Chen Ping’an withdrew his foot from the stream, exhaling a long breath of stale air. He shook his right wrist, and a few specks of ash scattered.

Back then, Chen Ping’an’s right arm had been restrained by a Buddhist divine power used by assassins from Cut Deer Mountain. This was the residue after the entangling karma had been completely shattered.

Qi Jinglong, as a nascent soul sword cultivator about to break through to a higher realm, had described the assassination attempt in the river valley as “extremely perilous.” This Buddhist divine power likely accounted for half of that danger.

Chen Ping’an squatted down, cupped water with both hands, and washed his face. He looked at his reflection in the water, tilting his head and stroking the fine stubble on his chin with his palm. He worried that he might turn into a heavily bearded man like Xu Yuanxia.

Chen Ping’an reached into the water, opened his palm, and gently pressed down. The stream’s flow abruptly halted, then resumed its normal course.

Chen Ping’an changed his hand gesture, rotating his palm in a circle. A whirlpool formed beside his feet, growing larger and larger. However, Chen Ping’an quickly stopped the motion, and the stream calmed once more.

In the past, when traveling with Zhang Shanfeng, he had seen the young Daoist often gesticulating to himself, neither punching nor palming, with bizarre intent. Chen Ping’an had learned some superficial postures, but always felt that something was off. This was quite strange, because in terms of fist-fighting prowess, a hundred Zhang Shanfengs wouldn’t be a match for Chen Ping’an. Moreover, Chen Ping’an had always been quick to learn boxing techniques. Like back in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, when Zhong Qiu demonstrated the fundamental boxing stance of the Great Dragon, Chen Ping’an, after watching it, could perform it himself, not only resembling the form but also capturing some of its essence. However, with Zhang Shanfeng’s boxing, Chen Ping’an never managed to grasp its true method.

Chen Ping’an didn’t delve too deeply into it at the moment, simply assuming that Zhang Shanfeng’s boxing was a unique qi-cultivating technique of Daoists practicing on the mountain, requiring coordination with Daoist incantations.

The lowest-level martial artists in the pugilistic world were often derisively called “martial showmen” because they only knew the boxing stances and routines without understanding the true meaning. Ultimately, the real emphasis and key lay in the flow of pure true qi, and even deeper, in the concept of divine intent. That was a mysterious and profound realm. Even within the same boxing style, the intent could vary greatly. Even with the same master and the same boxing manual, the results could be like the nine sons of the dragon, each with their own unique appearance. This was similar to how people perceived mountains, water, wind, and snow, each having their own individual interpretations. Therefore, it was said that the master only leads you through the door, and cultivation depends on the individual.

Chen Ping’an stood up and slowly stretched his muscles and bones with a six-step walking stance.

Forging a hero’s gall is the key to the sixth realm.

The so-called hero’s gall isn’t a physical object, but a dwelling place for pure true qi and the martial artist’s soul. Its significance is somewhat similar to the golden core of a cultivator.

Chen Ping’an had previously said that he was only two points away from breaking through. Now that he possessed a hero’s gall, he was only one point away. In fact, the toughness of Chen Ping’an’s physique had long been comparable to that of the Golden Body Realm. Cui Cheng’s fist hammering, sparring with Zhu Lian, the tempering in the tribulation lightning clouds, plus the many battles on his travels, and of course, his diligent practice, were all external cultivation methods for a pure martial artist.

However, this one point was likely to be a major bottleneck, a chasm separating him from ascending to the Golden Body Realm.

But Chen Ping’an wasn’t in a hurry. The bigger the bottleneck, the greater the opportunity to contend for the strongest Sixth Realm.

Chen Ping’an had hardly ever thought about the word “strongest” before. Back then, the strongest Third Realm was something that Old Man Yao had hammered out of him punch by punch in the bamboo building of Fallen Phoenix Mountain. It had nothing to do with whether Chen Ping’an wanted it or not. Once it landed in the hands of the Tenth Realm martial artist Cui Cheng, could Chen Ping’an simply refuse it?

One of the fundamental threads of Chen Ping’an’s mental journey, one end of one of the lines, was what Old Man Yao had said: “Hold onto what’s yours, and don’t even think about what’s not yours.” In essence, it was simply the four characters on the Buddhist plaque in Crab Shop: “Seek nothing outward.” This naturally extended to the principle of “If your fate is eight feet, don’t ask for ten.” This was a naturally occurring path, so Chen Ping’an’s words and actions over the long years would be subtly influenced.

For example, the martial fortune of Old Dragon City had been repelled by Chen Ping’an, and twice in a row. And Chen Ping’an almost never actively sought opportunities in blessed lands and grotto heavens, preferring to “pick up scraps and make small fortunes.”

Like the world seeing a stream, they often only see the flowing water, not the riverbed.

Chen Ping’an had been no exception in the past. It was only during his travels in the Northern Ju Continent, constantly observing people and Dao, cultivating his heart and asking questions, that he began to slowly understand this principle.

Knowing others is wisdom. Knowing yourself is enlightenment.

It is very difficult.

All knowledge that has been repeatedly refined and ultimately grasped in a concise form is the knowledge that truly belongs to you.

Chen Ping’an sat down again by the stream.

He looked south.

He didn’t know what he was thinking about.

Then he smiled.

He made a gesture of knocking chestnuts.

He wondered how Pei Qian was doing with her studies at the academy.

A cross-continental ferry from the Hemp Robe Sect of the Bone Beach slowly docked at Ox Horn Mountain in Longquan County.

A graceful woman, wearing a veiled hat and holding a mountain walking stick, was accompanied by a protector exuding the aura of a golden core.

It was none other than Sui Jingcheng, journeying south across the continent, and Rong Chang, a nascent soul sword cultivator from Floating Duckweed Sword Lake.

After the ferry entered the territory of the Treasure Bottle Continent, Sui Jingcheng often left her room to overlook the mountains and rivers of other continents from the bow of the ship.

Beneath her feet was the Great Li Dynasty.

Earlier, upon entering the Dragon Province map, which had been downgraded from a grotto heaven to a blessed land, Rong Chang had gazed at Cloud-Draped Mountain from afar and exclaimed, “The landscape and qi are astonishing. It is indeed worthy of being the Northern Mountain of the continent.”

The Northern Ju Continent also had many sacred mountains, but compared to this Cloud-Draped Mountain, which had emerged out of nowhere, they were still far inferior.

Hearing that the Mountain God of the Northern Mountain, Wei Bo, was about to break through and ascend to the upper five realms, Rong Chang was even more filled with sighs. A mountain god seated within his own territory was equivalent to a sage seated within a small world, requiring a step up in evaluation. Once Wei Bo reached the Jade Purity Realm, the Great Li would be equivalent to having an immortal-level golden body god. Battle strength was not that important; what mattered was the national fortune of the Great Li. The mountain spirit and the literary and martial qi of the entire Northern Mountain region could become more stable as a result.

According to Sui Jingcheng, Wei Bo and that senior had a close relationship.

The night was deep, and there were not many ferries at Ox Horn Mountain, so the Hemp Robe Sect’s ferry stood out particularly.

The ferry tonight…
The night ferry would linger here for a day, setting sail tomorrow night, allowing passengers from the Northern Ju Continent to explore this shattered and fallen ancient cave heaven. It was said that a celestial shop had just opened on Ox Horn Mountain, and whether one could find a bargain depended on their wealth and discernment. However, the representative of the Hemp Robe Sect ferry clearly informed all passengers that once they reached the Northern Mountain region of the Treasure Bottle Continent, they were no longer in the Northern Ju Continent. Moreover, Saint Ruan Qiong, originating from the Wind and Snow Temple, was stationed in Longquan County, and the rules were strict. Reckless flight or sword riding was forbidden, and the Hemp Robe Sect would not intervene in any trouble caused by anyone after disembarking.

At the ferry landing, a white-robed man with a divine aura appeared, a golden earring dangling from his ear, smiling as he looked towards Sui Jingcheng and Rong Chang.

Spiritual birds constantly fluttered around him, and faint streams of radiant light flowed in the air.

Rong Chang couldn’t discern the depth of his cultivation, so his identity was clear: Wei Bo, the highest-ranked mountain deity of the Treasure Bottle Continent.

Sui Jingcheng quickly stepped forward and softly asked, “Are you Mountain Deity Wei?”

Wei Bo glanced at the walking staff in Sui Jingcheng’s hand, gently waved away the flying birds, and then nodded with a smile, “I received the flying sword transmission and came to welcome you.”

Rong Chang was somewhat surprised.

What mountain deity would be so polite and enthusiastic? To personally greet them, two strangers from afar?

In the previous Treasure Bottle Continent, it wouldn’t be surprising for Rong Chang, a Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator, to receive such treatment, but in Dali’s Cloud-Draped Mountain, Rong Chang didn’t think he had such great face.

This place used to be the territory of the Luminous Pearl Cave Heaven. To say nothing else, it was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, with many immortals.

Heavenly Sovereign Xie Shi of the Northern Ju Continent, Sword Immortal Cao Xi of the Southern Saha Continent, these were two, and rumors had it they both came from small town streets.

So, once here, no one should boast about their cultivation realm, it was just a joke.

Sui Jingcheng was a little apprehensive and performed a Wanfu salute, “You’ve troubled Mountain Deity Wei.”

Wei Bo waved his hand, his smile amiable, “Miss Sui doesn’t need to be so polite. Would you like to browse the Packcloth Lodge on Ox Horn Mountain, or go directly to Fallen Phoenix Mountain?”

Sui Jingcheng said, “Let’s go to Fallen Phoenix Mountain first.”

Wei Bo nodded and used his supernatural power to bring Sui Jingcheng and Rong Chang to the foot of Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

Rong Chang was once again shocked.

This righteous deity of Dali’s Northern Mountain likely had no problem reaching the Upper Fifth Realm, and the degree of his harmony with the mountains and rivers was truly terrifying.

With the shrinking of a thousand miles of mountains and rivers to an inch, Rong Chang discovered that his natal flying sword didn’t react much.

Wei Bo apologized, “After all, it’s Chen Pingan’s mountain, and I can’t directly take you to the hillside residence. Please trouble Miss Sui and Sword Immortal Rong to climb the mountain on foot.”

Near the mountain gate, a hunched man, without shoes, ran out barefoot. After seeing the veiled woman, he didn’t bother looking at the man.

Wei Bo introduced, “This is Brother Dafeng, the gatekeeper of Fallen Phoenix Mountain.”

Zheng Dafeng stood beside Wei Bo, rubbing his hands and smiling, “Are you Miss Sui? Would you like to sit at my house first? Wei Bo and I can make a midnight snack, as if we’re helping Chen Pingan entertain guests and welcome Miss Sui. After eating and drinking your fill, resting is also fine. My place is big, with many rooms. Don’t worry, even if Miss Sui brings a few more maiden friends… By the way, my surname is Zheng, Miss Sui can call me Brother Zheng, no need to be polite.”

Sui Jingcheng was caught off guard.

Wei Bo said helplessly, “Miss Sui and Sword Immortal Rong, it’s no problem to stop for a midnight snack, or to climb the mountain immediately.”

As a result, Sui Jingcheng and Rong Chang saw the hunchbacked man step on Wei Bo’s foot, his smile unchanged, “Just a midnight snack, no trouble, no trouble.”

Sui Jingcheng cautiously said, “Then let’s go up the mountain. I have some things to discuss with Mountain Deity Wei, and flying sword secret messages are not suitable to reveal too much.”

Zheng Dafeng sighed, twisted his toes hard on Wei Bo’s boot, Wei Bo remained calm, and said to Sui Jingcheng, “Okay.”

Rong Chang almost broke out in a cold sweat, his sword heart unsteady.

The four of them slowly climbed the mountain together.

Zheng Dafeng lowered his voice and complained, “So unkind?”

Wei Bo smiled, “Talk about serious matters first.”

Zheng Dafeng angrily said, “My brother’s lifelong affairs, how are they not serious and important? Damn it, some are drowning in love, others are parched.”

Wei Bo smiled, “There are beauties like jade in books, and beauties in paintings are also affectionate.”

Zheng Dafeng sighed, “In the end, it’s still a little lacking.”

Wei Bo patted Zheng Dafeng on the shoulder and comforted him, “With such a handsome appearance, are you still afraid of not finding a wife?”

Zheng Dafeng elbowed Wei Bo, “If Chen Pingan said these words, I’d feel confident, but you?”

As Sui Jingcheng climbed the mountain, she looked around, her mind immersed. This was her senior’s home.

Rong Chang was a bit clueless, unable to guess the origin of the hunchbacked man. He was clearly a pure martial artist with a broken Great Dao, half a cripple, so why was he so familiar with Wei Bo? The key was that neither of them seemed to find anything wrong?

Sui Jingcheng slowed her pace. A young woman was descending the mountain from practicing boxing. Her boxing stances were somewhat familiar, so Sui Jingcheng began to carefully observe her appearance. Fortunately, she was pretty, but not too pretty.

Zheng Dafeng greeted with a smile, “Little Cen, practicing boxing so late, it’s really too hard. Brother Zheng sees that you’ve gotten thinner.”

Cen Yuanji only walked her stances and practiced her boxing, ignoring him, wholeheartedly focused.

She continued down the mountain.

Zheng Dafeng nodded in appreciation, “It’s okay, it’s right that you don’t have Brother Dafeng in your eyes. You have to concentrate on practicing boxing. Anyway, as long as you have Brother Dafeng in your heart, that’s enough.”

Wei Bo said helplessly, “Don’t delay Cen Yuanji’s boxing practice.”

Zheng Dafeng scoffed, “I’m helping her temper her mind. You’re not a martial artist, what do you know? Every time this girl goes back and forth between the top and bottom of the mountain to practice boxing, where is the real threshold? It’s right there at my mountain gate. Don’t think I’m just sitting on a small bench doing nothing, but my murderous gaze, my cryptic words, how many ordinary female martial artists can withstand it?”

Wei Bo suddenly looked enlightened and nodded, “Yes, yes, yes, you’re right.”

Rong Chang was puzzled. This man, based on those words and that gaze,

if he was born and raised in a small town, how hadn’t he been beaten to death?
Or was it a grievous injury, a collapse of his martial path, all brought about by that treacherous tongue of his? Is that why he ended up as a mere gatekeeper of Falling Mountain, forced to depend on Chen Ping’an, living under someone else’s roof?

Or is there some other secret, something hidden beneath the surface? Appearances can be deceiving, after all.

Zheng Dafeng chuckled, “Don’t you dare disbelieve me, that Madam Li couldn’t resist, could she? One day, Cen Yuanji will thank her Big Brother Dafeng for his good intentions, and she’ll be all tears and snot clinging to me. Just thinking about that scene moves me to the core.”

Wei Bo simply grew weary of the conversation.

Rong Chang’s sword heart was demonstrably unsettled this time.

Zheng Dafeng paused, shifting his gaze with a puzzled expression. “Sword Immortal Rong, are you also benefiting from this… avenue? That doesn’t make sense. My methods usually only work on women.”

Rong Chang smiled wryly. “It’s nothing. Just a bit sentimental, being so far from home.”

But Rong Chang would never again treat that hunchbacked fellow as an ordinary man.

The subtle tremor of a nascent soul sword cultivator’s natal flying sword in the depths of one’s mind… how could any ordinary martial arts grandmaster perceive that in an instant?

Halfway up the mountain, Zhu Lian was already there, greeting them with a beaming smile.

After entering Zhu Lian’s residence together, Rong Chang bid farewell, and Zheng Dafeng led him to lodgings elsewhere.

Rong Chang had no concerns about Sui Jingcheng’s safety.

The temperament of a mountain and water deity can be discerned from the mountains and rivers within their jurisdiction.

Wei Bo’s path is bound to be long and prosperous.

So, considering a “senior” who could strike up a friendship with Liu Jinglong, and a young mountain master with a close relationship with Wei Bo, it’s not difficult to discern whether the sect’s reputation is good or bad.

Rong Chang and Zheng Dafeng encountered a young girl in a pink dress along the way.

Zheng Dafeng chuckled, “Chen丫头, no need to get up and fuss on our account. This residence is always spotless. Oh, this here is a guest from the Northern Entirety Continent, Great Sword Immortal Rong.”

Chen Ruchu quickly bowed and greeted him. “Falling Mountain’s little maidservant Chen Ruchu greets Sword Immortal Rong.”

Rong Chang smiled.

A small fire python, brimming with literary fortune?

Another oddity.

Chen Ruchu pulled out a large bunch of keys, deftly picking out a smaller set. After unlocking the door, she handed the set to Rong Chang and explained carefully to the sword cultivator from the Northern Entirety Continent which key corresponded to which door. She added that once he settled in, it wouldn’t matter if the doors were unlocked or even left open. She also mentioned that she would clean the rooms twice a day, morning and evening. If Sword Immortal Rong didn’t want to be disturbed, that was fine too. If he needed someone to bring tea or water, she lived nearby and could be summoned with a word. After this breathless explanation, she quietly followed the two men into the residence. Sure enough, it was clean and tidy, although lacking the immortal aura of a celestial abode or the opulence of a royal estate. Still, it was pleasing to the eye.

Rong Chang had no complaints.

Zheng Dafeng smiled at Rong Chang. “Zhu Lian is Falling Mountain’s head steward, and Chen丫头 is the little steward. Sometimes even Zhu Lian has to answer to her. I, for one, am particularly fond of Chen丫头.”

Chen Ruchu gave a shy smile.

Rong Chang thought for a moment, about to take out a greeting gift from his storage space to present to the endearing girl.

Chen Ruchu was already about to take her leave.

But Zheng Dafeng playfully pressed down on her head, forcing her to stop.

Rong Chang produced a delicate spiritual artifact, a gilded bamboo-joint censer. It wasn’t expensive, but still worth a few Small Heat coins.

Chen Ruchu hesitated, feeling it was too valuable. She could roughly gauge the amount of spiritual energy contained in immortal artifacts.

Zheng Dafeng chuckled, “What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and accept it.”

Chen Ruchu accepted the small censer with both hands, then bowed and thanked him.

After Rong Chang settled in…

Zheng Dafeng left the residence and noticed the young girl in the pink dress still standing not far from the gate.

Zheng Dafeng asked with a smile, “Where’s Chen Lingjun? Haven’t seen him around lately. Where’s he gallivanting off to?”

Chen Ruchu softly replied, “He’s been causing trouble near the鳌鱼 Back lately, still as playful as ever.”

Nowadays, the number of mountain peaks under her Old Master’s name is quite impressive.

Aside from the Azure Dragon Sword Sect’s three-hundred-year lease on Treasure Mountain, Rainbow Cloud Peak, and Immortal Herb Mountain…

There’s also Falling Mountain and True Pearl Mountain.

Later, they bought Gray Mist Mountain, a vast expanse of land very close to Falling Mountain. Then there’s Ox Horn Mountain, left behind by the Burlap Sack Shop, Vermillion Sand Mountain, abandoned by the Xu family of Qingfeng City, as well as 鳌鱼 Back and Azure Haze Peak, and finally, the Sword Worship Terrace, located on the westernmost edge of the mountains. All six of these mountain peaks now belong to their territory. Aside from Sister Xiu Xiu’s family, their Old Master owns the most mountain peaks in Dragon Spring County.

Zheng Dafeng revealed the truth, “He can’t bear to see Pei Qian training so hard and suffering. Plus, compared to her, he feels useless and unproductive, so he just avoids the sight altogether and runs off to cause trouble.”

Chen Ruchu’s expression saddened.

Pei Qian’s training is truly tragic.

No better than when Old Master trained back in the day.

After preparing the medicinal bath, each time she carried the unconscious Pei Qian away from the second floor of the bamboo building, she had to take a bucket of water to the second floor afterward to clean the bloodstains.

On the floor, on the walls, everywhere.

It made her tears flow freely. Several times, while cleaning up the bloodstains, she looked towards the old senior sitting cross-legged, meditating with his eyes closed.

But the old senior simply pretended to be oblivious.

Zheng Dafeng patted the girl’s head. “Go get some rest. Doing the same mundane tasks day in and day out, for a hundred or a thousand years, and you still don’t find it boring. I have to admire you for that. If that Chen Lingjun had half your patience and conscience, he would have been able to make others look at him with respect through his own abilities long ago. He wouldn’t need to sponge off Chen Ping’an and mooch seats from Wei Bo every day.”

Chen Ruchu said guiltily, “But my cultivation is too slow. I can’t help with anything.”

Zheng Dafeng sighed. “Don’t think like that. Without Chen丫头, Falling Mountain would be half as welcoming.”

Chen Ruchu’s eyes widened, her face beaming. “Really?”

Zheng Dafeng chuckled. “Don’t get arrogant. Keep up the good work.”

The young girl in the pink dress nodded vigorously.

The one who runs around the mountain peaks of Falling Mountain the most every day is probably this little girl, alone and unnoticed, silently doing trivial chores.

It’s as if no one cares about her.

But in reality, everyone cares about her.

In Falling Mountain, if someone like Lu Baixiang suffered a great loss outside, Chen Ping’an, with his stubborn nature, would likely haggle and dawdle, trying to reason with the other party.
But if that little girl in the pink skirt were bullied outside the mountain, would Chen Pingan still bother to reason with people?

Zheng Dafeng cradled the back of his head with both hands, strolling along slowly, not bothering to get involved in whatever Zhu Lian was up to in his courtyard. Chen Pingan, with his meticulous attention to detail, was willing to trust Zhu Lian’s judgment, so why would Zheng Dafeng, a rough and unrefined fellow, worry?

As for that veiled beauty who visited the Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Zheng Dafeng glanced at her and then forgot about it.

It was just like the old days at the Dust Medicine Shop in Old Dragon City.

The autumn moon was particularly high.

Zheng Dafeng slowly descended the mountain.

He was somewhat looking forward to the day when Chen Pingan would descend the mountain to reason with others.

For example, with the Righteous Sun Mountain. And the Great Li Capital.

The most interesting thing was that when Chen Pingan decided to go, it would undoubtedly be his reasoning that prevailed, whether he spoke or not, whether the other party listened or not.

However, Zheng Dafeng was also looking forward to which individuals from other mountains would eventually settle on the Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

But what was most worth anticipating was the name it would take if the Fallen Phoenix Mountain finally established a sect one day.

Previously, when this matter was mentioned in casual conversation, he, Zhu Lian, and Wei Bo had exchanged knowing smiles, their amusement unconcealed.

Back at the small courtyard on the mountain.

Zhu Lian and Wei Bo had heard Sui Jingcheng’s detailed account, mostly about Chen Pingan’s journey through the landscapes and his various experiences.

Wei Bo accepted the walking stick, intending to have it sent to Cui Dongshan from his own Piyi Mountain. This was more appropriate than Zhu Lian sending it in the name of the Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

In addition to the walking stick, Sui Jingcheng had also personally written a secret letter, containing the words that Chen Pingan had instructed her to convey to that Senior Cui, which Sui Jingcheng was unwilling to say directly to Zhu Lian and Wei Bo.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Zhu Lian and Wei Bo, but rather it was her nature.

In this regard, she was indeed very similar to Chen Pingan.

Wei Bo also accepted the secret letter.

Sui Jingcheng felt a sense of relief.

Next, before meeting that Mr. Cui, whom the senior had described as almost divine, she only needed to be escorted by a Nascent Soul Sword Immortal senior brother, and peacefully “sightsee” around the Treasure Bottle Continent.

However, she planned to stay at Fallen Phoenix Mountain and Dragon Spring County for a while.

Anyway, there were plenty of reasons, such as meeting Pei Qian, the senior’s first disciple, browsing the immortal shops at the Niujiao Mountain Ferry, and how could she not visit Wei Mountain God’s Piyi Mountain? This place was once one of the thirty-six minor heavens, the Liju Cave Heaven, so shouldn’t she take her time to explore it? She could even go to the Great Li Capital in the north first, then take the Changchun Palace ferry back to the Niujiao Mountain Ferry, where she could rest again.

Sui Jingcheng was led to a house by a cute little girl with a face like carved jade.

Wei Bo first went to Piyi Mountain to send the walking stick and secret letter, then returned to Zhu Lian’s courtyard.

Zhu Lian was pacing slowly, pondering matters.

Wei Bo didn’t interrupt, but poured himself a cup of tea.

For example, a mountain and water god’s cultivation could be directly revealed by their golden body, while a cultivator’s cultivation was measured by the amount of spiritual energy accumulated in their Qi palace.

In Wei Bo’s view, the four figures in the Lotus Root Paradise painting, the founding emperor of the Southern Garden Kingdom, Wei Xian, the Demonic Cult leader Lu Baixiang, and the female Sword Immortal Sui Youbian, all had their own wonderful lives, and they all stood at the pinnacle of humanity in the Lotus Root Paradise. But if only considering their states of mind, none of them were as “perfect and flawless” and “refined and meticulous” as Zhu Lian. Born into a top wealthy family of privilege, he secretly learned martial arts while casually reading books. He was a child prodigy who passed the imperial examinations early, patiently compiled historical records, remained dormant in the officialdom for a few years, and then officially entered the court. His career was smooth, and he quickly brought glory to his family. Later, he turned to the pugilistic world, wandering the world with peerless elegance, playing with life, and even witnessed the mire of the bottom-level city and the martial world. Finally, when the country was collapsing, he turned the tide, returned to the court, threw himself into the battlefield, abandoned his invincible martial arts, and only relied on his identity as a Confucian general to single-handedly support the chaotic situation. In the end, he returned to the pugilistic world, transforming from a noble young master into an uninhibited martial fanatic.

So this was why Zhu Lian was still uninterested in everything even after arriving in the Vast Expanse. For Zhu Lian, the world was still the world, just a Lotus Root Paradise transformed into a Vast Expanse with a larger territory. But people’s hearts were still those people’s hearts, unable to change too much.

In short, Zhu Lian had never really put his heart into anything.

Sui Youbian would hope to truly ascend as a Sword Cultivator.

Wei Xian would have the heart of an emperor, be ambitious, and strategize to rise again, wanting to command more soldiers and power than a Paradise Lord.

Lu Baixiang would hope to start from a new martial world, slowly accumulate resources, and eventually establish his own sect, one day leaving Fallen Phoenix Mountain and establishing his own foundation, looking down on the gods and immortals on the mountain as a pure martial artist.

The three all had their own aspirations, and they all found their own paths in the new world.

What about Zhu Lian?

He had no desires or aspirations.

Zhu Lian’s state of mind had already achieved unbound freedom.

To put it bluntly, Zhu Lian could make a living by just relying on his face. Moreover, Zhu Lian was already so proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting despite never putting his heart into them.

To put it nicely, the amazingly talented Zhu Lian could achieve rapid progress and breakthroughs if he switched to cultivation like Sui Youbian.

Zhu Lian came back to his senses, stopped, and smiled, “Sorry, I was a bit lost in thought.”

Wei Bo poured him a cup of tea. After Zhu Lian sat down, he gently twisted the porcelain cup and slowly asked, “How did the discussion with Cui Dongshan go regarding the secret purchase of golden body fragments?”

This was a key secret matter that Zhu Lian, Wei Bo, and Zheng Dafeng had discussed. Once Lotus Root Paradise became the private property of Fallen Phoenix Mountain and joined the ranks of middle-grade paradises, it would need a large number of mountain and water gods, the more the better, because human incense was something that Fallen Phoenix Mountain didn’t need to spend a single snowflake coin on, but was crucial to a paradise. However, the golden body fragments were directly related to the Great Li Dynasty, so even if Wei Bo opened his mouth, it wouldn’t be a good thing. Therefore, Cui Dongshan needed to weigh the situation and do some under-the-table transactions with the immortal families in the south of the Treasure Bottle Continent. Even if the Great Li Dynasty understood this matter, they would only turn a blind eye, and that would be enough for Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

Wei Bo said, “Still waiting.”

Wei Bo suddenly smiled, “I believe that after that walking stick is sent, your young master’s student, who originally had seventy or eighty percent of his strength, will be fully motivated and willing to spend one hundred and twenty percent of his effort to deal with us.”
Zhu Lian nodded, “With Cui Dongshan, we must be exceedingly cautious when dealing with him.”

Zhu Lian harbored a deep sense of wariness towards Cui Dongshan.

Because they were, in essence, kindred spirits.

Zhu Lian would never let his guard down, not even slightly, because of the complex relationship between Cui Dongshan and Chen Ping’an.

Furthermore, Zheng Dafeng had mentioned that a figure well-versed in the intricacies of blessed land management would soon grace Luo Po Mountain with their presence.

This was also a piece of welcome news.

While Luo Po Mountain wouldn’t gain an extra Grain Rain Coin, every insider secret shared by this person would effectively save Luo Po Mountain a sum equivalent to a Grain Rain Coin.

Previously, Sun Jishu had personally ascended the mountain.

He came with utmost sincerity.

The Sun family of Old Dragon City was willing to offer three hundred Grain Rain Coins, only collecting interest periodically, without claiming any share of the future profits from the Lotus Root Blessed Land.

The Fan family would also contribute three hundred Coins, under the same terms. Not the Fan family head, but a young man named Fan Er, would act as the borrower.

However, both families had various specific requests. For instance, Sun Jishu stipulated that within fifty years, Luo Po Mountain must provide the Sun family with a nominal protector—either a martial artist in the Distant Roaming Realm or a Nascent Soul cultivator—to intervene once should the Sun family face a calamity, after which the arrangement would cease. Furthermore, the Sun family planned to establish a ferry route running north from Old Dragon City, with the Ox Horn Mountain ferry crossing, rather than the Great Li capital’s Eternal Spring Palace, as its terminus. This would require Wei Bo and Luo Po Mountain to provide assistance and smooth things over with the Great Li court.

Even considering these additional conditions that needed gradual negotiation, Sun Jishu’s offer to lend money, only collecting interest, while guaranteeing a stable income for the Sun family of Old Dragon City, was hardly the best choice in the current landscape of a transformed Treasure Bottle Continent, ripe with countless opportunities for wealth creation. The true art of business lay in letting money grow legs, joining the other major families in the vast region south of Lake Gazing Academy and north of Old Dragon City, compounding interest upon interest. According to the increasingly clear trends, the Sun family could not only reliably profit but also curry favor with the Great Li court and the new Song Emperor. Once Great Li annexed a continent, such implicit investments would help future generations of the Sun family broaden their financial avenues.

Zhu Lian suddenly said, “After the Bao Fu Zhai shop opens, it’s likely that the new Great Li Emperor will proactively send you a sum of gold essence coins or a pile of golden body fragments. Pi Yun Mountain should accept them without hesitation, lest the young emperor overthink. Smart people, when idle, tend to breed suspicion, which is undesirable. However, let’s make it clear beforehand: relations are relations, business is business. We at Luo Po Mountain will still purchase from your Pi Yun Mountain at a discounted price.”

Wei Bo chuckled, “Of course.”

Then added, “It would be even better if you removed the words ‘discounted price’.”

Wei Bo, from hosting the grand second Night Sojourn Banquet to opening his own Bao Fu Zhai at Ox Horn Mountain, besides making some unscrupulous immortal money, actually…intended to earn another sum of unscrupulous gold essence coins.

Since even the Northern Mountain God needed to amass immortal money to aid his breakthrough, how could the Great Li court stand idly by? One could even say that the current Great Li Emperor, more than anyone on the Treasure Bottle Continent, hoped that Wei Bo would successfully ascend to the Upper Fifth Realm! The bigger the spectacle, the better! Ideally, a grand phenomenon of auspicious signs appearing within a thousand miles. What did this signify? That his, Song He’s, accession to the throne was righteous, celebrated by Heaven and Earth!

Wei Bo was the only new Mountain God of the Five Sacred Mountains personally appointed by the late Emperor.

Moreover, Wei Bo was the mountain god of Great Li’s ascendant region, making him an extremely important figure because the Great Li capital lay directly under his gaze.

Therefore, how to cleverly win over the “former dynasty official” Wei Bo could easily become a source of anxiety for the new Great Li Emperor. Over time, without communication, this could fester into a thorn in the Emperor’s side. Thus, Wei Bo and Pi Yun Mountain needed to provide a step down, allowing the Great Li court to descend gracefully, comfortably, and without stiffness.

So, when Zhu Lian and Zheng Dafeng mentioned this matter, why did Wei Bo agree after only a slight hesitation?

Because the three individuals present in the small courtyard at that time were all skilled strategists, planning multiple steps ahead.

Wei Bo paused, “You won’t ask why I suddenly know about the Lotus Root Blessed Land’s situation?”

Zhu Lian waved his hand, “No need to tell me. What can be said, we three have already spoken freely without reservation. What is inconvenient to say, there’s no need for us three to ask or answer, it’s meaningless.”

Wei Bo raised his teacup, “Let’s toast with tea instead of wine.”

Zhu Lian quickly put his arm around Wei Bo’s shoulder, raising his teacup with both hands, smiling ingratiatingly, “I dare not accept Mountain God Wei’s toast.”

After both drained their cups, Wei Bo laughed, “It’s a pity Dafeng isn’t here.”

Zhu Lian reached up to scratch the back of his head, “In terms of dealing with people, neither of us are as good as him.”

Wei Bo didn’t disagree.

Anyway, he, Wei Bo, wasn’t human.

This was a bargain he was taking advantage of Zhu Lian.

It was truly difficult to gain any advantage over this old chef, whether in chess or business.

Wei Bo stood up, smiling, “I won’t disturb your late-night cooking.”

Zhu Lian nodded, sighing, “I was firm at first, but now I feel a bit guilty. When my young master returns to Luo Po Mountain in the future, I reckon I’ll need to hide at your place for a while.”

Wei Bo’s expression betrayed a flash of schadenfreude.

Zhu Lian rose to open the door.

There stood a coal-black girl with arms hanging limply, using her head to knock on the door.

It seemed she hadn’t woken up the right protector of Riding Dragon Lane.

Zhu Lian opened the door, and Pei Qian swayed across the threshold, her voice trembling, “Old chef, I can’t sleep. Can I chat with you?”

Zhu Lian closed the door, smiling, “Of course, you can.”

Pei Qian sat on a stool, grimacing, her backside feeling as if it were blossoming with wounds.

Tonight, it wasn’t that she couldn’t sleep; she had been jolted awake by the pain, unable to sleep at all. She now wished she could slap herself. Hadn’t she once said that bedding was her mortal enemy? Now it had come to pass. A light, fluffy quilt felt like knives on her skin.

Zhu Lian asked, “Not hungry? Want a late-night snack? It’ll be quick.”

Pei Qian shook her head, looking listless, “No appetite.”

Zhu Lian asked again, “Something on your mind?”

Pei Qian hummed in agreement but didn’t speak.

Zhu Lian asked, “Is it the growing debt that’s causing you anxiety?”
Pei Qian nodded, her voice muffled, “Old Man said I still have a few days before I can break through to the Third Realm. By then, I can barely have some time to transcribe books. But it won’t be long before my hands and feet become clumsy again. It’s so annoying.”

Zhu Lian simply listened to the little dark girl’s words, not interjecting.

Pei Qian raised her head, looking at the large jade disc in the sky. “Before, when I was in Riding Dragon Lane, I always thought that one day, with a ‘whoosh,’ Master would come home. Now, I’m thinking about Master coming home again, but I’m also afraid of him coming home. If Master finds out I haven’t been transcribing books for so many days… if he gets angry and kicks me out of the sect, what should I do?”

The little girl furrowed her brow, pouted her lips, and tears welled up in her eyes, feeling wronged. “Master hasn’t done something like that before. When we first left Lotus Flower Blessed Land, in a place called the Great Spring Dynasty in Tongye Continent, he abandoned me once. Old Chef, think about it, what kind of person is Master? He’d keep worn-out straw sandals. How could he abandon me? Back then, I was still ignorant, so Master could abandon me and then regret it. Now that I’m sensible, if Master abandons me again, it means he really won’t want me.”

Zhu Lian asked softly, “Is that what you’re afraid of? So you’ve been afraid of growing up?”

Pei Qian laboriously raised her elbow and wiped her face. “How can I not be afraid? What’s so good about growing up?”

In truth, Zhu Lian had explained the matter of transcribing books to Pei Qian, and she must have taken it to heart.

So the real reason was something Pei Qian couldn’t bring herself to say, something she kept buried deep within her heart.

Zhu Lian could vaguely guess it, but he didn’t expose it.

Back then, Chen Ping An had once said to Pei Qian that the person he truly wanted to take out of Lotus Flower Blessed Land was Cao Qinglang.

At that time, Chen Ping An, towards Pei Qian, whose temperament was at the opposite extreme, felt not liking, but dislike, and he made no secret of it to her.

So-called growth, in Zhu Lian’s eyes, was nothing more than more weighing of pros and cons.

Pei Qian was in a very awkward situation.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand how to weigh pros and cons; on the contrary, the little orphan who had endured so much hardship was most adept at reading faces and calculating gains and losses.

But after she followed Chen Ping An, she found that those things she was most skilled at only served to distance her from Chen Ping An.

So she had always been afraid of growing up, and she had always been secretly imitating Chen Ping An. Pei Qian was trying to become a Pei Qian who could gain Chen Ping An’s approval.

Actually, there was nothing wrong with that.

Because Chen Ping An had enough patience to wait for Pei Qian to slowly grow up, and he was more willing to impart different rules and manners and ways of dealing with the world to Pei Qian at different stages of her life.

But no one had expected that the Lotus Flower Blessed Land would be divided into four, and after Zhu Lian and Pei Qian entered it, they happened to witness that scene.

In fact, if Pei Qian had only seen the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, the young man in a green shirt who seemed to have grown up overnight, appearing with an umbrella, it would have been alright.

The problem was that in the very beginning, Pei Qian had seen Chen Ping An holding an umbrella and walking with Cao Qinglang in the rainy alley.

After arriving in the Vast World, in Cui Dongshan’s moving painting of time, she had seen a very similar scene, a straw-sandal-wearing youth and the master he respected the most, also walking side by side in the rain with an umbrella.

That was why Pei Qian said that she could lose to anyone, but she couldn’t lose to Cao Qinglang.

Because Pei Qian was afraid that the already grown-up, extremely outstanding Cao Qinglang would take away everything that actually belonged to him, Cao Qinglang.

Pei Qian was afraid that one day, in the heavy rain, Master would hold an umbrella and walk side by side with Cao Qinglang, gradually drifting away, and Chen Ping An would never look back.

Then Pei Qian, who was in Decline Mountain and the Vast World, would be like she was back at the entrance of the alley in Lotus Flower Blessed Land.

Having nothing.

At the moment of seeing Cao Qinglang again in Lotus Flower Blessed Land.

Pei Qian felt like she had fallen into an ice cave, her hands and feet were ice-cold, and she had murderous intentions!

But between finding an opportunity to kill Cao Qinglang and inevitably losing Master, and actively growing up and surpassing Cao Qinglang, Pei Qian, who had been influenced by Chen Ping An by being around him, after walking out of Lotus Flower Blessed Land and the parasol, when she stood again in front of the bamboo building on Decline Mountain.

She chose the latter.

Zhu Lian carefully considered his words and asked, “If your Master returned to Decline Mountain and saw Cao Qinglang, and liked him very much, would you be very sad?”

Pei Qian thought for a while, “As long as he likes me the most, I’ll be very happy. If he likes me as much as he likes Cao Qinglang, I’ll be a little unhappy. If he likes Cao Qinglang more than me, then… I’ll be very sad.”

Zhu Lian smiled and said, “Then you can rest assured. One, two, three, three situations. I dare not say too much, but you can at least secure the second and strive for the first.”

Pei Qian rolled her eyes, “You’re not my Master, what’s the point of your words?”

Although she said so, she was actually a little happy.

Zhu Lian suppressed his laughter, “Believe it or not, but you’ve been practicing boxing for so long, you owe so much debt, and you still haven’t broken through to the Third Realm. That’s a bit inappropriate.”

Pei Qian sighed heavily, her small face, which didn’t seem as dark anymore, was furrowed. “That’s right, Old Man also said my aptitude isn’t very good, not even as good as my Master. Isn’t he just talking nonsense? Can I compare with Master? I’m so worried!”

Zhu Lian felt a little apprehensive.

He was just joking with Pei Qian, but he didn’t expect that the old senior was even more ruthless, and actually said such conscienceless words!

Zhu Lian rubbed his brow.

He didn’t feel like talking much anymore.

The Third Realm bottleneck for a pure martial artist is the first, and perhaps the biggest hurdle that determines the ultimate height of a martial artist.

Its significance is no less than that of a mountain-peak realm martial artist breaking through another great barrier…