The world was a cage for the sparrow, the Jianghu a courtyard for the swallow, the Dao heart a moon at the bottom of a well, wealth and honor wild geese on the edge of a cloud, and life itself a floating weed upon the water.

Standing within a lakeside pavilion, hands tucked within his sleeves, an aged guest of the Yang Clan, known as the Deaf Daoist, furrowed his brow. Changing his mind, he decided to linger a while longer with Huang Zhen, casually inquiring, “Do you know the true identity of your master?”

Huang Zhen shook his head, bewildered. He knew only that Ma Ku Xuan, both his mentor and a fellow villager, was of extraordinary origin, able to command spirits. He was a rising star among the young cultivators of Bao Ping Continent, having distinguished himself greatly in the Battle of Old Dragon City. Ma Ku Xuan possessed a natural arrogance and disdain for others. Huang Zhen, on the other hand, had been away from home for many years, alone and adrift. How could he not revere, fear, and yearn for such a master?

The Little Four Continents had always chafed under the authority of the Jade Capital. Historically, the Jade Capital’s Daoist officials rarely appeared here. Likewise, the cultivators of the Little Four Continents, no matter how gifted, rarely sought ordination at the Jade Capital. It had been a relationship of mutual antipathy for three thousand years.

Huang Zhen paused, a touch of shame in his voice. “My master is like a dragon in the heavens, while I am but a loach in a muddy pond. I only hope to achieve a small measure of success in my cultivation, so as not to utterly disgrace my master’s name. Beyond that, I dare not aspire for more.”

The Deaf Daoist neither agreed nor disagreed. He merely stated, “To be deaf is to say one’s ears hear naught beyond the walls.”

Huang Zhen ventured, “Is it then that your true Daoist name is ‘Dragon Daoist’?”

The old man chuckled. “One wouldn’t bother to even slice at it, so how could there be any dragon at all?”

He quickly changed the subject, revealing to Huang Zhen a heavenly secret, “There are three reasons why Ma Ku Xuan sent you to the Little Four Continents, rather than elsewhere in the Azure Sky. Firstly, the female lake master of Thunderous Marsh, Lei Yu, her true form is a *hui*, akin to a dragon. Secondly, Thunderous Marsh is a nested lake, containing a vast truth of thunder magic. For millennia, Lei Yu has been the first to seize the opportunity, establishing her cave and refining a fraction of the thunder magic. She has already reached the pinnacle of the Ascension Realm. In truth, Lei Yu is but a usurper. Ma Ku Xuan is the true owner, long absent from his ancestral home. Lei Yu is naturally uneasy about this, and thus regards you with favor, secretly bestowing upon you much care. The final, and most crucial reason, is that I chose to dwell in seclusion near Thunderous Marsh, thrice refusing the Jade Capital’s summons. This secret is unknown even to Headmasters Yu and Lu. And my reasons for hiding in Thunderous Marsh are rooted in a sorrowful past, a family shame not to be aired. Suffice it to say, the greater part of the thunder magic that Lei Yu has yet to refine is the foundation for your future path to enlightenment. When you descend the mountain and return to Thunderous Marsh, I shall have Lei Yu vacate her cave, allowing you to enter and sever all ties to the mortal world. From then on, how long Huang Zhen cultivates before emerging is entirely up to you, be it a small achievement or a great one, depending solely on your own potential.”

Huang Zhen nodded, asking, “Will I have another chance to see my master?”

So long as there was a path forward, Huang Zhen did not fear prolonged obscurity.

To traverse the world and return to his homeland of the Vast Expanse, one must begin at the Ascension Realm.

At present, Huang Zhen did not consider himself any kind of cultivation prodigy. Even the Upper Five Realms seemed like a reflection in the water, desirable but unattainable.

The Deaf Daoist shook his head. “There will be no such chance.”

This was not to pronounce Huang Zhen’s future achievements to be low, but that Ma Ku Xuan had already died and dissipated. Thus, how could master and disciple ever reunite?

“The Great Dao weeps, and the heavens send down rain.”

“An entire continent sinks, becoming a lake.”

The islands of the present were once mountain peaks. The Little Four Continents were simply the four largest of these islands. Unlike the Vast Expanse, where mountains were abundant and water scarce, the Little Four Continents were once home to the densest concentration of mountains in the world.

Countless magnificent cities and spirit-filled immortal caves now slumbered beneath the waves. For three thousand years, many cultivators had coveted this treasure, but they were all discovered, suppressed, imprisoned, or allowed to “redeem” themselves with goods or coin, and banished from the Little Four Continents, forced to swear never to set foot in the lake’s waters again by Lei Yu and an old Daoist with the title “Taiyi.”

Having spent years at the old man’s side, Huang Zhen was familiar with these old tales, yet dared not show the slightest impatience.

The Dragon Daoist lamented, “Gao Gu is ultimately not as clever as Yao Qing.”

The affairs of the world were but a wild goose’s footprint in the snow.

The Dragon Daoist suddenly asked a strange question, “In your hometown, what kind of person is absolutely forbidden from serving in the imperial court?”

Without hesitation, Huang Zhen replied, “Those of lowly birth.”

But after a moment’s thought, Huang Zhen felt this was wrong. He shook his head. “I cannot answer.”

Those of lowly birth not being allowed to hold office seemed incorrect. In the Great Li Dynasty, many had escaped their lowly status to join the army or enter the bureaucracy.

The Dragon Daoist smiled. “Perhaps it is the elderly, those who once held high office but were ultimately demoted and sent back to their hometown, placed under the surveillance of local officials.”

Huang Zhen was utterly bewildered.

Could it be that this senior had once served in a dynasty’s court?

The Dragon Daoist looked up at the sky, remarking seemingly at random, “It is a strange world indeed. The Zhou clan in the wilderness has named its library the Vast Expanse Hall.”

Recalling a saying that had spread from the Vast Expanse, the old man clucked his tongue and extended a withered hand. “‘A single hand at the scene, ultimately returning me to my valor.'”

Not everyone was qualified to be a retainer of the Hongnong Yang Clan. The old man also possessed another identity, being hailed as the foremost painter of fish in the world.

His masterpiece was a collection of eighty-one watercolors on silk, compiled into a painted album.

The old man smiled. “I envy you young people, still having the strength to love and hate with such vigor.”

The youth stared wide-eyed at the dawn.

The old man struggled to recall yesterdays.

The flowing waters would not be detained by green hills.

Mao Zhu spoke telepathically to the two women, “The Hua Yang Palace will not form an alliance with you. As for the attitude of Earth Lung Mountain, you must discuss it with Mountain Lord Gao Fu.”

Xu Mian smiled. “Never mind. If Palace Lord Mao refuses, Mountain Lord Gao will likely be even more cautious.”

Xu Yingning said, “We came here to try our luck. If it succeeds, all the better. If not, it is no great matter.”

Mao Zhu reminded them, “It is time for Xu Xuyuan to leave the Azure Sky.”

Xu Mian nodded. “With Palace Lord Mao’s words, our journey is already worthwhile.”

Xu Yingning made a sound of surprise, inwardly astonished. *How did she get here?*

Seeing that Mao Zhu feigned ignorance, Xu Yingning said nothing.

Mao Zhu shifted his gaze, looking towards the veiled woman, his eyes lingering on the one named “Yang Di”. He said, “Fellow Daoist Mirage is already within the mountain. You may meet her at the Carefree Pavilion.”

Yang Di’s eyes shone with eagerness. She nodded. “We shall depart at once.”

It turned out that the “handsome youth” wearing a three-peak crown and a deep purple straight-sleeved robe was the true Yang Zheng, a woman of noble destiny from the Hongnong Yang Clan.

The one with a short sword hanging at her waist, disguised as a maid named “Yang Yupian”, was Yang Di.

The woman wearing the veiled hat was the true maid, Yang Yupian.

It could not be denied that the Hongnong Yang Clan truly produced handsome men and beautiful women. The men were almost all dashing, and it was also a den of beauties.

Yang Zheng ate a smiling cake, praising, “As expected of White Bone True Man. Indeed, even life and death can be seen through, so how could one not see through poverty and wealth? My humble skills are but a laughingstock.”

Seeing that Palace Lord Mao had already seen through their deception, Yang Yupian immediately changed her position, fulfilling her duty.

The protector of the Hongnong Yang Clan also removed his illusion, revealing his true form. He was tall and imposing, with a long sword slung across his shoulder and clad in multi-colored armor.

He embodied the Yang Clan’s literary fortune, martial fortune, official fortune, and ancestral fortune.

First, he spoke telepathically with Yang Zheng, receiving permission. Then, he bid farewell to Mao Zhu and left to meet the Mountain God of Mount Taiyi alone.

Mao Zhu said to the maid holding a folding fan, “Shall we talk for a bit?”

In theory, their statuses were vastly different. To be favored by a great cultivator in this way should have been a great surprise. Yet she seemed utterly unfazed, and the siblings Yang Zheng and Yang Di were also as composed as ever.

Huang Zhen’s sense that she looked familiar was not mistaken.

This maid wearing a small hat and a yellow shirt was named Dewdrop, her true name Zhu Lu, whom Lu Chen had brought back to the Azure Sky, taking her on a journey to the ancient battlefield of Zhuolu.

Mao Zhu had long seen through her identity and did not even bother with telepathy, saying directly, “Gao Gu has a letter for me to give to you.”

Zhu Lu’s face was filled with scorn. “Is a traitor like me worthy of a personal letter from my grandmaster? Not even a perfunctory verbal message?”

Mao Zhu remained unfazed, simply pulling a letter from his sleeve and handing it to Zhu Lu.

Before noticing that Lu Chen had begun to collect the reflections of the mind and create the Void Gazing Pavilion, White Bone True Man had never been secretive, enjoying traveling the world and accumulating great knowledge. He was practically a walking almanac. For example, during the Battle of Zhuolu in You Prefecture, Gao Gu had fought fiercely with a female Daoist, and White Bone True Man had been an observer in the distance, one of the few eyewitnesses.

Zhu Lu hesitated, but took the light-as-a-feather envelope. She turned slightly, removed the letter inside, glanced at the contents, her expression turning melancholy. Soon, she returned it to the envelope and slipped it into her sleeve.

Huang Zhen and Zhu Lu were the two people from their hometown who hated Chen Ping’an the most.

Whether this meeting in a foreign land would lead to a parting of ways, or whether they would each continue on their own path, remained to be seen.

By the Viewing Fish Pavilion, the old man seemed to have a sudden realization, looking at Huang Zhen with a meaningful gaze. “To injure oneself with likes and dislikes is not the proper path of cultivation.”

Love and hate were both double-edged swords and boomerangs.

Huang Zhen’s expression was frozen. Finally, he made up his mind and said softly, “There is no turning back once the arrow is loosed. I cannot care so much.”

The old man had never wished to meddle in personal grudges. He did not try to persuade him to change his mind, “When you return to Thunderous Marsh and have your own Daoist estate, just cultivate diligently.”

Huang Zhen nodded. “That person is currently at the height of his power. I will never provoke him unless I am completely certain of success.”

The old man joked, “The fact that you haven’t been scared out of your wits is already quite brave.”

Sensing Huang Zhen’s thoughts, the old man smiled. “I am a person without a realm, without a physical body, without a soul. I am ethereal and elusive, whether one speaks of a spark of true spirit or a lingering obsession. In any case, I am free from all official duties. An existence whose identity is negligible.”

Children eager to grow up always thought childhood was an unfinished book, and rushed to read a book for teenagers.

The old man, however, knew the taste of twilight: the dying years, when it was suddenly late in the day, and one knew “Ah, I am old.”

Pulling a blue talisman from his sleeve, he handed it to Huang Zhen. “Hold this talisman, visualize its power in your mind, and you can shrink the distance to Lei Yu’s Plum Peak Daoist estate. She will lead you to the Thunder Pond cave beneath the water. Go.”

Huang Zhen accepted the talisman with both hands, carefully storing it away. He knelt and kowtowed, thanking the old man.

The old man hesitated, then reached out and helped him to his feet.

Huang Zhen stood tall, visualized Plum Peak in his mind, and vanished in a flash of golden light.

A female Daoist who looked like a maiden appeared here, gave a *ji*, and said respectfully, “Greetings, Senior.”

The old man smiled. “You flatter me.”

On the more lively side, Mao Zhu suddenly said to the south wall, “Have Gao Qiong come here. I have something to tell her.”

The south wall did not understand the reason, but did as he asked.

Besides the Hua Yang Palace and Earth Lung Mountain, only a handful of great cultivators knew that Gao Gu’s ancestral home was not in You Prefecture, but in a remote kingdom in Ru Prefecture.

The flowers inside the wall bloom sweetly to those outside.

Going down the mountain to cultivate one’s heart and bringing others up the mountain was one of the Daoist’s tasks.

Over a hundred Daoists had received ordination at Great Wood Pavilion, and Gao Qiong was just one of them. Her talent and constitution were ordinary, but because the sword cultivator Gao Qiong had a unique immortal opportunity, it made others envious. She and her ancestor Gao Gu were from the same hometown. Moreover, Gao Gu had personally led her up the mountain to cultivate.

Among the countless Daoist officials on Earth Lung Mountain and Hua Yang Palace, only Gao Qiong possessed this honor.

The south wall went to Great Wood Pavilion and led Gao Qiong to fly on her sword, the latter trembling and looking restrained.

Mao Zhu said, “After you come out of seclusion, the ancestor asks you to return to your hometown immediately. When you return to the mountain is up to you, as fate dictates.”

Gao Qiong hurriedly bowed and said, “I respectfully obey the Palace Lord’s decree.”

In any case, both the one issuing the decree and the one passing the message were the Palace Lord.

Nanshan Kingdom in Ru Prefecture, Xu County in Yingchuan Commandery. Prefecture, kingdom, commandery, and county: of these four names, except for Ru Prefecture, not a single one was well-known.

Gao Qiong left home when she was young. She remembered that there was a small Daoist temple in her hometown, but it was about the same as Changshe County next door. The incense in both small temples was very average. It seemed that even the “Open the Great Silence” in the early morning of the first and fifteenth days of each month and the “Stop the Great Silence” on the fourteenth and thirtieth nights were not held.

The south wall said, “Palace Lord, can I protect Gao Qiong on this journey?”

She had no impression of Nanshan Kingdom. She only knew that there seemed to be a Huxu Kingdom and a sect called the Golden Coffin Sect, which was considered to have a bit of prestige.

Mao Zhu nodded. “As you wish.”

Yin Xian asked, “Palace Lord, can I go with them?”

Unexpectedly, Mao Zhu shook his head and said, “This trip down the mountain, put the trip to Ru Prefecture last. You can go to Bing Prefecture first. Set off immediately and do not delay.”

Yin Xian did not think much about it and said with a smile, “I accept the order.”

Their own You Prefecture had the Xuanhuang Dynasty, and in addition, Ru Prefecture had the Chijin Dynasty and Bing Prefecture had the Qingshen Dynasty. All three were among the most prosperous dynasties in the Azure Sky. It did not matter whether they went early or late.

Mao Zhu waved his hand and said, “Do not worry about the matters in the mountain.”

Inside the small pavilion, the old man, sitting opposite each other with a somber air like a clay statue in a temple, could not help but said, “Fellow Daoist, to say something unpleasant, your overexertion of yourself and your painstaking thinking are not the way to longevity… Being fond of teaching others is a long-standing habit. You cannot change it.”

Yang Qing smiled and nodded. “I accept your teachings.”

Female Daoist Yang Qing, whose Daoist name was Mirage, was one of the ten candidates in the Azure Sky.

She was born into the Hongnong Yang Clan, but Yang Qing’s name had long been removed from the Yang Clan’s family tree. She had taken the initiative to leave her family and become the Vice Mountain Lord of the Mountain Guard Pavilion and the owner of the Sea Mountain Immortal Pavilion. Yang Qing had displayed extremely high Daoist talent since she was a child, especially in Zi Wei Dou Shu and Taiyi Shen Shu, like a divine beast.

Her younger brother was the key figure who caused Gao Gu and Yu Dou to become enemies.

On the surface, one person’s death directly led to a complete breakdown in relations between the Hongnong Yang Clan, Earth Lung Mountain, the Mountain Guard Pavilion, the entire You Prefecture, and the Jade Capital. But fundamentally, it was a form of intangible competition. For example, a person’s complete selflessness and absolute lack of mistakes seemed to be acting on behalf of heaven for the benefit of a world.

In terms of family tree seniority, Yang Qing, who appeared as a young girl, was the great-grandmother of the Yang Zheng and Yang Di siblings.

The old man asked, “Fellow Daoist Mirage, what did you see?”

Yang Qing was silent for a moment and said telepathically, “It’s shocking.”

Not long ago, Yang Qing had entrusted her friend Lei Yu to send a letter to the Yang Clan.

Yang Qing rarely appeared in public. The last time she appeared was when she and Lei Yu went to congratulate Yu Xuan, who had joined the Fourteenth Realm, in the sky.

In that secret letter, which was no longer worthy of being called a family letter, there was a reminder, or rather, a warning from Fellow Daoist Taiyi.

There was also a scene that she had deduced and personally witnessed, which she expressed on paper in the form of a prophecy.

“Mountain flowers want to burn, flowing water is like fire, several prefectures sink, and living beings are plunged into misery.”

A great calamity was approaching, and she vaguely saw someone plucking stars, enlisting gods, destroying cities, and opening up the sky.

Yang Qing sighed softly in her heart.

Yang Zheng, Yang Di, and the family’s young talents were all destined to be people who would respond to the tribulation.

Not only were the Hongnong Yang Clan and the Mountain Guard Pavilion unable to stay out of it, but the entire Azure Sky had its own tribulation.

If every thought and every thought was a cause, then what we were enjoying now was a result. Then, who dared to claim to be without debt and without surplus? Even if this body and this life were like this, what about the previous life? It was always a matter of debt collection and repayment. How difficult it was for those who cultivated the Dao to seek perfect merit in this vast world.

Yang Qing took this opportunity to ask the old man about some cultivation matters. The old man told her everything he knew without holding back.

By the time a group of people walked towards the pavilion, the two parties sitting and discussing Dao had stopped talking.

The Dragon Daoist smiled and said, “We are attending a grand event.”

Luo Yi smiled and said, “It is indeed a coincidence. It’s a pity that there is no historian to record it, so there is no way to make a name for ourselves in history.”

The old man ridiculed himself and said, “I am someone who can’t see the light of day and can’t be brought to the table. I shouldn’t stay here for long. I won’t exchange pleasantries with you enlightened great beings.”

Standing up, the old man was about to leave Earth Lung Mountain.

At this moment, near a Carefree Pavilion inside the Hua Yang Palace, there were as many as five of the ten candidates of the Azure Sky.

White Bone True Man, Mao Zhu.

Mountain Guard Pavilion, female Daoist Yang Qing, Daoist name Mirage.

Xu Mian, the owner of Azure Mud Grotto-Heaven, created his own Daoist lineage and was the founder of the lady-in-waiting.

Xu Yingning, occupied a blessed land, and she was also the founder of Rolling Blind Red Su Hand.

“Fire Official” Luo Yi, the founding emperor of the Hengyang Dynasty.

In comparison, Xu Xuyuan, whose realm was not enough to see, was quite helpless, “It turns out that I’m the one who’s making up the numbers.”

He had fallen in love with Yang Qing at first sight and had never hidden his feelings of admiration.

If a woman three years older than him was like carrying a golden brick, if Xu Xuan could marry Zhao Ge, why couldn’t he marry Yang Qing?

The masculine-looking Yang Di reached out and pressed the short knife, his eyes burning.

The young man was afraid that the world would not be in chaos and was unwilling to be a peaceful man. He was determined to be the pillar of the turbulent world, to snatch chestnuts from the fire, to achieve wealth, fame, and success in one fell swoop. Whether it was a chessboard, a chopping board, or a battlefield, glory and shame, life and death, he had to go through a spectacular journey in order to live this life in vain.

Everyone had their own thoughts.

Yang Qing muttered, “It is best that there is nothing in the stilless.”

The Dragon Daoist sighed and thought, “The third natal flying sword should also appear soon.”

At this moment, a Daoist came to Earth Lung Mountain.

His appearance, even without any words, still caused all the Daoists in the mountain, regardless of their realm or age, to feel restless and suffocated.

This Daoist, who had been the headmaster of the Jade Capital for eight thousand years, was clearly a visitor standing at the foot of the mountain, but he made Earth Lung Mountain seem like a guest.

Inside the mountain, Mao Zhu felt complicated, Yang Qing looked solemn, and the sisters Xu Mian and Xu Yingning were even facing a formidable enemy. Even Luo Yi, who had never wanted to clash with the Jade Capital from beginning to end, felt that his situation was extremely awkward.

In an instant, the entire Earth Lung Mountain was filled with flashes of brilliant light, all the movements of quietly activating formations.

What if this was not the Jade Capital? What if the other party was not wearing his sword and magic robe? What if there were five candidates in the mountain at this moment?

Yu Dou did not climb the mountain.

He just glanced at the mountain gate and left.