(Sniffling as I write, a bittersweet sensation…)

Upon arriving at Azure Gorge Isle, Chen Ping’an retrieved Wei Bo’s reply from Cloud-Veiling Mountain from the sword chamber. The flying sword flashed and disappeared, returning to Great Li’s Dragon Spring County.

After parting ways with Gu Can, Chen Ping’an went alone to the house at the foot of the mountain gate. Opening the confidential letter, he found Wei Bo had thoroughly answered his questions. True to form, Wei Bo answered three questions for every one asked, including his inquiries about the Gentleman Zhong Kui and Old Dragon City’s Fan Junmao. In over ten thousand words, he detailed the rules separating the living and the dead, the opportunities and reasons for humans becoming spectral beings after death, the numerous formalities of reincarnation in the forbidden lands of Fengdu and Hell, the deviations in the paths to the Yellow Springs due to local customs, the distinctions between ghost messengers, and so on, all explained in great detail.

Finally, at the end of the letter, Wei Bo included two personally written secret arts. One was a treasured esoteric technique from the royal family of the Divine Water Kingdom, where Wei Bo had once resided. It utilized the essence of water energy in the heavens and earth to quickly locate a flicker of true spirit, gather scattered souls, and reconstruct the soul. Once mastered, this technique was particularly effective at commanding all water-bound ghosts. It was an unshared secret of the Divine Water Kingdom, only available to the national preceptor and enshrined immortal masters for study.

The other secret art was a heretical technique Wei Bo inadvertently obtained from the Divine Water Kingdom’s armory. Its foundations were close to witchcraft, but it also incorporated some sword-casting techniques from the ancient Shu Kingdom’s sword immortals. It was used to break through the barrier between Yin and Yang, using the area reached by the sword light as a bridge and path to connect the living world and the Netherworld, allowing dialogue with deceased ancestors. However, it required finding a living person with a naturally strong Yin constitution to serve as a dwelling for the returning ghost. This person was referred to as a “Resting Pavilion” in the letter. They had to possess either deep ancestral virtue or be a prodigy naturally suited to cultivating ghost arts, the latter being preferable as the former would damage ancestral virtue, while the latter could use it to advance their cultivation, turning misfortune into fortune.

Chen Ping’an repeatedly reviewed the Cloud-Veiling Mountain missive.

The accountant didn’t know that after the successive battles at Receiving Cloud Isle and Cloud Tower City, Azure Gorge Isle could no longer keep a lid on things. The word was spreading like wildfire throughout Quill Lake that Azure Gorge Isle had gained a young, astonishingly powerful, foreign enshrined master. Not only did he possess two talisman spirit puppets capable of easily suppressing seventh-realm sword cultivators, but he also wielded two natal flying swords. Most terrifyingly, he was also proficient in close-quarters combat, having once face-to-face punched a sixth-realm military strategist to death.

A talisman immortal master, an earth immortal sword cultivator, a martial arts grandmaster?

What was the background of this accountant who guarded the entrance to Azure Gorge Isle?

For a time, Liu Zhimao’s influence on Palace Willow Isle soared, and many opportunists began to sway in his direction.

At the Spring Courtyard Residence, during dinner that day, the wife said to Gu Can, who rarely came home for meals recently, “Can Can, don’t learn from Chen Ping’an.”

Gu Can was gobbling down food, his words muffled, “Won’t, definitely won’t.”

The wife smiled with satisfaction, taking a silk handkerchief to wipe the grease from the corners of her son’s mouth, whispering, “Chen Ping’an is such a good person. Mother liked him back then. But in our Quill Lake, good people don’t live long, scoundrels live for a thousand years. It’s not a harsh saying. Although Mother has never left the Spring Courtyard Residence to see the outside world, she chats with the maids and servants every day and knows the difference between Quill Lake and Mud Bottle Lane better than Chen Ping’an. Here, we can’t afford to be soft-hearted.”

Gu Can nodded, “Mother, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. There’s only one Chen Ping’an in the world. I can’t learn from him, can’t imitate him.”

Finally, Gu Can looked up, “Besides, there’s only one Gu Can in the world!”

The wife suddenly asked, “Before, Mother only knew that Chen Ping’an had become successful, but exactly how, Chen Ping’an didn’t say, and Mother didn’t want to ask too much. Now, hearing the young ladies in the mansion chat privately, it seems Chen Ping’an could easily occupy a large island in Quill Lake? I heard that even Lu Caisang was almost killed by Chen Ping’an’s sword that night?”

Gu Can thought for a moment, “Not too sure. I only know that the semi-immortal weapon is called Sword Immortal. Liu Zhimao said that Chen Ping’an can’t fully control it yet. Otherwise, all the Golden Core Earth Immortals in Quill Lake wouldn’t be able to withstand three moves from Chen Ping’an. Below Earth Immortals, it would definitely be a one-sword affair. But compared to this not fully refined Sword Immortal, Liu Zhimao is clearly more afraid of that immortal talisman. He asked me if I knew the talisman’s origin. I only said I didn’t, it’s probably one of Chen Ping’an’s trump cards. Actually, Little Loach was arranged by me to follow Chen Ping’an, to avoid accidents, to prevent nosy people from ruining Chen Ping’an’s mood while traveling Quill Lake. So Little Loach personally witnessed the supernatural powers of those two heavenly soldiers. Little Loach said it seemed different from the immortal talismans of all talisman sect Taoists. What was contained in the talisman core wasn’t a mere spark of spiritual light, but rather seemed like the golden body essence of a mountain and river deity.”

The wife sighed, “So Chen Ping’an has already become so successful.”

Gu Can’s eating manners were poor. His face was greasy at the moment, and he tilted his head and smiled, “Of course. Chen Ping’an can accomplish anything he wants to. It’s always been like this. What’s so strange about it?”

The wife looked at her innocent son, feeling somewhat helpless. In the end, some things had to be thought about by the mother. It had nothing to do with her abilities as a housewife.

While Gu Can was taking Little Loach to Palace Willow Isle to join in the fun, the wife went to a large hall in the backyard of the Spring Courtyard Residence. She summoned all the dozens of young ladies in the mansion, who gathered together, chattering like swallows. With stern words, she reprimanded them, forbidding anyone from gossiping in front of Chen Ping’an. If discovered, they would be beaten to death with sticks. Moreover, she would order people to dig out the Spring Courtyard’s exclusive secret archives of incense offerings. If any relatives were already cultivators on Azure Gorge Isle, Tian Hujun would immediately break their Longevity Bridge. If they weren’t in Quill Lake but had become wealthy through the gifts of the Spring Courtyard Residence, their families would be confiscated and handed over to the City Lord Fan of Pond Water City for disposal.

That evening, Chen Ping’an knocked on the door of an ordinary residence on Azure Gorge Isle, the cultivation place of a second-class enshrined master. His original name had long been forgotten. His surname was Ma, and he was a ghost cultivator. It was said that he had once been a food porter for the royal family of a destroyed kingdom, one of the servants in the Emperor’s traveling entourage. Somehow, he became a cultivator and gradually became a veteran enshrined master on Azure Gorge Isle.
Ghost cultivators, already scorned among the untamed cultivators of mountains and marshes by the esteemed immortal officials, were an especially unwelcome bunch. Hence, this mansion was situated in a remote and desolate corner of Green Gorge Isle. The spiritual essence here was meager, but the yin energy was abundant. It possessed a bizarre well that periodically emitted gusts of chilling wind. All year round, the mansion was shrouded in a ghastly aura, and the surrounding neighborhood maintained a complete lack of interaction. This ghost cultivator offering was originally the last of the premier offerings on Green Gorge Isle. However, as Green Gorge Isle annexed over a dozen vassal isles, some isle lords and guest offerings, cherishing their lives, chose to pledge allegiance to the ascendant Jade River True Lord. Over time, the seats of power among the original forces of Green Gorge Isle shifted backward, further and further down the line. Fortunately, Liu Zhimao didn’t deduct the salaries of the veteran meritorious offerings, even increasing them by ten or twenty percent, thus preventing a “chilling of the hearts of the generals.”

The gatekeeper was a gaunt, reeking old crone, yet her hair was a lustrous black, and her eyes were snowy white. Upon seeing the accountant Mr. Chen, surnamed Chen, the old crone immediately forced out a fawning smile. Within the wrinkles of her withered face, tiny living things like mosquitos and maggots stirred, falling like a rustling rain. Seemingly embarrassed, the old crone hastily ground them beneath the toe of her embroidered shoe, resulting in a crackling sound, no longer eerie but rather nauseating.

The old crone seemed to recognize this and blushed with shame, her lips moving but unable to form a single word.

Chen Pingan, unperturbed, recognized that this “old crone,” with her depleted yang energy and fading spirit, was, in truth, a woman barely past her twentieth year.

All women in this world possess a love of beauty.

She shook a string of bells beside the door and said to Chen Pingan, “My master will be here shortly. Please wait a moment, Mr. Chen.”

Hesitating slightly, she pointed to a shadowy room beside the mansion gate. “This servant won’t linger here to offend your eyes, Mr. Chen. If you need anything, just call out, and I’ll appear at once from the side room.”

Chen Pingan nodded and asked, “May I inquire how I should address the mistress? I may be visiting often in the future, and it wouldn’t do to keep saying ‘hey, you’.”

The repulsive old crone froze, unwilling to meet the young man’s gaze in her current form. She turned her head away and said softly, “Mr. Chen may call this servant Hongsu, like the ‘su’ in sugared crisp.”

A billowing cloud of black smoke arrived, and after it dissipated, a diminutive man appeared. Wisps of black smoke still emanated from the hems of his robes and his large sleeves. The man frowned at the old crone gatekeeper with a wooden expression and said, “Shameless wretch! How dare you stand here chatting with Mr. Chen! Hurry back to your room, lest you offend Mr. Chen’s eyes!”

She scurried away to hide in the side room, standing near the small window, not even daring to glance out, hoping only to hear snatches of their conversation.

With the rising fortunes of Green Gorge Isle, the master had fallen from a premier offering to a second-rate, bottom-tier one. Moreover, as Green Gorge Isle continued to develop new estates and the surrounding eleven great isles were incorporated into its jurisdiction, visitors to the mansion had become rare over the past year. Acquainted cultivators had long since departed to other places for nightly revelries. Unfamiliar cultivators were unwilling to try and reap benefits in this forsaken place. Day and night, she guarded the mansion gate. Servants were strictly forbidden from speaking within the mansion’s grounds, so even the chirping of birds inadvertently flying past the gate was something she savored for a long time.

Entering the mansion, Chen Pingan explained his purpose to the ghost cultivator.

The ghost cultivator, surnamed Ma, pondered in silence, a hint of displeasure rising within him. This accountant, who was currently gaining fame in Lake Simple Scroll, was being a little excessive. To actually visit his doorstep to demand those remnant souls he had “opportunistically” captured was pushing it. These specters and apparitions he had imprisoned within his soul-summoning banner and that well were part of his very path of cultivation. Among them, more than a dozen ghosts who possessed a Middle Fifth Stage cultivation before their deaths had been refined into ghost generals. Each now held a specific duty, and each was indispensable.

Even if the young man was willing to purchase them with immortal coins, was this merely about money?

Did this Chen fellow truly not understand the rules of the road, or was he planning to rely on his influence from the start? Wasn’t he skilled in slapping the little fiend Gu Can? Then, let him ask Gu Can how many immortal coins it would take to buy the life of that Spring Courtyard woman! See if Gu Can would agree!

Even though he grew more infuriated the more he thought about it, the ghost cultivator surnamed Ma still didn’t dare to completely break ties. If this mystical accountant were to actually stab him to death with a sword, that would be the end of it. Would the Jade River True Lord be willing to seek justice for a deceased second-rate offering against his disciple Gu Can and this young “sword immortal”? However, the ghost cultivator was also a man of stubborn disposition. He retorted that it was true he was a ghost cultivator who captured souls, but the one who truly reaped the greatest benefits was not him but Yu Gui, the self-proclaimed Mountain Lake Ghost King on Moon Hook Isle, one of the vassal isles. As the number one general under the former lord of Moon Hook Isle, he had not only been the first to betray Moon Hook Isle, but he had also followed the Jade River True Lord and his disciple Gu Can. Whenever a battle concluded, he was always responsible for cleaning up the remnants. Now, the souls of those who died in battle on Eyebrow Immortal Isle, occupied by Lord Tian Lake, and the numerous vassal isles, including Motley Scale Isle, were mostly divided between him and another Yin-Yang family earth immortal cultivator stationed on Jade Urn Isle. He didn’t even have the chance to touch even a small bit, only being able to spend money to purchase some of the ghosts with thick yin energy and strong bones from those two premier offerings on Green Gorge Isle.

There was no deal in this world that couldn’t be settled through discussion, but in the end, it depended on how much money one offered, and how ruthless one was willing to be.

The ghost cultivator ultimately declared that since Mr. Chen’s proposed prices for the various yin creatures’ souls, based on their cultivation before death, were relatively fair, it still involved the crucial matter of his own ghost cultivation path. It wasn’t a matter of giving face. Unless Mr. Chen could accomplish a certain task, he wouldn’t agree to the deal. Only after that would he slowly select the yin creatures and ghosts from the soul-summoning banners and the yin wind well before starting the trade.

After learning of the task, Chen Pingan nodded in agreement.

Leaving the mansion, Chen Pingan bid farewell to the gatekeeper “old crone” named Hongsu as he passed the gate.

Chen Pingan returned to the Green Gorge Isle mountain gate but didn’t go back to his room. Instead, he went to the ferry, taking a boat to Hairpin Isle.

He once again met the isle lord, Liu Chongrun, a tall, plump, and beautiful woman.
It turned out that the Ghost Cultivator surnamed Ma and this woman were from the same nation, but their statuses were worlds apart. One was the little emperor’s aunt, a woman whose power overshadowed the court and who was on the verge of seizing the throne herself. The other was a lowly food carrier within the imperial palace. As for how they met back then and what kind of story unfolded, Chen Ping’an didn’t inquire in detail. In any case, the reason the Ghost Cultivator had sought refuge under Liu Zhimao, choosing Qingxia Island as his base of operations, was to get close to Liu Chongrun, the island master of Zhuchai Island.

Liu Chongrun, praised by Lord Tianhu as possessing “the spirit of a true man,” had originally intended to make amends today. Due to his previous uncertainty about the depth of the accountant’s cultivation, he had cautiously refused Chen Ping’an’s visit to the island. However, after learning the results of the battles at Yunyu Island and Yunlou City, Liu Chongrun felt a pang of regret. Given this man’s profound cultivation, he could likely single-handedly cause massive casualties on Zhuchai Island. Therefore, he quickly sent an invitation to Qingxia Island, proactively inviting Mr. Chen to visit the Treasure Pavilion of Zhuchai Island, hoping to remedy the situation and prevent any resentment from lingering in the accountant’s heart towards her and Zhuchai Island.

However, when Liu Chongrun heard that the Ghost Cultivator surnamed Ma from Qingxia Island wanted to meet with her, her face immediately changed. She left Chen Ping’an standing aside, turned and ascended the mountain, coldly stating, “If Mr. Chen wishes to tour Zhuchai Island, I, Liu Chongrun, will gladly accompany him. But if he is here to act as an envoy for that treacherous wretch, then please ask Mr. Chen to return home immediately.”

Chen Ping’an had no choice but to sail away, seeking out Yu Gui, the ghost cultivator who went by the title of Mountain Lake Ghost King. He was one of the most formidable ghost cultivators in Shujian Lake, possessing a Golden Core cultivation that the Dragon Gate Realm Ghost Cultivator surnamed Ma couldn’t compare to.

Currently occupying the entire Moon Hook Island, his status was comparable to that of Lord Tianhu, both being territorial magnates under Liu Zhimao’s command. In contrast to the fading reputation of the Ghost Cultivator surnamed Ma, Yu Gui’s infamy was growing, increasingly renowned throughout Shujian Lake. Moon Hook Island was a powerful island, and its old Golden Core island master was notoriously difficult to deal with. However, due to Yu Gui’s betrayal, the island’s landscape formations were disrupted, allowing Liu Zhimao and Gu Can’s little mudskipper to take advantage of the chaos. Moon Hook Island’s thousand-plus cultivators were caught off guard, suffering heavy casualties. Yet, the remarkably talented Yu Gui became rich overnight, collecting the souls of numerous Middle Fifth Realm cultivators and refining them using a unique secret technique. Rumor had it that he was highly likely to be the next newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator in Shujian Lake. Furthermore, he had seized the wives and daughters of the old island master of Moon Hook Island, living a life of bliss these past few years. Even Liu Zhimao had made a few jokes during the Qingxia Island celebration banquet, teasing Yu Gui as the most fortunate man in Shujian Lake.

Gu Can even gave him a thumbs up during the celebration banquet, making Yu Gui feel greatly honored, and he quickly rose to return the gesture with three large cups of wine to Gu Can.

One must know that the arrogant little demon Gu Can almost never showed a pleasant face to any of the retainers.

As the ferry approached the shore, Chen Ping’an pinched out the Day and Night Wandering God True Form Talisman, summoning two puppet true gods imbued with a glimmer of divine light from the talisman’s core.

And then he ascended the mountain.

A style of action very much like Shujian Lake.

No longer was he the amiable accountant on Qingxia Island who was courteous to everyone.

Startled by this, Yu Gui, who had originally intended to put on airs, immediately came out to personally greet the esteemed guest.

Learning that Mr. Chen, who seemed intent on unleashing a massacre on Moon Hook Island, had only come to purchase those insignificant Yin objects and souls, Yu Gui felt a sense of relief. At the same time, he subtly hinted at his many hardships to the accountant. For example, he spoke of his deep-seated hatred for that damned old island master of Moon Hook Island, and how he had endured humiliation and hardship to finally reunite with a concubine woman who had been oppressed by the old lecher.

Chen Ping’an quietly listened to the Mountain Lake Ghost King’s woes for a while. When Yu Gui himself felt he had nothing more to say, Chen Ping’an began to trade with him for Yin souls. Perhaps because Yu Gui felt his resources were vast, or perhaps because he possessed greater foresight and ambition, he was much more agreeable than the Ghost Cultivator surnamed Ma from Qingxia Island. Many Yin souls and ghostly objects that had very little of their three souls and seven spirits remaining were almost given away for free to the accountant. If Yu Gui had not long ceased to be the pitiful little cultivator who needed to seek out lowly ghosts and wraiths from rural graves and mass burial grounds to refine his Natal Artifact, he would have already refined them all. After all, Ghost Generals and higher-ranking Ghost Kings needed to feed on these scattered souls.

Chen Ping’an also inquired about some talisman techniques for nourishing souls.

Yu Gui had been cautiously guarding against the two puppets behind the young man, afraid that they would suddenly erupt in violence at the slightest disagreement. Faced with these harmless inquiries, he naturally answered everything he knew without reservation.

Outside Yunlou City, dozens of cultivators, escorted by a Seventh Realm Sword Cultivator, had been slain on the spot by those two hulking figures. Regarding this matter, all the Land Immortal cultivators in Shujian Lake, including Yu Gui, had begun to prepare and rack their brains, thinking of countermeasures. Perhaps waves of island masters were joining forces at Gongliu Island to find a solution.

Among the tens of thousands of wild cultivators in Shujian Lake, there had always been a principle regarded as sacred: there was no truly invincible magical treasure. If there was one today, it would be gone tomorrow. At the latest, the day after tomorrow, a method to counter it would definitely be found.

Chen Ping’an did not allow Yu Gui to see him off. Reaching the ferry, he put away the Day and Night Wandering God True Form Talisman, its divine light growing dimmer, and hid it in his sleeve before sailing away.

The autumn scenery of Shujian Lake was enchanting, with each of the thousand-plus islands possessing its own unique autumn beauty.

Chen Ping’an did not hurry back to Qingxia Island.

He stopped the ferry on the lake, took down the Sword Nourishing Gourd, and took a sip of wine to refresh himself.

Chen Ping’an carefully placed the Sword Nourishing Gourd back, and looked around at the lake scenery.

The Old Sage of Literature once said, “The nature of a gentleman is not different, but he is good at using things.”

Therefore, Chen Ping’an had written those three letters, sending flying sword transmissions in three directions.

He did not hesitate to consume the divine light of the talisman core, decisively using the Day and Night Wandering God True Form Talisman, and forced that semi-immortal artifact to be unsheathed.
Chen Ping’an now understood that worldly principles had thresholds. Too high, and one was unwilling to step inside. Too low, and one didn’t take them seriously. Those in-between, picked up and discarded, were never truly the Way. Ultimately, it still came down to one’s deepest perception of the world, the internal landscape of their heart, dictating their interactions. Take Gu Can’s mother, for example, who never believed in karmic retribution. Chen Ping’an always did, and this was the fundamental difference in their natures, leading to greater disagreements in their calculations of gains and losses. One valued tangible possessions, while Chen Ping’an was willing to consider factors beyond the material. This had little to do with his experiences after leaving his hometown or how much he’d learned from books.

Delving deeper, it touched upon one’s most basic view of the world, the “One” that State Preceptor Cui Chan spoke of.

Chen Ping’an had considered this before but chose to stop, turning back.

Excessive contemplation was fruitless.

The core beliefs that shaped a person’s character and actions, regardless of their breadth, magnitude, correctness, or depth, ultimately manifested in action, a contest of skills.

Currently, Chen Ping’an had to put aside his fist techniques and sword practice. He even refrained from pondering the important futures tied to the ten-year and sixty-year agreements. Naturally, he had more time to calmly contemplate matters. Looking at Lake Shujian now, compared to when he stood on the railing at the Ziyang Mansion in the Huangting Kingdom, he could think more and see further. For instance, Chen Ping’an was certain that Lake Shujian, a strategic point for military strategists, was a haven for rogue cultivators before the Great Li cavalry marched south, a place that the Zhu Ying Dynasty considered a burden – too costly to consume, yet troublesome to ignore. Now that the balance was broken, a cataclysmic transformation was inevitable.

Chen Ping’an was waiting.

Whether the Zhu Ying Dynasty, with its proximity, managed to seize Lake Shujian, or the Great Li cavalry from the northernmost part of Treasure Bottle Continent invaded, or the Guanhul Academy mediated to prevent one side from dominating, a new delicate equilibrium would emerge.

Signs of a kingdom’s laws superseding local customs would appear.

Over at Gongliu Island, the arguments still raged, faces flushed with anger.

This was a rare sight in Lake Shujian. In the past, there was no need for verbal sparring; the cultivators would immediately unleash their treasured artifacts to prove their strength.

Since it was a gathering of island lords, certain rules had to be observed on the surface. Gu Can, Lu Caisang, and Yuan Yuan didn’t show their faces at the Shanfu Hall. However, most island lords would greet them with smiles if they encountered them, perhaps even addressing the three young rascals as brothers without feeling shame. Gongliu Island was overcrowded lately, mostly with confidants and trusted aides of the various island lords. After the female cultivator who had served as the sovereign of Lake Shujian died suddenly during an outing, Gongliu Island, which she had protected, had been neglected for over two centuries. Only a few aged rogue cultivators who still remembered her kindness would occasionally send people to tidy up the island. Otherwise, Gongliu Island would have long become a dilapidated wasteland overrun with weeds and foxes.

The former master of Gongliu Island was Liu Laocheng, the only rogue cultivator in the upper five realms of Treasure Bottle Continent.

He hailed from a small, insignificant place called Fengwei Ferry in the southeastern part of Treasure Bottle Continent. He achieved the Golden Core stage on a wooden walkway hanging between two mountains in a small immortal sect, and his fame soared in Lake Shujian.

When Liu Laocheng reached the upper five realms, he should have been able to establish his own sect according to the rules set by the Confucian academies. However, he instead nominated a close female friend from Lake Shujian to the throne of sovereign and left Lake Shujian himself, wandering aimlessly without sending any news back. This allowed the chaotic state of Lake Shujian to persist, preventing unification and leading to the rapid rise of Liu Zhimao and Qingxia Island, allowing an unruly outsider like Gu Can to cause havoc in Lake Shujian.

As winter approached, Chen Ping’an began to frequently visit the residence of the Ma surname ghost cultivator on Qingxia Island, the Treasure Pearl Pavilion on Zhuchai Island, and the Yin Yang cultivator, Yu Gui, on Yuegou Island.

Just when even Chen Ping’an thought that Gongliu Island was about to reach a conclusion, a shocking event occurred on Furong Mountain in Lake Shujian.

The island lord of Furong Mountain had low cultivation, and Furong Mountain had always been a small island attached to Tianmu Island, which was one of the major islands opposing Liu Zhimao’s ascension to sovereign.

Furong Mountain, renowned in central Treasure Bottle Continent for its exquisite Furong stone seals, was located on the edge of Lake Shujian, near one of the four major lakeside cities, Lvtong City. However, overnight, a raging fire erupted, unleashing a battle no less intense than a clash between two nascent soul cultivators. The cultivators of Furong Mountain fought fiercely against a dozen or so unknown cultivators who had infiltrated the island. The radiant light illuminated most of Lake Shujian, with a massive lantern resembling a heavenly palace hanging in the night sky, overshadowing the moon.

Finally, a fiery dragon hundreds of feet long roared into existence, coiling atop Furong Mountain, causing the earth to tremble and waves to surge. The nascent soul cultivators on Gongliu Island, who had originally intended to investigate, abandoned their plans. Everyone looked at the “Intercepting River True Lord” Liu Zhimao with a hint of playfulness and greater fear.

The island lord of Furong Mountain was ashen-faced, as if mourning the death of his parents.

The island lord of Tianmu Island was furious, loudly berating Liu Zhimao for breaking the rules of the gathering and launching a deadly attack on Furong Mountain during the conference!

Liu Zhimao retorted, saying that he wasn’t stupid enough to offend everyone at this time by attacking Furong Mountain, which was Qingxia Island’s “exclave”.

The island lord of Tianmu Island cursed Liu Zhimao relentlessly. Without a word, Liu Zhimao engaged in a one-on-one battle with the island lord of Tianmu Island, who, despite not being a nascent soul cultivator, possessed an extremely rare magical artifact.

That night, Gu Can and Little Mudskipper stood side by side, gazing at the awe-inspiring fire dragon on Furong Mountain.

Gu Can asked with a smile, “Same species?”

Little Mudskipper wiped his mouth and said, “If I can eat it, I might be able to directly enter the upper five realms and not have to tell master that I’m hungry for at least a hundred years.”

Gu Can’s eyes burned with excitement. He asked, “What are the odds of winning?”

Little Mudskipper stared intently at the dazzling flames on Furong Mountain, drooling. He had to cover his mouth and said with a smile, “If it’s just fighting it, without any cultivators interfering, in this Lake Shujian, it’s sixty-forty, with me having a slight edge.”
Gu Can considered, “Things aren’t that simple. We’ll listen to Chen Ping An this time, no need to rush. That group of people dared to make a move at this time, they definitely didn’t come to die.”

The little mud loach was eager to try, “So, me diving into the lake is just to take a look near Hibiscus Mountain?”

Gu Can shook his head, “It’s best not to do that, be careful of walking right into a trap. Once the news from there reaches Azure Gorge Island, I will discuss a foolproof plan with Liu Zhi Mao.”

The little mud loach sulked, “That old fox, Liu Zhi Mao, might not want to see me break through again.”

Gu Can narrowed his eyes, and said softly, “Then what if Liu Lao Cheng from Gong Liu Island appears? Do you think my master will still be able to sit still?”

The little mud loach tilted his head, “That rogue cultivator of Jade Purity realm, has he secretly returned?”

Gu Can tugged at the corner of his mouth, “As long as it is confirmed afterward that there is a real chance for you to have a feast, one that will keep you full for a hundred years, then even if Liu Lao Cheng hasn’t come to Gong Liu Island, I will make ‘Liu Lao Cheng’ appear in a certain city of the Shujian Lake. Tian Hu Jun, Lu Cai Sang, Yuan Yuan, Yu Gui and so on, these fellows can all be put to good use, if we’re going to do it, let’s make it a big one!”

The summit of Hibiscus Mountain.

In the darkness of night, a green-robed woman with a ponytail flicked her wrist, and the fire dragon turned into a bracelet coiled around her fair wrist.

Dong Gu and Xu Xiao Qiao looked at each other, with a bitter smile. They had fought so hard from breaking through the mountain and river formation to climbing the mountain, one of the two Martial Dao Seventh Realm grandmasters even died in battle. But in the end, the Eldest Sister’s one move ended it all.

The green-robed woman turned her head, took out a handkerchief, and daintily ate a piece of pastry.

There was no helping it. Even with Elder Song using his natal treasure, the lantern, he was still almost able to let that old Golden Core cultivator, who was adept at the art of soul division, escape far away.

Constantly chasing after that master and disciple was making her dissatisfied.

It was just that on this journey south, she had been running around busily and was too embarrassed to say that she was actually very, very bored.

In front of her, stood a tall youth, covered in blood and tattered clothes, staring at her with a face full of hatred.

After eating the pastry, she felt a little happier, met his gaze, and asked, “Want to die?”

The tall youth spat out a mouthful of blood, recalling the miserable scene of his master being swallowed whole by the fire dragon. The hatred in the youth’s heart soared to the sky. His eyes were firm and moving. He clenched his fists and sneered, “Chasing us for so long, what are you Great Li cultivators, with noses like dogs, after? Isn’t it just to make me return to Great Li and work for you? To increase the martial fortune of your Great Li Song Clan?”

She looked at the tall youth, and slowly said, “You’re quite clever. Actually, you don’t want to die at all, you just know that the Great Li Embroidered Uniform Guard will never kill you, and you really want to get that Immortal Jade Tablet and a natal magic weapon from your master, so you’ve been following your master all along. But I can see that you still have some real feelings for your master, and now you want to avenge him, planning to learn the immortal arts on that Jade Tablet one day, refine that natal magic weapon, and then betray Great Li, and, um, also want to make me… not just cut me into a thousand pieces, but turn me into a puppet doll that retains its intelligence… Wait a moment.”

She turned her head, and ate another small piece of pastry. Looking at the few peach blossom pastries left on the handkerchief, she felt a bit annoyed. She looked again at the tall youth, who was now filled with shock, “Think about it again, and I’ll take another look. Anyway, you are going to die.”

The tall youth finally revealed a trace of panic, turned his head to look at Master Song, whom he could tell was the highest in status, the Great Li Ministry of Rites Clearing Department Official, and sneered, “She said she wants to kill me, do you think it’s possible?”

She blinked, “If I want to kill you, all of them combined can’t stop me.”

Master Song was caught in a dilemma.

Before setting out on this journey south, the old man knew some of the most secret inside stories, such as why the Great Li court so revered the Sage Ruan Qiong. An Eleventh Realm cultivator was indeed a rare existence on the Treasure Bottle Continent, but Great Li was not just any secular dynasty of the Treasure Bottle Continent. Why was it that even the National Preceptor himself was willing to accommodate Ruan Qiong in every possible way?

The answer lay in the gentle and beautiful girl in front of him.

The National Preceptor had only said one sentence to this Ministry of Rites Official: If Ruan Xiu dies, all of you will die outside the borders of Great Li, and no one will help you collect your corpses. If Ruan Xiu wants to kill you, then it is even more your own fault, and the Great Li court will not only not support you, but will also hold your superiors accountable.

Ruan Xiu gently shook her wrist, and the miniature, adorable, bracelet-like fire dragon’s true form “dropped” to the ground, eventually transforming into a golden-armored god-man, striding toward the tall youth who had begun to beg for mercy.

In an instant, the tall youth was covered in golden magma, like being trapped in a cage, wailing loudly.

The golden god-man simply twisted off the tall youth’s head, opened its mouth wide, and swallowed the head and body together.

Master Song’s face was sorrowful, but he did not dare to stop it.

The hard work of the long journey of pursuit had been in vain.

Ruan Xiu turned her head to look in the direction of Gong Liu Island, thought for a moment, opened the handkerchief, saw the few pastries, reluctantly closed the handkerchief again, thinking that she should still save them a bit, there were no pastry shops like in Riding Dragon Lane here.

The green-robed girl, whose eyes were always as still as an ancient well, suddenly had a brilliant light in her eyes, tilted her head, and with an incredulous expression, shifted her gaze, looking at a certain place some distance away from Gong Liu Island.

She seemed to have seen something familiar that was even more delicious than pastry.

She quickly took out the handkerchief again, eating one pastry at a time, even shaking the handkerchief vigorously, before putting it in her sleeve, and finally patted her hands, nodding with satisfaction.

Her cheeks were bulging, as if she was destroying evidence?