The fate of realms often rested upon the peaks of mountains, so it was here, far from the ethereal spires of Aerie Keep, that the two forces met. Their clash would decide the very survival of the fortress. Three ancestral spirit-swords, wielded alongside youthful vigor, met mystical fetters woven from monster sinew and vibrant silk.

Old Man Gao Guan found himself ensnared, not by overwhelming numbers, but by a relentless barrage of arcane trinkets. Facing the uncanny duo, resignation painted his aged face. “Had circumstances differed,” he rasped, “when that golden-robed whelp plunged his blade into me, I would have shattered my golden core, unleashed my remnant Yin Spirit, and dragged you both to oblivion. In my prime, I stood at the precipice of the Nascent Soul realm! Even if you could evade the blast, your fair forms would be forfeit.”

Lu Tai, a youthful mage, merely nodded, his gaze fixed on the mystical arm-bands, Gao Guan’s true prison.

The old man sighed, following his captor’s gaze. “Fine craftsmanship,” he muttered. A wistful melancholy settled over him. “Were it not for a treacherous disciple of Taiping Mountain, coveting my Five Mountains Crown, I would not be in this mire. He schemed and pleaded, and when I refused, he unleashed a torrent of bloodshed upon my kin and companions…”

Gao Guan’s voice hardened. “I am no lamb, however! I seized the opportunity and felled two monks of the Dragon Gate. Prodigies they were, like yourselves, destined for the Nascent Soul realm. Taiping Mountain roared for vengeance. They feigned a duel between a budding Golden Core cultivator and myself, but behind the veil lurked a Nascent Soul Earth Immortal! They sought to fatten their disciple with my life force, gaining him the renown of slaying a Golden Core elder. Such is the power of these so-called righteous sects!”

Lu Tai’s eyes darted from the captive to the silent youth, Chen Ping’an, standing afar. He could speak to Chen Ping’an within the heart-sea, shielded from all but the most potent sorcery, but the warrior could not reply in kind. So, they exchanged a silent question, unspoken yet clear in their gaze.

Gao Guan, aware of their unspoken discourse, seemed unconcerned. He raised a trembling hand, plucked the impaling sword, and the effort sent crimson gouts spilling down his chest. Yet, he remained serene. “He who drew this blade once dreamt of being the finest swordsman of Agarwood Country. He purchased it at exorbitant cost from the Spiritual Sect. My blood has now baptized it into a true mountain treasure.”

He turned to Chen Ping’an, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “Young master of fortune! That blade you bear, though sheathed never, must be of similar ilk.”

Chen Ping’an remained impassive.

Gao Guan sighed, looking to the swirling heavens. “These baubles you shall not claim!”

A manic cackle erupted from his throat. “My death is not in vain! A heart-piercing blade, enchanted ribbons, a demon-binding rope, the Five Mountains Crown atop my head, the very futon beneath me… five treasures buried with you! Even the peak of the Fifth Realm would envy such a fate! Add to that three ancestral spirit-swords, and you equal the riches of immortals!”

His body began to crumble, dust cascading from his flesh, but from his core, a blinding light erupted. Sensing the imminent destruction, Lu Tai and his companions retreated swiftly.

Yet, even in the face of annihilation, Chen Ping’an did not waver. With a technique of unparalleled swordsmanship, he pulled the bloodied blade from Gao Guan’s heart, ensuring the old man’s death.

With his last strength, Gao Guan severed the mystical ribbons binding his limbs, granting him a fleeting moment of lightness. But as the golden youth seized the demon-binding rope from his other arm, a chilling realization dawned upon him.

The rope, far from being discarded, tightened, binding him further. Fury and terror seized him, eclipsing even the dread he felt fleeing Taiping Mountain. This was no mere demise; it was utter and irrevocable capture.

What he spun about the Nascent Soul Earth Immortal, the secret feeding and the grand theft of soul was naught but lies.

The old man had hoped that after releasing ribbon and rope he could release a strand of essence from his Yin spirit, and abandon the body and cultivation base, leaving with but a sliver. He would find a good Taoist seedling, mislead them, weave a tragic and heroic story, and then work diligently to help him practice, and then wait for an opportunity to seize the body.
Even if there is a demon-binding rope wrapped around your arms, you will be able to wait for death if you don’t escape the shell.

With a final surge, Gao Guan shattered his core. The futon dissolved, and the Five Mountains Crown was thrown towards the golden-clad youth.

A tempest of spiritual energy exploded outward, sending Lu Tai stumbling backward. Yet, amidst the chaos, he sought to guide Chen Ping’an, directing him to a haven where he could hone his martial spirit.

Through the swirling haze, Lu Tai could not see Chen Ping’an’s movements, but he trusted the young warrior’s cautious nature. He had come to regard Chen Ping’an as a fellow seeker, a worthy partner.

Sensing his desperate plight, the fleeing wisp of Gao Guan’s soul sought to escape. As he fled, the young man did not reach out to catch the Five Mountains Crown, but fell to the earth without delaying any time. He knew that the demon-binding rope would soon be broken free by the ghost. Previously, the Dan Room and Qi Hai exploded together, and there was not much spiritual energy left on the demon-binding rope, and it was difficult to firmly restrain the ghost.

Then, the impossible happened! A flash of movement, and Chen Ping’an appeared before the escaping spirit, drawing an ancient sword. A single, decisive stroke severed the tether to the world, banishing the spirit to oblivion.

The effort left Chen Ping’an broken and depleted. Lu Tai, rushing forward, caught him as he fell. Steadying them both upon the flying sword, Lu Tai stared at Chen Ping’an’s ashen face, aghast. “Chen Ping’an, you are too reckless! Why risk your life? A mere wisp of a ghost is not worth such a sacrifice!”

Chen Ping’an spat blood, then, with a look of consternation, he looked to find the old monk’s sword, which made Lu Tai shake his head.

Chen Ping’an, heedless of the pain, turned to the battlefield where Gao Guan had breathed his last. “I’m killing,” he simply stated.

Lu Tai hastily applied a medicinal paste to Chen Ping’an’s ravaged arm. “Hold fast, friend. It will mend bone and flesh.” He noticed Chen Ping’an searching about. “I secured the sword and rope. The rope is badly frayed and needs repair, a cost I shall bear. Be at ease!”

Chen Ping’an sighed relief, “The crown?”

Lu Tai, rolling his eyes, said: “We are all wilderness under our feet, so we are not afraid of picking up bargains for others. It’s easy to find.”

The two slowly descended to the earth, the floating futon gone. This time, there was only one high crown that could be moved out of the mountain.

In slaying Gao Guan so decisively, Chen Ping’an had gained a victory, a “sinking” in the fourth realm of martial arts. He was no longer the illusory and confusing.

Even if this fight was not the Five Mountains Crown, even if the Demon-Binding Cable was completely destroyed, it would not be a loss.

Lu Tai broke the silence. “The Five Mountains Crown… the old fool did not grasp its true power. I shall scour the ancient tomes and geographical records. Perhaps, I shall find its secret.”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Good. If you discover anything, tell me. You’ll know how to part the information.”

Lu Tai retorted, “Chen Ping’an, have a bit of courtesy!”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “We’re men! Why the formality?”

The endless leagues to Tongyezhou seemed to weigh heavily on Chen Ping’an, the two descended near Flying Eagle Fort. Lu Tai, his flying sword darted away.

Lutai actively leaked the background, “Miman is relatively lethal than needle tips, but when Maiman was born, he had a rare magical power, “Find Treasures.”

“”Listen, it’s the same flying sword, but other people’s ones are different.” Chen Ping’an smiled and patted the sword-raising gourd, both the first and fifteenth days of the lunar calendar were already hidden in it.

However, this time, even in Chuyi, he was not angry with Chen Ping’an. It should be this life-and-death battle, unlike the two times in the City God Temple and thousands of troops before, he did not make many contributions.

But the real reason is that Chen Ping’an said envious words, and deep down, he was still full of gratitude for the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month.

Chen Ping’an sat beneath a gnarled tree, eyeing his ruined arm.

Lu Tai, his expression clouded, was silent.

Chen Ping’an glanced at him, “Cry, like a sissy!”

Lu Tai was stunned.

Chen Ping’an laughed.

When Chen Ping’an was in the bamboo house in Luopo Mountain, he was scolded by the barefoot old man like this, which was very sad.

Now I find that scolding others like this is indeed quite exciting.

Seeing Chen Ping’an’s mirth, Lu Tai’s spirits lifted. He sat and asked, “Why did you fight so fiercely?”

Chen Ping’an shrugged. “We agreed: you take the Keep, I take the cloud-sea. We must honor our vows. The old man sought my death. I could not survive without a fight. Besides, I’ve been beaten to death with people. It’s always right to think about the worst. If the demon-binding rope is really destroyed, I won’t be able to do this at this time. It’s my own decision to blame you. Just like when we dealt with the guys who killed and robbed people before, I think we can stop. You still have to chase the mastermind behind the scenes. It’s the same thing.”

Lu Tai spoke, “That ribbon is my life object and cannot be damaged, I’m sorry.”

Chen Ping’an waved his hand and signaled Lu Tai not to explain anything. He looked at Lu Tai’s gloomy expression and comforted with a smile: “This is not because I don’t care, but because I am willing to believe you, I feel that there are some things. , if you do it, you will have your own trade-offs and considerations, and there is no need to say too much between friends.”

Lu Tai’s eyes were moist again, and Chen Ping’an said earnestly: “You are not a daughter, it’s a pity. I used to have two friends in the world, the young Taoist priests and the big bearded ranger who I told you about. In this kind of thing , it’s not as squeamish as you, you’re so unhappy.”

A person who treats others as friends often has no real friends.

A person who likes to call brothers and brothers has no real brothers in his heart.

So Lu Tai knew how heavy the word “friend” came out of Chen Ping’an’s mouth.

You can entrust life and death for it!

In fact, Chen Ping’an did this. Old Man Gao Guan suppressed the Five Mountains. As long as Lu Tai takes action slower, even if Chen Ping’an hides in the big pit under the “bottom of the mountain”, he will still be suppressed by the formation spiritual energy. Suffocate it to death.

When Lu Tai thought of this, he felt a little worried and became more and more like a woman.

Because he was the only listener in that small courtyard at that time, listening to the things Chen Ping’an said in his own hands, those things about dreams and wishes.

So Lutai decided to stop the railway: “Chen Ping’an, I will let you make a fortune by dividing the spoils this time.”

Chen Ping’an rolled his eyes and was too lazy to speak.

Long-term silence.

Only the autumn sunshine scatters into the forest through the sparse and dense branches and leaves.

Lu Tai finally said quietly, “Chen Ping’an, you are afraid of death, I am afraid of life. Do you think we are both sick and sympathetic?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and said, “Of course not, I am much more than you guys.”

Lu Tai finally revealed his heart like this, but he poured cold water on people and was furious, “Chen Ping’an! Why are you so boring?”

Chen Ping’an blinked, “I am a big man, what do you want another man to do if I think I am interested? Am I sick?”

Lu Tai said dejectedly: “Okay, I’m sick.”

Then he said as thin as a mosquito and flies, “I don’t even know if it’s a man or a woman.”

Chen Ping’an’s ears were stunned, “What does it mean?!”

Lu Tai leaned back and lay on the ground, “It means literally, I am a monster. Since I was a child, I have known this secret. My parents have two masters and one family ancestor. You are the first one. Six. Only after I get to the balcony can I really…”

In the end, Chen Ping’an was completely unreal.

Chen Ping’an held it in for a long time.

Lu Tai looked at the sky in a daze, “Say whatever you want. Since I said it, I can bear any opinion of you.”

Chen Ping’an moved his position and approached some land platforms. He was full of curiosity and embarrassment. He asked in a low voice: “When a woman comes that, does it hurt very much?”

Lu Tai was struck by lightning, turned his head with a dark face and gritted his teeth and said, “Why don’t you ask the girl you like?!”

Chen Ping’an subconsciously scratched his head, “How dare I do this?”

Lu Tai suddenly laughed and pointed at Chen Ping’an’s arm.

Chen Ping’an cursed and quickly put down the arm that was growing slowly with flesh and blood. It hurts so much.

The two were speechless again.

When Lu Tai sat up, he suddenly found that the guy was sad, and very sad.

Lu Tai just felt it was unreasonable.

I don’t know what else is going on in the world that can make Chen Ping’an so uneasy.

I saw Chen Ping’an put a seal on his knee that he had never seen before, a small one.

Today’s Flying Eagle Castle is in danger and is safe and sound in the end.

And he, Chen Ping’an, is still alive.

Lizhu Cave Heaven.

Everyone was safe and sound, and even mud legs like him, Chen Ping’an, had gone so far.

Because we have Mr. Qi.

So.

Where is Mr. Qi?