From the Middle Earth Divine Continent, Qi Tingji led a company of swordsmen. Among the martial men, Chen Ping’an brought only Zheng Dafeng, the first gatekeeper of the Fallen Mountain.

They would traverse continents using the Three Mountains Talisman, with three destinations in mind: the Dragon Rest Stone in the Southern Sea, the Mountain and Sea Sect nestled along the Central Earth coast, and the Northern Peak of the Great Shu Dynasty, its capital city built at the foot of the mountain.

Because Zhu Su needed to immediately retreat to the thatched hut by the Sword-Returning Lake, Ning Yao took on the mantle of guardian.

As they sailed upon the wind, mountains passed beneath their feet. Like goddesses from a fresco, Zhu Su and Ning Yao tread the void together. Zhu Su offered her thanks, to which Ning Yao replied with customary politeness. Yet, both maintained a reserved courtesy.

Perhaps it was as the young maiden Sun Chunwang said: even those who shared a birthplace might not find kinship in foreign lands.

Delay was not an option. Should Zhu Su’s Dao heart falter, her spiritual connection be lost, her path would be irrevocably altered. Twice before she had been forced from seclusion, jeopardizing her ascension to immortality. She had to seize the moment, striking while the iron was hot.

Little Rice Grain and his companions were to depart on their own journeys the next day. The day after marked the wedding of Liu Xianyang and She Yue. Zhu Lian remained behind at the Fallen Mountain, preparing an early meal before journeying to the Dragon Spring Sword Sect to meet with Taoist Jia.

Xiao Mo, in the Gray Mist Mountains, had already found a place to his liking: the Golden Lotus Pond. It was there he intended to build his future Daoist temple.

He yearned to accompany Chen Ping’an to the Great Shu Dynasty, but Chen Ping’an, deeming him too weak, dismissed the notion. He was unsure who was the guard. And so Xiao Mo was dispatched to the Gray Mist Mountains.

Xie Gou inquired if the Mountain Master intended to wreak havoc in the imperial palace of the Great Shu Dynasty. The answer was a conditional one: that remained to be seen. Since a Deputy Master of the Literary Temple had already arrived there, the situation was not expected to escalate.

Upon hearing of the Literary Temple’s presence, Xie Gou changed his mind and accompanied Xiao Mo to the Golden Lotus Pond. He requested Lao Long Er, recently promoted to Second Seat Offering, to replace him as the Mountain Master’s muscle. Lao Long Er, knowing the gravity of the matter, agreed. He merely lamented the loss of his nightly lesson, a deprivation that felt like a piece of flesh torn from his body. He would think of a way to redeem himself for the missed lesson.

The Gray Mist Mountains, just a short distance north of the Fallen Mountain, cradled a small pond in its embrace. Xiao Mo alighted gracefully, withdrawing a translucent “snail shell” from his sleeve. Xie Gou, recognizing its worth, exclaimed in awe. Xiao Mo smiled, explaining it was a parting gift from Taoist Bixiao from the Guan Dao Temple after their last drinking session.

Xiao Mo tossed the snail shell onto the muddy bank of the Golden Lotus Pond and chanted a secret incantation. In the blink of an eye, a snail shell Daoist temple rose from the thick mists. As they stepped inside and traversed its halls, Xie Gou erupted in fury. Within, countless jade figurines, carved from the purest water essence, lined the corridors. Fair faces, bright eyes, and intricate hair ornaments, they exuded a heady aroma of perfumes and powders. Xiao Mo, oblivious to their presence, strode directly to a high tower adorned with a dozen or more plaques, where he would mend his wounds.

Thankfully, he had once possessed four natal flying swords. One was gifted away, one was destroyed, but he still had two.

One, the “True Imitation,” could replicate the divine abilities of others. The other, the “Drunken Village,” could confine souls. Both names were bestowed by the young master.

Whether he could return to the Fourteenth Realm remained to be seen. He would do what he could and leave the rest to fate.

The jade figures flitted about, their movements graceful and synchronized. Xie Gou, her anger dissipated, considered the Daoist temple as a suitable place for a bridal chamber.

What was wrong with having more maids in a big family? Besides, it was a celestial palace and the love nest of her and Xiao Mo. It needed some embroidery and flowery touches.

Xiao Mo raised his palm. A delicate wisp of sword intent, like a lotus silk thread, twisted across his palm lines, winding around his fingers. A mud-like sphere of earth spun in his palm. Xiao Mo explained, “Zhao Tianlai of Dragon Tiger Mountain rescued me from certain death. The power of the Celestial Master Dao cannot be understated. He even managed to gather some fragments of my flying sword, ‘Lotus Silk,’ and the remnants of that celestial star. It’s too ambitious to restore my sword, but it’s not too difficult to create a copy of my sword using ‘True Imitation’. The young master said that when we both attain ascension, we can journey to the outer heavens. And if we are lucky, we can find another celestial star that resonates with my soul to do it all over again.”

Xie Gou nodded. “This is an arduous task, but it keeps hope alive. Celestial Master Zhao is honorable. We must pay him a visit at Dragon Tiger Mountain.”

Xiao Mo nodded, concurring.

Now that heaven and earth were clear, and the mortal world was full of beauty, it was time to sort out the entanglements of the Dao.

They arrived at the Dragon Rest Terrace, once part of the Green Water Pit, now under the jurisdiction of the Southern Sea Water Mansion. According to custom, they each offered incense and paid their respects to the Three Mountains and Nine Lords.

Upon hearing that the Northern Peak Mountain Lord of the Great Shu Dynasty was a female ancestor of the Yin clan, another mountain beauty, Zheng Dafeng immediately dragged Cui Dongshan and Deputy Mountain Lord Jiang to the Mountain and Sea Sect after offering incense at the Dragon Rest Terrace. It appeared beauty trumped all else.

Qi Tingji, Lu Zhi, and the other swordsmen remained at the Mountain and Sea Sect for nearly an incense stick’s time. They met the sect’s founder, Nalan Xianxiu.

Nalan Xianxiu was a master of fire magic. She had once ventured out to sea to battle Yang Zhi from the Barbarian World, suffering grievous injuries. She had been in seclusion for many years. Her emergence now was purely a matter of courtesy.

If she had not intercepted Yang Zhi, preventing the great demon from fleeing into the Void, Liu Qi would not have been able to arrive in time and defeat Yang Zhi’s water magic with 360 different techniques.

Hearing that they intended to cause trouble in the Great Shu Dynasty, Nalan Xianxiu smiled, twisting a jade-tipped purple bamboo pipe, filling it with tobacco, and exhaling a cloud of smoke.

Zheng Dafeng and the others arrived at the highest peak of the Central Peak of the Great Shu Dynasty. The vast outline of the capital lay below. Their sudden appearance drew the attention of the patrolling goddesses of the mountain. They suspected that these strangers, despite their presentable appearance, were up to no good.

Had these uninvited guests not bypassed the heavily guarded mountain array with some secret technique, they would have been apprehended for questioning.

Cui Dongshan stepped forward. With a flourish, he recited a theatrical monologue, striking a pose… The goddesses, clutching their magical weapons, exchanged confused glances, unsure whether to arrest them or not.

By the cliff of the Mountain and Sea Sect, the sea breeze howled, and the sound of the tide was deafening. The Mountain Lord’s blue-robed figure was nowhere to be seen.

Nalan Xianxiu paused, saying, “Tell your Mountain Lord to be careful in the near future. It is best he does not wander carelessly.”

Qi Tingji asked in puzzlement, “Why?”

The Mountain and Sea Sect was built on the site of an ancient battlefield between water and fire. Nalan Xianxiu, having established her sect there, must have known some hidden “secrets.”

Nalan Xianxiu frowned. “Did Chen Ping’an not reveal the truth to you?”

Lu Zhi frowned. “Please enlighten us, Senior Nalan.”

Nalan Xianxiu said, “Zhou Mi is attempting to encompass all things under the divine order, to act as heaven’s hand. Or rather, Zhou Mi himself will be the ‘Dao’.”

“Chen Ping’an is defying this order, undermining Zhou Mi’s plan.”

“So, I ask you, if you were the ‘divine order’, how would you view Chen Ping’an?”

Qi Tingji’s heart quaked at the revelation. But he could not return to Dragon Rest Terrace during the Three Mountains Talisman’s usage, especially as there weren’t other islands there for scrying. He suddenly felt anxious.

Lu Zhi tentatively offered, “As an ungrateful dog?”

Nalan Xianxiu suppressed a smile, releasing a puff of smoke. “I was going to say ‘a traitor from within.’ But you are more accurate.”

Mi Yu pressed, “If that is the case, what are the consequences?”

Nalan Xianxiu spoke with shocking candor. “The consequences? Either enduring a prolonged curse, or facing a swift strike from the heavens.”

Qi Tingji understood. Chen Ping’an’s fall from grace, his diminished cultivation, was both unavoidable and a strategic…escape?

At Dragon Rest Terrace, Chen Ping’an stood by the shore, cupping water to wash his face.

Beside him was Liu Xiang, the manifestation of the Great Dao of the world.

Liu Xiang said, “The best course of action is to seek refuge in the Literary Temple, awaiting the celestial strike, allowing the entire world to share in its burden. A medium course would be to construct two intercontinental bridges, situating yourself in the Fallen Mountain, allowing the three eastern continents, including Great Li, to share in the calamity. The worst option would be to embrace your affinity with water. Chen Ping’an, have you truly made up your mind?”

Chen Ping’an looked up, shook his head, and smiled. “No need to consider it.”

————

A party rode through the night away from the capital, headed for the nearest immortal ferry, a boat that routinely traveled between the Eternal Spring Palace and the Old Dragon City.

Leading the charge was Liu 48, the chief of the Fish-Dragon Gang, a man with a reputation as a skillful leader. He had with him seven or eight elite gang members. They were headed south to establish two branches in the territories adjoining the Great Shu Dynasty. If they depended on horses to reach such a faraway place, a man as skillful as Liu 48 could even write a travelogue.

Before leaving the capital, Liu 48 paid a visit to the gang’s headquarters, located outside the city walls, and personally executed several gang elders who had been embezzling “tea money.” The deed was done in less than a quarter of an hour. First, Liu 48 was a Golden Body Realm martial artist, a veritable grandmaster. Second, no one could imagine that Liu 48, a leader known for his benevolence, would suddenly turn violent and murderous.

Besides the Fish-Dragon Gang followers, there were two “attendants” whom Liu 48 believed he could never repay even with ten lives: the young noble Cao Lue, and the beautiful youth Lu Jun.

Liu 48 was still unsure of their true identities, but he knew they were far more than simple travelers when he saw them chatting with State Preceptor Chen outside their courtyard.

Frankly, given a choice, Liu 48 would have vehemently refused to accompany these two incredibly high-ranking “young adventurers” on some kind of grand tour.

The martial world these days was far from what it seemed. The world was full of interpersonal relationships, power struggles, and social connections. It wasn’t about virtue and martial skill; it was about influential backers and government support.

Liu 48 himself was reliant on Sixth Master.

The riding party took a detour onto a side path leading to the ferry, a longer route, but quieter. The main road was filled with carriages and people and would slow them down.

The young noble, Cao Lue, rode alongside Liu 48, a confident and skilled equestrian. His robes fluttered in the wind.

Cao Lue, his face full of excitement, asked with a smile, “Chieftain, I’ve heard that you once teamed up with Helian Baozhu, the invincible heroine of the Divine Fist Gang, in Luo City, without any assistance. You solved cases, vanquished demons, broke into a devil’s lair, and lived a life like a heavenly pair!”

Liu 48 was stunned. “Those were exaggerated stories. The so-called demons were nothing more than a flower thief, a mere Sea Gazing Realm cultivator. And the evil spirit dwelling in the wilderness, secretly building a shrine, and feeding on young boys and girls, was just a Dragon Gate Realm being.”

Lu Jun gasped, full of admiration. “Sea Gazing and Dragon Gate Realms are nothing to you? Chieftain, you and Heroine Helian vanquished the villains in one strike. I admire you so much.”

Gao Shi, tailing the party, wore a blade called “Green Waist.” A martial artist stuck in the Peak Mountain Realm, he was half-asleep.

Liu 48 was traveling south for trivial matters, Cao Zhao and Lu Jun were just bored, and Gao Shi was there because his superior gave him secret orders to “keep the princes company.”

He had originally planned to join the army, but the young Hidden Official had reasoned with him and convinced him to join the patrol force instead. He ended up under Hong Ji’s command. His first assignment was to “secretly” protect those two members of the royal family. His superior, Hong, did not know how to express things. What kind of “secret” was this?

Ahead, a few riders blocked the path. Liu 48 raised his arm, halting the party. Liu 48 cautiously rode forward.

As he got closer, Liu 48 breathed a sigh of relief. There were two men and two women. Liu 48 was confused. Why was Sixth Master here? He was supposed to be confined to his home. Was he there to send them off? Liu 48 did not think he was worthy of that respect. Perhaps Sixth Master’s family was connected to Cao Lue and Lu Jun?

Liu 48 recognized the two women beside Sixth Master: Rong Yu of the State Preceptor’s Manor! She was someone who could not be offended. She could speak freely in the official hall.

There was also the young female cultivator who had appeared on the walls of the Old Oriole Lake. She was one of the “Earthly Branches.” As for her name and Dao sect, Liu 48 was just a martial artist. He did not have such knowledge. To put it bluntly, Liu 48 felt that he was nothing more than a thug. He realized that the true world of martial arts was nothing more than the imperial court.

Rong Yu wore fancy clothes and exuded nobility. She said, “Liu 48, Sixth Master wants to go south with you. Minister Yan was worried, so he sent me to take a look.”

Liu 48 nodded, unwilling to object.

The one nicknamed Sixth Master, “Bitters,” had a strange expression on his face.

Rong Yu said, “Young Master Cao, Young Master Lu, Minister Yan has something to discuss with you. Let’s move aside.”

Cao Zhao and Lu Jun rode closer. The one called “Minister Yan” turned his horse and left, and the others followed. He said telepathically, “My name is Yan Jiaoran. I am from the Zizhao Yan Clan. Besides escorting Lady Rong Yu, I am also here because…”

Liu 48 and the others remained where they were.

When it came to one of Great Li’s pillars, the Zizhao Yan Clan, the court officials knew of Yan Yongfeng, the Minister of Ceremonies. They did not know who Yan Jiaoran was.

But Yan Jiaoran was one of the Embroidered Tiger’s confidants. All of Great Li’s military cultivators were selected and deployed by Yan Jiaoran. He could decide their promotion and demotion, even their life and death, without consulting with the State Preceptor.

The truly powerful families were those that could master one thing, like the Guan family’s control over the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the Cao clan’s influence over the border army. Or it was like the Yan family, with those that the emperor favored and that helped the State Preceptor.

Rong Yu nodded, smiling. “Young Master Cao, are you certain that there are no attendants from Great Duan accompanying you in secret?”

Cao Zhao nodded. “No.”

Rong Yu asked with a smile, “Really?”

Cao Zhao nodded enthusiastically. “Really! It’s true!”

Rong Yu did not ask any more questions. Instead, she turned to Lu Jun. “Lu Jun, the Yang True Person is willing to let you travel alone?”

Lu Jun laughed. “Why wouldn’t he? We are safe within the borders of Great Li. Regular bandits can’t stop us, and the mountain bandits don’t dare to cause trouble.”

Rong Yu nodded. “A stitch in time saves nine. Minister Yan has arranged for Han Zhoujin, a cultivator from the Earthly Branches, to travel with you. I hope you two will not find us meddlesome.”

Cao Zhao said quickly, “Of course not! It is not meddlesome at all.”

Rong Yu smiled. “Han Zhoujin already has a man she admires.”

Cao Zhao and Lu Jun looked at each other and sighed deeply.

Rong Yu looked at Sixth Master and said, “Sixth Master, be careful with your words and actions when you are outside.”

Song Lian smiled. “Sister Rong Yu, I know, I know. Sister Rong Yu’s words are like the emperor’s edict!”

Rong Yu frowned. “Don’t disregard what I say!”

Song Lian smiled. “Definitely, definitely.”

Song Lian knew Rong Yu well. In the past, when she went to the State Preceptor’s Manor, there was nothing to talk about with Fu Qing. She got along well with Sister Rong Yu.

This was why Yan Jiaoran had arranged for Han Zhoujin to follow them. Song Lian was, after all, Great Li’s Princess, a girl.

Song Lian carefully asked telepathically, “Why did my father let me leave the capital?”

Rong Yu replied calmly, “Since Sixth Master doesn’t dare ask His Majesty, of course I don’t dare ask the State Preceptor.”

Song Lian had no choice but to guess.

Regardless, it was her first time in the world. Haha! She would make a name for herself: unrivaled from north to south. Just like… someone.

Liu 48 slowed down. He clasped his fist in front of Rong Yu. His followers did the same. Rong Yu returned the gesture.

After the riding party hastened toward the ferry, Rong Yu said softly, “Gong Yan, I will trouble you to protect them in secret.”

A beautiful woman in palace attire appeared on the road and smiled. “His Majesty, the Prince of Luo, gave the order. How could I not obey?”

The Second Prince, Song Xu, stood by the road, watching his sister ride away.

When he was young, he had high aspirations. After reading ten thousand books, he would venture out to study, travel the country, walk through the mountains, and visit hundreds of states. And after returning home, he would sigh like the ancient sages.

In the waters of the Southern Sea, a blue figure leaped from the Dragon Rest Terrace and dove into the sea.

Earlier, Liu Xiang had issued a decree, dispersing all the water spirits within ten thousand miles.

In the depths of the Barbarian World, Chen Qingliu, facing Bai Ze, finally sheathed his natal sword. The mountains and rivers within ten thousand miles seemed still, but when he sheathed his sword, they all shattered, as if the river of time had frozen.

Bai Ze remained calm, dispersing the remnants of sword intent with a wave of his sleeve. Fei Ran was shocked. He could not have been as relaxed as Bai Ze.

Zheng Juzhong’s Yin and Yang Gods, both Fourteenth Realm cultivators, went their separate ways. Xiao Xun went south to gather troops and establish a religion in the Barbarian World.

In the southeast of the Barbarian World, the real Zheng Juzhong continued to travel through the mountains and rivers with Zhou Mi’s disciples, not rushing to meet up with Xiao Xun.

In the Green Clarity World, in Qi Prefecture’s Xuandu Temple, Bai Ye, wearing a tiger head hat, resumed his cultivation. The new temple master, Wang Sun, quietly left and found Wu Zhou.

In Ruzhou’s Spirit Realm Temple, Chang Bo and the boy Chen Cong had disappeared, leaving behind a letter that said they had gone to visit relatives. At the end of the letter, they said they would bring back money for the temple if they were lucky.

For the Great Dao, for the people, for wealth, for livelihood, for today, for tomorrow, the world was always busy.