Pei Qian gazed at the golden, long bridge, reciting the teachings of the sages. Zhu Lian was lost in thought.

The long bridge spanning the Buried River gradually faded away. Pei Qian felt a little thirsty and lost her desire to read. She did want to learn fist techniques and swordsmanship, but unfortunately, Chen Ping’an was unwilling to teach her. As for Zhu Lian and the others, even if they were willing to teach, Pei Qian wouldn’t want to learn from them.

Chen Ping’an remained in a state of profound meditation. Even stranger, he found himself drifting out, his spirit leaving his body, suspended in the air, watching his own body sitting cross-legged. The feeling in his heart was quite bizarre. Unlike the previous spirit separation, splitting into three when facing Ding Ying and the eunuch in python robes, this time’s out-of-body experience was somewhat like the legendary Yin spirit, like the kind of Gentleman Zhong Kui from that night at the inn. However, Zhong Kui had cultivated both Yang and Yin spirits simultaneously. This “Chen Ping’an” was unstable, swaying with the spiritual energy and fierce winds contained in the Buried River’s breeze, far from the condensed and steady state of Zhong Kui’s two Yin and Yang spirits.

If this “Chen Ping’an” was just a toddler learning to walk, then Zhong Kui was a strong and able-bodied man who could climb mountains and wade through rivers with ease.

Pei Qian and Zhu Lian were completely unaware of this strange phenomenon.

The two Chen Ping’ans moved their minds almost simultaneously, a thought arising in their hearts that lingered and wouldn’t dissipate. The drifting Chen Ping’an glanced at the lower reaches of the Buried River. Then, the Chen Ping’an sitting cross-legged opened his eyes and said softly, “I need to practice Sword Forge Stance here. The situation is different tonight, and I can’t explain it in detail. Pei Qian, Zhu Lian, you might need to keep watch for me for a few hours tonight.”

Zhu Lian nodded and smiled, “It’s my duty, old servant.”

Pei Qian stamped her foot and lamented, “You should have said so earlier! I should have brought some snacks for a midnight treat.”

The Chen Ping’an who had separated his spirit took a step towards the Buried River, instantly traversing dozens of feet, arriving directly on the river’s surface. Like a log floating in the “water”, Chen Ping’an stopped, adjusting to this strange environment of treading on air. With a tap of his toes, he would drift forward a great distance. Chen Ping’an leaned forward, skimming the surface of the Buried River like a dragonfly touching the water, like a celestial being soaring through the air or a pure martial artist in the Eighth Realm of Far Excursion.

His sleeves fluttered as he rode the wind on a distant journey.

Chen Ping’an didn’t yet realize that, through a series of coincidences, this was the rudimentary form of a Qi Refiner’s Yin spirit.

To shed one’s mortal coil, to unify spirit and essence, to have a body outside the body – this is the Yang spirit, which loves the light.

To have a clear and bright mind, to enter the hidden and the dark, to be unrestrained and free – this is the Yin spirit, which loves to roam at night.

A night visit to the Water God Temple.

Chen Ping’an thought that even a single glance would suffice, a quick round trip.

As for the Chen Ping’an on the riverbank, he closed his eyes and formed the Sword Forge Seal with his hands.

Although one sat and one roamed in spirit, the two were completely one.

What the separated Yin spirit saw and felt, the Chen Ping’an practicing Sword Forge Stance with his eyes closed knew clearly, as if he were experiencing it firsthand.

The mysteries of the Great Dao are profound beyond profound.

Only at this moment did Chen Ping’an understand why cultivators would abandon the mortal realm, concentrating on cultivation, climbing high to look far. It seemed that the scenery in the eyes of these Qi Refiners was already beyond the mundane world.

At this moment, the Chen Ping’an on the riverbank seemed to be practicing Sword Forge, but he was actually continuing to visualize the long bridge in his heart with his eyes closed.

Compared to the two times in Lotus Root Blessing Land, it was much more stable, although he still felt in the depths of his being that he couldn’t walk on it, to cross the river.

But standing on the bridge to observe the river should be possible. If Zhu Lian wasn’t by his side, Chen Ping’an would have gone up to try it.

This night’s visualization was because he was thinking about whether a gentleman should save or not, and also about the relationship between saving others and saving oneself.

Bringing Pei Qian with him, Chen Ping’an only asked her to read and recite books, without telling her any of the principles he had figured out himself. However, just by watching Pei Qian’s every move, every word and deed, it was like looking in a mirror. Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but reflect on himself. Chen Ping’an often didn’t feel deeply about the content of many books, failing to grasp their true meaning, but with Pei Qian around, Chen Ping’an would think more about them, such as the gentleman examining himself thrice daily, restraining himself and returning to propriety, and being cautious when alone…

Reading ten thousand scrolls is the beginning of understanding.

How wonderful!

Pei Qian had already recited the first book perfectly. It seemed that after tonight’s night visit to the Water God Temple, he could probably let Pei Qian start reading the second book.

Reading isn’t about quantity, but about how many words you internalize.

This principle, which isn’t really a principle, could be told to Pei Qian, but she would probably just let it go in one ear and out the other.

Legend has it that there was once a monk who didn’t know many characters, but he read only one scripture and became a Buddha.

On the banks of the Buried River, two figures streaked past like rainbows, their silhouettes blurred, flashing by and heading swiftly downstream.

They nodded lightly when they saw the three people by the river, as if to say hello.

Only after they disappeared into the night did Zhu Lian withdraw his gaze.

It turned out to be the master and disciple who had changed into their Daoist robes after returning to the post station, only telling Yao Zhen that they had something to do tonight and would return to the post station before dawn.

Yao Zhen wouldn’t stop them, and in fact, couldn’t stop them. Yao Zhen, even as the family head of the Yao family’s iron cavalry, didn’t know the origins, backgrounds, or the master’s lineage of the two Liu family retainers stationed on the border. Yao Zhen even suspected that this Daoist master and disciple were directly under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, both to prevent the Grand Cultivator of Northern Jin from assassinating him, causing turmoil in the border army, and to monitor the movements of the Yao family’s border army. After all, he still had a former Minister of Personnel as his in-law.

Therefore, Yao Zhen privately asked Yao Jinzhi whether he should deliberately befriend the two retainers, not expecting them to protect the Yao family, who would establish themselves in Mirage City in the future, but at least seizing the opportunity to forge a favorable connection.

She didn’t agree, saying that the two had special identities and must not be won over without authorization. When a subject serves the emperor, if the ruler is wise, the subject’s foremost cleverness is to not even have the thought of trying to fathom the emperor’s mind. Overthinking is useless. However, this only applies to frontier officials like the Yao family. The close ministers by the emperor’s side are another matter entirely. Yao Zhen was somewhat unconvinced. The family had been on the verge of death twice, and if Chen Ping’an hadn’t saved them twice, they would have been finished, perhaps even falsely accused of colluding with the enemy and plotting rebellion. If he was still thinking about protecting his reputation now, when he arrived in Mirage City without the border army to support him, wouldn’t it be even more dangerous and unpredictable?

Yao Zhen thought of the magistrate’s protégé who had dismounted and become a civil official, and felt awkward for a moment. Could it be that, as his granddaughter said, he would have to deal with these kinds of little bastards often in the future?
Yao Jinzhi chuckled, “Quite the opposite, Little Aunt. Back when she married into the capital, our Yao family’s thinking of just sweeping the snow from our own doorstep and rigidly adhering to ancestral precepts was a mistake. Arriving at Mirage City, with the imperial court accepting Grandfather, continuing to practice self-preservation is the right course. If we competed with those powerful clans and meritorious nobles in forming factions and wielding influence, the Yao family would never gain a foothold in the capital. But we can’t just do nothing and let others manipulate us.”

Yao Jinzhi spoke a scholar’s Zen saying, “When you reach the end of the watercourse, sit and watch the rising clouds.”

Yao Zhen sighed with emotion.

Back then, Yao Jinzhi was quite young. Regarding the marriage of his Little Aunt to that Li Xiling, who knelt outside the Yao family ancestral hall during a heavy snowfall, he used his father as a mouthpiece to express his dissent to Grandfather Yao Zhen. His general idea was that the Yao family, having observed centuries of ancestral rules, would set a precedent if they made an exception. The Yao clan would understand that it was due to genuine affection, but outsiders wouldn’t care about such things. Mirage City wouldn’t care, nor would the Emperor. The ancestral rule that Yao clan children couldn’t intermarry with powerful clans, once broken, would it make the ever-loyal Yao border army break their own rules as well?

There is no first without a second. But once there is one, two, three, and four will follow in quick succession. That’s the natural order.

“Grandfather,” Yao Jinzhi had said, “if I were an outsider, I would suspect that the Yao clan felt too stifled in our remote corner.”

The old general, upon hearing this, was filled with anger, but even more so with sorrow and indignation.

Yao Jinzhi remained composed, handing Grandfather a cup of tea with a smile, “Generals drink wine to boost their heroic spirit. But now that you’ve taken office in Mirage City, Grandfather, you should switch to tea.”

Yao Zhen angrily took the teacup and drained it in one gulp, still drinking like a boor.

Yao Jinzhi gave a charming smile.

Along the riverbank, two Daoist figures flitted like wisps of green smoke, far faster than galloping horses.

This Daoist master and disciple pair, the old man hailed from a side sect of Daoism called Golden Peak Temple. Don’t let the term “side sect” sound unappealing. It was actually quite remarkable. Among the Daoist grotto-heavens and sects outside of the “Sect” category, only a few within a continent were qualified to be considered a side sect.

The Golden Peak Temple Daoists favored entering the mortal world to cultivate their hearts. They were few in number, less than a hundred, and once they entered the world, they often concealed their identities and didn’t like relying on their backing or founding masters.

The current abbot of Golden Peak Temple, already five hundred years old, was a genuine Nascent Soul Earth Immortal, with a great reputation in the northern Tunge Leaf Continent.

The old man’s secular name was Yin Miaofeng, his Daoist name was Baozhen Daoist, taken from the saying “achieve longevity, preserve your true nature.” He belonged to the lineage of Golden Peak Temple’s abbot.

His only direct disciple, Shao Yuanran, was one Yin Miaofeng encountered by chance after descending the mountain. He spent a full fourteen years before deciding to take him as a disciple. During that time, Baozhen Daoist set up three great trials, all of which Shao Yuanran passed, proving his temperament and aptitude to be exceptional.

Shao Yuanran followed Baozhen Daoist to Golden Peak Temple, met the abbot, paid respects to the ancestral hall’s portraits, and his name was entered into the lineage record, officially becoming a *Qian* generation disciple of Golden Peak Temple. Finally, he followed his master to the Great Spring Dynasty, and the pair became Liu clan’s honored guests, responsible for keeping an eye on the southern border for ten years.

Don’t let Shao Yuanran’s jade-like appearance fool you. He looked to be around twenty years old, but was actually over forty.

Both master and disciple were Dragon Gate Realm cultivators. Baozhen Daoist believed he had no hope of forming a Golden Core in this lifetime. Shao Yuanran’s aptitude far surpassed his own. At such a young age, he had already reached the Dragon Gate Realm above the Sea Gazing Realm, truly a cultivation prodigy. The abbot, upon hearing that Shao Yuanran had broken through in the Great Spring borderlands, specially sent someone down the mountain to bestow a treasured artifact of the sect and promised Shao Yuanran that as long as he successfully reached the Golden Core Realm, there would be an additional treasure passed down for thousands of years for Shao Yuanran to retrieve as a congratulatory gift.

Therefore, Yin Miaofeng hoped to leverage the Great Spring Liu clan’s abundant resources to help Shao Yuanran take his cultivation to the next level and become a Golden Core Immortal, that was a true immortal.

Below the Golden Core, cultivators are still in the cages of the world.

Regarding the matter of General Yao Zhen going to the capital to take office, Shao Yuanran had been suppressing his feelings for a long time. Tonight, he finally asked, “Master, did the Yao clan really escape this calamity?”

Yin Miaofeng asked, “What, are you disappointed? With the Yao clan getting out unscathed, Yao Jinzhi can continue to live her peaceful life. Perhaps when she gets to Mirage City, she’ll soon marry into some powerful clan. The gates of a marquis’s mansion are as deep as the sea, making it difficult to meet again. So you’re not feeling so good about that?”

Shao Yuanran shook his head and smiled, “Loss is inevitable, but cultivation is about cultivating the heart and letting nature take its course. If the Yao clan were to be destroyed, this disciple would naturally protect Yao Jinzhi and shield her under my wing. But since the Yao clan has overcome this difficulty, it shows that my fate with Yao Jinzhi has not yet arrived, so there’s no need to force it. Future opportunities will arise.”

Yin Miaofeng laughed, “Deep in the mountains, there are often thousand-year-old trees, but in the human world, there are few hundred-year-old people. Yao Jinzhi is not a cultivator. She is beautiful and alluring now, so it’s normal for you to be moved. But twenty years from now, even if the opportunity comes, she will be an old woman with fading beauty. By then, if you’re lucky, you might already be a Land Immortal. Would you still be moved by a mortal woman whose beauty has withered?”

Shao Yuanran smiled, “We’ll see when the time comes.”

Shao Yuanran was silent for a moment, the wind whistling in his ears, and asked, “Master, why are we suddenly visiting Green Jade Mansion? Is it related to the flying sword transmission we received from the capital yesterday?”

Yin Miaofeng said indifferently, “In any case, it’s not a small matter.”

Shao Yuanran smiled helplessly. Since his master was unwilling to say more, he had no choice but to suppress the curiosity in his heart.

Green Jade Mansion was the residence of the Buried River Water God, similar to the Golden Yellow Mansion where the Third Prince escorted prisoners.

It’s just that the Golden Yellow Mansion no longer has an owner. Now it is probably a gathering place for mountain spirits and ghosts.

After this battle, the mountain and river luck of the Northern Jin Kingdom has been greatly damaged. The Golden Yellow Mountain God Lord will soon be escorted to Mirage City. The Pine Needle Lake Water God Temple, which had been in a standoff with it for hundreds of years, collapsed even earlier. All that’s left of the Water God Temple are some shrimp soldiers and crab generals, not a force to be reckoned with. It would be lucky for Northern Jin if they didn’t disturb the peace of the region.

However, Shao Yuanran thought of something and smiled wryly. The mountain god’s wife, who had just been married into the Golden Yellow God’s home and turned into a prisoner in the blink of an eye, was truly unlucky. She originally thought that she could have a loving marriage for hundreds of years, far better than human couples, but who would have thought that this would be the end result? He wondered how Mirage City would deal with her.

However, these trivial matters of the world were merely interesting and amusing diversions on the path of cultivation.

What Shao Yuanran saw was the unconstrained freedom of the Earth Immortal predecessors, and what he thought about was immortality, to live as long as heaven and earth.
A surge of heroic spirit filled Shao Yuanran’s heart. With no one around on either bank of the Burial River, he laughed loudly, “Master, I’m going to imitate a great flood dragon traveling down the river!”

This young Daoist priest from the Golden Peak Temple drifted onto the surface of the river, treading on the water. Each step he took splashed up a tremendous amount of water, yet not a single drop touched his Daoist robe.

Yin Miaofeng continued to drift along the riverbank, glancing at his proud disciple’s graceful figure on the river. He chuckled softly, muttering, “That rascal, if he becomes a terrestrial immortal in the future, what will become of him?!”

Chen Ping’an only vaguely knew the distance and direction of the Water God Temple, but fortunately, he only needed to keep his eyes on both sides of the river.

According to Yao Zhen and Yao Jinzhi, the Burial River Water God Temple, located three hundred li downstream from the post station, was built on a nameless hill by the river. The hillside was gentle, and the temple fair, with its performances and offerings to the gods, lasted from the first to the fifteenth of March every year, a lively affair. Dignitaries from nearby prefectures and counties would provide porridge and tea during the temple fair.

Yao Zhen sighed at the time, saying that for mountain and water spirits, establishing a “府” (residence) was the first major hurdle. Only by upgrading the residence to a “宮” (palace) could one truly achieve enlightenment.

This was akin to a mountain immortal obtaining the title of “宗” (sect).

Yao Jinzhi emphasized another peculiarity of the Water God Temple: the side hall enshrined a statue of the Spirit-Bestowing Mother, renowned for her efficacy in granting children. Almost every day, women from afar, mostly from wealthy families and struggling with childbirth, would come to this side hall of the Water God Temple, kowtow, burn incense, and donate some silver. They could then ask the temple’s old crone to give them a small clay doll with a red thread tied around its waist, which they would tie to their wrist. Once they successfully gave birth back home, they didn’t need to return to fulfill their vows. They simply had to enshrine the clay doll they brought home, treating it as a remote expression of gratitude for the Spirit-Bestowing Mother’s grace.

However, what Chen Ping’an truly wanted to see were the two hundred-plus large white jade tablets standing in front of the Water God Temple. Most of them were eulogies and beautiful prose written by the imperial court and scholars praising the Burial River Water God for helping the Great Quan Liu Clan quell droughts throughout history.

After roughly less than two hours, constantly looking left and right, Chen Ping’an, drifting along the waters of the Burial River, finally arrived at the riverside hill.

The night was deep, and the Water God Temple’s doors were closed, but Chen Ping’an could still vaguely see the brilliant lights over there. This was also why Chen Ping’an spotted the Water God Temple at a glance.

Chen Ping’an suddenly realized that his current state, although Pei Qian and Zhu Lian couldn’t see it, what if there were mid-fifth realm Qi refiners at the Water God Temple? Would they see through him at a glance and regard him as a nocturnal demon causing mischief?

This made Chen Ping’an hesitate.

Could it be that he had made this three-hundred-li journey in vain? Including the return trip, that would be six hundred li.

However, after much deliberation, Chen Ping’an, hovering in the heart of the Burial River, still decided to try landing ashore. The worst-case scenario was that he would get a glimpse of the Water God Temple’s gate from afar and then alert the temple caretaker or the local cultivator, be chased for three hundred li, and have to have the old General Yao Zhen from the post station come forward to explain.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out in his ear, “Nightly wandering of the Yin spirit? Chen Ping’an, aren’t you a pure martial artist? Can you even be reasoned with?”

Chen Ping’an turned his head and couldn’t help but laugh.

Thirty steps away, a green-robed scholar was squatting on the surface of the river, forcefully clutching a large handful of hair, as if trying to pull someone out of the Burial River.

It was Zhong Kui.

Chen Ping’an came to Zhong Kui’s side and asked, “What is this?”

Zhong Kui looked up and smiled, “I was just vying for territory at the Water God Temple, hoping to burn the first incense at dawn, praying to the gods to bless me and make Jiu Niang more agreeable to me.”

Chen Ping’an pointed to the hair in Zhong Kui’s hand, “I’m talking about this.”

Zhong Kui rolled his eyes and said, “What else could it be but a wronged water ghost from the Burial River? It must have been drawn here by your Yin spirit, wanting to devour you and ensure a surge in its cultivation. I saw it poking its head out, and its face wasn’t as rotten and ugly as ordinary water ghosts, but quite delicate and pretty. I wanted to discuss with this female ghost and have her come out and chat with me.”

Because Zhong Kui wasn’t the Yin and Yang spirit traveling far that night, his whole body emanated righteous aura, flowing freely. Tonight, he, like he normally did at the inn, deliberately concealed his aura. So the water ghosts at the bottom of the river didn’t, like that night, sink to the deepest part of the water, trembling. Otherwise, even if Zhong Kui only approached the Water God Temple, the Burial River water ghosts would probably be scared out of their wits.

The chilling autumn wind contained within Zhong Kui’s sleeves didn’t care whether you were a wronged water ghost or a karmically punished evil spirit.

Chen Ping’an looked at the female ghost’s black hair in Zhong Kui’s hand, then looked at Zhong Kui, who was playing tug-of-war with the female ghost.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Is it fun?”

Zhong Kui nodded.

Chen Ping’an turned his head and looked at the Water God Temple in the distance.

Zhong Kui released the hair in his hand, and the shadow under the surface of the river was as if granted amnesty, disappearing in a flash.

Zhong Kui stood up, reached out, and placed his hand on Chen Ping’an’s Yin spirit’s shoulder, smiling, “Look carefully, and you’ll know if it’s fun or not.”

The two suddenly plunged into the river.

With the nightly wandering of the Yin spirit, seeing all things in the world was as bright as day.

Even in the river, looking around, the vision was still unhindered, the eyesight matching Chen Ping’an’s true body’s martial arts cultivation.

Chen Ping’an had seen so many ghosts and monsters, but it was the first time he felt… disgusted.

Not far away was the Water God Temple and the brightly lit common folk.

But even so, under the waters of the Burial River, Chen Ping’an and Zhong Kui were surrounded by densely packed water ghosts “standing” still. Most of them were wearing snow-white clothes, and their exceptionally dark hair covered their faces, falling straight down to their waists, like demure ladies going out on the streets, wearing a veil commonly known as a bridal hat.

Not only that, Chen Ping’an looked down and saw a pair of silver-white eyes as large as lanterns, chillingly staring at the two of them, yet he couldn’t see its body clearly.

The two were at least half a li apart, yet the eyes were still so enormous, one could imagine how colossal this thing would be up close.

Zhong Kui smiled, “It and the water ghosts were all drawn here by you, but they don’t dare to take a bite. Firstly, although your Yin spirit is just a nascent form, it’s still somewhat unusual, so they don’t dare to act rashly, but they’re really envious and keep gathering together, hoping that you can alarm the demon at the bottom of the river, and they can fight it out, so they can get a share of the spoils. As a result, you just happened to stop by the Water God Temple, so they stopped moving. The demon underneath is probably about to explode with anger, not daring to act rashly, after all, the Burial River Water God’s Biyou Palace isn’t that far from here.”

Since they were here, they might as well stay.
Chen Pingan glanced around, treating it as appreciating the scenery.

Zhong Kui also peered about, shouting, “Hey, beautiful water ghost girl from before, are you still there? If you don’t want to be a water ghost anymore, I can slap you to death! As for whether you can reincarnate, I can’t guarantee, but helping you escape the monster’s control at the bottom of the river, so you don’t have to do evil and harm people, that’s not difficult.”

The pair of lanterns grew slightly larger.

Chen Pingan instinctively narrowed his eyes.

It was like when he was a child, fishing for loach by the fields, and accidentally saw one slowly emerge, its head and body swimming out.

This buried river monster, roughly estimated, was even larger than the two black and white serpentine pythons on Chessboard Mountain.

Chen Pingan asked, “Doesn’t the Buried River Water God care about it?”

Zhong Kui chuckled, “Not care? How could she not care? This hot-tempered Water God Lady doesn’t like to show herself precisely because she has tried to fight this demon time and time again. She has damaged the foundation of her golden body three times. Almost every three or forty years, she teaches this monster a lesson. Every hundred years, there is even a real life-and-death struggle. The worst time, even the Water God Temple’s golden body cracked, and most of the Azure Tour Mansion was flooded.”

Chen Pingan was even more puzzled, “Doesn’t the imperial court try its best to encircle and suppress it? If the Great Spring Dynasty can’t do it, doesn’t your academy care?”

Zhong Kui clasped his hands behind his head, “Things are not simple. This water demon has been able to live to this day, not only because of its cultivation, but also because it has more brains. Besides, the central part of Willow Leaf Continent is so big, and the Great Banyan Academy has so few people. There are even fewer who can kill this monster. The scholars of the academy must cultivate their moral character, read books and do scholarship every day. They are very busy, striving to become sages, gentlemen, and great sages who can be sculpted into statues in the Literary Temple of the Central Continent. Besides reading, there are even more things to do. Moreover, there is already a gentleman residing in the Great Spring Dynasty.”

Chen Pingan nodded, understanding in his heart.

His journey to Lotus Root Blessing Land had given him a panoramic view of human nature in all its forms.

Zhong Kui only needed to say that a gentleman from the academy was already stationed in the Great Spring Dynasty, and Chen Pingan understood immediately, thinking that there was also factional strife within the academy.

But what Zhong Kui said next opened Chen Pingan’s eyes, pointing to the pair of lanterns at the bottom of the river and saying, “Dare you glare at me again? Believe it or not, I’ll skin you and pull out your tendons, and send them to the Buried River Water God as a congratulatory gift?”

The water demon slowly retreated.

The water ghosts scattered with it.

Chen Pingan asked, “A congratulatory gift?”

Zhong Kui nodded, “The reason I came here is because I got the news that the Buried River Azure Tour Mansion is going to be promoted to Azure Tour Palace. The Great Spring Liu clan made this decision, and our academy tacitly approved it. Actually, the Great Spring Dynasty was not qualified to bestow the title of ‘Palace’. It is estimated that the gentleman in Mirage City is using this as a remedy.”

A river water god who has obtained the words “Orthodox Succession” must first obtain the approval of the imperial court. The monarch issues an edict of investiture, the Ministry of Rites bestows a golden book and jade document, and a silver inscription and iron certificate, which are recorded in the genealogy of the country’s imperial court. Then, they are qualified to build ancestral halls and sculpt golden bodies to receive the incense of the mortal realm. At the same time, they must also obtain the approval of the nearby academy in the continent. Otherwise, it will still belong to a country’s orthodox temple, but be listed as an immoral shrine in the continent. Some small temples of local water gods may not care, but larger water god temples will regard this as incomplete Great Dao and will try their best to implore the emperor to request a book of sages from the Confucian academy for worship, sharing the incense.

As for which sage’s work the Confucian book is, it can be determined at discretion. Generally, the academy will decide. However, there are very few water gods with strong backbones and stubborn tempers who will clearly demand a certain sage’s work.

However, this situation is rare. In Willow Leaf Continent, it is even rarer to encounter a water god who dares to stubbornly argue with the seventy-two academies of the Vast World. How could there be many?

Zhong Kui did not tell Chen Pingan the whole truth. The reason why he joined in the fun and temporarily left Fox Cub Town was that the Water God Lady of Azure Tour Mansion, who was famous for her irascibility, was not only not flattered by the impending promotion from Mansion to Palace, nor was she grateful to the Great Spring Liu clan and the Great Banyan Academy. Instead, she declared that she wanted a certain sage’s book to sit in the Water God Palace, otherwise she would continue to hang the plaque of “Azure Tour Mansion.”

And that book of sages is now no longer associated with “sages” at all.

This is what makes the Great Spring Liu clan most devastated.

Because that book came from the hand of the former Literary Saint.

When Zhong Kui heard that it was such a farce, he felt that he had to come to Azure Tour Mansion.

He just didn’t expect to meet Chen Pingan, whose spirit was traveling.