The young Daoist and the girl in black brought tea. They didn’t take up any space, but went to sit on the bamboo chairs.

Liu Xiang thanked them and took a sip of the steaming tea. He blew on it, took a sip, and the surface of the water in the teacup was like a small mirror.

If astronomy was a wordless book left by the gods for humans, then the微漾 water patterns in the bowl on the table at this moment were like the traces of human affairs in the world.

Lu Shen’s heart was filled with trepidation. Borrowing a book? He feared that Zheng Juzhong was deliberately being vague, and was actually here to borrow his life, to “borrow the Dao.” Borrowing my book to kill my people, to steal my Dao?

Isn’t there someone in Falling Dust Mountain who likes to “borrow Daoist titles” from fellow Daoists? How did Bai Jing acquire more than thirty Daoist lineages that were “completely severed from incense”? Lu Shen had to admit that in a battle of wits, strength, and heart with Zheng Juzhong, he had no chance of winning. Many cultivators were still unaware of a certain terrifying truth. In the several worlds now, or rather, in the entire human world, the only existence that could truly restrain Zheng Juzhong was the Sage of Rites who had to stay outside the heavens. Besides, what about Yu Dou? What about the Savage North? So Lu Shen’s only reliance at the moment was that Zheng Juzhong was too “inhuman”, and every move he made would instead be monitored by the Academy of Literature?

Zheng Juzhong went straight to the point, “No need to think too much, it’s just the literal meaning. I want to borrow that book, the Di Jing Chapter, from you.”

Lu Shen asked in surprise, “Mr. Zheng is a profound scholar of heaven and man, and is also interested in this book?” Moreover, if Zheng Juzhong truly intended to read this book, with his cultivation, could the magical restrictions of the Lu family stop him? Even if Lu Shen knew that the forbidden area had been burglarized, he would probably turn a blind eye and let Zheng Juzhong quietly read the book.

Zheng Juzhong picked up the teacup and took a sip, glancing sideways at Lu Shen, “Do you really think I don’t know that there are three copies of the Di Jing Chapter?” The Lu family’s Di Jing Chapter, the original version was one book. Direct descendants of the Lu family who had been tested for aptitude and Dao heart could read it. The second book, which had been improved and annotated extensively by Lu Shen himself, could only be read by some ancestors and meritorious figures. And Lu Shen himself was the third book. Zheng Juzhong was already thoroughly familiar with the content of the first two Di Jing Chapters. People like Lu Wei, when it came to their understanding and mastery of the Di Jing Chapter, were certainly not as good as this outsider, Zheng Juzhong. It was hard to say who would guide whom if they met on the Dao.

Lu Shen took a deep breath.

Liu Xiang was aware of one thing: Zou Zi had indeed stayed in the Forest of Merit for a period of time. The Academy of Literature had specifically opened up convenient avenues for him, allowing Zou Zi to gradually deepen his knowledge of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. A great book, hailed as the head of all scriptures, also had two auxiliary scriptures, like “wings.” One was kept in the Qilin Platform of the Forest of Merit by the scripture scholar Xiping. The other was treasured by the Lu family in the Zhilan Office of the Heavenly Platform. As the rightful head of the family, Lu Shen, having the advantage of being near, was able to continue the path of his predecessors, study this book, deepen his Dao power, and eventually derive the Di Jing Chapter branch of learning. This book began with the Gen hexagram, describing the changes of heaven and earth, the principles of human life, and their continuous flow like mountains, all with their origins and destinations.

Heavenly Capital Peak faced Falling Dust Mountain.

The Golden Summit Temple in the northern part of Tongye Continent corresponded to the Qingping Sword Sect, the subordinate sect of Falling Dust Mountain. For thousands of years, Zou Zi in heaven and Lu Shi on earth each occupied half of the Yin and Yang school. At the beginning of his ascension to the Dao, Lu Shen was full of ambition and as lofty as the heavens. Even after his Dao heart “hit a wall,” he still did not completely lose heart. He thought that the Dao of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements was so vast and broad that even if Zou Zi was unwilling to yield. Heaven never seals off all exits. I, Lu Shen, will take a detour and not compete with you for the sole path of the great Dao. By opening up another path, there should always be a chance to attain the Dao, shouldn’t there?

Thus, the Lu family had the Di Jing Chapter. Since timing was less important than location, and location was less important than people, people could conquer heaven.

And since it was named the Di Jing Chapter, the key naturally lay in “earth” and “mirror.”

The so-called earth mirror was the accumulated water on the earth, reflecting in it, one could observe others and oneself.

A bowl of water on the table could be an earth mirror, and the nearby Returning Sword Lake was of course even more so.

It must be admitted that it was in Lu Shen’s hands that the Di Jing Chapter was elevated to a new realm.

The book Zheng Juzhong wanted to borrow from Lu Shen was precisely this Di Jing Chapter, which was the foundation of Lu Shen’s Great Dao. Liu Xiang slowly said, “The Gen hexagram is similar to the Qian hexagram, both having the main hexagram and the guest hexagram the same. Gen, meaning mountains side by side, unlike two rivers that can possibly merge into one, the two existing mountains are destined not to become one, but the main and guest mountains can influence each other and are bound to have some intersection. Assuming the Lu family chose the Gen hexagram, Chen Ping’an first chose Falling Dust Mountain, and then Lu Shen chose Heavenly Capital Peak, this is the established situation. Then when the lords of the two mountains meet, how they negotiate, and how they act more appropriately, becomes the key to the success or failure of both parties, based on their academic abilities, their depth of understanding, and their success or failure.”

“So, allowing you to land on Baoping Continent and enter the territory of the old Pearl of the Dragon Cave Heaven was originally Cui’s preset. As for talking to you about the Lu family betting on Baoping Continent, he was deliberately teasing you.”

Liu Xiang clasped his hands in his sleeves, leaning against the back of the chair, and smiled, “Gen its back, not obtaining its body; walking in its court, not seeing its person. No blame.”

Catching a hint, Wei Bo asked, “Mr. Liu, according to the explanation of the hexagram, why didn’t the Lu family directly change the Heavenly Capital Peak to the east of Falling Dust Mountain to the Gray Mist Mountain to the north? Wouldn’t that be more consistent with the saying ‘Gen its back’?”

Lu Shen’s face showed bitterness, and he gently shook his head and said, “The foundation of Gray Mist Mountain is too weak, the Dao energy is shallow, and the mountain peak is also a bit short. It is not suitable for me to stay there.”

Originally, with Lu Wei’s realm and cultivation, it would have been suitable to open a Daoist temple on Gray Mist Mountain. However, with the shattering and falling of the Pearl of the Dragon Cave Heaven, the already Dao-heart damaged Lu Wei was absolutely unwilling to stay for another moment. In addition, Empress Nan Zan, whose real name was Lu Jiang, was indeed a very crucial chess piece, so the family sent Lu Wei to the capital of Da Li to protect her for a journey. When “Song He” ascended to the throne and became emperor, Nan Zan naturally became the Empress Dowager, and “Song Mu” was enfeoffed in the auxiliary capital Luoyang. Even if Lu Wei atoned for his sins, he only needed to meet Chen Ping’an once more to return to the family.

As Liu Xiang said earlier, when it came to the life and death of the Great Dao and the rise and fall of the family, how could Lu Shen easily take on such a responsibility by himself?

However, choosing Heavenly Capital Peak was not without its advantages; on the contrary, it had the wonder of finding a new village after passing the willows and flowers. What Lu Shen sought was proper conduct, appropriate action and inaction, and a bright Dao. “He has never moved the ancestral house in Mud Bottle Alley. He obtained the boxing manual, practiced martial arts diligently, and prolonged his life by practicing boxing, which is the so-called extending one’s life while ill. He is not greedy for money, and likes to be a good wealth-distributing child. He is unwilling to speak ill of others behind their backs… All these things, fitting together seamlessly, are actually all proper.”Having said that, Liu Xiang asked with a smile, “Can this be considered destiny?”

Zheng Juzhong said calmly, “Are we sitting here, is that considered destiny? Even if fate is determined by heaven, blessings are still sought by oneself.”

Liu Xiang said, “The hexagram changes from six-four to five-six, with Zhen below and Li above, mutually forming a Zong hexagram. Traveling far away, like fire burning in the mountains, spreading forward, thus making the journey hurried and anxious to rush on. This ensures the safety of the home and marital harmony… but is only average.”

“Book Brief Lake, the nine-three line, is like a human body, with blocked qi and blood flow.”

“So saying he brought trouble upon himself is not unfair to Mountain Master Chen.”

Wei Bo suddenly asked, “Was Tongye Continent’s decision to excavate the Great Ditch a form of hexagram interpretation by Chen Ping’an regarding the nine-three line?”

Liu Xiang nodded and said, “Roughly.”

Wei Bo continued to ask, “Generally speaking, both yamen and mountain walls can be interpreted as Gen, so?”

Sword Qi Great Wall has been a strategic military stronghold for the two worlds for ten thousand years, with sword cultivators led by Chen Qingdou halting the advance of the barbaric demons. As the last Hidden Official… Liu Xiang said to himself, “The six-five line, as an outsider sword cultivator, entering the yamen of the Hidden Official lineage of sword cultivators, the Summer Retreat Palace. Sword Qi Great Wall is naturally extremely long, hence it can transform into the Sun hexagram, thereby transforming into the fifty-third hexagram, Gradual Progress (Wind Mountain Gradual). When the Sword Qi Great Wall was severed in two, holding the city head alone, it retreated to the Gen hexagram, the upper nine, Auspiciousness of 厚德載物 (carrying blessings with great virtue), thus achieving a thick ending.”

Lu Shen said abruptly, “Divine Monarch Wei, don’t forget, besides walls and yamen, there are also lecture platforms in academies and private schools.”

Wei Bo slightly frowned.

Lu Shen sneered, “Divine Monarch Wei surely doesn’t really think that Mountain Master Chen was playing around by pretending to be a Daoist and helping passersby set up stalls for fortune-telling in the capital of Yuxuan Kingdom?”

Even though he was a sworn enemy of Zou Zi on the Great Dao, as a bystander, Lu Shen had to speak a word of fairness for Zou Zi, who would he target if not Chen Ping’an?!

Zou Zi had great worries in his heart!

If the thoughts of a great cultivator could evoke a reaction from heaven and earth, then the Great Dao is impartial. All the goodwill Chen Ping’an has given to the human world, will it one day be returned by heaven and earth!

Lu Shen also wanted to use some method to save the world like that Embroidered Tiger.

Lu Shen couldn’t help but ask, “Are all of these Embroidered Tiger’s calculations? Were they all calculated by him early on?”

Just talking about the Dali Dynasty and Falling Po Mountain, they belong to Yin lines facing Yin lines. Although they are opposing, it’s due to their positions, but there is no direct conflict because Cui served as a mediator. After Cui left, Chen Ping’an, Lu Wei, and Nan Zan met again in the imperial palace of the Dali capital. This became Yang lines facing Yang lines. Chen Ping’an, whose birthday is on May fifth, was in the imperial palace where the ninety-five supreme presided. The two sides did not completely fall out. Cutting off “Lu Jiang”‘s head was considered light.

Liu Xiang shook his head and said, “Playing chess is not like studying chess records, and life is not like playing chess. A thousand plans and ten thousand considerations are not as good as the present moment. Deep wisdom and calm courage also depend on luck. Cui had many miscalculations, but he quickly corrected them.”

For Cui, if the teachings and protection on the mountain were just passing down a few true words, bestowing a few cultivation methods and secret manuals, and granting a few magic treasures, then the matter of entering the mountain to seek immortality would be too easy.

Seeking no mistakes? Then there was Book Brief Lake, where no matter how many ways you tried to remedy it, it was still a mistake.

Everything was wrong? Then there was that repeated questioning of True Person Huolong within the Dragon Palace Grotto-Heaven, until he asked for an answer of long self-contemplation.

Knowing right and wrong, can one’s heart be settled? What does it feel like to defend the Sword Qi Great Wall year after year, unable to see what tomorrow holds? Zheng Juzhong said through a voice transmission, “During my time in the Barbarian Desolation, I conducted a deduction of the Earth Mirror chapter. I can only say I gained a little insight, which is more than enough to deal with ordinary Ascended Realm cultivators. With this Dao method, it doesn’t consume spirit or damage Dao power. It only requires me a hundred years of effort to kill invisibly. But it’s foolish to try to target a Fourteenth Realm expert in a short time, especially when the opponent is a foreign entity most familiar with the river of time. Therefore, I need this Earth Mirror chapter that you have kept hidden.”

Lu Shen is Lu Shen after all. Even a mud bodhisattva has three parts of anger. “It’s clearly robbery, why talk about borrowing a book?”

Involving his own Great Dao foundation, Zheng Juzhong’s so-called borrowing a book was no different from examining his Dao heart. With Zheng Juzhong’s intelligence, he believed that as long as he read the book, he would be more like the real Lu Shen than himself.

Zheng Juzhong smiled, “At least it sounds better, doesn’t it?”

Lu Shen was speechless, his thoughts racing. Zheng Juzhong said, “It’s not a transaction, so where would there be compensation? Putting on a show, asking me to make an oath to ensure I don’t hinder your convergence with the Dao in the future, just to make you feel better? I’m too lazy to do that. As for asking me to guarantee to take care of the Lu family in Middle-earth one or two times in the future, doing the deed of helping the needy and relieving the distressed, that’s out of the question.”

Lu Shen extended a finger and pointed at the sky, “Mr. Zheng is a Fourteenth Realm expert after all. Can you really do whatever you want at this time?”

Zheng Juzhong said, “Then I’ll really have to kill to borrow the book.”

Borrowing a book to kill means killing others. Killing to borrow a book means killing you, Lu Shen.

Lu Shen shook his head, his eyes sharp, “I bet you wouldn’t dare.”

He silently recited the true name of the Sage of Rites.

Offending Zheng Juzhong, before successfully converging with the Dao, hiding in the Middle-earth family wouldn’t be sufficient. He would have to hide in the Merit Forest of the Confucian Temple. At worst, he could accompany Liu Cha and cultivate diligently for a hundred or a thousand years…

Liu Xiang’s eyes showed pity as he reminded, “Lu Shen, isn’t the true name of the Sage of Rites Zheng Juzhong?”

Lu Shen was in a trance, his face twisted. Waves of Dao energy rippled. He shook his head. His Dao heart was greatly shaken, almost failing, and he was about to curse at Zheng Juzhong. It turned out that his mind had already been usurped, like a mansion being seized by a giant bandit. The pure and undefiled Dharmakaya in his heart had somehow transformed into the appearance of “Zheng Juzhong,” and “Sage of Rites” was linked to “Zheng Juzhong.” As for the true name of the Sage of Rites, what was it called? Lu Shen’s magnificent “multicolored mind” Dharmakaya, like a fresco, was gradually being painted in black and white. Lu Shen struggled to maintain a shred of his true spirit, his heart burning with anxiety. His inner world, reflecting heaven and earth, showed a raging wildfire. Palaces, trees, figures, and characters were all burning, turning into ashes, which were all of Lu Shen’s Dao cultivation.

“Zheng Juzhong” muttered to himself, “Everyone says I am from the demonic path, and I have never denied it. Do you, Lu Shen, somehow think I am a gentleman?”

Lu Shen unleashed over a dozen secret arts and divine abilities that he had never shown to others. They were all destroyed one by one by “himself” with ease, resolved effortlessly.Yet, “Zheng Juzhong” continued to twist the knife in Lu Shen’s heart. The eyes of his Dharma form shone brightly. “Truly, knowledge gained is knowledge retained. In a few more years, ‘I’ will surely succeed in integrating with the Dao.” Lu Shen showed not the slightest hint of begging for mercy. He was willing to sacrifice his Grand Dao and his very life, unleashing a hidden ancient divine ability to drag Zheng Juzhong down with him. Within the realm of a spiritual image, an ancient, high altar for sacrifice appeared. Lu Shen’s true spirit transformed into a young boy in the attire of a ‘Shengge Daoist’ (singer of sacrificial hymns), his face painted with pigments. He ascended step by step. Lu Shen would repay him in kind. The boy became Zheng Juzhong, his expression ferocious, and he began to loudly curse the Heaven and Earth Venerables in ancient tongue, using the most venomous words. With every step he ascended, Lu Shen’s brows and eyes began to turn into wisps of tribulation ash, scattering and drifting, yet in his heart, he felt immense exhilaration.

Lu Shen witnessed with his own eyes that “domestic traitor Zheng Juzhong” was caught in the crossfire, incurring the wrath of the high-ranking gods from ancient times. The sky curtain shattered with a roar, and a streak of sword light appeared, bringing down a rain of fire…

Heaven and Earth were thus broken, and the Grand Dao was thus severed.

From then on, Zheng Juzhong would be haunted by that “heavenly aversion,” like a shadow, and still attempt to integrate with your fifteenth realm?! Finally, the “boy” stood frozen, silent for a long time, unsure of what to think. He raised an arm that was turning into ash and scattering, as if to wipe away the paint on his face. Ever since he could remember, he had disliked being a ‘Shengge Daoist’ that everyone watched, and he utterly detested the elaborate rituals of sacrificing to Heaven and Earth. Next life… there was no next life. Lu Shen’s expression was carefree as he stood in place, raising his hand and gently waving away the dust. He chuckled and said that Zheng Juzhong was a true demon, and in his final moments, he cursed Zou Zi one last time as a “dog of a thing.”

Just then, a grating voice came from behind him, “Just as you predicted, Lu Shen is indeed willing to die.”

A second, even more infuriating voice rang out, “That’s why I don’t have a low opinion of Lu Shen.”

In an instant, Heaven and Earth, along with all subtle details, “returned to their rightful owners.” Lu Shen sat stunned in place. Could there really be such a vast difference between realms?

Liu Xiang chuckled, “Even achieving this step was not easy for Mr. Zheng; it was quite taxing.”

The dazed Lu family patriarch’s Dao heart quickly returned to tranquility.

Zheng Juzhong looked at Liu Xiang and suggested, “Shall we go up the mountain and take a stroll?”

Liu Xiang seemed a little hesitant. Chen Lingjun, being hospitable, immediately blurted out, “Since you’re already here, a few more steps won’t hurt, right?”

Liu Xiang pondered for a moment, then nodded and smiled, “Alright.”

Once he rose from the table and stepped across the mountain gate archway, this was the first time in ten thousand years that Liu Xiang had truly set foot in a Sect-level immortal abode.

Before walking through the archway, Zheng Juzhong asked, “Have you decided?”

Lu Shen said gloomily, “Do I have a choice?”

Zheng Juzhong said, “Yes, truly die once.”

Lu Shen almost lost control of his Dao heart again and began cursing Zheng Juzhong. Zheng Juzhong said, “If you hadn’t privately sought out that family elder back then, wanting to take his place to perform that divination, I would have appeared earlier today to visit you at Tiandu Peak and borrow books. When I discussed integrating with the Dao with Cui back then, there were several potential options, such as refining the bright moon into a dressing mirror, or collecting all the shadows in the human world. Otherwise, why do you think the大量 of dressing mirrors refined and sold by the Liuli Pavilion in Baidi City were just for earning some money? However, Cui felt that these paths still lacked grandeur and were ultimately somewhat questionable, easily becoming redundant after reaching the fourteenth realm and acting as a hindrance. One of the paths he suggested was to simply take over Lu Shen, the most promising candidate in the Central Land Lu clan for integrating with the Dao, which is what you referred to earlier as ‘劫道’ (robbing the Dao). At the time, I felt this was not very likely, but Cui said he could make you voluntarily leave your family and the Central Land Divine Continent.”

Lu Shen’s scalp prickled, and he ground his teeth. “Didn’t you consider whether this action was presumptuous, and if the Central Land Wen Miao (Confucian Temple) would pursue it?”

Lu Shen suddenly understood. “That’s right, you are indeed a mirror seller, and even the founder of the Dove Immortal lineage!”

The mirror sellers, considered heretical, appeared as early as the ancient times, but the equally hidden Dove Immortal lineage began to appear around three thousand years ago.

Zheng Juzhong said, “Good ‘indeed’.”

Lu Shen sighed, “Indeed, it is the Demonic Dao.”

On the road, a woman was practicing桩功 (pile work) as she descended the mountain.

Cen Yuanyi hesitated for a moment, but still stopped and stood to the side. She did not greet them. Only after they continued to ascend did Cen Yuanyi continue her boxing practice.

During this time, Zheng Juzhong glanced at her.

Just now, Cen Yuanyi also glanced at the middle-aged man in the striking pure white robe. She felt a little uneasy, shaking her head, always feeling strange. She suppressed some emotional ripples, but still couldn’t help but turn her head to look at that back.

Higher up, the Discipline Master, Changming, appeared on the divine path, accompanied by a white-haired boy with his head drooping. They descended the steps towards the mountain gate, meeting Zheng Juzhong and his group head-on.

Changming gently reminded him with a voice transmission, “Konghou, follow quickly, don’t be disrespectful to those two distinguished guests.”

The white-haired boy grumbled, “Didn’t I already report to Little Millet and request leave? Anyway, with the Discipline Master personally receiving guests, it’s already a great courtesy. It doesn’t matter if a Chronicle Officer shows up or not.”

Changming hesitated for a moment and said, “I’ll explain later.” Previously, Wu Shuangjiang from the Sui Chu Palace visited the mountain and privately sought her out. In addition to reporting his name, he also said that if Zheng Juzhong stopped at the mountain gate, she and Konghou didn’t need to appear, but if Zheng Juzhong ascended the mountain, she should bring Konghou along to meet him. As for why they were meeting, and what to do when they met, Wu Shuangjiang gave no reminders, not even a hint.

Liu Xiang nodded in greeting to the Discipline Master, Changming, then looked at the white-haired boy and casually asked, “May I ask, Daoist friend, where are you from?”

The white-haired boy was already listless. Seeing Liu Xiang and Zheng Juzhong made him even more apprehensive, looking sickly. As for asking them to register their names, he had no courage at all. Chen Lingjun found it strange. His Chronicle Officer was usually quite lively, so why was he so dispirited after seeing the two scholars? Seeing that the white-haired boy didn’t answer, and that the scholar surnamed Liu was quite persistent and just stood there waiting for an answer, Chen Lingjun, seeing the awkward atmosphere and fearing that outsiders would misunderstand and consider the white-haired boy to be one of those sectarian disciples with their eyes in their eyebrows, took it upon himself to answer for the Chronicle Officer, “Mr. Liu, this Daoist friend Konghou is now a rostered cultivator of our Luopo Mountain. His household registration is in Huaihuang County, Chuzhou.”Liu Xiang smiled slightly and said, “Fellow Daoist Konghou, is that truly so? Are you a resident of Haoran?”

Zheng Juzhong wore a playful expression.

The white-haired girl looked up. She gazed at the awe-inspiring figure, his power even surpassing the earlier Pure Yang Daoist. She couldn’t understand why he was fixated on such a trivial matter. However, in a sense, the “previous incarnation” of Wu Shuangjiang from the Year’s End Palace was indeed a genuine Haoran cultivator, and even an attendant at the Martial Temple. She figured she might as well go with the flow and dejectedly said, “It is truly so. Everything Jingqing said is the absolute truth.”

Chen Lingjun secretly winked at the white-haired girl. Just a short while ago, you were an unnamed outer sect handyman disciple. Thanks to the discussion in the Jise Peak Ancestral Hall last time, you’ve just become a registered inner sect disciple, a sort of transfer and “promotion.” Otherwise, how would I explain it to outsiders? Haha, the only handyman disciple of Luopo Mountain? Of course, the inner sect disciple of Luopo Mountain is still one of a kind.

Changming smiled and said, “It can be checked in the ancestral hall register of Luopo Mountain and the household records of the county yamen.”

Wei Bo breathed a sigh of relief, his face breaking into a joyous smile. He reached out and patted Chen Lingjun’s head. Good heavens, he finally did something with immeasurable merit and proper significance.

Chen Lingjun immediately became unhappy and shook his head. How rude!

Liu Xiang stared at the otherworldly demon and smiled, “Alright, I understand.”

Wei Bo felt truly delighted. He lightly patted the green-clothed boy’s head. Again? Chen Lingjun’s eyes suddenly widened. My nephew and his friends are present. Please give me some face, Brother Wei!

However, Chen Lingjun couldn’t help but wonder inwardly, could it be that this Mr. Liu worked in the household yamen of some county in a certain kingdom?

Zheng Juzhong laughed with his thoughts and explained, “Scholars who pursue knowledge like to get to the bottom of things.”

Chen Lingjun hummed in agreement and began to put on airs with his adopted nephew, “Being serious is good, liking to be serious is good. It’s easy to achieve something.”

Lu Shen understood the weight and implications of this exchange. He glanced at the green-clothed boy and, for a moment, couldn’t tell if this fellow was truly foolish or just pretending. The white-haired girl followed her heart and openly admitted that she was a resident of Haoran. Then, when Liu Xiang nodded again, it was considered an acknowledgment of the matter. So, to deny the white-haired girl’s belonging to Haoran, there were only two possibilities: either Yu Dou, who presides over the White Jade Capital, or the hardships of Leap Month Peak, would have to personally cross the world, find Liu Xiang of Haoran, and confront him face to face, insisting that the white-haired girl is a Qingming cultivator. And even then, they might not succeed. At most, it would become a muddled lawsuit.

In short, one sentence: from this moment on, the White Jade Capital would find it difficult to use the “natural” status of the female cultivator from the Year’s End Palace to cause trouble for Luopo Mountain and make a bigger fuss. Liu Xiang understood Zheng Juzhong’s intention. It didn’t matter anymore. The general situation of the world had become clear. How could he remain aloof? Like the previous incarnation of the woman who practiced boxing, cultivators could use various methods to avoid or escape calamity, but “Liu Xiang” and their physical bodies were the largest Gen trigram between heaven and earth.

Lu Shen had been observing Luopo Mountain from Tiandu Peak for years, as if it were close at hand, so he was naturally not unfamiliar with Cen Yuanji.

An enlightened being, dwelling in the mountains, in the state of meditation, his mind connected with heaven and earth, seeing fireflies flicker like the sun and moon, and hearing mosquitoes buzzing like thunder. The old abbot, who had visited the small town with the Dao Ancestor last time, went up the mountain alone after parting ways. During that time, he saw Zhu Lian and also saw Cen Yuanji practicing boxing on the mountain path. At that time, the old abbot even took the initiative to ask for the female martial artist’s name. Zhu Lian said that Cen Yuanji was his unregistered disciple. The old abbot, with his high cultivation, saw through the “transplantation” technique on Cen Yuanji at a glance. However, he thought it was Lu Chen’s usual practice and didn’t bother to delve into the domestic affairs of another mountain. Therefore, he didn’t deduce more connections.

Traveling back and forth in the mountains, the beautiful silhouette was like woven silk.

Lu Shen asked with his thoughts, “Is she the reincarnation of a part of that person?”

Zheng Juzhong neither admitted nor denied it.

That Ascended Realm great demon in Middle-earth Divine Continent back then, being beheaded by Bai Ye’s sword, was itself a desperate and voluntary act of shedding its physical body to escape a calamity.

Bai Ye and that immortal sword were naturally the best way to shed one’s physical body in the entire Haoran world.

When Zheng Juzhong found it back then, the only request it made was that the sword must be delivered by Bai Ye.

This wasn’t it deliberately asking for an outrageous price, being fantastical. Rather, its true form and realm dictated that it had to make this request. Otherwise, an act of shedding its physical body would lose the significance it should have in escaping calamity.

Zheng Juzhong said there was no problem and told it to wait.

It actually didn’t think Zheng Juzhong could make this happen.

Even if you are Zheng Juzhong, you are still only in the Ascended Realm. How could you possibly invite that person who doesn’t even pay attention to the Sages of the Confucian Temple, the most pleased person in the human world?

However, Cen Yuanji was just a ferry or an inn for it.

Staying at an inn, of course, requires payment. This is why Cen Yuanji could have many other opportunities besides practicing boxing.

The guests had all ascended the mountain and had helped clean up the table. Xian Wei took out a Daoist book from his sleeve, looked at it for a moment, raised his head and asked in confusion, “Little Mi Li, what are you doing?”

He saw the black-clothed little girl standing under the archway, facing the great mountain divine path, standing straight, holding a golden carrying pole in one hand and a green bamboo staff in the other, both propped on the ground. She just watched them ascend gradually, her gaze not retracting for a long time.

Little Mi Li said softly, “I’m watching them ascend the mountain.”

It wasn’t until Mr. Zheng and the others met with the Discipline Elder Changming and the Registrar, had a chat, and turned into a mountain path together, undoubtedly going to that elm forest to enjoy the scenery, that Little Mi Li sat back in the bamboo chair, placed the carrying pole and bamboo staff across her lap, bored, rolling the walking staff in her palms, explaining, “Since I don’t have much money in my pocket, politeness can only depend on the size of my heart. The meaning in my heart is something others can’t see.”

Xian Wei remembered something. Earlier, that tall old Daoist priest, just because Little Mi Li said she hadn’t been here for a long time, the old Daoist priest seriously asked Little Mi Li, “How many days is a long time?”

Any normal person wouldn’t ask such a question. Fortunately, Little Mi Li answered, giving the exact specific number.

Xian Wei, with the title of a Daoist priest, had wandered the jianghu for many years. Forced by livelihood, he was very good at reading people’s expressions. He could tell that the Mountain Master was very nervous at that time.Little Millet scooted her bamboo chair closer to the Immortal Lieutenant and whispered, “Jing Qing said you have a very strange fortune-telling tube, with unique and rare slips. Tell me about it?” The Immortal Lieutenant blushed and said, “It’s been gathering dust for a long time. If you’re interested, just take it and play with it. It’s nothing rare, just a total of one hundred and seven bamboo slips in the tube. Seventy-two of them correspond to the seventy-two microseasons of the twenty-four solar terms. There are also slips for the two principles (Yin and Yang), the sun, moon, and stars, the eight trigrams, the ten celestial stems, and the twelve earthly branches.”

“There really are one hundred and seven slips!”

Little Millet counted as she listened, and she quickly frowned, asking curiously, “Why not make it a round number, one hundred and eight slips?”

The Immortal Lieutenant chuckled and said, “Maybe that one slip grew legs and secretly ran away?”

Little Millet thought for a moment, then her brows smoothed out, and she laughed heartily, guessing is her strong suit. “Easy to guess, I know the answer.”

Zheng Dafeng, who hadn’t shown his face, just stood at the entrance of the house and tutted, “Little Millet can guess that? I’ve been racking my brain for ages.”

Little Millet grinned and said, “Suppose Immortal Lieutenant Daoist set up a fortune-telling stall. Whoever sits down and draws a slip is that slip.”

Zheng Dafeng was half-convinced and turned to look at the Immortal Lieutenant.

The Immortal Lieutenant nodded and said, “Indeed, that’s the correct answer.”

Zheng Dafeng rubbed his chin, “That’s interesting.”

The Immortal Lieutenant and Little Millet raised their hands in默契 and lightly high-fived.

Zheng Dafeng asked, “With such an unconventional way of drawing and interpreting slips, do you get any business? Do you have many repeat customers?”

This question was a bit untimely, and the Immortal Lieutenant said exasperatedly, “Brother Dafeng, what do you think?”

Zheng Dafeng spotted Cen Yuanji and waved cheerfully, “Miss Cen, you’re in the mountains again today.”

Cen Yuanji was confused and didn’t pay attention to his aimless chatter. She continued her walking practice, reached the foot of the mountain, and started climbing again.

Zheng Dafeng muttered to himself, “No need to wait for that little brat Li Huai anymore, self-reliance and a comfortable life!”

He strode towards the small town.

But he suddenly stopped and turned to look at the young Daoist.

Seeing that he wasn’t going to Fuyao Lu, the Immortal Lieutenant asked curiously, “Brother Dafeng, are you going to the county town?”

Zheng Dafeng nodded and said, “Going to the Yang Family Pharmacy to move some things back.”

Although the Immortal Lieutenant was curious, he didn’t ask any further questions.

Zheng Dafeng said, “Don’t just stand there, you come along too and lend a hand, I can’t move it all myself.”

The Immortal Lieutenant said timidly, “This poor Daoist only swindles money at most, I don’t steal.”

Zheng Dafeng said angrily, “Stop talking nonsense!”

The Immortal Lieutenant had no choice but to follow, asking Little Millet to help watch the door. Little Millet secretly chuckled, oh well, she had guessed right.

Zheng Dafeng led the Immortal Lieutenant out of the Western Mountains on foot, chatting along the way.

The villagers, who were accustomed to working from sunrise to sunset in the early years, saw waves of unprecedented divine beings in broad daylight as if in a dream. They rode clouds and mist, and soared through the blue sky.

In those days, the villagers always liked to gather and whisper, as if they ate but didn’t defecate. Those outsiders who were gods quickly learned the local dialect of the small town. Old items from each household were bought by them for money, and they didn’t even bat an eye, taking out stacks of banknotes like they were waste paper. When the buyers and sellers looked at each other, each thought the other was a sucker, and each was afraid the other would go back on their word.

To this day, there are still nearly a hundred cultivators in the small town who “spent a lot of money” to buy houses back then, either alone or with one or two Daoist friends, diligently cultivating in Huaihuang County. These cultivators were registered and filed by the Dali Ministry of Rites, supervised by the Ministry of Justice, and the kiln supervision office in the small town was responsible for specific对接matters. However, in reality, cultivators, regardless of the size of their sect or the level of their cultivation, tried to avoid dealing with the two successive supervisors, and of course, they were even more reluctant to be approached by the officials from the supervision office. Local officials of the Dali Dynasty did not take cultivators too seriously. Under Cui, a rule was established for those on and off the mountain: if a cultivator and a mortal came into conflict, the former was presumed guilty, and the latter was presumed innocent.

The entire Baoping Continent was anticipating the next National Teacher of the Dali Dynasty. Although there were various guesses and speculations on and off the mountain, as long as the imperial decree of the Dali Dynasty was not issued for a day, there would be suspense for a day.

Passing by Zhenzhu Mountain, Zheng Dafeng said solemnly, “Immortal Lieutenant Daoist, how about bowing to that mountain?”

The Immortal Lieutenant asked, “Is there any significance?”

Zheng Dafeng said, “Since you bow when entering the mountain, you should also…”

The Immortal Lieutenant tentatively said, “Different places have their own customs for bowing to the mountain. You go first, so I can learn.”

Zheng Dafeng patted the Immortal Lieutenant’s shoulder, “You’re not easy to fool anymore.”

Entering the small town, it was much quieter compared to back then, and the ubiquitous dog dung and chicken droppings were rarely seen.

The Immortal Lieutenant missed the old Immortal Elder Jia Sheng. The old Daoist was highly respected in the small town.

He led Xiao Mo through the streets and alleys, going to the Yang Family Pharmacy.

There was once a thin, dark grass-sandal-wearing少年who first traveled far away and reached the entrance of the Academy of Cliffs in the Great Sui. Even though he bought new clothes and new boots, he still hesitated.

He had a pair of bright eyes, which made his dark skin appear even darker.

After that, traveling away from home became commonplace, and he became a hands-off shopkeeper time and time again.

Each time he returned home, he had various gains, like a swallow carrying mud or an ant moving a house, adding to the family’s meager income little by little. He accompanied Li Baoping and Li Huai to the Academy of Cliffs in the Great Sui. On the way back, he brought back Chen Lingjun and Nuanshu, and also caught a golden cross-mountain carp during that time. From Jianqi City to Tongye Continent, he accidentally entered the Lotus Blossom Blessed Land, and was joined by Pei Qian and the four people from the painting scroll, as well as a little lotus person with a broken arm. Later, he traveled to Beiju Luzhou, and there was a little girl in black in his backpack who liked to spend money on chestnuts. When he went to Jianqi City again, Mi Yu and Changming, whose Daoist name was Lingchun, chose Fallen Mountain. When Chen Ping’an finally returned to Haoran himself, he brought back eight sword cultivator embryos, including Bai Xuan, in one breath. He opened the barbaric lands with his sword, migrated to Mingyue, and gained a loyal 死士Xiao Mo. In the Dali capital, he met the Daoist Immortal Lieutenant who pretended to be a ghost. He made a trip to the capital of Yuxuan Kingdom and found Ningji, whom even Lu Chen found to be a hot potato. On Wutong Mountain, he accepted Deng Jianping as his disciple. Not to mention being thrown into the心相heaven and earth to work as a long-term laborerYu Shiwu, Xiao Xing, and the others… On Chessboard Mountain, during a “sit-down distribution” initiated by A-liang and cooperatively acted out by “Wei the Earth God,” Chen Ping’an was the last to choose, selecting the pale gold lotus seed. Chen Ping’an then cleared out a small pond behind the bamboo building. They were all patiently waiting for the seed in the lotus pond to sprout and bloom. Upon their farewell in Tongye Continent back then, his friend Lu Tai had lied to Chen Ping’an, saying that he had picked up a bargain on Yelling Sky Street of the Planchette Sect, buying a bag of elm seed money. Lu Tai gifted it to Chen Ping’an, telling him to plant it in a sunny spot on the mountain upon returning home. Chen Ping’an didn’t recognize its value, but Wei Bo was an expert, immediately seeing through it as the seed of the ancestral elm tree in Middle-Earth Divine Continent. Regardless, many years later, in Fallen Mountain, elm trees had grown into a lush forest. From Wu Yi of Purple Sun Prefecture, Fallen Mountain obtained an immortal’s plum pit. After planting it and with Nuan Shu’s meticulous care, it truly became magical, just as the legends said. Within a year, it grew into a “Solar Term Plum” resembling a thousand-year-old tree, exuding spiritual energy during each of the twenty-four solar terms. Even Liu Zhongrun and the others from Cheating Fish Back were polite enough to ask for Fallen Mountain’s homemade bayberry wine. Earlier generations plant trees, later generations enjoy the shade. The elm forest and plum tree are located on the mountainside between the bamboo building and the mountain gate, two adjacent auspicious locations. Discipline Keeper Chang Ming often strolls alone to the elm forest, while the Daoist Immortal Wei frequently goes to cool off and enjoy the moon under the plum tree, not forgetting to bring a bamboo chair. Zheng Dafeng occasionally joins them for night excursions, chatting about reading insights. When they get hungry from chatting, they embolden each other and team up to knock on the old cook’s door, shouting for midnight snacks! Zhong Qian always arrives punctually just as they are about to pick up their chopsticks, eating everything without a word, and leaving with a toothpick in her mouth, displaying a true assassin’s demeanor.

Not to mention outsiders, even Zheng Dafeng couldn’t believe that Chen Ping’an actually established a sect in Fallen Mountain.

Upon reaching the entrance of the Yang Family Medicine Shop, Zheng Dafeng asked, “What do you think of the Mountain Lord?”

Immortal Wei was slightly taken aback, “Cautious, generous, a good person, wise, devoted, responsible… and handsome.”

Zheng Dafeng clicked his tongue. The atmosphere of Fallen Mountain should be more famous than the “Night Excursion Banquet.”

Zheng Dafeng asked, “Did you notice the empty spaces above the doors of the houses as we walked?”

Immortal Wei nodded, “They were originally places for inlaid mirrors. They were taken down back then, and I heard they were sold to outsiders at a high price.”

Zheng Dafeng fell silent.

It seemed the first person to describe Chen Ping’an as a mirror was in the conversation between Qi Jingchun and “Cui Dongshan” in the old house in Erlang Lane.

In Fallen Mountain, when Cui met Chen Ping’an formally for the first time, he warned him to look back at the shadow behind him.

The last time the Three Ancestors visited the small town, outside Mud Bottle Lane, the Dao Ancestor told Chen Ping’an that one shouldn’t be scared by their own shadow. Recalling when he first met Cui Dongshan, the devil-may-care white-clothed youth said many things that Chen Ping’an then considered nonsense, such as the profound meaning in black and white writing, that every character is a shadow.

Words have an end, but meaning is infinite.

Countless young men in the world mistake profundity for casualness.

Life is like a never-ending exam paper with fill-in-the-blank questions. Arranging the chosen principles, the people and things one has chosen or discarded, is the answer we give.

Ma Kuxuan also told a similar truth to his nominal closed-door disciple, a particularly pleasing firewood youth, that a person rarely pays attention to their own shadow.

The fundamental root of the Outworld Heavenly Devil’s Great Dao, in a sense, is the first Daoist in the world, or rather, a certain… “shadow” compiled from all cultivators.

Chen Ping’an said to Yuan Huajing, whom he met by chance in that Law Sect temple ground, “No matter, who doesn’t have a shadow under the sun.”

During their travels in Fuyao Continent, due to the mink hat girl mentioning Yin and Yang fish for the first time, Chen Ping’an also asked Xie Gou, “Have you seen the shadow of a shadow?”

Upon entering the shop, there was only one shop assistant, Shi Lingshan. Seeing it was Martial Uncle Zheng Dafeng, he ignored the young Daoist.

In the backyard, Zheng Dafeng went to the woodshed and told Immortal Wei to make himself at home.

Seeing a long bench, Immortal Wei moved to sit on it, waiting for Brother Dafeng.

The Daoist held his sleeves, looking composed, his gaze crossing the courtyard’s skylight and settling on the closed main room.

He felt a little emotional, it was truly not easy for their Mountain Lord to reach this point.

In Fallen Mountain, those who arrived before him seemed to dislike talking about the Mountain Lord’s childhood. But Immortal Wei had still heard and understood a little.

In fact, walking to the medicine shop just now, Immortal Wei found it difficult to imagine the feeling of a child repeatedly going to the shop to get medicine back then.

Immortal Wei held his sleeves and looked up at the sky.

The twenty-four solar terms in the human world are like arranging troops on a battlefield.

In the prime of youth, one must dare to strive for fame and fortune, which burns brightly like Minor Heat to Major Heat. One must also consider not living one’s later years like Minor Snow to Major Snow. Therefore, one should understand that life’s Minor Fullness is the best principle, and avoid seeking perfection. This requires a person to contemplate the long nights of Winter Solstice during the longest days of Summer Solstice. One must also think about the coming of Spring Equinox in the difficult and harsh days of Great Cold. In dealing with others, maintain a clear conscience. In times of prosperity, treat End of Heat as Frost’s Descent; in times of adversity, treat Cold Dew as Spring Equinox.

There is an order to things. A young person must first set aspirations, daring to set the highest aspirations. Setting aspirations in Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumn Equinox, Winter Solstice, in spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Immortal Wei spoke with feeling, mumbling to himself, speaking from the heart.

From the woodshed, Zheng Dafeng laughed and asked, “Immortal Wei, what are you thinking about while keeping watch?”

Immortal Wei’s heart tightened. Keeping watch? What, not moving? Is he really stealing?

Zheng Dafeng changed the subject, poking his head out from the woodshed and raising his chin, “This long bench has some age on it. Many important figures have sat on it.”

Immortal Wei quickly got up, wiping the seat with his sleeve while complaining, “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Zheng Dafeng laughed, “I’ve never even sat on it.”

Immortal Wei glanced at the long bench, it must be very valuable. Back then, Chang Ming, one of the ancestral money of the world’s golden essence copper coins, chose Fallen Mountain as her foothold in Haoran World. At that time, the battle in Old Dragon City was tense, and Chang Ming wanted to do her small part to see if the shop needed golden essence copper coins. Thus, she, who had some connection with the Divine Dao, had taken the initiative to visit the old man at the Yang Family Medicine Shop, being extremely respectful. Although Old Man Yang was amiable and replied with “I appreciate your kindness,” Chang Ming still didn’t sit on that long bench. The Three Teachings.The previous generations of Sages who held court in his family could act thus, but longevity would never dare.

In a way, they were officials of a “previous dynasty”.

Longevity’s audience with one of the Twelve High Seats who held the Ascension Platform was much like a local government clerk meeting one of the Three Dukes or Nine Ministers of the imperial court.

Before Longevity left the shop, the old man Yang, with a rare smile, said, “Such an opening, truly a magnificent piece.”

Whether it was interpreting trigrams or divining lots.

The young Daoist’s self-muttering was the answer. The true solution to the beginning of the small town was the heavenly path is strong, and the gentleman strives for self-improvement.