpose, focusing one’s heart, is like planting a tree. A tree of a hundred years starts with roots and sprouts, then the trunk, and only after branches and leaves flourish, do flowers and fruits appear, clear and distinct in order.

In that Lotus Root Blessed Land, which is also the Eastern Sea View Daoist temple in the mortal realm, Chen Ping’an’s youthful journey with a sword on his back deeply influenced him, still benefiting him to this day and likely into the future.

The Old Abbot said, “If you truly take such a shortcut, of course, you’ll have to repay the debt. If you accomplish this ignorantly and confusedly, and just arrange a seat for Immortal Wei in the ancestor hall of Azure Peak, that would be fine. But if you do it deliberately, cleverly, and with a mind for luck, it’ll be hard to say.” The Old Abbot paused for a moment and smiled, “I reckon this mountain peak will explode.” One divided into two, each taking half.

Those in the heavens are thorough, besieged within the Heavenly Court ruins by the three Daoist founders after being scattered. Chen Ping’an, who is on earth, would inevitably face trials.

Since encountering matters is encountering oneself, how to conduct oneself is actually simple: walk the wide road of righteousness, and the virtuous remain diligent all day long.

Chen Ping’an said, “Senior, are you returning to the Azure Heavens?” The Old Abbot nodded. Chen Ping’an then took his leave.

The Old Abbot, just as he was about to return to his Daoist temple, saw the wooden hairpin Daoist at the foot of the mountain already standing up, giving another proper Daoist salute.

Forced to walk a few more steps, the Old Abbot walked down the mountain on foot, passing through the mountain gate archway, and returned the Daoist’s salute.

Xie Gou sat on the steps, watching the spectacle. The sable-hatted girl muttered to herself, regretting bringing a short sword only to look at the mountain.

‘We only have so much knowledge; we have to use it repeatedly.’ Xie Gou marveled, never seeing this Cai Province Daoist so sincerely respectful to the Daoist Ancestor; that was just because he couldn’t win.

As for why the Azure Sky Cave Master was like this with the wooden hairpin Daoist, there’s actually a story behind it. Little Mo personally said so.

On the ancient path, a line meandered. Whether the wind blew, the sun shone, or rain and snow poured, the Daoist was like a dragon in the wilderness.

The Old Abbot at the entrance pondered for a moment, not only did he not go to find fault with that Daoist Chen, but he laughed heartily, proactively announcing his Daoist title and temple, the first time in ten thousand years he introduced himself as the Azure Sky Cave Master of Fallen Treasure Beach, and proactively gave a Daoist farewell salute to Immortal Wei.

Immortal Wei was bewildered and had to return the salute. After that strange old Daoist, who was probably so robust that he appeared slightly hunched, vanished into thin air, Immortal Wei rubbed his sore neck, shook his Daoist sleeves, and thought he’d been reading too many serious books.