At the stroke of midnight, a new day dawned.
It seemed as if Chen Ping An was “keeping vigil,” both for himself and for the entire human realm.

When Liu Rao, with a cold face, announced, “Court dismissed,” the civil and military officials of Dahui, adorned with sashes, retreated like a tide.
Under the illumination of the palace and square lanterns, they resembled a swarm of river carp, their tails swaying as they moved from the grand hall towards the opulent mansions.
During this time, no upright official dashed against a pillar in self-sacrifice to make a statement with their death. Not even an official who uttered harsh words or grand pronouncements; it was as if each one had accepted their fate.
But Liu Rao was more familiar with the muddy depths of the Dahui court than anyone else. He knew there was still a group of fine talents within this quagmire. However, this was precisely the chaos that Liu Rao desired.
Many young and middle-aged officials, who had temporarily chosen silence, now viewed the “suzerain state,” the Song clan of Dali, as their enemy. The looks they cast at Liu Rao were filled with a deep-seated hatred and resentment.
He, the most powerful National Preceptor since the founding of Dahui, was destined to have his name dragged through the mud.
Were it not for the rules of the Middle-Earth Academy of Rites, which prohibited Qi refiners from serving as national rulers, it was estimated that rumors would spread throughout the court and the populace the very next morning, claiming that National Preceptor Liu Rao intended to usurp the throne and declare himself emperor.

Yin Ni, who had not immediately gone to the Jade Sky Palace on the mountain peak, let out a soft sigh, “Why bother.”
Liu Rao chuckled, “What’s the use of keeping a broken pot? Break it, and only then can a truly exquisite porcelain vessel be fired.”
Yin Ni asked, “What will you do next?”
Liu Rao replied, “Force Yin Mi to depose the Empress and immediately install a new Empress.”
Yin Ni frowned, remaining silent. The current Empress was the daughter of a noble family whom the late Emperor Yin Ji had forced upon the Crown Prince Yin Mi. Their marital relationship was, in name and fact, one of mutual respect, yet she was also arrogant and jealous. Yin Mi’s dislike was natural, but it was far from the point of outright detestation that would warrant deposing her. Moreover, if he were to install a new Empress the day after ascending the throne, Emperor Yin Mi’s reign would be too… interesting.
Liu Rao spoke frankly, “The new Empress will be my direct disciple, Jinli. I deliberately arranged for them to meet at the Jade Sky Palace temple fair a few years ago. Jinli’s background is extraordinary; surely Mountain Lord Yin has noticed some clues…”
Yin Ni shook her head and said, “I didn’t notice.”
Liu Rao was momentarily speechless.
Yin Ni curiously asked, “How is it wondrous?”
Liu Rao hesitated to speak.

A young man in white, acting as a gentleman upon the beam, slid down a round pillar adorned with gold leaf and raised cloud dragons. Jiang Shangzhen emerged from behind the throne.
Cui Dongshan walked towards the magnificent, lacquered dragon chair, smiling as he explained on behalf of Liu Rao, “After the battle of slaying the dragon, there were still some ripples. There was once a golden carp from the East Sea who led a rebellion, claiming a million brave soldiers under her command, and vowing to seek justice for all water creatures in the world. However, as soon as she reached land, she was repelled by Sect Master Han and driven back. She used to be good sisters with Madam Dandam of the Lushui Pit, but unfortunately, the latter was timid and did not join her in the uprising that year. However, over time, this grand feat was not taken too seriously by the land immortals, who were unaware of the extent of its danger.”

Yin Ni was about to instinctively question why Liu Rao hadn’t revealed Jinli’s true nature earlier, but she suddenly recalled that Yin Mi’s grandfather, the Emperor of Dahui in that era, had once burned incense at the Jade Sky Palace and asked for her opinion on whether Liu Rao could be kept “a suitable distance from the dragon chair.” Yin Ni’s response at the time was indifferent.
After that, Liu Rao began to intentionally or unintentionally reduce his participation in court sessions. Over time, the National Preceptor of Dahui gradually became a figurehead.

Liu Rao looked at the empty hall and said mockingly, “Are you very surprised that such a dysfunctional Dahui Dynasty could still be ranked fourth among the Haoran Dynasties?”
The old man deeply missed the spirited young man from back then. At that time, Liu Rao had just broken through his realm and was also an ambitious young immortal.
Despite their vast age difference and the disparity between immortal and mortal, they met during a heavy snowfall in a market tavern that was about to close. The wind and snow rattled against the cotton curtain hanging at the entrance. Inside, they drank and discussed the current situation, their hearts filled with fervor, believing that the future of Dahui would be bathed in bright sunshine and that winter in the capital would never again see freezing beggars.

Jiang Shangzhen nodded and said, “I feel indignant for the third and fifth place dynasties. One feels disgusted, and the other feels deeply humiliated.”
Cui Dongshan held up one hand, bending his fingers one by one, and said with a smile, “First, the ancestors were indeed wealthy and accumulated a good family fortune. Even if one or two prodigal sons appeared during that time, they could still afford to squander it. Second, the position was not gained legitimately, so they fear leaving a bad name in history. It’s easy to deal with this; they pass down a few secret ancestral rules to their descendants. Therefore, the Yin clan has always treated scholars extremely well, generously supporting scholars for hundreds of years. This is a great advantage and makes it easy to gain a good reputation, which can attract various wandering scholars. Third, there is a Fourteenth Realm ghostly creature, ‘Xian,’ wandering within the borders. Who would dare to casually extend a hand? Fourth, before this, the Dahui imperial tombs emitted green smoke, producing a pair of astonishingly talented ‘literary and martial dual gems,’ similar to the two ministers of restoration, Yuan and Cao, of the Dali Song clan. The literary one is the young prodigal who suddenly had a change of heart, studied diligently by hanging his head by his hair and pricking his thigh with an awl, and repeatedly passed the four imperial examinations – the National Preceptor Liu Rao. The other one, during his lifetime, was incredibly skilled in martial arts and had first-class talent in leading troops and fighting battles. His exceptional ability is similar to Liu Qingfeng of our Dali’s auxiliary capital. This kind of ‘official’ cannot be sought; one can only rely on luck. Fifth, don’t think of Yin Ji as a thoroughly rotten villain. In fact, he had some ability as an emperor and was by no means an ordinary person. With such a person on the dragon chair, naturally, powerful prime ministers and famous generals would be sidelined. Sixth, worst-case scenario, isn’t there still the old ancestor Yin Ni secretly looking after the Yin clan disciples?”

Liu Rao nodded, “The young man is insightful.”
Cui Dongshan bowed with greatly exaggerated movements, grinning sheepishly, “Old immortal, you are broad-minded.”
Chen Ping An simply gazed up at the colorful caisson ceiling with the dragon head extending downwards, holding a pearl in its mouth.
Jiang Shangzhen followed his mountain lord’s gaze and thought to himself, this thing is probably not easy to disassemble or move.
Yin Ni looked at the seemingly hesitant to sit on the dragon chair, mad young man, and said angrily, “Put it back!”
Cui Dongshan let out an “Ah,” feigning ignorance.
Yin Ni said in a deep voice, “Return the warding object to its original place!”
Cui Dongshan sighed, pulled out a box from his sleeve, and casually threw it back to its original position.
Chen Ping An said, “Put it back exactly as it was.”
Cui Dongshan had no choice but to pull out some more treasures from his sleeve and use a secret technique to put them back into the treasure box.
Seeing this scene, the naturally aloof female mountain lord Yin Ni was rare to be amused to anger, repeatedly saying “Good, good,” “Is this the behavior of a sect leader, is this National Preceptor Chen’s proud student?!”

Cui Dongshan chuckled and simply sat on the dragon chair, wiggling his backside and resting his feet on the armrests. “Annoying, isn’t it?”
Yin Ni was about to use a mountain-moving divine ability to suppress this scoundrel, but she heard Chen Ping An say calmly, “His original name was Cui Chan.”
Yin Ni quickly withdrew her divine ability, utterly astonished. That embroidered tiger?!
Liu Rao’s emotions were even more complicated. Was it really the embroidered tiger? The grandmaster of the school of statecraft he had diligently studied for over twenty years?!
Cui Dongshan made a face, scratched his cheek, and swung his feet, saying with a smile, “A coward doesn’t mention past failures. Besides, to be precise, I can only be considered the dregs of Cui Chan’s Dao; the good parts, he kept for himself, and the bad parts, he gave to me.”
Jiang Shangzhen smiled. On this matter, the mountain lord and Brother Cui could finally be open and honest with outsiders.
Even someone as aloof as Yin Ni had to admit one thing: to put it bluntly, the Yin clan of Dahui was not worthy of being deliberately humiliated by the embroidered tiger Cui Chan.

Liu Rao seemed to have his Dao heart broken for some reason, murmuring, “How is this possible, how is this possible…”
About a hundred years ago, Liu Rao had attended a lecture by Cui Chan, the foremost disciple of the Sage of Literature. His discourse was wide-ranging and powerful, with no room for others to speak, nor did they dare to raise any questions.
Liu Rao was a mountain-top cultivator who had meticulously studied statecraft for over twenty years. Furthermore, Liu Rao and Cui Chan were both National Preceptors, so he could better appreciate Cui Chan’s… sinister nature.
That embroidered tiger was like a shadow in broad daylight.
The former National Preceptor of the Shaoyuan Dynasty, who was Lin Junbi’s mentor, had also tried to find the flaws and deficiencies in Dali’s statecraft. He frequently corresponded with Liu Rao. As time went on, both became increasingly pessimistic, believing that the embroidered tiger was invincible. For this reason, they even made a most terrifying assumption: what would Cui Chan do if he harbored resentment towards the Middle-Earth Academy of Rites and the Confucian Dao tradition?

Anyone who lacks self-awareness needs only to examine their conscience to know their worth on the path of life, at every present moment.
The strength or weakness of one’s power is determined by who their opponent is.
The height of one’s spirit can be seen by who their imagined enemy is.
With both Secret Inspector Chen and Embroidered Tiger Cui, the Dahui Dynasty was certainly not going to succeed in crossing the river and demolishing the bridge. Yin Ni was somewhat disheartened; she did not have high hopes for Liu Rao’s desperate gamble.
It was truly that Liu Rao’s plan could not afford a single mistake. Liu Rao was determined; he was certainly not afraid of becoming a traitor in history books and in the hearts of the people, but Yin Ni found it difficult to imagine how Liu Rao would compose himself if, one day, he finally realized that he had failed to achieve his goal and could only leave a more rotten and messy situation for the younger generation of Dahui to clean up.

In Liu Rao’s eyes, the great general who had risen step by step and become the head of Dahui’s military officials, with accomplishments beyond compare, was a young man.
Could it be that in Yin Ni’s eyes, Liu Rao, who was known as a child prodigy from a young age but was tricked into becoming an immortal by a few strange tales, was no longer a young man?
Yin Ni bid farewell and returned to the Mountain Lord’s mansion.

Liu Rao unexpectedly suggested, “How about I accompany National Preceptor Chen to visit Dahui’s two secret vaults? The first is a diversion; the so-called treasures are of ordinary quality, merely using a semi-immortal artifact to put on a show to avoid suspicion. The second one still has some good things. There are only two possibilities for the door to be opened: the Emperor of Dahui viewing treasures, or I and Mountain Lord Yin jointly holding the tiger seal and entering the secret vault together, ostensibly to supervise each other, but in reality, the late Emperor was afraid I would abuse my power for personal gain… It turns out I underestimated Yin Ji back then.”
Heh, stealing from the treasury he was guarding? Now, Liu Rao was practically stealing the entire country.
Before, Liu Rao had only muttered to himself and wondered why Yin Ji, who should have known his character, was so petty.
Only now did he learn a terrifying truth: Yin Ji also harbored ambitions of attaining the Dao and ascending. Every single treasure in the Dahui secret vault was intended to be Yin Ji’s resource for achieving the Dao in the future?
The new Emperor Yin Miao, who became a puppet upon ascending the throne, belonged to the Taisong lineage of the Dahui Yin clan. Rumor has it that a jade axe is secretly enshrined in the Jade Sky Palace on the mountain peak.

Cui Dongshan and Jiang Shangzhen exchanged glances. Old Brother Liu, you’re really good at this.
Chen Ping An chuckled and shook his head.
He wasn’t here to exploit them.
However, Liu Rao insisted, “We can’t let National Preceptor Chen and the Sword Immortals who have come from afar make a trip for nothing and be suspected of making a big fuss over nothing in the eyes of outsiders.”
Jiang Shangzhen laughed, “Dali has already become the suzerain state, and a dynasty ranked fourth among the Haoran Dynasties has become a vassal state. Is this still making a big fuss over nothing?”
Cui Dongshan put his hand over his mouth, “After all, my sir doesn’t hold the position of National Preceptor in two dynasties. Liu Rao is probably feeling a bit uneasy. If he doesn’t give something away, he probably can’t sleep soundly.”
Jiang Shangzhen realized and said, “That makes sense.”
Chen Ping An said, “Next time.”
Liu Rao said, “Let’s keep public and private separate. One share for the Dali Song clan, and one share for Falling Dust Mountain.”
Jiang Shangzhen admired Old Brother Liu’s generosity even more. No wonder he could be a National Preceptor.
Liu Rao was the first to leave the grand hall, saying he was going to take a look at the abandoned old residence of the National Preceptor’s mansion, casually leaving a few outsiders here. The key point was that the “young man” waved and said with a smile, “National Preceptor Liu, aren’t you afraid that the caisson ceiling and the dragon chair will be gone at tomorrow’s court session?” Liu Rao hurried away, not answering.

Cui Dongshan jumped off the dragon chair and whispered, “Sir?”
Chen Ping An nodded and whispered with concentrated sound, “Zheng Dafeng reminded me with a cryptic message. Something is indeed very wrong. However, the situation is unclear at the moment. It’s better to remain still than to act. Don’t force her to jump over the wall in desperation.”
Similar to hiding, completely unharmed. Coupled with Liu Rao’s disciple Jinli and the East Sea golden carp mentioned by Cui Dongshan.
Cui Dongshan said, “I suspect that the entire capital has been set up with an immortal technique birdcage by Yin Ni, specifically designed to capture the thoughts of cultivators and refine them into the essence of sound and incense. A wondrous idea, quite something to chew on.”
He planned to stay here for a few more days.
Jiang Shangzhen was completely confused. Cui Dongshan briefly explained, “Her background is very unusual. Perhaps even Liu Rao has been deceived. I haven’t been able to figure out her exact origin yet, but this city beneath her skirt, and that great mountain, both exude a sense of mystery.”
Chen Ping An smiled, “It reminds me of Hehuan Mountain.”
This naturally led him to think of Lu Chen.

Liu Rao had just left when a group of true scholars arrived, crossing the threshold of the grand hall together.
Cui Dongshan urged Deputy Mountain Master Jiang to leave through the side door and go see the scenery elsewhere.
Chen Ping An was pleasantly surprised. He quickly stepped forward and asked with a smile, “Brother Qunyu, did you come with Master Han?”
Gu Kuang, courtesy name Qunyu, was also a sword cultivator. He had been to the Sword Qi Great Wall and was part of the same small mountain as Ning Yao and Chen Sanqiu, sharing a close relationship.
Among the Dali imitation White Jade Capital long swords thrown to the Sword Qi Great Wall by Ah Liang in the early years, there was one named “Haoran Qi,” which Gu Kuang “borrowed.”
Furthermore, Gu Kuang was the man Diezhang admired.

Gu Kuang silently bowed deeply, performing a scholar’s grand禮.
Chen Ping An was somewhat helpless; he had to return the gesture.
Unexpectedly, Gu Kuang quickly stood up, not giving Chen Ping An a chance to return the禮, and said with a smile, “Let me introduce you.”
Beside Gu Kuang were Qin Zhengxiu and Chen Shi, who had gone to the Sword Qi Great Wall with Liu Xianyang back then.
There were also two women, both daughters from first-class scholarly families in the Haoran world.
Chen Gui, Chen Shi’s older sister. Wen Shujun, a renowned governess in Nanposuo Continent. Her husband was an immortal prodigy from the Great Rivery River, who was obsessed with fishing.

Gu Kuang, from Hexiang Academy; Qin Zhengxiu, from Shanlu Academy in Nanposuo Continent; Chen Shi, a disciple of the Chunru Chen clan.
These three Confucian gentlemen had all been to the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Qin Zhengxiu said regretfully, “Why did Master Chen refuse the invitation of the Sage of Rites to serve as a supervisor in the Savage Battlefield? Wang Zai and I both feel that if you were willing, a few of us would take leave from the academy for a few years and accompany Master Chen to the Savage Land. The last time, we were truly too stifled.”
Gu Kuang lightly coughed a few times, reminding his friend not to bring up sensitive topics. Master Chen was now the National Preceptor of Dali and had just brought down Zhou Mi from the New Heavenly Court… Even a donkey pulling a millstone needs to catch its breath.
Unexpectedly, Chen Ping An said, “I will go.”
Qin Zhengxiu pressed, “When will you go?”
Remembering that he still owed a debt to the Fuyaozhou Academy, Chen Ping An joked, “Are all you upright gentlemen carved from the same mold?”
Among the younger generation of Confucian gentlemen at the Academy of Rites, Chen Ping An was extremely popular.
Besides Gu Kuang and Qin Zhengxiu from Shanlu Academy in Nanposuo Continent, there were also Wang Zai from Wuxi Academy, Wen Yu from Tianmu Academy, and others.
First, they studied in their studies, and then they gained merit on the battlefield. Most of them had already served as vice-principals of academies.
Qin Zhengxiu also felt that he was being impatient and said with a smile, “Please inform us before Master Chen departs.”
Chen Ping An nodded, hesitated for a moment, and still asked, “Brother Qunyu, can I ask a personal question?”
The last time they met, Gu Kuang wanted to return his treasured sword. He could hand it over to the Ascension City or the Dali Song clan, but Chen Ping An didn’t agree at the time and vaguely brushed it aside.
Ascension City, which had firmly established itself as the number one Daoist site in the Five-Colored World, wasn’t lacking a good sword either. As for the Dali Dynasty, accounts hadn’t been settled yet, and Chen Ping An wasn’t going to proactively show favor. With Empress Dowager Nanzan’s character, if Chen Ping An did that, it would only make her even more clueless about her place.
Furthermore, deep down, Chen Ping An still hoped that Ascension City and the Academy of Rites could build more connections.

Gu Kuang guessed what Chen Ping An wanted to ask and said with a relaxed smile, “Of course, I like Miss Diezhang, but the situation was complicated back then, and I couldn’t indulge in matters of love. If I didn’t like her, why would I voluntarily ask to follow Sir and serve as the record keeper in the newly opened Five-Colored World? It was because I thought she would settle down in the new world with Ascension City. At that time, I could go to a tavern and drink, pretending to be drunk. With Dutch courage, I would express my feelings to Miss Diezhang. Afterward, there was the reconstruction of the academy, inspecting the various kingdoms in Middle-Earth, preparing for the savage war, and so on. Indeed, there were many heavy responsibilities, and I couldn’t get away… Forget it, these are all excuses. In reality, I was still timid, afraid that the person Diezhang truly liked was either you, the second shopkeeper, or Chen Sanqiu, who traveled with her.”
Back in the Five-Colored World, when heaven and earth were just beginning, two Confucian saints were seated in the sky curtain at the center of heaven and earth. These two Confucian sages, who were enshrined in the Academy of Rites, were from the School of Rites of the Sage of Rites and the Hexiang Academy of the Yasheng. Gu Kuang was one of the two record keepers with the title of Junzi.
Chen Ping An was relieved, “I was afraid you two were destined to be without a缘分.”
Chen Ping An bowed separately to Chen Gui and said, “Long time no see.”
Chen Gui smiled and returned the bow, “Chen Ping An, long time no see.”
The other party had too many identities and too many honorifics. Chen Gui always had simple ideas; instead of thinking about which address was more appropriate, it was better to call him by his name.
One should know that when they first met, this successful young man in a blue shirt was still a dark and thin straw-shoed boy, who had helped guide them into the mountain.
Those who accompanied him were Ning Yao, Liu Baqiao, and a gentle scholar from the Longwei Creek Chen clan.
Chen Ping An was at Old Oriole Lake, walking along the willow-shaded path beside the lake with Song Jixin at that time. He just happened to hear Song Jixin mention an old matter, saying that in the small town back then, this woman Chen Gui was very arrogant and foolishly took a punch from Song Changjing. She was quite tough, pulling herself out of the wall without a word. Afterward, Song Changjing privately gave her a high evaluation.
Wen Shujun was naturally extremely curious about Chen Ping An.
At a young age, he was already like the kind of person who lived in books and was depicted in portraits.
If the other party was just the last Secret Inspector of the Sword Qi Great Wall, or the new National Preceptor of Dali, when facing him, she might still be a little nervous, afraid of improper speech or demeanor.
After “yesterday,” she felt that there was nothing to be afraid of, nothing to be nervous about. What kind of magnificent scenery, what kind of divine and monstrous characters had he not seen?
In fact, after Gu Kuang introduced Wen Shujun’s name and identity, Chen Ping An knew her husband. He had met him before when he flew his sword over the sea from Fuyao Continent.

Gu Kuang asked with a smile, “This fellow Qin Zhengxiu is about to move to another place to become an official. Secret Inspector Chen, guess where he will be promoted to?”
Chen Ping An said, “Could it be the vice-principal of Guanhu Academy?”
Gu Kuang smiled, “Actually, Qin Zhengxiu wanted to go to Chunshan Academy, which has not yet entered the ranks of the seventy-two, but the Academy of Rites rejected it, saying that his understanding of the Sage of Literature’s teachings was insufficient.”
Chen Ping An said, “Is that Senior Brother Mao’s opinion?”
Gu Kuang laughed heartily.
Qin Zhengxiu said helplessly, “Director Mao even called me someone with superficial learning who curries favor with the powerful. I’ve always been too embarrassed to mention this to Qunyu and the others. Director Mao is a bit too strict.”
Chen Ping An suppressed a smile, “I’ll help you say a few honest good words to Senior Brother Mao later. For example, I’m not sure if his learning is profound, but he’s definitely not someone who curries favor with the powerful.”

Chen Shi said softly, “Sword Immortal Chen, I was too embarrassed to talk to you much at the Sword Qi Great Wall last time. When I was studying in my early years, Liu Xianyang was my classmate and good friend. He used to boast to me privately that you would definitely be the best kiln master for firing porcelain in the world.”
Chen Ping An had teamed up with Lu Zhi and Chen Chunan to collectively plan an ambush at sea, encircling and killing a soaring realm great demon that had been hiding in the Haoran world for many years.
Therefore, Chen Chunan had once said to his friend that a long-cherished wish had been fulfilled.
Chen Ping An laughed heartily, “Liu Xianyang always boasts without drafting.”
The Chunru Chen clan was known as the greatest accumulator of memorial arches in the world. For the sake of face, when Liu Xianyang went to an unfamiliar academy in another continent, the appearance of Chen Shi and their becoming friends likely made it easier and quicker for Liu Xianyang to adapt to the local customs.

Chen Ping An hesitated to speak.
Chen Shi said, “Liu Xianyang sent me an invitation to his wedding a long time ago, but he just asked me to mail the gift money. That bastard repeatedly hinted in the letter that I shouldn’t come in person, implying that the wedding banquet would be simple and he was poor, unable to borrow tables and chairs.”
Chen Ping An smiled, “He’s really not being distant with you.”
Chen Shi said sourly, “Liu Xianyang is my good friend, but with you, he’s a good brother. There’s a clear distinction in closeness.”
Chen Ping An smiled slightly, “Whether you’re close or not depends on how many times you’ve borrowed money.”
Chen Shi immediately became very happy, “In the early stages of studying at the academy, I concealed my family identity and deliberately acted poor. It was Liu Xianyang who helped me out.”
Wen Shujun finally found an opportunity to speak, “Chen Shi, clothes make the man, and saddles make the horse. You might be able to pretend to be wealthy, but poverty is something you can’t pretend to be, and it will definitely not look like it.宗主 Liu must have seen through it a long time ago.”
Chen Ping An nodded in agreement.
Chen Shi said, “No wonder I never understood why Liu Xianyang was always worried about one thing back then, wondering if you would feel like you had nothing to talk about with him when he returned home.”

Chen Ping An was silent for a moment, remembering something, and asked, “Where is Deputy Sect Master Han?”
Gu Kuang said, “He is at the Jade Sky Palace on the mountain peak, saying he wants to reminisce with an old acquaintance.”

Outside the Golden Hall of the Emperor, as called by the common people and in plays, at the bottom of the imperial steps, sat an old man and a young man who had just met today, about to establish a master-disciple relationship.
Earlier, the old deaf man had been wandering around the streets and alleys of this sleepless city, and he had indeed found a young man with good aptitude for cultivation. He was a young man from a wealthy family, dressed in fine clothes and surrounded by “sycophantic hangers-on.”
The young man had just come out of a brothel, with still some unwashed rouge marks on his face, when he was stopped on the street by a hunched old man wearing cloth shoes.
After the old deaf man’s earnest persuasion, the other party finally didn’t report him to the authorities.
The so-called good aptitude meant only a chance of forming a Golden Core. However, the old deaf man already felt it was quite good. Before the two heavy rains, how many cultivators had ascended in just one continent? A continent was like a gateway, accumulating family fortune for hundreds or even thousands of years. Besides those who had ascended, the upper fifth realms were also countable. Even if a mountain-top cultivator with profound Dao power traveled outside and had the intention of saving people, it would take several years to travel through nine continents. How many people could they lead up the mountain?
The old deaf man believed it was not easy to find a young man with a chance of forming a Golden Core just by walking around the capital.
Of course, the old deaf man only said that he was a local immortal who had established a cave dwelling and Daoist site in Baoping Continent. The young man directly asked, “Then have you participated in the Night Roaming Banquet at Piyun Mountain?”
The old deaf man was momentarily at a loss for words.
The young man from a wealthy family, dressed in fine clothes and living a life of luxury, was named Zhang Ying. He wasn’t that easy to deceive either.
The old deaf man didn’t waste any more words with him and said that he could take him to the imperial palace to participate in the lively court session. Then he would know that his claim of being a local immortal of Baoping Continent was not a lie.
They stood beside a eunuch who cracked a whip, but all the officials participating in the court session completely ignored them. The young man was greatly shocked. If he mastered this immortal technique, wouldn’t he be able to go anywhere as if entering a no-man’s land? Could he perhaps sneak into the boudoirs of many admired ladies and the beds of enchanting women to closely admire them drawing their eyebrows in the mirror, bathing, and changing clothes… Beyond that, the young man didn’t harbor any further improper thoughts. He was a cultured man who had read extensively in the Classics of the Sages. A gentleman moves his eyes, not his hands.

The young man muttered softly, “Xu Rao is crazy.”
Wearing a sword to court, being granted the nine bestowments, the emperor admitting he was unworthy of the throne and performing the act of abdication for the sake of the people and the country… But did Xu Rao have descendants?
The old deaf man chuckled, “You’re not small-minded to call him by his name.”
Zhang Ying turned his head to look at the high white jade steps. There was a legendary dragon chair in the grand hall. This central axis of the capital extended all the way to the ancestral mountain, the Middle Peak of Dahui, and the Jade Sky Palace on the mountain peak.
That female mountain lord truly resembled a woman who had held court behind a screen throughout history.
Zhang Ying sighed and rubbed his face hard, “What’s so good about being an immortal?”
The old deaf man said, “It can give you the confidence to say ‘no’ to many people and many things.”
Just as Zhang Ying was about to speak, his eyes blurred, and a white-clad, ethereal… goddess appeared?
The woman smiled, “Fellow Daoist is suited to be a传功 đạo士 who presides over daily lessons.”
The old deaf man waved his hand, “You flatter me.”
What he disliked the most and was least skilled at in his life was being polite, exchanging pleasantries, and saying things that were not true. That was called a lack of sincerity and an unhealthy trend.
How could we, seekers of the Dao, whether practicing swordsmanship or cultivating the Dao, go with the flow without any conviction? When dealing with people and handling affairs, one must have determination.

This female sword immortal, who was a ghostly creature, was the Gatekeeper of White Emperor City, Zheng Dan, from the Yue Maiden Sword Art lineage.
She looked around and said, “Mr. Zheng instructed that Yin Ni has multiple identities and considerable skills, so we should not casually provoke her. Be careful that the capital of Dahui doesn’t instantly turn into a ghost city.”
The old deaf man frowned, “Is that Zhou Mi’s remaining trick targeting our mountain lord?”
Zheng Dan shook her head, “It’s just an old debt that the Haoran world must repay. National Preceptor Chen just happened to pass by here. As long as we don’t interfere with each other, there’s no need to take on this matter.”
The old deaf man asked, “Are you here just to give a warning?”
Zheng Dan smiled, “That’s one reason. Another is that Mr. Zheng asked me to be a lobbyist and persuade ‘Yin Ni’ to secretly go to the southeastern region of the Savage Land and meet Mr. Zheng.”

The National Preceptor’s mansion, which had been neglected for a long time, was only periodically swept by palace maids dispatched by the court.
Liu Rao sat alone on the steps, deep in thought. Everything he had done could be summed up in one sentence: the country is about to perish, awaken, gentlemen, are you still half-asleep?!
Suddenly, smoke billowed, but without any malevolent aura. It rose from the supposedly haunted house in the capital and instantly swept towards the National Preceptor’s mansion. From the black smoke emerged a figure, a clear spirit in the form of a burly, armored, sword-wielding ghost resembling a door god. His expression was complex as he stared intently at Liu Rao, who had returned to the National Preceptor’s mansion, and said the exact same words as Yin Ni, “Why bother.”

At that time, it was noisy over there. The Taoist priests performing rituals to catch demons were in the haunted house, but the priests were not skilled enough and were instead tricked by the powerful “厲鬼,” making them look disheveled and throwing them out of the house. The priest bravely returned to the house and only told the family that he needed to return to the mountain to invite a few senior brothers. In fact, the old Taoist’s implication was not to return the deposit.
However, it was not this ghost who was playing tricks on the Taoist priest, but a mischievous fox spirit he had subdued a few years ago.

Liu Rao smiled, “General Chai, you are finally willing to show your face.”
The ghost said irritably, “Old Man Liu, can you now speak to Madam Yin without your tongue getting tied?”
Liu Rao nodded, “Not only can I speak smoothly, but now when I look at her directly, how calm I am, my gaze like a torch, she feels embarrassed instead.”
The ghost was half-believing, “Did you secretly drink two catties of horse urine after court was dismissed?”
Liu Rao scoffed, “If you don’t believe me, just ask Secret Inspector Chen. He can testify.”
He was honest throughout his life, achieved unparalleled achievements, and after retiring from his official post, he had few visitors. After his death, he had no retainers, no concubines, no accumulated wealth, clean and pure.
The ghost sneered, “Men who are afraid of their wives will always favor their fellow men. If I believe him, wouldn’t that mean I believe your nonsense?”
Liu Rao said, “Being afraid of your wife is better than you and I remaining bachelors our whole lives.”

Mountain peak, Jade Sky Palace.
Old Master Han stood in the heavily curtained hall with his hands behind his back, looking at the painted statue. He said, “It is indeed you.”
A golden body stepped out of the statue. Yin Ni frowned, “Deputy Sect Master Han, what do you mean?”
Old Master Han said calmly, “Come out and talk.”
Yin Ni was filled with shame and anger. All of you, the Deputy Sect Master of the Academy of Rites, the National Preceptor of Dali, the Sword Immortal of the Sword Qi Great Wall, the upright gentlemen of the Academy, and that person surnamed Zheng, especially that lunatic young man in white… Is there no end?!
At this moment, Yin Ni reached out and covered her forehead. The next moment, as if something was controlling her hands, it tore open the skin from her forehead, forcefully tearing off a layer of gilded dharma body, revealing a bloody, skinless woman who floated down to the ground. She then reshaped her features and grew fair skin, becoming a woman even more beautiful than Yin Ni. The only flaw was the layers of fine golden scales on her face, making her instantly transform from stunningly beautiful to divine and otherworldly, not human.

Just as Zheng Dafeng said, any mountain and river deity who saw Chen Ping An last night would feel strong emotions of love and hate, but Yin Ni showed no ripples at all.
At this moment, she glanced at the imperial palace at the foot of the mountain and sneered, “If he wasn’t tainted with so much aquatic aura, I would definitely make him suffer! The millions of lives in the capital are closely related to my Dao. In any case, when I live, they all live; when I die, they all die. If you anger me, let alone Chen Ping An, disaster will be piled upon disaster. You, the Deputy Sect Master of the Academy of Rites, will also suffer and cause a dynasty’s capital to become a ghost realm. Both of you scholars are the culprits…”
While glaring at Old Master Han, she was also distracted by talking to Zheng Dan, who was standing at the bottom of the imperial steps at the palace. “Please politely decline Mr. Zheng’s kind invitation on my behalf. Just say I have no intention of going to the Savage Land. Even if the Middle-Earth Academy of Rites sees through me, I’d like to see what they can do to me…”
As she spoke, a burly man with a sword crossed the threshold of the grand hall.
She looked closely and blurted out the man’s name directly, “Liu Cha!”
The burly hero in linen clothes and straw sandals frowned and said, “Master Han, killing is easy, but what about this capital before killing her?”
The mountain shook.
A ripple of martial arts caused a blue-shirted figure to shrink the ground and arrive at the mountain peak. Chen Ping An said, “Let’s talk properly first. Let’s decide whether to tear off the facade after we are sure there’s nothing to discuss.”
She said fiercely, “What if I refuse to discuss a single word with you?!”
Chen Ping An lifted his foot but did not step over the threshold. Instead, he stood on the threshold. This instantly made her Dao body stagnant and heavy.
She was astonished, “How do you know this long-lost technique of severing the green mountain’s head?”
At this moment, another uninvited guest arrived. He also lifted a foot and said with a smile, “Is there really nothing to discuss? Be careful, I’ll kick your head off.”
She was fine seeing Chen Ping An; in fact, she was merely putting on a brave front and was unwilling to truly become a mortal enemy with him. However, when she saw this person, her killing intent immediately surged, and she became furious.
In an instant, her face was covered in tears, and she stared blankly at a slender figure outside the grand hall. “Princess, is that really you?”
When she rebelled back then, wasn’t it precisely to avenge the princess who had been kind to her?
It turned out to be Wang Zhu, who had come to Jade Sky Palace with Chen Qingliu. She widened her eyes and said, “It’s been three thousand years, why are you still so reckless in your actions? Stop fooling around, return the skin to its owner, and your true body will immediately return to the water mansion with me!”
The woman burst into tears and laughed, “Okay!”
She stepped beside Wang Zhu and gently embraced her, murmuring, “Princess, you have suffered grievances.”
Wang Zhu’s body stiffened. After a moment of hesitation, she raised her hand and patted her shoulder.
Old Master Han smiled and said to Liu Cha, “A gentleman’s word is as good as a驷马難追.”
Liu Cha said with a straight face, “No problem.”

Old Master Han arrived at the city wall of the capital and stood beside the handsome young man with two snow-white sleeves hanging down.
The young man in white seemed to be talking to himself, “In the past, several fellow disciples of the Sage of Literature gathered to comment on the essays of the sages, each with their own preferences.”
“The young man who longed for the jianghu said, ‘Master Han’s writing is full of spirit, sharp and unparalleled, like a martial arts master delivering a punch in the literary world, a fierce general charging into the士林, naturally breaking through obstacles, invincible, like child’s play.'”
“The stingy accountant said, ‘If I were to describe Master Han’s self-description, it would probably be “Writing is, in the end, a minor skill.” Later generations who read history books and flip through books should not be blinded by the mysterious and wonderful, and fail to appreciate the earnest efforts.'”
“The big simpleton said, ‘Having the merit of inheriting and organizing the Confucian Dao tradition, being a Deputy Sect Master of the Academy of Rites is more than enough. It’s just that his views on Buddhism are biased. It’s a pity he couldn’t see the manifestation of the dragon and elephant.'”
“The senior disciple said, ‘My heart has long sought the Great Dao. The Dao lies in speaking frankly, in selecting material, not in dazzling chapters. In economics, in martial arts, not in cultivating oneself alone. In sincerity, in the present, and in the future.'”
“Many years later, the junior brother said to his favorite student, ‘Orphaned at the age of three, I believe the path of reading and studying will be very difficult.'”
Upon hearing this, Old Master Han clapped his hands and laughed, “That’s truly damn good!”

On the mountain peak, outside the Jade Sky Palace, Yin Ni, who had regained her freedom, watched them descend the mountain. Beside her was Chen Qingliu, who looked relaxed.
On the mountain road, Liu Cha directly asked, “How did you withstand it?”
Chen Ping An did not conceal it. “Besides Chen Qingliu drawing his sword and asking about the Dao, the Sage of Rites and Liu Xiang also worked together and activated the nine formidable Zhen Towers in the Haoran world.”
Liu Cha nodded and said, “Deserved.”
Chen Ping An did not ask why Liu Cha could leave the Academy of Rites, or what gentleman’s agreement Liu Cha had with Old Master Han. He simply said, “I know a few good fishing spots.”
Liu Cha was about to nod, but then heard the other party add a redundant sentence, “Guaranteed to catch fish even if your fishing skills are poor.”

The moonlight was like water. Descending the mountain was like wading through water. Wang Zhu offered her a few clumsy words of comfort, but she just cried and laughed, talking to herself. Wang Zhu became a little annoyed with her, but she still pestered Wang Zhu with questions, making Wang Zhu tell her to go back to the Jade Sky Palace. She suggested that they all have a drink together and she would treat them. Wang Zhu glanced at the man with his hands tucked into his sleeves. He asked Liu Cha what he thought. Liu Cha said any roadside tavern would do. Wang Zhu then asked her, the hostess, to lead the way, and asked if she had any money. She said treating was one thing, and paying was another. The worst they could do was put it on Yin Ni’s tab. Liu Cha actually nodded and said that kind of wine tasted better. Chen Ping An said he had a fake name, Cao Mo, and was not afraid of losing face. Wang Zhu rolled her eyes and said she would pay while she treated. She said the princess was so kind, just like back then, making Wang Zhu quickly tell her to cool off…

Thousands of green mountains in the human realm, lush wild grass on the plains, a hundred rivers flowing into the sea. Drinking just one bowl of wine can’t finish ten thousand years of stories. Let the wine bowl remain on the table, waiting for new people.