Chapter 2

The long river of time continued its leisurely flow beyond this small world. At the edge of the firmament, the friction and collision between the two sets of world rules erupted in dazzling, iridescent colors.

Chen Pingan and the Sword Spirit sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the edge of the ruined city wall, their legs dangling in the air.

Chen Pingan glanced down at his abdomen. The bleeding had stopped, and the wound had mostly healed, but the jumbled mess of his internal organs still throbbed with pain.

Even a glancing blow from a lifebound weapon of a Celestial Ascension Realm cultivator—far from a full-powered strike—had unimaginable repercussions, piercing through Chen Pingan’s abdomen.

In the distance, everyone stood frozen in place.

The teaching matriarch, whose lifebound sword had been shattered, was the most peculiar. She swayed ever so slightly, a pathetic sight to behold.

Sun Jiashu had been knocked unconscious by his ancestor and was now supported by an old steward.

Most people wore expressions of grim satisfaction.

According to the Sword Spirit, Zheng Dafeng’s spine had been broken, and the pure Qi cultivated by a Ninth Realm martial artist had dissipated completely, rendering him a cripple. However, his physical foundation remained, equivalent to that of a Fifth or Sixth Realm martial artist. Zheng Dafeng had been sent to Dusty Apothecary by Literary Saint, his life secured. But even if he recovered from his sickbed, his remaining days would be a living hell.

She also mentioned that Old Scholar had said he would clean up the mess, ensuring Chen Pingan wouldn’t suffer. Whatever Du Mao had gained, he would have to return tenfold. Moreover, the matter wasn’t so simple.

Together, they gazed at the vault of the small world. The Sword Spirit suddenly said, “I must leave. Sharpening my sword cannot be delayed any longer.”

Chen Pingan recalled something and said softly, “I have an oil-paper umbrella that can conceal the heavenly secrets. Immortal Sister, take it. According to what you said, even Literary Saint’s adversary has spoken up. At the very least, I won’t encounter old monsters like Du Mao again. As long as it’s not an Upper Five Realm cultivator, I can handle it, and I won’t provoke them. This time, Old Dragon City helping Zheng Dafeng was an exception.”

She hummed in agreement, reaching out to pat Chen Pingan’s head. “Very well. You haven’t given me anything before.”

Chen Pingan blinked.

She said matter-of-factly, “Are you referring to the Dragon Slaying Platform in your basket when crossing the bridge? That wasn’t a gift; I stole it.”

Chen Pingan laughed, “Immortal Sister, what do you want? The oil-paper umbrella doesn’t count. I’ll give you something else. I’ve traveled far and will continue to do so. Maybe I’ll find something you like.”

She turned sideways, then leaned back, smiling. “Aren’t you afraid that girl will get angry?”

Chen Pingan smiled brightly. “I’ll just let her beat me up then.”

She tapped Chen Pingan’s forehead lightly with her fingers. “Young man, you’ve grown up.”

Chen Pingan also turned sideways, gesturing to compare their heights, and happily said, “Right?”

She bumped Chen Pingan’s shoulder lightly with her own, asking with a smile, “You like that girl a lot? How much?”

Chen Pingan pondered, a slight blush rising on his pale face. He supported himself with his hands on the ground, looking into the distance, and said shyly, “I’m too embarrassed to say.”

She tutted, “Oh, my, oh, my, I might just get jealous.”

Chen Pingan continued to gaze into the distance, shaking his head. “No, you won’t. Immortal Sister is the best.”

The tall woman stood up, laughing. “Let’s go get the umbrella at the apothecary. Oh, right, the corpse on the ground is Du Mao’s Yang Spirit doppelganger. We can collect it. It’s still a body of a Twelfth Realm immortal, and can be sold for money.”

Chen Pingan glanced at the “Du Mao” on the ground.

She chuckled, “It can be sold for a lot of money. Someone can even inhabit it, like Cui Chan of Great Li.”

Chen Pingan stored it in his Spatial Ring.

She smiled knowingly.

Although Chen Pingan’s Qi reservoirs were in a terrible state, his movements were unimpeded. However, he was in no condition to fight. His current strength was probably inferior to his initial Third Realm martial cultivation.

Chen Pingan stood up, looking down at his tattered Golden Nectar Dharma Robe, feeling more heartache than physical pain. The Sword Spirit held the three Dragon Slaying Platforms she had first stored in a plain white jade token from Chen Pingan’s Spatial Ring, and laughed, “It’s okay; it can be repaired. Just a few bags of gold refined copper. Perhaps it can even be elevated to the grade of a semi-immortal weapon. Old Yang has to give some, and that Du-whatever-his-name-is also has to be made to give some.”

Chen Pingan nodded.

She strode forward, walking through the breached city wall. “Don’t be discouraged. The end of the Great Dao is still far away. I’ll still be by your side then.”

Chen Pingan hurried to catch up. She grabbed Chen Pingan’s shoulder, leaped out of the hole, and, following Chen Pingan’s directions, flew towards the Dusty Apothecary in Old Dragon City’s inner city.

Since Old Scholar hadn’t lifted the restrictions on Old Dragon City, everything remained silent.

Landing in the alley outside the apothecary, Pei Qian, with her Walking Mountain Staff, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. After performing her self-created Demonic Swordplay, she realized that the Zhao Surname Yin Spirit was as still as a wooden puppet, unresponsive to her calls. The black smoke was like an ice pick, and she couldn’t even pull a wisp of it loose with both hands. Finally, she dropped the Walking Mountain Staff, squatted on the ground, and cried, hugging her head. After crying, she ran out of the alley like a madwoman, but stopped at the corner of the street, remembering Chen Pingan’s instructions. So, she hesitated there, then squatted down again, crying her heart out, calling out for both father and master, until her voice was hoarse. Unable to cry any more, she slapped the talisman on her forehead to embolden herself, and with a tear-stained face, was about to take that step to find Chen Pingan!

Then, a familiar voice sounded behind her, “Come back.”

Pei Qian turned around and saw Chen Pingan smiling at her. She was both aggrieved and overjoyed, running towards Chen Pingan, crying and laughing, and hugged him tightly.

The tall woman stood behind Chen Pingan, finding the scene amusing, as if it were something familiar to her.

As for the strangeness in the dark-skinned girl’s eyes, her background and vision made her more aware of its significance than anyone else.

This phenomenon was called Eyes Containing Sun and Moon.

Of course, it wasn’t the “orthodox” Sun and Moon of the Grand Azure World, but the essence of the Sun and Moon from certain blessed lands. Even so, a Ninth Realm martial artist or a Land Immortal couldn’t bear such immense fortune.
The lass’s unscathed state held no allure for her. What strange happenings or wondrous beings hadn’t she witnessed? They were so numerous she’d grown numb to them. Countless were those who’d perished beneath that old sword of hers.

Pei Qian finally beheld the tall woman in white, her eyes widening, her expression blank.

The Sword Spirit chuckled, telling Chen Ping’an, “Such a pure martial arts prodigy is rare in this world these days. Why aren’t you teaching her?”

Chen Ping’an pressed down on Pei Qian’s small head. “I was worried she’d be reckless if she learned martial arts, causing trouble. But from now on, I’ll teach her myself.”

Pei Qian began to retreat involuntarily.

She was beside herself, likely unaware of her own actions.

The Sword Spirit narrowed her eyes. “Seems it wasn’t just some newly discovered blessed land found by the Confucian school. Could it be one that I personally struck down into the mortal realm back then?”

Chen Ping’an looked utterly bewildered.

The Sword Spirit laughed. “No need to understand all this yet. Old news. It vexes me when I think about it.”

She turned first, heading towards the apothecary.

Pei Qian finally snapped out of it, timidly hiding behind Chen Ping’an.

The oil-paper umbrella, dubbed a “Wutong Fan” by the old Daoist of the Eastern Sea, leaned against the doorway. She bent down, picked it up, and instantly unfurled it, causing a jade token to fall out – the very token of direct lineage from the Taiping Mountain Ancestral Hall.

She glanced at it in her hand, then crushed it into dust. “What useless junk.”

Chen Ping’an stomped his foot, hurrying to say, “I still needed to return that to Taiping Mountain!”

The Sword Spirit smiled. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? No matter. Just tell them I broke it and have that Taiping Mountain come to Lizhu Grotto-Heaven to find me. I’ll compensate them.”

*If they dare accept it,* she mused.

Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “Forget it. I’ll write a letter to that Old Celestial Sovereign of Taiping Mountain. It should be fine.”

She nodded, holding the umbrella. “Then I’ll be going.”

A thousand words crowded Chen Ping’an’s throat, but he didn’t know where to begin. In the end, he only smiled and nodded.

She walked up to Chen Ping’an, bent slightly, and touched her forehead to his, whispering, “Chen Ping’an, meeting you is my good fortune.”

With that, she held the oil-paper umbrella and transformed into a streak of snow-white light, piercing through the firmament above Old Dragon City, shattering the cloud sea where Fan Junmao lay prostrate. After a brief pause, she returned north towards the Dragon-Slaying Platform in Lizhu Grotto-Heaven.

At the entrance of the apothecary, Pei Qian tugged on Chen Ping’an’s sleeve, trembling. “That was the most impressive immortal sister I’ve ever seen! I didn’t even dare flatter her to her face.”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “There’s always someone stronger, a sky beyond the heavens. That’s why you can’t be arrogant after learning martial arts.”

Pei Qian nodded vigorously, then suddenly asked, “She’s *that* girl, right? Next time I see her, should I call her ‘Mother’?”

Chen Ping’an, about to step over the threshold, stumbled.

Pei Qian realized, “Ah, it’s ‘Shimu’!”

Chen Ping’an quickly turned around, covering the kid’s mouth, his eyes wide. “Don’t say such things!”

Pei Qian blinked. “Not aloud, but in my heart?”

Chen Ping’an, his face darkening, pulled her ear. Pei Qian tilted her head, tiptoeing and whimpering, as Chen Ping’an dragged her to the courtyard behind the apothecary before finally releasing her.

Pei Qian crouched on the ground, rubbing her ear.

Chen Ping’an went alone to Zheng Dafeng’s chamber in the main house, finding the man lying in bed, unconscious, his external injuries stabilized.

But he was in far worse condition than Chen Ping’an had been. Chen Ping’an had broken through using the peak posture of Planting Autumn and the “Correcting Great Dragon” fist during his time in Lotus Flower Blessed Land. This man on the bed, however, had his entire Great Dragon spine shattered.

Chen Ping’an moved a chair and sat in the dim room, staring blankly at Zheng Dafeng.

Pei Qian tiptoed to the entrance of the chamber, and, seeing the scene, hesitated before quietly leaving.

She sat on the steps, her hands supporting her chin.

She had never seen Chen Ping’an so… sorrowful.

She felt a little sad too, blowing at the yellow talisman on her forehead.

The talisman wouldn’t blow away, and neither would the sadness.

Is this what it’s like when someone grows up?

In an instant, the flow of time in Vast Heaven, coursing along the southern edge of Treasure Bottle洲 Continent, normalized, pouring into Old Dragon City from all directions.

But apart from Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators, these worldly immortals, most people were oblivious to this subtle shift.

Moments later, the astute individuals of Old Dragon City finally realized something was amiss.

Chen Ping’an’s disappearance was somewhat normal, given that his abdomen had been pierced by the Sword-Swallowing Boat before he vanished from sight. But the absence of both Du Mao and Zheng Dafeng was harder to explain.

Moreover, unexpected events had occurred among those observing from afar.

For example, the Fu family was most alarmed. The most invincible instructor in Old Dragon City, and, in Treasure Bottle洲 Continent’s eyes, the “Number One of Tongye Continent,” had collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness on the spot, blood flowing freely.

It was a terrifying scene, clearly indicating a fundamental injury to her Dao foundation.

Fu Qi swept over from the Dragon Ascent Platform, squatted down, his face grim. He was utterly perplexed, blaming the existence of Fan Junmao. If not for him, he would not have been kept in the dark today and would certainly have been able to discern the secrets of the earlier anomalies. After examining the condition of the elderly Yunlin Jiang clan woman, he was even more horrified. Her natal flying sword had been destroyed? But Fu Qi didn’t reveal this secret, saying calmly, “Some injuries. We’ll return to the mansion to discuss it.”

Fu Nanhua looked towards the city walls, where Chen Ping’an was no longer visible. Was he dead somewhere outside the city, or…?

Fu Donghai and Fu Chunhua exchanged glances once more.

Seeing the once-invincible instructor “suffering some injuries” was good news for the two, who were reluctant to give up their ambition for the position of city lord.

Fu Nanhua asked softly, “The aftermath?”

Fu Qi shook his head. “Don’t bother with it. It’s not important. Let’s go back and figure out what happened and why Du Mao disappeared. We won’t enter through the east gate. We’ll enter the city through the south gate.”

The Fu family, now undeniably the top power in Old Dragon City and certain to unify it, chose to detour and enter the city through the south gate.

The most clueless person was naturally Du Yan, the direct descendant of the Ascension Realm Du Mao, rubbing his eyes. Where was his ancestor?! Where?!
His wife, Madam Ding, possessed only mediocre aptitude for cultivation, yet displayed a composure surpassing even Du Yan, a Golden Core realm cultivator at the peak of his power. “In Tongye Continent, our founding patriarchs could reign supreme. What threat could this small Bottleneck Continent possibly pose?”

Du Yan nodded, grasping her hand and smiling. “I lost my composure. Once this matter is settled, our Tongye Sect will use Old Dragon City as a springboard, spreading our net northward, absorbing the various Immortal Sects along the way. Those who submit to our Tongye Sect will prosper, while those who resist will perish. I will be responsible for one of the routes, while you can remain as the matriarch of the Ding Clan. From now on, Old Dragon City will only recognize the Fu and Ding surnames.”

The woman smiled charmingly.

Outside Old Dragon City, the three major clans – Ding, Fang, and Hou – had all dispatched their family retainers to intercept Zheng Dafeng and his party.

This was a spur-of-the-moment arrangement by the Fu Clan, catching them somewhat unprepared. Ideally, it shouldn’t have been so rushed and blatant. Instead, they should have organized three waves – one outside the city, one in the outer city, and one in the inner city – each acting in a manner more “befitting their status,” leaving no clear evidence to be held against them. However, since the Fu Clan was willing to abandon all pretense, and considering that their alliance of four great clans had already been fractured by Sun Jia Shu of the Sun Clan and Du Yan of the Ding Clan defecting to the Fu Clan, they had no leverage to bargain. Becoming vassals of the Fu Clan and scavenging the leftovers from their table was far better than being uprooted entirely tonight.

Among the Fang Clan’s contingent, one young scion remained oblivious to the shifting tides, still anticipating the grand feast that night. He dreamed of forcing all the women from the Dustwind Apothecary to reveal themselves, stripping off an article of clothing for every cup of wine they were made to drink.

After consulting amongst themselves, the leaders of the three clans decided to follow the Fu Clan to the southern gate. As for the retainers and guest elders responsible for the ambush, they would not restrain them for now. They presumed that after taking the heads, they would naturally rendezvous with them within the city.

Above the sea of clouds, Fan Junmao slowly awoke, having indeed fallen from the Nascent Soul realm back to the Golden Core stage.

Yet, she harbored no resentment. After a hearty laugh, she glanced at the path of the Ascension Platform below, where sporadic fighting still raged. Frowning, she clutched her heart and pointed downwards with two fingers.

Within the sea of clouds, pillars of light descended one after another.

Having drawn upon the fundamental qi of the sea of clouds, Fan Junmao’s attack possessed a force comparable to a common Nascent Soul cultivator.

The already decimated ranks of retainers and guest elders, now numbering only five or six, were each pierced through the skull by the beams of light.

Of the Fan Clan’s coachmen who had volunteered as suicidal warriors, only one remained.

Of the four who had dismounted the carriage, only Lu Baixiang, covered in blood, and Wei Xian, wearing the Nectar Armor and the least injured, ultimately boarded the carriage once more.

The Madman of War, Zhu Lian, was dead.

Even Sui Youbian had perished in battle.

Lu Baixiang retrieved the Sword of Infatuation, meticulously stabbing each corpse through the heart before returning to the carriage.

Within Old Dragon City, the reclusive cultivator who could previously engage in astral projection during moments of suspended time – a diminutive old man disguised as a wealthy merchant – stood beneath a tree, doubled over in laughter, tears streaming down his face.

“This is truly gratifying!”

In the past millennium, the old man had not laughed so heartily.

“Du Mao, that old deviant, has finally met his match!”

His original intention in crossing continents northward was merely to relax and meet a fellow cultivator. Never did he expect to witness such a delightful event.

This figure, famous throughout Tongye Continent and highly regarded by various small and medium-sized Immortal Sects in Bottleneck Continent, especially by the female cultivators, was known as the “One-Inch Spear.” He was a generous patron of the mountains, and he and a certain mountain豪客from the Invincible Divine Fist Sect, who called himself “Jade Faced Young Lord,” often competed and brawled for the affection of certain仙子 during illusions, of course not real fights, but砸钱, and it wasn’t just 雪花钱, but 小暑钱!

The old man composed himself, saying seriously, “Today is a good day, I can no longer be stingy, and I must suppress that guy, I must be豪氣, I must show the should have imposing manner! I can’t let that guy be arrogant anymore. It’s just a pity for Fairy Su Jia of Zhengyang Mountain, such a good, beautiful, and fairy-like girl, I originally wanted to make a trip to Zhengyang Mountain to send a magic weapon, but it’s a pity, a regret… and also He Xiaoliang of Shengao Sect, why did He Daxianzi leave Bottleneck Continent? I also wanted to run to see her, even if I just took a look from a distance, that would be good…”

Inside a side room of the Dustwind Apothecary.

Chen Ping’an remained seated in his chair, hearing that even if the man in the hospital bed could stand and walk again, he would be a hunchback for the rest of his days.

Forever hunched over.

Already slovenly, and his appearance was not正周.

He recalled the days when he stood at the entrance, watching those mountain immortals enter the town, the lazy汉子啧啧惊叹, “The thighs of that woman just now can夹死人”.

On that day, the thin teenager didn’t understand the meaning of the joke, so he asked, “Has that lady practiced martial arts?”

At that time, the seemingly ordinary汉子 was already an Eight-Realm Martial Artist.

Today.

Chen Ping’an said hoarsely, “Zheng Dafeng, I have traveled so far and met many people in the Jianghu, but you are the one with the strongest bones and the straightest spine. I’m sorry, I’m really sorry…”

At this moment, the former gatekeeper of the small town lay silently in the blood-soaked bedding.

Beyond the isolated island ferry of Old Dragon City, at sea, the little Taoist boy standing atop a giant golden gourd was pitifully extending his hands, being “paddled” with a tree branch that a poor old scholar had picked up from who knows where.

The little Taoist boy’s eyes were red, lamenting, “Literary Sage, this really isn’t my fault. I didn’t harm Chen Ping’an this time in Old Dragon City. He brought this upon himself by provoking Du Mao. I couldn’t even deduce it! What realm is Du Mao in? I can’t just go to Old Dragon City and throw my life away, you hitting me is not in accordance with the rules… Ouch! It hurts, it hurts…”

The old scholar was fine until he heard this complaint, but after hearing this, he became even angrier and struck even harder. “You ungrateful little bastard, who did you call brother back then? Who embraced you? Hmm? You scold your mother after eating with chopsticks? You were taught crooked by the smelly Taoist priests, I’ll straighten you out! You still dare to dodge? Stand still, stand straight, extend your hand!”

The little Taoist boy obediently extended his hand, unable to dodge anywhere. He wailed, “Literary Sage, if you continue like this, I’ll go complain to my master. You’re so biased towards Chen Ping’an, my master will also be biased towards me…”
The old scholar fumed, “You dare to talk back! How could I not know what wicked schemes are brewing in the mind of that stinking Daoist?! Like teacher, like disciple. If I don’t beat some sense into you today, I’ll change my surname to yours!”

The little Daoist wailed, “Venerable Sage of Literature, we already share the same surname! Even if we weren’t family, consider our shared ancestry and show some mercy…”

The old scholar snorted, discarding the tree branch. “After you move to the Azure Vault Heaven, cause less trouble! With your petty cleverness, you’ll only bring disaster upon yourself. Those Daoists in the White Jade City, with their Twelve Towers and Five Great Cities, their immortals are free and unfettered, which also means they don’t abide by rules like we do in the Blessed Land. The thing they dislike most is restraint.”

The little Daoist plopped down on the golden gourd, wiped his tears, and vigorously shook his hands. Lifting his head, he asked curiously, “Master didn’t say anything about going to that realm.”

The old scholar glared. “What do you know?!”

The little Daoist replied with an “Oh, I know nothing, and then I know you are the Sage of Literature…”

The old scholar chuckled, grabbing another branch drifting away with the tide. The little Daoist stood up, straightened his posture, extended his hands, and braced himself for another round of smacks.

The little Daoist wished he were dead.

This unremarkable twig, held in the hands of this old pauper, was no less fearsome than a sword immortal’s flying blade.

The old scholar glanced southwest, tossed aside the branch, and slapped the little Daoist’s head. “Scram! And keep a low profile from now on.”

The golden gourd drifted away. Standing on it, the little Daoist suddenly turned his back to the old scholar, bent over, wiggled his behind, and turned his head to make a face.

The old scholar extended a finger, lightly twisting it. *Whoosh!* The twig struck the little Daoist right on the buttock.

The little Daoist pulled out the twig and threw it away, hopping as he urged the sword-nourishing gourd beneath him to speed away.

It seemed that this time, his appearance had greatly angered the old pauper, who was now venting on him.

The little Daoist wiped his face, his young mind filled with resentment. “The old man enraged me! I won’t call you ‘brother’ anymore!”

*Whoosh!*

The twig struck the other buttock.

The old scholar sent the little rascal on his way, then vanished towards the southwest.

Sword Qi soared into the sky.

The sea trembled.

Without a word, the old scholar exploded with rage, leaping forward to slap the sword cultivator’s forehead. Not satisfied, he continued to slap him again and again. “You useless piece of trash! You couldn’t protect Little Qi, fine, I’ll grant you an excuse, a reason. You were far away, you didn’t know the situation in the Li Zhu Grotto Heaven. Fine! But now you can’t even protect your junior brother right under your nose! You neglect your studies and all you do is practice swordsmanship! What’s the use of practicing the sword?! Do you know that Chen Pingan has been harmed twice because of you? Once his Dao-heart was affected by you, and the second time you rashly gifted him a Twelfth Realm demon core. Chen Pingan almost, just almost, suffered an unwarranted calamity! Du Mao, have you heard of him?! A shameless Ascended Realm dog blocked Chen Pingan in Old Dragon City. Your junior brother is only a Fifth Realm martial artist! He went specifically for your junior brother! All that talk about participating in the Grand Li’s schemes for the sect, and testing the Old Divine Sovereign, is all nonsense! He just wanted to kill Chen Pingan!”

In front of outsiders, even the little Daoist, or even those two Confucian scholars guarding the celestial barrier, the old scholar’s anger was always measured. At the very least, he wouldn’t reveal it so directly.

But in front of this sword cultivator, he held nothing back.

The sword cultivator stood unmoving, allowing the old scholar, who was much shorter than him, to jump and slap his head again and again.

While hitting him, the old scholar cursed, “And you? You just pat your butt and leave! You Zuo You are so carefree! Qi Jingchun was never as carefree as you in his entire life, and this junior brother is even less so! No one is as carefree as you! If you’re so carefree, why don’t you ascend to heaven and scram?!”

Zuo You stood his ground, neither retaliating nor arguing back.

Because this was the first time in his life that he had seen his teacher so angry and disappointed.

Even during the time he was imprisoned in the Hall of Merit in the academy, when Zuo You was by his side, his teacher still smiled and didn’t think of it as a hardship.

Even when the statues of the sages in the Confucian temple were repeatedly moved, taken out, and smashed.

His teacher still didn’t care. He truly didn’t care, and he wasn’t just pretending to be relaxed.

He knew his teacher was never that kind of person.

Zuo You asked calmly, “Teacher, what should I do?”

“You finally remember that you’re my disciple? How did I deal with that Central Earth Five Peaks Deity back then? Now you have reason on your side, and you have your sword… What do you say you should do?”

The old scholar leaped up again and slapped Zuo You’s head, pointing towards the northernmost part of Tong Ye Continent. “Go and screw him up!”

Zuo You replied with an “Oh.”

And went south.

With the sword cultivator and his sword Qi, the sea split into two halves.