The Five-Colored World had just entered winter, and in the vast and desolate lands to the north, a heavy goose-feather snow was already falling, the accumulated snow like jade, a world of glazed purity.

Mountains, rivers, grass, and trees were all white, truly a world like a blank sheet of paper.

The construction of the cities they saw along the way was very rough, and there were few densely populated areas with ten thousand households along the route. Even the immortal sects that had seized strategic mountain and river locations to establish themselves had a far greater earthy smell than an ethereal one. Often, the mountain gate archways were shoddily made, yet the plaques had immense ambitions, either calling themselves a certain “Sect” or a certain “Teach,” a scene completely different from the Boundless World.

This amused Xie Gou immensely. Good heavens, there weren’t many Mid-Five Realms cultivators, yet each one was establishing a “Teach” and claiming to be an ancestor.

It was now the time of melting snow. They walked along a river whose ice had just thawed, stepping through the thick snow, their boots rustling. Passing by a rural village by the water, they saw a group of children, shivering like quails, squatting by the river, fishing with rods. Their bamboo creels at their waists were still empty of catch. Not far away, women with frostbitten hands were washing clothes by the river, and a group of woodcutters who had come down from the mountains were carrying large sacks of charcoal on bending shoulder poles.

They were heading towards the capital city of the Heavenly Fish Dynasty. Chen Ping’an said he needed to find an acquaintance there, while Qi Tingji suggested they admire the snowscapes along the way. Xie Gou naturally welcomed this; she believed the writing in her travelogue was already exquisitely crafted, and if the length could be extended, tsk!

Chen Ping’an bent down and scooped up a snowball, packing it firmly. After leaving the village, in a place where there were no people, the girl with the sable hat and rosy cheeks rolled up a snow boulder the size of a small mountain, utterly delighted, shouting with glee.

Throughout their journey, it was mostly Xie Gou chirping away, making it impossible for Qi Tingji to associate her with “Sword Cultivator Bai Jing.”

Chen Ping’an had already explained something to Qi Tingji in a letter: the Master of Azure Firmament Cave had already spoken, bestowing Azure Firmament Mountain and the Treasure Trove Beach to Liu Tui’s Heavenly Ballad Village, but warned them not to use the banner of the Observance of Dao Temple to deceive and defraud others, or he would reclaim everything, principal and interest included.

Qi Tingji chuckled, “Upon hearing this momentous news, Liu Tui was overjoyed and immediately sent a flying sword reply. His handwriting was messy, showing how excited he was when he wrote it.”

“He said he would visit Falling Dust Mountain soon to personally thank the Hidden Official. In the letter, he also inquired about the Hidden Official’s preferences so he could prepare gifts. I had to say a few good words for the Hidden Official and told Liu Tui that Mountain Master Chen was most pure-hearted and shouldered righteousness with unwavering strength, and disliked the smell of money, suggesting he visit the mountain empty-handed.”

“As for when Liu Tui will arrive at Falling Dust Mountain, I don’t know.”

Xie Gou pushed the snowball with all her might, sending it rolling towards a mountain peak. It stopped only halfway up the mountain. She clapped her hands, satisfied with having created such a “celestial trace” that could be recorded in a book of anomalies, and grinned, “Old Sword Immortal Qi, you truly understand our Mountain Master.”

Chen Ping’an explained, “Such a huge favor cannot be repaid with just one or two magical treasures. It’s better to be empty-handed, so it can be owed. Currently, Heavenly Ballad Village is still in the phase of rebuilding their sect, especially repairing Azure Firmament Mountain, which incurs huge expenses. They must be strapped for cash everywhere. I estimate Liu Tui would at most grit his teeth and give a semi-immortal weapon?”

Xie Gou pondered for a moment, finding this reasonable, and then began to complain about Old Sword Immortal Qi’s dishonesty, “You mean well, why speak so sarcastically?”

Qi Tingji raised his chin, “That’s the atmosphere your Mountain Master has created.”

“Liu Tui’s reputation on the mountains in the three western continents is rather ordinary. It’s not an exaggeration to say he has a阴鸷 (yīnzhì – gloomy and sinister) personality and bears grudges. However, if you become his friend, he is quite righteous and tends to help his kin rather than upholding justice. I believe Falling Dust Mountain needs one or two such mountain allies.”

“In the Soaring Continent, if we talk about the foremost figure on the mountains, it’s still the old Ascended Being, Yang Qiangu. In earlier years, even before Liu Tui’s realm dropped, he admitted he was not Yang Qiangu’s opponent. But in terms of sect strength, let alone the current Back Mountain, even before Yang Qiangu went to the Forest of Merit, Back Mountain was still not as strong as Heavenly Ballad Village.”

Hearing this, Xie Gou said, “I heard that if it weren’t for Old Sword Immortal Qi saving him on the battlefield, Liu Tui would have been hung on the wall to receive incense. Just based on this, Liu Tui is not bad. Otherwise, my Mountain Master wouldn’t have nodded and asked Little Mo to pass the message to Daoist friend Azure Firmament. In a few days, it will be Mangzhong (Grain in Ear)… Mountain Master, can I say it?”

Chen Ping’an looked around, throwing the snowball far away towards the mountain peak where the large snow boulder lay nestled halfway up, and chuckled, “What’s there to say?”

Xie Gou said, “On the day of Mangzhong, the Mountain Master will officially take over as the Grand Tutor of the Great Li Dynasty, a natural progression. At that time, the Great Li Dynasty will have a grand celebration. The Emperor Song He even hinted to Wei Bo earlier, asking our Falling Dust Mountain to deploy as many experts as possible to assist, to put on a show, how to frighten people is how to do it, we must show the stature of a Dao Master of a continent. Won’t the capital be empty of people then? At first, the Mountain Master thought it was completely unnecessary, and it would be enough to just stand in the hall on the day he attended the morning court. However, not long ago, he changed his tune. Not only will Falling Dust Mountain send several strong soldiers and generals, but they will also invite a few friends. If Liu Tui happens to be there, he can be counted among them to participate in the grand event.”

Qi Tingji chuckled and asked, “Your Mountain Master has calculated everything? I can’t escape either?”

Xie Gou said to herself, “My use of idioms is superb!”

Chen Ping’an said against his conscience, “There is still some distance to the realm of being appreciated by both the refined and the vulgar.”

Xie Gou nodded, “Mountain Master has insight, I need to continue to work hard.”

Qi Tingji was puzzled. Could it be that Bai Jing from ten thousand years ago had this personality?

He couldn’t resist teasing, “Second Head Xie only needs to write down the sights and experiences from ancient times, and it will be a wondrous book.”

Xie Gou sighed and waved her hand, refuting, “Old Sword Immortal Qi, you don’t understand the market. If I were to write it as it is, which bookstore would have the guts to engrave and sell it? The government would surely arrest me and misunderstand me as a mountain and marsh rogue cultivator who kills and steals, otherwise who could write such a vivid and real jianghu.”

Qi Tingji was speechless.

Chen Ping’an laughed heartily.

On what could be called an official road, there were single-wheel carts carrying coal into the city. Near the county town, there were stalls selling second-hand clothes, and groups of beggars in ragged clothes, drooling over the old but thick cotton clothes while basking in the free sunlight.

In a carriage leaving the city sat an official’s son with an indifferent expression. Nowadays, donkeys and mules were rare here, so those who could ride horses were certainly wealthy.

Qi Tingji felt some emotion, a brand new world, this white paper world.

By the river earlier, a small crucian carp finally bit the bait and was thrown into the bamboo fish creel.

Qi Tingji also understood the young Hidden Official’s intentions. Coming to the Heavenly Fish Dynasty to discuss matters was true, and letting him see more of the customs and traditions of the Five-Colored World was even more apparent. Fame and fortune in the world are the best bait, and the Great Dao of longevity on the mountains is also tempting. Throughout history, how many people can resist biting the hook?

This county town, located in the imperial domain of the Heavenly Fish Dynasty, had no city walls but a river flowing through it. They entered the city and saw a high platform of blue bricks, which served as both the local water administration office and a stage. There were holes underneath as passages. Today was a temple fair, with colorful sheds set up, and heads bobbing in the crowd that gathered again. The yamen hired dozens of strong and agile men to perform somersaults, rope skipping, table jumping, pole climbing, spitting wine and fire, showcasing their skills to entertain the gods. There were also dozens of strong women, some wearing sackcloth and masks,扮 that牛頭馬面 (ox-headed and horse-faced demons), or heavily made-up with rouge and powder in colorful clothes, dressed as Rakshasas and Yaksas. The stage props were also changed accordingly, displaying sword mountains and thorny trees, grinding saws and oil pots, resembling a depiction of hell. Two men, with bags slung across their shoulders and nimble hands and feet, climbed to the tops of two bamboo poles and hung up two long strings of white paper lanterns, then suddenly scattered paper money below, which instantly scattered like flying snow. The spectators below the stage, with uneasy hearts and faces like ghosts, dared not look too much but were also reluctant to leave. Several timid children had already shrunk into their parents’ arms and were crying. It was lucky it was bright daylight; if it were late at night, even young adults would probably not dare to walk at night.

Lively and bustling, Xie Gou watched engrossed.

A dissolute man tried to grope a young woman, but Xie Gou pushed through the crowd and kicked the man in the back of the knee, causing him to fall to his knees on the spot. The young woman heard the commotion, turned her head, and saw the man kowtowing like he was paying respects during the New Year. Then she saw the sable-hatted girl with her hands on her hips standing not far away. The woman covered her mouth and chuckled, her face as beautiful as a flower. Seeing the middle-aged man in the green robe and the young man in the white robe a little further away, she restrained her smile, turned away shyly, and continued watching the play, but in her heart, she was wondering which handsome young man from which family in the county town he was, and if he was attending the fair with that elder.

Qi Tingji’s attention was only on the stage. Two black banners with gold characters were hanging from the bamboo poles, which were a long couplet.

Between yin and yang, feel free to conjure spirits and play tricks, just watch as good and evil follow like shadows, answering karmic retribution, who can ultimately escape? This life is the dojo to become a Buddha or an ancestor!

Day and night, just calculate everything with intelligence, know that life and death change names and surnames, transform appearances, but this heart remains! How can we incur debts ignorantly?

Qi Tingji whispered, “This is truly using theatre to expound the dharma.”

Such scenes were impossible at the Sword Qi Great Wall. Upon reaching the Boundless World, Qi Tingji immediately rushed to the fiercely contested Golden Armor Continent. After the war ended, he went to the Southern娑婆 Continent to establish the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect. He had been traveling on the mountains for these years and had never really experienced the flavors of the marketplace.

When the play ended, the audience quickly dispersed. A water administration official with a pot belly, seeing that no trouble had occurred, led his retinue back home. On the stage, a sturdy young man who had climbed the pole to scatter money earlier, and a woman wearing a Nuo mask, did not leave with their companions but waited for a moment, whispered to each other, then jumped down from the high platform and came to Chen Ping’an and the others. Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Brother Mù Mào, what’s going on?”

It was none other than the second Protecting Grand Tutor of the Heavenly Fish Dynasty, Yang Mù Mào, Daoist name “Wú Yá” (Boundless).

As for the first one, he had already been sent away with two arguments. Firstly, he fought him with a Golden Core realm and won. Secondly, he was actually a Jade Pure realm. That Nascent Soul realm old immortal was convinced of his defeat, so he resigned his official position, changed his appearance, and secretly became the steward of Grand Tutor “Wú Yᔑs residence.

Yang Mù Mào chuckled, “Having nothing to do, I came here to observe the suffering of the common people. Since it’s observing and not inspecting, I have to do something substantial. It took a lot of thought to gather popularity, such as performing on stage. It takes an hour or so to prepare back and forth, but we don’t charge the people a single penny.”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

“Brother Good Man, this is Her Royal Highness the Princess of our Heavenly Fish Dynasty, named Ding Róng. She is not at all pampered, she enjoys eating mountain delicacies and seafood, and she also enjoys eating steamed buns. She can sleep in a thousand-day work bed, and she can also sleep on the ground in a temple.”

Yang Mù Mào said with a smile, “Your Royal Highness the Princess, allow me to solemnly introduce you. This is the Brother Good Man I often tell you about!”

Ding Róng’s expression was strange. She clasped her hands in salute and for a moment didn’t know how to address him properly. She could only say, “I have heard of your great name for a long time.”

She was very compatible with Grand Tutor Yang and often heard him talk about a “meeting by chance” in his hometown of the Northern Reed Continent, saying that he and that promising Brother Good Man, who had many misunderstandings, turned from enemies into friends, and explored that truly鬼蜮谷 (guǐ yù gǔ – ghost domain valley) together, finally becoming brothers who shared adversity. In terms of strategy, they were evenly matched, in terms of cultivation, only slightly different, and in terms of appearance, he was definitely superior.

Chen Ping’an smiled and returned the salute, “Greetings, Your Royal Highness the Princess.”

Xie Gou nodded, finding this woman quite pleasing to the eye. She was heroic and energetic, well-built, with a large backside but a flat chest, clearly a martial arts expert.

Yang Mù Mào couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Good Man, where is my great benefactor, Mr. Little Mo? Why didn’t he come here with you?”

The sable-hatted girl nodded. This fellow was quite perceptive.

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “He is in secluded cultivation.”

Yang Mù Mào tentatively used telepathic communication, “Earlier, I saw that sword light flash by and felt somewhat familiar. Could it be?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Little Mo has broken through.”

Yang Mù Mào took out a jade-boned folding fan from his sleeve and sighed repeatedly, tapping his palm with the fan, “It truly is as the old saying goes, good people have good rewards!”

Xie Gou clicked her tongue in wonder. Such a small Nascent Soul realm, so good at chatting? His position doesn’t match his virtue.

Yang Mù Mào’s lie to the first Protecting Grand Tutor that he was Jade Pure was naturally his usual trick for navigating the jianghu. His successful questioning of the Dao at the Golden Core realm was true. In short, it was a mix of truth and falsehood, guess correctly and you win.

The last time in Ascension City, he set up a stall with Cui Dongshan, exchanging magical treasures by bartering.

If a Nascent Soul realm from thirty years ago could walk sideways in the Flask Gourd Continent.

Then a Nascent Soul realm in the current Five-Colored World could walk sideways throughout the entire world.

Of course, if they walked sideways and accidentally bumped into that small group of Upper Five Realms who were also walking sideways, they would either walk vertically or lie down.

Yang Mù Mào, who had presented himself as a black-clothed scholar in both鬼蜮谷 and Ascension City, was still at the bottleneck of the Nascent Soul realm. His Dao root was from the Great Origin Dynasty’s Department of Supreme Mystery’s Little Heavenly Sovereign Yang Ningxing, who had cut off his three corpses. He and his “brother” Yang Ningzhen had wandered to the Five-Colored World. When they met Chen Ping’an and his group in Ascension City, Little Mo saw a streak of purple-gold Dao energy on him that involved the Azure Firmament World. In ancient times, this phenomenon was called “One-Line Sky.” The art of observing qi in later generations began here.

Little Mo had cut off this line for him at that time, restoring his freedom.

In return, Yang Mù Mào promised to send 500,000 people to Ascension City as long as he served as the Protecting Grand Tutor of a certain dynasty.

Today, the Heavenly Fish Dynasty not only allowed but also encouraged people to compile genealogies and build ancestral halls in various places. At the same time, they vigorously bestowed official titles upon mountains and rivers. As soon as a淫祠 (yín cí – illicit temple) was erected in a locality, court officials would immediately arrive. And the founding emperor of the Heavenly Fish Dynasty was that man from the Soaring Continent wearing a Great Frost Armor, Ding Ding. He was both the last monarch of the old dynasty and the founding emperor of the new dynasty. He defied all opposition and insisted on not using the old national title.

However, in the Five-Colored World, he had somehow used some secret mountain technique to transform from martial arts to cultivation. He was now a genuine Golden Core cultivator. Perhaps due to the saying that “rivers and mountains may change, but human nature is hard to alter,” Emperor Ding Ding, who was known for expanding territory and engaging in aggressive warfare in the Soaring Continent, upon arriving here, established only one major national policy: to recruit soldiers and buy horses to strengthen national power, so as to quickly bypass Ascension City, fight all the way to the southernmost part of this world, seize territory, establish vassal states, and deal with the mothers of those weaklings in the Tung Leaf Continent.

Yang Mù Mào curiously asked, “Brother Good Man, may I ask who these two are?”

Chen Ping’an introduced, “Old Sword Immortal Qi, the founding ancestor of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect. Xie Gou, my Second Head Enshrinement.”

Yang Mù Mào was confused. He had come to the Five-Colored World relatively early, and much of the latest news about the Boundless World came from street talk and hearsay during his travels in Ascension City, and from drunkard’s tales, which was limited and he didn’t know much.

Yang Mù Mào then actively changed the subject, saying, “Brother Good Man, isn’t it coincidental? I don’t even need to spend effort gathering information. Shǔ Zhòngshǔ and Li Jìn are here now, serving as officials in the same court as me.”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Perhaps it is time for heaven and earth to work together, and your Heavenly Fish Dynasty’s fortune is destined to flourish.”

Yang Mù Mào clasped his hands and shook them a few times, “Borrow your good words, borrow your good words.”

Ding Róng had been observing this “Brother Good Man,” but unfortunately, she couldn’t discern his personality or the depth of his cultivation from his brief remarks.

Qi Tingji spoke up and asked, “Which Li Jìn? The young man from the Divination Sect in the Tung Leaf Continent?”

Yang Mù Mào nodded, “I dare not conceal anything from宗主 (zōngzhǔ – Sect Master) Qi, it is him.”

Since he was the founding ancestor of a sword Dao sect, he must be at least a Jade Pure realm sword immortal. But why had she never heard of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect? It was truly frustrating. The Five-Colored World was simply too large. It was not comparable to a single continent in the Boundless World. Currently, all the gathered information about other countries, every piece of intelligence, was extremely precious, and every spy who went out on a long journey was no different from a death warrior.

As for Li Jìn, he no longer had the appearance of a young man, and he looked constantly troubled and often sighed deeply. Yang Mù Mào usually disliked dealing with him; he preferred… enthusiastic people and events. For example, Ding Róng, who was full of heroic spirit, lively, and full of yearning for the jianghu, so she went to the jianghu.

Qi Tingji was surprised for two reasons. First, Li Jìn’s identity was special. To some extent, he could be considered the chore disciple of the Divination Sect who first unveiled the prelude to the war between the two worlds. Second, the Tung Leaf Continent entered the Five-Colored World in the southernmost region, so did this mean this young man had crossed a world, from south to north, and chose to settle in the northernmost Heavenly Fish Dynasty?

Yang Mù Mào was a little strange. He wondered why this宗主, whom Chen Ping’an respectfully called Old Sword Immortal Qi, was not more interested in Shǔ Zhòngshǔ?

Shǔ Zhòngshǔ was no nobody. As one of the young ten candidates across several worlds, the only son of the couple from the Heaven’s Corner Cave Heaven, he was hailed as a thousand-year genius of the Flowing Mist Continent, and he was a sword cultivator.

However, for Qi Tingji, let alone being a candidate, even being one of the young ten would only be worth noticing when they ascended to the Dao one day. Otherwise, they were merely names he had heard and perhaps remembered at most. When it came to genius or not, especially sword cultivators, how could they compare with their Sword Qi Great Wall?

Chen Ping’an smiled, “I would like to ask Brother Mù Mào to help introduce me. I would like to go to the capital and meet His Majesty the Emperor.”

Ding Ding was one of the Seven Souls of the Military Strategist’s second ancestor.

Yang Mù Mào chuckled, “That’s simple. I’ll send a flying sword message directly. Let’s find a place to rest, wait for the reply from the capital, and have some drinks? Since you’re on my territory, you must let me play the host.”

He was the Protecting Grand Tutor, the highest-ranking official. Shǔ Zhòngshǔ was the Vice Minister of Works, personally overseeing various civil engineering constructions, and Li Jìn served as an unrecorded royal enshrinement, his reputation not widely known, as His Majesty the Emperor had intentionally helped conceal his true identity. The Protecting Grand Tutor was a prestigious position, one could be busy or idle as one wished, and could meddle in affairs as they pleased. In short, it was the most comfortable position.

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Anywhere nearby will do.”

Yang Mù Mào, being familiar with the area, chose a restaurant nearby. Business was average. Upon entering the hall, he shouted, “Waiter, bring five catties of Prajna soup, a steamed mandarin fish, a plate of spicy stir-fried钻篱菜 (zuān lí cài – wild vegetable, possibly a type of fern), and slice a few catties of braised meat…”

The waiter’s eyes widened, “What are you talking about?”

Yang Mù Mào laughed heartily, “Bring one of each of the signature dishes, and five catties of the best wine first.”

The waiter whispered, “Honored guest, if you order drinks and dishes according to your way, the price won’t be cheap.”

Yang Mù Mào slapped a silver coin on the table, “Refund if there’s a surplus, make up the difference if there’s a deficit.”

The waiter took the silver coin and then opened his palm, “Honored guest, please make up another eight钱 (qián – an ancient unit of weight, about 3.75 grams) of silver.”

Yang Mù Mào turned to look at Ding Róng, who could only take out a piece of broken silver and say, “No need for a refund, bring a few more solid side dishes for drinks.”

A big customer had arrived, and the shopkeeper personally took them to the second floor, selecting a quiet room by the window. Nowadays, there were many smart people and few easy targets.

Yang Mù Mào and Chen Ping’an politely declined each other, but in the end, Yang Mù Mào sat at the head seat and explained with a smile, “Brother Good Man, this is all our hard-earned money! Usually, when Miss Ding and I travel the jianghu, we live by two words, ‘make do’! So today there are no mountain delicacies or seafood, but there is plenty of sincerity.”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Making do with a poor person’s fussiness, with wine and meat, isn’t that full of sincerity? If Brother Mù Mào has a chance to visit my mountain in the future, I can’t say anything else, but I guarantee there will be extra morning drinks and late-night snacks every day.”

Yang Mù Mào nodded and said, “Then I will take you seriously.”

The morning drinking custom at Falling Dust Mountain was entirely initiated by Chen Lingjun.

On Chen Lingjun’s dinner table, exchanging cups, playing finger-guessing games, all were ways of opening their hearts.

Boasting about oneself was, of course, never ambiguous, but no matter how much he elevated himself, he never spoke ill of others. On the dinner table, the most dreaded thing was getting drunk and saying something like, “What kind of person is so-and-so?” or “He just got lucky, how would I have done it?”

Yang Mù Mào only referred to Chen Ping’an as Brother Good Man. Ding Róng didn’t ask further and didn’t even use telepathic communication to send secret messages.

Chen Ping’an chuckled with telepathic communication, “It is said that the two flying swords of this Shǔ Sword Immortal have two innate divine abilities that are exactly opposite. I wonder how he refined his swords specifically.”

Upon reaching the Five-Colored World, Shǔ Zhòngshǔ built an extraordinary platform and also advanced to the Jade Pure realm here. Yang Mù Mào was ambitious and had stayed on the extraordinary platform for a period of time, but he was quite impressed with this young candidate’s cultivation. If Shǔ Zhòngshǔ was a genius, was he just a terrestrial talent?

According to the inside information revealed by Yang Mù Mào, Shǔ Zhòngshǔ had yearned for the Sword Qi Great Wall since he was young, but the reason he didn’t stay in Ascension City was simple: the Jade Pure realm sword immortal with two natal flying swords, “Three Volts” and “Plum Rain,” felt that that summer resort palace clashed with him. So he could travel in Ascension City, but it was not suitable for him to stay for a long time.

Qi Tingji said, “Are you planning something for that old deaf man who became an enshrinement?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Old Deafie came to Falling Dust Mountain out of necessity and under duress. He does things without ambiguity and puts in work and effort. As the Mountain Master, it’s not good for me to let him complain all year round about incompatibility with the environment or the atmosphere.”

Qi Tingji shook his head and said, “I don’t think it’s very meaningful. Old Deafie’s two flying swords are truly mutually exclusive. Shǔ Zhòngshǔ’s flying swords just seem to have opposite divine abilities. The Three Volts sword energy is like a humid steaming basket, and the Plum Rain sword intent is like a gloomy rain-soaked prison, but fundamentally, they are still on the same line.”

“Old Deafie is not stupid. He also had a good relationship with Xiao Xu in his early years and spent so many years at the Sword Qi Great Wall, but didn’t he still fail to find a solution?”

Qi Tingji’s implicit meaning was that if Old Deafie couldn’t solve this matter at the Sword Qi Great Wall, his chances would be even slimmer in the Boundless World.

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Always worth a try.”

Qi Tingji chuckled, “A hands-off shopkeeper, but quite attentive.”

Xie Gou was displeased. Old Sword Immortal Qi liked to speak with thorns, which was a bad habit.

After the dishes and wine were served, Chen Ping’an first picked up a piece of steamed fish for Yang Mù Mào and Qi Tingji. The fish tasted similar to bass.

Xie Gou followed suit and started to actively help pour wine into the white bowls. Ding Róng secretly nodded. Was the girl a younger relative of “Brother Good Man”? Traveling together for training? It was hard to say about her aptitude and character for now, but at least she was attentive. Although Ding Róng was from a noble background, after traveling the jianghu for these years, she increasingly disliked the ways of many high-ranking officials.

Chatting was actually the best accompaniment for wine. Yang Mù Mào slowly chewed the fish and said, “After all, it’s a brand new world, and the natural conditions are not yet truly stable. There will always be some strange things happening. After a long time, you just get used to it.”

“In the east, those Dao officials from the Azure Firmament World, for some reason, had already divided their territories and started to manage them. Suddenly, they were in chaos, fighting back and forth. I heard they are about to splatter brain matter. They are not fighting one-on-one, but mutual group attacks. Occasionally, someone is isolated, they ambush and scheme against each other, with various tactics emerging. Anyway, whoever dares to go down the mountain is unlucky, and even going in groups is not safe. Some ancestral halls have collapsed inexplicably, like our Northern Reed Continent. If I weren’t constrained by my identity, I’d really want to go there and broaden my horizons.”

“We are farthest from the south. I heard it’s not peaceful there either. Every day, big fish eat small fish, small fish eat shrimp, shrimp eat mud. It is said that a vast dynasty has emerged there, and the founding emperor is a Jade Pure realm who appeared from some corner. After forming an alliance with two mountain sects, there are many terrestrial immortals who claim to jointly create an unprecedented era of peace. Without using a single soldier, hundreds of cultivators together can sweep through various countries and destroy everything. It seems there was a dynasty that refused to surrender, which was considered a handful of strong nations, but unfortunately, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and two so-called elite border armies that were finally gathered below the mountain were not enough for those mountain immortals to even fill their teeth. On the battlefield below, there were mountains of corpses and seas of blood. The immortal masters who were soaring through the clouds and riding the mist directly called it not enough fun, creating a large number of ghosts and using magic to drive yin soldiers across the border, and by the way, cleaning up several small countries around. It was probably to establish their prestige. Those who became vassals suffered terribly in the first few years. Where bandits passed it was like a comb, where soldiers passed it was like a fine-toothed comb. All the miserable scenes recorded in historical books probably happen every day.”

Qi Tingji frowned slightly.

Xie Gou seemed heartless, gobbling down her food, her chopsticks moving like lightning.

Ding Róng’s peripheral vision had been observing the “Brother Good Man”‘s eyes and expression, but unfortunately, she could not see any abnormality.

That’s right, being able to scheme with Grand Tutor Yang all the way, matching wits and courage, evenly matched, and splitting the spoils… He must be a deep-minded and formidable character.

Ding Róng still remembered her first secret trip to the jianghu. In a marketplace alley, she personally saw a group of young men guarding a well and selling water. Women and children with sallow complexions and cracked lips were queuing to pay. If seeing people chisel ice from the river and put it into cellars made Ding Róng feel she finally understood the saying “the family that chops ice” (meaning wealthy family), but when she learned that there were even arrogant people in the marketplace who became unheard of糞閥 (fèn fá – excrement tycoons)… Ding Róng felt it was truly a bizarre world.

In Grand Tutor Yang’s words, it seemed like there would soon be a Beggar’s Sect.

Xie Gou said telepathically, “The main characters are here.”

Qi Tingji chuckled, “It seems Ding Ding does things very decisively.”

It wasn’t just Ding Ding, but also Shǔ Zhòngshǔ, who was followed by a group of莺莺燕燕 (yīng yīng yàn yàn – beauties), and a young man with a bitter expression. Behind him were hidden a divine general and a female ghost immortal. Only Emperor Ding Ding didn’t bring any guards or attendants.

Yang Mù Mào teased telepathically, “Shǔ Zhòngshǔ likes this kind of display, especially when going out. He’s still a good person.”

They were maids forced upon him by his mother. A son should always have a few personal attendants to take care of his diet and daily life and offer warm greetings.

Shǔ Zhòngshǔ had to bring five female sword attendants into the Five-Colored World.

Xiao Píng, Jiàng Sè, Cǎi Yī, Dà Xián, Huā Yǐng.

They were all sword cultivators. Two were at the Golden Core realm, and three were at the Dragon Gate realm.

They weren’t prominent in the Boundless World, but here, they could establish five “sects.”

Shǔ Zhòngshǔ didn’t let them follow him into the restaurant, and Li Jìn also left his two “Dao protectors” outside the county town.

The Divination Sect and the Nine Capital Mountain of the皚皚洲 (Ái Ái Zhōu – White White Continent) shared similar Daoist methods. Both were experts in青詞綠章 (qīng cí lǜ zhāng – green poems and green chapters, a type of Daoist ritual). Jī Hǎi of the Divination Sect, in order to prevent their lineage from being completely cut off, sent Li Jìn to the Five-Colored World and, at the Ancestral Hall’s ritual altar, invited a Heavenly Soldier to descend, whose divine title was “Zhuō Liǔ” (Catching Willows), and then divined to invite a ghost immortal “Huā Yā” (Flower Seal) to serve as the Dao protectors for the young man who was already designated as the new Sect Master.

In the end, like Peace Mountain, the Divination Sect was left with only one person.

Li Jìn was in the same situation as Huang Ting; both were the sole survivors of their respective sects.

Huang Ting had also been to the Five-Colored World, but Li Jìn remained here, waiting for the next opening, while Huang Ting had already returned to Peace Mountain.

Yang Mù Mào chuckled telepathically, “Brother Good Man, you don’t need to come to collect the debt. I promised you that matter, and I will certainly fulfill it.”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Besides wanting to see Ding Ding in person to first understand his character, he also needed to decide whether to find Zhang Tiaoxia again.

Emperor Ding Ding, the martial artist Zhang Tiaoxia, plus the Minister of Rites, the Director of the Department of Sacrifice and Rituals, Song Han Hong, and the sword cultivator Lu Fang, who was given by the old temple master.

If he decided to do something, the number of people was sufficient.

Furthermore, with the existence of that “mountain,” martial artists like Lin Jiangxian at the Eleventh Realm, their figures stood on the peak for a long time, so Chen Ping’an could contact Lin Jiangxian at any time.

Besides, and more importantly, Chen Ping’an still wanted to see that Li Jìn.

Ding Ding and his party entered the room. Yang Mù Mào and Ding Róng had already stood up, one calling out “Your Majesty” and the other “Imperial Father.”

Chen Ping’an and the others had also risen. Qi Tingji and Xie Gou naturally gave face to the Hidden Official and the Mountain Master.

Ding Ding clasped his hands, his spirits high, and laughed heartily, “Ding Ding of the Soaring Continent below the mountain, greetings, Hidden Official, Family Master Qi, Second Head Xie!”

Ding Róng was stunned.

Yang Mù Mào was also surprised. Family Master Qi or Old Sword Immortal Qi, taken individually, were nothing, but when associated with “Hidden Official,” Yang Mù Mào immediately understood the true identity of this “young talent.” Brother Good Man, you deliberately spoke of founding ancestors, you have misled me greatly!

After the welcoming banquet, Ding Ding, being a man of generous character, drank heartily and enjoyed himself.

Shǔ Zhòngshǔ was naturally curious about this last Hidden Official, one of the young ten. His humble background and his immense achievements were truly a stark contrast.

For some reason, Li Jìn was absent-minded, always staring at the Hidden Official with a jade hairpin in his hair. His expression was warm, and the atmosphere was pleasant.

Shǔ Zhòngshǔ understood clearly. Yes, Chen Ping’an and the enshrinement Li Jìn seemed to have similar backgrounds.

Chen Ping’an was also observing Li Jìn, whose life story was filled with anomalies.

After the meal, Chen Ping’an deliberately slowed his pace, letting Qi Tingji and Ding Ding walk ahead, while he walked leisurely side by side with Li Jìn.

In the corridor, Li Jìn stopped and suddenly burst into tears.

Xie Gou, walking at the back, felt completely bewildered.

What was even more bewildering was their Mountain Master, who said something completely unrelated to Li Jìn, “I’m sorry.”

Li Jìn looked at that blurry but gentle face. In the Five-Colored World, he reflected on his experiences over the years, just like seeing Chen Ping’an from Mud Bottle Alley in Pearl Lake Cave Heaven today, unable to speak, the ending of the story in his heart concluded with two words.

Truly bitter.

Li Jìn could probably understand why Chen Ping’an said that. Was he misunderstanding him? Was this part of a detailed plan? Was he a Dao root of the barbaric demon race? Was he planning something else? Was he a hidden danger to the entire human world? If so, was it better to kill the wrong person than to let the wrong one go… Li Jìn himself had been doubting himself for all these years.

Chen Ping’an reached out and patted Li Jìn’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, I will personally confirm this matter with Sage of Rites and Liu Xiang and give you a definite answer. Once you have the answer, if it’s good, you will be truly free. If it’s not good, there will always be a solution, and you can still find peace. I heard a very reasonable saying before. Believe that whether it’s Chen Ping’an from Flask Gourd Continent or Li Jìn from Tung Leaf Continent, heaven and earth also want a few fresh faces, that’s why we seem a little different.”

Li Jìn nodded vigorously.

It wasn’t until Chen Ping’an and the others walked out of the restaurant and then left on the wind that Li Jìn suddenly realized that he hadn’t said a single word from beginning to end.

Earlier, Ning Yao had left the night ferry with Pei Qian and went to the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect.

Chen Ping’an used a relatively compromise method, asking Qi Tingji if he was interested in serving as the City Lord of Ascension City, but he didn’t say that the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect would be assigned to Falling Dust Mountain as a subordinate sect. He only suggested that Shao Yunyan succeed as the Sect Master. And he said this was Mr. Zheng’s idea, and he, Chen Ping’an, only felt it was feasible.

Qi Tingji was naturally tempted.

Choosing to establish a sect in the Boundless World was a last resort out of necessity. How could he not have wanted to go to a new world back then? Unfortunately, Chen Qing refused to allow any Upper Five Realms sword cultivator to enter Ascension City. Even at first, Chen Ping’an and Chen Xi had to be constantly on guard against him. But Qi Tingji also cared about his reputation and had personal motives, seeing if he could get an exception from the Temple of Literature based on his military achievements.

It was clear that besides practicing swordsmanship, the path Qi Tingji took was also the path of achievement of Cui Can, the embroidered tiger.

However, Qi Tingji did not expect Chen Ping’an to actively invite him to take charge of Ascension City.

Chen Ping’an suddenly said, “Go to the Heavenly Screen and inform the seated Sage that you will help relay a message to Tutor He in Flask Gourd Continent, asking Little Mo to come to the Five-Colored World. As for…”

Xie Gou immediately interjected, “Saying hard things softly, the wording should be subtle, the attitude should be clear. These tricks, I know them all.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Once you meet up with Little Mo, go to the south first and let Little Mo get familiar with those three hundred cultivators. After examining their states of mind and records, you can kill those who deserve to die.”

Xie Gou asked, “What if all three hundred deserve to die?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Then kill them all.”

Xie Gou hesitated for the first time, “Will it bring bad influence to our Falling Dust Mountain?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Little Mo examines people, you draw your sword, and I will bear the consequences.”

Qi Tingji smiled and nodded.

Xie Gou said, “Then let’s do it?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Go quickly and return quickly.”

The sword light, like a rainbow, soared into the sky.

Ascension City was located in the very center of the Five-Colored World.

Ning Yao personally “zoned” the area and erected a boundary monument in each of the four directions.

At the location of the monument in the north.

Their figures landed at the foot of the mountain and slowly ascended.

The group of young sword cultivators stationed there recognized the identities of the three people at the foot of the mountain and felt like they were dreaming.

Not only had the young Hidden Official come, but Qi Tingji had also followed?

Ascending the steps together, Qi Tingji said telepathically, “You don’t need to deliberately use Zheng Juzhong as a shield. With his style of doing things, he would definitely have me step down as Sect Master.”

Chen Ping’an did not refute but simply waved his hand, “A gentleman helps others achieve their goals, a villain takes away what others love. Although I am not a gentleman, I dare not be a villain.”

Qi Tingji said with a carefree expression, “Liu Tui is willing to owe favors, but I am not.”

“However, before returning to the Five-Colored World, I will also go to the barren land to fulfill a long-cherished wish.”

“I hope that after you take over the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, you will not hold grudges against that group of Upper Five Realms sword cultivators.”

“There is also a crucial matter: you must repeatedly consider how Lu Zhi is to harmonize with the Dao. It is best if she can comprehend it herself, but as long as Lu Zhi has not found the path to harmonize with the Dao for a day, you, as the new Sect Master, must give it more thought.”

“Furthermore, I have one requirement, not to discuss anything with you, but it must be so. According to the custom of the Boundless World, the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect will be a subordinate sect, the Azure Water Sword Sect will be elevated to an upper sect, and Falling Dust Mountain will be the main sect, the ancestral court. I do not expect the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect to become an upper sect, forcing the Azure Water Sword Sect to become a subordinate sect. You can make the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect and the Azure Water Sword Sect parallel, without distinguishing between upper and subordinate sects.”

As long as Chen Ping’an took over the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect.

Falling Dust Mountain would immediately leap to become the undisputed number one sect in the Boundless World.

Fu Lüyu Xuán’s Peach Talisman Mountain would pale in comparison.

Just speaking of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, including Lu Zhi, there was a large group of Upper Five Realms sword cultivators.

Chen Ping’an, Cui Dongshan. Both were now Immortal Realm. And Little Mo, Fourteenth Realm. Bai Jing, Ascended Realm complete.

Qi Tingji did not give Chen Ping’an a chance to refuse and said in an unquestionable tone, “No need to be coy and decline. You and I are just taking what we need.”

As their direct disciples, the eighteen sword cultivators of the Sword Qi would definitely be brought to the Five-Colored World by Qi Tingji.

But Lu Zhi, Shao Yunyan, and Lady Tuoyan would definitely be happy to see this happen.

That group of private swords would probably not be too resistant to this last Hidden Official.

Chen Ping’an said, “Let’s not talk about these for now. Chen Ji has to agree first.”

Qi Tingji chuckled, “In the Sword Qi Great Wall, he’s the most scholarly. Heh, from ‘Dayi’s Wen Wang’ chapter, ‘Ji Xi’ means bright.”

At this moment, on the mountaintop, two figures appeared from behind the stone tablet.

The young-looking Chen Ji, Nascent Soul realm. Beside him was a maid, Chen Yanquan, Jade Pure realm.

Chen Xi disbanded his body and reincarnated, naming himself Chen Ji. In the Five-Colored World, he broke through one realm every year for seven or eight years.

Chen Ji smiled, “Such a decision is very good.”

Chen Ping’an was puzzled as to why Chen Ji was here. Qi Tingji chuckled, “I called him.”

Chen Ji curiously asked, “How did the Temple of Literature agree to let Qi Tingji enter the Five-Colored World?”

Chen Ping’an said, “I went to the sky and asked Zhou Mi a sword strike, accumulating some merit.

Of course, we have to give face. So, until the next opening, Old Sword Immortal Qi may not show his face. It’s enough for the members of the Ascension City Ancestral Hall to know.”

Chen Ji asked in confusion, “No need to avoid that name anymore?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “There’s no need to avoid anything at all. When I’m free now, I practice calligraphy, and I fill a few sheets of paper with the name ‘Zhou Mi’ every day.”

Chen Ji received a secret message from Qi Tingji and set off immediately. He just greeted Ning Yao and quietly left Ascension City to travel the world. The duration was uncertain, and the return date was uncertain.

There were many studious individuals among the disciples of the Chen family on Tai Xiang Street. However, being at the Sword Qi Great Wall, they really had no way to hide in their studies and pursue scholarship.

Good times are like flying birds, turning into stories in one’s hand. Chen Ji is now ambitious to harmonize with the Dao and also wants to read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.

The “young man” wants to travel to study, to buy many books from others, to travel far, and to record his observations of mountains and rivers.

Chen Ji said, “Qi Tingji, simply having a high realm is not enough to be a good City Lord.”

Qi Tingji smiled slightly, “You just focus on your travels and don’t teach me how to do things.”

Chen Ji said, “Don’t let my next return to Ascension City be to make you abdicate.”

Qi Tingji said, “It’s not too late to say such a big thing when you return to the Ascended Realm.”

Chen Ping’an did not participate. The two old sword immortals who had inscribed characters on the city walls were straightforward in their speech, and their relationship was genuinely good.

Chen Ji said, “How about letting the Azure Water Sword Sect remain the upper sect, and at the same time let the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect become the main sect.”

Qi Tingji nodded, “That’s a good idea!”

Chen Ping’an was about to speak.

Chen Ji smiled, “Congratulations.”

Qi Tingji chuckled, “Good things come in pairs.”

Chen Ping’an hesitated to speak.

Chen Ji echoed, “Handing over a sect as a gift, is this the only instance in ten thousand years?”

Qi Tingji said, “Oh, I just realized, it’s such a magnificent feat.”

Chen Ping’an clasped his hands in his sleeves, his lips moving slightly.

Qi Tingji asked in confusion, “Local dialect?”

Chen Ji hummed and said, “It’s probably because the Hidden Official is quite emotional at the moment.”

That’s right, he was about to take over as the Grand Tutor of Great Li, and also take over the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect.