(This is the last chapter of this volume, twelve thousand words. Everyone can guess the title of Volume Six.)

Chen Ping’an walked across the stone bridge with his eyes closed, his figure swaying slightly. Beneath the bridge, the water flowed, his sleeves like drifting clouds, exuding an air of immortality.

Wei Xian deeply agreed with Pei Qian’s assessment, praising, “Dragon-like strides and tiger-like pace, a presence as steadfast as a mountain and as profound as an abyss…”

He stopped halfway through his commentary on the landscape.

Lu Baixiang smiled, “The heavens have unpredictable winds and clouds. Some minor accidents are inconsequential.”

It turned out that the stone arch bridge had steps. For some reason, Chen Ping’an had forgotten this and stepped into empty air, tumbling to the ground with his bamboo case.

Pei Qian slapped her forehead. “Oh, dear father, how can you not handle praise?”

Sui Youbian turned her head away, a hint of a smile on her lips.

Chen Ping’an jumped up, opened his eyes, dusted off his sleeves, and strode forward as if nothing had happened.

A golden light flashed on the golden-brocade robe, and the spirit energy contained within the pearl held by the golden coiled dragon became even more concentrated.

If it weren’t for this overseas immortal’s natal relic protecting him, Chen Ping’an would not have simply stumbled. Firstly, his body would have been in a state of “opening the gates to greet the enemy,” allowing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to flood into his orifices like a tidal wave, causing immense suffering. Secondly, he would have likely absorbed the spiritual energy of Qingjing Mountain at an alarming rate, causing a series of unusual phenomena and unforeseen complications.

The golden-brocade robe was like a lake, serving to store the excessive influx of spiritual energy.

However, this was only a temporary solution. Refining the five elements and truly building a complete Bridge of Longevity, opening up five lake-like reservoirs within his own Qi Palace, was now a matter of utmost urgency.

The current Bridge of Longevity was both complete and incomplete, wondrous beyond words.

Chen Ping’an inexplicably felt that only at this moment was he truly accepted by this world. Strange.

The four people in the painting had sharp eyes. At first, they found the scene somewhat comical, as Chen Ping’an, in their memory, was always upright and proper. This moment of disarray was rare. However, after a brief examination, they each noticed subtle clues, though none of them voiced it.

At the top of the three thousand steps of the Azure Tiger Palace, although shrouded in clouds and mist, Jiang Shangzhen and Lu Yong, standing side by side, were both grand cultivators. Compared to the purely martial artists in the painting, they naturally saw more.

Lu Yong exclaimed in admiration, “What a magnificent dragon robe! It is truly unfathomable. Perhaps it is of the ‘small blessed land’ grade. The little immortal master wearing this robe is likely more protected from spells and swords than if he were wearing the highest-grade military armor.”

Lu Yong mistakenly believed Chen Ping’an to be a military cultivator.

Jiang Shangzhen smiled, “Palace Master Lu has keen eyes.”

Lu Yong said in trepidation, “Senior flatters me.”

Jiang Shangzhen turned his head, “If I remember correctly, you are older than me. Why call me senior?”

Lu Yong was speechless.

This head of the Jiang clan, as the supreme ruler of the Cloud Grotto Blessed Land, truly possessed the temperament of an emperor, difficult to fathom. Serving him was like serving a tiger.

Jiang Shangzhen smiled again, “If you were to say at this moment that the accomplished are respected on the path of cultivation, you would be quite astute.”

Lu Yong did not know what Jiang Shangzhen was up to and could only force a smile, “Senior’s insight is profound. Lu Yong’s talent is dull, otherwise, I would not have been limited to dealing with cinnabar and herbs in this life.”

Jiang Shangzhen asked, “For the past two hundred years, I have been busy with the affairs of the blessed land, overwhelmed and rarely leaving. I am no better than a blind man. Palace Master Lu, sitting at the Tianque Peak immortal ferry, welcoming and seeing off guests, have you heard of any of the most famous young sword immortals outside of Tongye Continent, especially in the last hundred years in the vast world?”

Lu Yong thought for a moment and tentatively said, “That one from the Sword Qi Great Wall?”

Jiang Shangzhen laughed in exasperation, “Lu Yong, do you really think I am a fool? Would I not have heard of him?!”

Lu Yong was uneasy and quickly tried to remedy the situation, counting on his fingers and listing the names of famous sword immortals from other continents to Jiang Shangzhen. He mentioned a long list of well-known fifth-realm sword cultivators who had risen to prominence in the last hundred years. The key was that they were all relatively young, eight in total. Four were from the Central Earth Continent, three from the Northern Ju Continent, and even the small Treasure Bottle Continent had produced one: Wei Jin, a sword immortal who had just entered the Jade Purity Realm a few years ago. Compared to the previous seven, Wei Jin of the Wind and Snow Temple’s Immortal Platform was temporarily not as high in realm, but his future achievements were extremely clear, so even Tongye Continent had heard of him. Even a Nascent Soul old cultivator like Lu Yong of the Azure Tiger Palace had heard of the Wind and Snow Temple, one of the military ancestral grounds of the Treasure Bottle Continent, for the first time because of Wei Jin.

Listening to each name and their approximate deeds, Jiang Shangzhen kept shaking his head, saying it was wrong, far from it.

Lu Yong was at a loss.

Sword cultivators were already rare among Qi refiners, and sword immortals were even rarer. Being able to kill a Jade Purity Realm cultivator from the Nascent Soul Realm, ignoring the difference of a great threshold, was something only a sword cultivator could do.

Regarding the “young” sword immortals who had emerged in the last hundred years, Lu Yong, who was focused on alchemy, had only heard of these.

Jiang Shangzhen stopped making things difficult for Lu Yong. He himself felt quite helpless. Sixty years had been spent in the Lotus Root Flower Blessed Land, and before that, two sixty-year cycles had been spent in the Cloud Grotto Blessed Land, quelling a major turmoil that occurred once in a thousand years, suffering serious injuries, and then another sixty-year cycle was spent in closed-door cultivation and recuperation. He was truly unable to pay attention to the general trends of the world. Almost two hundred years had passed, and how many times had the common mortals at the foot of the mountain died? But for those who cultivated on the mountaintop, especially those who still hoped to go further, the passage of time was not deeply felt. If they could take a step and stand firm, they could gain hundreds or even thousands of years of life.

The human affairs, grievances, and enmities at the foot of the mountain were not worth mentioning. Beneath longevity, the Dao was not the Dao.

Jiang Shangzhen’s gaze lowered slightly. The Azure Tiger Palace behind him was said to enshrine all the Taoist immortals, and the heavenly ladder under his feet, with its three thousand steps, represented the “three thousand great Daos.”

It sounded like there were many paths, but how many could reach the true pinnacle?

The Great Dao, the Great Dao, was not about how wide the path was. The higher one went, the narrower the path became, perhaps even a single-plank bridge.

However, Jiang Shangzhen was self-aware. The Dao he cultivated and the path he walked, no matter how high, would not be a single-plank bridge. He would not need to fight with the ascending cultivators ahead to compete for the path, nor would there be descendants who needed to squeeze him out to continue forward.
Regarding that sword cultivator from the sea, I reckon I’ll have to return to Jade Decree Sect and consult with the old sect leader. Putting aside all his other skills, his knowledge of rumors is unparalleled. That old coot, with his habit of wanting to know even the color of the new female disciples’ undergarments, eavesdropping on the squabbles of the enshrined cultivators between the mountain peaks… truly… a gem. How many immortal realm peak cultivators in this world would hide in their residences, spending their days observing the various fairies from the smaller sects through their mountain gates’ “mirror-flower-water-moon” divine abilities, flaunting their supposed “talents,” only for an old man to anonymously send heaps of small summer money to those sects, or even secretly slip out of the sect to personally deliver opportunities and magical treasures to them?

Jade Decree Sect is flush with riches every year from the Cloud Grotto Blessed Land’s dividends. Old man, you, as the sect’s master, how can you have the gall to tell me, Jiang Shangzhen, that you’re broke and worried?

You even said with an air of grandeur that you’d found a kindred spirit, an old gang leader from Treasure Bottle洲 named Invincible Divine Fist Gang? You even wanted to find a chance to visit him? You also lamented the early demise of that Su Jia Immortal from True Martial Mountain?

Sometimes, Jiang Shangzhen truly couldn’t understand how the old sect leader had cultivated to the immortal realm.

The old sect leader, who almost never discussed the Great Dao with him, Jiang Shangzhen, after he returned to the sect upon shedding his谪仙人 Zhou Fei’s identity, actually lectured him at length. He said that he shouldn’t treat the women of the world like that, and that the women of Spring Tide Palace in Lotus Root Blessed Land were pitiful. After Jiang Shangzhen endured the lecture, the old codger sent him to the Western Sea to intercept a great demon without giving him even a token of a significant sect treasure, likely because he was truly angry.

On the other hand, Crow, whom Jiang Shangzhen had brought out of the blessed land, was immediately rewarded with a magical treasure that the old man had been secretly hoarding, albeit under Jiang Shangzhen’s name.

The six of them walked on the three thousand steps of Azure Tiger Palace. Chen Ping’an found it odd that they hadn’t encountered anyone along the way.

Looking up, clouds and mist obscured his vision, preventing him from seeing the Azure Tiger Palace.

Pei Qian tugged at Chen Ping’an’s sleeve and whispered, “There are two people standing up there, as if they’re waiting for us.”

Chen Ping’an’s heart sank.

Could it be that someone from Great Spring Dynasty was still unwilling to give up?

Just then, as if sensing that they had been discovered, the two descended the steps, slowly emerging from the sea of clouds.

One was a dashing young man, the other a venerable old immortal. However, the old man was clearly a step behind, like an attendant.

Chen Ping’an’s pace remained unhurried. Even the azure sword-suppressing talisman in his sleeve was held between his fingers.

From afar, the two above seemed to walk slowly, but in reality, they moved swiftly, instantly standing seven or eight steps above Chen Ping’an and his group.

Pei Qian felt that the young man looked somewhat familiar and hid behind Chen Ping’an.

Jiang Shangzhen cut straight to the chase, “Chen Ping’an, we meet again after our separation in Lotus Root Blessed Land. It seems we have quite the karmic connection.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Zhou Fei from Spring Tide Palace? Jiang Shangzhen from Jade Decree Sect?”

Jiang Shangzhen smiled amiably, “Indeed.”

This grand cultivator standing atop Tung Leaf洲 turned to Lu Yong and said with a smile, “That’s what I call true discerning eyes.”

Lu Yong was speechless.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “I didn’t expect you to find me so quickly.”

Jiang Shangzhen’s smile faded, and he said earnestly, “Chen Ping’an, I won’t interfere with your grievances with Zhou Shi and Crow. Believe it or not, on the city walls of Lotus Root Blessed Land, I had considered finding you after leaving the blessed land and inviting you to be an enshrined cultivator in my Jiang Clan. The many opportunities in Cloud Grotto Blessed Land are yours for the taking, as long as you have the ability. I, Jiang Shangzhen, would be delighted to see it happen. However, after you insisted on killing Lu Fang and Zhou Shi, I did develop murderous intent and wanted to return to Tung Leaf洲 to do something. But after enlisting the help of Yin-Yang School cultivators, I still couldn’t find you, and then I had something else to do, so I delayed it.”

Chen Ping’an sighed, “Still, you found me, didn’t you?”

Jiang Shangzhen was slightly surprised.

It hadn’t been long since they left Lotus Root Blessed Land, but why did it feel like there were two Chen Ping’ans?

Not in cultivation, but in state of mind.

Don’t underestimate the martial artist who reached the top in Lotus Root Blessed Land.

His martial arts realm isn’t high, but that’s because he’s being weighed down by a certain Taoist’s “Great Dao”.

Everything Ding Ying did was just “passing the buck” in another sense.

Didn’t “Zhou Fei” and Lu Fang also fail to become the best in the world? One reason was that their ambition wasn’t in martial arts cultivation, but in breaking through their inner demons. In fact, it was still a matter of “seeking in vain.”

As for the four people behind Chen Ping’an, they should be those legendary historical figures from the blessed land. The sword-bearing woman should be the female sword immortal Sui Youbian that Lu Fang often mentioned. The identities of the other three can be roughly guessed, but I can’t quite match them to names yet. The tall man with the saber is the legendary martial madman Zhu Lian, who was unparalleled in his youth? The wiry and short man is Lu Baixiang, the founder of the Demon Sect? The smiling, hunchbacked old man is Wei Xian, the founding emperor of Nan Yuan Kingdom?

Chen Ping’an being able to have these four as escorts, Jiang Shangzhen was somewhat amazed and envious, but not to the point of being overly jealous.

Pure martial artists need the most time to hone their realm, step by step, persevering until they succeed. They don’t rely on talent and fortune as much as qi cultivators.

Lu Yong inwardly groaned.

Judging from Jiang Shangzhen’s tone, they really were mortal enemies. That little immortal master’s cultivation seemed low, so his background must be too strong, to the point that even the Jiang Clan’s head wouldn’t dare to kill him at will? Could he be a direct descendant of that old pervert from Tung Leaf Sect?

Jiang Shangzhen said happily, “Chen Ping’an, I’m relieved that you didn’t immediately adopt a posture of fighting me to the death. Shall we climb the mountain while we chat?”

Chen Ping’an said concisely, “Alright.”

Finally, Chen Ping’an and Jiang Shangzhen walked side by side.

Lu Yong followed behind. Pei Qian quietly walked on the same level as this Nascent Soul earth immortal, but several steps away, secretly observing this old mountain immortal.

As soon as Lu Yong showed any sign of turning his head, the dark-skinned little girl immediately turned her head to look at the distant scenery, her walking stick tapping rhythmically on the steps.

Lu Yong was quite surprised. The more he looked at this little girl, the more he felt she was full of spirit.

Although this Azure Tiger Palace Lord’s fighting skills were terribly weak, he was still a Nascent Soul cultivator after all. He could still tell whether a Daoist seedling was good or not, and roughly how far they could go.
Jiang Shangzhen first inquired about the identities of the four escorts. Chen Pingan didn’t conceal anything, and Jiang Shangzhen failed to guess correctly any of them after learning the truth. He slapped his forehead and ridiculed himself, “My eye for talent is on par with Lu Yong’s.”

The atmosphere didn’t seem tense, not like enemies meeting with extreme animosity, but more like old friends reuniting, or perhaps resolving grudges with laughter?

But the reality was something only Jiang Shangzhen and Chen Pingan were privy to.

Jiang Shangzhen asked, “Was this trip north smooth?”

Chen Pingan shook his head and said, “It was bumpy, and I had some significant conflicts with the two princes of the Daquan Dynasty.”

“Oh?”

Jiang Shangzhen turned and asked, “Palace Master Lu, what’s the Daquan Emperor’s name?”

Lu Yong quickly replied, “Liu Zhen.”

Jiang Shangzhen looked at Chen Pingan, “I can drag their old man over here and make him apologize to you. It’s a quick trip to Mirage City. It wouldn’t take long. Maybe while you’re having a vegetarian meal at the Azure Tiger Palace, Liu Zhen will be standing in front of you. But the Daquan Dynasty is under the jurisdiction of the Great Fu Academy. The academy’s Mountain Master has a considerable background, coming from a Sage’s residence in the Central Earth Divine Continent, with an elder brother who serves as the Grand Libationer of an academy. Just don’t beat Liu Zhen to death, or I’ll have to clean up the mess. Giving that old emperor a good beating, of course, is fine.”

Chen Pingan said, “You really don’t have to do that. Can you just give me a hint as to why you’re looking for me? Did you stop me at the Tianque Peak ferry, just to capture me and take me to the Jade Gui Sect?”

Jiang Shangzhen laughed heartily, wiped his mouth, and chuckled to himself, “On the way here, rushing over, I did consider doing that. It was a lot of work to find you, so to say I have no resentment would be self-deception. Actually, the Jade Gui Sect does have disciples cultivating in Mirage City, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to wait like a hunter at the Azure Sheep Palace. To be frank, after spending a day in Mirage City, understanding your actions in detail, I even went to see the new Minister of Personnel, that fellow surnamed Yao. I only caught a glimpse of him from afar and instructed the disciple in Mirage City to look after the Yao family in the future. Then I headed straight to the Azure Tiger Palace myself, just to see you.”

Chen Pingan stopped walking.

Jiang Shangzhen continued to climb the steps, saying casually, “Once we get to the top, I’ll explain everything clearly.”

Chen Pingan followed Jiang Shangzhen, entering the sea of clouds surrounding Tianque Peak. This stretch of the path was filled with white mist, but suddenly opened up to reveal a majestic palace, indicating that they had reached the summit of Tianque Peak.

Earlier, when everyone entered the sea of clouds, Lu Yong wanted to take a good look at that little girl, but unexpectedly, Pei Qian turned her head to avoid him.

Lu Yong was increasingly surprised.

This sea of clouds that flowed around the peak was no ordinary matter, it was precisely the Azure Tiger Palace’s protective array. Ordinary mortals trapped within would truly feel lost in the clouds, with nothing visible in any direction.

Chen Pingan stood still, straightened his clothes, and adjusted the white jade hairpin on his head.

Jiang Shangzhen continued to stride forward, taking a few steps before turning back to see Chen Pingan still standing in place. He noticed that this young man who had killed Ding Ying had a very strange expression.

By the time Lu Yong, Pei Qian, and Wei Xian had all reached the summit, Chen Pingan was still standing there, motionless.

Pei Qian followed Chen Pingan’s gaze and saw a crowd of people near the palace, seemingly curious about who could be so important that the Palace Master and the esteemed figure from the Jade Gui Sect were personally welcoming him.

The onlookers from the Azure Tiger Palace were mostly young cultivators, many were boys and girls, and there were quite a few children about the same age as Pei Qian.

Pei Qian whispered, “What’s wrong?”

Chen Pingan snapped out of his reverie, gently patted Pei Qian’s head, and smiled, “A long time ago, I was exactly like them, standing at the gate, watching others.”

Chen Pingan continued forward, following Jiang Shangzhen directly towards the Immortal Ferry in the direction of the Azure Dragon Summoning Rain stone wall.

Lu Yong glanced at the disciples of the Azure Tiger Palace, who were all making a spectacle of themselves, waved his sleeve, and said in a deep voice, “Go back to cultivation! What kind of behavior is this? Disgraceful!”

Passing the ever-changing stone wall, where azure dragons were hidden in the clouds, appearing and disappearing, and walking for another three or four miles, they reached the Tianque Peak Ferry.

It was a huge floating ship suspended on the cliff. Underneath the ship, countless cyan birds were swirling, as if their wings were lifting the airship.

Lu Yong’s mood was complicated.

This ferry was supposed to have set off for Old Dragon City in Treasure Bottle Continent yesterday, but it had been stopped by the Jiang family head. The method was simple: throwing money around.

Except for the Azure Tiger Palace, who dared not accept money from Jiang Shangzhen, all the passengers on the ferry received an extra “Little Summer” fee equivalent to their fare. Lu Yong had an elder act as a benevolent treasurer.

There were also those who didn’t know what was good for them, cursing and refusing to accept the money, only wanting to demand an explanation from the Azure Tiger Palace. Since the Azure Tiger Palace couldn’t afford to offend Jiang Shangzhen, Jiang Shangzhen boarded the ferry and slapped a Northern Gold Core cultivator from the Tongye Continent, sending him plummeting from the sky into a low-lying peak of the Qingjing Mountain. By the time the Azure Tiger Palace managed to pull the dying Gold Core immortal from the mountain wall, he was a gruesome sight. But after learning Jiang Shangzhen’s identity, the Gold Core cultivator dragged his ailing body, gritting his teeth, and climbed the mountain again to apologize to the Jiang family head, who had injured him with a single wordless blow.

Lu Yong had witnessed everything from beginning to end.

Seeing the Immortal Ferry with birds circling around it, Pei Qian was so excited that she couldn’t wait to unleash her signature Mad Demon Swordplay; after all, every sword strike would land in that case!

Wei Xian and the others were also seeing this magical scene for the first time. Although their faces remained impassive, they were deeply impressed.

This was the Grand and Sublime World.

Jiang Shangzhen stood by the ferry and said with a smile, “I’ll only see you off to here.”

Chen Pingan nodded.

Jiang Shangzhen hesitated for a moment, “Could I ask, who is your master?”

Chen Pingan smiled without saying a word.

Jiang Shangzhen was still persistent, “I have no malicious intentions.”

Chen Pingan shook his head, “It’s not that I’m deliberately hiding it from you, but I don’t have a master in the strict sense of the word.”

The one who taught him to burn porcelain was Old Yao, who didn’t want to take him as a disciple. The one who taught him the Eighteen Stops of Sword Qi was Ah Liang. The one who taught him martial arts was the old man surnamed Cui, a tenth-realm martial artist. The ones who taught him academics were Mr. Qi and the old scholar Wen Sheng.

The ones who taught him to be kind to others were his parents.
Jiang Shangzhen said helplessly, “Alright, if you don’t want to talk, then don’t. The reason I sought you out this time is because someone entrusted me to give you something. I’ve carefully placed it inside a bottle. After you receive it, it’s best to put it into your spatial treasure, and don’t take it out until you feel you’re truly in a safe place.”

Chen Ping’an had traveled twice and had seen quite a bit, such as the “sending a head from a thousand miles away” outside Flying Eagle Fort.

But for Jiang Shangzhen, who had a grudge against him, to run so far just to deliver something to him? Chen Ping’an would never believe it.

Jiang Shangzhen looked at Chen Ping’an, who wasn’t hiding his guarded gaze in the slightest. He stamped his foot, cast a divine ability to isolate a small world, and said with a wry smile, “You’ve heard of the chaos at the Fuzhi Sect, right?”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Jiang Shangzhen pointed at himself, “After that great demon was injured, it relied on its thick skin and flesh to escape into the West Sea. I happened to be one of the three people chasing after it. The other two were Song Mao, the Sect Master of Taiping Mountain, and that old tortoise who manages the records for the Tongye Sect. The great demon was heavily injured and couldn’t escape death, but the Tongye Sect guy and I weren’t willing to deliver the final blow, afraid of enraging the great demon into a mutual destruction, which would damage our own cultivation. So we thought about slowly following the great demon to exhaust it to death. Along the way, we could also enjoy the scenery and chat.”

Chen Ping’an knew that the chase was definitely not as light and pleasant as Jiang Shangzhen described.

Jiang Shangzhen turned his head to look west, sighing, “Then the three of us encountered a swordsman. He truly possessed soaring sword qi, a born chivalrous heart, and a good temper. Not only did he kill the great demon with a single sword, but he also liked to reason with us and wasn’t greedy for the great demon’s body…”

Speaking of this, Jiang Shangzhen smacked his forehead, “I really can’t make it up anymore…”

Jiang Shangzhen’s eyes suddenly became sharp, staring at Chen Ping’an, “That swordsman asked if anyone knew Chen Ping’an. I told him the truth. He didn’t say much, but he returned, saying that the demon core belonged to him. That was the only sentence. Taiping Mountain and Tongye Sect had no objections and allowed me to extract the most precious demon core from the body of a twelfth realm great demon. I understood what that swordsman meant, so I came to find you, just to deliver the demon core into your hands.”

Chen Ping’an’s expression was as usual, “I know that swordsman. His name is Zuoyou.”

“Know”?

Just like that?

Zuoyou?

What a strange, unfamiliar name.

Could he really be a young sword immortal who had only emerged in the last two hundred years?

Jiang Shangzhen wanted to stomp his feet and curse. He stared at Chen Ping’an’s eyes, holding a delicate porcelain bottle about half an arm’s length tall, “Do you know the value of this demon core? Do you know what kind of swordsman can kill a great demon who has revealed its true form with a single sword?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and then nodded, “I don’t know the value of the demon core, but I know Zuoyou’s swordsmanship. Zuoyou told me personally that his sword intent is lower than Aliang’s, but his swordsmanship… is higher than Aliang’s. I believe him.”

Jiang Shangzhen’s face was stiff. He tilted his head and rubbed his face.

Chen Ping’an, oh, Chen Ping’an, can you not use such a casual tone to talk about a friend who claims that his “swordsmanship is higher than Aliang’s?!”

Chen Ping’an also sensed something was amiss and smiled, “Don’t worry, my grudges with Zhou Shi, the ‘Flower-Inserting Young Master’, and the Demonic Sect’s Crow Child have little to do with you. Besides, even if I ask Zuoyou, he wouldn’t agree to draw his sword against you, Jiang Shangzhen.”

Zuoyou, who calls himself Senior Brother.

He only reluctantly acknowledged him as his “Junior Brother.”

Don’t worry my ass!

It’s not that Jiang Shangzhen didn’t believe Chen Ping’an’s words, but did that sword immortal named “Zuoyou” need a reason to draw his sword? Probably, if he was just in a bad mood, he would cleave the Jade Rule Sect’s mountain in half, right? You, Chen Ping’an, go ask that old tortoise from the Tongye Sect how he feels now? After receiving a sword strike, he didn’t even want his old face in order to avoid a second one!

Jiang Shangzhen made up his mind to stay far away from Chen Ping’an in the future.

Handing over the bottle containing the demon core, Chen Ping’an didn’t say a word and quickly stored it in his spatial treasure.

Jiang Shangzhen said softly, “This bottle can also be considered a decent magical treasure, just treat it as compensation from the Jiang family. As for whether you and Zhou Shi will meet in the future, and what will happen when you do, we’ll talk about it later.”

Pei Qian glanced at Chen Ping’an and that guy, then stopped looking.

The mountain god’s wedding was the first time, pointing at the ferry overhead was the second time. Things don’t happen more than three times.

Pei Qian could see the two of them, enduring to not look too much. Lu Yong and the four members of the Wei family couldn’t see them, so they didn’t look at all.

A moment later, the two figures reappeared beside everyone.

Chen Ping’an took the lead towards the ferry. Pei Qian immediately followed, and the four members of the Wei family were behind.

After Chen Ping’an boarded the ferry, he turned around and clasped his fist at Jiang Shangzhen, “One matter is one matter, thank you.”

Jiang Shangzhen nodded with a smile. How many years had it been since he felt such a sense of relief?

The steward of the Azure Tiger Palace had already been waiting at the bow of the ship, carefully leading Chen Ping’an and his group to the top floor of the ferry.

Jiang Shangzhen continued to look at the ferry, speechless for a long time.

Lu Yong could only honestly accompany the Jiang family head in his daze.

The ferry was only waiting for Chen Ping’an and his party, and soon it slowly rose into the air and headed north.

Jiang Shangzhen retracted his gaze and said softly, “An honorable guest has arrived, doesn’t your Azure Tiger Palace plan to give something to this Chen Immortal Master?”

Lu Yong’s heart tightened. He said tactfully, “Of course, of course, but I hope Senior can give me some guidance on what to give to be safe?”

Jiang Shangzhen sneered, “Give whatever is valuable. He’s at least a nascent soul cultivator, do I still need to teach you how to give gifts?”

Lu Yong gritted his teeth and asked cautiously, “If that Chen Immortal Master refuses, what should the Azure Tiger Palace do?”

Jiang Shangzhen turned his head, his eyes indifferent, “Cry, be annoyed, hang yourself! Can people not accept it? In this world, it’s not easy to swindle money into your own pocket, but is giving money difficult? If the Azure Tiger Palace can’t even do this little thing, why doesn’t the Palace Master like you go die?”

Lu Yong was sweating profusely, “Senior is right, I understand.”

Jiang Shangzhen snorted coldly, “Whatever you, Lu Yong, send out, give me a quote later, and I will repay the Azure Tiger Palace double.”

Lu Yong just had some plans.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Shangzhen narrowed his eyes and said gloomily, “Don’t try to be clever with me on this kind of petty matter. It’s how much money it is, that’s how much it is. You, Lu Yong, and the Azure Tiger Palace are not qualified for me, Jiang Shangzhen, to owe a favor to.”

Lu Yong nodded quickly like a chicken pecking at rice.
Jiang Shangzhen suddenly chuckled self-deprecatingly, patted Lu Yong on the shoulder, and said with a gentle expression, “I just figured something out, so I plan to stay at Qinghu Palace for another day. You select a few disciples who please the eye, and I will personally lecture them on cultivation matters. If there truly is a good seedling among them, I’ll grant your Qinghu Palace a spot to the Cloud Cave Blessed Land. Ah, don’t forget, those with crooked visages and cracked dates, no matter how good their aptitude, don’t come and offend my sight. Imparting knowledge and resolving doubts should be a pleasing experience.”

Lu Yong was overjoyed, and finally bowed sincerely in gratitude, “Senior’s great kindness, Lu Yong will remember it in his heart!”

On the path of cultivation, fortune and misfortune are always intertwined.

Misfortune, whether you can bear it. Fortune, whether you can accept it.

All are part of one’s own cultivation.

For example, even a mountain peak immortal like Jiang Shangzhen, if he were Zhou Fei, that banished immortal, would only meet his demise in the Lotus Root Blessed Land if he encountered Ding Ying, who was set on killing.

After boarding the top floor of the ferry, the group of six each had a first-class cabin. Of course, Chen Ping An’s room was even extravagantly large.

After Wei Xian and the others took their jade tokens and keys, they followed Chen Ping An with tacit understanding.

After closing the door, Pei Qian threw down her walking stick, wandered through the rooms, running back and forth, and finally went to the observation deck to watch the sea of clouds. Her dark face was filled with happiness as she stared blankly into the distance.

Wei Xian also went to the observation deck.

The three sat down, along with Chen Ping An.

Lu Baixiang asked with a smile, “Master, who was that young immortal just now?”

Zhu Lian had already risen again and poured a cup of tea for Chen Ping An. After Chen Ping An took the teacup, he said, “He is Jiang Shangzhen, the head of the Jiang clan of the Jade Gui Sect. He seems to be a Jade Purity Realm cultivator, and he possesses a Cloud Cave Blessed Land of very high quality. The Blessed Land is extremely vast, with many treasures of heaven and earth.”

Zhu Lian praised, “Young Master’s acquaintances are not just ordinary people; they are clearly all mountain immortals.”

Sui Youbian glanced at the composed Chen Ping An and poured herself a cup of tea.

Chen Ping An shook his head and said, “They are not friends.”

Lu Baixiang sighed, “Jade Purity Realm, that means he has already entered the Upper Five Realms.”

Chen Ping An had already explained to them the realm divisions of pure martial artists and Qi refiners.

The seventh realm of martial artists is the Golden Body Realm, the eighth is the Distant Excursion Realm, and the ninth is the Mountain Peak Realm, which is the limit of martial arts in the eyes of worldly martial artists. However, there is actually a tenth realm, but even so, Chen Ping An told them that the tenth realm is still not the limit of martial arts.

The Middle Five Realms of Qi refiners are the Cave Mansion Realm, the Sea Gazing Realm, the Dragon Gate Realm, the Golden Core Realm, and the Nascent Soul Realm.

Only the Jade Purity Realm, Immortal Realm, and Ascension Realm are known among the Upper Five Realms. The remaining two realms have long been lost.

Over at the observation deck, Pei Qian, having seen the magnificent scenery of the rolling clouds, began to feel a little bored and sighed, “Old Wei, can I tell you something from the bottom of my heart?”

Wei Xian nodded and stood by the railing. The ferry was sailing above the sea of clouds. It must have had the protection of an immortal formation to keep the observation deck from being shaken by the high winds in the sky, leaving only a comfortable breeze on the face.

Pei Qian, standing on tiptoes, said with a distressed expression, “My dad still doesn’t want to teach me peerless swordsmanship, alas.”

Wei Xian said indifferently, “You have to eat one bite at a time.”

Pei Qian squatted on the ground, leaning against the railing, “It’s troubling.”

Wei Xian glanced down at the skinny little girl, “It’s okay, it’ll be the same tomorrow, you’ll get used to it.”

Pei Qian raised her head, her eyes resentful, “Old Wei, can a person like you find a wife?”

Wei Xian thought for a moment, “I can, others will help me find one, but the one I liked the most, I couldn’t marry into my family.”

Pei Qian asked, “Why? Did she嫌弃 you for being ugly? You can’t blame her for that.”

The abilities of these two, one big and one small, to comfort people were about the same.

Wei Xian leaned on the railing, “It’s not that she disliked my appearance, she wasn’t that good-looking either, it’s just that my family was poor at the time, and I was only thinking about earning a lot of money in the future to marry her. Later, the world was in chaos, she died, and I didn’t.”

Pei Qian stood up and patted Wei Xian’s arm, “Okay, it’s all in the past. Think about it, how many years have passed, and you still miss her, so isn’t that the same as her still being alive? Not bad, maybe if you had married her back then, you would have become more and more annoyed with her, and you definitely wouldn’t have become an emperor.”

Wei Xian nodded, “That makes sense. Back then, no one around me could understand that, so many officials, all their reading went to the dogs.”

Pei Qian asked with a grin, “Old Wei, how big of an official do you think I can become?”

Wei Xian said, “Women can’t be officials. Looking at you, when you grow up, you’ll probably be an ugly girl. Even if you enter the palace, you’ll never see the emperor.”

Pei Qian kicked Wei Xian in the leg, angrily, “Old Wei, why are you an old rogue?!”

Wei Xian chuckled.

This master of ten thousand enemies from the Lotus Root Blessed Land had recently had some rare minor grudges in his heart, but they were now gone.

Actually, it couldn’t be blamed on Chen Ping An for being disgusting, it was just that Wei Xian himself was a blabbermouth. He had asked Chen Ping An about the history of the later generations of the Southern Garden Kingdom, especially the historical evaluation of him, Wei Xian.

After Chen Ping An noticed that the Southern Garden Kingdom was not right, he had read many orthodox historical books and unofficial histories. Naturally, he had found a lot about the founding emperor, Wei Xian, including various auspicious omens and legends about Wei Xian’s birth, such as Wei Xian’s father going to the fields to work and seeing his wife lying on the road, with a white dragon coiled above her, and then she became pregnant with Wei Xian…

After that chat, Wei Xian had never spoken to Chen Ping An again.

Pei Qian, who feared nothing more than a world without chaos, had laughed so hard that she was rolling on the ground holding her stomach at the time.

During this period, she would often use this to disgust him, such as deliberately sticking out her belly when walking on mountain roads, and then circling around Wei Xian, even groaning and moaning.

In the end, Chen Ping An pulled her ear until it was sore, and added a solid chestnut, before Pei Qian stopped. She even came to apologize to Wei Xian, but when she turned her back to Chen Ping An, she was actually winking.

Wei Xian wouldn’t get angry with this girl, but he couldn’t be happy either.

Pei Qian looked up at Wei Xian’s profile and suddenly said, “Old Wei, I’m sorry, I won’t laugh at you anymore in the future.”

Wei Xian grinned, “It’s nothing. Actually, what’s this? There are still many things that the Southern Garden Kingdom’s historians didn’t have the guts to write…”

Pei Qian whispered, “Like what? Tell me about it, let’s talk quietly.”
Wei Xian softly spoke, “Oh, there’s plenty. Like back then in the village, my nickname was Rat the Eighth. My family was poor, so I stole chickens and snuck around. Later, I even did some unsavory things like highway robbery, smuggling salt. As for my mother, no White Dragon ever hovered over her. I did see her having an affair, but I didn’t say a word. That man was a good sort, much better than my old man. Later, to save me, that man stood his ground in the alley, and bandits slashed his entire back to ribbons. He kept yelling at me to run. What could I do? Run, I did. In the end, I never found the villains who killed him.”

Pei Qian sighed, turned around, and headed towards Chen Ping’an, suddenly breaking into a run, laughing loudly, “Wei Xian’s mother…”

Chen Ping’an turned his head, glaring at Pei Qian, who was gleefully about to expose someone’s past, and angrily said, “Shut up! Go back and apologize!”

Pei Qian was so frightened that she fell silent, her eyes reddening. She immediately ran back to the viewing platform, about to open her mouth to apologize to Wei Xian, but Wei Xian smiled and patted her little head, “It’s alright, why are you crying? It’s no big deal. Next time, it’s your treat for candied haws.”

Pei Qian quickly agreed, but she was still trembling, timidly glancing at Chen Ping’an in the room. She was doomed; he was truly angry.

She hastily hugged Wei Xian’s leg, choking up, “If my dad throws me off the boat later, you have to grab me.”

Wei Xian helplessly turned his head towards the room and smiled, “It’s really nothing.”

Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

He simply stood up and said to Pei Qian, “Come here.”

He took Pei Qian to the adjacent study. Pei Qian hurriedly and efficiently closed the door, and then drooped her head, looking pitiful, like she would admit her mistake without arguing back, and endure punishment without resisting.

Chen Ping’an said in a deep voice, “Is Old Wei your friend?!”

Pei Qian thought about it, not daring to lie, and honestly replied, “Half.”

Pei Qian hurriedly added, “Half is already a lot. Little Bai doesn’t even have half. Only Old Wei does.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “What did those two books say about friends?”

Pei Qian blurted out without hesitation, “A friend should be upright, forgiving, and well-informed, which is beneficial. Give loyal advice and guide them well; if they don’t listen, then stop, and don’t humiliate yourself. Examine yourself thrice daily: in interactions with friends, have I been trustworthy? A gentleman treats others with sincerity…”

Pei Qian rattled off a long string of words.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Which of these have you done?”

Pei Qian lowered her head and muttered softly, “What the book says isn’t what you say.”

Chen Ping’an was exasperated.

Pei Qian whispered, “I know I was wrong. Besides not making fun of Old Wei, Old Wei treats me with sincerity, and I should treat him with sincerity as well.”

Only then did Chen Ping’an’s expression slightly improve. He said with a dark face, “Take your book and go to the viewing platform to read aloud.”

Pei Qian asked, “I can recite it, can I not take the book?”

Seeing that Chen Ping’an was about to get angry again, Pei Qian immediately turned around and ran, saying she would take the book, otherwise her sincerity wouldn’t be enough, and she would be unworthy of the sages who wrote the book.

Chen Ping’an sighed.

He thought of the little snot-nosed kid, Gu Can, in Mud Bottle Alley.

None of them were…

On the viewing platform, Pei Qian held the book high in both hands, and without turning the pages, began to read aloud. When she pretended to turn the pages, she turned her head, her face full of triumph, and softly smiled at Wei Xian, “Old Wei, my dad thinks what I said to admit my mistake this time was right.”

Wei Xian gave a thumbs up as a sign of praise.

Pei Qian swayed her head.

As a result, a flick landed on her head.

Pei Qian didn’t even dare to turn her head, crying out, “I won’t dare anymore, I was wrong, I really won’t dare anymore…”

Zhu Lian hmm’d and turned away with his hands behind his back, “Good, the child is teachable and can still be saved.”

Pei Qian suddenly turned her head, ready to fight this old turtle, but she happened to see Chen Ping’an walking out of the study. She immediately suppressed her anger, obediently turned her head, and continued to recite the book.

In the end, Pei Qian remained on the viewing platform to recite the book. Sui Youbian had already left, and Wei Xian and Zhu Lian had also departed separately.

Thus, only Lu Baixiang was left sitting at the table, facing Chen Ping’an.

Lu Baixiang smiled and asked, “My Lord, won’t you ask me what that sentence was?”

Chen Ping’an took down the Sword-Nurturing Gourd, poured two cups of wine, handed one to Lu Baixiang, and smiled, “Say it if you want to. If you don’t want to, what can I do?”

Zhu Lian once thought that the reason Chen Ping’an looked at Lu Baixiang with new eyes was because the latter was the first to say that sentence, considered the first “traitor” to defect.

On the contrary, Lu Baixiang had not spoken it until now, being the last of the four in the painting.

Lu Baixiang’s expression was strange. After drinking a cup of wine, he said, “That sentence of mine, compared to the other three, should be the most meaningless: ‘Spending money like water, are you happy?'”

Chen Ping’an helplessly said, “Indeed, it has that person’s tone.”

Lu Baixiang asked, “Can you not call me My Lord in the future?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “That won’t do. It sounds quite exciting.”

Lu Baixiang never expected this answer. He had thought Chen Ping’an would most likely agree.

Chen Ping’an laughed and said, “No need to call me that. Just kidding.”

Lu Baixiang slowly stood up, cupped his fists in salute, and smiled, “Chen Ping’an treats me as a national scholar. Lu Baixiang will surely repay him as a national scholar.”

Chen Ping’an had no choice but to stand up as well, “I’m more used to hearing Zhu Lian say that. It doesn’t suit you.”

Lu Baixiang smiled, bid farewell, and left.

Chen Ping’an sat alone at the table. After a long time, with the sound of reading constantly coming, he said, “Go back to the room.”

Pei Qian had been waiting for this sentence. She closed the book, happily ran back to the room, plopped down on the stool, poured herself a cup of tea, and said in a hoarse voice, “I was dying of thirst.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “You don’t really resent me?”

“Huh?”

Pei Qian looked blank, her expression genuine, “Why would I?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said nothing.

Pei Qian pitifully said, “Can I not copy books today? I climbed so many steps; I’m exhausted.”

Chen Ping’an slapped a talisman on Pei Qian’s forehead, “This Pagoda Suppressing Demon Talisman is yours.”

Just as Pei Qian was about to cheer, Chen Ping’an had already said, “Go back to your own room and copy books.”

Pei Qian pondered for a moment and realized she had made a great deal. She re-slung her backpack, held her mountain-walking staff, and skipped off to copy books.

Chen Ping’an walked to the viewing platform.

How many times had he boarded an immortal ferry?

Sui Youbian was in her room, meditating with her eyes closed. On the table lay the Increasingly Sharp Chi Xin Sword. After nurturing the sword for so long, Sui Youbian could clearly feel a sword intent wandering within the scabbard.
Sword intent, not sword aura.

After the great battle that night, she followed Chen Ping An away from the ruined temple.

They had a conversation.

Chen Ping An’s words were, in some instances, quite blunt.

“These two golden essence copper coins, I can waive your debt. But from now on, whether Wei Xian, Zhu Lian, and Lu Baixiang repay the golden essence copper coins they spent of mine is yet to be seen. However, you must repay your debt. As for when, that’s not important. But I need to make things clear beforehand, better to say the unpleasantries upfront than to have you turn against me later.”

Some statements were bewildering.

“Don’t think I’m not qualified to talk to you about cultivation and the Dao of the Sword. I’ve seen the two swordsmen with almost the strongest swordsmanship and sword intent in this world. Although I haven’t practiced the sword for long, I already know where the highest points of sword intent and swordsmanship are in this world, and I just need to walk towards them step by step.”

Some were quite mystical.

“In cultivation, the most important thing is to examine one’s own heart. The four of you were once the most outstanding individuals in Lotus Flower Blessed Land, and each of you has your own path to take, a path you’ll walk with exceptional determination. For example, you, Sui Youbian, are single-mindedly pursuing the path to divine swordsmanship. The loftier your ambition, the more despair you feel now. But trust me, when one door closes, another opens!”

Finally, Sui Youbian asked Chen Ping An why she, in particular, had to repay the golden essence copper coins.

That fellow, at the time, with a solemn expression, replied, “I have a girl I like. Next time I go to see her, I’ll have to check my assets. If things don’t add up, especially because of other women, how am I supposed to explain that to her?”

The Sword Qi Great Wall, the great battle had come to a temporary halt.

In the night sky, two moons hung in the air.

On the patrol path, near the two thatched huts, old and new, Ning Yao sat on the city wall facing the barrier, her skirt-suppressing blade and locust wood sword resting on her lap, lost in thought.

The old Sword Immortal named Chen Qingdu came to Ning Yao’s side and sat down cross-legged. “Since we have some free time, there’s something I can tell you.”

Ning Yao turned her head, puzzled.

The old man smiled and said, “That sword, ‘Lasting Qi,’ I originally intended to give it to you someday.”

The old man waved his hand, interrupting Ning Yao’s reply. “But this time, the demon race’s offensive was extremely strange. I feared that giving it to you would bring misfortune. It just so happened that Chen Ping An wanted to rebuild the Bridge of Longevity, so I had him carry Lasting Qi to Tongye Continent to borrow something from the Temple of the Way. Before lending him the sword, I secretly told him that carrying Lasting Qi would bring great benefits, but even greater drawbacks, he would have to bear the karma, the great karma between Ning Yao and the demon race.”

Chen Qingdu smiled and said, “That kid… for the first time, he showed a very different look and expression. Even when he fought Cao Ci, and we watched him lose three matches in a row, Chen Ping An’s eyes weren’t as bright as that. It was truly unforgettable.”

Chen Qingdu turned his head and asked, “Ning girl, why aren’t you angry? Don’t you blame me for interfering and making him take the risk?”

Ning Yao curled the corners of her lips. “Angry? I’m not angry. I’m Ning Yao! He’s Chen Ping An!”

Full of pride.

As if to say, the guy I, Ning Yao, likes is willing to do this, and she’s not surprised at all!

Chen Qingdu jumped down from the wall and walked towards the thatched hut, clucking his tongue. “Having to take such a blow late at night, I’m just asking for trouble.”

Ning Yao rested her chin in her hands and began to miss him.

Her face was full of a proud smile.

Ha, how can my judgment be so good?

Suddenly, she frowned, recalling a conversation they had at the Mud Bottle Lane residence. “Ah? In the end, was I still the foolish one?!”

She stood up, put away the skirt-suppressing blade she had once lent him, as well as the locust wood sword she had borrowed from him, and then, imitating that fool, she began to walk while practicing her punches, muttering to herself, “I, Ning Yao, with one hand, can beat five hundred Sword Immortal Chen Ping Ans!”

She stopped, turned around, and looked towards the desolate world, crossing her arms, her face radiant. “I’m just asking, are you afraid?!”

The old Sword Immortal Chen Qingdu chuckled, well, if there really was such a day, who in the world wouldn’t be afraid?

Back then, by the Tian Que Peak ferry.

Jiang Shangzhen asked Chen Ping An one last small question.

“Why do you care about the Qinghu Palace disciples’ opinions? And what was that… were you trying to leave them with a good impression? What’s the point? Is it worth it?”

Of course, Jiang Shangzhen could see through the deceptive camouflage, recognizing the unusual nature of the Dharma Robe, Golden Dew Elixir, and Sword-Nourishing Gourd.

But what truly intrigued Jiang Shangzhen was the white jade hairpin Chen Ping An wore in his hair, made of ordinary material.

He paid a little attention and noticed eight small seal characters engraved on the jade hairpin.

“Thinking of this Gentleman, as warm as jade.”