Chen Pingan stood silently on the city wall, as if patiently waiting for dawn.

Song Yunjian, whose Daoist name was Yingning, was happy to “abuse his power” and enjoy the scenery of the imperial city for a little longer. The difference between day and night held no constraints for an existence as mystical as Song Yunjian, a pseudo-ascendant.

A group of guests arrived at the city wall. Song Yunjian silently bowed to them.

Chen Pingan snapped back to attention and asked with a smile, “Why has Your Majesty come?”

Emperor Song He said, “To see you.”

Chen Pingan joked, “Afraid I’ll abandon my post?”

Song He reached out and touched the city wall, his fingertips feeling the rough texture and the coolness of the summer night. “I’m both afraid that Great Li’s tomorrow is full of uncertainty, and I also feel that if the court were without State Preceptor Chen, just thinking about it makes me feel relaxed. However, these two thoughts have always been in conflict, and ultimately the former won. So, when I learned that State Preceptor Chen had returned safely to the capital, I was happy.”

Cui Chan was both the former State Preceptor of Great Li and the Emperor Song He’s teacher. Song He was well aware of Cui Chan’s personality. Chen Pingan was the only successor candidate, with no substitutes. So, when Chen Pingan was no longer the State Preceptor of Great Li, the Great Li Dynasty would truly be a dynasty belonging to the Song clan alone. This matter was indeed a not-so-small temptation.

A thought crossed Song Yunjian’s mind: if State Preceptor Chen were truly gone, this Great Li Emperor would be drinking poison to quench his thirst.

Chen Pingan smiled and said, “That feeling is understandable, it’s like squatting in a latrine in the countryside while a group of people are chatting outside.”

Song He was taken aback, then burst out laughing. He had spent time in the countryside. Song Yunjian, however, didn’t quite understand the rapport between the two on this matter.

Chen Pingan explained, “Starting from tonight, I will truly treat Your Majesty with sincerity. Previously, due to circumstances, I had to be more calculating, truly not allowing a single step to go wrong.”

Song He said, “Mr. Chen doesn’t need to tell me the specific reasons. Song He doesn’t care much about matters on the mountain or in the heavens. The person with this name cares most about whether, on this day next year, every Great Li citizen, from the most fertile areas to the most bitter and cold regions, can earn a few more copper coins. Whether the markets in the north, the temple fairs in the south, and the street vendors in the southwest can become more lively during the Lunar New Year. Whether there can be more children each year who begin their studies with the character ‘人’, bow before the plaque and portrait of the Sagely Teacher with their mentors, and whether the military preparedness of Great Li’s border armies can be elevated to another level.”

Chen Pingan thought for a moment and said, “The future ‘Great Li’ that the former Emperor and Senior Brother Cui once envisioned but had not yet achieved, Your Majesty and I will definitely be able to accomplish and witness.”

Song He said, “Mr. Chen, then I’ll truly believe you, okay?”

Chen Pingan smiled and said, “Within thirty years, definitely number one.”

Song He spread his arms wide and heavily slapped the top of the wall. “Good, then I can go back and sleep soundly.”

Chen Pingan reached out and patted the Emperor’s arm, joking, “With two sons and a daughter at such a young age, Your Majesty has worked hard.”

Song He couldn’t help but laugh. “Then you should also hurry up.”

Song Yunjian felt a little emotional. Could the so-called harmonious relationship between ruler and minister described in books be anything more than this?

He believed that over the past hundred years, the inner feelings of several Great Li Song emperors towards that Brocade Tiger must have been extremely complex?

From initial suspicion, conviction, to surprise, excitement, and then to suspicion, envy, and fear? Finally resignation, exhilarating?

Song He turned his head and said, “When I was with Master, I actually didn’t dare to speak my mind too much, afraid of saying the wrong thing, afraid of not understanding Master’s intentions, and afraid of Master losing patience.”

After a slight pause, Song He self-mockingly said, “It’s not that I’ve changed the State Preceptor and am deliberately trying to get close to and build a relationship with Mr. Chen. If I were to act like that, it would surely backfire.”

Chen Pingan nodded.

Song He rubbed his hands together after withdrawing them and said, “Master once tested me with a question: what is the thing that has changed the least in the human world over ten thousand years?”

Chen Pingan blurted out without hesitation, “It is the human heart.”

Song He said with a complex mood, “I am indeed not as good as Mr. Chen at understanding the Brocade Tiger.”

The Daoist temples on the mountain are merely about distinguishing the true self from the false self. The officialdom in the human world seems to be constantly diminishing the small self and expanding the great heart.

A true battlefield can be simply summarized in the words life and death. A marketplace always seems to be about nothing more than money.

Chen Pingan spoke frankly, “Before today, Chen Pingan might have said that Your Majesty could suggest, object to, and veto any decision of the State Preceptor’s office. At most, I would add, ‘I am extremely sincere, strategy is seen in words, character is seen in deeds, the State Preceptor’s office welcomes His Majesty’s supervision.’ In this way, it would seem that the initiative was given to Emperor Song He, but in reality, there would be a trap. After all, His Majesty is not the implementer of those national policies. After two or three mistakes, His Majesty would naturally feel guilty and eventually completely delegate power.”

“This might be the optimal solution filtered out from one hundred or one thousand sentences derived from a few meanings.”

Chen Pingan smiled and pointed to his head. “Saying such words doesn’t require using your brain.”

“Now, of course, I will still have such insights, but I will prioritize listing it as a candidate, consciously pause for a moment, think more, and deliberately make things difficult for myself.”

The former is like being in a sea of clouds, the seven emotions and six desires expressed are seemingly affectionate and gentle, but are actually precise and cannot withstand scrutiny. Too faultless, too transcendent.

The latter is like squatting somewhere, looking at a flower growing in a puddle of mud, protecting it with both hands, glaring and getting angry at a passerby who steps on it, cursing, or even getting up to fight.

The truth of history, one period exists, one period doesn’t, and then another does. Just like our unique memories.

Our current lives are like the soil of the earth, layer by layer, accumulated into a layer of ground.

Song He sighed, “To be upright and sincere, that’s all it is.”

Chen Pingan smiled and said, “That’s still far from it.”

Song He suddenly asked, “Can that collapsed Earth God Temple on the old road in the village be repaired this year?”

Chen Pingan smiled and nodded, “It definitely can.”

Many people, matters, and things, if a generation forgets them, they will likely be completely forgotten. For example, certain dialects, certain post houses, and that Chengfu Temple that the Emperor is so fond of.

Song Yunjian could tell that the Emperor deeply cherished that period of rural life.

The Ten Great Dynasties of Haoran. Five of them are located in Middle-earth Divine Continent: the Chengguan Dynasty, the Cao clan of Great Duan, the Yin clan of Great Shou, the Xuammi Dynasty, and the Shaoyuan Dynasty.

The Great Li Song clan of East Votive Continent is ranked third, and the Great Origin Lu clan of North Reed Continent is at the bottom. In addition, there is one each in Ai’ai Continent, Liuxia Continent, and South Pushuo Continent.

Fuyao Continent, Golden Armor Continent, and Tung Leaf Continent currently do not have any strong nations that can enter this list.

This is like an invisible, extremely hidden struggle for the Great Dao.

Of course, the Great Shou Yin clan will definitely fall out of this list. Several dynasties in Middle-earth, including the Great Yong Dynasty, have the opportunity to fill the gap.

Cao Xu said he wanted to go to the secondary capital of Great Li and Qi Du to have a look, and Lu Jun also received permission from State Preceptor Yang Houjue to see more of the customs and culture within Great Li’s borders. So the two Crown Princes hit it off and decided to travel south in a Jianghu style. One used the alias Cao Lue and the other used the alias Lu Jun, pretending to be escorts of the Canal Marshal Liu Can, and rode out of the capital as soon as dawn broke.

As for whether they could make a name for themselves in Jianghu, or meet a few female knights and leave behind some stories of romance… In any case, they were extremely confident.

Before “returning to the palace,” Song He remembered something and asked, “Empress Yao Jinzhi of Great Quan?”

Song Yunjian couldn’t help but laugh. As expected, the Emperor is also human, so he also seems to be curious about these “unofficial histories”?

Chen Pingan smiled and said, “Although she is a woman, she is a good emperor.”

Song He hummed in agreement.

Song He pointed into the distance and said, “I once stood here with Master, looking far into the distance at that central canal that was about to be completed.”

“Master said it might flood and affect both banks, it might dry up, causing despair for those who draw water from it to irrigate their fields, but it might also bring favorable weather and peace to the country.”

Song He smiled. Perhaps in Master’s eyes, including himself as a student, and all the civil and military officials of Great Li, they were just beginners who had just learned to read.

Chen Pingan also thought of one of Senior Brother’s “questions.”

Little Junior Brother, to truly surpass Yu Dou, it is not only in sword techniques and Dao methods?

Chen Pingan turned his head and glanced at Song Yunjian, who understood and removed the illusion on the city wall. Chen Pingan silently stepped back.

In the lamplight, people began to see the bright yellow and green robe on the city wall.

On the road outside the city, someone was the first to recognize the new State Preceptor, and who shouted the Emperor’s name, and finally, along the winding line of bright lights, everyone was shouting Great Li, Great Li!

They had no choice but to trouble Divine Lord Wei again, who used his technique of moving anything with a single method to send Chen Pingan directly to Jiling Peak.

Originally, the plan was to have hot pot for this late-night snack, but some people met and discussed, feeling that eating hot pot might not showcase Old Chef’s exquisite skills, and it would be better to just make a few small dishes.

The number of registered members in Fallen Leaf Mountain was indeed small, but there were many small peaks.

Several tables were set up in Old Chef’s courtyard, and the mountain factions were truly on the table.

For example, Pei Qian, Nuan Shu, and Xiao Mi Li. They belonged to the “Bamboo House Line.” So even the Mistress of the Mountain was pulled over by Xiao Mi Li. Pei Qian also called the Discipline Master Chang Ming to sit down together.

Since Ning Yao was sitting here, the candidate disciple Sun Chunwang naturally had to follow, and Chang Ming naturally had to call his beloved disciple. In this way, it was also a large table.

Guo Zhujiu, Xie Gou, and the White-haired Boy. They belonged to the small peak that wanted to compete with the Bamboo House Line, especially Pei Qian, for attention. Xiao Mo was also pulled over by Xie Gou to sit at a table.

Bai Xuan’s presence at this table naturally held a deeper meaning.

The leader, Zhong Qian, led Chen Lingjun, Zheng Dafeng, Wen Zixi, and these lazy people to share a table with Guo Zhujiu and the others, but had already started shouting for wine and meat.

What kind of decorum is this? Outrageous! Are the soldiers I lead all good-for-nothings? Zhong Qian slightly frowned and raised her hand to press down twice. Chen Lingjun and the others immediately quieted down.

Qi Tingji and Lu Zhi, this group of sword cultivators, sat at a separate table. They were all curious about one thing: they didn’t know why that golden-bodied martial artist with a toothpick in his mouth had such high prestige.

It seemed as if the dining table was his Daoist temple, or was it like having a natal flying sword called “Late-night Snack”?

The gate-guarding Daoist had long since gone to sleep, snoring like thunder. Wen Zixi went to the house at the foot of the mountain and called twice, but couldn’t wake up Daoist Xianwei. Wen Zixi decided to ask Old Chef to fry a few more dishes and bring a food box to Xianwei after the late-night snack.

Old Deafy received the notification from Jiling Peak, but this Gan Yiban, who had moved away from Sword Worship Platform and built a thatched hut on Flower Shadow Peak, was now devoted to teaching the Dao. He said that Hai Shi, set by humans, and Zi Shi, the transition between day and night, were two critical moments for immortal cultivation. The Daoist formulas he was teaching all required effort during these times, and he was worried. He had to keep an eye on those children and the late-night snack could wait.

Wei Bo sat at Zhong Qian’s table. After all, Ning Yao’s table was all women, and Qi Tingji’s table was all sword immortals from the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect. Fortunately, Wei Bo had left a seat for Zhu Lian beside him.

There was another table: Old Scholar, Cui Dongshan, Chief Zhou who was about to be promoted to Deputy Mountain Master, Cao Qinglang, Deng Jianping, Ning Ji, and Zhao Shuxia. A vacant seat was left for the Mountain Master.

Chen Pingan quickly walked into the courtyard. After sitting down, he smiled at the Master beside him. Old Scholar was the first to pick up his chopsticks, grinning, “Let’s get to work!”

In any other sect, let alone a cultivator falling out of the Fourteenth Realm, just a single Ascendant Realm cultivator falling all the way from Ascendant, Immortal, Jade Purity to Nascent Soul Realm, what could it be but the sky falling?

But in the courtyard of Jiling Peak, the girl in a mink hat who had kicked off her boots and was sitting cross-legged was still “competing for dominance.” With her cheeks bulging, she mumbled that although she hadn’t fallen as much as the Mountain Master, she had started falling from the Ascendant Realm… The jubilant Helmsman Xie was speaking animatedly, and Alliance Master Guo, receiving a hint from a white-haired dog-legged Deputy Helmsman, said, “Kick them off too.”

Wen Zixi was toasting Deputy Mountain Master Jiang at the next table, saying that there was no need for formalities between brothers, he would take the first drink, all the camaraderie was in the wine, and they should help each other out in the future…

Ning Yao was serving dishes to Pei Qian and Xiao Mi Li.

Wei Bo raised his wine cup to Old Chef, lightly clinked it, and they both drank it down.

Chen Lingjun finished gnawing on a chicken leg, stood up, held his cup with both hands, and said he would take the lead, everyone should toast Lord Literary Sage. He would make the rounds at Lord Literary Sage’s table first, and they should follow.

Chen Pingan squinted at the boy in green, who immediately cowered. Unexpectedly, Old Scholar smiled and said, “Good, good, good,” and pulled his closed-door disciple, saying that as the Master, he should pull their Mountain Master along to toast everyone first.

Old Scholar stood in place and quietly asked Chen Pingan, “Can you drink?” Chen Pingan smiled and said, “It’s just dealing with a few of them, it doesn’t matter if I can drink or not.”

A roar of laughter erupted. Everyone except Ning Yao’s table was unconvinced. Even Ning Ji was eager to give it a try and intended to have a small drink with Master, but was worried that this might be inappropriate. However, he saw Senior Brother Cao and Senior Brother Zhao had already stood up with their cups, looking as if they were going to spar with Master.

Pei Qian stood up with a smile. She didn’t even use a wine cup, just filled a bowl with wine and picked up a jug of wine. Seeing that things were not going well, Cao Qinglang immediately sat back down, wisely retreating for the time being. Zhao Shuxia deliberately turned his head to chat with Deng Jianping beside him. For a moment, only Ning Ji was left standing foolishly, looking at Master, waiting to drink.

What is this night? The bright moon is in the heart of the sky.

Lord in the Clouds, you have asked about the Dao and the sword. People of Jianghu, you have asked about grudges and fists. Gentlemen, with whom have you asked about wine?

The capital city is the head and heart of a country, where the most powerful officials and the wealthiest people of the Great Li Dynasty exert all their strength to pursue more power and wealth, to achieve their ambitions or aspirations. The fluctuations of power and the endless flow of wealth are day and night. Tonight’s capital city is particularly obvious. Those with discerning eyes know clearly that after tonight, the officialdom of the Great Li Dynasty will face a thrilling purge. Many officials whose butts seem to be glued to a certain chair in the yamen, along with their families, will lose their former glory. At the same time, many people who have become disheartened, as soon as dawn breaks, after the morning court and the minor court, will also win the positions, reputations, and power that they never even dared to dream of in the past.

In the study of Yuan Chong, the head of the Yuan family in Yichi Lane, the family that has controlled the Censorate for many years, the old man ignored his contemporaries and spokesmen from various branches who were as anxious as ants on a hot pan. Yuan Chong only called Yuan Cheng and the Xu brothers and sisters, and also invited a family “peer” he hadn’t seen for many years, Sword Immortal Yuan Huajing.

In the Wei family, not too far from the Yuan family mansion, several young people, including Wei Jie, have been beaten to death with rods. The women are kneeling outside the ancestral hall, crying in a heap.

Assistant Minister Dong Hu sat in a carriage in the dark night and entered the mansion of the Tian Shui Zhao clan through the side door to meet with Zhao Duanjin, the Minister of Rites. The blocking of Old Ying Lake during the day involved officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Diplomatic Receptions.

Zhangsun Mao, who was recently promoted from the Court of Diplomatic Receptions to the Court of Transmission, and then transferred to the Ministry of Personnel as the Minister, a “Heavenly Official” of a generation, closed his door to guests.

But in fact, the old man secretly asked someone to call Guan Yiran, the Director of the Ministry of Revenue. He refused to see colleagues and outsiders, but Guan Yiran was a junior whom the old man had watched grow up and had placed high hopes on. Moreover, in the officialdom of Great Li, or rather, the entire Votive Continent, who didn’t know that the Ministry of Personnel of the Great Li Dynasty belonged to the Guan family? That Old Master Guan could be so powerful was something that the three successive emperors of the Great Li Song clan and the former State Preceptor Cui Chan had all tacitly agreed to.

The old man asked, “Yiran, do you think you are a good person?”

Guan Yiran smiled and said, “How should I say that?”

Zhangsun Mao continued to ask, “Can you be a good official who is both incorruptible and practical, who can leave a name in history, and who is especially recognized by the people?”

Guan Yiran said, “Of course I have confidence, but the outcome will have to be seen in a few decades, and it’s not something that counts just because I say so.”

Zhangsun Mao was silent for a moment and said, “At the minor morning court tomorrow, I will propose to His Majesty and the State Preceptor that you be transferred to the Ministry of Personnel.”

Guan Yiran thought for a moment and asked, “A sudden leap to the top, directly as the Minister?”

Zhangsun Mao laughed and cursed, “You brat! Even a Left Assistant Minister might not get approved, let alone a Minister! How about I go get the official hat and let you wear it to experience being a Minister?”

Direct promotion to Assistant Minister of Personnel would be difficult. In fact, it was precisely the surname “Guan” that caused Guan Yiran’s promotion speed to be much slower than the other two chief officials of the Great Canal project. There was an inside story that ordinary officials could not understand. It was Old Master Guan who had communicated with the “higher-ups” at the time, deliberately delaying Guan Yiran for… more than ten years, so that the court could see the situation and promote him if they felt he was capable, or keep him as a middle-level official of Great Li for the rest of his life if they didn’t. In addition, within those ten years, Guan Yiran could be transferred to various ministries for experience, but he could not be placed in the Ministry of Personnel of the Guan family, otherwise their many in-law families and former subordinates would do their best to push Guan Yiran up the ranks and help him solve all problems outside the Ministry of Personnel.

Zhangsun Mao also had his own plan. Assuming his suggestion to promote Guan Yiran to Assistant Minister of Personnel was unsuccessful, he would then propose that Guan Yiran leave the capital to become a provincial governor in a prefecture. The old man had already decided which prefecture: it would be poor, remote, with a pitifully small number of registered households, but a provincial governor was still a provincial governor, and Guan Yiran could thus enter the ranks of the country’s border officials.

Guan Yiran smiled and said, “Being an official in the Ministry of Personnel isn’t really being an official, but being a mediator who is both restricted and can get promoted while lying down. Grandpa Zhangsun, I’ll go to Jizhou, the poorest and smallest border area.”

Zhangsun Mao was both relieved and heartbroken. “Jizhou, that’s a bit too poor and bare. The people there have been notoriously fierce since ancient times, there are rampant miasmas, and it’s a place where political and religious enlightenment has not yet occurred…”

Guan Yiran reached up and brushed his head, smiling, “But the official hat is as big as all the provincial governors.”

“Then so be it. If you can’t become a provincial governor, don’t come crying and making a fuss to me.”

The old man nodded, was silent for a moment, and sighed with emotion, “When I was young and read those martial arts novels and detective stories, I could always see a ‘Clear Sky’ official appearing as if riding on clouds and fog, who would immediately bring justice to those wrongful convictions and false cases, or a newly-minted top scholar from a humble background who had no experience in officialdom, but gained the emperor’s appreciation and could quickly govern a place in an orderly manner, with the people living in peace and prosperity.”

Guan Yiran smiled and said, “It’s fiction and stories, so that we readers feel our repressed emotions released. Reasonableness comes first, and logic comes second. Life is already not easy, why seek discomfort in books?”

Zhangsun Mao squinted at Guan Yiran. “Books are books, and the world is the world. You can choose not to read the pages, depending on personal preference, but life is something you open your eyes to every day. So now that the young State Preceptor Chen is steering the big ship of Great Li, do you think it is logical or reasonable?”

Guan Yiran smiled and said, “Both reasonable and logical, both ranked first.”

The old man nodded. “That’s good, that’s good.”

In the middle of the night, the street of Yichi Lane outside the mansion would occasionally be noisy and chaotic.

Yan Yongfeng, the Grand Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Receptions, the short and energetic head of the Zizhao Yan clan, was leisurely eating iced watermelon with his elder brother Yan Jiaoran.

There was also considerable commotion on Chir Street. Besides the ordinary cavalry of the Metropolitan Guard led by Hong Ji himself, there were also military cultivators selected and promoted by Yan Jiaoran to arrest people.

The people being taken out of various noble mansions were mostly young faces and middle-aged men who were quite influential in the capital of Great Li. If it was like this in the capital, it would only be more so in the provinces.

As for these people who were almost simultaneously called back home by their families from all over the capital, whether they would be sent directly to the Ministry of Justice for imprisonment, taken to the Dali Temple for sentencing, or sent to the Censorate for trial would depend on how much Gu Yu Qian they had earned from the construction of the Great Canal back then. Occasionally, there would be influential elderly officials in the capital with real power who would shout loudly, talking about how the laws and regulations of the Great Li Dynasty were, and whether they knew who he was, and so on.

Not only the streets and alleys where the powerful and wealthy of the Great Li Dynasty gathered, but also several wards were directly surrounded by the cavalry of the Metropolitan Guard working with military cultivators, especially brightly lit.

The mansion of Minister Mu Yan, the Minister of Revenue, who was known as the national accountant, was not in Yichi Lane or Chir Street. He was from an ordinary gentry family in the provinces.

Mu Yan, who was nearly fifty years old, was a rare official who was extremely shrewd and had a keen sense for money and accounts. That’s why he was exceptionally promoted from Assistant Minister of Justice Mu Yan to Minister of Revenue, replacing Ma Yuan and becoming the national accountant.

And Ma Yuan, the Minister of Justice, actually wore his official uniform tonight and personally visited. Looking at the pale Minister of Revenue and Mu Yan’s trembling children, Ma Yuan said indifferently, “It’s better for me to take you myself than to be tied up by armored guards.”

By the菖蒲 River, a small but not insignificant restaurant. A fat man led a timid but curious girl around the main hall, private rooms, and kitchen of his restaurant. Beside them, Cao Gengxin, who had a purple gourd hanging from his waist, followed and persuaded Miss Chen Xi to find a job here. He said that if Manager Wei dared to have impure thoughts or be inappropriate, he would directly throw the fat Wei into the Ministry of Justice prison and make him lose a hundred jin of fat… The fat Wei stomped his feet anxiously, shaking the corridor floor, saying that he was a proper person, Miss Chen Xi, don’t listen to Assistant Minister Cao… Brother Cao talking nonsense…

The girl from out of town smiled, wanting to say something but hesitating. She couldn’t help but quietly and curiously ask Cao Gengxin, Brother Cao, is the official position you hold as high as County Magistrate Han’s? Cao Gengxin sighed and said proudly, patting his wine gourd, “Girl, your experience is a bit shallow. The official hat on my head is much bigger. When a petty official like County Magistrate Han sees me, his tongue will be tied when he speaks. With just a glare and a cold snort, they will be flustered. So, Miss Chen Xi, please rest assured. Since we have recognized each other as sworn siblings, feel confident when going out to buy rouge and powder, and haggle loudly with store owners and vendors…”

The girl was confused, when did they become sworn siblings…

They walked in small groups along the mountain path from Jiling Peak to the Ancestral Hall on Jishi Peak. The clouds and mist swirled, carrying a faint scent of wine.

Old Scholar has already returned to the Literary Temple in Middle-earth. His duties are heavy because the two worlds are about to truly clash head-on. According to Old Scholar, not only has the Vice Sagely Teacher been truly enraged, but the three principal and vice abbots of the Literary Temple have also clearly stated that except for the severely weakened Fuyao, Tung Leaf, and Golden Armor Continents, the other continents must continue to mobilize troops to the Barbarian Desolation. All war preparations such as ferries and equipment must be maximized within half a year. Many immortal mansions and Daoist temples must contribute people, money, and effort without exception.

Wen Zixi was not even a registered member of Fallen Leaf Mountain. He had wanted to leave the mountain earlier but was asked to stay by Chen Pingan, who said they would go together.

Zhong Yi, who was chewing on a toothpick, stopped hiccuping when he learned that he could also attend the Ancestral Hall meeting.

Wei Bo suggested being cautious and at least waiting another half a year before Fallen Leaf Mountain activated the mountain protection array that could both attack and defend.

Qi Tingji and Mi Yu were going to travel together to the Barbarian Desolation, to the Returning Ruins ferry where Celestial Master Zhao Tianlai and True Man Huolong were located.

Guo Du has already handed over the map of the barbarian desolation to the Literary Sage.

Chen Pingan asked Xie Gou to call Old Deafy over to participate in the Ancestral Hall meeting. Old Deafy was a bit reluctant, saying that the Mountain Master only needed to give orders and he, as a general offering, would follow. He couldn’t speak in a proper meeting.

Upon entering the Ancestral Hall, after paying respects with incense, they each took their seats. Chen Pingan got straight to the point: “In the next hundred years, there will be more new Ascendants and Fourteenth Realm cultivators. The mountain will only become more chaotic. The grudges that have accumulated over the years are very likely to erupt in a short period. For cultivators, this century, benefiting from the divine rain falling on the human world, will be a great year unseen in ten thousand years. This is true for those who pursue the Dao and cultivate immortality, and also for the pure martial artists in the mundane world. All sorts of strange and coincidental opportunities will become increasingly dazzling. The opportunities and blessings of the Great Dao that Fallen Leaf Mountain receives will only be more, not less. So, those who should go into secluded cultivation should do so quickly, those who need to heal their injuries should heal well, and those who should break through should do so quickly. Opportunity knocks but once.”

“For those who are masters, in addition to their own increase and accumulation of Dao power, teaching the Dao will be of utmost importance. All the cultivation and martial arts needs of the various members of the Ancestral Hall and all your disciples, heavenly materials and earthly treasures, immortal coins, spiritual artifacts, and elixirs, just ask Wei Wenlong, our great accountant. What can be given and what cannot be given, both will be given. What the mountain doesn’t have, we will buy or borrow. This is the case for Fallen Leaf Mountain, and the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect and the Qingping Sword Sect will naturally follow this principle as well.”

“Jiang Shangzhen will be promoted to Deputy Mountain Master. Xie Gou will fill the position of Chief Offering, Gan Tang will fill the position of Second Offering, and Xiao Mo will remain a general offering. After all, Xiao Mo will go into secluded cultivation soon, which will take a considerable amount of time.”

“Jiang Shangzhen will go to Shujian Lake to take over the True Realm Sect. Whether the name of the subordinate sect needs to be changed, and whether it should be directly changed to ‘Shujian Lake’ as Cui Dongshan suggested, will not be discussed tonight. Jiang Shangzhen just needs to make a decision and notify Fallen Leaf Mountain at that time. In addition, whether the new subordinate sect needs to borrow a few cultivators above the Fifth Realm from the Qingping Sword Sect, Jiang and Cui, the two Sect Masters, can discuss it privately.”

“As for myself, I will definitely be going back and forth in the near future. On one hand, I will be reporting to the capital and serving as the State Preceptor of Great Li. On the other hand, I will rush back to the Fuyao Foothills Daoist temple at night to observe the Dao from ‘Daoist Ding’, taking advantage of the opportunity to break and then rebuild, starting from scratch.”

“Xiao Mo and Xie Gou, before you two go into secluded cultivation, be sure to have a good talk with Gan Tang and see if you can help solve the issue of the two flying swords clashing.”

The only top-tier combat power that can stay on the mountain for a long time seems to be Old Deafy, an Ascendant Realm cultivator.

Xie Gou crossed her arms and said with a smile, “I’m just a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, daring to give advice to an Ascendant Realm old immortal. I’m a bit nervous, I’m just afraid that Gan Yiban… Oh, now I should respectfully call him Second Chief Gan. If he hears something he doesn’t like, his killing intent and malice will erupt together, and he’ll slap off my dog’s head.”

Old Deafy said solemnly, “They say down the mountain that apprenticing is like reincarnation. The grace of teaching the Dao on the mountain is like being reborn. Let alone the title of master and disciple, it doesn’t matter if I recognize Chief Xie and Mr. Xiao Mo as my parents tonight.”

Xiao Mo rubbed his temples. Gan Tang’s current thick skin and glib tongue were truly worthy of admiration after just three days apart.

Xie Gou was satisfied. Old Deafy, who had taken Xiao Mo’s position as Second Chief, was not getting arrogant. She nodded and gave a thumbs up. “Honest people speak the truth.”

Chen Pingan asked, “Yuan Huang has come up the mountain and wants to learn boxing from me. His heart is very sincere, and his martial arts talent is also high, with good temperament. But I decided before that Zhao Shuxia would be the closed-door disciple in martial arts. How do we resolve this?”

Zhao Shuxia said, “Master, it’s simple. Just let Yuan Huang be my Senior Brother. The Little Junior Brother gets the most benefits. No one should compete with me for that.”

Pei Qian smiled and said, “Having another Junior Brother is a good thing.”

Ning Ji didn’t drink much tonight, but his alcohol tolerance was truly ordinary. He was still a little tipsy at the moment. Earlier, Senior Sister smiled, came over with a bowl, and toasted them. He immediately played along, saying that he was with Master and Senior Sister… Ning Ji naturally had no other opinion. Having another Senior Brother meant more care.

“Then it’s settled.”

Chen Pingan continued, “Fallen Leaf Mountain has always been friendly to others and doesn’t have many enemies. There are only a few of them. Zhengyang Mountain doesn’t dare to make any moves for the time being. Great Shou Dynasty in Middle-earth Divine Continent must first bear the accountability of a Vice Abbot of the Literary Temple. My enmity with White Jade City is personal, and so are Yu Dou and Jiang Zhaomo. When we visit Qingming for the second time, it will be nothing more than a contest of strength in Dao methods, sword techniques, and fisticuffs, to determine the winner and the loser, and life and death. Only Pang Ding from Lingbao City has both personal and public enmity. This is simple enough, one of us must die.”

“It’s also fine if old rogue Pang is willing to kowtow and admit his mistakes, as long as he kowtows until his head is gone, I will accept his apology.”

“Qingming Continent was originally one of my most feared potential enemies. The two ancient divine artifacts, Jiankan and Xingxing, can allow her, this old Fourteenth, to replenish more of the Dao. But just as I expected, Senior Wu Zhou is extremely righteous and courageous. After this battle, even if we don’t become friends, we are definitely not enemies.”

“The future completion of the Great Canal in Tongye Continent is quite important. Besides the Qingping Sword Sect absolutely paying close and long-term attention and ensuring a good finish, it is estimated that the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect will be troubled to send a few sword cultivators there to help keep an eye on things and prevent accidents.”

Chen Pingan hesitated for a moment, but still chose to “leak the heavenly secret” and voluntarily said, “Daoist Xianwei, who guards our Fallen Leaf Mountain, is actually the reincarnation of the first Daoist in the ancient human world. Now the two have separated. The former remains, while the latter has dispersed all his Dao power. If he hadn’t acted earlier to disperse the vortex, I believe the human world would have quickly ushered in a veritable era of the End of Dharma.”

“The consequences are unimaginable. To give an example, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is the fundamental basis of all magical techniques and divine powers. If a refiner leaves their Daoist temple, whether it’s to experience the mundane world or visit friends to help others, and encounters fellow travelers on the road, the two cultivators will inevitably regard each other as enemies in their hearts, or at least be extremely suspicious. What use is my intention? What is the intention of the other? One should not have a malicious heart, but how can one be without a defensive heart? Once a refiner’s Dao heart is like this, the state of the human world can be imagined.”

“As for whether Daoist Xianwei has anything left in him, I am not sure, and I will not investigate. It will be the same after tonight as it was before today.”

Speaking of this, Chen Pingan glanced at the boy in green who was pretending to listen attentively but whose eyes were actually vacant. Chen Lingjun’s mind was racing at this moment, calculating whether he had said or done anything disrespectful. The answer was… a whole lot!

Chen Pingan smiled and said, “Old Ancestor Jing Qing? Drunk, spilling wine here.”

Chen Lingjun looked bewildered. Why was the Mountain Master calling him that? “Ah?”

Chen Pingan said irritably, “It’s a good thing you’re going down the mountain to travel tomorrow.”

Chen Lingjun said nervously, “Mountain Master, actually, I’m usually reliable in my words and actions, and my mind is sharp.”

Chen Pingan smiled and said, “A wise man occasionally makes a mistake, right?”

Chen Lingjun’s eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands, “Yes, that’s brilliant! The Mountain Master hit the nail on the head!”

That group of sword cultivators, including Zhusu, were all greatly impressed by this boy in green.

Chen Pingan stood up and smiled, “Anyone present who is a Fifth Realm sword cultivator or above, or a Peak and Limit martial artist, please come with me to the palace of the Great Shou Dynasty tonight.”