The rain carried an unusual sinister aura. Chen Ping An’s revelation was the key to silencing the two factions of Jianghu grandees in the stone cave. It wasn’t the well-meaning advice about not taking narrow paths, nor the lamp talisman he displayed, but a single sentence: “The old immortals of Golden Cassia Temple haven’t made a move yet.”

This implied that Golden Cassia Temple was either planning a deliberate feint, luring enemies out, or they were facing an overwhelming force, forced to retreat into the temple and avoid confrontation.

Regardless of the reason, these conflicts between immortals were not something the Rouge Pavilion woman from Cloudsoar Kingdom wanted to risk her life for, even with some goodwill between them. As for Zhu Fengxian, the old fiend who once stirred up a storm of blood and violence in several kingdoms, he was a seasoned and prudent individual. He climbed the mountain this time to build a ladder for his granddaughter to cultivate and ascend to immortality, while Golden Cassia Temple could take the opportunity to acquire a promising disciple. Both sides would benefit. The Great Marsh Gang didn’t want to be a pawn for the Golden Summit Temple Taoists.

Chen Ping An returned to his original spot. Pei Qian, ever the sycophant, conjured up a small stone slab from somewhere to serve as a stool for Chen Ping An. She knelt on the ground, vigorously wiping away the mud with her hands, while looking up and consoling, “Master, you still have a grand demeanor. It’s just that the finale had a few flaws, but they can be ignored.”

The term “finale” was something she picked up from observing Lu Baixiang playing chess. Living with the four individuals in the painting, Pei Qian had learned quite a few things. From Old Wei, she learned the battle formations and tactics: “On the battlefield, there’s no such thing as a ‘single file formation’ or ‘dragon gate formation.’ It’s just about setting ranks and aligning columns. In the end, it’s all about individual skills, a chaotic clash of blades.” From Little Bai, she learned some rules of qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. From Zhu Lian, she learned a few recipes for appetizers. Zhu Lian, seeing that she was often helpful and hardworking, gave her a Jianghu chivalry novel, which she devoured. She also learned a lot of Jianghu slang from Sui Youbian, such as “If you want to pass, leave your life’s wealth behind” and “Beware, you thieving scoundrel, take my spear!”

Zhang Shanfeng glanced at the rain curtain outside, worried, and said softly, “Such heavy, long-lasting yin rain is something even cultivators in the Sea Gazing Realm might not be able to withstand, unless they had prepared a rain-inducing formation long ago. But such a feat, if it’s truly induced by a formation, rather than one’s own Taoist techniques, would be like scattering paper money from the heavens. Therefore, a Dragon Gate Realm cultivator is more likely. I wonder what realm the Golden Cassia Temple Taoist is in, and whether they can cope with this yin rain that affects the mountain and river’s luck.”

Zhang Shanfeng’s voice wasn’t loud, but Zhu Fengxian and the Rouge Pavilion old woman were both martial arts grandmasters and could hear clearly if they paid attention. Zhu Fengxian didn’t mind “eavesdropping” and smiled at the old woman, “Since Rouge Pavilion has a good relationship with Golden Cassia Temple, you must know the extent of the abbot’s immortal arts, right?”

The old woman hesitated for a moment, then nodded, “It is said that Abbot Zhang Guo is already two hundred years old, with the Dragon Gate Realm cultivation, like a dragon in the clouds, summoning wind and rain.”

Zhu Fengxian frowned, “Wasn’t the recent widely circulated Jianghu rumor that Zhang Guo had been in seclusion for decades and had successfully emerged, ascending to the legendary Land Immortal?”

The old woman smiled bitterly, “A golden core Earth Immortal is so transcendent, why would they still accept disciples? They would focus on cultivating, aiming straight for the Great Dao. If it were Helper Zhu, would you still be willing to pick up money in a muddy pond if you became an immortal? Even if there were gold and silver in the mud, we Jianghu people might covet it and bend down to touch it, but would the immortals on the mountain covet it? However, it’s true that Abbot Zhang Guo has the potential of a Land Immortal, you don’t need to doubt that. It’s only a matter of time. Your granddaughter’s apprenticeship to Zhang Guo and cultivation in Golden Cassia Temple will not have a bad future.”

Zhu Fengxian nodded, his expression slightly better.

Zhu Fengxian, a seventh-realm martial artist, would be wary of a Dragon Gate Realm cultivator, but he would definitely not be afraid. He had killed a number of Cave Mansion Realm and Sea Gazing Realm cultivators.

But for a Dragon Gate Realm Taoist who has a promising future as a golden core Earth Immortal, Zhu Fengxian is willing to show enough respect. He is qualified enough to be his granddaughter’s master.

The Great Marsh Gang will definitely take out a sum of tribute money every year, sending it secretly to this Golden Cassia Temple on Green Yao Mountain.

Zhang Shanfeng sighed inwardly. It’s not that the people on the mountain don’t know about mountain affairs. The immortals in the minds of Zhu Fengxian and the Rouge Pavilion old woman are too aloof, not touching the dirt. How about a golden core Earth Immortal, don’t they need to accumulate wealth diligently? Cultivation is the world’s biggest bottomless pit of money. It’s just that most Earth Immortals, except for the mountain hermits who are used to being leisurely, the great cultivators who possess mountain caves, do not need to handle mundane affairs themselves. Their disciples will handle the relationships, and they only need to focus on cultivating. In this way, the Rouge Pavilion old woman barely guessed half of it right.

Just then, deep in the mountains within the distant rain curtain, there was a sudden flash of lightning and thunder, the earth trembled, the wind and rain skewed, and there was a roar like a lion’s roar, one after another.

After a moment, the anomaly stopped, and only the heavy rain remained in the world.

About an incense stick later, Sui Youbian, Zhu Lian, and Zhu Fengxian in the stone cave, almost at the same time, looked up at the outside of the stone cave.

Zhu Fengxian’s expression was normal, but his heart tightened.

Among the young immortal master’s entourage, there were actually two people with a keen intuition no less than his own?

You must know that he is one of the four grandmasters of the Azure Luan, Celebration Mountain, and Cloudsoar Kingdoms. Although the fight with the immortals thirty years ago damaged some of his martial arts foundations, after thirty years of healing, he still hasn’t recovered to the peak of his martial arts. He has become the bottom of the four grandmasters, but a tiger dies but does not fall. He is not considered down and out. It’s just that he has retreated from second to fourth place. He is still a well-deserved grandmaster.

This grand Buddhist and Taoist event for three consecutive years has attracted many hidden cultivators, but there are only a handful of top experts in the Jianghu. Some of the so-called small grandmasters are just seventh-realm martial artists with empty names. Their foundations are weak. If they really fight to the death, they can’t withstand a few punches from the four of them.
Why such a gathering after this chance encounter in the mountains? Besides the stunningly beautiful sword-bearing woman, the seemingly affable hunchbacked old man, the dignified saber-wielding man, and the taciturn, capable fellow, all clearly formidable martial artists, this was the only reason why Zhu Fengxian had begun to truly take Chen Ping’an seriously. As the saying goes, clouds follow dragons, wind follows tigers. If this young immortal master were merely some insignificant wretch, how could he possibly command such masters of martial arts?

The heavy rain gradually subsided.

Through the diminishing rain curtain, a group of young Daoists and junior acolytes arrived together. The leading Daoist from Golden Cassia Temple possessed a face like polished jade, his smile captivating. The Daoists behind him each carried an oiled paper umbrella, except for the foremost Daoist, who bore nothing in his hands. Upon entering the stone cave, he folded his drenched umbrella with graceful composure, exuding a refined air unlike the ostentatious wealth of a noble scion. He looked upon the assembled group and said with a gentle smile, “Demonic entities have been at play, attempting to damage the landscape of my Golden Cassia Temple with陰 energy and rain. There is no need to panic, everyone. Our Abbot, along with two esteemed friends from afar, has already vanquished them with their divine powers. You may now ascend the mountain with me in peace. Those demons have all been captured and brought to justice, with none escaping the net.”

The old woman from Rouge Atelier cast a furtive glance at the young maiden “Qingcheng.” Her eyes were filled with barely restrained excitement. Earlier, when she heard the thunderous roar, she had already harbored a hopeful guess. Her heart was now surging with emotion. If it were true, Qingcheng, on whom the sect had placed such high hopes, would face no further obstacles in her pursuit of apprenticeship. Hearing the handsome Daoist confirm that the “Abbot’s esteemed friends had lent their aid,” the old woman was overcome with emotion as she thought of the divine countenance on the hanging scroll treasured by her own ancestral master. In her final moments, as life ebbed away, the ancestral master had made the young woman and her senior apprentice hold the scroll open at each end, so that she might gaze one last time upon the man depicted in the portrait.

The reason they had undertaken this arduous journey to escort “Qingcheng” up the mountain to cultivate Daoism was a message sent from that divine man to Rouge Atelier. In over a hundred years, this was the first time he had deigned to address the Atelier even briefly. The entire sect was overjoyed beyond measure.

The handsome Daoist, radiating an otherworldly elegance, smiled and said, “These oiled paper umbrellas may seem ordinary, but their handles are crafted from fragrant cassia branches imbued with spiritual energy by our temple’s predecessors. They can ward off demonic winds and baleful rains. Whether traversing mountain forests, entering lakes, or walking alone through graveyards at night, holding our temple’s cassia branch umbrella will ensure you are not troubled by malevolent spirits. Upon encountering this umbrella, they will naturally retreat and flee. The Abbot, concerned that there may be family members or vulnerable individuals within your groups who have not practiced martial arts, specifically instructed us to descend the mountain and distribute these umbrellas.”

He then distributed over a dozen cassia branch umbrellas, a special product of Golden Cassia Temple.

A young Daoist, with rosy lips and pearly teeth, had noticed Pei Qian, the only person of similar age, long ago. As soon as his junior uncle gave the word to distribute the umbrellas, he eagerly ran towards the dark-skinned little girl, offering her the cassia branch umbrella in his hand with a wide grin.

Pei Qian did not particularly care for this so-called Golden Cassia Temple “little broken umbrella.” However, Chen Ping’an was standing nearby, so “sect rules and family laws” had to be observed. She politely declined the young Daoist’s oiled paper umbrella and then dutifully thanked the little fellow.

The young Daoist seemed concerned, saying that this rain should not be underestimated. It was most likely to harm a person’s yang energy. People with weak constitutions or those with weak fates could easily develop a root of illness, which would not be cured by medicine later. Anyway, the umbrella was merely lent to them by the temple, free of charge, so why refuse it? The cassia branch handle was not heavy, anyway.

Pei Qian desperately wanted to roll her eyes.

Watching the adorable young Daoist earnestly explaining the dangers of the rain to Pei Qian, Chen Ping’an smiled, rubbed Pei Qian’s head, told her to accept the umbrella, and then looked towards the handsome Daoist. “Esteemed Daoist, I heard that your temple is opening its doors to accept disciples. I wonder if those of us who happened to arrive from afar can ascend the mountain and observe this grand event, even if it might be a disturbance?”

The handsome Daoist smiled and nodded. “Of course you may. After ascending the mountain, you only need to obtain a small booklet and pay attention to the prohibitions and rules written within.”

The young Daoist immediately turned to the handsome Daoist and called out, “Junior Uncle, I have memorized everything in the booklet! How about I explain them to this gentleman?”

The handsome Daoist smiled. “If this gentleman is willing to listen to your chatter, then you may accompany him up the mountain.”

Chen Ping’an cupped his fist in thanks to the two Daoists, one big and one small, and said with a smile, “Thank you, Daoist. I appreciate the trouble, young Daoist.”

Chen Ping’an turned to look at Xu Yuanxia and Zhang Shanfeng, who nodded slightly, indicating that there was no issue with ascending the mountain and entering the temple.

Having made up her mind, Xu Yuanxia was even somewhat delighted. Golden Cassia Temple had been closed to outsiders for many years, preventing them from admiring its splendor. There were rumors circulating in the Qingluan Kingdom that the Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers and the Sweet Osmanthus Falling to the Ground at White Water Temple originated from the thousand-year-old cassia trees behind Golden Cassia Temple. It was even said that a celestial being traveling the world descended, graced the temple with their presence, pointed a finger at the cassia trees, and declared with the authority of a divine pronouncement, “They are planted in this realm.”

The yellow earthen ox had not even entered the stone cave earlier, being an妖 creature. Given the recent events, the Daoist cultivators might be suspicious. If it were to attract the scrutiny of Golden Cassia Temple, Chen Ping’an would have to explain much. Fortunately, the yellow ox was also well-versed in the conflicts of the mountains. From afar, it informed Chen Ping’an through telepathy that it would wait underground near the foot of the mountain. Unless a land immortal inspected the area, it was unlikely to be discovered. Chen Ping’an instructed it to be careful and, should any situation arise, to simply run towards Green Yao Mountain, where he would step forward and clarify things.

The temple was located on the summit of Green Yao Mountain. The road was muddy and climbing was not easy. From the foot of the mountain to the temple gate, the narrow path was only wide enough for three people to walk side by side. There was no hope for carriages to pass through, indicating that Golden Cassia Temple truly did not want to interact with the outside world.

When Chen Ping’an and his companions had gone to the Azure Tiger Palace on Clear Serenity Mountain, they had constructed three thousand levels of Dan steps, grander and more imposing than the imperial palace steps.

Golden Cassia Temple was not large, but it could accommodate forty to fifty Daoist cultivators. Those who brought their juniors to ascend the mountain had already hired people to build thatched huts on the mountainside of Green Yao Mountain as temporary residences. Golden Cassia Temple did not interfere with this. Some Jianghu sects, with quick wits and affiliations with the Qingluan Kingdom, saw that Golden Cassia Temple was easy to talk to and simply hired dozens of young and strong laborers on the mountainside to start construction, building structures no smaller than inns and restaurants in bustling marketplaces.
The Golden Cassia Temple was a rather uncommon wilderness shrine. According to the handsome Daoist’s casual remarks, the temple’s assets weren’t entirely owned by his lineage, and the matter of the abbot accepting disciples would be marked with a golden jade certificate issued by the Azure Luan Kingdom’s imperial court. Just being accepted as a disciple under Abbot Zhang Guo, instead of simply lodging at the Golden Cassia Temple as a wandering Daoist, meant becoming a registered immortal cultivator. Perhaps this was the fundamental reason why powerful clans and noble families were eager to bring their younger generations flocking here.

Only the grandest Daoist palaces would have the full complement of the Three Supervisors, Five Masters, and Eighteen Chief Officials. The Golden Cassia Temple, with only forty or fifty members, naturally didn’t have such elaborate arrangements. Besides Abbot Zhang Guo, there were only five or six heads, including three or two deacons and stewards. The handsome Daoist, Xu Borui, was the Drum Head of the Golden Cassia Temple, because even the smallest Daoist temples couldn’t lack the bell and drum.

If one were to speak of the largest ancestral temple under the heavens, without a doubt, it would be the Celestial Master’s Mansion on Dragon Tiger Mountain in the Central Earth Divine Continent.

The old immortal Zhang Guo of this temple was to accept disciples the day after tomorrow. Zhu Fengxian’s Great Marsh Gang, one of the biggest local powers in the Azure Luan Kingdom, had already spent over ten thousand taels of silver to build a “Summer Retreat Palace” halfway up the mountain. It stood out among the many buildings, showing that Zhu Fengxian had no doubt about his granddaughter being chosen.

Rouge Studio had also hired people to build an exquisite courtyard villa, but Daoist Xu Borui directly said, “Liu Qingcheng and Zhu Ziyang can come with me to the temple. The Golden Cassia Temple has already prepared two elegant rooms.”

Then Xu Borui smiled at Chen Pingan and said, “The temple is simple and hospitality is lacking. Currently, there are only two rooms left. If you wish to stay alone, you can come up the mountain with me now. If you don’t want to separate from your friends and have nowhere else to stay, I can help you by speaking to some acquaintances in the Azure Luan Kingdom and arrange for you to stay for a few days. It would be a good deed to build connections.”

Zhu Fengxian laughed loudly, “Daoist Xu, why bother with such trouble? Let Master Chen and his party stay with me.”

The old woman of Rouge Studio also wanted to invite Chen Pingan and his party, but since they were all women, they needed to avoid suspicion and couldn’t speak up, so they could only watch this great opportunity slip away to those uncouth warriors of the Great Marsh Gang.

The mountain rain stopped, and Chen Pingan asked Xu Borui if he could see the cassia trees at the temple today. Xu Borui smiled and said that it was no problem, but he needed to lead the way, and Chen Pingan wasn’t allowed to wander around the temple.

So Chen Pingan took Pei Qian, Zhang Shanfeng, and Xu Yuanxia, and continued climbing the mountain together. The four “painting scrolls” followed Zhu Fengxian, the “Old Devil of the Azure Luan Kingdom,” to their lodgings.

The little Daoist boy liked to get close to Pei Qian, carrying a large handful of oiled paper umbrellas in his arms. There was no other way; he was the youngest in the temple, and the others were mostly old antiques. When they opened their mouths, they had few teeth left, or they were serious Daoists like Junior Uncle Xu Borui. He finally met someone his age to chat with, so the little Daoist boy was naturally overjoyed.

Pei Qian, however, was a little impatient. Why did she have to be saddled with such a chattering little sparrow? Shouldn’t the cultivators on the mountain be like blind, mute, and deaf people?

The Rouge Studio girl, Liu Qingcheng, and Zhu Fengxian’s granddaughter, Zhu Ziyang, had left the protection of their masters and elders. The former was a little timid, while the latter feared nothing. She kept confirming the truth of some rumors about the Golden Cassia Temple with Daoist Xu Borui. Xu Borui seemed to be a gentle and detached person, answering each question without exaggeration or concealment, which made Zhu Ziyang develop a good impression of the Golden Cassia Temple.

Liu Qingcheng mustered her courage and whispered to the round-faced girl from the Great Marsh Gang, “You weren’t originally named ‘Evening,’ were you?”

Zhu Ziyang smacked her forehead, “How can there be such a naive Jianghu person like you?”

Not directly calling the oval-faced girl stupid was already Zhu Ziyang showing mercy with her words.

Zhu Ziyang glanced at the exquisite dagger at Liu Qingcheng’s waist, with the inscription “Insignificant” on the bamboo sheath, and asked with a smile, “Your dagger looks nice, can I take a look?”

Liu Qingcheng shook her head, timidly saying, “This is a relic from my Great Grand Ancestral Mistress. I can’t just give it to anyone.”

Zhu Ziyang was about to persist when Liu Borui smiled and said, “Zhu Ziyang, don’t force others to do things they don’t want to do. You should pay attention to this even if you become fellow disciples in the future.”

Zhu Ziyang had a good impression of this handsome Daoist who was one of the direct disciples of Abbot Zhang Guo. He would most likely be her “Senior Brother” at the Golden Cassia Temple, so she let go of the soft Rouge Studio girl beside her.

Liu Qingcheng gave the Daoist a grateful look, and he responded with a smile.

Chen Pingan looked at the two girls who were about to become cultivators on the mountain, and he naturally thought of the encounter in Caiyi Kingdom. A female Qi Practitioner with bells attached had fought alongside Chen Pingan, vanquishing demons and eliminating evil together. Although her cultivation was not high, she didn’t cause any trouble and was a very chivalrous girl. Later, she became a disciple of the Divine Edict Sect, envied by others. And the pair of suffering siblings he first met in the wood shed, those two children should now be considered half cultivators.

The mysteries of the world are in the eating and drinking.

When they arrived at the temple, the two lucky girls, Zhu Ziyang and Liu Qingcheng, were taken to their lodgings by the Daoist. The little Daoist boy went with his senior brothers to put away the cassia branch umbrellas. These items were extremely valuable. If they were sold to people down the mountain, Junior Uncle Xu said that they could be sold for several thousand taels of silver each. It was worthy of being a “Moon Palace” cassia branch that was cut down from the ancestral cassia tree. The little Daoist boy had many fantasies. Just a cassia branch umbrella handle was so valuable. If the six cassia trees were sold, wouldn’t their Azure Yao Mountain turn into a huge gold and silver mountain?

Xu Borui led Chen Pingan and his party alone through the not-so-large and quiet temple to the back door and went straight ahead. After the rain cleared, the view was clear and wide. They could already see the ancient and towering cassia trees with lush foliage. The one in the middle was especially towering. Each old cassia tree had its own name, and Xu Borui introduced them one by one, including which mountain expert had said what wonderful words under which tree. Xu Borui explained each one concisely and succinctly, without losing the humor.
Beneath the cassia trees lay a network of crisscrossing bluestone paths, stone tables and benches nestled in the shade. The stone table beneath the ancestral cassia tree had a chessboard etched onto its surface by the Daoist temple. Xu Borui lingered there for a moment, tracing the chessboard with his fingers, and said with a smile that the chessboard wasn’t carved with knives, but rather “measured” out by a wandering sword immortal with his sword qi. The Daoists in the temple had once carefully measured it with rulers, discovering that the horizontal and vertical distances were accurate to the millimeter. Therefore, that sword immortal must have been at least a Golden Core Sword Cultivator, and possibly even a nascent soul sword immortal, a rare figure from Treasure Bottle洲.

Speaking of this, Xu Borui’s spirits soared, and he smiled, “A long time ago, one of our predecessors in the temple, wanting to get to the bottom of things, traveled ten thousand miles to the Wind and Snow Temple, True Martial Mountain, Righteous Sun Mountain, and Wind and Thunder Garden, seeking out that sword immortal and visiting many famous sword cultivators. In the end, he came to the conclusion that it was most likely Li Tuanjing, the nascent soul leader of Treasure Bottle Continent from Wind and Thunder Garden, the Great Sword Immortal Li. Unfortunately, after that predecessor returned to the temple, he no longer had the energy to return to Wind and Thunder Garden to confirm this matter. In the hundred years that followed, it became an unsolved mystery.”

Chen Pingan chimed in, “I once saw the Wind and Thunder Garden’s Lord Li wield his sword through a celestial painting on a ferry. It was very powerful. It’s a pity that Lord Li, after settling his old scores with Righteous Sun Mountain, is said to have dissolved his cultivation. I don’t know if Wind and Thunder Garden can find the reincarnation of this sword immortal so that he can return to the mountain gate to cultivate and continue the karmic connection.”

Xu Borui exclaimed in surprise, “Great Sword Immortal Li has dissolved his cultivation and passed away?!”

It seemed that Golden Cassia Temple had indeed been somewhat detached from worldly affairs in recent centuries.

Chen Pingan smiled, “That’s what I heard, but the truth is, Great Sword Immortal Li’s cultivation was heaven-reaching. I dare not make a rash judgment. Perhaps he was just seeking an opportunity to break through the Jade Purity Realm bottleneck.”

Liu Baqiao of Wind and Thunder Garden was one of Chen Pingan’s few friends from the mountains.

Liu Baqiao once even flew his sword to chase Chen Pingan’s ferry for the sake of the fairy Su Jia, and they had met once.

Therefore, Chen Pingan knew that the matter of Li Tuanjing dissolving his cultivation was absolutely true. However, as Liu Baqiao’s friend, he certainly wouldn’t tell outsiders with certainty, using his knowledge of the inside story as a boastful topic.

But Chen Pingan, who was accustomed to seeing people through subtle details, suddenly realized that when he casually mentioned “Jade Purity Realm,” Xu Borui’s eyes showed a slight change.

Chen Pingan then realized that not all Qi Refiners knew the names of the Upper Five Realms. Some may even spend their entire lives looking up to the word “Earth Immortal.”

This was similar to how Zhu He was certain that the pinnacle of martial arts was the ninth realm, and there was no possibility of going further.

However, Chen Pingan’s current state of mind was no longer concerned with this kind of harmless mistake. When traveling the world, whether forming grudges with pure martial artists or associating with Qi Refiners while appreciating the scenery, if he were to only take and never give, being extremely restrained, it might not be a good thing. Some similar leaks of heavenly secrets might save him a lot of trouble.

After seeing the immortal cassia trees of Golden Cassia Temple, the temple tour came to an end. Xu Borui once again sent Chen Pingan and his group outside the mountain gate, solemnly inviting them to attend the ceremony the day after tomorrow, and he would help arrange seats. After Chen Pingan thanked him, he went down the mountain towards the mountainside. After walking more than a hundred steps, Xu Yuanxia looked back at the Daoist who had not yet turned around to enter the temple, still watching them leave. Xu Yuanxia turned back and smiled softly, “This Daoist Xu is a thoughtful person. He will definitely do well in Golden Cassia Temple in the future.”

Chen Pingan nodded, “The immortal mansions on the mountains all need a presentable figure who can handle people and things flawlessly.”

Zhang Shanfeng felt a little sentimental.

Obviously, he was missing his master’s wine-soaked nose and thunderous snoring.

If he hadn’t met Chen Pingan and Xu Yuanxia, this non-registered Dragon Tiger Mountain outside surname Celestial Master would have returned to the Northern Club Reed Continent in disappointment.

When they arrived at the grand mansion built by the Great Marsh Gang, a shrewd and capable steward had been waiting at the gate for a long time, slightly bowing to lead Chen Pingan and his group to their accommodations.

After Chen Pingan and his group settled in,

In a quiet and elegant residence deeper than the cassia trees in the back of Golden Cassia Temple, Xu Borui stood respectfully in the courtyard.

The eaves of the corridor were extremely wide and clean, and there were three pairs of wooden clogs under the steps. An old Daoist with a divine bearing, the very abbot Zhang Guo, a Dragon Gate Realm cultivator.

There were also two honored guests who had “righteously intervened” to suppress unruly individuals, who had actually crossed paths with Chen Pingan before.

The burly youth Jiang Yun, and Wei Liang, the Grand Commandant of Azure Luan Kingdom.

At that moment, the three of them were sitting around a table, each eating a bowl of vegetarian noodles, with bamboo shoots, mountain mushrooms, and several kinds of wild vegetables that grew in the spring mountains, fried gluten puffs, and noodle soup simmered over a low flame, filling the air with fragrance.

After Xu Borui told them his general impressions of Chen Pingan and his group, Abbot Zhang Guo smiled and told his disciple to rest.

The old Daoist asked, “Is it a coincidence, or did they follow the trail here?”

Wei Liang thought for a moment, “A coincidence, I think. If it weren’t for Xu Borui’s influence, these people would have been blocking my mansion’s gate.”

Wei Liang turned to look at Jiang Yun, “Seeing your expression earlier, do you recognize this person?”

Jiang Yun nodded, “He’s a local from the Li Zhu Cave Heaven. The first time I met him, he was just an ordinary commoner. These years have brought earth-shattering changes. I almost didn’t recognize him. He’s a good person, but I estimate that this person is involved in many things. I met him at Bee Tail Ferry before, and I didn’t dare to chat with him too much.”

Wei Liang smiled, “Since he’s a native of Li Zhu Cave Heaven, nothing is surprising.”

Jiang Yun had no objection to this.

Those outsiders who brought gold essence copper coins to seek opportunities were actually still inferior to a certain local who was waiting for good fortune to fall on his head.

However, he was one of the luckier outsiders, able to take away that Dragon-Locking Rope and refine it into his natal object. This was an incredibly pleasant surprise. Even his master’s cultivation was shocked and delighted, joking that he might have stolen a lot of luck from the Yunlin Jiang clan to have such great fortune. At the time, he had taken a liking to the iron chain hanging in that Cave Heaven well at first sight. After obtaining it, his master specially asked a friend to help identify it, and they concluded that it was at least a precious relic of a Celestial Realm great cultivator. Before unlocking all the secret spells and restrictions, it was already a genuine semi-immortal weapon.
Rumor has it that the highest grade of these Dragon-Binding Cords is called the Dragon-Slaying Cord. Its power is even more exaggerated than the Dragon King Basket, which can imprison and capture ancient earth immortal Flood Dragons. A great cultivator only needs to throw it out to easily bind a Flood Dragon. With a flick of the wrist, the dragon can be skinned and have its tendons drawn on the spot, leaving only a spine and a dark pearl.

However, the greatest opportunities in the Dark Pearl Grotto-Heaven don’t lie in these “inanimate objects.”

But those five little things are impossible for anyone to find even if they dug three feet into the ground. It all depends on fate.

Jiang Yun hadn’t even seen one of them.

The old Daoist Zhang Guo put down his chopsticks and patted his belly. “After years of abstaining from grains, I’ve made an exception to entertain you two distinguished guests. Feels not bad.”

Zhang Guo squinted and asked with a smile, “Grand Commandant Wei, this time, Golden Osmanthus Temple has put in so much effort, opening its doors to recruit disciples and deliberately leaking the secret that our ancestor’s Osmanthus tree can refine semi-immortal weapons, all to lure in those with ulterior motives to be among them. Then, you closed the door and beat the dog, helping your Azure Luan Kingdom to kill over a dozen foreign cultivators. Didn’t the Tang Emperor offer any token of gratitude?”

Wei Liang laughed, “Gratitude? Of course, isn’t that why I’m sitting here eating a bowl of vegetarian noodles?”

Zhang Guo pointed at Wei Liang, “The temple’s founder was right all those years ago, ‘Iron Rooster!’ No wonder he passed down the word to the Golden Osmanthus Temple to have as little contact with your Commandant’s Office as possible.”

Wei Liang had only half a bowl of vegetarian noodles left when he put down his chopsticks. The burly young man took the bowl away, which Wei Liang ignored. He said to Abbot Zhang Guo, “You should be content. At the beginning of the Golden Osmanthus Temple’s construction, there wasn’t much incense offering. Who invited Li Tuanjing to eat vegetarian noodles here? And this time, can you, Zhang Guo, invite the Yunlin Jiang Clan’s Young Master Jiang? Even if you handed him a bowl of plain noodles, would Jiang Yun be willing to pick up his chopsticks?”

Jiang Yun buried his head in his noodles, not giving Wei Liang much face. “One pair of chopsticks is enough, just give me a few more bowls of vegetarian noodles.”

Zhang Guo laughed heartily, in a great mood.

In his memory, the descendants of the Yunlin Jiang Clan were all arrogant and haughty. This young cultivator named Jiang Yun was different. Since he was traveling with Wei Liang and their relationship seemed close, he shouldn’t be from a minor branch of the Jiang Clan. This was a bit interesting.

Wei Liang hesitated for a moment and said, “Zhang Guo, please take care of that little girl from Rouge Workshop in the future.”

Zhang Guo smiled playfully, “The paper-cutting knife ‘Zui’ hanging at the little girl’s waist should be an object you gifted to a female founder of Rouge Workshop back in the day, right?”

Wei Liang sighed softly.

Zhang Guo didn’t push any further. These worldly entanglements are something that most cultivators in the Middle Five Realms experience to some extent. Looking back, they are merely fleeting clouds.

It just depends on whether the cultivator is sentimental or not.

Early grudges and favors from the mortal world become very complicated when one party becomes an immortal.

If a cultivator is vengeful, grudges can last for a hundred years, and some local wealthy families often suffer unexpected disasters, which often result in total extermination, leaving no one alive.

If a cultivator is sentimental, then the descendants of someone from the mortal world might be able to quietly enjoy ancestral blessings for more than a dozen generations. They might not even know why they can escape every calamity, as if there is always a large hand sheltering them from the wind and rain in the darkness.

Zhang Guo said, “Among them, the one with the best aptitude is the little girl from the Great Marsh Gang, Zhu Fengxian’s granddaughter. She is already a Third Realm Qi Refiner. She should be the only one with Earth Immortal aptitude. The highest achievement for the remaining seventy-odd people is no more than the Rouge Workshop girl’s Cave Dwelling Realm, at best a chance at Sea Gazing Realm. So, aside from Zhu Ziyang and Liu Qingcheng, I don’t see a single one of the remaining seven reaching the Middle Five Realms.”

Wei Liang and Jiang Yun said in unison, “Not necessarily.”

Zhang Guo’s eyes lit up, “Which one?!”

Wei Liang smiled without saying anything.

Jiang Yun looked up and also didn’t provide an answer. Instead, he changed the subject and asked, “What about that bovine demon? Aren’t you going to take care of it? Didn’t you want to take it under your command long ago to serve as a mount for your Azure Luan Kingdom’s Northern Mountain Deity?”

Wei Liang shook his head and said, “Forget it. Matters of opportunity can only be followed, a forced melon is not sweet. Actually, the Northern Mountain Deity told me long ago that this yellow ox seems gentle and harmless, but it is actually fierce. Which Dragon Gate Realm demon is willing to be confined to a mountain, riding on a mountain deity’s back for life? Entering the divine path is a fate from which they can never escape. Once its ferocity is provoked, it will likely bring more harm than good to the Northern Mountain landscape.”

Zhang Guo clicked his tongue and said, “If this demon could guard my Green Essential Mountain, that would be a mutually beneficial thing. At worst, both sides can be on equal footing. The Golden Osmanthus Temple will treat it as a protector and provider. Grand Commandant Wei, do you think it’s feasible?”

Wei Liang still shook his head, his eyes deep. He reminded with a smile, “It’s best not to provoke that Chen Ping’an. After leaving the Dark Pearl Grotto-Heaven, he is very likely to have become a disciple of a Legalist master. You should be aware of the way our Legalist disciples act. The same rules apply above and below the mountain.”

Zhang Guo said with a helpless look, “I know, the four troublesome ghosts on the mountain, right? A damn sword cultivator, a Mohist debt-collector, a Shidaofang Daoist, and lastly, your most unreasonable Legalist disciples.”