A wine shop by the yellow mud road, a sickly banner waving a few times in the wind.
The person by the counter, whose fair wrists were like congealed snow, the wine-selling beauty’s face was filled with sorrow. “Mr. Zheng, can you give me a clear answer? What exactly do you intend to do?”

The pale, dull young man, standing by the counter, lightly fiddled with the greasy abacus and sneered, “What’s so hard to guess? Even Shou Chen is his dog. It’s nothing more than recruiting soldiers and horses, accumulating strength in secret, so he can compete for the world. As I see it, it’s clear that Zheng Juzhong intends to refine a wild land into the White Emperor City. How wicked can practicing demonic arts in Haoran Heaven be? The Sage of Rites is still alive. In our barren land, as long as he is strong enough, his realm high enough, who cares if he’s a Confucian scholar, a Taoist, or a bald donkey.”

Shou Chen was easy to recognize. This Ascended Realm swordsman’s appearance and attire were very distinctive.
He wore a翠绿法袍 (emerald green dharma robe) called “束蕉炼” (Bound Banana Refining).
He carried a sword chest on his back, containing six long swords, either celestial soldiers or semi-celestial soldiers.
Shou Chen picked up a wine bowl, took a sip of wine, and smiled, “Qiu Yun, with your few protective measures, you should still be careful with your words.”

Xiao Xun tilted her head and gulped down a bowl of wine. After drinking, her mood improved, and when her mood was good, her murderous intent lessened. What’s wrong with scolding Shou Chen? It was quite good.
The beautiful woman, of course, dared not entertain these guests with diluted fake wine. She took out two jars of old wine from the corner and was about to use her Sleeve Cosmos technique to take out a few wine utensils mimicking those of Wine Spring Peak. Zheng Juzhong, however, smiled and said it wasn’t necessary, ordinary white bowls would suffice.
The woman’s smile was awkward. She could only comply, but in her heart, she worried. This demon who wandered the barren land as if it were his own garden, Month-Picking Mountain, Golden Green City, appearing and disappearing like a ghost, where couldn’t he go? She feared that he would turn hostile, smash the bowl, and take her life.

Being a demon in the Haoran Heaven ruled by Confucianism, wasn’t it as difficult as being a moral saint in the barren land?
Even that Barbarian Sea Wen Hai, who was originally a Confucian scholar, when he came to the barren land, didn’t he adapt to the local customs? With so many foreshadowings and preparations, wasn’t his behavior more “barbaric” than in the barren land?

Since Shou Chen had called out “Qiu Yun” and exposed his true identity, the sharp-tongued young man no longer hid. He shrugged his shoulders, and golden light flowed like water, old clothes and old skin shedding together, as if literally changing his heart and renewing his face. He reverted to his true human appearance, that of a white-clothed young man like snow, his face covered by a snow-white mask, a relic of an ancient great shaman.
His two long sleeves almost touched the ground, and a slender knife hung at his waist, named “Di Ji” (Imperial Concubine). This item had an even greater history, belonging to the divine weapons forged by the ancient Heavenly Court, along with that “Zhan Kan” (Cutting and Surveying) of Hidden Official Chen.
The young man, who used the alias “Qiu Yun,” was the reincarnation of the Executioner, one of the twelve ancient high-ranking deities, who had “Four Officials” under his command responsible for punishment. The Xia Official Jin Yun was responsible for wielding the Dragon-Slaying Platform, and the Qiu Official Bai Yun was in charge of the Thunder Pool, responsible for banishing deities to the human realm.

Qiu Yun reached out and pressed the handle of the knife. Although his face couldn’t be seen, others could still clearly feel the agility of his features and the fervor in his eyes. His whole body exuded a turbulent Taoist aura.
He tapped his temple with a finger, and the mask dissipated. He was indeed a handsome young man. He sneered, “Instead of being a good King, you prefer to wag your tail and beg for mercy, clinging to life, and being a dog for someone? Shou Chen, ah, Shou Chen, you truly have disgraced the swordsmen, the lineage of Zhou Mi, and the faces of the great demons of the barren land.”

The foremost disciple of Wen Hai Zhou Mi, one of the new King Seat Great Demons of the barren land, was actually subdued so quickly by an outsider?
So what if he was Zheng Juzhong? Weren’t you also Shou Chen?!
Besides Shou Chen, there was also Liu Bai, and Zhou Qinggao from the Jia Shen account. Heh, Qiu Yun was almost mistaken Zheng Juzhong for Zhou Mi’s human incarnation.
Let’s not talk about Xiao Xun, her mind was unclear.
Zhou Qinggao was seriously considering something.
Zheng Juzhong smiled and shook his head, “Among the ten Heavenly Stems, he is special and cannot be replaced for now.”
Qiu Yun sneered, “Person?! I am a demon!”
Zhou Qinggao smiled and said, “Why burn the bridge after crossing it?”
Qiu Yun turned his head and spat a thick glob of phlegm on the ground.
Zhou Qinggao ignored it and said, “Senior Brother Shou Chen, don’t always think about killing to settle things. You can’t kill them all. Those who cannot kill themselves cannot slay others.”
Shou Chen smiled, “You like talking about道理 (principles) so much, you should establish a 书院 (academy) later.”
Zhou Qinggao said, “I’ll just be a deputy mountain master.”
His implication was that he already had a candidate in mind for the mountain master.
Xiao Xun raised her wine bowl and asked the woman for another bowl of wine. She still drank it all in one gulp, smacking her lips. She said, “I’m just curious, did Chen Ping’an cast a spell on you? Or were you tied with a red thread by a drunk Matchmaker God, making you admire him so much? Let me ask you, if Chen Ping’an personally invited you to Baopingzhou to be an official, would you do it or not?”
Zhou Qinggao thought seriously, “I would be very conflicted, and ultimately decline.”
Xiao Xun shook her head, this kid must be mentally ill.
She turned to look at the plump and beautiful woman, who was serving wine by the side, now knowing how to wrap herself up properly.
Because she was close, Xiao Xun had to turn her neck to see the Jindan’s face from the side, which disgusted Xiao Xun greatly, so she slapped the towering twin peaks, just an illusion made up…
Unexpectedly, the beautiful woman’s face was full of pain, her chest already bloody and mangled. She still didn’t forget to throw the wine pot on the table. Turning around, a golden bead hung from a red thread near her ear. The flesh on her chest grew rapidly, and she clasped her fingers together, as if picking up something, shook it lightly, and draped it over her body, wearing a dharma robe to cover the strong bloody smell.

Xiao Xun looked awkward and said with a laugh, “Sorry, I didn’t control my strength properly. I just felt hot and wanted to raise my hand to fan myself.”
If she really wanted to punish her and make her suffer a little, Xiao Xun wouldn’t have been so subtle and risked insulting her. She would have just made her head explode. In the past, whether in the Sword Qi Great Wall or later on the battlefields of the two continents in Haoran, she killed many barbarian demons and Haoran cultivators, but she never did one thing, which was “torturing and killing.”
Since it was an accident, Xiao Xun was willing to apologize to the “woman.”

Jindan’s face was slightly pale, and she forced a smile, “Just a minor skin injury, it’s nothing. Hidden Official, please don’t mind.”
Xiao Xun shook her wine bowl, “I haven’t been the Hidden Official for a long time, and Chen Ping’an did a much better job as Hidden Official than I did.”
She continued to ask, “Jindan, you have a good relationship with Yuanying and Yaotiao. Can you persuade them to join us? To hang out with us?”
Jindan looked troubled and honestly replied, “We usually have a good relationship, but on this matter, I can’t even persuade Qiu Yun, how can I persuade Yuanying and Yaotiao?”
Xiao Xun sighed, “Then there’s no other way. We’ll just have to trick them first, and then kill them all. Later, I’ll let Qiu Yun burn paper money at your graves.”

Jindan’s Dao Heart was greatly shaken. Qiu Yun said to her with his heart voice, “Don’t worry, I won’t live alone.”
Jindan, however, said with her heart voice, “You must live well.”
Qiu Yun shook his head, “We are Dao companions. We agreed to be born on the same day and month of the same year, and die on the same day and month of the same year.”

Jindan’s face was sorrowful, she actually felt a little reluctant to die.
Zhou Qinggao flipped his wrist, and a wine goblet and a few cold dishes appeared. A trip to Tongyezhou in Haoran had made him pick up some pretentious habits, such as needing a few side dishes when drinking, and also starting to pay attention to the cleanliness of utensils. He smiled and said, “Jindan, Qiu Yun, you should neither underestimate the weight of the Barbarian Heavenly Stems nor overestimate yourselves.”
“No one should scare anyone, there’s no need. Qiu Yun, Jindan.”
Zheng Juzhong beckoned to the young man and the woman and smiled, “Sit down and chat.”
Qiu Yun and Jindan sat on the same long bench, facing the infamous Demon Zheng.
A young swordsman walked out of the mountain with cliff carvings and quickly arrived at the wine shop.
The swordsman Zhu Xie, the only direct disciple of Liu Cha, still carried that sword rack, like a peacock fanning its tail, even easier to recognize than Shou Chen.
In the early days at the Jia Shen account, Zhu Xie had a good relationship with the wooden-clogged person who didn’t have a surname at that time.

Zhu Xie asked, “Mr. Zheng, is it true, as Zhou Qinggao said, that I can see my master?”
Zheng Juzhong said, “Within thirty years, I advise you not to meet him if you can. After that, you will have the opportunity to meet him freely.”
Zhu Xie nodded. This answer was enough.
He sat next to Zhou Qinggao, facing the senior and junior disciples Shou Chen and Liu Bai.
Xiao Xun sat at a separate table, digging out the few remaining undiluted old wines from the counter, shaking her head and swaying. She truly loved drinking.

Jindan asked straightforwardly, “Mr. Zheng, what are the benefits of following you?”
Zheng Juzhong smiled and said, “There are no disadvantages.”
Jindan understood implicitly and smiled sweetly. Qiu Yun beside her was still unwilling to bow his head and show weakness. He was always unhappy having to behave like Shou Chen, being submissive and deferential.

Zheng Juzhong got straight to the point, “This batch of Barbarian Heavenly Stems of yours is like a strategically important area in the art of war. Everyone wants to win you over, but they, whether it’s the fourteen-realm Li Gou and Wang Youwu, or the newly appointed King Seats, don’t know how to truly use you. I am winning you over not to be your slaves or servants, but to become fellow Daoists.”
Speaking of this, Zheng Juzhong smiled, “Master? That’s a good start.”
Shou Chen smiled, “It was intentional, otherwise I wouldn’t see the true hearts of Jindan and Qiu Yun, this pair of Dao companions.”
Zheng Juzhong smiled slightly, “Is it necessary?”
Shou Chen admitted his mistake, “I was adding feet to a snake.”
Zheng Juzhong said something that no one present understood, “The beauty lies in the snake’s feet.”

Zheng Juzhong continued, “For those like Jindan and Qiu Yun, it’s best if they are willing to embark on this journey with me. If not, that’s fine. After we’ve had our drinks, we’ll continue on our way. After this parting, whether you stay here or choose a hidden mountain and water Dao場 (Dao field), feel free to cultivate. The changes in the world’s situation have nothing to do with you. The premise is that you must hide well and not be easily found.”
“If you encounter difficulties on your cultivation path in the future, you can also ask me or Shou Chen and the others for help and solutions.”
“If you encounter difficulties, whether it’s revenge or unexpected disaster, seeking refuge with us is out of the question, we won’t accept you. We will only sell you at a reduced price.”
“To gain temporary freedom, there must be a price to pay for that freedom. How many major and minor events in the world have failed just because they were short of a breath? I, Zheng Juzhong, have given you a chance, and you yourselves didn’t accept it. I am willing to respect your choice, but don’t push your luck and misunderstand anything.”
“In addition, you must promise me one thing: if the new and old King Seat Great Demons find and win you over, no matter what means they use, if I find out that you have agreed, I will settle the score with you.”
“Don’t worry, the barren land is still the barren land of the demon race. I, Zheng Juzhong, am merely using this to pursue my Dao.”
“Everyone, listen carefully, every word I say today is important.”
Zheng Juzhong smiled slightly, “I have always disliked the so-called ‘words end, meaning is infinite.’ It’s too ambiguous, and language and text have created too many wrong paths. This sentence is off-topic.”
Those present were all sufficiently intelligent and could become even more intelligent young people, so Zheng Juzhong was in the mood for conversation.
Xiao Xun at the next table turned her head and grinned, “You never expected it, did you? Establishing a sect and claiming to be an ancestor in the barren land. Zheng Juzhong is responsible for establishing the sect, but I am the one who claims to be an ancestor!”
Qiu Yun said angrily, “I was almost persuaded by Zheng Juzhong, but hearing you say that, it’s truly nauseating.”
Xiao Xun burst into laughter and pointed at Qiu Yun’s head, “You’ve drilled under your Dao companion’s skirt too many times, your words are really pleasant to hear.”
Qiu Yun’s face darkened, Jindan looked awkward, even Zhou Qinggao felt uncomfortable, and Liu Bai was even more so.
Xiao Xun asked curiously, “By the way, Mr. Zheng, what’s the name of our sect?”
Zheng Juzhong smiled, “This is a huge question, no rush. Let me think about it some more.”
Gathering all the Barbarian Heavenly Stems cultivators was just one of the many steps he took to help Xiao Xun establish a sect and claim to be an ancestor in the barren land.
In addition, Bai Ze must reach the fifteenth realm. It was precisely because Bai Ze’s heart was soft enough that he was suitable.
In Zheng Juzhong’s view, the reason was simple: the barren land should not be too strong or too weak. If it was too strong, Haoran would suffer heavy losses, and it would be a matter of time before the tables were turned, and the fiercely aroused barren land would invade Haoran again. If it was too weak, it would be easily occupied. With the temperament, methods, and worldly experience of the Haoran cultivators, their actions in the barren land would certainly be more “demonic” than the demon race. Wouldn’t that mean the barren land would become Haoran, and Haoran would become the barren land?

Naturally, the vast majority of the new King Seat Great Demons were busy claiming territory while improving their Dao power.
It was best to seize the opportunity to achieve Dao unification. If there was no such opportunity for the time being, they would try their best to find reliable allies, occupy cities and major towns, and convert immortal money and heavenly materials and earthly treasures into battlefield strength.
The battle of Baopingzhou taught the barren land a bloody and extremely pragmatic lesson: it was not difficult to rampage and tear through the human world with only two or three top powerhouses joining forces and traveling freely, but conquering and defending the world was out of the question. When Haoran launched a large-scale counterattack on the barren land, these great demons who had rampaged through various states in Haoran were afraid of being held accountable one by one as the Haoran troops moved south. The reckoning would always fall on them.

Zheng Juzhong asked, “Why do you think Zhou Mi designated Fei Ran as the co-lord of the barren land?”
Jindan tentatively said, “Is Fei Ran’s aptitude good enough? Is he young enough?”
Qiu Yun shook his head and said, “It’s just because Zhou Mi felt that he would definitely be able to return to the human world and needed Fei Ran to help manage the world for a period of time. It was enough for Fei Ran to have no功无过 (achievements or mistakes).”
Liu Bai nodded.
Qiu Yun smiled at Liu Bai, who immediately frowned. Qiu Yun’s mouth was truly foul.
Zhu Xie knew the reason why Liu Bai and Qiu Yun couldn’t stand each other. Qiu Yun indeed liked to deliberately sting Liu Bai’s heart.
For example, Qiu Yun once came up with a highly malicious statement, calling Liu Bai the unofficial Dao companion of the Hidden Official.

This white-robed young man, who was a Barbarian Heavenly Stem cultivator along with Liu Bai and Zi Wu Meng, stared at the always silent Liu Bai. He seemed very happy and said, “Sister Liu Bai, life is full of unexpected encounters. This time, you’re not late like before, you like to make a grand entrance at the end.”
The last time they surrounded and killed Qing Mi, Liu Bai was the last to arrive.
Liu Bai ignored him. Among the other nine Heavenly Stem cultivators, Liu Bai hated this person the most. He was always smiling and glib, but his actions were ruthless and showed no sign of a Daoist’s temperament, which was truly annoying.

The swordsman Liu Bai, she was not only one of Zhou Mi’s direct disciples but also a “Liu Bai” (blank space) that Zhou Mi deliberately left in the human world.
The dharma robe on Liu Bai, “Fish Tail Cave Heaven,” was truly a priceless treasure, hailed as a “Golden Immortal Ascent Place.” It was rumored that a Yuanying Realm cultivator wearing it could ignore inner demons, evade heavenly tribulations, and smoothly enter the Upper Five Realms. Who wouldn’t covet it, who wouldn’t be envious?
So, a new King Seat Great Demon had already declared, “I want the dharma robe, and I also want this person!”

Qiu Yun smiled and said, “It’s good that you followed Zheng Juzhong, otherwise relying solely on your senior and junior brothers, two Ascended Realms, no matter how good they are at fighting, they can’t protect you your whole life.”
Liu Bai remained silent.

Jindan asked a key question, “Lian Yan is the central hub of our Barbarian Heavenly Stems great formation. Can it be said that whoever finds her can find all of us? Whoever wants to acquire the entire Barbarian Heavenly Stems must go through Lian Yan?”
Zhou Qinggao nodded and said, “That’s why talking to you is just a detour. The key is Lian Yan, whom we are going to meet next.”
Qiu Yun was confused and asked, “Ultimately, since you still want to hold the Barbarian Heavenly Stems in your hands, only Lian Yan and I are indispensable, and there are no substitutes in the short term. If you successfully win over Lian Yan, how should I act? Why did Zheng Juzhong just let Jindan and me go? Was he deliberately saying beautiful words to bewitch people?”
Shou Chen said, “As long as Lian Yan is eliminated, you will also become useless, and we can rebuild a brand new Barbarian Heavenly Stems.”
Zhou Qinggao smiled and said, “In short, as long as Qiu Yun chooses freedom, Lian Yan doesn’t need to make any choices. She will definitely die.”

Jindan’s face changed dramatically, and Qiu Yun was also full of conflict, just because Jindan and Lian Yan were very good闺阁密友 (close female friends), who had traveled together in the barren land and shared life and death. They were planning to hold a simple celebration to become Dao companions and only invite Lian Yan. Damn it, was this Zheng Juzhong’s so-called “price of temporary freedom” and “every word is important”? Damn him, he said he didn’t recognize “words end, meaning is infinite”?

“If Jindan hadn’t mentioned this matter, and Qiu Yun hadn’t asked further, you wouldn’t have to be so troubled.”
Zhou Qinggao smiled and quoted an ancient line, “Someone asked, ‘How can one stay long in the lonely empty mountain?’ ‘It is the affectionate flowers and birds that refuse to let one go.’ We can’t spoil the mood and drink a few pots of good wine in vain, only to awaken the情禅 (love zen) of a pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water.”

There was once a secret encounter that has not been widely publicized in either of the two worlds. The two sides of the confrontation, besides the rogue cultivator Qing Mi and someone who claimed to have shattered the True Monarch, the other nineteen people were all the most outstanding young generation in the two worlds. The earliest mission of Liu Bai and the others was to follow the orders of the new co-lord of the world, Fei Ran, and be responsible for intercepting the Ascended Realm cultivator Feng Xuetao, who followed Ah Liang deep into the barren land, a rogue cultivator from Aiaizhou.
If it weren’t for Cao Ci and his group of “peers” interfering, the head of that Ascended Realm rogue cultivator would have remained in the barren land. Nowadays, Feng Xuetao is “well-received” on the mountain in Tongyezhou, giving up his rogue cultivator identity and serving as a供奉 (worship) of the Jade Gui Sect. Then, inspired by Cui Dongshan’s few words, he had the ambition to achieve Dao unification… all of this would have been impossible.

“Rogue cultivator? Do you know what makes the most formidable rogue cultivator? It’s successfully achieving Dao unification, becoming a fourteen-realm mountain and swamp rogue cultivator in one go!”
Which rogue cultivator hearing such confusing talk would not be tempted?
Wasn’t Liu Laocheng lured by Liu Tui with “證道飛升” (proving the Dao and ascending) and tricked into the White Porcelain Cave Heaven in Liuxiaizhou?
Moreover, Feng Xuetao was an Ascended Realm rogue cultivator who had been stagnant for many years. Especially after traveling through the barren land with Ah Liang, he was surrounded by a group of great demons. The reason Ah Liang gave for letting him retreat first was actually the fear of accidentally harming him…
First, he was handed a sword by Zuo You at the Mid-Earth Confucian Temple and chopped without any ability to fight back. He saw different scenery in the barren land with Ah Liang, and then Cao Ci and that group of young people came to his aid without hesitation, risking their lives to rescue him.
So, Cui Dongshan’s confusing talk actually just helped Feng Xuetao find a reason to convince himself: I must achieve Dao unification!

Of course, Feng Xuetao believed that Cui Dongshan could be of great help. This matter was also very important, otherwise, wandering around like a headless fly, Feng Xuetao, whose morale had already plummeted, would have found it very difficult to make a concentrated effort. The more resilient one’s Dao heart is, the more one bumps into walls, and the more one understands the difficulty of seeking the Dao and breaking through bottlenecks. The same goes for Xu Xiaoqiao of the Longquan Sword Sect.

A “one-on-one match” that seemed like a competition of the young generation’s foundation between the two worlds. In the barren land, it was the Barbarian Heavenly Stems created by Zhou Mi, which were Zhu Xie, Liu Bai, Qiu Yun, Yu Su, Yaotiao, Zi Wu Meng, Jindan, Yuanying, Yupu, and Lian Yan.
On the Haoran Heaven side, there were Cao Ci of the Great Duan Dynasty, Zheng Juzhong’s foremost disciple Fu Jin, his junior disciple Gu Can, Yuan Peng from the lineage of the Yasheng, the female martial artist Yu Juanfu of the Xuemai Dynasty, Chun Qing of the Bamboo Sea Cave Heaven, Zhao Yaoguang of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master’s Mansion, the monk Xu Mi, and the Confucian scholar Xu Bai.

This inconspicuous roadside wine shop had now gathered Liu Bai, Jindan, Qiu Yun, and Zhu Xie, four of the Barbarian Heavenly Stems.
Nearly half of them.
Zheng Juzhong reached out and took the pair of green bamboo chopsticks handed to him by Zhou Qinggao. He dipped them in the wine bowl and tapped the table.
“Zhou Mi did not touch the foundation of your barren land, which is correct. He wanted to quickly occupy the three states of Haoran, and then break through Baoping, swallow Liuxia, and force Aiaizhou, which values wealth more than righteousness, to surrender voluntarily. He deliberately used Nan Po Suozhou as bait and Beiju Luzhou as a training ground for repeated exercises, ultimately forming a encirclement of Zhongtu Shenzhou, which is also correct.”
“During this period, smashing Fuyouzou was nearly two months slower than expected, thus leading to Zhou Mi’s carefully laid ambush to kill Bai Ye. However, Tongyezhou was about three months faster than expected, and this speed led to a big problem. They became even more careless about Baopingzhou, which they looked down upon compared to the local cultivators of Tongyezhou. This undesirable mindset cannot be resolved by the major military account commanders saying a few words or holding a few meetings.”

Qiu Yun nodded, “The Old Dragon City, where the Great Li temporary palace was located, was actually completely destroyed, affecting thousands of miles, and severely damaging the vitality of several military accounts that had finally landed, not only in terms of troops but also morale. The battle in Fuyouzou was also fierce, but it was not as… perverted as Baopingzhou. Coupled with the subsequent great battle at the foot of Mount Zicong in Southern Yue, a military general named Su died in battle. The two consecutive battles in which we suffered heavy losses were fatal.”
Zhou Qinggao said, “Su Gaoshan, the Great Li巡狩使 (Patrolling Envoy).”
He held the bowl of wine and lightly tapped the table with one hand, “Drinking farewell at the willow-breaking place, it is suitable to sing with an iron plate and pipa, to strengthen one’s spirit. Heroes drunk in a high building under the bright moon should have banners added to enhance their fervor.”
There must also be similar gallant heroes and romantic gestures in their barren homeland, but unfortunately, there have never been such Haoran characters.
The barbarian demons had seen the mighty river of sword light from the Sword Qi Great Wall.
On the vast plain outside Mount Zicong, the Great Li’s million border troops formed formations, shining brilliantly in the sunlight, a expanse of white.
That was a military appearance accumulated with countless immortal money, mountain talismans and armor worn by every cavalryman and their mounts, countless Mohist machinery, and thousands of military cultivators among them, either in formation or assisting. Behind them was the majestic Southern Yue mountain, built entirely by human effort, and on the mountain facing south, there were dense clusters of bright lights.
The battlefield, spanning thousands of miles, had long been refined into a military Dao場 by the Great Li Dynasty, with hidden great formations underground, stacked layer upon layer like piled earth.
The barbarian demons truly could not believe it, and could not imagine, that there was a military force capable of launching a head-on attack against the barbarian demons at the foot of the mountain!
Someone who likes to do good deeds has roughly estimated that in this battle, the number of spells and divine abilities used by the cultivators on the Great Li side, similar to the Daoist’s撒豆成兵 (scattering beans into soldiers), 黄巾力士 (Yellow Turban Strongmen), and 请神降真 (inviting deities to descend), the Buddhist龙象加持 (dragon-elephant blessings) for golden bodies, and so on, amounted to more than two thousand types.

Qiu Yun asked curiously, “Does Zhou Mi truly have that ‘three strategies’ agreement with the ancestor of Month-Picking Mountain?”
Zhou Qinggao nodded and said, “That is indeed true.”
When Zhou Mi ascended Month-Picking Mountain to discuss the world’s situation, there were three strategies. Among them, the best strategy for the barren land was the worst strategy for Wen Hai Zhou Mi.
After conquering the world, there must be candidates to rule it. In addition to dividing the spoils with the old King Seats according to the agreed benefits, Zhou Mi also had two candidates responsible for managing the states of Haoran: one was Fei Ran, who greatly admired the learning of the Sage of Rites, and the other was his foremost disciple, Shou Chen.
One literary and one martial, redefining the rules of Haoran.

Jindan, who was forced to reveal her true face, her beautiful face illuminated by the soft light of the golden bead, her face became even more distinct in light and shadow.
If you look closely, the eyebrows and eyes on her two sides of the face are different. Looking at half of her face, she is either a bold woman with seductive eyes, or a virtuous and dignified lady from a scholar’s family. This is a typical “one face, two appearances” recorded in physiognomy books.
Jindan looked towards the mountain wall inscribed with Daoist texts, her eyes full of reminiscence.
After all, the Barbarian Heavenly Stems were personally created by Zhou Mi, so almost all ten cultivators received a divine gift from Zhou Mi.
As for Zhou Mi’s failure and death in the human world, Qiu Yun and the others were all extremely disappointed. They had to admit that from the first time they met Zhou Mi, he was their greatest传道人 (Dao transmitter) and护道人 (Dao protector).
Just like Zi Wu Meng, even though she was audacious enough to steal the Wuding River, one of the most important branches of the Yiluo River, there were no consequences.
Similarly, the guy whose Dao name and alias were both “Yupu,” when he descended the mountain, he actually stole the “Fu Shan Lu Hai” (Talismans and Mountains, Registers and Seas) treasure bag embroidered with golden ancient seal script from the altar of the ancestral hall of the Jade Talisman Palace. This item was the reliance of the founding ancestor of the Jade Talisman Palace when he traveled in the barren land in the past, and it was the heirloom token of every generation’s Palace Master. Yupu stole it just like that, and the Jade Talisman Palace did not pursue the matter afterwards.
It was precisely by refining this item that Yupu was able to revert to his youth, changing from the form of an old man with a decaying body and spirit to the appearance of a child of school age.
They all had more or less contact with Zhou Mi and received cultivation guidance from this ancient celestial fox.
It turned out that principles could be explained in this way, and Dao methods could be cultivated like this. Interacting with Barbarian Sea Wen Hai, he was so refined and gentle, so composed.
Zhou Mi indeed possessed unparalleled personal charisma.
Jindan murmured, “In Haoran Heaven, how does that poem and lyric go?”
Zhou Qinggao understood her meaning, but for some reason, he didn’t recite it.
Infinite rivers and mountains, easy to part, difficult to meet. Falling flowers and flowing water, spring is gone, heaven and earth.

Zheng Juzhong did think of some figures in Haoran, such as Bai Chang in Beiju Luzhou, Liu Zhou in the Rain Dragon Sect, Shu Nan Yan in Liuxiaizhou, Zhao Fuyang in Hehuan Mountain in Baopingzhou, Du Han Ling in Jindin View in Tongyezhou, and several Haoran cultivators whose identities and reputations were still obscure compared to their intelligence and methods. In fact, they were all highly potential talents. Their Dao ages varied, their realms were different, their identities and temperaments were all different, but they all had one thing in common: they were always short of a breath.
It was like Zheng Juzhong’s evaluation of Shou Chen, “It’s a pity that you are always one move short.”
The outside world might not know that Shou Chen’s status as the foremost disciple was something he actively sought from Zhou Mi back then, unlike Liu Bai and his junior disciples, who were personally chosen by Wen Hai Zhou Mi after careful selection. Shou Chen had known the principle of “human strength will eventually be exhausted” long ago. If he didn’t know how to borrow power from heaven and earth and from others as much as possible, his path up the mountain would become increasingly narrow. It’s not just the matter of achieving Dao unification that requires walking a single-plank bridge.
Even so, Zheng Juzhong still didn’t rate him highly.
Shou Chen then asked what “one move short” meant. Zheng Juzhong replied, “Swordsmen can slay everyone without mistake, Daoists can achieve Dao unification and Dao dispersion within one realm.”
At that time, Liu Bai was completely confused, but Shou Chen understood the meaning and had been carefully pondering the true meaning of this mindful effort.

Zheng Juzhong said, “I am not afraid of all of you becoming stronger, each having your own opportunities on the cultivation path, advancing bravely and diligently, and quickly reaching the summit.”
Zhou Qinggao said, “Mr. Zheng is only afraid that looking around, there will be no one left in the human world to be his match.”
Zheng Juzhong smiled it off.
Shou Chen suddenly smiled, “Are they telepathic or something? They came uninvited, which saved us a lot of effort.”
It turned out that on the road, as if by appointment, several familiar figures had arrived.
Leading the way was a burly man, wearing a strange Daoist crown, gourd-shaped, made of white glaze.
The man had a golden complexion, and a pair of small bronze axes and a yellow jade axe hung at his waist.
His name was Yuanying, and he walked alone at the very front, with an aura of one man holding the pass and ten thousand unable to open it.
Behind him were two female cultivators, a brother and sister pair.
The one carrying a bamboo pole with a gourd hanging from the end was named Yu Su. Zhou Mi’s teaching always emphasized teaching according to aptitude. Yu Su’s learning was diverse, similar to that of Liu Qi in Haoran.
The thin woman beside her was named Yaotiao. She carried an extremely exaggerated giant bow and was very skilled at long-range attacks and sneak attacks, but her real trump card was the dagger in her sleeve. She and Qiu Yun were of the same type, both cultivators and martial artists.
A young child carrying a cloth bag at his waist, his name was Yupu.
As a direct descendant of the Jade Talisman Palace and a master of the art of talismans, he had the greatest affinity with swordsmen for a simple reason: they both lacked money, truly lacking money.
Unfortunately, the old ancestor not only disliked his character but also worried about his excellent aptitude, so it was no wonder he stole the treasure and descended the mountain.
He kept staring at the back of the woman in front of him. Every time Yaotiao’s sleeve moved slightly, he would discreetly move his gaze away from her waist or buttocks.
Walking at the back of this group was the backbone of the Barbarian Heavenly Stems, the female cultivator Lian Yan.
She was over ten feet tall, wearing a glamorous palace makeup, her skirt trailing on the ground. If she had a few more maidservants beside her, she would truly have the demeanor of a mother of the world.
They were ordered to go and剿杀 (annihilate) Qing Mi back then, specifically to take his head.
Even though Jiang Shangzhen and that group of young people from Haoran disrupted their good deed, the two sides fought a perilous battle, and ultimately relied on Cao Ci’s narrow victory. Of course, Gu Can’s槐叶 (sophora leaves) also played a very important role.
This shows the impressive overall strength of the Barbarian Heavenly Stems.
Even with the supplementation of the martial artist Zhou Haijing, the current real killing power of the Great Li Terrestrial Branches lineage is only between strong Ascended Realm and weak Ascended Realm.
This is the difference between Cui Chan’s screening of a continent and Zhou Mi’s network of the world. In comparison, there is indeed a bit of the helplessness of a clever woman unable to make a meal without rice.

Qiu Yun smiled and said, “Even Sister Lian Yan is here, so is only Fellow Daoist Chun Xiao missing?”
That Zi Wu Meng’s 本命飞剑 (natal flying sword) was shaped like a guqin and named “Jing Guan” (Capital View).
Even within the Barbarian Heavenly Stems, she was a very fierce existence.
Qiu Yun’s initial candidate for a Dao companion was actually Zi Wu Meng, whose Dao name was Chun Xiao, but this choice had absolutely nothing to do with romance.

Casually glancing over there, Zhou Qinggao wasn’t surprised. He picked up a piece of 雪里蕻 (pickled mustard greens) he had personally pickled, chewed it slowly, and said, “It’s likely that Lian Yan, who is proficient in divination, detected the killing intent early and had to resort to this self-preservation measure. Instead of being sought out and killed by us, it’s better to throw herself into the trap and seek a slim chance of survival.”

Jindan smiled and said, “Sister Lian Yan has always admired Mr. Zheng and genuinely regards him as a hero ‘appearing once every three thousand years,’ just like Wen Hai Zhou Mi. However, men are afraid of entering the wrong profession, and women are afraid of marrying the wrong person. She also didn’t dare to arbitrarily go to Haoran to seek refuge in the White Emperor City, after all, the attention focused on her is more than the nine of us combined. Her every move needs to be reported to Fei Ran and monitored by Gui Ke.”

Arriving at the wine shop, Lian Yan bowed deeply, “Greetings, Mr. Zheng.”
Zheng Juzhong said, “Name your conditions.”
Lian Yan said without hesitation, “I want to replace two people. Let Jindan withdraw from the Heavenly Stems, and then kill the most useless Yupu. I’ll trouble Mr. Zheng to find two replacements.”
Jindan was greatly surprised.
Yupu was even more stunned on the spot and quickly explained, “I’m just good at hiding my strength, not useless! In terms of real combat strength, I’m definitely in the top five!”
Lian Yan said indifferently, “If this isn’t useless, what is?”

Shou Chen and Zhou Qinggao exchanged smiles.
Liu Bai sighed faintly, indeed, everything was within Mr. Zheng’s expectations.
Jindan’s eyes sparkled, and she smiled, “I don’t need to withdraw either, Sister Lian Yan. I am willing to fight alongside Qiu Yun and you, and climb to the summit of the barren land together.”
Liu Bai lowered her head and took a sip of wine, her thoughts were once again guessed correctly.
Yupu had no choice but to say to that Zheng Juzhong, “City Lord Zheng, my way of doing things can also be considered a genuine practitioner of the Demonic Dao.”
Zheng Juzhong raised his wine bowl towards him and smiled, “That’s easy to say.”
Zhou Qinggao smiled and said, “Yupu, you don’t even understand the Righteous Dao, let alone being a practitioner of the Demonic Dao. If you have any unique insights, I can help you plead with Mr. Zheng.”
Yupu was still unwilling and made to argue a few words, but it was just a feint. His figure vanished instantly. This time, he truly didn’t dare to hide his strength. He used the Shrinking Ground technique, and what he scooped up with his hand was the flowing water of time, which turned into a misty ferryboat, taking him back to the source for a section, going against the flow… At the same time, he used various techniques and divine abilities. He patted the talisman bag at his waist, and thousands of azure and yellow birds soared into the sky, covering the sun and the sky, actually connecting the azure sky and the yellow earth, forming their own world. Relying on this to conceal his aura, he wanted to escape into a secluded Peach Blossom Spring Dao場.
No matter how many techniques he had, he was just cut in half by a sharp sword light that arrived like a winding dragon vein, and he was dismembered on the spot.
Lian Yan’s lips moved slightly, her words became law, and she had already removed his name.
Shou Chen sheathed his sword, and then reached out a hand, picking up the talisman bag from the vortex of time and throwing it to Zhou Qinggao, who was responsible for finding replacements.
Zhou Qinggao pointed with his finger and said, “Lian Yan, also remove Zi Wu Meng’s name. For the time being, our Fellow Daoist Long Bo will fill the position.”
Only at this moment did the crowd realize that the cultivator at Xiao Xun’s wine table, who was holding a bowl but refused to sit down and drink, and was now squatting on the ground, was that person whose Dao name was Long Bo?
Zhou Qinggao explained, “Although Fellow Daoist Long Bo is currently only at the Jindan realm, his Dao power is not weak, and his future is clearly limitless. Don’t worry, he will definitely not hold us back.”
That fellow was holding his wine bowl with his back to the crowd, shrinking his neck. He really wanted to say, “I am not worthy, I cannot bear it.”
Xiao Xun was full of sarcasm, “Fellow Daoist Long Bo, you are so timid and your realm is so low, how do you have the nerve to stay by Mr. Zheng’s side?”
Chai Bofu’s Dao Heart had long been tempered to be as hard as a rock. He softly muttered, “By being thick-skinned, what else?”
Otherwise, how could he say that his luck was good?
Zhou Qinggao didn’t deliberately satirize this Fellow Daoist Long Bo, simply because Chai Bofu’s current Jindan realm was very solid and had a strong foundation.

They split into three tables and took a rest, drinking wine. Of course, there was still Chai Bofu, who was unwilling to sit down and drink.
Qiu Yun stretched lazily and smiled, “If you ask me, the Hidden Official is still a bit selfish, not achieving the utmost in his endeavors. Supplementing the Terrestrial Branches lineage with that mountain peak realm woman, how can it be as effective as having his foremost disciple supplement it?”
Yaotiao also couldn’t stand Qiu Yun always bringing up Chen Ping’an. She borrowed a phrase from a dead person, still the same old saying, “Have the guts to say such things in front of the Hidden Official.”
Qiu Yun frowned, “I didn’t dare to be presumptuous in person before, and now I dare even less. Heh, if the Hidden Official were to appear here, I would bow my head and seek tutelage with my skills!”
It wasn’t that he was full and had nothing to do but oppose the Hidden Official. One should know that his senior brother was none other than Hou Kui Men, who died in the hands of the young Hidden Official on the battlefield of the Sword Qi Great Wall.
Alright then, he didn’t even have to continue vying with his senior brother. Without any effort, he got a complete set of ancient treasures called “Sword Cage.” A set of bright red chain mail, with two hundred superior Daoist incantations carved on the inner wall, a purple gold crown, and two long pheasant tail feathers, all refined from the relics or true bodies of ancient great demons.

Lian Yan, however, looked towards the empty road with other thoughts in mind.
She dared not meet Zheng on the Dao.
She was also afraid of meeting Zouzi by the roadside.
She just didn’t know where Zouzi was now.

Chai Bofu was the most idle. He drank his wine and looked up at the banner.
What are we drinking? Toast or penalty? Fake wine or real wine? Mellow wine or poisonous wine?

Xiao Xun sat cross-legged on the long bench, feeling that this drink was not in vain. She had already come up with several extremely domineering and good names.
Zheng Juzhong’s expression was serene, “Whether human or demon, whether aiming for immortality or the common people, they are always cultivators. Once they reach the mountain, there is a distinction between immortal and mortal. Since there is such a vast difference between immortal and mortal, there should be the ambition to ‘someday, this world will revolve around me’.”
“Everyone present, on your way to the summit, no matter who you have a Dao struggle with, when you meet an opponent like Zheng Juzhong again, can you be resolute in your Dao Heart and say to him with a smile to his face, ‘What kind of thing are you, Zheng Juzhong?’ Everyone, you didn’t dare yesterday, dare you tomorrow?”

Shou Chen heard this and smiled, “It’s hard to say about tomorrow or the day after, but I certainly don’t dare today and now.”
Lian Yan and the others were silent for a moment, then burst into laughter, each drinking a full bowl of wine.
The wind started to blow, and the banner in the wind rattled.
Countless wild flowers bloomed on the barren land of the barren world.
Zheng Juzhong put down his wine bowl, turned it upside down on the table, stood up, and smiled, “Let’s go.”