This band of foreign sword cultivators from the Central Earth Divine Continent numbered five in total.

Aside from the wine-carrying youth who remained calm and collected, the other three retreated slightly, ready to unleash their flying swords at any moment. One of them, barely twenty, possessed a wooden expression, his reactions a half-beat slower than his companions, whether in retreat or gathering spiritual energy to draw his sword. Another was a graceful young woman, adorned in a symmetrical, colorful-collared dress, overlaid with a gauzy skirt embroidered with a hundred flowers, a style favored by female cultivators from the Central Earth Divine Continent known as the Jade逍遥 (Jade Unrestrained) fashion. She was the first to reach for the longsword at her waist.

As for the last one, naturally, it was the sword-bearing youth whom Chen Ping’an had suspended in mid-air. After being restrained by Chen Ping’an, his fist intent and gang qi suppressed him, preventing the spiritual energy from his vital acupoints from flowing freely. He attempted to break through the barriers, seeking an escape, but was repeatedly repelled. Ultimately, he found himself unable to move. His face flushed crimson, then turned a purplish hue, like a salted fish hung on a wall to dry. One could only imagine the humiliation he felt at that moment, no less intense than his desire for vengeance.

Chen Ping’an asked, “He’s unwilling to speak, will you speak for him?”

The wine-carrying youth smiled brightly, “What did he say just now? I didn’t quite catch it.”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Is the lineage of the亜圣 (Second Sage) so hard of hearing?”

The young woman retorted angrily, “Chen Ping’an, release Jiang Guancheng! Don’t think that just because you’ve gained some minor reputation here at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, you can act with impunity! Are you going to kill someone at the slightest disagreement?! The disciples of the Sage of Literature’s lineage truly have the most agreeable temperaments! First, there was Cui Chan, who betrayed his master and subverted his ancestors, then there was Zuo You, who ruined countless innate sword embryos from the Central Earth Divine Continent! My Martial Uncle… and you, Chen Ping’an! As a disciple of the Confucian school and a high-achieving student of the Sage of Literature, you’re actually engaged in such a lowly occupation here, personally selling wine! You’ve brought shame upon scholarship!”

When she spoke of her Martial Uncle, the young woman ground her teeth, and tears welled up in her eyes. However, when she mentioned Chen Ping’an again, she immediately returned to her normal, indignant, and exasperated demeanor.

Chen Ping’an remained indifferent.

He didn’t particularly care about this kind of direct accusation, this scolding delivered to his face. Besides, she wasn’t scolding his Master, only his Master’s junior disciples and his own senior brothers. He was the youngest of his Master’s lineage, did he need to champion his senior brothers’ causes?

Should he say a few fair words for the National Preceptor Cui Chan? Or should he stand up for his senior brother Zuo You? Was there a need? Chen Ping’an felt there wasn’t. One sought to make a continent his nation, hindering the Northern March of the demon race and preventing them from swallowing the territories of Tongye, Baoping, and Beiju Luzhou continents in one fell swoop. The other aimed to become the highest in swordsmanship in all the worlds beyond the Great Haoran, they were both quite occupied. As for him, Chen Ping’an, he was also busy.

Practicing martial arts, honing his swordsmanship, refining qi, studying books, and soon refining his fourth natal treasure, in addition to earning money, acting as a bookie, and carving seals, how could he not be busy?

However, most importantly, the young girl’s words, whether reasonable or not, whether the logic was sufficient, ultimately lacked any malicious intent.

Therefore, Chen Ping’an could understand and accept it.

“Zhu Mei, how can you speak to Mister Chen in such a manner?”

The youth scolded the young woman, then continued to speak to Chen Ping’an with a smile, “Mister Chen is of high seniority, and I, a junior, listen to his teachings. Whatever Mister Chen says, I will correct my ways if I have erred, and strive to improve if I have not. Furthermore, the Jiang Guancheng in Mister Chen’s grasp is the direct disciple of the Bitter Summer Sword Immortal, and the Bitter Summer Sword Immortal is the Martial Nephew of one of the ‘Ten’ from our hometown, which is quite troublesome. Of course, I have long admired Mister Chen’s senior brother, the Great Sword Immortal Zuo You, who is currently practicing swordsmanship at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, so there should be no need to worry too much. However, all sword immortals are one family, harming the harmony is ultimately unseemly.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Are you a sword cultivator of the观海 (Ocean Gazing) Realm? Are you a candidate for the first battle?”

The youth did not answer the question, but instead asked with a smile, “Mister Chen is a native of the Baoping Continent, surely you wouldn’t help the sword cultivators of the Great Wall of Sword Qi guard the pass, would you?”

The young sword cultivator and Chen Ping’an spoke, one in the elegant standard language of the Great Haoran, the other in the local dialect of the Great Wall of Sword Qi.

The youth lowered his head and glanced.

Chen Ping’an gently pushed, sending the tall youth tumbling dozens of feet away, complaining, “Being so tall, you made me stand on tiptoe for so long.”

Then Chen Ping’an looked at the interesting youth carrying wine, “Being so young and having such a high cultivation, wandering around our place and saying such things, aren’t you afraid of scaring us timid, low-realm people to death?”

Chen Sanqiu used the local dialect to explain the content of their conversation to the surrounding patrons.

Whistles and cheers erupted from the wine shop, especially from the drunken vagrants and bachelors who were squatting down to drink. They were very cooperative with the shopkeeper. Dammit, they used to think that the Second Boss was stingy and cunning, but compared to these young whelps from the Central Earth Divine Continent, he was quite the elegant and handsome fellow. They had truly wronged the Second Boss before, should they take fewer side dishes and pickles when they came to drink here in the future? Besides, relying on eating pickles to take advantage of the Second Boss was never satisfying, eating too much only led to drinking more alcohol.

Chen Ping’an turned his head towards the shop, asking with a smile, “How about I, as a Fourth Realm cultivator, guard the first pass? If you all bet on me losing, I’ll take the house.”

The patrons all raised their middle fingers, cursing and laughing, without any politeness. Some even cheered for the foreign sword cultivators, saying that this Second Boss of theirs, besides selling wine and writing couplets, was actually useless. If a real fight broke out, he’d be knocked down with a few punches, what was there to fear? As foreign Central Earth sword cultivators, they should show some heroic spirit. This Chen Ping’an was from a small place like the Baoping Continent, Ren Yi, Pu Yu, Qi Shou, and Pang Yuanji, those four fellows, were conspiring to be the house, deliberately losing to this bastard Chen Ping’an, if you’re not stupid, don’t believe them!

The young woman named Zhu Mei sneered, “So, not only is he a wine-selling drunkard, but he’s also a gambler. The old Master of Literature was truly blind to have found such a closed-door disciple!”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Drinking, gambling, and slaying demons are indeed insignificant and considered very low-class things in the eyes of you Central Earth Divine Continent cultivators.”

As soon as these words came out, Chen Sanqiu and the others made a noisy clamor, cheering loudly, banging on the tables and knocking on the chopsticks.

Zhu Mei was choked by his words.

Moreover, deep down, she felt some trepidation, as if she had inexplicably found herself in a strange little world.

Because although Chen Ping’an was somewhat distant from the big and small sword cultivators of the Great Wall of Sword Qi, it seemed that this undeserved disciple of the Sage of Literature echoed those sword cultivators behind him from afar.
Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Do you know where the lack of reason in my words lies? It lies in the fact that drinking and gambling, in the vast world, shouldn’t be the actions of a scholar. It’s precisely because I deliberately linked it to the matter of slaying demons that you were rendered speechless. Because you are still a Zhongtu swordsman with a bit of conscience, sincerely believing that slaying demons is a heroic feat. Hence, you feel guilty and ashamed. But there’s no need. Reasoning in this world requires a sequence, one thing at a time, the significance of large and small matters cannot be mutually inclusive or offsetting. For example, if you were to first acknowledge that slaying demons is extremely right, right for ten thousand years, and then come to me to talk about how extremely wrong being a drunkard and a gambler is, would I acknowledge it? How about that? Isn’t my lineage of the Literary Sage truly of good temper, still willing to reason?”

The young woman widened her eyes, her mind a mess. How could this drunken scholar in a blue robe speak such absurd words that seemed to hold some truth?

Yet, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger.

Chen Ping’an finally said to the wine-carrying youth, who no longer wore a smile, “Rest assured, I won’t use my cultivation as a Fourth Realm Qi Refiner to guard this first checkpoint. Why? It’s not that I don’t want to teach you a lesson, to teach you to speak properly, but because I respect you for being Zhongtu swordsmen who are willing to come to the Great Wall of Sword Qi for a journey, at least willing to see the desolate world with your own eyes. It’s a public matter for foreign cultivators to pass through the three checkpoints. The matter between you and me is a personal grudge, to be settled later.”

Chen Ping’an walked back towards the wine shop.

A burly man, rapidly devouring pickled vegetables, shouted, “Second Shopkeeper, you’re on a roll! Treat us to drinks, let’s celebrate?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “I implore you sword immortals to have some shame, quickly restrain your sword qi. Especially you, Ye Chunzhen, every time you drink a pot of wine, you devour three plates of my pickled vegetables, do you really think I don’t know? I’ve been enduring you for a long time.”

The burly man pinched the half-eaten plate of pickled vegetables with two fingers, “Want it back?”

Chen Ping’an was speechless.

The burly man was smug, *damn it, when this old man loses face, even I’m afraid of myself. Am I afraid of you, Second Shopkeeper? Besides, isn’t it all learned from you, Second Shopkeeper?*

Chen Ping’an coughed, not taking a seat, but clapping his hands and saying loudly, “Our shop is a small business. Originally, we planned to give away a bowl of plain noodles with every pot of wine purchased, in addition to the pickled vegetables. That was me biting the bullet and pretending to be generous. Now it seems, let’s forget it. Anyway, plain noodles aren’t much of a delicacy, just clear soup and bland flavor, the noodles are only slightly chewy, with a few scallions, and a small plate of pickled vegetables poured in, stirred with chopsticks, the taste is just passable.”

Ye Chunzhen immediately felt the gazes of the surrounding drunkards like flying swords.

Because everyone knew that arguing with the Second Shopkeeper was impossible.

Ye Chunzhen gritted his teeth, “Second Shopkeeper, bring me a pot of good wine, worth five snowflake coins! I accidentally ate a bit too much pickled vegetables today, a little salty, need to drink some good wine to suppress it.”

“Alright, Brother Ye, just wait.”

That fellow scampered off to the shop to get good wine, not forgetting to turn his head and laugh, “There will be plain noodles in a couple of days.”

The sword-carrying youth, Jiang Guancheng, had already been helped up, using sword qi to shatter those fist intent energies, his complexion improving a lot.

Zhu Mei softly asked, “Yan Lu, are you alright?”

The wine-carrying youth named Yan Lu gently shook his head and smiled, “What could happen to me? If he had taken the opportunity to guard the checkpoint, then I would have been in trouble, would have been scolded to death by Jun Bi.”

Zhu Mei softly complained, “You really are something, letting Jiang Guancheng come here to make a fuss. Jun Bi instructed us that after arriving at Sword Immortal Sun’s residence, we shouldn’t easily go out.”

The youth in simple, elegant robes turned to glance at the wine shop, quickly withdrawing his gaze.

He disliked, even loathed, that kind of chaotic atmosphere.

A cultivator with not even a hint of self-respect, not a trace of immortal aura from the mountains.

Yan Lu lifted the pot of Qing Shen Mountain wine in his hand and smiled, “Wasn’t I trying to find out if this immortal wine brew has any connection to Qing Shen Mountain? My ancestor attends the Qing Shen Banquet in the Bamboo Sea Cave Heaven every time.”

Zhu Mei rolled her eyes, “You, Yan Lu, are the most fond of flipping through family trees and old calendars, afraid that others won’t know how wealthy your ancestors were. Jiang Guancheng’s family and sect inheritance are no worse than yours, have you seen him boasting about who his martial uncle is? But he just doesn’t use his brain, believing everything he hears, not thinking things through before doing them, easily agitated by a few words from others. Do you really think this is our Zhongtu Divine Continent? My ancestor instructed me a lot before coming to the Great Wall of Sword Qi, forbidding me from putting on airs here, telling me to obediently be a mute and a deaf person, sigh, but never mind, I’m not qualified to say these things, I talked a lot just now. We agreed, you’re not allowed to tell Jun Bi anything, just say I didn’t say a word from beginning to end. Jun Bi, sigh, is only at the Sight of the Sea Realm, but he’s so scary when he’s angry. I’m alright, anyway, my realm isn’t high. Look at you all, aren’t you all still following my example, silent as cicadas in winter?”

Yan Lu’s expression was slightly unnatural.

If she didn’t have a family uncle who was now the Mountain Master of a Literary Academy in Liu Xia Continent, and it was said that Zhu Mei had been blessed since childhood, signing a strange mountain alliance contract with a female Mountain Lord of a Great Mountain in their dynasty, without these two relationships, Yan Lu would have really wanted to slap her across the face to teach her a lesson, to speak human language, not to stab people’s hearts with every sentence.

Back at the wine table.

Die Zhang had just heard that the shop was giving away a bowl of plain noodles. After Chen Ping’an took a seat, she softly said, “Making plain noodles again, and managing the business, I’m afraid one person can’t handle it.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Le Kang’s kid’s dad, I heard his cooking is good, and he’s a decent person. He hasn’t had a stable job in recent years. I’ll pass on a secret recipe for plain noodles to him, just consider him a hired hand in our shop. When Zhang Jiazhen has time, he can also come to the wine shop to do odd jobs, help out, and the Shopkeeper can also rest a bit. Anyway, these expenses, for half a year or a year, all added up, aren’t even worth a bowl of wine.”

Die Zhang smiled and nodded, especially happy, no less than earning money.

Chen Sanqiu, Yan Pangzi, and the others were already used to it, these were all things that Chen Ping’an would think of and do.

However, Fan Dache was a bit puzzled, joking, “Chen Ping’an, you really don’t mind the trouble, huh? How did you get your current cultivation? Did it fall from the sky?”

Chen Ping’an called out, “Dache ah.”

Fan Dache was a little nervous, “What?”
Chen Ping’an coaxed, “Look, drinking with so many Golden Core seniors, on such a small table, we have Sanqiu, Yan Fatty, Black Charcoal, and Diezhang. What a grand occasion! Yet, we’re only drinking the cheapest wine. That’s not right.”

Fan Dache was reluctant to be the sucker, because there was also a Fourth Realm Qi Refiner at the table.

Chen Ping’an whispered, “That wine-carrying youth, if I haven’t misjudged, should be the one responsible for the second round. Like you, he’s in the Dragon Gate Realm. How old is he? If you lose, how much face will you lose?”

Fan Dache then asked Diezhang, the manager, for a pot of good wine, but couldn’t help but ask, “Are you so sure there will be a second round?”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and explained, “If Green-end hadn’t been grounded at home by Guo Jianxian, it would be hard to say. But now, there will definitely be a second round. The reason is simple: the sword cultivators of the Central Earth care most about their reputation. If there are no accidents, the one guarding the pass on our side, in the Viewing Sea Realm, is Gao Yehou’s sister, Gao Youqing, right? She’s only been on the city wall once and hasn’t gone to the southern battlefield yet. Gao Youqing’s aptitude is certainly excellent, but in terms of combat experience and flying sword lethality, the Golden Core sword cultivators of the Sword Qi Great Wall are far ahead of their peers in the vast world. However, below the Golden Core, the advantage is of course not small, but not as big as you think. Moreover, the Central Earth Divine Continent is full of geniuses. That Jiang Guancheng is a great-grand disciple of one of the Central Earth Ten, and his master is the Sword Immortal Kuxia, yet he’s nothing special among this group.”

“He’s not someone who can speak his mind. From this, we can see that Gao Youqing will lose. And that wine-carrying youth is clearly not the person in charge of that mountain. After my previous move, I saw that the rest of his companions were all extremely nervous and subconsciously wanted to help, but not everyone looked at the wine-carrying youth at the same time. From this, I can deduce that the wine-carrying youth has failed to win the hearts of the others, and is not a pillar of support. If he is not a pillar of support, how dare he drag all the young geniuses and bet the face of the Central Earth Divine Continent sword cultivators on those three rounds? There must be someone else in the Sun Sword Immortal’s residence, someone they recognize as their leader, someone who I estimate to be a young and low-level, but extremely outstanding, paragon of talent. How amazing is he? Enough to make sword cultivators one or two realms higher than him willing to obey him. Therefore, the rules of the three trials were undoubtedly his doing. After all, the Kuxia Sword Immortal has been to the Sword Qi Great Wall and wouldn’t be so bored. That Nascent Soul sword cultivator wouldn’t dare to do so either. To put it bluntly, this group of young masters and young ladies can truly be sheltered by a Nascent Soul cultivator. This can further confirm that the young sword cultivator has outstanding intelligence and can make a Sword Immortal and a Nascent Soul senior listen to him.”

Fan Dache was shocked, “Chen Ping’an, did you already know the origin of this group? Or has news from Inverted Mountain reached Ning’s Residence?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Guess.”

Diezhang rolled his eyes, wanting to remind Fan Dache not to guess, as it would be exhausting.

Yan Zhuo asked, “Many people are taking bets on this now, are we…”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “Betting on our own people to lose, the immortal money earned would be uncomfortable to hold.”

Fan Dache handed over a wine bowl, “Based on that statement, this pot of wine is worth buying.”

Chen Sanqiu added, “Anyway, the money was borrowed from me.”

Yan Zhuo praised, “Fan Dache, not bad, not bad. You have a similar style to Dong Black Charcoal.”

Dong Huafu shook his head, “I’m still a little better than him.”

Fan Dache raised his wine bowl, his face full of smiles, “Then let’s drink together?”

Everyone at the table raised their wine bowls and drank.

Chen Ping’an returned to Ning’s Residence alone and encountered a Confucian scholar, the Gentleman Wang Zai.

Wang Zai spoke concisely, asking about Huang Zhou, the sword cultivator, and also told Chen Ping’an about the verification process here at the Sword Qi Great Wall.

In short, regarding Huang Zhou’s death, the Hidden Official lineage, which specializes in such matters, neither of the two Sword Immortals wanted to pursue it too much. However, it was not certain whether Huang Zhou was a demonic spy, at least there was no conclusive evidence. Therefore, Chen Ping’an would not be punished for killing Huang Zhou, but the Hidden Official lineage, including Wang Zai, would never help prove his innocence. Chen Ping’an would have to bear any rumors in the future. At the end, Wang Zai also spoke about Huang Zhou’s affairs in the streets, and he would be responsible for the aftermath, taking care of and compensating some of the old and young, which would only take a little effort.

Chen Ping’an curiously asked, “Why be so impartial?”

Wang Zai said with a silent voice, “My teacher and Master Mao are old friends, and they once traveled and studied together. He has always regarded Master Mao’s failure to go to the Rites Academy to sharpen his scholarship as a lifelong regret.”

Chen Ping’an understood and cupped his hands in salute.

Wang Zai had to return the salute. In fact, this was not appropriate, but his previous thoughts could not escape the eyes of Lord Hidden Official and the two Sword Immortals, Zhuan and Luo Shan, so it didn’t matter.

Wang Zai suddenly smiled, “I heard that Master Chen personally compiled and bound a book of the Hundred Sword Immortal Seals, one of which has the inscription ‘The sun shines during the day, and the moon shines at night.’ I have a classmate whose name has the character ‘Yu’, which I can give to him.”

Calling the young man Master Chen did not make the Gentleman Wang Zai feel awkward.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “I’ll say hello to Yan Zhuo. If Master Wang doesn’t mind the powder smell of the silk shop, you can take it yourself. If you find it troublesome, I’ll have someone send it to Master Wang’s study, which will only take a little effort, not even a little worry.”

Wang Zai nodded with a smile, “Then I’ll trouble you. It would be even better if there is a side inscription and signature.”

Chen Ping’an said, “It’s just a small effort.”

Wang Zai asked, “Do you know why I’m willing to do this? In fact, I could have remained silent, and I would have been innocent of the friendship between my teacher and Master Mao.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “I don’t know.”

Wang Zai sighed, “It’s better not to know. It’s for the best.”

Wang Zai bid farewell and left, his Confucian robes fluttering.

Chen Ping’an returned to Ning’s Residence and stood in the martial arts field for a while, watching Ning Yao cultivate in the pavilion. Even just watching from afar was a beautiful picture that could delight the mind.

After that, he returned to his small house and continued to carve seals. That extremely crude Hundred Sword Immortal Seal Collection would definitely have to be re-bound in the future. The Hundred Sword Immortal Seal Collection wasn’t really just one hundred seals.
The hundred-odd seals that were previously on the table had already been taken to the shop by Yan Zhuo in one fell swoop, becoming the treasure of the shop.

Currently placed on the table are mostly plain seals, with only a few seals bearing inscriptions.

For Chen Pingan, seal carving, besides being a way to calm his mind, is also a review of what he has learned.

Furthermore, how to “give away” one’s knowledge, with a few or a dozen characters, along with a seal of ordinary material, and make people willing to take it, even willingly spend money to buy it, isn’t it a minor subject of learning? Actually, it’s quite profound.

In the history of the Sword Qi Great Wall, so many sages, gentlemen, and virtuous people of the Ritual Sage and Sub-Sage lineages came and went, some even died on the southern battlefield. Didn’t those readers of righteousness hope that the Sword Qi Great Wall would have the sound of books being read aloud? It’s just that everyone had their own difficulties, their own predicaments, their own restraints, which ultimately made it impossible for them to truly promote Confucianism. Of course, Chen Pingan didn’t think he had that ability either, and could only do some things in front of him, things at hand.

Chen Pingan held the carving knife and slowly carved a seal inscription: “Observe the Dao, Observe the Dao, Observe the Dao.”

Earlier, Chen Pingan was initially reluctant to accept the business of private book collection seals for Dong Bude and several friends, but he nodded only after Ning Yao nodded.

Some things cannot be completely ignored just because one is feeling high-spirited and clear-minded.

Of course, Dong Bude deliberately mentioned this matter in front of Ning Yao, which was also a clever move on Dong Bude’s part.

Chen Pingan carved those few pieces of beautiful jade private seals in a proper manner, putting more effort into the elegance and literary air. Since it was a real transaction, it had to be fair to both the old and the young. When he was drinking with Dong Hei Tan at the shop, Dong Hei Tan mentioned that his sister thought it was very good, and would help to attract business in the future, but she, Dong Bude, wanted a commission, but Chen Pingan politely refused. Dong Hua Fu didn’t care, he didn’t want his sister to run to the Ning residence every now and then, running too often, heaven knows what kind of nonsense would spread, the one who would suffer first would be Chen Pingan, but the one who would suffer the most in the end would definitely be him, Dong Hua Fu. If Chen Pingan suffered a setback from Ning Yao, who would he hold accountable if not him, Dong Hua Fu?

He wasn’t unaware of how Chen Pingan dealt with Fan Da Che, giving him a beating, and Fan Da Che was quite happy about it. Fan Da Che was silly, but he, Dong Hua Fu, wasn’t stupid.

The leftover scraps of beautiful jade, Dong Bude was worthy of being the direct daughter of the Dong family, and her friends were not stingy either. They had agreed to give them to Chen Pingan as payment for his carving skills, and they really gave Chen Pingan to carve into extremely small seals, about ten or so, but the inscriptions were particularly dense, one of which even had more than a hundred characters. The materials of these seals were not ordinary white jade, but the frost jade, which is extremely famous among immortal treasures. Chen Pingan had to use the flying sword Fifteen as a carving knife to carve the characters. Of course, he would not give them away as prizes for the silk shop, but would have customers buy them with real money. One private seal cost one Minor Heat coin, no bargaining, buy it or leave it.

Perhaps thinking that the wealthy women who frequent the silk shop on the Sword Qi Great Wall may not understand the subtlety, this seal, which at first glance seems to repeat “Observe the Dao” three times, will probably gather dust for a long time.

Chen Pingan then switched to a plain seal to carve, and carved eight characters: “Flowers and Moon in Reunion, Divine Couple.”

Chen Pingan shook the seal, then lowered his head and blew on it, weighing it in his palm, very satisfied. With this carving skill, with this meaning, if no one fights for this seal, he wouldn’t be named Chen.

The business of the shop can’t just have women spending money, men have to go to buy it too, then that counts as the true ability of the second shopkeeper of his silk shop. So Chen Pingan pondered for a moment, whistling a little tune, and leisurely carved another seal: “In the world, there is a beautiful woman, shaming the three lamps in the sky.”

At the residence of Sword Immortal Sun Juyuan.

Zhu Mei and Jiang Guancheng stood with their heads bowed, under the steps of a pavilion. The others, such as Yan Lv, didn’t dare to have any smiles on their faces either.

Inside the pavilion, a youth named Lin Junbi was playing chess alone.

The chessboard and chess jars were all beloved objects that the youth carried with him, all top-notch treasures from the mountain. It was rumored that they were originally treasures of White Emperor City, and later passed into Lin Junbi’s hands. Among them, the two chess jars each had two inscriptions, “Everywhere, gods protect,” and “Everything, heaven protects.” And the many black and white chess pieces on the chessboard, like two kinds of sword light shining, each piece giving birth to different colors of sword energy. The chess game on the chessboard was facing each other, and sword energy crisscrossed the chessboard.

Every time Lin Junbi picked up a piece and placed it on the chessboard, just bypassing the trajectory of those entangled sword energies made people dizzy and directly connected to the divine will.

Lin Junbi actually didn’t scold the two, he just listened to the course of events once and asked some details, but Zhu Mei and Jiang Guancheng were more worried themselves.

It’s hard to imagine that Lin Junbi was actually born from a mountain and marsh wild cultivation, but his later life experience, in just a few years, seemed too brilliant and stunning, making it easy for others to ignore the youth’s humble origins.

Lin Junbi looked at the chess game, then at the chess score spread out on his hand, and turned to smile at everyone: “Don’t be nervous, the chess game is still on, everyone go cultivate.”

Three days later, the three passed three levels.

Then Lin Junbi stopped one person, “Senior Brother Bianjing, shall we play a game of chess?”

The young man who had gone to the wine shop with Yan Lv and the others nodded and walked into the pavilion to sit down alone.

Earlier, when Chen Pingan made his move on the street, he seemed the most sluggish.

Very different from before, this young swordsman named Bianjing, after moving a chess jar to his side, was instead lazy, propping his cheek with one hand, helping Lin Junbi to put the chess pieces into the jar. For those sword energies, unlike Lin Junbi who deliberately bypassed them, Bianjing chose to forcibly break them open, forcibly lifting the chess pieces.

Lin Junbi was just about to speak.

Bianjing complained: “You’ve said it twice, is my memory that bad? Pretend to lose to that Si Tu Weiran, otherwise the Sword Qi Great Wall will have no place to put its face, and we’ll have endless troubles in the future, which will inevitably delay Yan Lv and Zhu Mei’s quiet cultivation.”

Lin Junbi smiled: “That’s good.”

Bianjing said: “You win the first game, no suspense. But Yan Lv’s second game, are you confident?”

Lin Junbi said: “I have confidence, but not much. If Senior Brother Bianjing is only at the Dragon Gate Realm now, then everything would be worry-free. After you and I have played two games, it is estimated that the other party will no longer have the ambition to make trouble for us in the future.”
Bordering lands jested, “Am I wrong to have good fortune and break through realms quickly?”

The Golden Core bordering lands cultivator across from him was the only swordsman not from their Shao Yuan Dynasty. He looked to be in his early twenties, but was actually nearing thirty. Even at thirty, possessing the Golden Core bottleneck cultivation was still shocking.

Lin Junbi’s master was the Imperial Preceptor of the sixth greatest dynasty of the Magnificent Heaven. Bordering lands was an unofficial disciple of Lin Junbi’s master.

Lin Junbi didn’t know much about the true origins of this nameless “Ocean Observation Realm” swordsman. His master was unwilling to speak of it. This time, rushing to Upside-down Mountain, only Sword Immortal Ku Xia slightly saw through some clues. Even that Nascent Soul elder cultivator did not know the true realm of Bordering lands. As for Yan Lu and the others, they were even more unaware that a flood dragon was swaying beside them, only happy to watch some jokes.

If Lin Junbi’s greatest personal interest in this experience was to find someone to play Go with, and to witness the swordsmanship of the Left and Right Great Sword Immortals, then Bordering lands, who could only be counted as half a senior brother, had come for Sword Immortal Wei Jin, the number one swordsman talent of Treasure Bottle Continent.

However, in the plum blossom garden of Upside-down Mountain, Senior Brother Bordering lands seemed to have great fortune, getting along quite well with the lady in charge of the courtyard.

Back in their hometown of the Shao Yuan Dynasty, even as an Ocean Observation Realm swordsman, Bordering lands was still doing well, with the title of unofficial disciple of the Imperial Preceptor, and his opportunities were endless. Sometimes Lin Junbi even suspected that Bordering lands was the kind of banished immortal who was born enlightened in legends.

Lin Junbi asked, “I heard that Chen Ping’an has a Celestial Treasure, and fought a world-shaking battle with Pang Yuanji, but didn’t even use it. If you fought him, what would the outcome be?”

Bordering lands pinched a Go stone, placing it on the stone table outside the chessboard. He rubbed the extremely precious snow-white stone casually between his fingers, as if he was angry with the stone. He casually said, “Cultivating the Dao, cultivating the Dao, but in the end, you have to fight with others to win or lose, it’s meaningless.”

Lin Junbi smiled slightly, grabbing a handful of Go stones, “Shall we guess who goes first?”

Bordering lands was not in a hurry to play Go, and asked, raising his head, “You know?”

Lin Junbi nodded, “When you came back, you were clearly injured, but you smiled more and spoke louder than usual, so I guessed.”

Bordering lands sighed, “But the opponent is Cao Ci, isn’t it not embarrassing to lose?”

Lin Junbi nodded, “It’s not embarrassing to lose to Cao Ci, but I think it’s unwise to go to get beaten up.”

Bordering lands was silent.

Lin Junbi asked curiously, “How many punches?”

Bordering lands pursed his lips, pointing to the Go stone between his fingers.

Lin Junbi asked in confusion, “One punch?”

Bordering lands laughed in anger, “Do you look down on your senior brother so much? Two punches! One punch broke my flying sword, and one punch knocked me silly. But to be honest, if I were shameless, I could have taken a few more punches.”

Lin Junbi smiled and said nothing more.

Bordering lands asked, “Since Yan Lu doesn’t have a sure chance of winning, don’t you have any other plans?”

Lin Junbi said, “I had a plan at first. If Guo Zhujiu of the Sword Qi Great Wall fought in the second match, I would break through the realm on the spot. If Gao Yehou or Sima Weiran fought in the third match, then I would break through the realm again. But after I settled here, I changed my mind. Because there’s no need. In doing so, I would only be making wedding clothes for others. If Chen Ping’an is present, there will be a fourth match. I am not Senior Brother after all, and I will definitely lose to Chen Ping’an, who has also fought four matches, only to make that Chen Ping’an more popular.”

Bordering lands joked, “Are you so concerned about Chen Ping’an? Did you intentionally send Zhu Mei and the others to the wine shop to bump into the wall?”

Lin Junbi smiled, “Chen Ping’an should be happy to be thought of by Lin Junbi.”

And Chen Ping’an, who was being thought of but did not know, was in a secret room in the Ning residence, beginning to refine his fourth natal treasure.

After the Water Character Seal of the Water Mansion, the Five-Colored Earth of the Mountain Shrine, and the Wooden Statue of the Wooden House, came the Metal of the Five Elements, and finally the Fire of the Five Elements, for which a suitable natal treasure had not yet been found.

The Water Character Seal was refined at the Cloud Sea Peak of Old Dragon City, at the southernmost end of Treasure Bottle Continent.

The Five-Colored Earth was refined near the estuary of Beiju Luzhou, where the Ji River flows into the sea.

The wooden statue obtained from the Taoist temple on the mountain peak of the Immortal Mansion ruins was refined on an island in the Dragon Palace Grotto-heaven.

The Metal of the Five Elements that was about to be refined was a golden page, or more accurately, a Buddhist scripture.

Regarding this matter, Chen Ping’an had asked his senior brother Zuo You if it was appropriate. Zuo You only said that a gentleman is not a utensil, what could be inappropriate.

The cauldron was still the Five-Colored Golden Cabinet Stove obtained from the old Nascent Soul cultivator Lu Yong of Tongye Continent, which was of extremely high quality. However, because of Jiang Shangzhen’s relationship, it was half-sold and half-given, and Chen Ping’an only paid fifty Grain Rain Coins.

Lu Yong had said, “The nature of metal is imperishable, therefore it is a treasure of all things.” So this stove was most suitable for refining the Metal of the Five Elements.

Inside the secret room, many natural treasures were prepared properly.

Outside the secret room, Nalan Yexing sat cross-legged, responsible for guarding and suppressing the formation.

At the pavilion of Dragon-Slaying Cliff, Granny Bai chatted with Ning Yao.

The old woman smiled and said, “Don’t worry, good people have their own blessings, and our son-in-law is a man of the Dao, and Heaven will help him. Besides, our son-in-law is learned and profound. Although he is a Confucian disciple, he travels around the world and walks among the people, just like a Bodhisattva. Miss, you don’t need to worry about this refinement.”

Ning Yao was still a little worried, but still smiled and said, “Granny Bai, don’t say these words to him, he will be uncomfortable.”

The old woman deliberately said, “Are you referring to the title of son-in-law? The son-in-law may only be uncomfortable in words, but he is more than comfortable in his heart.”

Ning Yao was relieved a little by this interruption, and smiled, “If the refinement is successful, in a few days, I will accompany him to see the Three Passes Battle.”

The old woman said, “Miss, you used to have no interest in these things.”

Ning Yao said, “I still have no interest now, I just want to accompany him to relax.”

After a moment of silence, Ning Yao said, “Granny Bai probably can’t see it, but Chen Ping’an will be the saddest when refining the Metal of the Five Elements.”

The old woman asked, “Is it sad in mood, or difficult in the barrier?”

Ning Yao said, “Both.”

The old woman was immediately worried, even more nervous than her own Miss.

Ning Yao smiled and said, “Granny Bai, it’s okay. Chen Ping’an can always solve his own problems, he always has. If he knew that we were worried, he would be worried. Otherwise…”
Ning Yao gazed at the practice field outside the pavilion, “There’s no hardship that he can’t chew through and swallow.”

The old woman nodded, “That’s good.”

Ning Yao retrieved a seal from her sleeve and handed it to the old woman, softly saying, “I stole it.”

The old woman was caught between laughter and tears. She received it, glanced at the inscription, and was lost in thought. She carefully tucked it into her sleeve, unable to hide her smile, “The son-in-law’s calligraphy is truly excellent.”

Especially the seal script, it was exceptionally comforting.

Her dark hair was streaked with white like frost and snow, yet she remained a beauty.

Ning Yao shook her head, “He himself said that his calligraphy is too rigid. Only his regular script is passable. As for the running script and seal script, he only learned a smattering. In the eyes of experts, it would only be laughable. But it’s more than enough to deal with these seals made of ordinary materials.”

Outside the secret chamber, Nalan Yexing was somewhat puzzled. Why hadn’t Chen Ping’an lit the alchemical stove after an hour?

Inside the secret chamber, Chen Ping’an remained with his eyes closed, lost in thought.

In the glorious mansion of the Yan family, which seemed to be plastered with the words “We’re rich,” Fatty Yan Zhuo was uneasy. He had received the seal early on, and excitedly returned home. Yet, he found himself in a predicament, afraid to present it, and had been delaying it.

Today, he hesitated and paced back and forth in the corridor outside his father’s study.

The door of his father’s study was removed, simply to make it easier for the Yan family head to enter and exit.

Actually, it didn’t have to be like this. It was Yan Zhuo’s father’s own decision to tear down the door, saying that losing his arms meant losing them for good. Using sword qi to open and close doors was just for fun.

Yan Ming had long noticed his son’s movements in the corridor. With such a portly figure, his footsteps were thunderous. Even if Yan Ming’s cultivation was lackluster now, he was still a Nascent Soul cultivator, how could he not know?

Yan Ming frowned and said, “If you’re not coming in, then scram!”

Yan Zhuo was still terrified of his father. There was no way around it, he had been scared since he was a child. Later, his father seemed to have given up completely, and wasn’t even willing to scold or hit his only son. Until the last time he carried Yan Zhuo back home, the man finally showed a slightly better face towards his son, occasionally asking about Yan Zhuo’s cultivation progress. After that, the woman whose greatest skill in life was to dote on her only son, probably under instruction, began to be strict with Yan Zhuo, whether it was cultivation, business, or making friends.

Yan Zhuo was about to obey instinctively and leave, but after taking a few steps, he gritted his teeth and walked towards the study, crossing the threshold.

Yan Ming had the appearance of a stern middle-aged man, with empty sleeves, sitting in a chair. His desk was covered with books, and a small spirit was responsible for turning the pages.

Yan Ming frowned and asked, “What is it?”

Yan Zhuo tremblingly took out the seal and gently placed it on the table. “Father, this is for you. I’ll be going now.”

Yan Ming was taken aback by the ordinary seal and asked, “Are you short of money? And you give me this?”

Yan Zhuo’s face flushed red, and he didn’t even dare to explain anything. He lowered his head and quickened his pace, leaving the study.

Leaving the corridor, Fatty Yan felt relieved.

In the study, the well-behaved little spirit happily hopped over to the seal, squatted down, and like carrying a log, showed the inscription on the bottom to its master.

Yan Ming looked at it for a long time, then suddenly asked, “Do you think I’m too strict with Zhuo’er?”

The little spirit nodded vigorously.

Yan Ming laughed, turned his head to look out the window, at the tall city wall in the far distance.

“I dare not draw my sword and ascend the city wall, lest I drive away the three rounds of the moon.”

Your father doesn’t have that kind of ability.

The little spirit blinked its eyes. It had been diligently serving the master for so many years, and had never seen him smile like that before.

Above the city wall.

The gentleman Wang Zai had just delivered a newly printed manual of hundred sword immortals’ seals to the Confucian Sage now stationed at the Sword Qi Great Wall, Ye Laolian.

It was very crude, far from being comparable to the average seal manual of the vast world, let alone those carefully collected by scholarly families.

The Sage turned the pages one by one, and when he saw something that resonated, he would smile knowingly.

“There are no scenic mountains and rivers here, but it is the highest city in the world.”

“Where children play, where sword immortals drink heartily.”

When the Confucian Sage turned to one page, he stopped his hand and nodded lightly.

Wang Zai looked over, it was “Three hundred frost-covered oranges and persimmons,” and also smiled, saying, “Perhaps no one in the Sword Qi Great Wall knows the fun of this for now.”

The Confucian Sage smiled, “That’s possible, just a possibility, there will be someone with both leisure and money, who will turn the pages of books, buy books, and check the origin of the seal inscription.”

The Shao Yuan Dynasty in the Central Earth Divine Continent, was like the Zhu Ying Dynasty in the Treasure Bottle Continent, with many sword cultivators.

Therefore, today’s three-round battle was watched by a cloud of spectators.

The location was chosen on Xuanhu Street, where the big clans and wealthy families of the Sword Qi Great Wall were clustered.

The reason it wasn’t on Taixiang Street, where the families of Chen Sanqiu and Dong Huafu were located, was naturally because they didn’t dare, and even if both sides had the guts to choose that location, probably no one would go to watch.

Fatty Yan tiptoed and looked around, puzzled, “Why hasn’t my Brother Chen arrived yet?”

Dong Huafu was gnawing on a large pancake, the Dong family’s young master always charged his purchases to Chen Sanqiu and Yan Zhuo.

Fan Dache glanced at the doorway of a house in the distance, Chen Sanqiu patted him on the shoulder, Fan Dache smiled, “It’s okay.”

At the two ends of the street, stood two groups of local sword cultivators led by Qi Shou and Gao Yehou, and a group of foreign sword cultivators led by Yan Lv and Jiang Guancheng, surrounding the young Lin Junbi like stars around the moon. And the Borderland remained the most inconspicuous existence in that crowd.

Gao Yehou’s sister, Gao Youqing, would guard the first round. Gao Yehou, who had not shown up to watch the battle last time, naturally arrived today. Pang Yuanji stood beside Gao Yehou, telling the small Gao Youqing some precautions. It wasn’t that Gao Yehou didn’t want to, it was just that this sister never liked to listen to his nagging.

Lin Junbi slowly stepped forward, Gao Youqing strode forward.

Neither side intended to summon their flying swords, gradually closing the distance.

A group of Earth Immortal sword cultivators squatted on the steps in front of a mansion, laughing, “Gao girl, the other party is really handsome, good enough for you, as long as you beat him, carry him on your shoulders and run, find a deserted place, you can do whatever you want!”

Gao Youqing turned a deaf ear, concentrating her mind, staring intently at the approaching youth.

Lin Junbi had the leisure to look around, examining the wealthy mansions on both sides of Xuanhu Street.

Two sword cultivators in the Viewing Sea realm.
With but a single strike, superiority was decided.

Gao Youqing was first to unleash his natal flying sword, cleaving through the air and vanishing in an instant, seeking not grandeur but swiftness.

Lin Junbi’s flying sword followed in response, effortlessly deflecting Gao Youqing’s treasured weapon, then hovering at the center of Gao Youqing’s brow.

Gao Youqing’s face turned ashen.

The flying sword at his brow vanished in a flash, and Lin Junbi had already turned to leave.

Yan Lü took a deep breath and stepped out from the crowd, brushing shoulders with Lin Junbi.

Lin Junbi smiled at him, “You could perhaps take a bit longer to decide victory or defeat.”

Yan Lü nodded heavily.

The vast crowd of sword cultivators lining the streets offered neither jeers nor insults. In a duel of equals, victory decided in a blink was simply testament to the victor’s skill.

But the youth was indeed infuriating.

He was nearly catching up to that second shopkeeper of the wine shop.

Speak of the devil.

That second shopkeeper, walking side-by-side with Ning Yao, appeared from the street where Lin Junbi stood.

Lin Junbi glanced at the pale-faced, seemingly unwell, man in the blue robe, smiled, and then looked away, focusing instead on the woman beside him, rumored to be even more extraordinary. He, Lin Junbi, had heard countless praises in the Plum Garden of Upside-Down Mountain. But how could a mere tenth-realm Spirit Observation cultivator be so exceptional? A Gold Core swordsman in his twenties, still stuck at the bottleneck, far from nascent soul, could hardly be considered invincible.

Lin Junbi shook his head. He studied her, but didn’t find her particularly beautiful; certainly not the sword-wielding Ning Yao of the Great Wall of Sword Intent that he had imagined.

Chen Ping’an, hands tucked into his sleeves, ambled along. He turned and glanced at the youth, smiling, “Control your eyes.”

The entire street erupted in whistles, mocking their own. The Great Wall of Sword Intent never hesitated to tease their own, especially that second shopkeeper. He wasn’t like Gao Youqing, a simple girl; that fellow had thick skin, his conscience weaker in making money than in fighting.

Lin Junbi smiled faintly, “Talking about yourself?”

After speaking, Chen Ping’an ceased regarding the youth, turning instead to the figure hidden in the crowd, Bian Jing.

Bian Jing’s expression remained calm, but inwardly he felt uneasy. Had he revealed himself at the wine shop? It shouldn’t have been possible.

Ning Yao tugged on Chen Ping’an’s sleeve. Chen Ping’an stopped and softly asked, “What is it?”

Ning Yao looked at him.

Chen Ping’an nodded, smiling.

And so Ning Yao turned to Lin Junbi and said, “If you’re told to control your eyes, then control your eyes.”

Lin Junbi twitched his lips.

Then Ning Yao spoke a few words.

The entire street fell silent.

Chen Sanqiu and Yan Zhuo exchanged glances, both seeing the pity in each other’s eyes. They struggled to suppress their laughter.

Not only that, but one after another, the sword immortals guarding the city walls arrived on their swords, abandoning even the “Palm Gazing Mountain River” technique.

Because Ning Yao had just said, “If you dare to temporarily break through and attack at Dragon Gate realm, I’ll suppress myself to Spirit Observation realm. If you break through again, attacking at Gold Core realm, I’ll suppress myself to Dragon Gate realm. Do you want to admit defeat now?”