This was, quite simply, a swordsman confronting an entire world.

The administration and governance of Azure Netherworld by White Jade Capital were far stricter than the restraints imposed by the Central Plains Wen Temple on Vast Haven.

Thus, when that Dharma Idol, single-handedly, with an incomparably overbearing stance, tore open the sky with both hands, visited Azure Netherworld, and overlooked White Jade Capital.

Within White Jade Capital, a high-ranking Ascension Realm Daoist official, in charge of a city, deliberately mistook that young Sword Immortal for a Fourteenth Realm cultivator, sneering, “What a grand display, what a mighty presence! Little did I expect another brand new Fourteenth Realm to appear in the mundane world?”

The majestic Dharma Idol, with a pair of pure golden eyes, didn’t even spare this person a glance.

Chen Ping’an simply looked at Yu Dou, who was seated in the highest Upper Clear Pavilion of White Jade Capital.

This imposing middle-aged Daoist priest had already risen from his futon and come to the railing outside. Every casual breath he took would cause the vast sea of clouds surrounding White Jade Capital for ten thousand li to gather and disperse.

Simply because he was Yu Dou, who had entered the Pseudo-Fifteenth Realm.

For eight thousand years, how many Daoists in Azure Netherworld had silently resented this person? The world had suffered under Yu Dou for too long.

But even that Daoist Master Sun, no matter how much he was at odds with White Jade Capital, the old temple master still said, “We hate Yu Dou, we curse Yu Dou, we can do anything, but Yu Dou is selfless.”

Chen Ping’an surveyed the five cities and twelve towers of White Jade Capital.

This was where Daoist Master Sun’s sword had fallen.

The entire White Jade Capital buzzed with discussion, like mosquitoes gathering before thunder.

In fact, the great cultivators of the entire world had witnessed this scene. The vast majority were in disbelief, finding it inconceivable. Was this meant to challenge the entire White Jade Capital single-handedly?

More peak cultivators, however, were inquiring about one or two things. Who on earth was this person? What kind of deep enmity did this person have with White Jade Capital to appear in Azure Netherworld in such a manner?

Jade Sovereign City.

Also known as Azure Emerald City, it was located in the northernmost part of White Jade Capital.

It was once the place of ascent and propagation of Dao for Kou Ming, the first disciple of the Dao Ancestor. This city governed a large number of Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands.

Jade Sovereign City was also the first city in the history of White Jade Capital, “the same age” as the Purple Qi Tower built by the Dao Ancestor himself.

In the secret history of Azure Netherworld, they were respectively the first city and the first tower of the ancient Jade Capital Mountain, which could also be said to be the initial “family business” of Daoism created by the Dao Ancestor in his early years.

The new City Lord was Jiang Yunsheng, who had the appearance of a child. He had just successfully emerged from seclusion and entered the Ascension Realm.

According to established tradition, upon succeeding as City Lord, the Spiritual Divination Cave Heaven, one of the thirty-six small Cave Heavens, became Jiang Yunsheng’s private Daoist temple.

However, Jiang Yunsheng had just returned from a journey to Axe Handle Cave Heaven.

That young bumpkin from Bottle Province, who went to Sword Qi Great Wall through the gate of Inverted Mountain.

Jiang Yunsheng and Sword Immortal Zhang Lu were the gatekeepers, so they had naturally seen Chen Ping’an.

Not only had Jiang Yunsheng met Chen Ping’an, but he had later met Chen Ping’an’s student Cui Dongshan and disciple Pei Qian.

Jiang Yunsheng sighed softly. Time had changed, and people had changed. He had thought that the two sides were just passers-by in the mundane world who brushed past each other, never expecting to end up in a state of mutual hostility.

However, for some reason, Jiang Yunsheng always felt that something was not right. Chen Ping’an’s majestic and imposing giant Dharma Idol, with its pair of eyes, seemed to be particularly focused on him?

It was only because he was now the City Lord and his realm had also risen, otherwise with his quick temper, back then, the “little Daoist boy” would have stomped his feet and cursed, “There are reasons for grievances and debts! If you want to come and seek revenge, first find my Ancestor or City Lord Pang! What kind of behavior is it to pick on the soft persimmons!”

If Chen Ping’an’s visit this time was to challenge the Abbot Yu directly, Jiang Yunsheng would never believe it. If it were true, the only explanation would be that Chen Ping’an had gone mad.

There was a difference of almost two major realms. A sword challenge? It would be seeking death.

Fortunately, Chen Ping’an’s gaze only swept past him.

Jiang Yunsheng involuntarily twitched his sleeves. He was actually a new Ascension cultivator himself. Speaking of which, their realms were similar, yet facing Chen Ping’an, he could not hide his nervousness.

Purple Qi Tower.

Located in the easternmost part of White Jade Capital, its position was both good and high.

The Jiang family of Purple Qi Tower was renowned.

The Tower Master, Jiang Zhaomo, courtesy name Chaosheng, Daoist title “Chuixiang”. He had reached the peak of the Ascension Realm for a long time.

Jiang Zhaomo had entered White Jade Capital slightly later than Yu Dou. His previous incarnation was Liu Changzhou, who called himself Daoist Gou.

And they, along with Ghost Immortal Baolin, who later persistently entangled Yu Dou like a shadow, were all close friends, once traveling together and running rampant across the world.

Liu Changzhou had said a rebellious but well-known remark in his early years, “We are Daoists of Azure Netherworld, and Azure Netherworld will also be our Daoist temple.”

Among the Daoist officials in White Jade Capital, Jiang Zhaomo’s swordsmanship was second only to Yu Dou. In addition, Jiang Zhaomo was also a martial arts grandmaster, and had several unknown boxing matches with Lin Jiangxian.

A Daoist stood alone on the highest tower, his sleeves fluttering. He was Jiang Zhaomo.

Thinking back to the past, he had been in the sky above the layers of clouds, while Qi Jingchun’s Dharma Idol was only suspended in the air above Bottle Province.

Both Jiang Zhaomo and Pang Ding had taken action in the latter’s demise.

Jiang Zhaomo smiled. Was the wheel of fortune turning? He was actually being “looked down upon” and “underestimated” by a junior?

Finally.

They looked at each other.

Jiang Zhaomo was too lazy to speak. It was evident that this person had just attained Dao, borrowing the power of a continent’s heaven and earth, gaining a huge advantage. However, this Dharma Idol, which could only be used to scare people, could only last for a short time, being a mere display of fleeting bravado.

An old True Person walked out of his secluded cultivation place, filled with curiosity, and asked with his spiritual sense, “With a Daoist age of less than a hundred years, and having reached the Ascension Realm at such a young age, who is this divine being, and what is his name?”

A junior by his side explained the person’s background to him. The old True Person sighed repeatedly. He had thought that Zhang Fenghai was the only cultivation prodigy he had ever seen in his life, never expecting Vast Haven to also have such a young talent.

As for this person’s connection with White Jade Capital and why he was so aggressive and actively traveled to Azure Netherworld to provoke the entire White Jade Capital, he also heard a general idea. The old True Person was neither in a hurry to draw a conclusion nor had any resentment in his heart. Cultivating good karma is where the power of Dao lies. Simply avoiding negative karma is definitely not the way of a master.

An immortal official, covered in golden light and layers of aura, flicked his whisk and sneered, “What an opportune moment to strike! He really knows how to pick a time. As expected of a wily character who has served as an Inquisitor in Sword Qi Great Wall. He’s certainly good at assessing the situation and is willing to make big bets for big wins.”

The world is in chaos.

This is the most dangerous moment for White Jade Capital after the “White Jade Capital Daoist Officials Exterminate Demons” battle years ago, when heavenly demons caused trouble and transformed a continent into a Daoist domain. Even the most arrogant Daoist officials would not dare to say that the world could return to peace within three to five years. The Dao Ancestor has dispersed his Dao, and the Grand Abbot Kou Ming has not yet returned to White Jade Capital to preside over the overall situation. The Second Abbot Yu Dou was forced to refine the entire White Jade Capital, “combining Dao” using a lesser method, entering the Pseudo-Fifteenth Realm. The Third Abbot Lu Chen is deep within the Savage Desolation, using himself as a cage to refine and trap that extraterrestrial demon.

Azure Netherworld’s fourteen provinces are like a raging fire. In every province, there are rebels who stand against White Jade Capital. Small and large Daoist sects have declared independence, springing up like mushrooms after rain.

Chen Ping’an of Vast Haven, at the cost of traversing worlds, chose this moment to openly break ties with White Jade Capital. How is this not echoing the rogue’s den that is the Calendar-Removing Palace?

A Daoist official, holding a jade ruyi, pointed at the sky and angrily rebuked, “How audacious, you young rascal! Retreat at once!”

In an adjacent immortal city, almost at the same height, an Celestial Immortal stood by the railing, deliberately singing a different tune from some important figures, with a look of admiration in his eyes, applauding and praising, “His skill is high, and his courage is great. A true Sword Immortal.”

Without great courage, who would dare to ask for rites from White Jade Capital? Without a firm Dao Heart, why bother cultivating to become an immortal?

Just this display of courage from Chen Ping’an is enough to call him a hero of the era.

An old True Person who had been secluded in the Green Cloud Tower for many years flicked his whisk and nodded in agreement, “Dao’s height is not in Daoist age. We are ashamed.”

A five-colored auspicious cloud rose slowly, drifting away from the Daoist temple in the immortal city, heading towards the sky to admire the Sword Immortal’s demeanor.

In the Glittering Gem Tower, which has been praised as a place of jade and gold for ages, two Tower Masters stood side by side.

The Tower Master, Wang Dongzhi, looked dejected, gazing up at the “adding insult to injury.”

The Deputy Tower Master, Xie Xuan, looked worried, glancing at the vast world outside White Jade Capital, “adding fuel to the fire.”

The former refers to the current precarious situation of White Jade Capital, while the latter refers to the current chaos in Azure Netherworld.

A venerable Daoist official with the appearance of a young man in Lingbao City had already made a definitive statement, “A mayfly shaking a tree, overestimating oneself.”

Does he intend to challenge White Jade Capital with just one Ascension Realm cultivator?

Previously, Daoist Master Sun Huaizhong of Xuandu Abbey, a Fourteenth Realm cultivator with incredibly profound Dao power and exceptional swordsmanship, delivered a sword strike from a great distance from White Jade Capital, spanning several provinces, with his long sword leaning against the azure sky! Daoist Master Sun and Abbot Yu dueled, and wasn’t he defeated?

Later, Wu Shuangjiang, along with the purple-robed monk Jiang Xiu, and Gao Gu from Di Fei Mountain, three Fourteenth Realm great cultivators and masters of the Soldier, Buddhist, and Daoist schools, collectively questioned the entire White Jade Capital. What was the result? They all died!

In this Dao inquiry, the female sword immortal Baolin, who was at the peak of the Ascension Realm, was just like an extra, making up the numbers. She was killed by Abbot Yu, who was in charge of White Jade Capital, with a single sword strike.

Two friends in the Purple Qi Tower were chatting leisurely, both with nonchalant expressions and tones, “Acting on impulse, making a fool of oneself.”

“After all, he’s a young man who suddenly gained power, so he’s carried away and completely unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth.”

Jade Pivot City.

The City Lord Guo Jie’s mood was complicated. “The mundane world is truly full of troubles. How long has it been since sword light was seen in White Jade Capital again?”

Deputy City Lord Shao Xiang smiled, “Abbot Lu said that if this person ever sneaked into White Jade Capital, he would definitely stay in our Jade Pivot City for a long time, acting as a book thief who doesn’t need to move books.”

Guo Jie sighed, “I used to find Lu Chen annoying, but now that he’s finally not annoying, I feel the world is empty and lonely.”

Shao Xiang also felt the same way.

Guo Jie and Shao Xiang are both Daoist sword immortals, especially the former is regarded as the foremost interpreter of Lu Chen’s “Outer Chapters”.

Lu Chen’s study was not built in Nanhua City, but rather he requested a piece of land from Jade Pivot City, named Guan Qianjianzhai.

It is said that Abbot Lu’s reason was that it was close and convenient to consult the two city lords on scholarly matters.

But the problem is that Guo and Shao are annotators, while Lu Chen is the author.

Both City Lords devoted a great deal of effort to annotating Lu Chen’s book.

It is rumored that privately, Lu Chen was very proud, flapping his sleeves and telling everyone everywhere, “I didn’t know how powerful my writing was, but after hearing them explain, expound, annotate, and propagate, haha, I’m a bit carried away.”

Looking across the world, such things, such outrageous remarks, are probably only something Lu Chen could do.

Shao Xiang asked, “If there really is a sword challenge?”

Guo Jie smiled, “What else can we do? Since we are both sword cultivators, we will accept the challenge.”

Lingbao City.

The place where Abbot Yu Dou attained Dao.

Like his senior brother Kou Ming, Yu Dou left his Daoist temple after becoming Abbot.

Lingbao City has a history of eight thousand years, but only two City Lords. After Yu Dou, it was Pang Ding.

Pang Ding, Daoist title “Xuxin,” is proficient in thunder techniques and also cultivates the Five Elements.

The old Daoist priest had some reservations about the Five Thunder Rectification Method, which is praised as the orthodox method of thunder among the Celestial Masters of Longhu Mountain.

At this time, an old man with a clear complexion stood beside Pang Ding. Beside the old man was a middle-aged woman holding a red whisk. She smiled and asked, “Pharmacist, what do you think?”

Li Yaoshi held a staff of Ling Shou wood made from Mount Guo. He died and became a spirit, enduring the worship and sacrifice of the mundane world for a long time.

In terms of Daoist age, he is from roughly the same era as Bai of Vast Haven.

The old man’s status in Lingbao City is similar to that of the Sword Cultivator Hao Su in Shenxiao City. His position is detached and transcendental, belonging to an important guest official of the entire White Jade Capital, with absolutely no possibility of being subordinate.

Lingbao City has a Palace of Stopping Conflicts. The Palace of Stopping Conflicts has thirty-six Daoist temples under its jurisdiction. Fang Ma Temple is one of them, and Fang Ma Temple manages a number of Daoist temples, including an obscure one called Xianling Temple.

Li Yaoshi and his Daoist companion practice in Xianling Temple. He writes military books, and she adds fragrance to his sleeves.

Li Yaoshi said, “As expected of the ally carefully selected by Palace Master Wu.”

The woman smiled, “It seems there’s a reason why Wu Shuangjiang is willing to entrust his Daoist companion to this person.”

Pang Ding asked with his spiritual sense, “Fellow Daoist Pharmacist, are you willing to come out?”

Li Yaoshi said, “We will leave White Jade Capital soon and travel around first.”

Pang Ding would not be greedy. With this answer, he was already satisfied. He nodded and said, “That’s enough.”

This military cultivator, who was said to have “never lost a battle and never fought a divine battle,” returned to Xianling Temple with his Daoist companion.

In the near future, the battlefield of the fourteen provinces outside White Jade Capital will, to some extent, be the “internal struggle” between the military rebels led by Wu Shuangjiang and Li Yaoshi and his group.

The entire Azure Netherworld is a battlefield destined to be filled with smoke and fire, where military cultivators showcase their respective skills.

Pang Ding bowed to the couple. After they left, the old Daoist priest turned his head to look at the sky again, no longer suppressing his Daoist aura, and sneered, “Even your senior brother didn’t dare to fight back. You, his junior brother, dare to come and walk into a trap. Your lineage is truly better than the blue, excelling over the blue.”

Chen Ping’an, however, looked towards Purple Qi Tower again, narrowed his eyes and smiled, “Jiang Zhaomo, you’re not being very open this time. Sneaking into the Fourteenth Realm? That’s a good thing. The crumbling White Jade Capital has gained another pillar of support. Why hide it? What, are you waiting for a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity to turn coat and take down Abbot Yu, who you had a mortal enmity with in your previous life and still have to bow to in this life?”

Jiang Zhaomo frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and finally said nothing.

Let alone the disciples of Purple Qi Tower, even an old Ascension like Pang Ding was greatly surprised to hear this. When did Jiang Zhaomo quietly enter the Fourteenth Realm?

Pang Ding steadied his mind and was about to meet this new Ascension cultivator.

Unexpectedly, the Dharma Idol’s voice was like a great bell, and he laughed loudly, “Pang Ding, you old useless fool, stop cawing and speak with your asshole!”

Pang Ding was stunned. The old Daoist priest had intended to say, “Don’t be so glib with your tongue. If you have the guts, come down and spar, fight a battle.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire White Jade Capital fell silent instantly.

The Daoist officials of White Jade Capital, regardless of whether they were male or female, old or young, had truly never witnessed such a “scene.”

Pang Ding, angered into embarrassment, was about to strike on the spot. Since these words were heard by the entire White Jade Capital, didn’t that mean the entire Azure Netherworld knew? Even if cultivators and Daoists disregarded reputation and external possessions, just imagine, as soon as the esteemed old Daoist priest went out and spoke to someone, others would have strange looks in their eyes and playful expressions on their faces.

But as if he had received a reminder, Pang Ding snorted coldly, “Talking recklessly, only resorting to abusive language, and you call yourself a Daoist seeker?!”

The fellow shook his head and said, “Old useless Pang is eating with his rear end and polluting the air with his farts again.”

No matter how good Pang Ding’s self-restraint or how deep his Daoist power, he was about to burst into curses. If that fellow did it again and again, the hostile Daoist officials outside White Jade Capital would talk about it as a joke for hundreds of years.

Green Cloud Tower.

At the entrance of the Smoke and Mist Cave of Zhenyue Palace, an old man stood. His Daoist title was “Xuanhuang,” which had a profound meaning.

Huang Jieshou and Pang Ding of Lingbao City were of the same generation, and they were undoubtedly elderly figures in White Jade Capital.

Huang Jieshou was filled with mixed emotions, yet remained silent. White Jade Capital was destined to face this calamity.

Until Pang Ding was mocked by the young Sword Immortal in words, Huang Jieshou said with his spiritual sense, “Pang Ding, a formidable enemy is at hand, and the situation is unclear. Do not disrupt our own formation.”

Pang Ding could only suppress the urge to act.

The great change that occurred earlier, the joint slaying of the ancestor of the military strategists, was announced to the world by Wu Shuangjiang of the Calendar-Removing Palace. The peak figures in the mundane worlds of several continents had already heard about it.

Pang Ding was, of course, fully aware. At the time, he had chillingly said, “The heart of the贼子 to disturb my Azure Netherworld is not dead.”

As the closed-door disciple of the Sage of Literature, he didn’t study his sage books properly, but instead colluded with Wu Shuangjiang of the Calendar-Removing Palace.

The current chaos in Azure Netherworld, the culprit and mastermind, is Wu Shuangjiang.

But what made Pang Ding most apprehensive was the third “name” on that imperial decree: Zheng Juzhong, the City Lord of White Emperor City, who held the top position among demon cultivators.

The heavenly demon has been suppressed by Lu Chen.

Who is to deal with Zheng Juzhong, this demon who acts without any restraint?

Pang Ding had actually repeatedly confirmed in secret that there was no trace of Zheng Juzhong hiding anywhere near the “heavenly gate” surrounding Chen Ping’an’s Dharma Idol.

Otherwise, the reminder from Abbot Yu and the persuasion from Huang Jieshou would not have stopped this City Lord of Lingbao City from taking action.

A vice-tower master of Purple Qi Tower, a hunched old woman, narrowed her eyes and said with her spiritual sense, “Girl, open your eyes wide and look carefully. Remember firmly in your heart, this is probably the limit of your path. Don’t be outwardly respectful on the path and inwardly arrogant when you return to your Daoist temple, thinking that those with high realms in White Jade Capital are just taking advantage of their age. Isn’t this guy surnamed Chen younger than you?”

Beside the old woman stood an outstanding disciple of the Jiang family, named Jiang Yuwei, Daoist title “Weixin”. She was both a sword cultivator and a martial artist. That’s why the old woman gave this instruction.

Jiang Yuwei looked up at the unexpected guest of the entire world, her mind trembling. If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed that there could be such a young sword immortal and grandmaster in the mundane world.

The old woman teased, “I want you to surpass him, to catch up with him on the great Dao, not to admire him and single-mindedly wish to become Daoist companions and want to sleep with him.”

Jiang Yuwei withdrew her gaze and said helplessly, “I don’t have such intentions of romantic love.”

The old woman said, “It’s hard to finally attain Dao and enter the Ascension Realm. I can understand the urgent desire to show off here, but it’s a pity he’s too young and impetuous, completely unaware of the principle of cultivating qi and calming the spirit.”

Jiang Yuwei dared not make a hasty conclusion.

The old woman shook her head, “He is indeed young, so young that it’s enviable. The problem is, in less than fifty years, in just half a century, no matter how difficult your background, how much hardship can you endure? This guy still doesn’t know the horror of being hated and struck by heaven. If I’m not mistaken, this guy will stumble badly sooner or later, either in Vast Haven or in the Savage Desolation. I wonder if we will see this face in White Jade Capital again.”

Jiang Yuwei knew this was the old woman’s consistent view. The tide of Daoist arts in the world always comes and goes, and goes and comes. Many fresh faces of heavenly talents in the mundane world are only seen once or twice before they disappear.

When the Sword Immortal and Pang Ding of Lingbao City exchanged words, the old woman’s face turned grim.

Jiang Yuwei was also a little annoyed, “With such status and realm, why is his speech so vulgar and unpleasant?”

The old woman said sharply, “No!”

Jiang Yuwei was puzzled. The old woman hesitated and finally just said vaguely, “This fellow’s appearance this time has many hidden and overt intentions. You will know in the future.”

For example, if Pang Ding were to really make a move today, he would probably only be “stolen from” by that fellow?

Cloud Water Tower.

Where white clouds rise, there is an immortal land. Its Daoist lineage belongs to the Grand Abbot. It has two female Tower Masters who are specifically responsible for creating Daoist ordination certificates for various countries and large and small Daoist temples in the world.

This place is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, with shimmering water, most suitable for drinking, night travel, and moon viewing.

A female Celestial Immortal, wearing a Xiang River Dragon Girl skirt and a string of bright pearls on her wrist, with a golden step-shaker on her head, slightly powdered, spoke in a soft, sweet voice, lightly complaining, “Abbot Lu is useless. If he had been more decisive back then in Luliang Cave Heaven, he would have directly ambushed that young Inquisitor who had not yet risen to prominence, bagged him, brought him to White Jade Capital, and made him the Fourth Abbot. Where would all this messy entanglement of grudges be now?”

The other Tower Master, a female immortal, was very heroic, with a bare face and a long saber hanging from her waist. She clasped her hands behind her head and said lazily, “That’s how it should be. The first time I saw that fellow, I felt he was undeserving of his position.”

That young Daoist priest with the Daoist title Shan Qing is now in the Five-Colored World. He was taken in as a disciple by Lu Chen on behalf of his master, becoming the nominal closed-door disciple of the Dao Ancestor.

But the Daoist officials of White Jade Capital know well that in terms of both popularity and cultivation, Shan Qing is still far from being the “Fourth Abbot.” Moreover, he suffered a great loss at the hands of Ning Yao in the Five-Colored World.

Now that Abbot Lu Chen is already in the Savage Desolation, if the Daoist children of White Jade Capital mention Abbot Lu, they will be reprimanded by their elders and reminded to be careful with their words. The fear is being targeted by the heavenly demon.

However, these two believe that Abbot Lu will always be fine.

The graceful female Tower Master sighed, “The sun and moon change a thousand times, and the lord’s name is called ten thousand times in the human world.”

The heroic female immortal nodded, “He’s made a fortune.”

“His appearance is quite decent.”

“What’s the point of valuing this physical form for someone who cultivates to commune with heaven and earth?”

The reason they talked about this topic was thanks to Abbot Lu’s help in making him famous.

“This poor Daoist is slightly older than Inquisitor Chen, but this poor Daoist is a hundred times more handsome than him!”

Regarding Chen Ping’an, White Jade Capital seems to have discussions about him every year and new stories every month, to the point where their ears have become calloused.

Becoming famous in Sword Qi Great Wall, he was even able to win Ning Yao’s affection. An outsider who is not a sword cultivator was able to sit in the Summer Retreat Palace and casually dispatch sword immortals.

After returning alive to Vast Haven, together with the martial artist Cao Ci from Middle Earth Divine Continent, there was the saying “White-clothed Cao and Azure-robed Chen,” as if the martial arts path were as radiant as the sun and moon.

Perhaps the older generation in White Jade Capital has seen too many cultivation prodigies and are relatively more at ease. After all, how many widely watched sudden appearances have become mere fleeting moments?

The younger Daoist officials, with varying thoughts and opinions, talked more about it.

However, those young people who held negative attitudes, no matter how arrogant they were, could not bring themselves to say, “In times without heroes, mere upstarts gain fame.” After all, the height of Daoist studies in Vast Haven is something that those who study Dao in White Jade Capital can comment on freely, but when it comes to Sword Qi Great Wall, they still have to think twice before speaking.

Every era has its own “recent past.”

The youngest generation who can cultivate in White Jade Capital can bypass the young talents of the entire world, but it seems they can’t bypass that person surnamed Chen from Vast Haven no matter what.

Therefore, some people jokingly said that in recent years, there have been at least dozens, if not a hundred, of White Jade Capital Daoist officials who wanted to personally gauge the strength of the “last Inquisitor.”

Now the opportunity has come.

So they chickened out.

Occasionally, there are a few taciturn young Daoist officials. After seeing the giant Dharma Idol in the sky, not only were they not discouraged or demoralized, but it also aroused greater confidence in them, which is naturally a good thing.

A graceful and noble Daoist lady, her Daoist robe shining brightly, used Shrinking Land and Rivers to leave her Daoist temple in Nanhua City.

She brought a direct disciple who was in charge of all the flowers in the human world to the entrance of the study.

She was the first Deputy City Lord of Nanhua City, revered as Lady Wei, with the Daoist title “Zixu”.

Lady Wei is the foremost Yuanjun of Azure Netherworld, and also the founding ancestor of the Yellow Court Temple lineage. She is currently one of the candidates for the future White Jade Capital.

Lady Wei asked with her spiritual sense, “What did Sword Immortal Chen say to you just now?”

The female disciple shook her head, also puzzled, “Reporting to Master, I dare not conceal anything. The other party didn’t say anything. He just glanced at me.”

Lady Wei smiled, “No need to be nervous. He has the knot from the Hundred Flowers Blessed Land, which he hasn’t returned to the Flower Lord Qi Fang. Therefore, you have some connection with him.”

Shenxiao City.

Among the five cities of White Jade Capital, Shenxiao City is now barely level with Jade Pivot City in terms of height, but it has gone from being at the bottom to being one of the bottom ones. Moreover, in the past five hundred years, it has been surpassed by two towers.

The former City Lord was Yao Kejiu, whose Daoist title was Niguan. The old True Person was one of the Three Religions Sages guarding the sky curtain of the Sword Qi Great Wall. After going to a foreign land, he never returned home.

Now, the two Deputy City Lords are Wang Qing, whose Daoist title is Jin Qing, and Xiao Feibai, whose Daoist title is Mo Dou. They are Daoist companions, both in the Celestial Immortal Realm, and both are direct disciples of Yao Kejiu.

An auspicious sign appeared in the sky, and those young sword cultivators from Sword Qi Great Wall shouted in unison, “Inquisitor!”

They didn’t care what the White Jade Capital Daoist officials around them thought.

Dong Huafu, who cultivated swordsmanship alone in a peach forest, had a different title: Second Shopkeeper.

Hao Su, the former executioner, who lived not far from Dong Heitan’s residence, looked up and met the young Inquisitor’s gaze.

Hao Su slowly stood up, mocking himself. He was truly a stray dog with a life of constant running around.

Had he only been cultivating swordsmanship in Shenxiao City for a few days before having to move again?

When Hao Su stood up, Wang Qing immediately rushed to the scene.

Hao Su said indifferently with a smile, “You can’t stop him anyway, why bother making things difficult for yourself? It’s better to pretend not to know.”

Wang Qing’s answer greatly surprised Hao Su, “I can’t stop him, and I don’t want to stop him. I just came here to say a word and say goodbye to my good friend Hao Su, whom I met by chance.”

Hao Su looked complicated, rubbed his cheeks, “I should have known not to come to Shenxiao City to hide.”

But the Dharma Idol in the sky just glanced at the thousand miles of peach blossoms in Shenxiao City and nodded to himself. Chen Ping’an smiled, “Old Immortal Yao’s words were true. The peach forest in Shenxiao City is indeed breathtaking.”

This is not the casual talk of visiting immortals in the mountains, just ordinary polite remarks.

This is like two armies confronting each other, about to engage in hand-to-hand combat, facing life and death. The main general of one side, in the enemy’s camp, finds time to say to a certain martial general, “So-and-so is a true hero.”

Tree after tree of peach blossoms, as if under a decree, and like alluring women, were willing to make themselves beautiful for someone who appreciated them. The peach forest of Shenxiao City, stretching for a thousand miles, bloomed instantly with dazzling splendor, a celestial wonder, unique in the world.

Hao Su said, “Fortunately, our Lord Inquisitor still has some righteousness. He hasn’t made me a traitor collaborating from within for now.”

Wang Qing smiled, “I hope it’s not ‘for now,’ but forever.”

Hao Su asked, “Will the Inquisitor causing such a commotion make it difficult for your Shenxiao City, which is an exception?”

Wang Qing looked around and smiled, “It won’t be difficult. Master is gone, but the great principles of life and how to behave that Master taught us are still here.”

Huang Jieshou stood outside the Smoke and Mist Cave of Zhenyue Palace, looking into the distance. The old man was filled with sadness. The beautiful mountains and rivers had become like a scabby wall.

The external troubles of White Jade Capital were more than just the fluctuating hearts of the Daoist officials in various provinces, and more than just this “asking for rites” by the young Sword Immortal today?

One hair can move the whole body.

White Jade Capital has Abbot Yu, who is in the Pseudo-Fifteenth Realm, stationed at the center of heaven and earth, deterring the heroes of the fourteen provinces.

But let’s not forget, in today’s Azure Netherworld, there is another cultivator who has also entered the Pseudo-Fifteenth Realm.

That Ya Xiang of the Azure Divine Dynasty, Yao Qing, clearly had entered the Fourteenth Realm, but chose to enter a certain Martial Temple, converting to a military strategist. His divine image in the hall ranks second, and he also simultaneously possesses a sword Dao and a dragon vein.

Martial Temple’s Yao Qing and White Jade Capital’s Yu Dou stand in remote confrontation in heaven and earth.

Each is waiting for an opportunity to achieve a decisive victory.

Yao Qing’s request is not high: to trade blows with Yu Dou.

Yu Dou, of course, is also looking for a suitable opportunity to completely eradicate Yao Qing and the Martial Temple together.

Except for a very few Daoists, no one could understand why Yao Qing, whose Dao was clearly infinitely high and distant, would act in such a manner.

Simply because they were not aware that the later Ya Xiang, one of the ten people in Azure Netherworld, was just a wayward youth who mixed in the lowest levels of society in the past.

He was a… tattooed thug who would roll up his sleeves and take a knife to stab anyone who dared to provoke him in a dirty alley!

Somewhere in White Jade Capital, a group of Daoist officials were calculating the Great Dao.

If that Sword Immortal Dharma Idol was an unfriendly inquiry, then these Daoist officials were also returning the favor.

As a result, Daoists one after another suffered backlash. Some were pale and vomited blood, some were dizzy and fell to the ground, and some even almost dropped in realm.

This was due to the incredibly strange and dangerous Daoist scenes they saw.

Calculating heavenly secrets by focusing on a single person has always been an endeavor where the more expert one is, the more careful one becomes, even more so than the visible duels between the two sides.

Even if they didn’t hesitate to consume their Dao power and employed various profound techniques to bypass the maze-like strange world of Chen Ping’an, the subsequent scene almost caused their Dao hearts to collapse.

At the forefront, a middle-aged Daoist priest holding a whisk and carrying a sword, forming a sword gesture with one hand, with a great sun treasure wheel behind him, was precisely Lu Yan, who had voluntarily retreated from the Fourteenth Realm to the Ascension Realm in the past.

Further back, the starry river was resplendent. An old Daoist priest in a purple robe with Yin-Yang fish patterns, sat cross-legged on a giant gourd. He was Yu Xuan, who had merged with the starry river through talismans.

A solitary city on a thousand-peaked mountain, in the colorful clouds of White Emperor City, a blurry figure of a man stood with his hands behind his back under a large banner, inscribed with “Yield to the World First.”

Especially at the highest and furthest point, a faceless Daoist priest wearing a lotus crown stood by a riverside like the river of time, his head slightly tilted, “smiling towards” those who were prying into heavenly secrets.

One after another, real and illusory cultivators, layer upon layer of insurmountable barriers, repeatedly hindered the combined efforts of White Jade Capital’s Daoist officials in their deductions.

When an old Ascension cultivator finally, finally was about to encounter the “truth” of Chen Ping’an, the final scene caused the old Daoist priest to stumble back, bleeding from his seven orifices, almost shattering his Dao heart on the spot.

Only a road connecting heaven and earth was seen, from which a man in a golden robe slowly walked down. Innumerable stars, small as “beads”, spun and circled around him.

“He” looked at the Ascension Realm cultivator, who was as small as an ant, and smiled, “What do you want?”

At that moment, the old Ascension cultivator could not hear the questions from the Daoists around him, and he did not bother to wipe the blood from his face, but only repeatedly muttered, “It’s Zhou Mi, it’s Zhou Mi…”

Compared to the Dharma Idol at the “heavenly gate,” a figure as small as a mustard seed suddenly flashed past, suspended in the air beside its shoulder.

The Daoist officials in White Jade Capital with sufficient Dao power could see that it was a young girl wearing a sable hat with rosy cheeks.

She put her hand over her mouth and said softly, “Mountain Master, not only did I persuade Xiao Mo not to come, but I also persuaded the Mountain Master’s wife. This time, I came alone to help out. I don’t expect any credit for saving the day, just waving the flag and shouting. Don’t worry, Mountain Master, I know what I’m doing.”

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “You don’t get to say whether you know what you’re doing or not.”

In the eyes of White Jade Capital, the girl in the sable hat put her hands on her hips and loudly asked, “Which sons of bitches were bragging and badmouthing my Mountain Master earlier? If you have the guts, stand out!”

Then a middle-aged Daoist priest said in a clear voice, “Here!”

Xie Gou glanced at him and waved her hand, “You go back.”

He was completely confused.

Xie Gou looked utterly disgusted, but still patiently explained, “Someone else stand out. Don’t be so weak. A reminder, you must be at least at the Ascension Realm. Ha, don’t let some Gold Core weakling just yap blindly.”

Indeed, there were Daoist officials who were not afraid of evil, with varying realms, they all took a step forward, and some even reported their names.

Xie Gou narrowed her eyes and said, “Oh my, how arrogant! I’ve remembered all your names. If you piss off this seat, let alone some insignificant folks, I’ll eat humans too!”

In an instant, the girl in the sable hat raised her hand, and tens of thousands of sword lights suddenly lit up in the clear blue sky, raining down on the five cities and twelve towers of White Jade Capital like poured water.

Abbot Yu Dou remained indifferent, paying no attention to this.

White Jade Capital did not activate any formations.

Over at Lingbao City, Pang Ding flicked his sleeve, scattering about half of the sword lights that were moving at astonishing speed and were about to rush into White Jade Capital within a thousand li in an instant.

Several immortal officials also cast spells and divine abilities, destroying almost all of the remaining sword lights. Occasionally, a few “fish that escaped the net” were sharp sword lights, crooked and without momentum. Just as an immortal realm cultivator was about to unleash his life-bound flying sword to shatter those two sword lights, a voice from a senior in his sect in his heart told him to stop. At the same time, a hundred li away from White Jade Capital, two sword lights that looked as thin as ropes suddenly exploded, and tens of thousands of sword lights scattered with a roar, heading towards Purple Qi Tower and Lingbao City respectively.

A young Daoist priest, who was not well-known in White Jade Capital, expressionless, took one of the “flying swords” and guided the more than thirty thousand sword lights it generated into a spatial-temporal vortex that appeared out of thin air.

However, the multitude of sword lights targeting Lingbao City underwent another phenomenon during their flight. In the blink of an eye, they proliferated into hundreds of thousands of sword lights, a torrential rain that enveloped Lingbao City.

Pang Ding had no choice but to act again, unleashing a thunder technique to disperse the pouring rain.

But in another tower, a Jade Pure Realm Daoist official felt a chill down his spine, because the Tower Master was standing beside him at some point, holding a wisp of sword energy between his fingers and grinding it into dust.

Almost, just a little bit, if the Tower Master hadn’t stopped this wisp of sword energy, it would have pierced through his glabella, a sword thrust through his head?!

The girl in the sable hat clapped her hands and cursed, “Damn it, I’ve tolerated you for a long time. How dare you disrespect my Mountain Master? You’re all tired of living and asking for a beating.”

The young Daoist priest with astonishing Dao power asked curiously, “Who are you?”

Xie Gou put her hands on her hips, “Remember, I am the Second Guest Official of Luopo Mountain.”

But in the next sentence, Xie Gou didn’t look at him, but shifted her gaze and stared fiercely at Pang Ding, saying for this old useless person to hear, “Sword Cultivator Bai Jing!”

Pang Ding’s expression was calm, but he was shocked in his heart. Was it really her?

The girl rubbed her sable hat, her eyes extremely cold, and grinned, “Surname Pang, believe it or not. Anyway, the next time I visit White Jade Capital, I won’t care about anything else. I’ll stab you first.”

However, when she turned to look at Chen Ping’an, she immediately put on a nearly fawning expression, tentatively asking, “Mountain Master, is it still appropriate for this subordinate to speak to people like this?”

Chen Ping’an ignored her and only sent a message to Yu Dou with his spiritual sense, “Keep a close eye on Jiang Yunsheng. Don’t let Lu Chen’s efforts go to waste.”

Yu Dou nodded, and then said calmly, “When you reach a realm and a half higher, it won’t be too late to challenge me to a sword duel.”

Chen Ping’an’s eyes were burning, and he didn’t use spiritual sense. “Sure.”

Remember to bring an outsider who isn’t involved in the mess, to help collect your body.

Before I come to challenge you, don’t die. I won’t visit your grave.

Yu Dou said, “Before our next sword challenge, I’ll treat you to a drink. Do you dare to drink?”

Chen Ping’an grinned ferociously, “There’s no reason to dare a sword challenge but not dare to drink.”

Yu Dou turned around and walked back into the Daoist temple.

Haocai, one of the two bright moons in the Azure Netherworld sky.

A tall old Daoist priest sat on the steps at the entrance, temporarily leaving his alchemy room to come out and watch the show.

Gu He, who was serving as a mountain-guarding guest official, shifted his position and walked to the bottom of the steps, standing with his锏.

Gu He cautiously asked, “Cave Master, could that young man be the one that Abbot Lu and Sword Cultivator Huang Zhen mentioned when they were chatting earlier, that short-tempered, vengeful, and most resentful Fellow Daoist Chen?”

As expected, the young man surnamed Chen has a really bad temper and curses fiercely… What’s wrong with the young people nowadays? Don’t they have any martial ethics in the way they speak and act?

Gu He became even more determined that if he ever met someone surnamed Chen on the road in the future, he would not even glance at him and must proactively take a detour.

The old Daoist priest said with a chuckle, “Finally caught an opportunity to scold this poor Daoist?”

Gu He said in a panic, “Heaven and earth are my witnesses, what do you mean by that? Cave Master, please don’t wrong me, it hurts my feelings.”

The old Daoist priest smiled. The moment Bai Jing appeared, he rose and returned to the Daoist temple. If a real fight broke out, he would pretend not to see it from behind closed doors. There would be an explanation for Xiao Mo. If he kept sitting there, he would always have to help out a little.

Gu He also saw the swordsmanship displayed by the girl in the sable hat from afar and praised, “What domineering swordsmanship that young lady has. I should meet her if I have the chance.”

The old Daoist priest sneered, “See her? Haven’t you already met?”

Gu He asked in confusion, “Which fellow Daoist?”

The Bright Moon Haocai is still too far from White Jade Capital. Gu He cannot see through the true form of the girl in the sable hat, nor can he hear the words exchanged there.

The old Daoist priest stepped over the threshold, and the Daoist temple door closed by itself, but a voice seeped out from the wooden door, “It’s the one who escaped disaster because you disliked her Daoist title.”

Gu He’s eyes were dull, as if struck by lightning. He came back to his senses, quickly stood up, opened the door, and closed it again.

Gu He followed the Azure Sky Cave Master and asked, “Since she’s here, are you really going to have a big fight?”

The old Daoist priest shook his head and said, “There won’t be a fight.”

Gu He asked, “Why?”

The old Daoist priest said, “Chen Ping’an came here with other intentions. As for why he appeared near the White Jade Capital sky curtain, it’s just a preliminary greeting, to get acquainted with people like Jiang Zhaomo and Pang Ding.”

It’s also a rather clever illusion.

Gu He still didn’t quite understand, “This guy is really strange.”

The old Daoist priest smiled and said, “If you were to face him in a life-and-death situation, you would know that he is even more ruthless.”

Gu He chuckled, “Why bother making enemies with him? He can’t even see me.”

The old Daoist priest smiled and let it go.

In Ruzhou, at the Lingjing Temple, the young Chen Cong, who was not yet a permanent Daoist, was listening to Uncle Chang tell a very long story about mountains and rivers.

It was said that the protagonist was Chen Ping’an and the Dao protector was named Cui Chan. However, in a chaotic place called Shujian Lake, Cui Chan was the one who plotted against Chen Ping’an the most. It was a terrible story.

The young man became more and more indignant as he listened, slammed the table hard, and couldn’t help but curse, “Cui Chan, that dog, how did he become the Senior Brother!”

Uncle Chang picked up a peanut from the dish, chewed it slowly, and glanced sideways at the young man, smiling, “You asked me to make up the story, why are you getting angry and cursing?”

Chen Cong said dejectedly, “I don’t want to be such a frustrating protagonist anymore, Uncle Chang, let’s change the story. Hmm, it can be a bit more explicit.”

Uncle Chang shook his head and said, “You have to see things through. It doesn’t take much effort to just listen to a story.”

The lively young man thought for a moment and suddenly smiled, “That’s right. You can’t just go halfway when you’re pooping.”

Uncle Chang said, “The words are crude, but the reasoning is not.”

Chen Cong shook his head and said, “I don’t like to argue with people. When I go out into the world in the future, I will meet all kinds of people, dare to say anything, but I won’t reason with them. It’s too tiring. When you’re out and about, with a thin wallet, just make do for now. Buy a small donkey, carry a wooden sword. When you get into the world, it’s very simple. I don’t need to reason with reasonable people, and I don’t need to reason with unreasonable people.”

Uncle Chang smiled, “Simple? Lingjing Temple is also a world. You,小子, have you made it? Don’t you still have to ring the bell, sweep the floor, and scrub the toilets?”

Chen Cong sighed, “Why do you always talk about these embarrassing things?”

The young man hit his fist against his palm and yearned, “Uncle Chang, you just need to rest and recuperate in the Daoist temple. When I go out into the world, as long as I make money, I will definitely send it to you.”

The young man felt a little sad for no reason. No matter how small Lingjing Temple was, the outside world was vast, but his only relative, Uncle Chang, was here.

Uncle Chang smiled and said, “It’s good to be greedy for money. You won’t starve when you’re away from home.”

Chen Cong said, “Uncle Chang, continue the story.”

Uncle Chang said, “Let’s save it. We’ll pick up where we left off next time.”

Chen Cong glanced at the dish with few peanuts left, and the young man didn’t reach out to take any.

The old man stood up, put his hands behind his back, walked out of the house, and looked at the blue sky.

Chen Ping’an’s Dharma Idol turned its head, as if casually glancing at the mundane world of Azure Netherworld.

The two successive Imperial Preceptors of the Da Li Dynasty, the eldest and youngest disciples of the Sage of Literature, Cui Chan and Chen Ping’an, thus silently parted ways.