The ancestral mountain of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect is named Zhujing. Its earthen and stone slopes are a vivid red, and in the early morning and evening, crimson clouds often coil around the mountain like flood dragons gazing at the sea. The other continuous peaks stand tall like graceful green bamboo. Thirty-six types of clouds billow from the mountain peaks, transforming into various mirage phenomena, ethereal palaces and pavilions shrouded in celestial aura, drawing water energy day and night. The sea crashes against the cliffs, stirring up waves that shatter like flying snow. What a Cloud-Water Jade Mountain, with myriad phenomena as guests, Heaven and Earth floating day and night, still echoing the sounds of home.

An quickly strode towards Liu Tui and his group, cupping his hands and smiling, “It’s good to see you again after our farewell at Quan Jiao Mountain.”

Liu Tui and the others returned the greeting, addressing him as Hidden Official, Mountain Lord, or Sword Immortal Chen.

Many unfamiliar faces also withdrew their probing or indifferent gazes towards Liu Tui and his group and, along with An, turned to face the visitors. As for pleasantries, there was no need; their acquaintance hadn’t reached that level.

Qi Tingji hadn’t intentionally concealed the existence of this group of private swords from Liu Tui, but it was their first true meeting. When Liu Tui last visited the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect for its celebration, Gao Shuang, Zhu Su, and the others had not yet arrived in Haoran, and after that, they stayed in Xuangong Blessed Land. Even Wu Manyan and the others had only recently had the good fortune, thanks to the old boatman, to see the true faces of these Sword Immortals.

Liu Tui hesitated for a moment but didn’t use heart voice communication. He said frankly, “With Bixiao Mountain definitively settled, the great anxiety that has hung over Tianyao Township for several thousand years has finally been resolved with the secure return of this ancestral mountain. This is a kindness akin to rebirth. It’s not just me, Liu Tui, who owes Hidden Official Chen a debt of gratitude, but also our founding patriarch and successive ancestors, the entire lineage and heritage of our Tianyao Township.”

“From this day forward, as long as I, Liu Tui, am the Sect Master, then Tianyao Township and its lower sect in Liuxia Prefecture, totaling over 2,700 registered cultivators, will be at your complete disposal. Without a single word of complaint, unless it is rebelling against the Wenwu Temple, rest assured that wherever Hidden Official Chen points, we will strike.”

“These words may seem like empty platitudes, but from my perspective, they are entirely genuine. Sect Master Qi can vouch for me and guarantee this.”

Qi Tingji smiled and nodded, “Sect Master Chen, I, Guest Official Qi Tingji, can be Liu Tui’s guarantor this once. In the three Western Prefectures, there’s a saying: Liu Tui’s words can be used directly as silver certificates.”

An smiled, “How could a junior like myself casually command Tianyao Township? If there’s anything I need help with, we will always discuss it.”

Liu Tui felt a slight confusion in his heart. What was this talk of Sect Master and Guest Official? When did Qi Tingji become a Guest Official of Luopo Mountain?

Nie Cui’e was startled by Liu Tui’s words. What did he mean, everything was fine except for rebellion? And what was this strange way of saying that Bixiao Mountain, the ancestral mountain of Tianyao Township, had been settled and secured?

Jing Hao knew the old history of Bixiao Mountain but deliberately did not reveal the secret to Nie Cui’e and Gao Geng. For such secrets, ignorance was better than knowledge. For instance, Qinggong Mountain was also only on lease, and besides the verbal transmission between two generations of Mountain Masters, it was impossible for a third person to know.

Liu Tui felt uncomfortable because he clearly understood the level of the few individuals standing on the viewing platform: Ning Yao, Qi Tingji, Lu Zhi. Not to mention the person who had just been on land and sent out two sword strikes towards the sea, and the mink-hatted girl beside him, who also seemed to be a formidable Sword Immortal with high cultivation.

Liu Tui had a very keen spiritual sense for those who shared his “path” in terms of their way of doing things. The mink-hatted girl with the strange name, her gaze, her demeanor, and especially the subtle intonation of her voice – it was all clear as day. Liu Tui knew in his heart that she was definitely the most ruthless among this group of Sword Immortals, and her swordsmanship was at least on the same level as Qi Tingji.

In his youth, Liu Tui had serendipitously learned an ancient art of physiognomy, which was to discern a person by listening to their voice.

This “Xie Gou” was definitely someone who would eat people without spitting out the bones.

The words of cultivators at the peak of the mountain are often spoken broadly. Among those at the peak, there are actually different levels, from the strong ascension to the weak ascension. A single word difference can mean a world of difference.

He looked down on the newly ascended Shu Nanyuan of Tianyu Grotto-heaven. Did that mean Lu Zhi, who bore the title of “Pure Sword Cultivator” and had ascended, would look up to him, Liu Tui of Tianyao Township?

Nie Cui’e felt especially awkward. She was more out of place than Liu Tui. Pressed down by an invisible aura, her Dao heart stagnant, it was not only due to her insufficient realm but more importantly because she was not a sword cultivator, and there were simply too many sword cultivators at this time and place.

She was, after all, a young Jade Pure cultivator who had heard the word “genius” until her ears were calloused since she started cultivating in her youth. She was also a prominent disciple of an old ascended master like Jing Hao, the Dao Lord of a prefecture. But standing outside the ancestral hall square of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, Nie Cui’e didn’t even have the thought of speaking.

Fortunately, she finally saw a formidable figure like Liu Tui also being “put on the spot.” While greatly surprised, she felt even more comfortable, her mind filled with one thought: So, Liu Tui, you too have your day?

In contrast, the three sword cultivators including Hua Qinggong, despite their lower realms, felt a subtle sense of harmony in their Dao methods. Apart from being slightly reserved, they weren’t completely unaware of their surroundings. After all, they had fought alongside Song Pin and his group of Sword Immortals at Quan Jiao Mountain.

The three sword cultivators, upon seeing the young Hidden Official and Sword Immortal Ning again, felt a subtle sense of novelty. They felt that Ning Yao’s Dao power was even more profound, and An seemed a bit more relaxed?

As for Nie Cui’e’s trip to Qinggong Mountain this time, she wasn’t merely accompanying her friend Hua Qinggong on a sightseeing trip or trying her luck at Bixiao Mountain in Tianyao Township. The last time at Quan Jiao Mountain, her master had issued a decree, essentially telling her to travel with Hua Qinggong and see if there was a chance to visit Luopo Mountain in Baoping Prefecture together. Her junior fellow, Gao Geng, had made some quite remarkable friends there. When they arrived, she was to remember to be sparing with her words and speak little. She was to pay special attention to a young boy in green robes whose Dao name was Jing Qing. If they were fortunate enough to meet him somewhere on the mountain, they were to invite him to Qinggong Mountain as a guest, saying that old brother Jing from Qinggong Mountain sincerely invited him and had been missing their early morning drinks for a long time. Furthermore, there should be no unnecessary actions, and especially, she must not underestimate or slight this Daoist Jing Qing…

In short, her master’s words were cryptic, strange, and roundabout, very unlike his usual decisive style. Meeting for early morning drinks? Was that some kind of secret code or custom of the mountain? Where there is abnormality, there must be something strange. Nie Cui’e dared not be careless in the slightest, which caused her to think and ponder over and over again on this journey. She came to the conclusion that when she arrived at Luopo Mountain, no, when she disembarked in Baoping Prefecture, she should just maintain an attitude of “respect,” striving for no merit but no fault, and being kind to everyone. That way, she thought, things would always be fine.

Liu Tui was a little embarrassed, so he said with heart voice, “Even if we have to sell everything, within the next decade, Tianyao Township will gather a treasure of Immortal Soldier rank to make up for the Hidden Official’s founding ceremony gift.”

The reason why the Flowing Mist Boat was so slow was that Liu Tui had been using every spare moment to work on this matter. He used secret methods to contact fellow Daoists he knew in various prefectures to see if there were any ways to purchase an Immortal Soldier, and he even made preparations to rent out a part of the White Porcelain Grotto-heaven. Liu Tui had originally thought that if he could finalize an Immortal Soldier during the journey, he would be a bit more confident when he arrived at Luopo Mountain.

Unfortunately, at present, the Immortals at the peak of the mountains in various prefectures all yearned to ascend.

Who wasn’t scrambling, striving to prove the Dao and climb higher? If they could have one more Immortal Soldier that was closely connected to their life, ideally refining it into a natal artifact, or failing that, refining it into the foundation of their Dao field, they would have two or three more chances of proving the Dao. Therefore, now was indeed not a good time to acquire an Immortal Soldier. They were already rare, and moreover, the premium was too high.

In fact, there were still two or three strange treasures at Falling Treasure Beach, and their rank was undoubtedly that of ancient Immortal Soldiers. They were still ownerless, but how could Liu Tui dare to act in such a way? He was afraid that just as Tianyao Township started digging for treasures, the Cave Master of Bixiao would already issue a decree, reprimanding Tianyao Township and holding Liu Tui accountable.

I just gave you Bixiao Mountain and Falling Treasure Beach, and Tianyao Township is already acting like a spendthrift, enjoying being generous with others’ property? If this is how you guard the mountain and protect the beach, Liu Tui, bring all the portraits of your ancestors and divine effigies from your ancestral hall and come to the Daoist temple for a talk…

An didn’t explicitly say whether he would accept Liu Tui’s offer of an Immortal Soldier, merely saying a polite phrase, “That’s too kind.”

Liu Tui understood the unspoken meaning, and knew that regardless of whether it was polite or not, the only true principle was that it is always good to give more gifts.

Buying an Immortal Soldier at the moment was indeed a headache, but the worry was temporary, while a protective charm would last for thousands of years. Liu Tui knew his priorities.

You, old man Jing, the Grand Guardian of Qinggong, have Chen Qingliu, whose Dao name is “Azure Emperor,” as your backer. Now, don’t Liu Tui and Tianyao Township have one too?

The reason for not using heart voice communication during the conversation was that Liu Tui deliberately spoke for those who were paying attention, such as Nie Cui’e and Hua Qinggong beside him.

An pointed to Xiao Mo beside him, “I don’t dare claim credit. The person who truly helped Tianyao Township say good things to the old Daoist priest was our Xiao Mo. He and the old Daoist priest are close friends of many years. If I were to go to the Daoist temple, let alone helping, I would probably only cause trouble, and getting a cold shoulder would be considered lucky.”

Liu Tui was shocked. A Daoist friend of the Cave Master of Bixiao? And a “close relationship”?

Before, in the world, starting from the sea, spanning across the land, a boundless sword light, the one who sent out the sword strikes wasn’t Ning Yao? Was it this polite “young man” sword cultivator?

Xiao Mo’s expression was normal, and he said with heart voice, “Earlier, I visited Bright Moon Brilliant Color alone on the公子’s orders. At the wine table in the Daoist temple, Daoist Bixiao clearly stated that he was also using Tianyao Township’s hand to perform financial and Dharma almsgiving to the three prefectures. The treasures he deliberately left at Falling Treasure Beach back then, Tianyao Township was able to not be greedy and let external cultivators obtain them through serendipity. Over a hundred major and minor Dao lineages have thus branched out and thrived on the map of the three prefectures, which is truly not easy. The successive ancestors of Tianyao Township have proven that their Dao hearts are worthy. Therefore, giving one mountain and one beach to Tianyao Township is a matter of reciprocation, Liu Tui. You don’t need to feel guilty; just accept it. Having said that, if Tianyao Township had gone astray over the years and failed in their later years, Daoist Bixiao would have a different story to tell. Liu Tui, do you want to hear it?”

Liu Tui felt as if the old Daoist priest had personally arrived. He quickly straightened his clothes, formed a hand seal, and bowed with a solemn expression, forcing himself to say, “This junior is willing to listen to the teachings of the Cave Master of Bixiao.”

He didn’t want to listen, but could he not? Well, it would also serve to verify whether his guess was accurate.

“It’s not really a teaching.”

Xiao Mo relayed the message, “‘Let the new and old Sect Masters of Tianyao Township both come to the entrance of the Daoist temple for a few words.'”

Liu Tui was silent with awe.

It was only at this moment that Qi Tingji smiled and explained to them, “Just now in the ancestral hall council, I have resigned from the position of Sect Master and only retain the status of Guest Official. An will fill the vacancy as Sect Master, and Shao Yunyan will be the Deputy Sect Master. There have been some other changes in positions as well. I won’t go into too much detail, but Hua Qinggong is already a registered Guest Official of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, and Yan Houdao and Tian Xian are both Honored Guests of the Qingping Sword Sect. They are all our own people.”

Liu Tui and the others were greatly surprised and began to offer their congratulations again.

Qi Tingji said, “If you hadn’t happened to be passing by, we would have already set off for the capital of Dali to attend a celebration for Sect Master Chen. On the day of Mangzhong, Sect Master Chen will officially assume the role of Imperial Tutor of Dali.”

Even Liu Tui was numb to it. The group offered their congratulations again; they had to offer their congratulations.

An turned to Shao Yunyan, Gao Shuang, and the others and asked with a smile, “It really is like the old saying, it’s better to arrive at the right time than early. Guest Official Hua’s realm is high enough, and she is also compatible with our Dragon Elephant Sword Sect. Sect Master Shao, Palm Ruler Gao, Wealth God Zhu, what do you think? How about?”

Gao Shuang had no thoughts, still contemplating how to persuade Huang Ling to change her identity. Shao Yunyan and Zhu Su, however, communicated a few words with heart voice and both felt it was perfectly fine. Thus, Hua Qinggong transformed from a Guest Official into an Honored Guest.

Hua Qinggong had originally been content with just obtaining a Guest Official position in the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect. Was there such good fortune?

Yan Houdao and Tian Xian, the pair of Earth Immortal Dao partners, were originally setting out on this trip to register their names in the Qingping Sword Sect’s genealogy as registered Honored Guests. The entire Dragon King Hall of Rui City, especially the lineage of Princess Temple of Fanzhi where Ancestor Hong resided, fully supported this matter after learning about it and even instructed Yan Houdao to facilitate something and make sure to invite the young Hidden Official as a guest to Rui City and Princess Temple of Fanzhi.

Xie Gou had a good impression of the young girl Tian Xian. She didn’t flinch at all when faced with trouble. Thinking back to Wang Jia, the entire Fuyao Prefecture thought he was an Ascension realm cultivator at the time? Tian Xian was only a Golden Core cultivator, yet she dared to provoke him face to face. When she reached the Upper Five Realms in the future, wouldn’t she be able to hack down an Ascension realm cultivator? She had a good temperament and was easy on the eyes. They had to find an opportunity to teach her one or two sword techniques.

Yan Houdao tentatively explained the situation, and An nodded and smiled, “No problem, I have long planned to travel around the prefectures of Haoran. I will definitely visit then, but the specific timing is not yet decided.”

Yan Houdao was relieved and smiled, “The sooner Mr. Chen arrives in Rui City, the sooner we can complete the tasks assigned by the Hall Master and Ancestor Hong. If you arrive later, we can meet the ancestors who are in seclusion for many years and rarely appear several more times. Either way, it’s a good thing.”

Xiao Mo smiled knowingly. These words showed great skill.

However, Xie Gou’s focus, besides the “little girl” Tian Xian, was more on Nie Cui’e. Thanks to her youthful appearance, Nie Cui’e noticed Xie Gou’s gaze and simply assumed the mink-hatted girl was curious about some mountain sayings or something, and didn’t think too much of it.

The more Xie Gou looked at her, the more she felt that the creation of heaven and earth also had some favoritism. Xie Gou exclaimed in admiration, “Wow, Nie Cui’e, this woman is truly beautiful. When she stands there, she’s like a vertically scrolling painting of a lady. No matter how you look at her, she’s pleasing to the eye and a feast for the eyes.”

Nie Cui’e was indeed a natural beauty, so much so that she needed to use two layers of illusion when she went out to deliberately reduce her charm.

Song Pin, who was as famous as Nie Cui’e, was also beautiful, but this female Sword Immortal had a cold expression and distant eyes, carrying the sword “Fuyao” on her back, pushing people away from a thousand miles. Song Pin was somewhat at a disadvantage, not as plump, enticing, and captivating as Nie Cui’e. If Nie Cui’e were to learn that ancient divine ability to charm people from her, wouldn’t it be something?

If she taught it, and by chance, Nie Cui’e learned it, she would only need to stand in a crowd. Imagine Nie Cui’e not even needing to use any divine ability or technique, she could quietly refine the eyes and minds of others, all of it converting into her own Great Dao resources. Wouldn’t her Dao power soar upwards? To teach or not to teach?

After all, it wasn’t as simple as teaching swordsmanship; it involved the inheritance of an ancient Dao lineage. Xie Gou still needed to be a bit more cautious.

Previously, on the Flowing Mist Boat, Nie Cui’e had her hands tucked into her sleeves, secretly pinching a secret Qinggong Mountain magic formula with her five fingers, wanting to test the toughness of the glazed mirror surface. The spiritual energy condensed by the magic formula took the form of a crystal clear, eerie green spirit snake, which darted into the water, its body growing in the blue waves. The spirit snake, as thick as a water bucket, moved like lightning, gently bumping its head against the seabed sword energy mirror surface without a sound. Immediately, ripples spread out in circles, layer upon layer, radiating with brilliant colors, like a mural. The spirit snake only gave such a bump, and upon contact, it was met with the backlash of the sword energy from the other side. The spiritual energy green snake shattered with a bang, while the mirror surface remained completely unharmed.

When Liu Tui steered the Flowing Mist Boat to shore, Nie Cui’e looked back at the sea. The sword energy had cut a gully in the ocean, and the seawater on both sides, obstructed by the lingering sword energy, had not yet converged. Then, when Nie Cui’e followed Liu Tui past the mountain gate archway and flew towards the ancestral mountain’s viewing platform, leaning against the railing and looking out, she found that the sword energy had still not dissipated, and the gully in the sea remained, a shocking sight.

Nie Cui’e found it unbelievable. What realm of sword cultivator could possess such profound Dao power?

At that time, she was apprehensive, wondering if it was Old Sword Immortal Qi sparring with that “young man” in swordsmanship?

She had only seen the profile of the sword receiver on the sea before, who seemed to be a young Sword Immortal. At this moment, he was standing beside a young cultivator in a yellow hat holding a green bamboo staff. That “young man” was blushing, his eyes shining brightly, in a posture of listening to instruction. Beside them was a mink-hatted girl with rosy cheeks, who was somewhat charming and adorable, hopping and skipping, swinging her arms?

As for the sword sender on the shore, each sword strike carried more vast sword energy than the last, blurring her vision. What she saw at the time seemed as if the heavens, earth, clouds, and water were all shaking. Nie Cui’e didn’t dare to use divine abilities to investigate randomly, afraid of violating the taboos of the mountain peak and accidentally ruining the matter her master had instructed her to do. If that happened, this trip would be a waste of time, and she wouldn’t even gain any hardship credit, let alone merit.

Nie Cui’e was surprised and uncertain. Could it be that the sword sender was not Old Sword Immortal Qi, but this young man in the yellow hat?

She was carefully observing Xiao Mo and the mink-hatted girl.

Xie Gou was also examining this beautiful woman whose Dao name was Man Po.

Xie Gou asked with heart voice, “Xiao Mo, what do you think of Nie Cui’e’s cultivation talent?”

Xiao Mo replied, “Not bad.”

Xie Gou pressed on, “Then compared to that little girl from the Fox Kingdom who currently has no Dao name and is called Qiu Qing, whose talent is better?”

Xiao Mo slightly frowned, roughly guessing Xie Gou’s idea, and immediately denied it, “Daoist friend Man Po is not of the fox race, and she is Jing Hao’s personal disciple. You want to teach her fox race divine abilities? There are several mountain taboos here; count them yourself. Is it appropriate?”

Among ancient Daoist priests, there was once a co-lord of the fox race, possessing unparalleled charm, bewitching the human world, and having two Dao names, “The Snatcher” and “The Water of Disaster.” Besides her Dao field in Qingqiu, she had also caused great commotion by gathering crowds in a place called Mizhi, which is now near the Yieluo River. After Xiao Mo “awakened” in Bright Moon Brilliant Color, especially after reuniting with Xie Gou in Baoping Prefecture, he had been wondering why this celestial fox had not reappeared and gone to see Bai Ze with Xie Gou and the others.

Xie Gou grinned, “That slutty fox, that wild woman, that wicked wife, when I had just ascended, she blocked my way and wanted to sleep with me.”

Xiao Mo asked in confusion, “Is there such a Great Dao grudge between you?”

Xie Gou rubbed her mink hat and complained, “Isn’t that so? The situation was dangerous at the time, terrifying.”

Xiao Mo thought for a moment and said, “Let’s find some free time, ask the公子 for leave, and inform the Middle-Earth Wenwu Temple and Lord Bai Ze. We’ll say it’s a private grudge that doesn’t involve any outsiders, and we’ll go to the Savage Land to look for her.”

After some idle chatter, it was time to set off.

They first needed to send this group of private swords, including Dong Budé, to the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect’s private immortal ferry crossing. There was no rush to fly; they simply walked down the mountain.

Xie Gou’s imitation Three Mountains Talismans always required contemplating the Three Mountains to cast. Islands in the sea are often far apart, making it difficult to support a long journey, and it’s easy to make mistakes during the process. At best, they get lost and the sword cultivators fall into the sea, becoming drenched. At worst, their souls are damaged and they are affected by water disasters. What if some of them are geographically challenged and directly go to Tongye Prefecture or turn to North Ju’er Prefecture, delaying the celebration? That would be unacceptable.

Just as they were in need, Liu Tui delivered a Flowing Mist Boat. It was truly like someone sending a pillow when they were sleepy.

“悠然神游千載，存想萬山壯哉” (Wandering leisurely for a thousand years, contemplating the grandeur of myriad mountains).

On the way down the mountain, the mink-hatted girl raised her arm, joined her two fingers, and spoke about the quality of the Three Mountains Talismans in a theatrical tone she had just learned from a grassroots troupe in the marketplace. Earlier on the stairs of Ascension City and before leaving Ascension City, in two separate package deals, it was cash on delivery, clean and tidy. Xie Gou sold “some” Three Mountains Talismans to Qi Shou, the executioner, and had two stacks left. She considered herself an experienced businesswoman; if she sold too much at once, it wouldn’t seem as valuable.

Xie Gou shook her two fingers and narrated, “Therefore, this talisman is named the Leisure Talisman. It was a highly meritorious and virtuous extraordinary person in earlier years, whom I met by chance on the Dao. Seeing my firm heart in learning the Dao, he repeatedly tested me and finally was willing to impart this Upper Immortal Talisman. Before parting, the divine person repeatedly exhorted me to carry forward this talisman, not to misuse it for crooked paths, and to definitely walk the righteous path and accumulate good deeds…”

Xiao Mo had a headache listening. Aside from the fact that the talismans were fakes, not a single word she said was true.

After carefully asking about the usage and effects of some of the talismans, Hua Qinggong and Nie Cui’e were very interested, and Liu Tui was even more tempted. However, when he asked for the price, it was only one Guyu Coin. Liu Tui began to hesitate. At such a cheap price, was there a trap?

If “Xiao Mo” were selling the talismans, Liu Tui would buy them all without a second thought. Seeing “Xie Gou” shouting so hard, Liu Tui only felt there was something fishy.

Qi Tingji casually asked with a smile, “Should we invite Xie Songhua, Situ Jiyu, and the others to attend the ceremony together?”

An shook his head, “Everyone is very busy, and there’s no need for a cross-prefecture trip. Just the journey itself is not easy.”

Ning Yao said, “Actually, we can have a good gathering. Since City Lord Qi, Xiao Mo, and Doggy are all here, not only that group of children, but also Zhu Jiu and the others. Many difficult sword cultivation problems can be asked at once. It’s a rare opportunity. Perhaps a casual word or two will be better than them practicing swordsmanship for several years without the right method.”

Xiao Mo nodded in agreement, “公子, Mountain Lord’s wife is more considerate.”

Xie Gou pecked like a little chicken, “I am an absolute expert in teaching swordsmanship! Grandmaster, Chief Boss, not just a name without substance.”

An shook his head and said, “Attending the capital city celebration this time is fine. Let’s wait until the next joint meeting of the three sects.”

Ning Yao nodded.

Ever since that sword challenge, Mei Dandang had made up his mind to pester Mr. Xiao Mo.

In the previous spar, the first sword strike Xiao Mo sent out was with his realm suppressed at the peak of the Immortal realm, and the second sword was only at the Ascension realm.

Furthermore, it was after Xiao Mo had gauged Mei Dandang’s Immortal realm foundation with his first sword, and he had held back considerably.

Mei Dandang was already completely unable to withstand it, and Xiao Mo was too lazy to continue sending out the third sword. See what kind of Fourteen Realm Great Dao scenery? With his life?

At that time, after Mei Dandang returned to the viewing platform, he stayed by Mr. Xiao Mo’s side and refused to move. Xiao Mo spoke frankly, saying that his foundation was good, but there were too many detours, and he listed a series of details that needed to be adjusted. When teaching and discussing swords with others, Xiao Mo’s aura completely changed, unrelated to Dao energy or sword intent. How could sword cultivators discuss swords so casually?

Xie Gou also casually added a few “golden words of advice” on the side. Mei Dandang gained some insights from their words and was emotionally stirred.

An listened for a while, not quite understanding, or perhaps understanding but unable to do it. Any seemingly simple principle from Xiao Mo and Xie Gou involved detailed knowledge of the circulation, rise and fall, and rotation of sword energy, and the allocation of spiritual energy among dozens of Qi Fu. Moreover, the speed and subtlety of sword energy varied from person to person and from place to place. Look at Ning Yao and Lu Zhi, they could chat together and offer different perspectives.

The Great Sword Immortal Mei also lacked some understanding, and even asked the Hidden Official if he had any profound insights. An smiled, gritting his back teeth, and said no.

Xie Gou, however, secretly informed him that Mei Dandang’s inner thoughts increasingly found the Hidden Official to be unfathomable. An smiled and nodded, “He has some insight.”

Regarding this new group of private swords from Ascension City, whether it was the general direction or details that needed attention, they had been carefully reminded in both Ascension City and the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect’s ancestral hall. An didn’t have any further instructions, merely telling them to be extra cautious when acting alone and not to be overly eager for quick success. There was no test from his side, An, or from Ascension City. They should just consider it a worldly experience that followed the flow of fate. If they encountered difficulties they couldn’t overcome, or thorny issues, they shouldn’t overthink it. Just remember one thing: don’t shoulder everything alone; feel free to call for help and gang up on him.

They were escorted all the way to the immortal ferry crossing named “Cooling Place.” Later today, two cross-prefecture ferry boats would pass through here one after another, going to Fuyao Prefecture and Middle-Earth Divine Continent respectively. Dong Budé didn’t need to choose a location; he only needed to fly his sword alone to the Rain Dragon Sect.

What Ning Yao and Lu Zhi chatted about with Dong Budé just now was unknown.

Liu Tui used his divine ability to move the Flowing Mist Boat to this location first, and Qi Tingji and the others boarded the ship together.

Liu Tui had originally planned to tour Baoping Prefecture, and Hua Qinggong had no reason not to go along the way. Nie Cui’e had accompanied her for half of Fuyao Prefecture, so Hua Qinggong couldn’t just abandon her when they reached Nan Po Suo Prefecture. Besides, Hua Qinggong also wanted to see the Dali Dynasty in Baoping Prefecture. Furthermore, Piyun Mountain was the neighbor of the young Hidden Official’s Luopo Mountain. Who in Haoran didn’t know about Wei Shenjun’s Night Revel Banquet?

This night, if there is no moon, this year’s autumn is in vain. It refers to the Mid-Autumn Festival of the year, how can one not watch the full moon? Similarly, upon arriving in Baoping Prefecture, one must visit the former Lizhu Grotto-heaven and see Piyun Mountain, known as the number one Night Revel Banquet in Haoran, to make the trip worthwhile.

Hua Qinggong’s ancestral home was Guozhou. Her family’s ancestors had produced an Ascension realm great cultivator, and she was a meritorious female Daoist priest. According to the orthodox historical records of the Wenwu Temple, the phrase “Female Daoist Hua Lingfu of Guozhou ascended in broad daylight after painting talismans and transforming into a rainbow in You Sheng Palace” is unequivocally certain. Unfortunately, over the past two thousand years, none of the family’s descendants have been able to inherit the Daoist mantle and study the Great Dao of talismans. Hua Qinggong carries a shattered grotto-heaven as her Dao field, named “Water Hall,” which was the ascension place where this female ancestor proved the Dao in her earlier years.

After re-boarding the ship, Hua Qinggong opened the restriction of the Water Hall in her room, revealing this exceptionally precious Dao field. In addition to Nie Cui’e and the others, she also invited the mink-hatted girl, who called her “Sister Hua,” to gather there. Near a pavilion in the Water Hall, the water energy was abundant, and the spiritual energy was rich. There were golden spirit fish, painted with talismans, suspended in the air, lightly circling the pavilion pillars, wagging their heads and tails. Lotuses bloomed, and lotus leaves stretched out as if standing in the water… They felt as if they were in an undersea crystal palace.

Xie Gou stood outside the pavilion with her hands on her hips.

There was a couplet: Combing hair, knocking teeth, cupping hands, washing feet, these are practices for longevity; planting flowers, reading books, plowing fields, weaving cloth, these are practices for peaceful people. The horizontal plaque read “Seeing the Wind and Moon Come.”

An was not in a hurry to board the Flowing Mist Boat and spent some more time chatting with Fan Dache and Dong Budé.

He arranged with them that after they had chosen a place to settle in a certain prefecture, they should go to the Imperial Tutor’s residence in the capital of the Dali Dynasty. A Sword Nurturing Gourd and a sum of immortal money would be their “salary” as secret Honored Guests of the Dali Ministry of Punishment. They could keep the Sword Nurturing Gourd for themselves, and as for the immortal money, it could be used to purchase magical treasures and spiritual artifacts from the Dali national treasury. He, An, would inform Zhao Yao, the Assistant Minister in charge of the Ministry of Punishment, in advance. This fellow had been to Ascension City and was one of their own. The two of them would privately mark the prices, and they could choose based on their preference and the needs for refining swords… This matter needed to go through the procedures of the Dali minor court assembly, have a formality, and would definitely be recorded in the archives, so it shouldn’t be too obvious. They should understand… If there were any other items they desired, they should just ask. There was no need to worry about whether they were cheap or good value; he, the Imperial Tutor, would pay out of his own pocket.

Fan Dache suddenly said, “Hidden Official, can I change my mind and also go to a certain prefecture for experience?”

An smiled, “That’s a good idea.”

Fan Dache had such a personality, making up his mind and then hesitating.

An said angrily, “If you don’t invite me to a toast at the table, I won’t drink?”

A female sword cultivator smiled and said, “Hidden Official, if I talk to you with heart voice, can Ning Yao hear it?”

An was on high alert. This had little to do with whether Ning Yao could hear it. This Dragon Gate realm female sword cultivator, however, ignored everything, her expression normal, her tone calm. She first mentioned the name of an old friend, and then talked about how her friend often frequented a wine shop, and so on.

An was silent for a moment, then finally said, “Haoran World is ultimately not the Sword Qi Great Wall. The mundane world rolls on, with flourishing flowers and dense willows, wealth and glory, fame and shackles. Whether it is good or bad here, you will definitely experience it firsthand. You don’t need to be too apprehensive, just keep walking through the lively scenes. I only hope that you will often look back at the path you have taken, and occasionally reflect on what a pure sword cultivator is. I believe you will all gain something. The mountains and waters are distant, take good care of yourselves, and we will meet again.”