Chen Ping’an botched a talisman meant to sever fetters. If the moment the tiny snow-cone brush touched the paper had been like a bright moon rising from the sea, then after this talisman was completed, it resembled a crimson sun, roughly the size of a well’s mouth. Yet, instead of a scorching heat, it emitted a gentle warmth. After Chen Ping’an spoke those eight words, the talisman seemed to lose its true qi tether, swaying gently before falling onto the sea. It then slowly sank into the Dragon Trench, causing no further anomalies on the water’s surface.

However, the massive creatures that coiled and lurked within the Dragon Trench transformed into human forms – some elderly men, others elderly women. Leaving their respective lairs, they stood on the trench’s stone walls, bowing respectfully towards the talisman. As these old fellows, peers of the golden-robed old dragon, made such a grand display, many of the younger, more naive dragons, whose combat abilities were weak and who hadn’t had the opportunity to participate in the Osmanthus Island battle (either being forcefully restrained by their ancestors), followed suit. Even those small creatures who hadn’t yet fully taken on human form imitated the gestures, nodding vigorously towards the talisman.

Then, these ancient beings, who had lived for countless years, used secret arts and divine abilities to berate the dragon descendants who had attacked Osmanthus Island, their words extremely severe.

The “prime” water dragons and serpentine beasts looked at each other, confusion, shock, and resentment in their eyes. However, each clan’s ancestor threatened that anyone who didn’t return to the Dragon Trench within half an incense stick’s time would be expelled from the clan, subjected to the torment of being skinned alive, and then cast adrift on the sea, exposed to the sun for three years. Only those who survived would have a chance to be recognized back into the clan.

They had followed the golden-robed old dragon this time with the tacit permission of their ancestors. These younger descendants, who had mostly suffered on the lands of the Southern Sea and the Pulas Continent, hoped to follow the golden-robed old dragon and one day massacre the Pulas Continent, slaughtering the pure Confucian Chen Clan disciples and the Qi refiners stationed along the coast. But now, with the ancestors issuing orders and the golden-robed old dragon showing no dissent, they had no choice but to leap into the sea from above Osmanthus Island and head back home, seeking an explanation from their ancestors.

After that, before receiving his decree, the golden-robed old dragon slashed out with his sword at the young man who had ruined his century-long scheme.

A decree from Lu Chen?

Who was Lu Chen? The old dragon had certainly heard of him. His ancestors had told him that this Taoist leader, one of the most esteemed individuals, loved to travel the seas in a small boat before ascending, seemingly disliking being on land. Legend had it that there was a boatman who specifically steered the boat for Lu Chen. When they set sail, the boatman was in his prime, but when Lu Chen ascended in the Northern Sea, he returned to land alone. When he returned home, he found that the familiar mountains and rivers of his homeland were gone. His name was only left in the family tree from three hundred years ago. After that, the boatman, whose name was untraceable, set sail again to find Lu Chen, never to be heard from again.

Was the golden-robed old dragon afraid of the leader Lu Chen?

Of course, he was afraid, but certainly not to the point of trembling at the mere mention of his name.

Because he was in this Vast World, while Lu Chen was in that Azure Abyss World.

The more noble and revered the identity of someone like Lu Chen, the more difficult it was for them to visit another world. Moreover, the rules were complex, and every action would be watched by the Confucian sages.

Once Lu Chen personally intervened, he would break the rules. At that time, the Confucian sages whom he detested would become his and Dragon Trench’s protectors, and even the old ancestor of the pure Confucian Chen Clan, who carried the sun and moon on his shoulders, might lend a hand.

However, while not overly afraid, he couldn’t take it too lightly either. Provoking a sage, even across a world, was never a good thing.

The golden-robed old dragon sneered inwardly. This Taoist leader, who came from the Vast World but held power in another world, certainly had a fitting name. (陆沉, Lu Chen, literally means “land sinking”).

As for the troublesome young man who had offered a pair of Mountain and Water Seals to block his sword qi?

The golden-robed old dragon curled his lip. Such a thing couldn’t happen twice. Although he hated the young man before him, the old dragon was ready to stop. The real gains and losses weren’t to be measured in a day. Today’s events had exceeded expectations too much, and might have attracted the attention of the patrols on the Southern Sea coast of Pulas Continent. It was best to be careful, or it would ruin his grand plans.

The old dragon chuckled, “What a pity for these seals. To be able to block a full-powered sword strike from a Jade Purity Realm sword immortal, they’re not something a broken fish basket can compare to. Little one, does your heart ache?”

Chen Ping’an replied irrelevantly, “If my home has many superior serpent gallstones from the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, how many would it take to exchange for the safe passage of Osmanthus Island?”

The golden-robed old dragon was taken aback. “Are you talking about the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven above the back of the Treasure Bottle Continent? If they’re top-grade serpent gallstones filled with spiritual energy, they’re as important to us as a Dragon Slaying Platform is to a sword cultivator. For the dragons below the Nascent Soul realm, one is enough to steadily advance one realm. Let me calculate…Osmanthus Island, a Lady Gui, two thousand Qi refiner lives… Kid, you’d need a huge pile of serpent gallstones.”

The golden-robed old man stretched out his hands and flipped them over. “At least twenty. Do you have them?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “I gave some away over the years. I don’t have that many anymore.”

He struggled to stand up. The osmanthus tree grown from the osmanthus branch had been destroyed by the old dragon’s sword qi.

Chen Ping’an put away the writing brush, the tiny snow cone brush, and the solitary Mountain and Water Seal into his Spatial Item. Understanding without being told, the flying swords First and Fifteenth quickly emerged from the spiritually shaken Chen Ping’an and returned to the Sword Nurturing Gourd. This time, there was no need to hide anything, as the old dragon had already seen through it.

The golden-robed old dragon narrowed his eyes.

The sword in the wooden box behind the young man posed a significant threat.

A topsy-turvy decree from Lu Chen, a pile of serpent gallstones from Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, a pair of Mountain and Water Seals, a “divinely inspired” writing brush, a sword gourd with a good item, and also surnamed Chen.

The golden-robed old dragon was increasingly certain that his timely withdrawal was a wise move.

A pity, a pity. If he had killed this guy with a single sword strike just now, it would have been the safest thing to do. As for the subsequent repercussions, he wasn’t afraid at all.

In a contest of cultivation realms, even he, a quasi-sage, wouldn’t dare to be arrogant. But if it was a contest of backing, he didn’t think he’d lose to anyone.

The old dragon saw the boatman, who had injured his primordial spirit, standing behind the young man, looking vigilant. He smiled, “Don’t worry, that Talisman of Severing Fetters carries great weight. My courage can only support me to make one move.”
The old Flood Dragon retracted his gaze and looked at Chen Ping’an again, “Since you possess Serpent Gallstones, why didn’t you say so from the start? Why engage in this battle, souring our harmony?”

Chen Ping’an retorted, “Are you joking, or being serious?”

The Golden-Robed Old Flood Dragon’s face turned grim.

The Boatman Elder sneered, “In that situation, you held all the cards, eager to kill and seize treasures. Would you have sat down to negotiate a fair deal with a mere lad?”

The Golden-Robed Old Flood Dragon ignored the Golden Core elder’s taunts, fixing his gaze on the youth, “Too clever. You won’t live long.”

Chen Ping’an turned his head and said, “Senior, please return to Osmanthus Island first. I have some words to say alone with this beast… with this Old Flood Dragon senior.”

The Old Boatman shook his head, gravely saying, “While there’s life, there’s hope. Chen Ping’an, you are still young. Cultivation on the Great Path, these setbacks, their fortune or misfortune is yet to be seen. Don’t be consumed by them…”

Perhaps it was an illusion, but the old man felt the young man before him seemed continuously immersed in the divine intent of that talisman, unable to extract himself from it.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Senior, I know what I’m doing.”

Chen Ping’an wanted to clasp his fist in greeting to express his gratitude, but only managed to raise his right hand, his writing left arm unable to bend. Chen Ping’an then made a fist with his right hand and gently tapped his chest, “I will return to Osmanthus Island shortly, and invite Senior for a drink.”

The old man hesitated for a moment, then nodded, returning to the adjacent small boat, slowly sailing towards Osmanthus Island.

After the Old Boatman was far away, Chen Ping’an patted his Sword-Nurturing Gourd. First and Fifteenth each hovered on the youth’s shoulders, then he once again conjured that Watermark Talisman.

The Golden Old Flood Dragon laughed, “What, you want to fight me to the death?”

Chen Ping’an grinned, “When talking to certain types, if your fist isn’t hard enough, no matter how good the reasoning, they won’t listen. The earlier Seal-Breaking Talisman is a clear demonstration. Thus, it’s evident that the principle I’ve figured out myself is effective on you lot. I have a question. What rules did the Fan Family and Madam Gui set with you, allowing you to kill over two thousand people with such justification?”

The Old Flood Dragon grew impatient, his tone dark, “You think this rule is unreasonable?”

He seemingly unintentionally stomped his foot lightly, severing the connection between this place and the outside world.

Then he laughed, “Have you ever thought about how many lives of us Flood Dragons, of the Flood Dragon Trench lineage, were lost from the beginning of our exile to when we finally established ourselves here? Over so many years, how many lives were wrongly taken due to those damned rules established by the Confucian Saints?”

Chen Ping’an countered, “You think the Confucian’s rules are wrong, does that have anything to do with whether the rules you set are right? Even if the Saints were wrong, does that mean you can follow suit and make mistakes? Besides, if you have the ability, go argue with the Confucian Saints, or even fight them. Taking your anger out on Osmanthus Island’s ferry, what does that accomplish?”

The Old Flood Dragon laughed heartily, “What does it accomplish? It’s just venting some resentment, and it’s far from enough.”

Chen Ping’an said, “In that case, it was a mistake that the Confucian Saints didn’t slap you to death with a single palm.”

The Old Flood Dragon didn’t get angry, but smiled instead, “Boy, you’re just dancing around here with me, what exactly are you trying to do? Are you trying to flaunt your backing, threatening me that one day your ancestor, or your teaching master, will come and find trouble for me and the Flood Dragon Trench?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “I have no relatives, and no… a master.”

The Old Flood Dragon suddenly felt a bit confused, “Are you seeking death?”

The Old Flood Dragon nodded, “How strange, I actually believe what you said. Fine, since you have no elders or master to support you, then I have a little more courage, enough to kill you.”

The Old Flood Dragon acted swiftly. His golden robe billowed without wind, he reached out a hand, and a speck of golden light appeared in the sky, then slowly descended, pulling out a golden thread.

Chen Ping’an seemed completely unaware of this, took a step forward, walked to the front of the small boat, looked down into the depths of the sea, as if searching for that Seal-Breaking Talisman, and said softly, “Lu Chen, I know you are watching this place. I can guess some of your intentions, but I borrowed your name to repel the enemy, and you in turn plotted against me with it. On this matter, we’ll call it even. But please tell Ah Liang in the sky, the killer of Chen Ping’an is the South Sea Flood Dragon Trench.”

After saying these words.

Chen Ping’an heavily punched his chest with his right fist. The previous fist tapping his chest with the Boatman Elder was to stabilize his mind, so as to say those words to Lu Chen. Now, this punch caused waves to surge in his heart lake, stirring up storms, even completely scattering his own Talisman divine intent, transforming it back into Mountain-Shaking Fist intent. In the end, Chen Ping’an was completely not giving Lu Chen the chance to display supreme Daoist arts and converse with him.

Chen Ping’an’s left hand still couldn’t be raised. After loosening the five fingers of the clenched right hand, it reached around his shoulder, and grasped the sword that should have been gifted to a certain girl.

Chen Ping’an suddenly let go, took off the Jiang gourd from his waist. This time drinking was just drinking, no longer for the martial artist on the battlefield to replenish qi, no longer to conceal the traces of First and Fifteenth. After Chen Ping’an drank, he casually threw the Sword-Nurturing Gourd into the small boat at his feet, and silently recited in his heart, “Ah Liang, Mr. Qi, Miss Ning, I’m sorry.”

He initially thought of writing a Seal-Breaking Talisman, so that he would have the qualifications to talk about conditions with the Golden Old Flood Dragon, and exchange all the Serpent Gallstones for the safe passage of Osmanthus Island out of the Flood Dragon Trench.

He previously thought that when he arrived at Upside-Down Mountain, he must give the Golden Core Sword Cultivator Ma Zhi a few Rain Grain Coins.

He also thought that before disembarking, he must ask the Fan Family for a detailed map of Osmanthus Island, and then secretly take it to Mr. Qi’s gifted Mountain Watermark, and lightly stamp it on.

Many things flashed through Chen Ping’an’s mind like a revolving lantern.

At some point, that thin strand of golden sword qi in the sky had vanished completely.

The Golden Old Flood Dragon’s face turned slightly pale. Although he was suspicious and unwilling to believe the words the young man had said, what if?

What if?

He couldn’t help but turn his head and look in the direction of Upside-Down Mountain, wanting to say something but stopping.

But in the next moment, the Golden-Robed Old Flood Dragon’s face was filled with joy, after nodding slightly, he burst into laughter. The golden sword qi reappeared in the air, but this time it was no longer just a single strand, but many strands, like slender water lilies suspended in a sea of clouds, swaying gracefully.

An upside-down mountain.
A tall man clad in Daoist robes stood on the edge of a cliff, gazing into the distance. His eyes weren’t focused on the artificial river of Jiao dragons he had carelessly created, nor on the towering peaks where two deities faced off, nor even on the young woman in green robes drinking atop the Rain Master’s shoulder. Instead, he peered into the sea of clouds, where a refined man in azure robes, a long sword at his waist, was rapidly approaching Jiao Dragon Ravine from the sea near Old Dragon City.

This man had been absent from the mortal realm for far too long. The reason was quite amusing: his sword qi was too potent. No matter how he tried to suppress it, he couldn’t stop it from leaking in all directions, turning everything near him to dust.

Thus, he only traveled to the most remote and desolate places in the world: the heavens, the five lakes and four seas, deep mountains and treacherous peaks, and lands rife with miasma…

The tall Daoist’s eyes burned with excitement. This man was worthy of a battle!

But he soon frowned. Beneath the azure-robed swordsman, on the surface of the sea, a simple-looking man was propelling a small boat with a bamboo pole. With each thrust, the boat shot forward hundreds of feet, as swift as lightning. He was in no way inferior to the renowned swordsman above.

The simple man muttered, “My master said that scheming against Chen Ping’an is for his own good. If he takes Qi Jingchun’s Mountain Seal to Upside-Down Mountain, with the notorious temper of that second senior brother’s favorite disciple, Chen Ping’an will suffer greatly. Moreover, my master sincerely hopes that Chen Ping’an can forge his own path, to the Azure Abyss World. He’s willing to accept Chen Ping’an as a secluded disciple.”

The elegant and handsome swordsman didn’t even raise an eyebrow. He merely glanced down at Jiao Dragon Ravine in the distance and said, “You, a nominal disciple of Lu Shen, want to steal my little junior brother from Little Qi? Fine, why don’t you take a sword strike from me?”

The simple man wasn’t angered. His expression and tone remained as dull as ever. “I don’t fight. All I know is how to row a boat.”

Wherever the swordsman passed, the sea of clouds would be sliced apart. After a moment, he frowned in displeasure. “Then why are you following me?”

The boatman honestly replied, “To explain things to Chen Ping’an in person, to prevent him from misunderstanding my master.”

The swordsman suddenly said seriously, “But I find you very annoying. What should I do?”

The boatman considered this. “Then I won’t go.”

Sure enough, the small boat came to an abrupt halt.

The swordsman nodded. “You’re not stupid.”

He soared away, his face full of resentment, muttering to himself.

“Little Qi wants me to be your protector? I’d never agree to that! Little Qi has read himself silly, but I haven’t.”

“So I won’t agree.”

The swordsman seemed even more upset now, accelerating forward. The air behind him trembled and rumbled, like a string of thunder echoing through the sea of clouds.

As he was about to pass over the statues of the Rain Master and the Divine General, someone loudly reprimanded him, forbidding the swordsman from flying over the sect’s territory without permission, demanding he detour.

The swordsman casually glanced down, placed his thumb on the hilt of his sword, and lightly pushed. The longsword plunged towards the sea, stopping only a few feet above the surface. Then, in an instant, it shot skyward like a rainbow, cleaving the Divine General’s statue in two. Golden light exploded, like the rising sun.

The longsword flashed and then returned to its master, quietly sheathing itself.

The swordsman continued onward.

Reasoning?

He never liked it.

What was the point of practicing the sword if one had to reason with people?

The swordsman suddenly looked up sharply. “Daring to flaunt your sword qi in front of me? Do you think you’re Ah Liang?”

The swordsman, still hundreds of miles away from Jiao Dragon Ravine, flipped his wrist and then slapped out a palm.

An entire Osmanthus Island flipped over in the air and crashed heavily into the sea a dozen miles away, shaking violently. Then, as if blown by a strong wind, it sailed swiftly forward, quickly leaving Jiao Dragon Ravine behind.

Then, the swordsman lightly flicked his finger.

Above Jiao Dragon Ravine, gates to the heavens seemed to open one after another.

Streams of snow-white sword qi, as large as waterfalls, cascaded down.

At first, the Jiao dragons coiled in Jiao Dragon Ravine near the sea didn’t understand what the “snow-white flood” pouring into the ocean was.

By the time they realized, they were already skeletons, frozen in their original poses.

As for the golden sword qi summoned by the golden-robed old Jiao dragon, it was like a few withered branches facing a bursting dam. It was instantly washed away, leaving not a trace.

Streams of snow-white sword qi continued to flow into Jiao Dragon Ravine.

Yet, the golden-robed old Jiao dragon and Chen Ping’an on the solitary boat remained safe and sound.

Within Jiao Dragon Ravine, sword qi pressed down from above, and corpses littered the ground.

The golden-robed old Jiao dragon stood there in a daze, his face ashen.

This wasn’t a fluke?

Would this count as ten thousand?

The azure-robed swordsman arrived at the edge of Jiao Dragon Ravine, stepping onto the sea. As he slowly advanced, the seawater, assaulted by sword qi, instantly boiled and turned into mist. So the swordsman continued to soar through the air.

He glanced at Chen Ping’an, his expressionless face. “Little Qi wanted me to be your protector, but I didn’t agree. Just like when the master wanted me to protect Little Qi, I didn’t agree then either. You chose your own path, why need a protector?”

His expression turned somewhat helpless, yet a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes. “But you’re my half-junior brother. I can’t deny that. And you dared to take responsibility for your own life and death, willing to die if necessary. I think that’s good, it suits my taste. So I came to see you. The master and Little Qi, one is so old, the other isn’t young either. If they’re bullied, they can only blame their own stubbornness. But you, you’re still young. It’s not right for you to be bullied like this.”

With the swordsman’s calm words, snow-white light began to seep out from the golden-robed old Jiao dragon’s three hundred and more qi nodes. His face was twisted with pain, but the old Jiao dragon, whose strength was comparable to a Jade Purity realm cultivator, couldn’t utter a single sound from beginning to end.

“My sword intent isn’t as good as Ah Liang’s, but my swordsmanship is a little better.”

The swordsman looked at the boy named Chen Ping’an, raised his thumb, first pointed to the heavens, and then to himself, and smiled. “Oh, right, my name is Zuo You. I’m your and Little Qi’s eldest senior brother.”