Under skies where the Dipper’s handle pointed towards the constellation Bing, the season of Mangzhong, the Grain in Ear, arrived.

Upon the earth, where marsh grasses flourished, the seeds of this season were sown.

The sun ascended from the sea, a celestial orb, mirroring an eternal and unyielding golden elixir.

When they walked together, it was as if a grand Daoist temple dedicated to “Sword Immortals” materialized around them.

The thousand-step corridor leading to the Imperial Palace teemed with humanity. Every alley and thoroughfare nearby, every wall, tall building, rooftop, and even branches of trees – any vantage point from which to gaze – was a sea of faces. Many stood upon chairs and stools dragged from their homes, children perched atop their parents’ shoulders, all eager to witness the one chosen to receive the National Preceptor’s Seal from Cui Chan, to sit upon the Dragon Throne’s chair during the Imperial Court’s morning assembly. Curiosity mingled with anticipation and trepidation: would this person, whether young and fiery or aged and prudent, bring greater prosperity to the Great Li Dynasty? Could they ensure the Great Li cavalry’s hooves echoed throughout the barbaric lands? Would their ascendance as National Preceptor overturn the established policies of the Cui Chan era? Would they dare to venture onto the battlefield, to confront the savage, monstrous tribes of the wilderness? Would their name be utterly unknown to the untamed lands?

Logically, the capital’s city walls offered the most advantageous “scenery viewing,” a commanding vista stretching to the horizon. Yet, attempting to leverage connections to secure a coveted spot there, to gain proximity to the event, was futile. Today, access to the ramparts was determined not by rank or lineage, but solely by valor in battle. The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War had jointly compiled a list, reviewed and personally approved by the Emperor, consisting almost entirely of veteran soldiers from the Great Li’s frontier armies, men weathered by countless campaigns.

Furthermore, the armored sentinels patrolling the walls were replaced entirely by various court conjurers and military mystics. For months, every department and office in the capital had been consumed by preparations for this day’s ceremonies. Officials, in private, grumbled at the relentless pressure. With no fixed date for the event, they remained in perpetual suspense, each responsible for ensuring absolute perfection within their jurisdiction. The upcoming assessments and evaluations loomed, and everyone knew that even the smallest misstep in this momentous affair could reach the Emperor’s ears, potentially prompting a royal decree. Indeed, a recent brawl between two Jianghu factions in a county near the capital had resulted in a handwritten edict being delivered to the magistrate’s office that very night.

Unexpectedly, a group of individuals not on the official list appeared atop the imperial city walls. Yet, the court offered no resistance, for they were known to be associates of the newly appointed National Preceptor.

From their own Jewel Bottle Continent, came Zhang Lu, whose Daoist name was Ling Chun, the dignified Law Warden of Fallen Peak Mountain. Her tall, graceful figure, standing on the battlements, resembled a goddess brought forth from a shrine.

From the Tung Leaf Continent, appeared Cui Dongshan, the first patriarch of the Azure Lotus Sword Sect, a handsome youth with a mole between his brows, clad in robes as white as clouds.

From the Southern Poso Continent, was Madame Tuoyan of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, adorned with pearl hairpins and silken robes, a captivating enchantress.

And, a known outsider, Liu Tui of Heavenly Ballad Village in the Floating Jade Continent, an old ascendant with the face of a youth, his eyes sharp and foreboding, his aura intense.

Cui Dongshan smiled and inquired, “Why did Qi Tingji change his mind at the last moment?”

Qi Tingji had already relinquished his position as patriarch of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, and the old sword immortal’s temperament made such a supporting role unlikely. In truth, both Qi Tingji and Liu Tui possessed similar personalities, each believing that “Heaven allows for no two suns.”

Liu Tui casually replied, “Daoist Qi still retains a guest elder status. His presence shouldn’t be a cause for alarm.”

During their journey north, Qi Tingji had warned him to be wary of Cui Dongshan if he ever allied with Fallen Peak Mountain. Liu Tui had expected Cui Dongshan to appear at the ceremony, yet the white-robed youth remained here, to watch the festivities with them.

Cui Dongshan chuckled, “Objectivity, like the immovable earth and mountains; subjectivity, like fleeting clouds and flowing water – a vast difference.”

Knowing he couldn’t deceive Cui Dongshan, Liu Tui hesitated before saying, “Qi Tingji has always considered Qi Shou unworthy of Ning Yao, a regret in his life. However, seeing Ning Yao become Daoist partners with Chen Pingan, Qi Tingji felt it to be only right.”

Madame Tuoyan exclaimed in admiration, “Such words, spoken so eloquently, couldn’t be bettered! Qi Tingji belittling his descendants, praising Ning Yao, and extolling Chen Pingan… the one Liu Tui truly lauds is Qi’s insightful judgment and magnanimous spirit?”

Cui Dongshan nodded. “It seems that Qi Tingji has found a true confidant.”

Liu Tui shared a knowing smile.

The tone of this exchange was set by Cui Dongshan’s opening, addressing the elder immortal by his given name, “Qi Tingji”.

Cui Dongshan added, “If you would, Daoist Liu, keep an eye out. Some may seek to cause trouble today, unable to achieve much, but capable of disrupting the Great Li Dynasty.”

Liu Tui raised an eyebrow. “Such fools still exist? Do they think Great Li is vegetarian, unafraid of national annihilation, the shattering of shrines, and the felling of temples?”

Cui Dongshan smiled. “Heated blood and impetuousness can disregard life and death. Were they to consider the consequences, they wouldn’t act impulsively, would they?”

Liu Tui’s characteristic style was immediately apparent. “Provide me with a token for unfettered passage. I intend to wander about.”

Once you, my friend, were on my good side, the benefits and recognition he gave always surpassed expectations, exceeding what he received.

Madame Tuoyan was stunned. Liu Tui’s actions were audacious. A sect leader, an old ascendant, a peak figure among continent-spanning Daoists, was offering to do the legwork for others? Madame Tuoyan admitted she couldn’t emulate such conduct. As the old saying went, a bold man would dare to unseat the Emperor, even at the cost of his own hide, and Liu Tui was seemingly willing to save face, even if it meant taking it off his own head.

Cui Dongshan produced an old, plain wooden tag from his sleeve. Liu Tui accepted the token and, before departing the ramparts, curiously asked, “Since you are a sword cultivator, why aren’t you with the procession?”

Cui Dongshan blinked. “One less doesn’t matter. The participants engage, the onlookers rejoice. Sages and heroes are responsible for writing history; I am content with the role of annotator.”

Law Warden Ling Chun jested, “Our Patriarch Cui is one of those ‘et ceteras’ found in books.”

Cui Dongshan shook his snow-white sleeves and clapped his hands, laughing heartily. “Exquisite, and sufficient.”

In the street below, among the throng, a ruddy-faced, fervent young man eagerly declared, “It is him, as expected!”

Elbowing his companion, he proclaimed with pride and joy, “I told you! Who else could it be? Brother Yunqi, you had to argue. What now? Where’s your defiance?”

His friend sighed. “I wagered and lost. I shall treat you to a fine meal.”

Unexpectedly, the man replied, “I’ll treat you.”

The scholarly youth asked in bewilderment, “Why?”

“This year, I shall surely pass the imperial examinations with flying colors. Brother Yunqi, I cannot say the same for you. Henceforth, I shall serve in the court alongside Chen Pingan! Ha! This drink, I insist upon paying.”

The Great Li Dynasty’s officials and commoners alike suspected Chen Pingan to be the most likely candidate for the National Preceptor’s vacancy, yet doubts lingered. Was it truly his desire to step down from the path of cultivation and immortality? Furthermore, having established a sect in the Tung Leaf Continent, would his ambitions instead lead him towards the central Confucian temple, perhaps to one day seek the position of a vice-principal? And the rumors surrounding his childhood friendship with the Prince of Luojing, Song Mu, as well as the two men’s shared lineage in both geographical origin and academic master… how delicate would his relationship with the Emperor be?

Nearby, amongst the ladies gossiping in hushed tones, their limpid eyes, like so many pools of autumn water, assessed the procession.

“The Sword Immortal Chen is indeed very young.”

“Have you noticed, Fallen Peak Mountain has many female sword cultivators?”

“Perhaps not so inferior to the Sword Immortal Mi.”

It was clear she had known of Mi Yu for quite some time.

“He is so handsome, no wonder he acquired so many confidantes during his youthful wanderings through Jianghu. Truly, a youth is wasted if he isn’t a romantic!”

It was apparent that she had read his travels in the mountains and rivers.

The men, rendered helpless, could not muster any praise for the new National Preceptor’s appearance, in the light of midday.

In the capital, there was an ancient temple dedicated to the Flower Goddess, where, during Mangzhong, people paid their respects to the goddesses who bring beauty and color to the world. As spring ended and summer began, it was a farewell to the heralds of spring. In the Great Li Dynasty, where martial spirit was prized, social barriers were less strictly enforced. Ladies from official families and common women would adorn themselves with flowers, wrap themselves in colorful ribbons, and carefully arrange their hair before gathering in groups to attend the temple fair. Even some scholarly old men, who had spent their lives immersed in books, would, for once, allow their female relatives to venture out and experience the world.

The Flower Goddess Temple stood on a street intersecting with the main north-south imperial avenue, allowing onlookers to catch glimpses of the sword immortals’ figures and faces.

The Great Li capital was a hub of information. Not just officials and nobles, but the common folk were familiar with Chen Pingan and Fallen Peak Mountain. Chu Prefecture was an old, integral part of the Great Li Dynasty, not a newly annexed territory. Chu Prefecture was also the site where the shattered Lihzu Grotto Heaven had fallen to earth. Thus, the young master of Fallen Peak Mountain was both a native of the Great Li and his rise to prominence was filled with inconceivable legends. How did a humble kiln worker’s apprentice, one wearing straw sandals, find his way from the back alleys to the peaks of immortals, journey through Upside Down Mountain, reach the Sword Qi Great Wall, and ultimately take residence in the Summer Palace? This question alone had people scratching their heads, unable to fathom the answer.

Regardless of the reasons…

We of Great Li possess cavalry, Embroidered Tigers, and Hidden Officials!

Familiarity with Fallen Peak Mountain and Chen Pingan naturally led to curiosity about the Sword Qi Great Wall. Understanding the Sword Qi Great Wall meant knowing its customs and traditions. For example, jade purity sword cultivators there were not referred to, nor did they call themselves, sword immortals. Legend has it that the higher the level of cultivation, the less they liked to sit at a table and drink, preferring to squat by the roadside with a bowl, a peculiar habit.

“It is said that Master Qi, the founder of Cliffside Academy, accepted him as a disciple on behalf of his own master. That’s how Chen Pingan became the closed-door student of the Sage of Literature.”

Like the Great Li Dynasty, both nation and man had humble beginnings.

The youth in the yellow hat and green shoes had a mild demeanor, a perfect gentleman.

Behind him, the red-cheeked girl in the sable hat was petite with lively eyes and a short sword at her waist.

Pei Qian, once known as “Zheng Qian,” was renowned on the battlefield in the secondary capital, recognized as one of the four Grandmasters of Martial Arts in the Jewel Bottle Continent.

The sword cultivator Mi Yu, who shone brightly during the Old Dragon City battle, came from the Hidden Official lineage of the Summer Palace, nicknamed Mi Lan Yao (Mi the Waist-Slasher).

Jiang Shangzhen, known as Zhou Fei, was the chief consecrator of Fallen Peak Mountain. To cultivators from the Jewel Bottle Continent, he was akin to finding a gold nugget in a pile of dung from the Tung Leaf Continent. As for how cultivators from the Tung Leaf and Northern Ju-Lu Continent viewed Jiang Shangzhen, the Great Li Dynasty cared little for their opinions.

Young men and lads who yearned for Jianghu and knew the stories of the upper realms finally found a use for their knowledge, introducing the identities and histories of the sword immortals to their relatives, lovers, or the girls they admired, who were unfamiliar with court politics and immortal secrets. They spoke eloquently, rattling off names like prized possessions. Chen Pingan alone had a long list of titles and descriptors: closed-door disciple of the Sage of Literature, junior brother of Cui Chan and Qi Jingchun, last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall, Daoist partner of Ning Yao, owner of the Hundred Sword Immortal and Two-Hundred Sword Immortal Seal manuals, great sword immortal who questioned the Sword Immortal of the Rising Sun Sect with Liu Xianyang, comparable to and the same age as the martial artist Cao Ci…

“What about those over there, the one walking first next to Ning Yao, the one who looks even younger than the Sword Immortal Chen? He must be of a high realm to be ranked first, how old is he? And the women behind him, what are their names and realms?”

They were clearly stumped, clueless. Who were they? And those sword cultivators behind them, all unfamiliar faces.

The little girl, Chai Wu, stood out conspicuously, her age making her memorable.

Though enlightened masters of the upper realms often possessed the ability to regain their youth, such as the old patriarch of the Snowwind Temple, Yu Zhenyi of Lotus Blossom Land.

The little girl was often asked about.

“Who is that little girl?”

“Perhaps she’s Zhou Mili, the mountain-protecting consecrator of Fallen Peak Mountain. I’ve heard she rarely appears in public, almost never leaves the mountain, but once showed up during the questioning of the Sword Immortal of Rising Sun Sect. Becoming a consecrator is already difficult, but a mountain-protecting consecrator is even more important. When the sect leader is away, the mountain-protecting consecrator is responsible for guarding the Daoist temple. But a sword cultivator? That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

Opinions varied regarding the sword immortals’ true identities, with all sorts of guesses and speculations.

Fortunately, the Great Li Dynasty gifted the entire capital with an unexpected surprise.

This was an unprecedented roll call.

Generally, only the name and realm were announced. For example, “Mo Sheng, fourteenth realm,” and “Bai Jing, ascension realm.”

However, there were three exceptions: Qi Tingji, Pei Qian, and Chai Wu.

They were announced as “Qi Tingji, ascension realm, the one who carved the character ‘Qi’ on the Sword Qi Great Wall,” and “Pei Qian, sword cultivator, tenth realm martial artist.”

When introducing Chai Wu, the jade purity sword cultivator, her true age was explicitly added.

Those in the know recognized that Chai Wu, able to reach the top five realms in one leap, was destined to ascend and prove her Dao.

Previously, when Ning Yao’s name was announced first, a wave of cheers instantaneously drowned the entire Great Li capital.

Ning Yao blushed slightly.

Chen Pingan could only explain through mind voice, “Not my idea. The court didn’t even consult me.”

When “Pei Qian’s” name was called, the young woman with the hair tied in a bun felt a sense of detachment as she heard the name being shouted again and again, as if the cheers were able to lift roofs. She inexplicably recalled the small charcoal sprite who had roamed the capital of the South Garden Kingdom like a wandering ghost, whose world consisted of ghosts who roamed during the day. Following her teacher out of Lotus Blossom Land, and walking with him, even as she walked alone through thousands of mountains and rivers, the dead world had seemed to have come alive.

When Mi Yu’s name was announced, the women’s voices were louder, seemingly able to compete with the men.

Mi Yu appeared calm, but when Bai Jing turned his head to look at him, the Great Sword Immortal Mi continued to hold his face, only to eventually bend his fingers to rub his forehead after even the Hidden Official gave an unintentional glance and Jiang Shangzhen coughed.

As private swords of the Sword Qi Great Wall, they did not desire reputation, and were unable to sully themselves with fame. But Huang Ling, who loved his wine, felt as though he was drinking a jug of fine wine. His palm gently stroked the handle of his sword San Ku (Three Caves), and he thought of many long lost friends who liked to drink.

Those sword cultivators who came from the barbaric lands, such as Mei Dantang, also experienced a moment of exhilaration. How could they have imagined that their names would be hailed in such a manner? Perhaps we truly are heroes?

“Why doesn’t the fourteenth realm have a special name?”

“Are there many fourteenth realm cultivators in the Vast Sky World? Roughly how many?”

“The fourteenth realm is only one realm above the ascension realm. If the two fight, can the fourteenth realm cultivator win for sure?”

In the bustling inner city, a young Daoist nun wearing a lotus crown was surrounded by pretty women.

It was He Xiaoliang, the patriarch of the Pure Cool Sect of the Northern Ju-Lu Continent, leading her personally taught disciples on a journey south to tour the land.

It was a timely coincidence.

The grudges she held against Bai Shang had been set aside.

Her senior brother Cao Rong proving his Dao on the sea and ascending had been a reminder in its own right.

And Bai Shang allowing his only personally taught disciple Xu Xuan to come south to the Tung Leaf Continent and leave the Northern Ju-Lu Continent had also been a corresponding display of sense.

Over the years, the combined blockade of the Pure Cool Sect by various forces in the north had also been quietly lifted.

First meeting at the stream, separated by floating clouds, and reunited by the sea.

He Xiaoliang didn’t go towards the imperial city, but instead walked towards the outer city in the opposite direction of the crowds.

The mortal world sent off the Flower Goddess and said goodbye to the spring breeze. Each of us will work hard towards our Dao, and will meet again by fate.

Rich households and merchants in the capital had already opened their ice cellars, and peddlers would soon sell all kinds of chilled drinks. The designs were plentiful and never-ending, and beautiful in a way that made one hesitant to eat them. Sell? Sell them for a high price? Give them away! I am happy today!

In the end, one side insisted on giving them away, while the other side insisted on paying more. The two sides almost flew into a rage because of it, a strange occurrence.

Outside the Flower Goddess Temple, a beautiful woman strolled through the noisy temple fair with an old servant.

This was Fengyi, the one most worried about by the Flower Goddesses. She came to the Flower Goddess Temple to wander around almost every year.

The old coachman, who went by the name Su Kan, was once a principal official in the Yu Shu Institute of the ancient Heavenly Court.

Walking through the temple fair with an elegant air, Fengyi joked, “Do you want to lament that the times have no heroes, allowing a nobody to become famous?”

The old man shook his head. “Not to that extent.”

She made a sound of surprise. “Has the sun risen from the west?”

Su Kan crossed his arms and said, “Since I have some conflicts with him, since we don’t get along well, and since I have suffered some minor and unspeakable losses, if he were an incompetent simpleton, wouldn’t that make me look even more useless? So instead of scolding him with trivial words, why not praise him as a hero?”

Fengyi pretended to suddenly understand, and said, “A hero? That’s a new way of putting it that I’ve never heard before.”

The old man chuckled and said, “If he had no planning or temperament, how could he have reached where he is today? You should carefully consider the fact that everyone, even those on the peaks, think that his greatest opportunity came from *that* existence? Wrong! That’s a huge mistake! Ma Ku Xuan is a reincarnation of a deity, but unfortunately he only looks like one on the outside. Chen Pingan, who comes from mud, is the one who truly resembles us. Long ago, he was more like a deity than even we are now.”

Fengyi pondered for a while. “There is some truth to that.”

She squatted down and bought an entire set of pastel porcelain Twelve Flower Goddess Cups, named after the Yanqing Hall model, from a stall in the temple corridor. Unfortunately, the bargaining was too easy, leaving her slightly disappointed.

In the past, at such gatherings, many perverts would have not been able to control their eyes, and would have even tried to touch them. But today, in the Great Li capital, no one had the guts to do so.

Right now, the state of martial law in the capital was unimaginable. The Great Li court was absolutely not going to allow any mistakes.

Not only was the entire Jewel Bottle Continent paying attention to this celebration, but it was no exaggeration to say that the entire Vast Sky World was looking at this capital.

In order to ensure that everything went smoothly, the Great Li court not only mobilized the department nominally in charge of security in the capital and the general stationed outside the city, but also secretly dispatched more than a thousand military monks from various states, who were clearly assigned to watch every corner of the city. The two large counties within the capital had begun preparations for this celebration long ago, and everyone from officials to clerks was working day and night. The key point was that no one from above had said what the reason was. For example, the court had specifically replaced a cautious young magistrate and temporarily added several transitional official positions. In the words used privately by the county yamen, not even a stray dog could appear on the streets.

The capital had long since recorded all the martial arts schools, bodyguard agencies, and Jianghu martial artists in the county, and their itineraries, not only for today, but also for the two days before and after, had to be carefully recorded. In fact, the officials didn’t need to say anything harsh, because all one had to do was look at the unconcealable fatigue on their faces to know that they weren’t joking or deliberately scaring people. It was fine to be bullied by a small official, or to try to use emotions and reasons, but parents and popular officials who were usually close to them could only give a few hints at most, saying that there might only be one such grand event in their lives. Everyone, whether officials or not, was ultimately a citizen of the Great Li, and should do each other a favor.

Those who were not involved in officialdom just thought it was lively, but those who had practiced in public service could tell the difference at a glance, and were very clear about the unusual aspects of this.

Therefore, the Jianghu gangs and martial arts schools in the capital had all been honest recently, and had not courted death, because once they ran into bad luck, it would not be as simple as eating a prison meal. In addition, idle vagabonds, hooligans who wanted to take advantage of women, pickpockets who wanted to earn some extra money, and so on had all received news from various sources. The county sheriffs had even gone door-to-door to all those who had a criminal record in the yamen. If they were eating the emperor’s food, then the key point was that there was often a burly figure outside the door who was clearly eating the army’s food.

Su Kan leaned against a corridor pillar and said, “In my opinion, this is called national misfortune being the poet’s fortune. If he were in a world of peace, Chen Pingan would at best be a golden core earth immortal. If he were even less lucky, he might still be making pottery in a kiln in a small town.”

Fengyi stood up and nodded. “A poet? Chen Pingan’s accomplishments in poetry are still very famous.”

The old man almost spat, but managed to hold it in. He looked up at the sky and couldn’t help but sigh. “This heaven.”

During the period when National Preceptor Cui Chan disappeared, many people felt that the Great Li Dynasty was about to decline from its peak. However, the Great Li Dynasty was about to rise again.

On both sides of the imperial avenue, the officials who were attending the court meeting today had to get up even earlier than the common people. Even Cao Gengxin had been waiting here early. Many officials who lived far away had simply slept on the floor in the yamen last night. Otherwise, with the amount of congestion on the streets today, no matter if they took a carriage or walked, how could they arrive at the court meeting on time? Who would make way for you?

All the officials waited together for the morning court session. Old Secretary Shen Chen was sleepy and leaned on his cane. “Sir Wu, do you read military books?”

Wu Wangcheng couldn’t help but smile. What kind of question was that? Xu Tong from the Ministry of War also found it amusing that the head of the Ministry of War was asking a Ministry of War Vice Minister with a military career if he read military books.

Shen Chen continued to ask, “Then do you read history books?”

Wu Wangcheng said, “Not very much.”

What he meant was that it was still quite a bit.

Shen Chen smiled and said, “Then look for it, how many meritorious generals in history have both prosperity and longevity?”

Wu Wangcheng thought for a moment. “Not many.”

Shen Chen glanced at the left Vice Minister Xu Tong and smiled as he asked, “Do you want to become one of them?”

Wu Wangcheng softly sighed. “I wouldn’t dare to dream of it.”

Xu Tong didn’t say anything.

In the Ministry of War yamen, old Secretary Shen Chen only made decisions, while the two Vice Ministers were responsible for specific affairs. Because Xu Tong was in charge of the barbarian affairs of the Great Li army, he had long had the nickname “floor-sleeping Vice Minister” in the capital’s officialdom. Wu Wangcheng had recently been sleeping on the floor with him, and it was a rare sight in officialdom, as the two Ministry of War Vice Ministers with different backgrounds, experiences, and personalities had become somewhat familiar with each other because of this.

Xu Tong softly asked, “Old Secretary, has our Great Li had a celebration of this magnitude before?”

The old man, who had served through three dynasties, thought for a moment. “Not really.”

He had heard that when Cui Chan first became the National Preceptor, no one seemed to take it seriously. There were even a large number of officials and elites who advised the emperor at the time not to accept such a notorious figure, because it would be easily remembered by the Central Confucian Temple and would be a losing proposition. The old Secretary remembered a capital story and couldn’t help but laugh. He remembered that at the time, everyone said that Cui Chan was a land immortal from the upper realms, so a young official publicly and frankly asked the Cui fellow to show off some immortal techniques and prove that he was a genuine land immortal.

The old Secretary was not only a fellow countryman of this official, who had had a smooth career and eventually became a senior official in the frontier, but was also his student.

Shen Chen smiled and asked, “The saying that officials mislead the country has always existed in the early Great Li court. But guess who dislikes officials the most?”

Shen Chen answered himself and said, “The ones who hate officials the most are not the powerful officials of the dynasty, but the officials who have been officials and then dispatched to be frontier officials.”

“Like my teacher.”

The two young Vice Ministers smiled at each other after hearing the answer. It was unexpected, but also reasonable.

It was difficult for the young men of the Great Li Dynasty to imagine that just 30 years ago, the Lu Dynasty had been the suzerain state of the Great Li, and the Great Li had only been a vassal state that had to rely on others and read their faces. Now, the young men all felt as a matter of course that their Great Li was the strongest dynasty in the Vast Sky World, without even “one of the”.

At that time, there was also a national celebration, and the ceremony to present the prisoners was also grand. But for some reason, National Preceptor Cui Chan didn’t show up at all.

Xu Tong suddenly complained. “Your snoring is deafening. It’s a crime.”

Wu Wangcheng laughed and said, “Is your snoring lighter?”

The old man smiled and said, “It’s easy to solve. If it’s too noisy, just slap them.”

Shen Chen looked at the two subordinates who were still very young. They seemed to have the same aspirations, but in reality had different minds. In short, they all wanted to take different paths to the same fame in history.

It was good to be young.

Unlike old men like him, Shen Chen, he could only think about his posthumous fame. What kind of posthumous title would the court or the emperor personally give him? He wanted a good title, one that ranked ahead and couldn’t be behind an old bastard he looked down on. How many good words would there be in the official history?

On the other hand, Xu Tong and Wu Wangcheng were like a book that was far from finished, with a lot of blank space to be filled in.

Of course, National Preceptor Chen Pingan was also very young.

On the edge of the crowd, close to the corner of the wall, Gongsun Lingling, who had been secretly sent here from the National Preceptor’s mansion, looked uneasy and very nervous.

This was because she had seen Xiao Pu from the Bamboo Basket Hall of the Wrongdoer Washer lineage, who was not only the junior sister of Qin Buyi, the previous leader of the Cherry Green Clothes lineage, but also the preacher who led Gongsun Lingling “up the mountain” and was now the speaker of the Bamboo Basket Hall. Xiao Pu naturally felt sorry for Gongsun Lingling, who had made a big mistake and been expelled from the sect. Of course, Gongsun Lingling felt even more guilty when she was reunited with her teacher.

Xiao Pu didn’t use any camouflage. Her appearance was average, with a wooden hairpin, slightly yellow skin, and plain clothes.

Besides Xiao Pu, there was also a junior sister from the Bamboo Basket Hall, a girl named “Jian Zhu” in the Great Li file, whose appearance matched her age.

She was a spy from the Great Li court who had been arranged in the vassal state of Qiu, and had been a maid in the mansion of an important official. During the capital storm, besides Wei Xianrou, who was almost promoted to first-class consecrator, Jian Zhu also performed well, killing six people in less than half an hour, including important officials from Qiu, immortal monks, and foreign assassins. However, Wei Xianrou had wielded her sword in the palace and beheaded three people in a row, which was too shocking, and the female assassin was completely overshadowed.

Jian Zhu was currently “chatting” with a spy from a certain country who had come from the south. “Don’t be nervous. One of the purposes of this celebration is to let you see it. But remember to let me see the intelligence you send back, so that I can avoid your lack of talent and write it in a way that isn’t grand enough.”

The spy stood still in place, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead, without saying a word.

The girl continued, “We will be our own people in the future, right?”

The spy’s mind raced, but he couldn’t say anything.

The girl asked, “Wrong?”

The spy took a deep breath, his eyes firm, and shook his head.

Jian Zhu asked, “There’s no room for negotiation?”

The spy said a sentence. The girl nodded. A moment later, an inconspicuous corner of the wall was occupied by a man. He was red-faced, as if he was drunk, and there were also the girl’s complaints that he couldn’t drink too much even if he was happy. At the same time, the girl nodded in a direction far away, indicating that they should clean up.

After Jian Zhu finished doing these things, Xiao Pu said to them in mind voice, “The general hall has passed a resolution that our three Wrongdoer Washer lineages will take the initiative to submit a complete list to the Great Li court. Besides Jian Zhu, there’s also your senior sister Helian Baozhu. As long as they’re in the Jewel Bottle Continent, they can’t hide their identities anymore. If the Great Li court doesn’t have a good impression of us and still thinks we’re troublemakers, then National Preceptor Chen Pingan can just issue an order to expel you all from the country, and the general hall will have to accept it, without daring to be lucky or making any small moves.”

“But if the Great Li thinks it can be negotiated, but proposes the condition that you can stay, but you must sever ties with the Wrongdoer Washer. Jian Zhu, Gongsun Lingling, how do you choose?”

Gongsun Lingling said, “I will withdraw from the Jewel Bottle Continent with the Bamboo Basket Hall.”

Jian Zhu wanted to say something but stopped.

Xiao Pu smiled and said, “Just tell me what’s in your heart.”

The girl said, “I will stay.”

Xiao Pu wasn’t surprised by their different choices, and hummed before changing the subject and laughing, “As the saying goes, it’s useless to sow again if you don’t sow during Grain in Ear. The Great Li Dynasty really knows how to pick a date, and the Great Li Song Clan really knows how to choose a National Preceptor.”

First there was the Embroidered Tiger Cui Chan, and then there was Chen Pingan.

Perhaps there were still many monks in the mountains who didn’t understand that he was already one of the most powerful people in the Vast Sky World.

Moreover, for a cultivator, he was still very young, far too young.

In a private room in a very good location, several people gathered, but they didn’t drink. They were Liu Taozhi, the leader of the Hidden Sword of Western Mountain lineage, Qi Zhen, the Taoist Celestial Monarch of the Divine Proclamation Sect, Zhang Zhi, the patriarch of the Universal Packager Business, and Pang Chao, the Pine Resin of Luoyang Woodworker.

In the mountains, each of them had their own unknown ways and twisting connections.

This was the first time in many years that Zhang Zhi had seen Pang Chao, whom he had to call senior uncle in terms of seniority.

The Luoyang Woodworkers were a group of obscure hermits who believed in exchanging goods for goods and never touched money. Therefore, in Zhang Zhi’s eyes, who was born to love doing business, those elders were old-fashioned people who adhered to ancestral teachings, and were laughably pedantic, but also admirable. Zhang Zhi knew that this senior uncle’s coming out of the mountain was different from his own angry departure, and was due to the fact that the businessman Fan had persuaded their patriarch, who was about to go into seclusion, that the Luoyang Woodworkers were preparing to select sites and make layouts in the Vast Sky World.

As for the relationship between Zhang Zhi and the Luoyang Woodworkers, it could be described as a gentlemanly severing of ties without saying anything bad.

When he was young, he had been arrogant and proud, and had never understood why. “Money is the cleanest thing in the world. Why can’t my hands touch it?”

Pang Chao asked, “Why did you use such a pseudonym, meaning ‘straight as a bow and arrow’?”

Zhang Zhi nodded. “Senior uncle, you’re right.”

As a result, Pang Chao’s next sentence was, “How can you have the nerve to use this pseudonym?”

Zhang Zhi was silent.

Liu Taozhi laughed, rarely seeing Zhang Zhi so deflated.

Pang Chao asked, “Have you seen the Cui fellow in white?”

Zhang Zhi nodded. “I’ve seen him.”

Pang Chao said, “I’ve also seen him once. He asked about our seniority and said that we were like people from the same village, poor but of high seniority.”

Zhang Zhi asked, “Where is senior uncle preparing to select a site?”

Pang Chao said, “After picking and choosing, I still chose the banks of the Lin River in the Tung Leaf Continent.”

Zhang Zhi said, “Good place.”

Zhang Zhi, who was doing a lot of business, looked like a young scholar, and was often carrying a bamboo box on his back. He looked more like a poor scholar who was on his way to the capital to take the exam. If you met him and exchanged pleasantries, you would always want to ask him if he had encountered a beautiful fox spirit in the wilderness on the way.

Pang Chao asked, “Have you ever regretted it in all these years?”

Zhang Zhi didn’t give a definite answer. “When I first came down the mountain,