Within the grand hall, the youthful Imperial Advisor stood alone, hands clasped behind his back, gaze lifted to the ornate coffered ceiling, lost in thought.

Outside the palace, upon the white jade steps flanking the Imperial Stairway, sword immortals were scattered like fallen leaves – some standing, some seated, some leaning against the balustrades. Whispers of conversation mingled with the clinking of wine cups.

Ning Yao and Lu Zhi stood at the top of the stairs, discussing the treacherous straits of sword cultivation. Ning Yao, ever vigilant, also entrusted Lu Zhi with keeping an eye on Sun Chunwang.

Further down, upon the steps of the Stairway itself, Xiao Mo and Xie Gou debated the merits of various lunchtime eateries, their hearts set on a flagon of the famed Spring Palace rice wine.

Qi Tingji, hands tucked into his sleeves, leaned against a railing, conversing with the Daoist couple, Guo Du and Ling Xun. He learned that Guo Du secretly possessed a map of the desolate wilds, a revelation Qi Tingji greeted with a knowing smile.

Mei Kan noticed a flicker of distraction in her disciple, but dismissed it as the shock of witnessing such grandeur, a test to Mei Dandang’s Daoist heart.

Elsewhere, Zhu Su tucked her hands into her sleeves, fingers subtly forming a sword incantation. She entered a state of meditative oblivion, refining her sword with the “Three Resonances,” while nearby sword cultivators drank and kept watch over her trance.

姜尚真 and 米裕 sat upon the lower steps, protectively surrounding the youth Chai Wu.

The young girl, bowl in hand, quaffed wine with silent determination. She vowed to train diligently with her sword, worthy of the Emperor of Great Li’s drink. If Great Li ever faced peril, be it a century or a millennium hence, she, as a swordswoman, would intervene and vanquish its foes.

“I intend to find some occupation,” Jiang Shangzhen declared, “perhaps petition the Mountain Lord for a profitable venture, guaranteed to earn coin.”

Mi Yu, ever mindful of his limitations, replied, “Such matters are beyond my ken.”

“I plan to bring you aboard,” Jiang Shangzhen countered.

Mi Yu frowned. “If Chief Zhou finds himself burdened with wealth, he is welcome to seek my assistance in its disbursement. But to engage in earning ventures? I am ill-suited for such endeavors.”

Chai Wu took a sip of her wine, glancing at the sword immortal Mi. She had learned a lesson. Master Xie had recently said, the ability to refuse another is a skill in itself.

Detecting the girl’s gaze, Mi Yu chuckled wryly. “Shamelessness is innate, unteachable. Do not emulate me, Chai Wu.”

To corrupt the precious Chai Wu would incur the wrath of the Hidden Official and the ire of Second Seat Xie, her teacher. Mi Yu would never live it down.

Truth be told, a Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator of such tender years was a startling marvel. It was either shocking, or magnificent.

A child who, through sheer instinct, mastered breathing and energy refinement, who survived a near-death experience and ascended to Jade Purity Realm in a single step from Willow Tendon Realm was a genius. Her destiny was both strong, and favourable. Even for this generation that teemed with geniuses in the Lihzhu Paradise, even for the Sword Gazebo that has spanned for millions of years, how many could be said to have both gifts?

With shameless brazenness, Jiang Shangzhen turned to Qi, Master Lu, and Xiao Mo. “Tell me, is discussing coin with a sword immortal vulgar?”

Qi Tingji chuckled. “Exceedingly refined.”

The final battle of Sword Gazebo began with a city ascendance, yet this was started by the discussion at the Spring Banner Residence. And what did that discussion want? Coin.

Lu Zhi said, “Refined or not, it is anything but vulgar.”

Xiao Mo chimed in, “The Mountain Lord once said, ‘A scholar who shames away from talking of coin may find himself shamed by it.'”

The dog Xie, ever eager for spectacle, laughed heartily. “If Rouge Consort were here, she would mutter, ‘Fine, fine, you are all so refined, so pure.'”

“Whose coin is easiest to earn?” Jiang Shangzhen inquired.

Mi Yu replied, “A woman adorns herself for her beloved.”

Dragon Maiden silk gowns, embroidered shoes from the Hundred Blossoms Paradise, and a full set of rouge and powders from the Beautification Office. “Pearls in hand” bracelets with twelve Greenwater Pit qiu-pearls as a baseline. A vanity mirror refined by the White Emperor City Glass Pavilion, and Jade Spring Vases fired by the secret methods of Green Palace Mountain, and the hairpins only given, but not sold, by the Green God Mountain. The blossoming brush of the Hundred Blossom Paradise, could fetch a ridiculous price from the Blue Sky underheaven.

Apart from new sects like Fallen Mountain or Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, which of the somewhat large sects didn’t have something similar in their treasury?

They were nice, and practical, and useful for cultivation. The only real drawback, was that they were quite expensive, or simply unobtainable.

Jiang Shangzhen inquired telepathically, “Do you know how many qiu-pearls we have stored in the Fallen Mountain treasury?”

“I don’t know the exact amount, but I know it’s a lot, a lot! Although, didn’t we use a bunch last time to upgrade the Lotus Root Paradise’s rank?”

“The treasury still has about three thousand pearls left, all of good quality.”

“That’s a lot?”

“The sea is boundless, and the Greenwater Pit is a powerhouse. Madam Dan Dan must have quite a bit of wealth.”

The Water Lords confirmed by the Confucian Temple were only going to get richer in the future, which made Jiang envious. If not for the Confucian Temple’s restrictions, a Water Lord could get rich simply by breathing.

The most popular qiu-pearl bracelets were nearly extinct on the market, and it was because Fallen Mountain hoarded them all.

The qiu-pearls were something unique to the Greenwater Pit, and Madam Dan Dan was overweight, and not that pretty to begin with. She wanted nothing to do with makeup or money. Or else how could she invite the Scholar Baiye to visit Greenwater Pit? By her name and title, it was clear how much she admired Baiye. So she let the tribute she received every year pile up in the warehouse. After so many years, the pearls would yellow, so some of them were lost every few years.

In fact, the bracelets sold on the market in the past were rejected pearls. But officials could take them and do some work on the side, and Madam Dan Dan let it go.

Mi Yu was curious. “How did we get all of those qiu-pearls?”

“A twisting story with many reasons. But it boils down to doing good.”

When Li Liu visited the Greenwater Pit, Madam Dan Dan became like a servant to him.

Afterwards, when Madam Dan Dan visited the Lotus Root Paradise, the boy said something, and she sent all of the pearls she had collected in Greenwater Pit to him. Some of those pearls, five thousand of the worst quality, were used to create a big rain that doubled the land’s luck.

Back then, Cui Dongshan gave a very obvious hint. “You admire Scholar Baiye? How do you think that one would talk about my teacher?”

“How do you think Liu Shiliu and Baiye are related? Who did Baiye meet when he visited the mountain? Who is the little brother of our Wen Sheng Lineage?”

“Even if we don’t talk about this, why did my teacher get a part of Baiye’s sword? Think about all of these relationships. It is guaranteed that my teacher will meet Baiye face-to-face. But the specifics of what they talk about is up to fate. The one bad thing about my teacher is that he does not like owing people things…”

“Say no more!”

As such, in a few words, 8,000 pearls had new owners, from the Greenwater Pit to the Fallen Mountain.

Everyone was happy.

The worst qiu-pearls can be sold for some money, and a good pearl can be used for a Dragon Maiden silk gown. Lacking the pearl, it would be like an imitation of a good porcelain vase, and the price would be lower. An immortal qiu-pearl bracelet would be worn by female Upper Five Realm cultivators, and would be very valuable.

Jiang Shangzhen said, “I plan to visit the Colored Sparrow Mansion soon. They will be very busy. Our Mountain Lord is right to say that one should not always give and take nothing. They should earn some coin as well.”

Mi Yu’s first foothold was the Colored Sparrow Mansion. If Jiang had gone there by himself, people know how that would have turned out.

Jiang intended to give them the pearl bracelets and the silk robes. He had gotten a weaving technique from Nendre, and he gave it to the Colored Sparrow Mansion.

Jiang Shangzhen said, “And then there is Liu Chicheng…”

Because Pavilion Lord Liu Daocun had been missing for years, the price of vanity mirrors went up. But when that pink-robed Liu resurfaced, what was the Glass Pavilion now? It was not the same.

Jiang Shangzhen smiled. “With these three treasures, the Bag Pavilion in Tongye Continent should have a good start.”

According to the agreement between the Mountain Lord and Ancestor Zhang Zhi, the future Tongye Continent would not only include the banks of the river, and all locations with mountain business would have a Bag Pavilion.

Mi Yu said, “We can take on the Colored Sparrow Mansion, but we need to bring the Floating Duckweed Sword Lake with us.”

Li Cai has good relations in the northern continent, and the Floating Duckweed Sword Lake can alleviate many problems.

Jiang Shangzhen nodded. “I knew you were a good merchant.”

Mi Yu laughed.

Jiang Shangzhen slowly said, “In addition to you and Dong Shui, I also selected a few people for a long-term partnership. For example, Liu Chicheng, Liu Tui of Heavenly Ballad, Liu Youzhou of Spiraling Wind, Liu Xu of Mule River, Nalan Caihuan of Rain Dragon, Cai Jinjian of Cloud Glow, Fu Nanhua of Old Dragon. As well as Green Palace Mountain, the Xuan Mi Dynasty, and the Nine Truth Immortal Hall, the Northern Continent Big Origin Dynasty, and some of the boat owners who had visited the Spring Banner Residence.

Mi Yu was speechless. “That’s a lot of people.”

“I want Fallen Mountain to be the wealthiest sect in three to five hundred years. Period.”

“How ambitious!”

Jiang Shangzhen said, “Mi Yu, we are friends, so I need to tell you something.”

“Go ahead.”

Whether it was crossing the Upside Down Mountain or making his mark on Old Dragon Town, Mi Yu had only one goal in mind.

He did not want people to look down on the Hidden Official’s lineage.

Mi Yu did not fear scorn, or the cold gazes of home. He was afraid that people would look down on the Young Official, and the Sword Gazebo.

When he arrived at Fallen Mountain, he was relieved by Jiang Shangzhen. To think, there was someone with a worse reputation than himself!

And it took an old sword cultivator decades to get to Jade Purity Realm. Mi Yu’s heart was more at ease. So he was close to Jiang Shangzhen.

The Ascending Realm seemed so close now.

Jiang Shangzhen said, “Don’t cultivate in grief. Don’t think of every breakthrough here as betrayal.”

Mi Yu remained silent.

Chai Wu poured Mi Yu some wine.

“Drink.”

The earth was covered in words and text. And silence was an underground river. A river that flowed with unutterable sorrow, unknown regrets.

Xie Gou rubbed his mink hat and asked Ling Xun telepathically, “The Four Guest Masters of Linji, the Five Ruler Ministers of Caodong, do you know them?”

Ling Xun was confused, and asked Guo Du.

Guo Du explained it to her, and it was all something that he had heard of. He only knew that they were Buddhist terms, and had no idea what they really meant.

Xie Gou said, “Come back to Fallen Mountain, and talk to me.”

She saw where the problem was. If she did not get it fixed, Ling Xun would never become an immortal.

Xie Gou had an ancient Daoist technique that could help her, but it was up to her.

Ling Xun hesitated. She did not think she could talk to Xie, and she was afraid of the name “Bai Jing.”

Guo Du was happy, and thanked him. The fact that Bai Jing was an official felt ridiculous to him.

Xie Gou waved his hand. “We are all family. As a second-seat official, it is my job to take care of the others. You do not need to thank me.”

Ling Xun did not know how to reply.

Xie’s official tone made them feel awkward, but it was normal. Even the couple Jiang She and Wu Yan felt like it was weird.

Mei Kan asked, “If the Hidden Official asked you to go to the Desolate Battlefield, what would you say?”

Mei Dandang thought for a moment. “As long as it is not a suicide mission, I will go.”

Mei Kan suddenly said, “What do you think of Zhu Su?”

Mei Dandang looked at her.

Mei Kan chuckled. “No rush.”

Mei Dandang repeated, “No rush.”

Mei Kan realized, and said, “The Hidden Official is right. One has to hear the Dharma, then practice it, then prove it, and finally achieve it.”

“Mr. Xiao Mo and Senior Bai Jing trust the Hidden Official for a reason.”

—

Within the Flower God Temple, there appeared a cold woman, with a young girl in tow. They had just received a “revelation” from Feng Yi, and they hastily started a meeting in the Ancestral Hall. The pressure to not keep Feng Yi waiting was very strong, and in their haste, they sent the two Flower Goddesses here to meet.

Except not only was Feng Yi here, but Wang Zhu was here as well. The pressure immediately increased.

They didn’t dare to be rude, and offered a blessing to Feng and Wang. Feng Yi did not respond, and Wang Zhu merely nodded.

The atmosphere was stifling. Feng Yi was the first to speak. “The Flower Lord has come in person. You are giving me a lot of face. Very good. It seems we can talk.”

Wang Zhu smirked.

The woman here was named Yu Xiao, an alias of Luo Fumeng. One of the four Flower Goddesses of the Hundred Blossoms Paradise, she was of high status, but not yet the Flower Lord.

The Plum Blossom Flower Goddess said, “No need to say that. You know that it is not that the Flower Lord does not want to come, but does not dare to.”

Feng Yi said, “Does not dare to? What is, is my reputation that bad?”

The Plum Blossom Flower Goddess said, “She is afraid that if she comes, and we can’t come to an agreement, there would be no room for negotiation.”

Feng Yi shook her head. “You are the same as always.”

Wang Zhu twitched her lips. The Hundred Blossom Paradise could not get out from under the Bamboo Sea Paradise. It was not just a street fight.

However, the Paradise knew its place. Feng Yi did not like the Paradise, save for Luo Fumeng. Was this what one called getting to know someone first?

Luo Fumeng did not know how to start. She was not good with words, and she would never have come had she not been ordered to by the Hall. Feng Yi did not want to compromise either.

Wang Zhu yawned, “Busy being a Imperial Advisor.”

Now that the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect was Fallen Mountain’s servant, Rouge Consort had become Fallen Mountain’s. Nianxin had been a second-in-command in Flying City, and was now a candidate for the Hall of Rules.

Feng grumbled. “So those who negotiate on their behalf have arrived so soon. I am starting to get confused, who runs Great Li?”

Wang Zhu smiled. “When has the Flower God Temple ever not been the Flower God’s turf?”

Feng seemed to understand.

Luo Fumeng was helpless.

The Foxglove Flower Goddess was the most innocent of the group. She could not tell what was going on here. She just wanted to thank the Chen Sword Immortal who lived in Boaping Continent. She was friends with Rouge, and she used Rouge as a middleman to get advice from Chen for a low price. She had no idea what was going on. She thought, “Rouge, I finally got to see Wang Zhu! Help me!”

Rouge knows that Wang is stubborn. Even the Water Lords did not want to deal with her. She could only remind the girl, “Wang can hear you.”

Foxglove was confused.

Wang Zhu said, “Who says not to?”

The girl immediately looked at Wang, and put her fingers to her lips. Wang mimicked the gesture, and Rouge could only think that Wang was telling the girl not to cause trouble… instead, the girl lit up, and Wang laughed.

The visitors here only thought that they were from noble families.

Wang was sentimental. Once a person gets strong, the world shrinks.

Looking at Foxglove, was she like a child? She wanted to be nice to a child.

The pain of the past were now so trivial. There was no sadness.

Wang sighed, and invited the girl. “Come to my Water House, and I will personally accompany you.”

Foxglove nodded with all her might.

Chen had a good heart, and Wang was amicable! Boaping Continent was full of good people!

Right, and they were neighbors! That makes sense.

Wang knew what the girl was thinking, and she was amused. Wang laughed.

Feng smiled. “Now that I have given the knot to Chen Pingan, will you two discuss with Nianxin?”

Nianxin nodded.

Luo Fumeng frowned and said, “Where is the Sword Immortal Chen?”

Wang Zhu yawned and said, “Busy being a Imperial Advisor.”