Chen Ping’an returned to the Grand Tutor’s Residence, going directly to the peach tree.
He looked at the peach blossoms and said, “Have Nian Xin come here.”

Barefoot, upper body bare, covered in wounds,
his abdomen seemingly severely injured, crudely wrapped in blue cloth,
blood having seeped through.
Rong Yu was originally a Golden Body stage pure martial artist,
but seeing the Grand Tutor’s appearance at this moment,
she was still greatly shocked.

Just as Rong Yu was about to go to the dungeon to call Nian Xin,
Chen Ping’an smiled and asked, “Did Pei Qian sneak away,
not daring to see the Old Daoist Master?”
When she was still that little black charcoal,
the Old Daoist Master was originally the ‘Heavenly Lord’ of the Lotus Flower Blessed Land.
So-called knowing someone through and through is nothing more than this.
Rong Yu couldn’t help but smile, nodding. Indeed,
a master understands his disciple. Sensing that the Grand Tutor’s spirit
and energy were still excellent, she slightly relaxed.

Chen Ping’an was the first to walk to the adjacent courtyard,
intending to treat his injuries in the room where he had previously
hosted Xu Xie.
Song Yun Jian approached, returning the dry pipe to Chen Ping’an.
“Because of this, I earned the evaluation of ‘Good Assistant’.”

Chen Ping’an took it, smiling. “Caution is key.
Being teased by the Old Daoist Master is nothing.”
Before entering that room with a hidden world within,
he instructed Song Yun Jian to guard the door.
Stepping over the threshold, he closed the door.
Chen Ping’an untied the blue cloth strip wrapping the abdominal wound
and casually tossed it on the floor.

Nian Xin arrived quickly, seeing the bloody and blurred back,
her eyes shining. “So severely injured?”
If the injury wasn’t severe, it wouldn’t showcase the seamstress’s skill.
With his back to Nian Xin, Chen Ping’an spread his arms.
Perhaps due to his vigorous qi and blood, from the ‘dragon veins’ of muscle
on his straightened arm, wisps of mist rose,
as if dozens of pilgrims were at the peaks of mountains,
lighting incense to pay homage to the mountain spirits.
Chen Ping’an said indifferently, “Aside from this long spear wound
to the abdomen, which is rather troublesome, the rest are mostly
superficial wounds, just looking frightening. Cao Ci’s internal organs
are more injured, so I believe he isn’t feeling well either right now.”

Nian Xin smiled and asked, “Didn’t you hit his face?”
Chen Ping’an also laughed, saying,
“In the first half of the sparring, I could still choose where to punch.
In the latter half, I couldn’t afford to be picky.”
Nian Xin first took out a wooden box from her sleeve,
suspended it in mid-air, and opened it.
Inside, stored items were all shining brightly and emanating an eerie Yin energy.
She then flicked her wrist, throwing out two human body diagrams.
One was an old diagram, Chen Ping’an’s ‘authentic work’
from the Sword Qi Great Wall dungeon,
with muscles, tendons, bones, qi and blood meridians,
acupuncture points and qi chambers, etc., all labeled with text,
clear at a glance.
The second was a new diagram, an qi circulation map that Chen Ping’an
had Ning Yao help him find recently to locate new physical bodies and qi chambers.
Relatively abstract, it was clearly tailored for restarting cultivation.
Nian Xin asked, “Below, too?”
Chen Ping’an snapped, “No need. The injuries are all on the upper body.”
Nian Xin grumbled, “How finicky. If there were even a trace of
romantic desire mixed in, I’d take your surname. At least roll up
your trouser legs.”
Chen Ping’an complied.
Facing Nian Xin, who was about to do ‘needlework’ on him,
his scalp also tingled. He could only suffer and couldn’t resist.
Who wouldn’t panic?
Nian Xin used a silver needle to pick up a meridian exposed on his back,
narrowing her eyes and saying, “The Dao traces of stitching the Great Demon’s
true name are becoming fainter. Good thing.”
She deliberately severed that blue vein near the spirit platform,
then watched it reconnect itself at an extremely fast speed,
merging into one in an instant, like the ‘closing of the dragon’ of two rivers,
perfectly seamless. She couldn’t help but exclaim,
“An Eleventh Realm martial artist’s physique is truly a treasure.”
However, Nian Xin worried that this area was a main pathway running through
the spine, and Chen Ping’an’s staking methods were located here,
potentially making it an exception to recover so quickly.
So she squatted down, changed to an extremely miniature short blade,
and directly severed a meridian on the back of Chen Ping’an’s foot,
located in the areas of Tai Chong and Xing Jian…
Chen Ping’an remained still, only his eyelids fluttering slightly,
and he didn’t ask Nian Xin the reason for moving the blade here.
Nian Xin stood up, changed tools again,
and simply rolled over a slightly cracked piece of skin on Chen Ping’an’s shoulder.
She examined it intently for a moment, and casually asked,
“Can an Eleventh Realm martial artist’s fresh blood
compare to the best cinnabar for drawing talismans in the world?”
Chen Ping’an nodded. “Looking at the ancient shaman’s method of casting
by inscribing Yin and Yang on the inside and outside of the arm, it should be so.
A Culmination Realm martial artist, with no hope of breaking through,
can use this to enhance the toughness of their physique and create one or two
killer moves. Upon reaching the Eleventh Realm, these flashy techniques
are a hindrance.”
Nian Xin continued to issue commands.
“Select a small section of true qi containing divine sense and try circulating
the greater and lesser cycles.”
“In the section from Xuan Zhong to Zhong Du, did Cao Ci’s fist intent circulate
faster than yours? Why is the true qi guidance along the path from Qing Ling
to Shen Men so obscure? Is it a lingering hidden danger from the fight with Jiang She?
Have you still not taken the time to properly repair it?
I remember you mentioning a ‘疊瀑’ (疊瀑 – literally “stacked waterfall”, suggesting a rapid and powerful flow) idea back then,
which could both speed up and strengthen the momentum of true qi’s rise and fall.
I also thought it was feasible, yet after so many years, was it just an empty thought?”
“Two Great Demon true names carved on the spinal bones
show signs of loosening. I’ll help you reinforce them.”
Chen Ping’an’s face darkened, and he finally spoke, “Don’t!
I’ve already dealt with them.”
Nian Xin remained stubborn and had already begun working with her knife.
“Let’s reinforce them anyway. Who’s to say they won’t turn around?”
The white mist was thick like boiling qi sea, merely a sign of fist intent
leaking outside the human body. Nian Xin already felt a burning sensation on her face.
Furthermore, a pure true qi arose from Yong Quan, traveled through Shen Dao,
and rushed towards Shen Ting. Above his head, the Three Flowers manifested,
still enveloped in five-colored light.
Don’t be fooled by Nian Xin’s composed expression. Her series of movements
with her hands were still meticulous. Her heart was also in turmoil.
It was simply too interesting, too worth exploring!
Currently, besides the new Eleventh Realm martial artists like Cao Ci,
Nian Xin was probably the most knowledgeable cultivator
about the mysteries of the Eleventh Realm martial artist’s physique in the world.
Nian Xin casually asked, “Did Cao Ci reveal any exceptional skills?”
Chen Ping’an’s thoughts stirred. He mobilized his fist intent and
manifested a ‘One Punch Sent Out’. It actually created a martial artist’s
aura akin to a Dao field using martial artist’s qi. It was more like a cultivator’s
Golden Body Dharma Image. The human body was like a mountain, surrounded
by pagodas, sutra pillars, etc., with circles of water ripples, wave after wave.
Nian Xin’s eyes widened. “This is? Involving Buddhism?”
Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “Cao Ci’s punch is named ‘Iron Ring Mountain’,
used to protect the martial artist’s entire body. It can circulate
without end, and it consumes a lot of divine sense.
It fears ambush from formations and flying swords from sword cultivators the least.
It draws from Buddhist scriptures, ”The Mount Sumeru City Net, the water whirl
and circular shape. The Sīla Banner Basin shape, following the rotation of color shape.”
Back then, he and Yu Juan Fu both practiced boxing at an ancient battlefield
ruin. There were many collapsed statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas there,
so it’s estimated that the雏形 (雛形 – embryo, prototype) of this punch was formed then.
Only when Cao Ci reached the Eleventh Realm did he have the opportunity
to fully present it.”
Nian Xin praised, “Unbelievable, truly unbelievable.”
After a moment of silence, she immediately asked, “What about you?”
Chen Ping’an retracted the fist intent imitating Cao Ci and switched
to his own fist intent. In an instant, it changed.
Unlike Cao Ci’s ‘staking’ which had a grand aura,
it also had its own true meaning. Outside the human body’s skin,
there seemed to be a layer of flowing light, with spirit and form unified.
Chen Ping’an said, “Single-character punch move, ‘Glaze’.”
Nian Xin pinched a thin needle and fiercely jabbed at that
seemingly slowly flowing ‘glaze’ surface several times.
As a result, the tip of the needle broke.
Chen Ping’an said, “New heaven and new atmosphere. They are all Eleventh Realm
martial artists who have just broken through, and each is
contemplating new boxing methods.”
Nian Xin finally largely finished stitching Chen Ping’an’s wounds
and also drew a relatively rough third human body diagram using mountain techniques.
This was a temporary pause.
Nian Xin guiltily said, “Hidden Official, I’ve consumed a lot of mental energy
and my spiritual energy is almost depleted. I estimate I’ll need some time
to recover before I can resume work, from a minimum of ten days to a maximum
of two fortnights.”
Chen Ping’an felt a sense of relief and nodded. “No rush.”
Nian Xin asked, “Is there truly a Twelfth Realm in martial arts?”
Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment and said, “At least both Cao Ci and I
think there’s a certain possibility.”
Taking Nian Xin out of the room, Pei Qian and Guo Zhu Jiu were standing
at the entrance, holding clean clothes. Rong Yu said the medicinal bath
had been prepared.
After bathing, hair tied up, dressed in a green robe, and wearing cloth shoes,
Chen Ping’an, holding the dry pipe, walked invigorated towards the
wicker chair by the corridor.
Song Yun Jian reported all of the Old Daoist Master’s words after
his appearance at the Grand Tutor’s Residence, one by one, to the Grand Tutor.
Zhu Su came over, specifically mentioning that ‘Quan’ character talisman
of the Three Mountains and Nine Marquises Master.
Rong Yu handed the Inches Away object left by Yuan Hua Jing to the Grand Tutor.
“These are all life-bound objects refined by that White Bone Daoist.
They have already been recorded, totaling three hundred and twenty-nine.”
Chen Ping’an sat on the wicker chair, took the Inches Away object,
and swept his hand over it, removing the magical restriction
temporarily set by the Daoist Ge Ling. The Inches Away object
immediately became ‘lively’, appearing as if startled sparrows were soaring high.
Chen Ping’an gently grasped it, suppressing it instantly and
making it quiet.
Pei Qian and Guo Zhu Jiu uncharacteristically didn’t ask about the outcome
of the sparring match.
Chen Ping’an smiled at them and said there was no need to worry.
He lay back on that wicker chair and began to smoke.
Song Yun Jian and the others quietly left with light footsteps.
As expected, according to Rong Yu, the Old Daoist Master, who had
already returned to the Bright Moon Brilliant Radiance Dao場 (場 – field/place),
appeared out of thin air and said with a smile, “Finally learned
a bit of the art of nourishing the spirit.”
Chen Ping’an was about to sit up. The Old Daoist Master extended his hand
and pressed it down virtually, signaling him to lie down and chat for a bit.
But Chen Ping’an still sat up, and also put away the dry pipe.
The burly old Daoist, holding a fly whisk, sized up this
undisputed young ‘famous person’ before him.
At this time and place, what he saw in his eyes seemed to be
the same back-sword-carrying youth who used to run around everywhere,
claiming to be traversing the martial world.
Young knight-errant, safe and sound.
The Old Daoist Master got straight to the point and said,
“I have come to ask for a piece of your calligraphy.”
Chen Ping’an was bewildered, as if falling into a fog.
The Old Daoist Master stroked his beard and smiled.
“I have come to ask for a plaque to hang above the Daoist temple gate.”
Chen Ping’an was even more puzzled. Could it be that Senior Brother Cui
had made an agreement with the Old Daoist Master and had already written it,
hiding it somewhere in the Grand Tutor’s Residence or the Ren Yun Yi Yun building?
Could it be that because he hadn’t discovered the clue, the Old Daoist Master
personally came here to collect the debt?
Senior, you can’t play such tricks of making something out of nothing!
The Old Daoist Master did not continue on this topic, shaking his head
and saying dismissively, “Are the true stakes of your green versus white
contest going to be delayed indefinitely? Then I must ask you,
when will it end?”
After a fight, not even a broken sword of the Semi-Immortal Soldier rank was broken,
and his hairbun hadn’t fallen.
You were the first to say you lost. Even if everyone in the world believed it,
would that Cao Ci believe it?
Chen Ping’an waved his hand. “The Old Daoist Master can discuss the Dao
with anyone on equal footing. But when it comes to martial arts, it’s not
quite relevant.”
The Old Daoist Master smiled. “Reached the Eleventh Realm, and now you’re arrogant.”
Chen Ping’an said indifferently, “As contemporaries, even compared to cultivators,
let alone the historical Culmination Realm martial artists, we are still young.
Cao Ci has exceptional talent and is selfless. As long as he is number one,
the world’s martial arts can continue to improve. From now on,
those who actively learn boxing from Cao Ci will be pure martial artists.
Cao Ci’s teaching and feeding of boxing will also be purely boundless.”
“In contrast, Chen Ping’an currently has too many matters to distract him,
his own, Da Li’s, the Barbarian Desolation’s, Qing Ming’s, public and private matters
mixed together. Not to mention not being able to die, he can’t even be severely
injured, leading to too many hidden dangers remaining in his body and soul.”
“Just speaking of Senior Brother Cui and Mr. Qi’s hundred years of effort,
if I step down as Grand Tutor today, who will inherit tomorrow?
Can it only rely on the Old Daoist Master’s return?”
The Old Daoist Master sometimes shook his head upon hearing this, and sometimes
nodded understandingly. Finally, he stroked his beard and said, “That is also the truth.”
Chen Ping’an slowly said, “Cao Ci can still become stronger.
The one I truly want to defeat in a boxing match is the Cao Ci
who has already reached the peak of martial arts.”
The Old Daoist Master asked, “Truth?”
Chen Ping’an said, “Of course. Only by defeating the hypothetical enemy
who is constantly becoming stronger to the strongest point, will I be that
undisputed number one.”
The Old Daoist Master smiled. “Heaven Nine, Human One. When Cao Ci’s
‘Human One’ meaning becomes stronger, martial arts will only reach
greater heights, limitless.”
Chen Ping’an smiled. “”
The Old Daoist Master had a playful expression. “Why is there no punctuation?”
Chen Ping’an burst into laughter.
The Old Daoist Master said, “Your Deputy Mountain Master Jiang, says you are
good in every way, capable of making women throughout the world
both unattainable and…”
Chen Ping’an’s demeanor immediately weakened. For a moment, he didn’t know how to reply.
This sparring match at sea was different from the three at the Sword Qi Great Wall,
and the fourth and fifth at the Wen Miao Hall of Merit. As the fight
progressed, both sides indeed developed a killing intent. The desire to
determine life and death freely became increasingly intense. Cao Ci’s
spear almost shattered Chen Ping’an’s heart, which is clear evidence.
Of course, not to mention Chen Ping’an’s successive punches that displaced
Cao Ci’s internal organs, and he also almost chopped off half of Cao Ci’s head
with a single sword strike.
However, no matter how strong their desire to win, they could not truly
determine life and death.
Therefore, the reason they did not continue to spar when they clearly could
was not solely because more and more mountain peak cultivators were watching
from afar.
The Old Daoist Master smiled and asked, “If there were no concerns today,
and it was purely a sparring match, what would the outcome be?”
Chen Ping’an said, “Perhaps both sides would feel that they would definitely win.”
The Old Daoist Master smiled knowingly.
If one day Cao Ci grows old, or there is no longer White-robed Cao in the human world.
Perhaps Green-robed Chen will call himself the second in the world?
The Old Daoist Master reminded, “Remember to prioritize and put effort
into protecting Pure Yang Daoist in that blessed land.”
Chen Ping’an nodded. “Definitely.”
The Old Daoist Master sighed, “I hope that one day, martial artists from all
human worlds in all several heavens, whether Grandmasters or those
who have just begun to practice boxing, will be able to witness your
sixth sparring match.”
Chen Ping’an whispered, “I hope that day truly comes. I hope.”
Chen Ping’an remembered something and asked, “I plan to collect some
objects related to Lu Chen. Is this feasible?”
The Old Daoist Master nodded and said, “It is possible to plan early.”
The Old Daoist Master waved his fly whisk and urged, “I still have to go back
to refine pills. I asked for a piece of your calligraphy. Bring it quickly.”
Chen Ping’an was shocked. “Me?”
The Old Daoist Master said, “Otherwise?”
The Old Daoist Master took out a piece of pure white treated paper from his sleeve
and spread it in the air. “I don’t have writing brushes and ink at hand.
Prepare them yourself.”
Chen Ping’an saw that the Old Daoist Master didn’t seem to be joking, so he
could only bite the bullet and ask, “Write ‘觀道觀’?” (觀道觀 – Guan Dao Guan, lit. View Dao View)
The Old Daoist Master retorted, “Otherwise, write ‘Luo Po Mountain’?”
Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment and did not call Rong Yu or Song Yun Jian
to bring writing brushes and ink. Instead, he gently rolled up his sleeves,
turned his wrist, and used his fist intent to guide the water currents in the world.
His fist repeatedly drew circles, and more and more water currents gathered,
presenting an increasingly heavy green color, collecting by his hand,
like a concentrated pool of ink ground on an inkstone.
Chen Ping’an punched into the ‘ink pool’, using it to dip ink.
Using his fist as a brush, he smeared a large character on the white paper: “觀”!
The Old Daoist Master, holding his fly whisk, gently nodded. It wasn’t ugly.
Chen Ping’an swiftly punched into the green ink again, using his
most skilled Divine Man Drumming style, stacking his fists to eighty-one
within his body!
It was practically carving a “道” character onto the paper.
In one go, he then wrote the last character “觀”.
The Old Daoist Master rolled up the paper and put it into his sleeve.
Chen Ping’an still had strength to spare and tentatively asked,
“No signature?”
The Old Daoist Master chuckled. “Is it necessary?”
Chen Ping’an, not giving up, said, “It could also add to the beauty, perhaps?”
However, the Old Daoist Master’s figure had already risen into the sky,
crossing the world in one step, and returned to the Daoist temple
in the Bright Moon Brilliant Radiance.
Chen Ping’an, feeling somewhat unsatisfied, stood in place.
The Old Daoist Master’s voice echoed in his ears,
“Go and see that mountain again.”
East Sea, Jin Li did not return to her residence in her carriage.
Instead, she quietly left the carriage and came alone to this
martial arts practice area. The lingering fist intent was still
as thick as water, long-lasting and undissipated. Even she
felt suffocated being within it, having to hold her breath and
close her internal body caves, relying on the magical robe she wore
to block the fist intent. Spiritual energy circulated within her
internal scenery. Otherwise, if she were tainted by this extremely
pure fist intent, it would be troublesome later when she wanted
to separate it from her spiritual energy, like unraveling silk.
She also had no intention of disturbing Cao Ci’s rest.
The reason she came here was merely to ‘pay homage to the battlefield ruins’.
However, she waited for about an incense stick’s worth of time, and
unexpectedly, Cao Ci was still sitting in the same spot.
She couldn’t understand it, and had to reveal herself,
opening her mouth to ask, “Cao Ci, why haven’t you left yet?”
Cao Ci cupped his hands in greeting and smiled, not answering.
Jin Li hesitated for a moment and sat nearby. Even a fool could see
that Cao Ci had not won this fight easily.
Cao Ci collected his thoughts and sighed softly.
He had also read books. Punctuation was the most basic knowledge.
Seeking it, he did not obtain it.
This fellow!
He, Cao Ci, would never in his life learn from that former number one
in Hao Ran with the Daoist name ‘Long Bo’, turning to cultivate Daoist
techniques to extend his lifespan. The lifespan of a pure martial artist
is probably limited to about two hundred years. An Eleventh Realm martial artist
can probably exceed three hundred.
He wondered if he could wait until the entire human world ushered in
an era of peace and prosperity. He believed that at that moment,
if there was a sixth sparring match, they could be unrestrained?
Or perhaps someday in the future, they would sequentially step into
that new martial arts realm with a higher threshold?
Jin Li had a flash of insight, thinking of a conjecture she herself
found absurd. She tentatively asked, “Did you lose?”
Cao Ci shook his head and smiled. “How could that be?”
Jin Li didn’t ask further, only asking, “How does it feel to have such
a formidable opponent?”
Cao Ci seriously considered for a moment, his eyebrows relaxed.
He smiled and said, “True…”
Jin Li was puzzled. “Is there such a thing as a fake ‘seeking but not obtaining’?”
Cao Ci stood up, cupped his fists in farewell. He was the same Cao Ci,
most familiar in the Hao Ran world.
Chen Ping’an lay back in the wicker chair. His mind went to that
martial arts mountain. He reached the foot of the mountain,
climbed the steps, slowly ascended, until he reached the peak.
He found no abnormalities. He lingered on the peak for a moment,
looking at the forms of the Eleventh Realm martial artists who had reached it.
He walked back down the mountain.
Returning to the foot of the mountain, he stood still and turned around.
Chen Ping’an stood with his hands in his sleeves, looking up at this
martial arts mountain that had stood in the human world for ten thousand years,
lost in thought.
For some reason, he always felt it was lacking something. Perhaps it was
because Jiang She, the former owner, was relatively uninteresting himself?
Jiang She suddenly appeared here. “Crossing the river and demolishing the bridge
is not honorable.”
Chen Ping’an asked, “Each layer unique, sparse on the path,
the mountain road so desolate and lonely. Is this the martial arts scene
in Jiang She’s heart?”
Jiang She smiled. “Otherwise? Would it be acceptable to be bustling?
Throughout history, in martial arts, there is no second!”
Chen Ping’an remained silent.
Jiang She asked, “Why didn’t you pull Cao Ci into this mountain to spar?
Wouldn’t you have a greater chance of winning?”
Chen Ping’an retorted, “In the Battle of the Night Voyage Ship, why didn’t
Jiang She stand on this mountain and oppose me?”
Jiang She laughed heartily.
Chen Ping’an took his hands out of his sleeves, held his chin,
looked at this majestic mountain, this long divine path, and fell into contemplation.
Jiang She said, “Since you don’t approve, why not see the martial arts scene
in your mind? Anyone can complain, but there must be some contribution.”
Chen Ping’an smiled. “Then open your eyes and watch closely!”
Jiang She scoffed. “I’ll be watching.”
Chen Ping’an began to climb the mountain again. A large section of the
mountain foot seemed to disappear, replaced by the appearance of all
First Realm martial artists who had achieved the title of ‘strongest’
since the first day martial arts existed in the human world. Martial artists
of various races from ancient times, each with their own spirit and energy,
gathered like a martial world.
After that, it was the Second Realm, the Third Realm… As Chen Ping’an
climbed higher, the layers of the mountain disappeared, but countless
martial artists gathered like mountains. They varied in height,
had different appearances, and each had their own boxing stances and moves
on the mountain… In the three layers of Qi Refining and the three layers of Spirit Refining,
there were also the three layers of the Culmination Realm. Chen Ping’an
climbed all the way to the peak. “Jiang She” was here, Lin Jiang Xian was here,
Cao Ci was here, all Eleventh Realm martial artists were here.
In this way, there was no longer a distinction between mountain and heaven.
Chen Ping’an looked down at the foot of the mountain and said to Jiang She,
“Next time, I’ll see Jiang She in the Twelfth Realm.”
As for whether you, Jiang She, can reach the new realm, that’s beyond my control.
Jiang She’s figure dissipated, exiting this realm. He smiled and said, “Good!”
Until this moment, Chen Ping’an had not only usurped Jiang She’s name,
but had truly become the new owner recognized by human martial arts.
New mountain, new mountain master.