The Streamer Cloud Skiff set forth, traversing a thousand leagues in the blink of an eye, leaving a stark trail upon the sea of clouds, like a carpenter’s chalk line.

Eager to make haste, Liu Tui cared little for the expenditure of spirit essence and pushed the skiff to its utmost velocity.

Chen Ping’an rapped upon the door of a humble dwelling. Ning Yao opened it, a book in her hand. Chen Ping’an glanced at the cover – a common tale of magistrates and mysteries.

Ning Yao declared her intent to assess Chen Ping’an’s current state. He, in turn, stilled his breath and unraveled layer upon layer of protective wards, laying bare his inner world, the very core of his being.

She conjured a mote of her own spirit, a seed of awareness, and peered into the landscape of his heart. Within the swirling chaos, a nascent creation took shape, a hint of primordial dawn. High above, in the vault of his inner sky, a gaping chasm rent the thick cerulean clouds, as if a god had opened a single, all-seeing eye. The “vision” that poured forth manifested as an endless cascade of heavenly light showering upon the mortal realm, a dazzling spectacle akin to a sun constantly melting and reforming.

A colossal vortex, a spiraling tendril connecting the earth to the heavens, carefully skirted the melting, falling, solidifying, and ever-growing golden foundations. This swirling land, infused with spirit, imbued with the essence of the Dao, and crackling with the force of fists and swords, moved across the inner landscape with the lonely yearning of one seeking a kindred spirit. Ancient and heavy, brimming with a wild, untamed power, it rotated tirelessly, a silent, towering figure, like a mighty shaman circling a young, immaculate altar called “Eternity,” longing to sing in praise of the gods but forever silenced.

Standing together upon a solitary peak conjured by Chen Ping’an in a corner of his fabricated world, Ning Yao gazed out at the strange spectacle at its heart.

After a long silence, Ning Yao inquired about Taoist Ding of Peach Talisman Mountain and his method of ascension, as well as the Great Li Mountains and Rivers Diagram of Dao Attainment.

Chen Ping’an, of course, answered her every question with complete candor.

Ning Yao merely said that the idea was sound, and offered no further comment.

Chen Ping’an waved his sleeve, and from that central, golden “high altar,” new wonders bloomed. A thought, like a pebble tossed into water, rippled outwards, and from those ripples, the three golden characters of “Fallen Peak Mountain” emerged, flashing briefly before receding back into the high altar. Like raindrops returning to a pond, the characters vanished, only to be followed by a golden thread, soaring skyward like an ascending immortal, tracing an arc across the heavens. It was as if a mortal heart touched the divine, a momentary union. The golden thread transformed into a silver ray, descending back to earth, its snow-white light spreading across the land. In the shimmering haze, Fallen Peak Mountain arose, followed by the “reconstructed” county town of Huaihuang, then Cloud-Cloaked Mountain, the Great Li capital, Scroll Lake, Red Candle Town, Rouge County of the Colored Garment Kingdom, Old Dragon City, Orthodox Sun Mountain, Immortal Excursion County, the Central Grand Dike… finally, the recently visited capital city of Qiu. A map of Treasure Bottle Continent emerged from the chaotic night, cities, dojos, mountains, and rivers twinkling like a string of lanterns. Each point of light corresponding to Chen Ping’an’s personal Qi cave.

Within each location, figures appeared, lifelike and diverse, varying greatly in stature.

This was Chen Ping’an’s painstaking effort, a testament to his dedication, consuming his very essence to create a unique interpretation of the saying, “Witness creation and discover the Dao.”

Ning Yao scanned the glowing map, noting the number of lights. He was still short some three hundred locations of identifying one thousand one hundred human acupoints. She asked, “Will you next use cerulean talisman paper to create several resilient doppelgangers, allowing you to simultaneously send your spirit to over three hundred places? Will that complete this Ascension diagram? How long will this process take? A year? A decade?”

Chen Ping’an replied, “First, I’ll make a rough sketch, filling in the remaining spots. That shouldn’t take long. I can release all nine talisman doppelgangers in one go; half a year should suffice. When the time comes, I’ll have a general idea of whether I can attain Dao. If I’m six tenths of the way, I’ll enter seclusion, first opening my face and then dotting the eyes, striving for Ascension. If I feel less than six tenths confident, I’ll refine it further, traversing the mountains and rivers in person, visiting every corner of Treasure Bottle Continent, and ‘gilding’ the important places I’ve already seen.”

Ning Yao inquired, “Will the newly added figures and scenes count even if you only see them once?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “Just seeing either old or new people, places, and scenes won’t be enough. This kind of mental projection lacks structure. The inner world created this way would be a dilapidated palace in the sky, easily susceptible to shifting landscapes. It could transform from lush mountains and rivers to simple line drawings. A few washes from the river of time, here, and it would be like a faded inscription on a tombstone. So, I need a connecting thread, linking many figures and places together. That thread will be the seal of the new Great Li Imperial Preceptor, stamped on all kinds of official documents and state letters. For example, Huang Meixian, the Vice-General of Hanzhou, will soon be promoted to General of some province. The Preceptor’s seal will be the primary one, with the seals of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War as secondary. All three seals together will create a seemingly ethereal but very real connection between me, Huang Meixian, and the martial destiny of that province. It’s the same with the promotion of civil officials in various provinces. Especially when I personally oversee the consolidation of several provinces into a single region, this reform of the Great Li Dynasty is a kind of brand, an extension of the Preceptor’s power over the court, like the so-called ‘Dao transformation’ on the mountains.”

Ning Yao nodded. “As long as there’s a road to walk, there’s no need to fear the dark.”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Well said.”

Ning Yao recalled something. “Why do you still keep that red thread?”

The thread of fate that connected her to Chen Ping’an had been severed long ago by the Eldest Sword Immortal. She did not know why Chen Ping’an had never cut his end, retaining it to this day.

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Just consider it a keepsake.”

Of the thirty-six shards of glazed glass obtained from the division, Chen Ping’an kept only the largest and smallest pieces, for future use. The former was reserved for Zhang Jiazhen. As for the latter, he believed that he would encounter a worthy recipient in his future travels through the vastness of the world.

The remaining shards of glazed glass were refined by Chen Ping’an into pure golden bodies of “two selves.”

Chen Ping’an flicked his sleeves, and the two golden bodies transformed into golden light and traveled to distant places, appearing in the eastern and western parts of the world.

One was a young Taoist, clad in feather robes and wearing a purple-gold Taoist crown, taking the name “Ren Gongzi,” with the title “Qixie.”

The Taoist was faceless, carrying a wooden sword on his back, holding an iron mace in his hand, and wearing a talisman seal on his waist. It seemed that Chen Ping’an had molded him from clay, casually smoothing away his features. Beside the faceless young Taoist floated a set of lustrous, five-colored armor, replicating the armor worn by Wu Shuangjiang’s Dharma image.

His attire was exceedingly extravagant.

The other was a pure martial artist, his appearance somewhere between youth and adulthood. It was Chen Ping’an who had rushed ahead of the others to confront Li Zhen on the city wall – the Chen Ping’an who best embodied the spirit of “vigorous vitality.”

He was barefoot and dressed in white, his hair casually tied up with a jade hairpin, his appearance remarkably simple.

Two ancestral temples rose from the ground. The names emblazoned on the plaques were grand, respectively named “Hall of Dao” and “Temple of War.”

Chen Ping’an pointed into the distance, his eyes shining. “The river of literary fortune formed from millions of characters is now ruined, but it doesn’t matter. We’ll start over, and it will only be more stable, of higher quality. Nuan Shu will then travel along this great river of literary fortune, ensuring that she has every advantage – the right timing, location, and connections.”

Since there were no outsiders present, perhaps due to his relaxed mood, Chen Ping’an began to sway and swing his arms, like Xie Gou, in this silent yet not lonely world that seemed to belong only to him and her. It was unclear who was imitating whom, but it was also possible that they were both imitating the Blue-Clad Child.

When showing Ning Yao the interlocking Ascension Diagram, Chen Ping’an was cautious, deep, and reserved.

But when speaking to Ning Yao about Nuan Shu’s future travels, he was delighted and radiant.

Ning Yao asked, “Why do you still choose to accept the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect?”

Even though Qi Tingji had acted without authorization, playing a trick on him, Chen Ping’an’s personality would have allowed him to easily deny them.

Chen Ping’an explained, “It’s the same reason I’m reclaiming the mountains west of my hometown. Either don’t approach halfway, or take everything. When I created a lower sect in Tongye Continent, I was aiming for the great dike and supplementing the geography. I had no intention of taking advantage of the situation and becoming some kind of continent lord. As for now…”

“Not only am I willing to accept the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, but I also want to quickly create another lower sect, catching up to Fu Lu Yu Xuan’s Peach Talisman Mountain, becoming the largest ancestral home and the sect with the most sword immortals in the world.”

“When Chen Ping’an only possessed Fallen Peak Mountain, a mere sect, there were countless conjectures and rumors, as numerous as willow catkins.”

“When I possess two sects, there will still be scornful gazes, dragging Sword Qi Great Wall down with it, unable to stop the treacherous from seizing opportunities.”

Chen Ping’an squatted down, picked up some dirt, and habitually rubbed it gently, looking ahead.

“Once I possess the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, everyone will fear me. Those who are hiding in the shadows, watching me and Fallen Peak Mountain, as well as you and the peak figures of Ascension City, will have to weigh their own worth before trying to challenge me.”

“One day, Fallen Peak Mountain will be the same as Peach Talisman Mountain, a structure of three sub-sects in one mountain. When Fallen Peak Mountain unseals and lifts the restrictions, sword cultivators from all continents will flock to join. Those who once feared me will now respect me, both revering and fearing me. When they mention Sword Qi Great Wall and the Great Li Dynasty again, they will have to mind their tone.”

Chen Ping’an was silent for a moment, then murmured, “I want to try to help this world rise a little. I want to try and see.”

—

Liu Tui found Qi Tingji, not even asking about the reasons behind the change of sect master in the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect. Instead, he sought Qi Tingji’s opinion on a matter. Liu Tui said that he wanted to gift half of the White Porcelain Grotto-Heaven to Fallen Peak Mountain, as a substitute for two Immortal Armaments, making up for the congratulatory gifts.

Liu Tui was simply too lazy to waste his energy finding someone to negotiate an Immortal Armament trade.

Qi Tingji was shocked. The White Porcelain Grotto-Heaven was the ancestral property of the Heavenly Ballad Village, and, like Azure Sky Mountain, was connected to the fundamental source of the Great Dao.

Qi Tingji considered it for a moment, then smiled and asked, “Jiang Shangzhen is the chief retainer of Fallen Peak Mountain, and the head of the Jade Kuei Sect Jiang clan, right? He wouldn’t even dare to take out half of the Cloud Cavern blessed land of the Jiang clan and give it to Chen Ping’an. Liu Tui, tell me, what are you thinking?”

Liu Tui said, “My thoughts are simple. If you’re not going to gamble, don’t get on the table. If you do get on the table, you have to bet big.”

Qi Tingji shook his head, noncommittal.

Although they were friends, their styles were completely different. Liu Tui was a typical example of a person who achieved success at a young age, never hiding his ambition when traveling outside the mountain, showing off his sharp edge, his eyes full of thorns. Although Qi Tingji was known for his swift and decisive swordplay on the battlefield, he was, at least on the surface, gentle in person when off the battlefield.

Liu Tui said, “My luck has been good in recent years. First, I was rescued by you and didn’t die in Gold Armor Continent. I hid in White Porcelain Grotto-Heaven to recover, never daring to hope for Dao attainment and Ascension, but I still succeeded. The ownership of Azure Sky Mountain has been a source of suspense for thousands of years, from successive grandmasters to me. Who isn’t afraid of waking up one day to find that the entire ancestral mountain has flown away, becoming a laughingstock for the entire world? But now? The Master of Azure Sky opened his mouth and nodded! If I don’t gamble now, when will I gamble?”

Qi Tingji said, “Since you’re so determined, talk to Chen Ping’an yourself.”

Liu Tui said, “I need to find an opportunity to chat with him alone.”

Otherwise, with Ning Yao, Xiao Mo, Bai Jing, Lu Zhi… all present, Liu Tui would feel immense pressure.

Qi Tingji teased, “Aren’t you worried about being called a sycophant?”

Liu Tui chuckled. “I’m already a leech. I’m a true scoundrel. What do I have to fear from being reminded of it?”

Qi Tingji was speechless. Perhaps people like Liu Tui were those with flaws in their personal virtue but not lacking in righteousness.

Liu Tui inexplicably sighed. “It’s a pity that his Dao companion is her.”

Otherwise, he could have had his Dao companion, Jing Hao, rise in seniority.

Liu Tui asked in a voice transmission, “If they were enemies on the battlefield, who would win, who would die, between those two Fourteenth Realm pure sword cultivators?”

Qi Tingji shook his head, unable to give an answer. Ning Yao’s breakthroughs were too rapid, making it difficult to determine the true extent of her current swordsmanship.

Inside Hua Qinggong’s water pavilion, Nie Cui’e, who was unaware that she had almost made her master rise in seniority twice, felt somewhat uncomfortable.

It was because the mink-hatted girl was constantly staring at her, grinning foolishly. Nie Cui’e, unsure of Xie Gou’s temperament, could only endure it.

Yan Houdao bought ten “Carefree Talismans” that Xie Gou claimed to have been divinely taught.

Xie Gou was generous, selling them at half the price, only taking five Grain Rain Coins from Sword Immortal Yan.

Tian Xian was curious, and by nature, she directly asked Xie Gou about her Dao age and realm.

Xie Gou rubbed her chin. “How to calculate my true Dao age is a difficult question.”

If she counted the ten thousand years she spent sleeping, and was only at the Ascension Realm now, wouldn’t that make her seem dull-witted, becoming like Liu Tui and Qing Tong, or even inferior to them? How unlucky!

Seeing Xie Gou’s troubled expression, Tian Xian didn’t intend to ask any further. Suddenly, Xie Gou exclaimed and pointed to a golden-scaled fish swimming around a beam, surprised. “This fish is really strange. How did it spit out a book?”

Hua Qinggong’s heart trembled. Following the direction of Xie Gou’s finger, she saw that the golden fish, transformed from the ancestral grandmaster’s ascending Dao rhyme, was slowly spitting out a golden Dao book, radiant with treasures. The fish’s whiskers gently curled around the book and pushed it toward the pavilion. Hua Qinggong subconsciously reached out to catch it, but the Dao book floated towards Nie Cui’e instead.

Hua Qinggong withdrew her hand, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Nie Cui’e was even more embarrassed. What was this?

Looking at the name of the Dao book, written in ancient Clerical Script, it was the “Precious Edict of the Full Moon.”

Hua Qinggong exclaimed, “It must be a handwritten copy from an ancient True Being! Full moon corresponds to a complete soul. This must be your destiny, Nie Cui’e. Don’t hesitate, quickly accept the Dao book.”

Ancient Golden Immortals and ancient True Beings were both figures of immense importance.

Ancient Golden Immortals who opened grotto-heavens and passed down lineages. Ancient True Beings who used great mountains as their dojos.

Ten thousand years had passed, and ancient Golden Immortals were no longer seen. Ancient True Beings who resided on land were like elusive dragons, living transient lives. Even their occasional inheritance was considered a first-rate celestial opportunity.

Xie Gou encouraged with her eyes, “Full-Souled Dao Friend, feel free to take the book. As the second-in-command retainer of Fallen Peak Mountain, my swordsmanship is superb. I can protect you.”

Nie Cui’e carefully grasped the Dao book. It was extremely heavy in her hand, and a cold voice of a female celestial immortal resounded in her heart, briefly explaining the origins of the Dao book, asking her to cherish it and act on behalf of heaven.

Xie Gou suddenly widened her eyes and pointed outside the pavilion again. “It’s happening again! There’s more!”

A slender lotus flower, standing tall and about to bloom, gradually opened, revealing a flying sword shining with brilliance. Upon closer inspection, the flying sword was actually a sword manual, but the words flowed like lightning, moving so fast that the sound of thunder rumbled. Hua Qinggong and the others tried to get a clear look, but were immediately dizzy and unsteady in their Dao hearts. Only Tian Xian stared intently, seeming to have gained something without any effort.

Xie Gou urged again, “Heaven bestows, but if you don’t take it, you will be punished. Tian Xian, seize the opportunity! Why aren’t you quickly taking the sword?!”

Tian Xian nodded at her words. She tentatively beckoned, and the flying sword flashed and flew into her sleeve, spinning joyfully in her heart. The originally disordered thousands of characters arranged themselves into a complete sword manual.

Tian Xian concentrated, seeing that the sword manual was titled “Jade Purity Crescent Moon Swordsmanship.” Ripples also spread through her heart, and a female immortal teacher, unseen but heard, issued a decree, asking her to refine this sword and be sure to slay demons and eliminate evil.

Xie Gou was full of envy, marveling. “Such a continuous stream of opportunities. You Dao Friends should become related, swearing an oath of brotherhood.”

Hua Qinggong was happy for Nie Cui’e and Tian Xian, but couldn’t help feeling lost inside. After all, it was her own dojo, yet she alone had gained nothing.

Did the ancestor despise her low aptitude? But Hua Qinggong quickly steadied her Dao heart. That was right, longevity techniques, formulas for life and death, methods for Dao attainment, should not be limited by sect prejudices. The ancestor’s actions were open and aboveboard. Perhaps this was what it meant to be a heavenly being who had attained the Dao, surpassing the mundane world?

In an instant, Hua Qinggong remembered many “family precepts” about aspirations and inner thoughts in the ancestral hall, as well as the murals in You Sheng Palace, and the questions left by Ancestor Ling Fu for future generations. Countless thoughts, like a tide, poured into her heart, leaving Hua Qinggong stunned.

“Life and death, heaven and earth, Dao hearts following the form, sincerity reaching heaven, blessings will come.”

“For those who learn the Dao, what is the pivot of the Dao?”

Xie Gou smiled. Since Hua Qinggong had such a Dao heart, how could she not have good fortune? She merely needed to give a helping hand, and it would be like water flowing into a channel, genuine, and a true “seeing of wind and moon.”

It seemed that Hua Clan’s ancestor, who ascended here, had considerable Dao power, leaving behind a profound ancestral blessing for his family.

It was coming.

Dao hearts resonated, and the dojo changed color.

The characters on the楹联(楹聯) and plaque began to fall off on their own, and the golden threads intertwined, slowly transforming into a hazy figure of a woman.

Hua Qinggong was first stunned, then burst into tears, rushing out of the pavilion and prostrating herself on the ground, reporting her name and paying respects to the ancestor.

Xie Gou exclaimed and whispered, “This is the real soaring thoughts, the ancestor is manifesting!”

The woman was merely a wisp of Hua Lingfu’s Dao rhyme manifested. She first helped Hua Qinggong up, then looked at the mink-hatted girl, and transmitted a secret message, “Sword Immortal Senior is righteous.”

Xie Gou pursed her lips and said, “Not really. I’ve just ‘obtained the Dao’ too much. If I don’t ‘disperse the Dao,’ I’m afraid of being punished by heaven.”

Hua Lingfu smiled and said, “This method of harmonization with the Dao is unheard of, truly unique.”

Xie Gou smiled, saying nothing. Harmonization with the Dao? Still far from it. Then she led Nie Cui’e and the others away from the dojo, letting Hua Lingfu transmit talisman sword techniques to Hua Qinggong.

In a quiet room, Xiao Mo stood on the observation deck, while Mei Dandang was still asking questions.

Xiao Mo patiently answered questions while paying attention to the movement in the water pavilion. When Hua Lingfu appeared, he immediately withdrew his divine sense.

Xie Gou swaggered over, seeing Mei Dandang still bothering his Xiao Mo, and became a little impatient. “Great Sword Immortal Mei, you have a master, too!”

Mei Dandang didn’t blush, saying, “My master told me to consult with Mister Xiao Mo more. As long as Mister Xiao Mo doesn’t chase me away, I won’t leave.”

Xie Gou gave a thumbs up. “Stronger than Gan.”

Xie Gou glared at the Great Sword Immortal Mei, then looked at Xiao Mo, complaining, “Why are you taking care of him so much?”

Xiao Mo said, “He’s too weak.”

Mei Dandang was speechless.

Xie Gou’s eyes rolled quickly, asking, “Xiao Mo, where’s the Mountain Lord? I have something to report first, then ask for forgiveness.”

Xiao Mo frowned. “What is it?”

Xie Gou said shyly, “Ha, meddling in other people’s business.”

It turned out that she had taken the liberty of using an ancient secret technique to secretly bring over fifty female ghosts out of the Five Colors Heaven.

Xiao Mo glared. “Nonsense! Do you really think the rules of the Literary Temple are just for show? No matter how well you hide them, if fifty female ghosts disappear from Ascension City out of thin air, how many days can this be hidden from the Literary Temple?”

Xie Gou said sickly, “What should I do? I’ve already done it.”

The Old Chef said it well, the thing people fear most is “understanding all the principles.” Zhong Yi’s principle was not bad either, scrounging for food and drink, “since you’re already here.”

Xiao Mo pondered. This matter seemed big but small, but it was actually very troublesome.

Xie Gou said, “Xiao Mo, lend me the Walking Stick. I’ll carry it and go beg forgiveness from the Mountain Lord.”

Xiao Mo laughed angrily. “The master has something to discuss with the Mountain Lord’s wife. We’ll talk later.”

Hearing this, Xie Gou’s eyes lit up. She turned to leave, going to eavesdrop.

But Xiao Mo reached out and grabbed the back of her collar, pulling her back to the table, telling her to sit down properly.

Mei Dandang hesitated, wanting to say something.

Xie Gou glared. “Spit it out.”

Mei Dandang asked in a voice transmission, “How strong is Ning Yao, exactly?”

It wasn’t just Liu Tui who was curious about this. Mei Dandang, who came from the wilderness, was also curious. Gao Shuang and the other private swords from Sword Qi Great Wall were even more curious.

Xie Gou looked at this guy with pity in her eyes. “A Fourteenth Realm pure sword cultivator, plus the title of the strongest person in the world, what do you think?”

Before Zheng Juzhong left Night Voyage Ship, he had once told Xie Gou the truth.

“If the battlefield were located in Five Colors Heaven, Ning Yao could actually solo kill Jiang She, who is at the Fourteenth Realm.”

Because it was Zheng Juzhong who said it, Xie Gou had to believe it.

On the other side, Ning Yao and Chen Ping’an withdrew from the Mustard Seed Divine Sense.

The pulp crime novel in Ning Yao’s hand had some elements of strange tales. It had been popular in the mountain towns of Tongye Continent some years ago. Chen Ping’an had never been very interested in it. He remembered that Zhang Lu, the sword immortal who guarded the gate of Upside-Down Mountain, and the Daoist boy Jiang Yunsheng seemed to like to watch the martial arts stories full of swords and shadows. Those two Upper Fifth Realm powerhouses actually enjoyed reading the daydreams and fantasies of those pretentious literati, which was really strange. When Zhu Lian left Lotus Flower Blessed Land and first arrived in Tongye Continent, he also bought a lot of erotic novels. At that time, Pei Qian was still a little black charcoal. She had a good memory, glanced at a few titles, and remembered them. She listed them off every day, exposing Zhu Lian’s past. Wei Xian was in cahoots with Pei Qian at the time, and said that Zhu Lian was ugly and liked to act strange, which made Pei Qian laugh uncontrollably.

Chen Ping’an said, “Suppose, I mean suppose, there’s a private sword from Sword Qi Great Wall hiding in Treasure Bottle Continent, who do you think it would be?”

Ning Yao thought for a moment and said, “Gao Mian.”

Chen Ping’an was shocked. “You can even guess that?”

Ning Yao asked, “Is it hard to guess?”

Chen Ping’an was skeptical. “Isn’t it hard to guess? Did Qi Tingji tell you about this beforehand?”

If Qi Tingji hadn’t leaked the secret, Chen Ping’an would never have thought that there was a “private sword” from Sword Qi Great Wall here in Treasure Bottle Continent.

It was indeed the person Ning Yao had guessed, the founder of the Invincible Divine Fist Gang, Gao Mian.

Gao Mian was definitely an assumed name. But Chen Ping’an was someone who had read and annotated all the archives of both Summer Retreat Palace and Winter Retreat Palace. He had found no clues about “Gao Mian.”

Ning Yao continued to turn the pages of her book, casually explaining. “First of all, since you asked, he must still be alive. Otherwise, you always respect the dead, and you wouldn’t joke about such things, treating them as idle chatter. Secondly, this person must be quite famous in Treasure Bottle Continent, otherwise you wouldn’t make things difficult for a foreigner like me. Thirdly, since he left Sword Qi Great Wall based on accumulated war merits, his killing power must be high. How many Upper Fifth Realm cultivators has your Treasure Bottle Continent produced in the last thousand years? Gao Mian has fallen from the Upper Fifth Realm three times. Who else can I guess but him? Liu Laocheng of Scroll Lake? Or Qi Zhen of Divine Admonishment Sect?”

Chen Ping’an rubbed his chin. “So there were so many clues.”

Ning Yao didn’t look up, smiling. “So it’s not that I’m smart, it’s that you’re stupid.”

Chen Ping’an had to change the subject. “Shao Jianxian gifted Fallen Peak Mountain a Sword Nourishing Gourd as a congratulatory gift, but it hasn’t been named yet. Its quality is too high, and I haven’t decided who to give it to. Who do you think would be most suitable?”

Pei Qian and Guo Zhujiu were his direct disciples. Chai Wu had entered the Upper Fifth Realm, and Fallen Peak Mountain should prepare a congratulatory gift, right? Sun Chunwang was Ning Yao’s future direct disciple… Actually, they all needed this Sword Nourishing Gourd, and they all seemed suitable to refine it.

Ning Yao said, “Keep it for yourself.”

Chen Ping’an rubbed his cheeks, saying nothing.

Ning Yao said, “It seems that Xie Gou secretly took out more than fifty women. The Literary Temple hasn’t noticed it yet.”

Chen Ping’an said to Xie Gou and Xiao Mo in a voice transmission. “Doggy, get off the ship and go to Scroll Lake immediately, temporarily placing them at Zeng Ye’s Five Islands Sect. Then we’ll meet at the Village Makeup Ferry near the Great Dike. I need to find someone there. Xiao Mo, go to the Celestial Canopy and explain the situation, saying we’ll accept punishment.”

Xie Gou tentatively asked, “Mountain Lord, Little Millet said it well, if you’re angry, don’t hold it in. I’ll accept punishment too. But it’s okay to deduct my salary, but please don’t demote me.”

There was nothing at first, but after Xie Gou said that, Chen Ping’an was immediately angry. Just as he was about to speak, Xie Gou had already received Xiao Mo’s eyes, and with a flash of sword light, she instantly left the Streamer Cloud Skiff, rushing to Treasure Bottle Continent like lightning. Xiao Mo then flew to the Celestial Canopy.

Chen Ping’an clicked his tongue.

Ning Yao continued reading her book.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Compared to Qi Shou, Pang Yuanji and the rest, how does Chen Li fare in terms of Dao attainment?”

Ning Yao said, “Their fates and luck are about the same. Since their foundations are similar, and their starting points are earlier or later, you won’t see much in three to five decades. Once they have each survived three to five hundred years, it will be clear at a glance.”

Among the younger generation of sword cultivators, Chen Li, nicknamed Little Hidden Official, was the well-deserved first in terms of realm, aptitude, and war merits.

So the teenagers scattered throughout the nine continents of the world, like Ye Du and Xue Zhou, liked to treat Chen Li as their “imaginary enemy,” always wanting to compete with Chen Li.

Bai Xuan, Sun Chunwang and the others were younger than Chen Li and the others, but they were still considered to be of the same generation back home.

Chen Li broke through extremely quickly, and at a young age, he was already bottlenecked at the Golden Core Realm. He had recently secluded himself in a secret realm in Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, and had not yet come out.

Li Cai was personally protecting him. After falling in realm, she could no longer muster much interest in sword cultivation. Li Cai had already said that as soon as her first disciple, Rong Chang, reached the Upper Fifth Realm, she would relinquish her position. She focused more of her attention on her direct disciples, such as Sui Jingcheng, Chen Li, and Gao Youqing.

Like Xie Songhua and Song Pin, these female sword immortals who had been to Sword Qi Great Wall all took a domineering path of swordplay, each one more ruthless than the last.

Chen Ping’an had privately compiled a booklet, recording in detail the growth of Chen Li and the others.

Since he had proposed that they come to settle in this world, he would be responsible to the end, and continue to pay attention to their growth.

Fallen Peak Mountain always liked to tease their Mountain Lord for being an absentee landlord who was often away from home.

Wanderers scattered like dandelions in the wind, were not yet home, and could not wallow.

The Streamer Cloud Skiff crossed the sea and entered the land of Treasure Bottle Continent. Along the Grand Dike, Chen Ping’an had Liu Tui and the others go directly to the Great Li capital, while he and Ning Yao disembarked at Village Makeup Ferry. According to the Criminal Ministry’s intelligence reports, Gao Mian had retired as the gang leader, and the old man was now living in seclusion there, having recently taken a disciple.

The four sword ships of the Great Li Dynasty had finished inspecting the vassal states, but did not return to the shipyard. Instead, they were joined by more than sixty transport ships from the Great Li military, and were about to sail south.

Tomorrow would be Grain in Ear.