The Hidden Official of the Great Wall of Sword Qi?

Isn’t that the little girl with pigtails in the legends? Rumor has it she could shatter the true forms of great demons from the desolate lands with just her bare fists, the most warlike figure of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

How did she become this unfamiliar young man before our eyes?

Even if you dare not believe it, you have to believe it now.

With so many Sword Immortals present, they wouldn’t allow that young man to spout nonsense.

Or rather, even if you refuse to believe it to the death, you have to pretend to believe it. Otherwise, your head might be lopped off by the flying sword of a Sword Immortal from this continent, and casually tossed out of Upside-Down Mountain. Who would you hold accountable for that debt? Could you gather allies, sharing hatred and animosity, to seek revenge against the Sword Qi Great Wall? Don’t forget, those in the same trade are always rivals. The business of many ferries often clashes with each other.

An old steward from Aiai Continent weighed the situation carefully, stood up, bowed deeply, and slowly said, “Congratulations to Sword Immortal Chen on his honorable promotion to Hidden Official. This humble one, named Dai Hao, serves as the steward of the ‘Tai Geng’ ferry on Aiai Continent. My cultivation realm is not even worth mentioning, afraid of dirtying the ears of the Hidden Official. This junior dares to say that the Hidden Official appearing in person tonight is already a great honor for us. How dare we disobey the words of the Hidden Official? In fact, there’s no need to trouble so many senior Sword Immortals. This junior is ignorant and short-sighted, and I don’t currently know the progress of the war on the Sword Qi Great Wall. I only know that every senior Sword Immortal is the most formidable peak powerhouse under heaven, whose every moment spent lingering on Upside-Down Mountain means fewer demons slain. It’s truly a pity.”

Wu Qiu’s lips curled up, then he suppressed the smile.

Dai Hao’s words contained both soft and hard stances, making a good start. As expected of a Golden Core cultivator on the path of cultivation, and a top-five realm figure in the world of commerce.

Instead of being here discussing business with us insignificant merchants, wouldn’t it be more fitting for so many Sword Immortals, renowned throughout one or several continents, to wield their swords and slay demons at the Sword Qi Great Wall?

It would be more in line with the demeanor and style of a Sword Immortal.

Wu Qiu felt he had to remember the favor from the “Tai Geng” ferry. After all, Dai Hao was taking such a great risk to speak out and fight for the interests of all the ferries in the eight continents.

If a Sword Immortal suddenly flew into a rage and killed someone, he, Wu Qiu, would definitely step in to stop it.

Xie Songhua, the female Sword Immortal sitting opposite the steward from Aiai Continent, raised an eyebrow.

Good heavens, Aiai Continent, which she was responsible for, had become the first to jump out and cause trouble, a “sword-asking person”?

Chen Ping An patiently listened to the old Golden Core cultivator, his gaze fixed on Dai Hao, whose words were laced with needles, but he raised his hand towards Xie Songhua and gently pressed down twice, indicating it was not a big deal, just a minor matter.

Chen Ping An nodded towards the old Golden Core steward and smiled, “Firstly, I am not a Sword Immortal, and whether I am even a sword cultivator is debatable. If you are interested, you can guess. I have traveled on intercontinental ferries many times, and I know that intercontinental journeys are long and tedious. Without something to alleviate the boredom, it’s truly unbearable. Secondly, the true Sword Immortals present, such as Sword Immortal Xie sitting opposite you, Dai Hao, when they draw their swords and when they sheathe them is not something outsiders can dictate. Good intentions and sincere words are always welcome. Dai Hao, you’ve made a good start. From now on, our discussions should be like this: open and honest, speaking frankly.”

This caused some disappointment among the ferry stewards who had expected the young man to become angry and turn hostile on the spot.

Chen Ping An paused briefly, lightly tapping the table with his finger, his smile undiminished, “But ultimately, one cannot control them. Not even our Great Sword Immortal restrains them. Why? It’s very simple: Sword Immortals are, after all, Sword Immortals. Their minds, bodies, and flying swords are all free. Otherwise, how could he be the most troublesome ghost among the Four Great Mountains? It’s precisely because he never cared much for immortal money, sage doctrines, or sect rules.”

Bai Xi, the steward of the “Clay Pot” ferry from Shanshui Grotto on Fuyao Continent, was facing Xie Zhi, a wild sword cultivator from the same continent.

Opposite the ferry steward from Jinjia Continent was the female Sword Immortal Song Pin, who first offered wine and then punishment.

Facing the ferry steward from Liuxia Continent was Sword Immortal Pu He, who had thrown a Nascent Soul ferry steward out of the Spring Banner Lodge like a chick, and said he wanted to take two or three friends to reminisce with Li Xun in the Ancestral Hall.

These three continental ferry spokesmen were deeply moved by the new Hidden Official’s words.

Chen Ping An remained amiable, as if chatting with acquaintances, “Dai Hao, I appreciate your good intentions, but these words would seem more fitting if spoken by someone from another continent. It’s somewhat inappropriate for you to say them. Sword Immortal Xie has drawn her sword twice, once destroying the foundation of a Jade Pure Realm demon clan sword cultivator, and once shattering the entirety of an ordinary Jade Pure Realm demon clan member, scattering its soul and leaving nothing behind. As for Nascent Soul or Golden Core cultivators, naturally they are all gone. So Sword Immortal Xie has already achieved perfect merit and will not only not return to the Sword Qi Great Wall, but will instead leave Upside-Down Mountain with you and return to her home continent, Aiai. Regarding this matter, Sword Immortal Xie was perhaps too busy catching up and drinking with fellow villagers earlier and didn’t mention it?”

Chen Ping An turned to look at Xie Songhua.

Xie Songhua stared intently at Dai Hao, and said, “I mentioned it. I guess old immortal Dai forgot.”

Chen Ping An waved his hand, glanced at the heavy snow outside the Spring Banner Lodge’s main hall, and said, “It doesn’t matter. Let’s just consider this another reminder. Running into someone from your hometown in a foreign land is such a rare thing, it’s always worth reminding them one more time.”

Dai Hao stood up and dared not sit down, guessing that if he did sit, he would feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.

“Why are you standing? Everyone else is sitting, and you’re standing alone. It’s bound to give the impression that you’re looking down on the Sword Immortals.”

Chen Ping An’s smile faded, and he said to the old Golden Core cultivator, “Sit.”

Dai Hao immediately sat down.

Wu Qiu and the two Jade Pure Realm cultivators from the Central Earth, Tang Fei and Qian, exchanged a quick glance.

It seems this new Hidden Official is not very Sword Immortal-like.

Jiang Gaotai, a concealed Jade Pure Realm cultivator from the “Southern Dipper” ferry of Aiai Continent, was extremely old but had a youthful appearance. His seat was very close to the front, next to Tang Fei and Qian. He had some connections with Dai Hao of the “Tai Geng” ferry. Besides, having been directly exposed by the Sword Qi Great Wall, all the merchants present, which one of them didn’t possess eyes of discernment? Jiang Gaotai was worried that the business of the Flood Dragon Trench would be disrupted by others in the future.

This made Jiang Gaotai feel that he should say a few words for both personal and public reasons. Otherwise, would Aiai Continent, so vast, truly be strangled by that woman Xie Songhua?
Jiang Gaotai didn’t even rise, speaking directly, “Lord Hidden Official, our cultivation is hardly worth mentioning. If we were to discuss fighting prowess, perhaps all of us combined wouldn’t be a match for two or three sword immortals joining forces. The guests of this Spring Pennant House would be wiped out.”

Xie Songhua narrowed her eyes, raising a hand, gently stroking the armrest of her chair.

Jiang Gaotai ignored this, continuing, “We, who are steeped in the stench of copper coins, are not skilled in killing, so we can’t talk about self-preservation. We can only engage in small businesses, earning a meager living. If Lord Hidden Official thinks we can talk, then we’ll have a good chat. If not, then to survive, we’ll obediently accept even the most unsuitable deals. I don’t care what other continents think. I, Jiang Gaotai, along with a dilapidated South Dipper Ferry, will take the lead. Lord Hidden Official, just name your price. Even if it’s a losing business, I’ll do it, as I celebrated Sword Immortal Chen’s ascension in the Sword Qi Great Wall.”

Wu Qiu, Bai Xi, and others were all impressed by Jiang Gaotai.

No hesitation.

Excellent.

Wu Qiu’s only concern, for the time being, wasn’t the smiling young Hidden Official, but the infighting among “our own,” like the long-standing feud between the Northern Ju Wild Continent and the Aiai Continent.

Earlier, Shao Yunyan of Spring Pennant House personally arranged for the ferry managers of each continent to gather in a courtyard, entertaining them with the presence of their respective continent’s sword immortals. His intentions were truly sinister.

The animosity between the Northern Ju Wild Continent and the Aiai Continent was known throughout the world.

Therefore, an old Nascent Soul sword cultivator manager from the Northern Ju Wild Continent wanted to immediately tear down Jiang Gaotai’s “high platform.” Even without drinking the wine with Sect Master Li Cai of Floating Lotus Sword Lake, as long as the little bastards from the Aiai Continent were showing off, the Northern Ju Wild Continent was willing to oppose them. The two ferry managers from the Aiai Continent spoke one after the other, did they think the Northern Ju Wild Continent was dead?!

In the Vast World, the Northern Ju Wild Continent’s intercontinental ferries to Upside-Down Mountain earned the least!

However, all the ferry managers, including the old sword cultivator, had received Li Cai’s telepathic reminder, “Ignore this fellow. Tonight’s meeting, just watch the show.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Rise and speak. The Vast World values propriety the most.”

As soon as the young Hidden Official spoke, the expressions of most ferry managers facing the sword immortal changed.

Let Dai Hao sit, then let Jiang Gaotai rise?

Damn it, you, Chen Ping’an, get to say everything!

Jiang Gaotai’s expression darkened. His life had been mostly smooth, with constant opportunities. Even when doing business with the big shots of the Liu family of the Aiai Continent, he had never been subjected to such humiliation, only courtesy.

Chen Ping’an, with his hands in his sleeves, simply smiled as he looked at Jiang Gaotai.

Dai Hao said he didn’t want to delay the sword immortal’s killing of demons, and the young Hidden Official spoke a lot of nonsense. The truly weighty sentence was that Sword Immortal Xie had smashed the Nascent Soul Golden Core of a Jade Purity Realm Great Demon, the Golden Core coming last, referring to Dai Hao’s old Golden Core?

Jiang Gaotai retreated to advance, making it clear that he wouldn’t give the sword immortal a chance to draw his sword, while testing the bottom line of the Sword Qi Great Wall. But the young Hidden Official simply came up with a platitude about the propriety of the Vast World?

Many old managers felt extremely awkward. Weren’t these things the way their Vast World was best at reasoning?

Jiang Gaotai smiled, rising and cupping his fist, “I was impolite, I apologize to Lord Hidden Official.”

Wu Qiu, Tang Feiqian, Bai Xi, and others secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

They were really afraid that Jiang Gaotai would give the young man a chance to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys.

Unexpectedly, the young man smiled again, “Accept your apology, you can sit down and speak.”

A dignified Jade Purity cultivator of the Upper Five Realms, Jiang Gaotai stood in place, his face ashen.

If he were to engage in a business battle with the young Hidden Official, no matter how difficult it was in private, Jiang Gaotai was a businessman, so he wouldn’t be so embarrassed. What truly worried Jiang Gaotai was his reputation in Spring Pennant House tonight, having his skin peeled off and thrown on the ground, stepped on once, then stepped on again, which would affect his future private deals with the Liu family of the Aiai Continent.

Jiang Gaotai pretended that he didn’t want to be played like a monkey, and was about to leave in a huff.

Xie Songhua said, “Lord Hidden Official, then I’ll take this ‘South Dipper’ back home. No need to see me off.”

Unexpectedly, Shao Yunyan was even more thorough, standing up, at the door, “The Sword Qi Great Wall and the South Dipper Ferry, if the deal doesn’t go through, there’s still goodwill. I believe Lord Hidden Official won’t stop him, and I, an outsider, can’t interfere. But it just so happens that Shao Yunyan is, after all, the owner of Spring Pennant House, so before Sword Immortal Xie leaves, allow me to accompany Ferry Master Jiang to stroll around Spring Pennant House first.”

Shao Yunyan ultimately didn’t want Xie Songhua to act too extreme, lest it affect her future Dao achievements. He, a lone wolf, didn’t care.

Jiang Gaotai stopped, laughing loudly, turning to look at the smiling young man, “Lord Hidden Official, do you take us for fools? Is this how the Sword Qi Great Wall opens its doors to do business? I’ll see how many ferries will be docked at Upside-Down Mountain in half a year by relying on forced sales!”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Ferry Master Jiang is a very clever person, otherwise how could he have become a Jade Purity Realm cultivator? It’s not that he doesn’t know propriety, it’s probably that he wasn’t willing to do business with our Sword Qi Great Wall from the start. It doesn’t matter, Ferry Master Jiang can still leave, and let Master Shao Sword Immortal accompany him to enjoy the scenery. Lest everyone misunderstand, let me mention something here, I must explain it to everyone. Shao Sword Immortal has nothing to do with us. Tonight’s meeting, the choice of the Spring Pennant House with the best scenery, I paid for it on behalf of the Sword Qi Great Wall.”

Shao Yunyan smiled, “Sword Immortals grace us with their presence, our humble Spring Pennant House is honored, so there are still discounts.”

Chen Ping’an sighed, looking a bit sorrowful, saying to Jiang Gaotai, “I don’t carry the surname Dai, so I can’t bear the weight of this big label of forced sales. If the Sword Qi Great Wall can’t do business with the South Dipper Ferry, even if my heart aches to death, I’ll ultimately blame myself for not being good enough. It’s just a pity that I didn’t even have a chance to make an offer. Ferry Master Jiang didn’t even want to hear my offer. As the saying goes, people of low status have little say, so be sensible. I insist on persuading people with little influence, and joining the crowd when poor. I’m making everyone laugh.”

Chen Ping’an stood up, looking at Jiang Gaotai, who still hadn’t moved, “I don’t mind that Ferry Master Jiang lacks patience, and Ferry Master Jiang shouldn’t misunderstand that I lack sincerity, instead splashing me with dirty water. When gentlemen break off relations, they don’t speak ill of each other. At the end, let’s strive for reciprocity, and part amicably.”
Then Chen Ping’an stopped looking at Jiang Gaotai and gazed at Wu Qiu, Tang Feiqian, and Bai Xi one by one. “Sword Qi Great Wall treats its guests with utmost sincerity. Dai Hao has spoken, Boatmaster Jiang has spoken, and there’s one more person who can say something before the Sword Qi Great Wall. After that, I will start talking business. Anyway, the principle is only one: from today onwards, if any of you boatmasters earn less money than before, not only will you not do such business, but neither will I and the Sword Qi Great Wall.”

Saying this, Chen Ping’an shifted his gaze from the boatmasters to the swordsmen. “Sword Immortal Xie, aren’t you going to see Boatmaster Jiang off with Sword Immortal Shao?”

Xie Songhua stood up and looked at the young Hidden Official who had personally helped her accumulate two merits of war. This female sword immortal, who least wanted to owe anyone a favor, surprisingly showed a hint of guilt.

Chen Ping’an gently shook his head.

Xie Songhua smiled brightly, not bothering to be hypocritical. She turned to Jiang Gaotai and said, “Once out of this door, Xie Songhua is just Xie Songhua, a sword cultivator of Aiyaizhou. Boatmaster Jiang, then let Shao Yunyan and me, two sword cultivators of the same realm as you, accompany you on a stroll through Chunfanzhai?”

Jiang Gaotai’s mind raced, and he asked, “Hidden Official, is it true that the Sword Qi Great Wall will ensure we don’t lose money?”

Chen Ping’an walked to the other side of the Four Immortals table and reached out to press the jade plaque with the ancient seal characters “Hidden Official.” Then, facing everyone on both sides, he smiled without saying a word.

Shao Yunyan had already walked towards the door.

Xie Songhua had already released a wisp of sword intent, and a sword in the bamboo sword box behind her was humming.

Tang Feiqian stood up, slightly turned sideways, and cupped his fist towards the young man, saying, “I implore the Hidden Official to let Boatmaster Jiang stay. It’s not good to part on bad terms. If the Hidden Official is willing to let the Nanji Ferry offer a little help, wouldn’t that be better?”

Tang Feiqian wasn’t helping Jiang Gaotai survive, but was actually helping himself, and everyone else who was cautiously doing business with the Sword Qi Great Wall tonight.

All the annoyance had to be hidden first.

Once they left Chunfanzhai and were far away from Upside Down Mountain, everything would be easy to handle.

Chen Ping’an asked, “I am familiar with the winding scenery of the mountains and rivers in the Vast Expanse. I know what will happen to Boatmaster Jiang when he walks out the door. Do you, Tang Feiqian, not know? Or do you think Boatmaster Jiang doesn’t know? How do you propose to keep him? Why should he stay? As the third person to speak to me, explain yourself clearly. I will patiently listen.”

Chen Ping’an lightly tapped the jade plaque with his finger, smiling. “In this hall, there are rules for discussing business, and these rules are even bigger than my position as the Hidden Official. In short, it’s all about business transactions, and all grievances can be settled with divine immortal money. After spending some time with me, you will naturally understand that I am the fairest businessman in the Sword Qi Great Wall, or at least one of them.”

Sword Immortal Xie Zhi smiled, “That’s right.”

Chen Ping’an immediately said, “When your own people speak for you, it only backfires.”

Xie Zhi glanced at the ferry managers from Shanshuizhou and said, “Hidden Official, what you said makes no sense. I, Xie Zhi, am from Shanshuizhou, and it’s these wealthy immortal masters in front of me who are my poor relatives from the same hometown.”

Wei Jin of the Wind and Snow Temple had been expressionless from beginning to end, sitting on his chair with his eyes closed, resting. Hearing this, he felt a little helpless.

Sword Immortal Xie Zhi’s words probably weren’t something Chen Ping’an had taught him beforehand, right? It must have been a spontaneous and sincere remark.

Tang Feiqian pondered for a moment, and cautiously said, “As long as the Hidden Official is willing to let Boatmaster Jiang stay for discussions, I am willing to break precedent and act on my own accord once, lowering the price by 10% the next time the ferry docks at Upside Down Mountain.”

Chen Ping’an took the jade plaque and hung it on his waist, then sat back in his original position, saying, “Why should I let a stupid Upper Fifth Realm cultivator, who chooses not to earn money, continue to sit here and disgust himself? Do you really think my title as the Hidden Official is worth less than a ‘Nanji’ that only steals dragon qi from the Jiaolong Trench? Ten percent? The dragon qi that the Liu clan of Aiyaizhou sold to the backers behind you, Tang Feiqian, is only worth 10% of your profits? You already look down on me, and you also look down on Jiang Gaotai’s path of cultivation and life?!”

Tang Feiqian frowned.

How did the Sword Qi Great Wall know about such a secret?

Chen Ping’an said in a deep voice, “Sword Immortal Kuxia.”

Sword Immortal Kuxia prepared to stand up, “Present.”

If Xie Songhua owed Chen Ping’an an enormous favor,

then the Shao Yuan Dynasty, where Sword Immortal Kuxia was located, owed an even greater favor.

As the future pillar of the Shao Yuan Dynasty, Lin Junbi’s future path of cultivation was bright!

Sword Immortal Kuxia didn’t have so many devious thoughts. He would repay what he owed, plain and simple.

If he couldn’t repay it himself, since he was Zhou Shenzhi’s grand-nephew, and had never asked his grand-uncle for anything in his life, he could also have Lin Junbi relay a few words after returning to the Central Earth Divine Continent.

As for whether his grand-uncle Zhou Shenzhi would care about his grand-nephew’s dying words and be willing to help, Sword Immortal Kuxia didn’t think about it.

Bai Xi knew that if Sword Immortal Kuxia, the easiest-to-talk-to among the swordsmen present, was about to make harsh threats, it would be another major disaster that would shake their side’s morale.

Therefore, even if Bai Xi had to bite the bullet, he had to stop Sword Immortal Kuxia as the manager of the Wapen Ferry of Shanshui Grotto in Fuyuazhou and take the lead in speaking!

Bai Xi had seen through it. When doing business with this young Hidden Official, who was more Vast Expanse than the Vast Expanse itself, you couldn’t play the game of intrigue and deception.

Bai Xi stood up, his expression indifferent. “If the Hidden Official insists on Boatmaster Jiang leaving, then count me, Bai Xi of Shanshui Grotto, in.”

Bai Xi even smiled, not concealing his sarcasm. “I only hope that Sword Immortal Xie and Sword Immortal Shao don’t think my realm is too low and that I am not worthy to accompany you.”

Xie Songhua simply said, “Oh,” and then casually said, “Whether you’re worthy or not doesn’t matter. My bamboo box has plenty of sword qi.”

Shao Yunyan was standing at the door.

Sword Immortal Kuxia turned to look at the young Hidden Official.

Chen Ping’an smiled and made a gesture to indicate that he didn’t need to stand up and speak.

With Bai Xi unexpectedly willing to risk everything to break the stalemate, so that they wouldn’t be led by the nose by the Sword Qi Great Wall step by step, soon, a fellow cultivator from the same continent, who was familiar with Bai Xi, also stood up. “Count me in.”
Even the Nascent Soul ship owner who was first thrown out of Chunfan Hall by Pu He, despite previously groveling like a dog before the Sword Immortal, now resolutely followed Bai Xi’s lead and rose to his feet, “‘Fuchong’ ship owner Liu Yu also wishes to experience the splendor of Chunfan Hall and, incidentally, the Sword Immortal Xie’s sword qi.”

Not only that, but a nameless, young Golden Core ship owner, a woman of unique status from a southwestern seaside immortal family in the Great Harmony World, whose seat was far back, and thus not far from Shao Yunyan, also stood up and said, “‘Nishang’ ship owner Liu Shen wonders if I might be so fortunate as to have another Sword Immortal, besides Xie and Shao, join us on this tour of Chunfan Hall.”

The lowest realm and a female cultivator.

This death would be quite meaningful.

The last one to rise was the Central Earth Nascent Soul female cultivator who had previously exchanged thoughts with Mi Yu. She slowly stood up, smiling at Mi Yu, “Great Sword Immortal Mi, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I wonder, after so many years, has Great Sword Immortal Mi’s swordsmanship improved?”

Mi Yu smiled faintly, “I’m reluctant to find out.”

The female Nascent Soul sneered.

Wu Qiu, who had remained motionless, felt immense pleasure in his heart.

This is how it should be!

This is the “grand vision” that the intercontinental ferries and Sword Qi Great Wall should have when doing business.

Don’t Sword Immortals love to kill, and aren’t they best at it?

Now, someone, and more than one, is sticking their neck out, truly offering themselves to be killed.

Will you draw your swords? Will you kill them?

Jiang Gaotai clasped his hands and said loudly, “Thank you, everyone!”

Tang Fei Qian, who had been standing since rising, felt much the same as his friend Wu Qiu.

Did that young Hidden Official really think that by summoning a bunch of Sword Immortals to intimidate them, and relying on a jade token, he could control everything?

What an ignorant brat!

So young, what does he even amount to!

Li Cai rubbed the corner of her mouth with a finger, feeling like she wanted to just kill one of them with a single sword strike and be done with it.

But in her mind, she heard the young Hidden Official’s voice again, telling her not to rush.

Only then did Li Cai refrain from drawing her sword.

Wei Jin had already opened his eyes.

The two old Dragon City ferry stewards who were just about to make a move immediately became obedient.

The Southern Jambudvipa ship owners remained relatively quiet.

As for those from the Northern Assembly Continent, they had no intention of getting involved.

At this moment, after the hall had been filled with passionate and inspiring words, everyone gradually noticed that the young man who should have been in a terrible state was leaning back in his chair, cheek propped on his hand, smiling as he looked at everyone.

The Northern Assembly Continent, Treasure Bottle Continent, and Southern Jambudvipa – all were easy to deal with.

One was due to the prevailing customs, one was too powerless to speak up, and one was too close to Inverted Mountain, especially with the Confucian Chen family still around, and Chen Chun’an having just left the Sword Qi Great Wall not long ago.

The Central Earth Divine Continent, Snowy Continent, and Soaring Continent were the most difficult to deal with.

One was accustomed to giving orders and looking down on the heroes of the Eight Continents. One cared more about immortal money than anything else. And one had ruined the Inverted Mountain trade but was also the most capable of making money.

Whether Golden Armor Continent and Flowing Haze Continent were easy to deal with depended on the situation.

And now, the situation was becoming less favorable.

Chen Ping An’s gaze swept past the two old Dragon City ferry stewards and lingered on them for a few more moments.

The Treasure Bottle Continent’s intercontinental ferries were essentially the six ferries of Dragon City, the Fu family’s Treasure-Swallowing Whale, and the floating island known as “Little Inverted Mountain,” The Sun family had a sea turtle captured and tamed by their ancestors, and the Fan family had Osmanthus Island.

The two stewards who were guests at Chunfan Hall tonight were the steward of the Fu family’s Treasure-Swallowing Whale and the old ship owner of the Ding family’s intercontinental ferry.

He had been to Dragon City several times but had never met these two. It was likely that even if these two important figures from Dragon City had heard of “Chen Ping An,” they would have assumed it was a common name.

The young Hidden Official said lazily with a smile, “What’s the matter, what’s the matter? A good, mutually beneficial, money-making business, why do you have to take your heads off and put them on the table to weigh them by the pound? I don’t see any need for that.”

Tang Fei Qian sneered, “It seems like it wasn’t us who were shouting about killing and using the Sword Immortals’ power to arbitrarily decide the fate of others, was it?”

Chen Ping An maintained his posture, smiling, “I’m just young and full of energy, a small man suddenly gains power and gets a little carried away.”

Wu Qiu took a sip of Chunfan Hall tea, gently set down the teacup, and smiled, “We are useless for the rest of our lives. We are vastly different from the Hidden Official and not on the same level. We can’t speak the same language. We really don’t make money easily, and everyone risks their lives. Why don’t we change the location and the time and talk again? As I said, one Hidden Official’s words are enough, there’s no need to trouble the Sword Immortals. Maybe the Hidden Official doesn’t even need to show up in person. Having Patriarch Yan or Sword Immortal Nalan deal with small figures like us would be enough.”

Chen Ping An smiled, “I said before, there are rules outside, and there are rules sitting here. Furthermore, everything can be solved with immortal money. You were all too caught up in the noise just now and didn’t think it through. So let me be clearer. When I came to Inverted Mountain this time, I wanted to replace a large number of ship owners from the start, for example…”

Chen Ping An looked at the female Golden Core cultivator in the back, “‘Nishang’ ship owner Liu Shen, I’m willing to spend two hundred Valley Rain Coins, or the equivalent value in alchemical resources, to have Fairy Liu’s junior sister take over ‘Nishang.’ The price isn’t fair, but what can you do when someone’s dead? Are you not going to come to Inverted Mountain to make money anymore? The person is gone, but the ferry is still there. At least you can earn two hundred Valley Rain Coins. Why did I pick you first? It’s simple, you’re an easy target. If I kill you, your sect and elders won’t dare to say a word.”

The Golden Core woman’s face instantly turned pale.

Jiang Gaotai immediately asked with a smile, “I wonder how many Valley Rain Coins my head is worth in the Hidden Official’s eyes?”

Chen Ping An shook his head, “You are a dead man, not worth a single immortal coin from me. Sword Immortal Xie will take care of the mess on the Snowy Continent’s Liu family’s side. Sword Immortal Ku Xia will speak a few words to his grand-uncle Zhou Shenzhi and settle things with Tang Fei Qian and his backers on the Central Earth Divine Continent’s side. We are all in business. You should understand that realms aren’t that important.”
Chen Ping’an said, “Xie Jianxian, hold off on going out for now. If that Jiang boat owner utters another word, slaughter him. Lest they think this Hidden Official dares not even kill a chicken to scare the monkeys.”

Xie Songhua exhaled heavily.

Finally, she could draw her sword and kill someone.

Chen Ping’an turned to look at the nascent soul Bai Xi from the Mountain and Water Cave, “Your ancestor has an old and deep grudge with my Sword Qi Great Wall. The previous Hidden Officials ignored you, but I won’t. Don’t leave tonight. I’ll have Xie Zhi Jianxian make an extra trip to escort your Tile Basin Ferry back to the Mountain and Water Cave of the Floating Continent, smoothly and safely. Make sure your ancestor understands that we’ll settle all grievances and debts. Business as usual after that, come or don’t come, the consequences are your own.”

This time, it was the sword immortals’ turn to rise.

Wild cultivator sword immortal Xie Zhi stood up, smiling and sighing, “It’s been many years since I’ve slain a registered immortal master. Truly brings back memories.”

Chen Ping’an continued, “Anyone who doesn’t stand up and leave, and is simply shouting nonsense, is a respected guest of the Sword Qi Great Wall.”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “If we don’t dredge up all the hidden secrets, all those dregs of character, from that muddy swamp and put them on display, so that the intercontinental ferries and the Sword Qi Great Wall, and the ferry owners themselves, can see each other clearly, how can we conduct trustworthy business in the long run?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Mi Yu.”

Mi Yu stood up, his eyes cold, looking at the female nascent soul cultivator, “I’m sorry, that was the last time I was going to trick you. I was actually willing to let you go.”

The nascent soul woman’s heart instantly felt like it was being cut by a knife.

Then, Mi Yu took out a booklet from his sleeve, looked around, and randomly picked a steward boat owner who hadn’t stood up but had almost done so earlier. He revealed everything about the person’s ancestors for eighteen generations.

Not only their master’s lineage and why they were the direct disciple, which descendant was most valued, how their offspring were spreading down the mountain, where their large and small private residences were located, not just the private property on Inverted Mountain, but also the houses and villas in various places on this continent, and even like Wu Qiu and Tang Fei Qian, who had family fortunes in other continents, were all meticulously recorded. Even which immortal maidens were not mountain companions but better than companions, there were countless mysteries and learning to be had.

Mi Yu then revealed the family fortunes of two other boat owners, as if counting his own treasures.

Then, Chen Ping’an laughed, “Alright, enough is enough. Everything in moderation.”

Mi Yu nodded.

Am I the number one thug of the Hidden Official lineage, appointed by the Hidden Official? Did I get that title for nothing?

Chen Ping’an called out another name, “Pu He.”

Pu He stood up and stared at the nascent soul cultivator who had apologized to him earlier, his eyes gloomy, “I just can’t understand it. How can there be such a businessman who almost died, yet insists on dying completely. I want to see if that Jade Purity Realm Ling Ran will kneel on the ground and beg me to give him face when I board the ship.”

Chen Ping’an looked at the two key figures on the Eight Continents ferry side, “Wu Qiu, Tang Fei Qian. Old gods of the Upper Five Realms. The two of you even bought houses near the Grindstone Mountain in the Northern Ju Reed Continent, and yet in front of me, you call yourselves small figures, struggling to earn a living.”

Li Cai stood up, “I won’t leave Inverted Mountain, but I can send a flying sword message to Floating Hibiscus Sword Sect and Great Emblem Sword Sect, saying that there are some rumors and gossip here on Inverted Mountain that the two old gods are colluding with the demon race. Oh right, Bitter Summer Sword Immortal, Yu Juanfu and Zhu Mei, those juniors haven’t left Sword Qi Great Wall yet, right? Let them also tell the Central Earth Divine Continent about this matter, so that the two old gods can prove their innocence, lest good people be wronged.”

Sword Immortal Bitter Summer immediately stood up, “Not difficult. It should be so.”

Chen Ping’an finally blinked, looking puzzled, “Did you think I was going to make enemies with the mountains behind you? Is it worth it? It’s not worth it. I just don’t like the look of you. Except for a very few people who are destined to die, I am very measured in what I do. Moreover, there will be apologies and massive amounts of compensation afterward. In the long run, no one will lose out. Did you really think I called the sword immortals over just to drink tea with you? Do you deserve it, you useless lot who don’t even want to make money for nothing?”

Sun Juyuan also stood up smiling, “I have some goodwill with everyone here, as well as your masters and ancestors. I have no personal grudges with anyone. So, I dare not trouble our Hidden Official with the apology matter. I’ll take care of it.”

Yan Ming stood up, “The Yan family has a little wealth, so I, Yan Ming, will take care of the compensation until it’s all gone.”

Nalan Caihuan didn’t move.

Tonight’s events had exceeded her expectations too much.

Chen Ping’an then shifted his gaze, “Don’t let outsiders laugh at us. My face doesn’t matter, but Nalan Shaowei’s face is worth something.”

Nalan Caihuan had no choice but to slowly stand up.

Chen Ping’an completely lost his smile, although he still maintained that lazy posture, he still stared intently at this nascent soul sword cultivator who had done too much business.

Nalan Caihuan braced herself and remained silent.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Is the seating arrangement wrong? Shouldn’t you, Nalan Caihuan, be sitting over there?”

Nalan Caihuan’s eyes were fierce, and she was about to speak.

Sword Immortal Gao Kui stood up and turned to look at Nalan Caihuan.

Nalan Caihuan, who was about to call out “Chen Ping’an” by name, immediately swallowed the three words back into her stomach.

This inexplicable change.

Made Wu Qiu and the “outsiders” even more terrified.

Was this young Hidden Official, who said he was a “petty man with a high position”, really going to slaughter even his own people?

Whether he was a petty man with a high position or not was hard to say.

This young man was very black-hearted!

As for the saying that he held great power, it was absolutely unambiguous.

Wu Qiu finally stood up, cupping his hands, “Hidden Official, there’s no need to be like this. Business is just business. Let’s both take a step back and seek a happy ending, a long-term flow of money.”

The young Hidden Official simply rested his cheek on his hand, looking at the heavy snow outside the door.

Chen Ping’an seemed to be talking to himself, “Did you really think that Sword Qi Great Wall has no good relations or goodwill in the vast world? Do you think that Sword Qi Great Wall doesn’t need these things, so it doesn’t exist? It’s just that we don’t learn your filthy ways, so it becomes your reason to mistakenly believe that sword immortals have no brains? Do you know why you are still standing and not dead?”
Chen Ping’an answered his own question, “That would be nearly ten thousand years of long years. Since South Po娑洲 had its first intercontinental ferry to Upside-Down Mountain, starting with that ‘Pillow Water’. If I remember correctly, the second was the Yun渡 Mountain of the disappeared sect in Floating Shake洲, the ‘Look Up’ ferry. The third was Tongye洲, which no longer has an intercontinental ferry today, the ‘桐傘’, where the ship capsized in a shipwreck and everyone died. After the news reached the Sword Qi Great Wall, the Sword Immortal could only silently unleash a sword and offer a distant sacrifice. This matter is too distant, I am afraid many native Sword Immortals of the Sword Qi Great Wall are not very clear about it.”

Chen Ping’an straightened his body.

“In the earliest years, almost all the ferries heading to Upside-Down Mountain were not for making money, each of them was equivalent to sending money to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Even if the situation changed with the passage of time, in fact, it changed a lot, it’s okay, our Sword Qi Great Wall will still remember the kindness of your eight continents of Vast World ferries, and has never forgotten it. Why was Nalan Shaowei so furious back then, and still did not go to the Rain Dragon Sect territory to draw his sword? Now you know the reason, right? It’s not that the old ancestor of the Mountain Water Cave is so clever, nor is it that his alliances are so beautiful, one sword strike, and it’s gone.”

“You make money, but after all, the materials of the ferries were continuously sent to Upside-Down Mountain, and then moved to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Without you, the Sword Qi Great Wall would have been unable to defend it long ago. The Sword Qi Great Wall recognizes this, and will recognize it.”

Chen Ping’an stood up, and suddenly smiled, stretched out his hands, and pressed down a few times in the air, “Sit down, what are you doing standing there, do you really think I’ll kill people? Don’t I have any sense of reason? Do you really believe it?”

The young Hidden Official smiled and said, “Shipmaster Jiang, sit. Liu Shen, sit too, let’s all sit down and talk. Harmony brings wealth, we are merchants, fighting and killing is not good.”

Mi Yu did not sit down.

So no one dared to sit down.

Xie Songhua, Pu He, Xie Zhi and other sword cultivators from the Vast World, clearly still had killing intent.

Chen Ping’an walked behind Nalan Caihuan’s chair, stretched out his fingers and pressed lightly on the shoulder of this female Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator, and reminded her with a mental voice, “Take the lead and sit down, or die. In your hands, so many over-the-line businesses, the secret files of the Hidden Official lineage, are all recorded in detail. So you are still too stupid, do you really think your family’s ancestor’s business skills are not as good as yours? You are a million miles away from the Old Sword Immortal. Nalan Shaowei has already saved your life once, and can’t save you a second time.”

Nalan Caihuan was struck by lightning, her mind was blank, her face was pale, and she slowly sat down.

Then the young Hidden Official leaned his arms on the high back of Nalan Caihuan’s chair, looked at the ferry managers opposite, who were all at a loss, and said helplessly, “Treat them with courtesy, suppress them with power, reason with them, and move them with emotion. This little Hidden Official has done everything he can tonight. Why don’t you give me any face? Huh?!”

So everyone sat down.

That young Hidden Official who popped up from nowhere was insidious, vicious, and mentally ill!

Chen Ping’an walked back to his original position, but did not sit down, and said slowly, “I can’t guarantee that you will make more money than before. But I can guarantee that you won’t make less money. You can believe this. It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe it, your increasingly thick account books won’t lie.”

Mi Yu stood up, shook his sleeves, and a universe within his sleeves, swept out a series of books, which were suspended in front of all the ferry managers.

Chen Ping’an continued, “Everything that the Sword Qi Great Wall needs in the future is on the list. According to the Heavenly Stems, it is carefully divided into grades, and the prices are written on it. The specific discount depends on your ability to dig three feet into the ground in the Vast World. For the other intercontinental ferries that did not participate in tonight’s meeting, please help bring the message. Because the Sword Qi Great Wall will not accept many materials as before, but for certain materials, the Sword Qi Great Wall will accept all comers, and the prices will only be higher. The eight continents all have their own specialties.”

“Agreeing to the Sword Qi Great Wall’s credit, but not agreeing to our credit, the former is friendship and goodwill, and the latter is the duty of a businessman to seek wealth. You can talk to me privately. Whether it is to exchange credit for benefits from other places, we can talk about it.”

All the ferry managers began to carefully browse through the books.

Speaking of this, Chen Ping’an looked at Bai Xi, the Nascent Soul cultivator of the Mountain Water Cave, and smiled, “Aren’t you surprised? Actually, one of your conspiracies seems to be to unload and reload before arriving at Upside-Down Mountain, and strive for a ferry to specialize in several materials, seeking a high price, so as to avoid mutual price cuts and cheap sales to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Isn’t it exactly what our Sword Qi Great Wall was going to do for you? Old Immortal Bai Xi, ask yourself, the Sword Qi Great Wall has always been doing business with you in such an aboveboard manner, why bother being sneaky? As for who leaked your ideas, don’t bother investigating it. With the rich resources of Floating Shake洲 and the capabilities of the Mountain Water Cave, you will be too busy making money from now on, why bother about such trivial matters?”

The cultivator from Snowy Isles洲 was stunned for a long time when he saw a place. The Sword Qi Great Wall will now massively purchase Snowflake Coins?!

The manager of the Fu family in Old Dragon City also found it a bit interesting when he turned to a page, because the price of Cloud Root Stone, a specialty of the Cloud Glow Mountain, which had already formed an alliance with the Fu family, had risen!

Even the ferry managers in Northern Ju蘆洲, who were the least willing to make big money, did not know whether to laugh or cry. Well, it seems that after returning to their continent, they have to sit down and have a good talk with the Pi Ma Sect of the Bone Beach.

Chen Ping’an finally said, “The money from now on can be earned by everyone at will. If anyone stops their intercontinental ferry on their continent because of this, and refuses to earn this immortal money, insists on acting like a child, making that emotional dispute, that’s okay too. The green hills remain, the green waters flow, this friendship will be slowly calculated. Also, apart from official business, you ferry managers should also think about your own great path. If you additionally want elixirs or certain immortal magic treasures, our Sword Qi Great Wall will record them one by one. As long as we can do it, we will help you exchange them for materials. If you need to make up for some immortal money, we will of course tell you directly. During this period, I guarantee that the Sword Qi Great Wall will not earn an extra Snowflake Coin from anyone, which is considered a little extra benefit for everyone.”
Jiang Gaotai, without betraying a flicker of emotion, flipped through the thick ledger, asking in his mind, “Hidden Official, are you truly only here to make deals, not to spill blood?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, replying mentally, “I only concern myself with the result, not the means. Shouldn’t I be thanking you? We can settle accounts later if we ever stop doing business together. But rest assured, every deal is priced fairly, based on mutual agreement, and will be counted towards your goodwill. There’s a chance we can even call it even eventually. After that, who knows if we’ll ever cross paths again in this vast world.”

Jiang Gaotai remained skeptical.

Chen Ping’an either answered quiet inquiries from others with mental replies or proactively engaged in conversation.

“What’s the current realm of your young city lord, Fu Nanhua?”

“Fairy Liu, I misspoke earlier. Your junior sister, your trusted aide, is indeed extremely respectful towards you.”

“Don’t bear a grudge against our Sword Immortal Mi Yu. How could he bear to kill you? He was merely putting on a show for this Hidden Official. If you are saddened by this, it will only sadden him more. The betrayal of true love is a great tragedy indeed.”

The young Hidden Official spoke casually, as if greeting familiar acquaintances.

However, these words landed in the hearts of each ferry supervisor, forcing them to carefully dissect every syllable, fearing they might miss some hidden meaning.

Because everyone, even without any explicit communication, shared a lingering fear.

This young man, at some point earlier, had contemplated killing everyone inside the room opposite the sword immortal.

Perhaps it was real, perhaps it was not.

But what if it was true?

Chen Ping’an continued to rest his chin on his hand, gazing at the heavy snow outside the door.

By now, Liu Xianyang’s ferry should be nearing its return to South娑婆洲 (Suopo Continent).

And on that ferry, already far from Upside-down Mountain.

Liu Xianyang was studying under the lamp in his room, a seal placed on the table.

Inscribed on the side: “First Seal of Great Sword Immortal Chen Ping’an, for Brother Liu Xianyang’s safekeeping.”

The seal’s inscription: “Move Mountains and Overturn Seas.”

Liu Xianyang glanced at the seal, a knowing smile appearing on his face.