Two young women served as “gatekeepers” at the Imperial Tutor’s residence. Neatly dressed, one in brocade, one in emerald green, they were like peonies and secluded bamboo respectively.

They guarded the two covered walkways connecting the second and third courtyards, each with a saber and a short sword of the Dali border army specification at their waists.

Inside the room, Han E stood trembling and said, “It’s an illusion cast by the immortals, Liu Wenjin isn’t actually dead, right?!”

They say cultivators on the mountains have boundless means in their sleeves, can shrink mountains and rivers into inches, and transform into myriad forms, enough to fool the eye.

Chen Ping’an lightly tapped his knee with the rolled-up book and said, “Liu Wenjin, forty-three years old, currently the Minister of Rites of Qiu Kingdom, has used a false identity for nineteen years. His real name is Zheng Lan, his ancestral home is the former Baishuang Dynasty, in Huaxiang Commandery. He comes from a prominent family with generations of officials, but unfortunately, he is a concubine’s son. Huaxiang Commandery, quite a coincidence.”

Han E was silent, standing beside the chair. The young prince’s heart was in turmoil. He couldn’t die, not yet! He had too many ambitions yet to realize. He still had to implement his aspirations as the new ruler of Qiu Kingdom, to help the Han clan of Qiu Kingdom break free from vassalage, no longer needing to pay tribute to any suzerain state. He absolutely could not continue to shame his ancestors.

Chen Ping’an said, “At first, I was also worried if Liu Wenjin had a dual identity as a spy. I had the Ministry of Justice, and even the Ministry of War, re-examine Liu Wenjin’s relevant files carefully to see if there were any omissions. The result is, there weren’t.”

Han E’s eyes were red, his fists clenched. Fearful of the green-robed man to the extreme, the young man instead found some courage. He gritted his teeth and said, “Handzhou Qiu Kingdom’s heavy taxes far exceed the average level of Dali’s prefectures. Liu Wenjin said this is the Dali Song clan deliberately suppressing Qiu Kingdom, causing the common people to suffer and complain, and eventually, they will rise in rebellion. The Dali court intends to make Qiu Kingdom disintegrate on its own within thirty years, and then Dali will take the opportunity to send troops to suppress the rebellion, ending the Qiu Kingdom Han clan’s rule, without even preserving its vassal status.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and asked, “How did Minister Liu explain and sensationalize the matter of the Han clan secretly colluding with the demon army during wartime?”

Han E angrily said, “You’re talking nonsense! My father only refused to obey the Dali military order, not wanting to send men under fourteen from Qiu Kingdom to the battlefield. After several failed negotiations with the Ministry of War in the temporary capital, my father didn’t hesitate to personally risk danger and go to the temporary capital to meet with Song Mu, that dog賊 King Luo.

My father even made a promise that all young men from the Qiu Kingdom royal clan, and even children who could hold a saber, could all go to the battlefield to kill demons, only asking Dali to withdraw that military order. It was pouring rain that day, a dignified ruler of a kingdom knelt on the ground, Song Mu just refused to nod, not even willing to see him!”

“It’s a pity Minister Liu didn’t go to Tianqiao to tell stories.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “When it comes to giving people the cold shoulder and listening to the sounds of kowtowing, Song Jixin can indeed do such things.”

Han E sneered, “King Luo Song Mu colluded with the巡狩使 Su Gaoshan. One was ruthless, the other vicious. They wanted to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys and intimidate the various kingdoms. Su Gaoshan then led his troops into the palace and harmed my father! That Su Gaoshan is ambitious and wants to make the巡狩使 position he already obtained hereditary. Civil officials as pillars and military officials as巡狩, so that his military family, which rose to prominence through killing, can be rich and powerful for generations!”

Chen Ping’an narrowed his eyes and smiled, “Liu Wenjin is really a piece of trash. Killing someone is just cutting off their head? If I had known this, I wouldn’t have given him a quick death.”

The young prince spoke passionately, spitting and talking to himself, forgetting his fear. “Liu Wenjin also said that when the Dali Dynasty forcibly relocated coastal residents, the fishermen and islanders who refused to leave their homeland within the deadline were all immediately beheaded. The Dali border army’s military orders were like death warrants, but they didn’t provide enough boats, leading to a continuous trail of bones on the relocation route, and the scene of people exchanging children for food was unbearable to witness. The wronged souls and vengeful ghosts of those who died by the sword, drowned, or starved are still lingering by the sea.”

“The Dali Dynasty’s current civil and military achievements are built upon the countless bones of innocent people. The soldiers and civilians of various countries who died at the hands of the Dali border army are more numerous than those who died at…”

Chen Ping’an had been patiently listening until here, and then lightly said, “Hm?”

In fact, there was no immortal method at all. Han E was as if his throat was choked, purely frightened by that indescribable… aura.

Han E was like a sheepskin raft crossing a river, deflated by a light poke from a knife. The young man was once again overwhelmed by fear.

A woman softly said, “Imperial Tutor, Yuan Huajing, Song Xu, and Yu Yu from the Dizhi lineage have arrived.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Do not see Yu Yu, let her return the way she came.”

She then stopped the young woman from the Ma Fen Yu clan, who had a not-so-low family seniority, and allowed the other two to pass, letting them walk into the backyard.

Earlier, it was also she who had sliced off Liu Wenjin’s head with a sword and carried it to meet the young man.

Yu Yu wanted to speak but was stopped by a glance from Song Xu, who was a Dali prince, indicating to her not to be stubborn and to return quickly.

Chen Ping’an said to the young man, “Han E, I can accept your foolishness, which is why I took the time to talk to you until now. But if your heart is bad, rotten to the core, I won’t be angry with you. It’s not worth it with a dead person. But I will regret letting you cross this threshold, without giving me any surprises at all. Since you make me regret it, then within the established policies and military laws of Dali, I will make the nobles of Qiu Kingdom suffer more, and dig out that decaying flesh and rotten bones even deeper.”

Han E started to tremble again, and it wasn’t faked. The books only taught how to be an emperor or an official, not this.

The Yuan clan disciple Yuan Huajing, a Nascent Soul realm sword cultivator, and the Dali prince Song Xu, were both respectful and addressed him as Imperial Tutor outside the door.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Choose a chair and sit down. I called you two over because I want you to go to Handzhou outside of Qiu Kingdom and cooperate with Zhao Yao from the Ministry of Justice to keep an eye on some of our own people. Zhao Yao and Cao Gengxin are waiting in the left wing of the second courtyard. You can discuss the specific matters behind closed doors. Also, Song Xu, go remind Yu Yu not to be too clever for her own good.”

Song Xu and Yuan Huajing both moved chairs and sat down, nodding.

Yuan Huajing had spent some time at the Sword Worship Platform before and benefited greatly, with much progress in his swordsmanship. He had met both the Old Deaf Man and Xie Gou. The former felt that he was a promising talent who excelled in diligence, and with better luck, he might have a chance to reach the Immortal realm in this life, so he told Yuan Huajing more about sword refining insights.

The latter felt that this “Great Talent Yuan” was an expert at addition and difficult to communicate with, but the marten-capped girl saw that his talent was poor, and asked him a question.

“Qi like a suspended thread, the Dao diminishing day by day, will it converge?”

Yuan Huajing, who had made full preparations beforehand, chose to go into seclusion at the Sword Worship Platform, but he failed to break through. After leaving the Sword Worship Platform, he still did not become a Jade Purity realm sword cultivator. Yuan Huajing knew his own hardships. It was better not to talk, but when he talked with them, he felt that his Nascent Soul realm bottleneck was even larger and higher.

Simply because of Xie Gou’s words, which seemed to enlighten Yuan Huajing, his Dao heart suddenly diminished, and his swordsmanship suddenly became empty.

Therefore, although there was a slight regret for not breaking through, Yuan Huajing felt a certain pride in the unseen. This feeling could not be shared with outsiders.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Is that young Empress Dowager of Qiu Kingdom truly not a Dali spy with a death wish?”

Han E, who was standing beside him like a punished child, was struck by lightning, his mind a mess. He collapsed on the spot, staggering. The young man reached out to support the armrest of the chair, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

Yuan Huajing said, “What if she is, what if she isn’t.”

The implied meaning was simple. The Imperial Tutor might not be unfamiliar with troop deployments, but he might not have a deep understanding or feeling for the inside stories, secrets, and rules of the assassin and spy professions, being the last Hidden Official of Sword Qi City.

Chen Ping’an didn’t mind.

Song Xu shook his head and said, “I can assure the Imperial Tutor that she is not a Dali assassin planted in Qiu Kingdom.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “That simplifies things.

After the additions from the Ministries of Justice and War, the second list totaled three hundred and twenty people.

In addition, there are fifty-something spies from other countries, but half of them have dual or even triple identities. They still need to be screened again.

Chen Ping’an glanced sideways.

Han E couldn’t help but burst into tears, his face full of tears.

If she is? If she isn’t? No matter what the answer was, the young prince was heartbroken and felt the same kind of despair.

The marten-capped girl flattered the beautiful but cold-looking woman in brocade on the covered walkway, “Wow, sister, you’re so beautiful, and you’re so skilled with a sword when you chop people.”

The young woman smiled, “Deputy Xie, please don’t joke.”

Xie Gou asked doubtfully, “You can talk?”

The woman martial artist was also puzzled, “Why wouldn’t I be able to talk?”

Xie Gou said, “Before, in the corridor of the Small Morning Court, there was an old gentleman in a python robe who was very sparing with words.”

The woman explained, “The rules of the heavenly court’s inner palace are different from the rules of the Imperial Tutor’s residence.”

Xie Gou remembered something and quietly asked, “Sister, you’re used to being an official. My Mountain Lord said something strange, can you explain it? He said, ‘Literati who study should not touch court calculations; they will shatter upon touch.’ What does that mean?”

The woman smiled, “It probably means that no matter how smart a scholar is, they are not as smart as a scholar who has become an official, especially a high-ranking one. Since that’s the case, it’s better to just study diligently and write books in the study, which can also be passed down through generations, leaving some traces. This is just my guess; how could I know the Imperial Tutor’s true thoughts.”

Xie Gou gave a thumbs-up and started to pull out her sleeve, “You’re also well-read! Sister Rongyu, I compiled a travelogue; please take a look.”

She waved her hand, “Fu Qing likes literature. Deputy Xie can show it to her; I’ll pass.”

Xie Gou put away the booklet and shook her head, “Then I’ll pass too. I can read faces, and I don’t get along with Sister Fu Qing.”

Her waist was too thin, her hips too wide, her chest too high, and the key was that she deliberately hid it.

Although Rongyu was curious, she didn’t ask for the reason, just considering it the knowledge of a Daoist master on the mountain.

A secretary of letters in his thirties, carrying a pile of files, arrived at the “doorway.”

Rongyu pressed her hand on the saber sheath and said indifferently, “Stop. The Imperial Tutor is still discussing matters.”

The handsome secretary of letters then stood outside the door without a word.

Xie Gou said with her mind, “Sister Rongyu, he wants to sleep with you.”

Rongyu’s expression was cold. She condensed her voice into a thread and whispered, “Then he’s looking for death.”

Xie Gou chuckled, “I’m not sowing discord. By the way, let me ask you something, Sister, how many years has he been ‘serving’ and gaining experience here?”

Rongyu suddenly frowned, “There are nineteen days left until exactly six years… Then he’s truly looking for death!”

Xie Gou tsked, truly smart.

Rongyu directly said to Fu Qing, who was guarding the other door, “I’ll go to Room B first and tell everyone to stop writing immediately, leave their desks, and wait outside. You collect the files from this person, and immediately review them after you return to the room. Then retrieve the accumulated files from the past two years and see if you can find the ‘abuse of power’ network that their Room B is trying to conceal from the Imperial Tutor, or traces of them seizing opportunities to omit certain important matters and profit from it.”

Fu Qing walked directly to the head secretary of letters from Room B, took all the files that needed to be approved and finalized by the Imperial Tutor, and returned to a room in the second courtyard. Without closing the door, she immediately began reviewing the files and documents on the spot.

Rongyu reached out and grabbed the shoulder of the promising handsome man, dragging him all the way to the entrance of Room B, making him stand still. She entered the room, and soon the secretaries of letters came out in a confused stream, looking at each other, standing in the corridor.

Rongyu went to a quiet annex in the front courtyard. Soon, an old man with white beard and hair, instructed the Ministry of Justice to extract confidential archives and copy them here, as well as the two Ministries of Works in the temporary capital of Dali that corresponded to Room B. Of course, there would be some commotion.

Chen Ping’an did not pay attention to Rongyu and Fu Qing’s series of actions. He simply got up and returned to the table. The secretaries of letters from the various departments of the yamen had already brought some important official documents. Before Han E arrived, Chen Ping’an had roughly scanned them and then had them bring more files.

In the Dali border army, there were as many as five types of mountain armor jointly manufactured by the Ministry of Works, the Mohists, and talismans. Among them, the highest grade was the Shanwen Wuyue Armor. Just to transport the five-colored earth from various mountains for relocation, the Dali court mobilized thousands of mountain-moving spirits and monsters, as well as a larger number of mechanical puppets and talisman warriors. So last time in the Hehuan Mountain area, Chen Ping’an learned that in the small countries south of the Great River, where the border checkpoints were stable and there was no war, the court and the ruling powerful families and clans had been secretly and openly trading in this type of talisman armor and various mountain weapons, making huge profits. To be precise, it could be considered a business with infinite profits without capital. Therefore, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue in the temporary capital had long suggested repurchasing these armors and weapons at a low price. However, there were disagreements in the capital on whether to purchase them under the official Dali identity or in a private capacity. As for “low price,” how low was still debated.

Speaking of Minister Yan Yongfeng of the Court of State Ceremonials, although he was a silent gourd in the Small Morning Court, on paper, he constantly sought instructions from the yamen and complained. Before the Dali border army marched south, there was a lot of talk about the border regions among officials and literati in both the court and the opposition. Not talking about this was considered not knowing the times. After the Dali Song clan unified Baoping Continent, border studies became a temporary “顯學” (prominent field of study) again, until the war ended and the Dali Dynasty returned half of Baoping Continent, when it slowly declined. It was just that the Court of State Ceremonials became a punching bag yamen in the eyes of the officials of the Six Ministries, with everyone saying a few words about it.

It was simply because the Court of State Ceremonials had made too many jokes over the years. For example, the teams from a certain vassal small country who came to the capital to pay tribute increased year by year. Goodness, this year, a mighty force of three thousand people came in one go. It is said that two children were even born on the way… There were also those who mixed fake tribute items with genuine ones, received a large sum of rewards and gifts from the Dali court according to custom, and made a fortune after returning! There were even those who smuggled goods along the way. It was more like a trade channel than a tribute route…

In short, there were constant small and large troubles at the various postal stations along the tribute route and during their stay in the capital. There were also those who refused to return after arriving. When they came, there were three or four hundred people, but only about one hundred when they returned. They had to be caught one by one… There were even those who caused trouble by drinking alcohol in the capital, fighting and brawling, or even armed combat, between the delegations. There were even imposters, forging seals, and rushing to the Dali capital to collect rewards first!

Quickly flipping through the pile of files brought by Rongyu and the others, when Chen Ping’an saw that the mastermind behind forging the seals were a few urban youths who were less than sixteen years old, who had only read some unofficial histories and heard some plays, after the Ministry of Justice interrogated them, they indeed had no other ideas. They just wanted to make a large sum of money. If they wanted to defraud, they would directly defraud the richest person. Who else could it be but the old emperor of the Dali Dynasty surnamed Song!

The officials of the Court of State Ceremonials and the county officials along the way would definitely be punished, but even the Ministry of Justice could not help but add a few annotations to the record, roughly meaning that the sentences could be reduced for those imaginative and daring youths, as well as that traveling troupe whose acting skills became increasingly exquisite along the way.

So Chen Ping’an picked up his pen again and wrote the two characters “可減” (can be reduced) in red ink on the official document of the Ministry of Justice.

He also added a few sentences. Roughly, if the few youths were sent back to their hometown after serving their sentences, and if they were willing to register as residents of the capital or willing to study at Chunshan Academy, the Dali Ministry of Revenue would pay the expenses.

In a little over half an hour, comments on more than sixty official documents and files were made.

There were also some suggestions issued by the official residence and circulated to the various ministries, such as borrowing a sword boat respectively to Fan Junmao of Mount Nan Yue and the Old Dragon City, and whether a waterway similar to Guixu could be opened between the East Sea and Mount Nan Yue, and submitted to the Ministry of Works for feasibility study.

Chen Ping’an raised his head and asked with a smile, “How is the food here at the yamen?”

Song Xu said, “It is said that the three meals plus supper are famously delicious and filling.”

Yuan Huajing glanced at Han E and asked, “How should he be dealt with?”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment, but answered irrelevantly, “This year’s inspection of the temporary capital should be presided over by the Ministry of Personnel. Go inform Zhao Yao of the Ministry of Justice and greet the temporary capital. The public procedures will proceed as usual, but they should be asked two questions. The traces of assessment should not be too obvious; it’s fine to use some mountain methods. If the Ministry of Rites of the temporary capital or anyone else objects, tell them to come to the capital to find me.”

“Also, once you have the two answers, they don’t need to be included in the temporary capital’s inspection and will temporarily not affect official promotions or demotions. It’s enough for the capital to know.”

Yuan Huajing asked doubtfully, “What questions?”

Chen Ping’an said, “How to ask specifically can be dealt with as appropriate. I only need the answers deep down in the hearts of those officials: should the wild demons die, and is the Dali Dynasty good or bad.”

Yuan Huajing pondered for a moment and said, “This unofficial inspection, in addition to the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Justice secretly putting in effort, on the surface, should also appear to be just a boring formality as much as possible. Can it also be slightly extended by a month or so to better guarantee the authenticity of the final result?”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment, “Feasible.”

Song Xu said, “The fewer people who know about this matter, the better. Furthermore, to truly make it appear like a formality and fool those seasoned officials who practice cultivation in officialdom, our new Minister of Personnel in the capital, whose position has been vacant, must be selected immediately.”

“Soon.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and then asked, “Is that secretary of letters outside who manages a confidential department a disciple of the Pillar of State clan?”

Song Xu hesitated for a moment and said, “His surname is Yu, a second-class jinshi, and the family has high hopes for him.”

Yuan Huajing breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that he didn’t share the same surname.

In the corridor of the second courtyard, although it was already summer, everyone felt as if they were in an ice cellar.

Chen Ping’an walked out of the backyard corridor with Yuan Huajing and Song Xu. The two Dizhi cultivators quickly left the official residence and went about their respective businesses.

The young prince, who was as if mourning his parents, found Rongyu who had returned here and timidly said, “The Imperial Tutor asked me to borrow buckets and rags from you to clean the bloodstains on the ground of the backyard. After wiping the ground, I will leave here under the Imperial Tutor’s order and follow Yuan Huajing and Song Xu to the sword boat.”

Rongyu said nothing and took the young man to get the items.

Chen Ping’an clasped his hands in his sleeves, looked at the young central officials and aspiring provincial governors who were treading on thin ice at the moment, and smiled, “This is our first meeting, this kind of opening is not too good.”

Chen Ping’an looked at the young nobleman who was arrogant and even bolder, and said with a gentle expression, “I, a bumpkin who stumbled into good luck, besides constantly killing on the battlefield, actually know a little bit about court affairs. I’m not an expert, but I’m not an outsider either. However, you are too impatient and unwilling to wait a few more days.”

His gaze shifted, no longer looking at the young official who was slumped on the ground. Chen Ping’an said three sentences with a poker face.

“Clerical staff need generations of painstaking effort to truly control a yamen and reach a tacit understanding with the principal officials.”

“Did Imperial Tutor Cui ever tell you that there is a selection ground for Buddhahood in temples where one can see their true nature?”

“Here, it is a promotion field that will make you feel like your butt is burning even when sitting, and make half of Baoping Continent envious, but it is also a place to seek death.”

The summer sun was scorching, and the young people in the corridor, who held low positions for the moment but already had considerable power, were all sweating profusely.

As for that young talent who was about to be “sent out to be a Beijing official,” a relative of the royal family who was also a distant relative of Prince Song Xu, he was dragged out by the hair by Rongyu like a dead dog.

In the evening, Chen Ping’an asked Wei Bo for help and returned to Luopo Mountain. During this time, Wei Ye You joked, are you going to clock in every day from now on?

The marten-capped girl, however, wore a third-grade tribute plate and a brand-new Imperial Tutor’s residence jade plate, restrained her sword intent, and leaped out of the sky above the capital. The sky was cloudless, but with a rumble, a streak of sword light flew for thousands of miles, rushing towards Luopo Mountain.

At the private training ground at Fuyao Peak, amidst the lush bamboo forest, stood a three-bay study. The surface of the small lake sparkled.

Chen Ping’an did not go straight to the seclusion study for reading and cultivating qi, but walked into the lake. The moment his cloth shoes touched the water surface, the water became smooth as a mirror, like frozen glass.

The water surface then began to flow with colorful light, revealing a formation filled with talismans and restrictions. Chen Ping’an simply walked slowly, the formation patterns under his feet spinning rapidly. When he stopped, he also unlocked the first restriction. The green-robed figure remained still. The entire mirror surface suddenly flipped over. At the same time, a brilliant star map appeared in the sky, within reach. Chen Ping’an began to reach out and pluck the stars, moving them one by one to other constellations. His vision suddenly cleared, returning to normal. However, between the lake water under his feet and the study on the shore, a misty “mountain gate” appeared, like a huge compass used by a geomancer for surveying. Chen Ping’an’s mind moved slightly, and circles of various colored characters began to rotate. Only when the compass stopped did Chen Ping’an come ashore, open the door. Inside the room sat the Daoist Ding.

They say a cycle of sixty years in the mountains is a thousand years in the world.

Within the personal world of Daoist Ding, it was far, far more.

Xie Gou sat by the door, “He was badly harmed by that fellow Huang Zhen.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. Protecting the Dao remained, but using observing the Dao to attain it seemed out of the question.

Xie Gou said, “He lost a lot. Does the Mountain Lord really not ask Jiang She for compensation?”

Chen Ping’an remained silent.

If his divinity was still pure, it could be peeled off and continuously record Daoist Ding’s journey of seeking the Dao and his mental process.

That would be a complete grand avenue leading to heaven, a complete Dao lineage encompassing Dao, heart, skill, and method.

Now, what was there to look at?

He could only wait patiently for Daoist Ding to wake up.

Within a person’s fifteen hundred cave-heavens, there was once the ambitious aspiration to refine all things.

Chen Ping’an sat by the door, and Xie Gou casually asked, “Mountain Lord doesn’t seem to have much hatred for Huang Zhen?”

Chen Ping’an was distracted and said casually, “It’s alright.”

Xie Gou was puzzled, “Why?”

Chen Ping’an hesitated, “Before in the small town, people called me all sorts of things, but no one ever called me a thief.”

Xie Gou suddenly understood and lay down in the bamboo corridor, crossing her legs and dangling a cloth shoe, “Human nature, ah, human heart, ah.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Perhaps I need to send a flying sword message to Green Tiger Palace, asking Zhao Zhu to immediately bring his disciple here.”

Previously in Green Tiger Palace in Tongye Continent, he had cast a敕字符 (敕令 talisman) on the mind of the young Daoist, containing the Daoist meanings of mountain, water, and thunder magic. It was a “targeted remedy,” relatively gentle, but this measure only treated the symptoms, not the root cause. Furthermore, the fight with Jiang She had caused countless sequelae, and Lu Chen was in such a situation. This talisman must have been greatly affected. Chen Ping’an had just come up with a relatively stable solution.

Xie Gou immediately sat up and said, “I’ll go, I’ll do it. I’ve been working hard on calligraphy recently, and my skills are not bad!”

Chen Ping’an changed his mind and said, “Never mind, sending a flying sword message is too time-consuming. I’ll use a Three Mountains Talisman to go to Green Tiger Palace.”

Xie Gou said, “Together then.”

Chen Ping’an said, “No need. I’ll be quick. You shouldn’t waste your Three Mountains Talismans. You have a limited number of uses.”

Xie Gou hesitated, rubbed her marten hat, and tentatively said, “Mountain Lord, I can refine a counterfeit Three Mountains Talisman myself. The distance for shrinking the ground is a bit shorter, but I can just throw a few more. It doesn’t consume much merit points either, although the spiritual energy consumption is not small, and the talisman paper for drawing is a bit expensive.”

Chen Ping’an was shocked and said, “Are you sure?!”

Are you really sure you’ve imitated a Three Mountains Talisman that doesn’t consume merit points, only costs more money?!

Xie Gou asked doubtfully, “Drawing a Three Mountains Talisman violates heavenly rules?”

Why don’t I know that Mr. San Shan Jiu Hou has such a rule? Before, when I tried to imitate the goods a few times, it didn’t attract the attention of this ancient Daoist friend. He clearly doesn’t care about such trivial matters. Although she is not familiar with Mr. San Shan Jiu Hou, she knows one thing very well. When it comes to ancient Dao dissemination, he is truly not stingy. Before the battle of ascending to heaven, connecting… notifying the Daoists in various places mainly relied on him and his direct disciples traveling through mountains and rivers, toiling tirelessly.

Chen Ping’an stabilized his Dao heart, “When did you learn to draw talismans?”

Xie Gou blinked. Asking such a boring question, is the Mountain Lord looking for a stabbing?

Chen Ping’an slapped his forehead. Right, he just showed her the Daoist incantation carved on the scraps of that seal, and she learned it with just one glance, something he hadn’t even touched the threshold of “calculation.”

Before casting the Three Mountains Talisman, Chen Ping’an moved a wooden box outside the room. The box was filled with talismans, many of which were large ones.

These were all talismans drawn during the period when he borrowed Daoist techniques from Lu Chen and became a 14th realm cultivator.

Xie Gou guessed the Mountain Lord’s thoughts and risked death to offer a few pieces of advice, “Don’t burn them! It’s good to keep them and look at them, to have a reminder. If you see someone you don’t like, you can use them to harm them, ruin their cultivation…”

The neatly stacked talismans in the box, just by their appearance, were excellent. If someone mistakenly thought they had found a great bargain and bought them, or played mind games with the Mountain Lord and finally “snatched” them to use in battle, well, whoever uses them knows.

Chen Ping’an shook his head, cast a fire spell, put his hands in his sleeves, and squatted beside the box.

He just asked Xie Gou to keep an eye on the wooden box. So many talismans igniting at once… he was afraid it would blow up this training ground.

He had originally thought of using them for self-use while traveling, or as gifts for social interactions. He could also be a peddler and sell them at high prices.

The firelight illuminated a face filled with gloom.

Xie Gou also squatted beside the box, staring blankly and saying, “It’s all money. It’s like burning paper money. It would be better to throw them in the water and hear a splash.”

Chen Ping’an glared at her and scolded, “Don’t talk nonsense!”

Xie Gou rubbed her marten hat, clapped her hands together, closed her eyes, and muttered, “Forgive me, forgive me, I’m just a child talking nonsense. Xie Gou is here, with the utmost sincerity, praying that Palm Master Lu can live for ten thousand times ten thousand years.”

Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but laugh.

After Xie Gou finished, Chen Ping’an slapped her marten hat and joked, “You’re quite good at secretly learning.”

Xie Gou rolled her eyes. Annoying. Before, she felt that her Mountain Lord didn’t see her as a pretty woman. Now, he was almost not seeing her as a woman at all, which was worrying. In the future, she hoped she wouldn’t be treated as a sister from a different father and mother by the Mountain Lord.

Before going to Tongye Continent, Chen Ping’an asked Wei Bo to bring Liu Xianyang to the Fuyao Peak training ground.

The marten-capped girl lay back on the floor. Unexpectedly, the Mountain Lord returned to the training ground so quickly. Xie Gou was shocked and said, “The Mountain Lord’s divine power is invincible.”

Chen Ping’an was slightly embarrassed and said, “When I got there, I realized that Zhao Zhu and Gan Xing were already on their way to Baoping Continent. Old真人Lu said there was no big problem for now and told me to rest assured.”

Xie Gou burst into laughter, and Chen Ping’an let her gloat.

Upon receiving the reminder from Wei Ye You, Liu Xianyang immediately rushed to this place. Helping to shrink the earth veins? No need, Sword Immortal Liu’s sword control speed was outstanding!

Chen Ping’an opened layers of restrictions, and Liu Xianyang praised repeatedly, “What a good place, the scenery is nice. Although the territory is small, you’ve made a good training ground in a snail shell.”

Entering the room, he saw the Daoist sitting like a corpse on a rush mat. Liu Xianyang squatted on the ground and asked doubtfully, “Is this Daoist friend…?”

Chen Ping’an briefly explained. After listening, Liu Xianyang rubbed his chin and said, “Since he is a little heaven master in charge, with a circulation of the great Dao of heaven and earth within him, how can Daoist Ding just sleep stiffly? He needs to eat, drink, defecate, burp, and fart.”

Chen Ping’an and Xie Gou exchanged glances simultaneously. Feasible! It must be so!

Xie Gou was radiant and gave two thumbs-up, “Big Brother Liu, you’re awesome!”

Liu Xianyang said with a smile, “Anyway, it’s not me who has to deal with the shit and piss. It just so happens that your Mountain Lord is good at doing that.”

Xie Gou slowly shifted her gaze. Mountain Lord, why are you looking at me? Men and women should not touch each other directly. I am a maiden, and I still have to celebrate the bridal chamber with Xiao Mo.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Do you need sharpening stones from Longji Mountain?”

Liu Xianyang rolled his eyes and said, “What do you think, Mountain Lord Chen?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “On Mountain Jia Liu, we’ll split it equally. Consider it my share of the money.”

Liu Xianyang waved his hand, “I was waiting for you to say that. That sentence is enough. Keep the stuff yourself.”

Whether you, Chen Ping’an, send it or I, Liu Xianyang, receive it, it’s just a matter of the intention arriving.

Liu Xianyang asked, “You boy have been unwilling to elaborate on that fight. What, with three flying swords, you can’t see the light?”

Without waiting for Chen Ping’an to say anything, “Comparing people will only anger you. You boy actually have three flying swords!” “It’s truly both fearing that your brothers are suffering and fearing that your brothers are enjoying great blessings.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Actually, there are four.”

Liu Xianyang’s expression was normal, calm and collected. He said, “Oh.”

Xie Gou began to count silently.

She hadn’t even counted to three when Liu Xianyang grabbed Chen Ping’an by the neck, extremely angry and furious, and asked, “How many?!”

For a sword cultivator, the number of natal flying swords does not have an “absolute” relationship with the level of cultivation or the magnitude of killing power. But who dislikes having more?

Every time he thought of Pei Min, who had a sword challenge with him in the rain at Tiangong Temple in Tongye Continent, besides often pondering his swordsmanship, whenever he thought of the number of flying swords the other party had, Chen Ping’an would immediately think of the idiom “astonishing to the world.”

Unexpectedly, he now possessed four flying swords himself.

Cage Sparrow, Wellhead Moon, Big Dipper, Green Plover.

Sitting against the wall together, Liu Xianyang folded his arms across his chest and remained silent for a long time. He asked, “Skinny pole, what are your thoughts?”

They had both walked all the way from being young. Of course, many people seemed to have had no childhood.

Xie Gou said seriously, “At this moment, looking back on the past, recalling suffering and thinking of sweetness, must I compose an impromptu poem?”

Chen Ping’an thought hard for a moment and smiled, “I want to go grab some supper, and have the old cook make a hot pot, it must be heavy on oil and spicy, and there must be wine!”