Chen Ping’an dared to show himself not only because Lu Zhi, one of the top ten sword immortals of the Great Wall of Swords, stood beside him, but more importantly, Chen Chun’an would be present.

Assuming it was a battle between cultivators of similar realms, great sword immortals excelled at killing but were not necessarily good at saving people.

During the assassination on the city wall earlier, Mi Yu had done his utmost to intercept the sword immortal Lie Ji, who was of equal realm and cultivation, yet he was still a step too slow.

But with Chen Chun’an present, there was definitely no cause for concern.

After Chen Chun’an spoke, he didn’t give the ascendant realm great demon even half a chance to utter nonsense; the world had already changed.

In an instant, Chen Ping’an’s mind was shaken, and his entire being seemed to manifest an infinitely vast dharma image. He “ascended” abruptly to the highest reaches of the sky, able to overlook the entire map of the vast world. However, before Chen Ping’an could take a closer look, in an instant, the enormous dharma image was forced to condense into a tiny mustard seed of the mind, smaller than a speck of dust, returning to the earth and entering an extremely small place, where the lines of his palm seemed like mountains and rivers.

When Chen Ping’an finally came to his senses and looked back, a Daoist verse naturally surfaced in his mind: “The Dao, as a thing, is elusive and indistinct, deep and unfathomable, uniting with empty space, the Great Void is complete.”

It turned out that behind Chen Ping’an was suspended a huge sphere, snow-white and bright, shimmering with radiance, with faint glimpses of pavilions and towers, and a cassia tree. It was indeed a cassia tree planted in the middle of the bright moon.

Compared to this object behind him, Chen Ping’an was like a grain of rice next to a white bowl in terms of size.

Chen Ping’an withdrew his gaze and looked ahead, and as far as his eyes could see, there was only the great sun suspended in the sky, even larger and completely golden, with nothing else.

This great sun constantly emitted strands of golden light, which were born and died unpredictably and at great speed.

There was also a black dot and a patch of ink, drifting uncertainly.

Constantly, streaks of snow-white, slender light flashed past, able to sever those golden threads on the spot.

It must be the one-on-one fight between Lu Zhi and the ascendant realm great demon “Border.”

Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment, intending to sit cross-legged, immerse himself in the scene, and then conjure his natal flying sword, which he had not yet decided on a name for, using his small world to confront the small world, and thereby gain a deeper understanding of the great Dao’s operational opportunities in this small world.

Unexpectedly, someone pressed down on his shoulder and said with a smile, “Some knowledge, when encountered too early, is not beautiful. It’s not that I’m afraid you’ll steal it, but rather because one of the divine powers of your natal flying sword is not closely related to my technique in terms of the Great Dao.”

Chen Ping’an then dismissed the idea and turned to respectfully bow to the old man in the Confucian robe.

Chen Chun’an nodded and said with a smile, “I’ll just take it as a junior Confucian scholar paying respects to a senior, not some closed-door disciple of the Literary Sage lineage inquiring about learning from my sub-sage lineage. I won’t return the bow.”

After Chen Ping’an rose, he said with a blushing face, “I only dare to ask for guidance, not to inquire about the Dao.”

Chen Chun’an waved his hand, “Since you and I both share the surname Chen, we are from the same source but different streams. The surname is like this, and so is learning and the literary lineage. Moreover, the Ying Yin Chen Clan of the Saha Continent owes you a debt of gratitude for the *Koelreuteria paniculata* tree in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven. That’s why I pulled you in to observe the battle from afar. It’s all your own ability to comprehend some of the demeanor of a sword immortal. I’m wary of Chen Ping’an of Longquan County in Great Li, but I’m wary of that old scholar and his favorite disciple. Isn’t that ‘as expected’?”

Chen Ping’an felt even more ashamed.

Chen Chun’an reached out and grabbed Mi Yu, the Jade Purity realm sword immortal from beyond the world, pulling him into the world.

Chen Ping’an then reminded him, “Can’t see clearly? You might as well recite your teacher’s principles of learning in your mind, and perhaps your vision will become clearer.”

Chen Ping’an began to silently recite.

Chen Ping’an was single-minded, unconsciously sitting cross-legged, gently placing his fists on his knees.

Sitting, he felt the vastness of eternal intent, coming from the rising sun and setting moon.

Chen Chun’an sat upright in the void, and whenever he understood the key points of the old scholar’s learning, he would smile slightly.

Not to mention Chen Ping’an’s inner voice, Chen Chun’an could hear it if he wanted to. Even Chen Ping’an’s thoughts and ideas, if Chen Chun’an wanted to bring them out, he could easily see them.

After that, Xie Songhua and Shao Yunyan, who had received a flying sword message, arrived with extreme speed, breaking through countless waves and clouds, and found the “Earthen Basin” ferry of the landscape cave, and were successively “invited” into this world of sun and moon by Chen Chun’an.

The three Jade Purity realm sword immortals who arrived one after another, without exception, had no intention of drawing their swords. They were now merely standing on different sides, supporting Lu Zhi.

Mi Yu was relatively well-behaved, staring intently at the battlefield. He didn’t help because he didn’t want to hinder, and he would not strike unless Lu Zhi was at a disadvantage.

Shao Yunyan, the owner of the Spring Banner House, lived up to his reputation. He directly began to refine his sword with the abundant essence of the sun and moon between heaven and earth.

Xie Songhua, who entered this world of sun and moon last, was noticeably more leisurely compared to Mi Yu and Shao Yunyan. As soon as she entered, she glanced at the battlefield, felt that she wasn’t needed, and began to wander around with her sword.

By observing the small, one could know the large. This was the vastly different nature of sword immortals. Mi Yu seemed carefree, but was actually the most constrained; Shao Yunyan was the most pragmatic, good at calculating; and Xie Songhua’s heart was the purest and most free.

Chen Chun’an said, “The truth has come out. That ascendant realm great demon has lost its true form. Border’s body has been used as an exterior body for his Yang spirit to reside in. The demon’s Yin spirit’s method of hiding within is a unique divine power, which is why he dared to go to the Great Wall of Swords. As long as this person doesn’t stand on the city wall, even Chen Qingdu can’t detect it. How did you discover it?”

Chen Ping’an softly said, “I gambled three times in a row. First, I gambled on whether or not to leave the Summer Palace and follow a certain ferry away from the Inverted Mountain. Then, I gambled on which of those ferries had the highest probability. Finally, I gambled on whether you, old sir, would think I was being frivolous and be willing to travel all the way from the Southern Saha Continent. If you, old sir, didn’t come, even if I won the first two bets, it would still be a wasted trip.”

Chen Chun’an smiled, “Then tell me in detail. Don’t feel embarrassed to talk about it just because it’s related to the word ‘gamble’. It’s difficult to speak well and correctly about learning in this world. It’s even more difficult to make it easy for outsiders to learn, so that they can see it as approachable, think of it as feasible, and put it into practice.”

Chen Ping’an was about to speak.

The ascendant realm great demon withstood Lu Zhi’s sword and broke through the air, charging towards Chen Chun’an and Chen Ping’an.

The dharma image was so large that it was like a mountain pressing down on them.
But Chen Chun’an, the Sage of Heaven and Earth, didn’t even glance at it. He stretched out a hand and slapped that half-baked Ascended Realm demon, whose true form was nowhere to be seen, back into the battlefield. Not only that, but its colossal body was smashed into the golden sun, immersed in a golden magma furnace. Even though the great demon roared and soared thousands of feet into the air, it was still entangled by those golden threads and dragged back to “earth” once more.

Lu Zhi did not take the opportunity to strike with her sword, but merely watched with cold eyes, allowing the great demon to break free and attack again.

Chen Chun’an didn’t seem to mind either.

The old Confucian scholar simply smiled, listening to the young man elaborately explaining the subtleties of the three gambles.

Returning to the Summer Retreat Palace of the Sword Qi Great Wall, he tossed a Minor Heat coin, guessing heads or tails, to decide whether or not to leave the Upside-Down Mountain on the “Earthen Basin” ferry.

Heads meant doing it, tails meant staying in the Summer Retreat Palace, waiting for the opponent to make the first move.

Before that, Chen Ping’an’s Yin spirit left his body, and he also used a method of meditative insight, very rudimentary, but capable of dismissing a certain thought. As a result, the Minor Heat coin landed on heads.

According to Chen Ping’an’s original plan, he should have stayed in the Summer Retreat Palace.

Hesitating for a moment, he pressed down on the Minor Heat coin and had Guo Zhujiu guess heads or tails. In the end, Chen Ping’an chose to leave the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Hearing this, Chen Chun’an smiled and said, “You initially wanted to use this to determine your luck? If your fortune is good, then you must be wary of the moon waxing and waning; if your luck is bad, guessing wrong and betting wrong, there might be a chance for things to turn around?”

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “That’s right. I still don’t like losing money. I don’t mind not earning, but I really can’t afford to lose.”

Chen Chun’an laughed, “Continue.”

Chen Ping’an once again sought out the current leader of Upside-Down Mountain, a True Lord of the Daoist sect whom he had met once before. Before Eldest Brother Zuo You left, he had said that after he had drawn his sword at Jiaolong Gulch, this person had collected a lot of dragon whiskers, reaping the greatest benefit. Junior Brother, if you go to him for something, it won’t be difficult. If he doesn’t agree, just tell him to wait for Senior Brother to turn around and rush to Upside-Down Mountain to reason with him.

In addition, with the spies planted by both the Sword Qi Great Wall and Cui Dongshan in Upside-Down Mountain, Chen Ping’an obtained a detailed record of all the passengers boarding and leaving the ships when the last intercontinental ferry of Spring Banners House departed.

Before quietly returning to Spring Banners House in Upside-Down Mountain, Chen Ping’an first called upon Lin Junbi, Xuan Can, and several other “chess masters” from the Hidden Official lineage who were skilled at strategy and tactics, to help him.

They filtered out the ten most likely ferries to cause accidents: Wu Qiu, Tang Feiqian, as well as Jiang Gaotai of “Southern Dipper” in Aiai Continent, Bai Xi of “Earthen Basin” in Fuyu Continent, Dai Hao of “Supreme Broth” in Aiai Continent, Liu Shen of “Rainbow Skirt” in Immortal Island, Liu Yu of “Bell” in Flowing Rosy Continent, one each from Southern and Northern Jambu Continent, and the ferry from the Ding family of Old Dragon City.

The biggest suspect might also be the one with the least suspicion.

In fact, from the beginning, Chen Ping’an and Lin Junbi didn’t think that the Earthen Basin ferry of Mountain and Water Cave was necessarily an inside agent of the barbaric world hidden in the vast world.

In addition to selecting these ten ferries, there were also thirty-two suspected ferry passengers.

Chen Chun’an asked, “That person at the border, cautious and prudent, should not be among them.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Indeed, this person was not originally on the list. According to the original records, the swordsman Bianjing of the Shao Yuan Dynasty in Central Earth Continent, after leaving the Sword Qi Great Wall, stayed at the Plum Blossom Garden for a period of time, and then left Upside-Down Mountain, but not with Yan Lu and Jiang Guancheng, but chose to travel alone to Fuyu Continent. Sword Immortal Lu Zhi and I actually first boarded Mi Yu’s ‘Rainbow Skirt’ ferry, but after some investigation, there were no results. Only then did we follow the Earthen Basin ferry. After boarding midway, we used the simplest method, walking around and counting the number of people, and found one extra person. But even so, we still didn’t dare to say for sure that there was a great demon hidden on the ferry, let alone that Mountain and Water Cave had colluded with the barbaric world long ago.”

Chen Chun’an nodded, then asked with a smile, “Not boarding along the direction of Sword Immortal Xie’s ferry, are you very confident in Treasure Bottle Continent and Northern Jambu Continent?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and replied, “I believe that the mind of a great demon is smart enough not to startle the snake, and to add unnecessary details to the good situation in Tongye Continent that was exchanged for the lives of two great demons.”

Chen Chun’an then said, “So you’re not at all worried that I’ll be angry for making a trip for nothing, and you just want to talk to me about Tongye Continent? As expected, you never make a losing business.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Please, old sir, believe in the vision of Treasure Bottle Continent once. The real gamble, Treasure Bottle Continent made it first and made it the biggest!”

Chen Chun’an was silent for a moment, then smiled with satisfaction, “Good.”

Mi Yu was still pretending to support Lu Zhi, with the great sun suspended in the air. The key was that it seemed to be very close, and the scorching alone was already making Mi Yu irritable.

Shao Yunyan “pushed his luck” and took the opportunity to scoop up a handful of the splattering golden magma. He didn’t dare to actually touch his skin, but only held it in his palm, and then tilted his palm, carefully pouring it onto his natal flying sword.

Xie Songhua, carrying a bamboo box on his back, asked loudly, “Old Mr. Chen, can you give me some solar and lunar essence? The kind that doesn’t need to be returned!”

Chen Chun’an looked up and smiled, “Sword Immortal Xie, take it as you please.”

Chen Chun’an glanced at the idle Mi Yu and smiled, “Sword Immortal Mi, may I borrow your sword for a moment?”

Mi Yu immediately took off his sword.

Chen Chun’an reached out, grasped the sword, drew it from its sheath, raised his sleeve, and shook out a stream of moonlight as thick as water, “This lunar essence originally came from the barbaric world.”

The old man brought two fingers together and slowly stroked the sword, creating a subtle, imperceptible groove. The rich moonlight followed his fingers and poured into it.

Mi Yu’s mind wavered, and he almost burst into tears, and they would have been absolutely sincere.

Not to mention that the grade of his sword was destined to rise sharply, the key was that the esteemed Chen Chun’an himself had personally taken action to help him refine his sword! Could Shao Yunyan, who secretly refined his sword with a little bit of everything, compare? Could Xie Songhua, who openly asked for solar and lunar essence, compare?

Chen Ping’an glanced at Mi Yu.

The latter immediately understood, I understand, I understand.

All of this was bestowed by the Hidden Official! I, Mi Yu, am most grateful and nostalgic, with a clear conscience!

Chen Chun’an finished helping Mi Yu refine his sword with moonlight and sheathed the sword.

The sword disappeared in an instant and returned to Mi Yu’s side.
Mi Yu bowed deeply, clasping his hands in salute. “Mi Yu thanks the Esteemed Sage of Pure Scholarship.”

Chen Chun’an nodded and smiled, then said to Chen Ping’an, “This matter was handled exceptionally well, though ultimately, it wasn’t exactly the conduct of a noble gentleman.”

Chen Ping’an replied, “This junior isn’t even a worthy sage yet, let alone a noble gentleman.”

Chen Chun’an chuckled, “Just like your teacher, always obsessed with titles. ‘I’ve never been a sage in my life, never been a noble gentleman,’ he’d say. ‘It’s just that you all forced this saintly identity upon me, did you even ask if I was willing? Being a sage terrifies me to death, what more do you want?'”

Chen Ping’an remained silent.

Having acknowledged him as his teacher, he should all the more guard the reputation of his esteemed master.

Chen Chun’an sighed, “Scholarly pursuits in Confucianism emphasize balance and moderation, only then can one illuminate virtue.”

The old man gazed into the distance, silent for a long while, before slowly saying, “The thoughts of a worthy sage should be meticulous. The words of a noble gentleman should be especially precise.”

Chen Ping’an, moved by this, blurted out, “Cultivate strength, with every fist and sword strike landing true, justified by reason. Cultivate the heart, strive for loftiness and pursue greatness, while at the same time questioning one’s true intentions in the slightest detail.”

The old man neither affirmed nor denied this statement.

In the next instant, Chen Ping’an found himself back in the ferry’s cabin.

He had been cast outside of space and time by Chen Chun’an.

Bai Xi still stood rooted to the spot.

The heavens and earth were vast, where could a mere nascent soul cultivator like him possibly escape to? Even without being stopped, would he dare abandon the ferry and hide in the boundless sea? Or desperately try to reach the Mountain-Water Grotto of Fufeng Continent?

An Hidden Official, four sword immortals, and especially Chen Chun’an, the foremost figure of the Southern娑婆 Continent.

Bai Xi felt that even if he were in Sword Qi Great Wall, having already fled into the army of the Savage Desolation, he might not survive.

Chen Ping’an smiled and asked, “Shipmaster Bai, how much time has passed?”

Bai Xi evaded the question. The first words he uttered upon seeing the young Hidden Official were, “Lord Hidden Official, I am willing to atone for my sins! Anything to survive! I will testify against my ancestor’s collusion with the demon race for Lord Hidden Official! I know every secret of the Mountain-Water Grotto, everything can be used to aid Sword Qi Great Wall…”

Chen Ping’an lightly sat down, interrupting him with a smile and a wave, “Everything can be resolved with divine coins. Sit down and let’s talk, what’s the rush? Are you perhaps thinking of seizing me as a hostage, betting on the off chance that the Hidden Official’s cultivation isn’t high, and it’s not urgent at all.”

Bai Xi was drenched in sweat, his movements stiff, his expression dazed, as he collapsed into a chair.

“Shipmaster Bai, this is excessive.”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “When it comes to pretending, you and I are kindred spirits. It’s just a pity you’re older in years but lack true cultivation. You can compare your dark heart, your cultivation, your wealth, anything. Just don’t compete with me in this.”

Bai Xi suddenly stood up, sending the chair flying, and the dignified nascent soul cultivator took several steps back, falling to his knees, kowtowing, “Lord Hidden Official, save me!”

Because the young Hidden Official was no longer alone. Behind him stood the jade purity realm sword immortal, Mi Yu, who had appeared out of thin air.

Chen Ping’an poured himself a cup of tea, smiling as he asked, “Pocket treasures, dimension treasures, private, sect-owned, take them all out. Remember to help me open them. If your sincerity is enough, I don’t mind letting you benefit from this misfortune, giving you the seat of the Mountain-Water Grotto’s leader. You’re probably still confused about my cultivation and background, but you should know what kind of person I am, someone who loves maximizing benefits. This is your last chance, cherish it.”

After half a cup of tea.

Before the young Hidden Official on the table sat an antique inkstone in the style of a Sea Mansion Adding Years, a dimension treasure of the Mountain-Water Grotto, and a folding fan with a strong scent of powder, the personal pocket treasure of the ferry steward, both filled with good things and divine coins.

Some of the Mountain-Water Grotto’s secrets were also revealed by Bai Xi, though he certainly didn’t spill everything.

Bai Xi wasn’t stupid.

Chen Ping’an was even less foolish.

Chen Ping’an took out a folding fan made of jade bamboo, lightly fanning himself, while at the same time having Mi Yu collect the dimension and pocket treasures. If they were to hide murderous intent, Sword Immortal Mi could withstand it. Even if he couldn’t fully withstand it, he couldn’t allow a Hidden Official of the lower five realms to bear it.

Then Chen Ping’an leaned back, turned his head, and asked, “What are you spacing out for? Kill him. Are you saving him for wine or to eat with rice?”

Bai Xi and Mi Yu were both stunned.

Then the world changed again, silently.

Mi Yu’s sword struck, incredibly smoothly, almost as if he were in Sword Qi Great Wall, with not even a hint of the suppressive aura of a small world. Conversely, the old nascent soul cultivator was somewhat sluggish.

This difference in speed, coupled with the vast gap between a jade purity realm sword immortal and a nascent soul cultivator, made the outcome a foregone conclusion.

Mi Yu’s sword directly cleaved Bai Xi’s body in two. Not only that, but he also cut the other’s golden core and nascent soul in half.

Just as Mi Yu was about to deliver another sword strike, the young Hidden Official intervened, using a secret technique he had obtained from a deal with Liu Zhimao of Lake Shujian, imprisoning the other’s remaining soul, gathering it in his palm, and smiling, “Ask me to save you, and I will, are you happy? How will you thank me?”

The agonizing soul, resisting the urge to wail, trembled and said, “Lord Hidden Official, just say it, just make your demands…”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “I told you to be sincere, didn’t you listen? How did it turn out? Not too good, right? I’ll give you one more chance, tell me about the Mountain-Water Grotto’s truly unspeakable deeds, and you can live. Your cultivation is too high, I don’t trust you to be the next sect leader of the Mountain-Water Grotto. Now it’s perfect, your cultivation is trash, and in the future, every time you see me, you’ll have to rely on divine coins to make up for it.”

The soul dared not hide anything further, and truthfully recounted some of the Mountain-Water Grotto ancestor’s secret deeds, as well as the Mountain-Water Grotto’s famous “three hidden places for rabbits, treasures scattered in four directions.”

“Thank me with your death.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, clenched his fist, crushed the extremely weak soul with fist energy, then closed his folding fan, lightly waving it to disperse the ethereal ashes, pressing the fan against his chest, and smiling, “Unexpected, isn’t it?”

Mi Yu was no longer surprised at all.

Chen Ping’an stood up, put away his folding fan, and asked, “How much longer will it take Lu Zhi to kill that undeserving ascension realm great demon? And is there any possibility of finding out the great demon’s true form?”

Mi Yu looked troubled.

Who could he ask? Lu Zhi? She wouldn’t bother to pay him any attention. Chen Chun’an? Mi Yu didn’t have the nerve.
Chen Ping’an said helplessly, “Great Sword Immortal Mi, could you please use your head a little?”

Mi Yu felt rather wronged.

Then, Mi Yu became even more curious, looking all around, discerning some clues. Even a Fifth Realm sword cultivator who was all looks and no substance was still a Sword Immortal, possessing discerning vision.

“This is Lord Hidden Officer’s natal flying sword?!”

Chen Ping’an retrieved his natal flying sword and walked to the windowsill.

Mi Yu sheathed his sword, guarding him on the side.

A world of sun, moon, and earth, a female Sword Immortal, Lu Zhi, was fighting a Feisheng Realm great demon, turning the world upside down.

A cage-like small world, Mi Yu unsheathed his sword and killed the Yuanying stage Bai Xi, whose soul was then imprisoned by Chen Ping’an using a secret technique, and then shattered with fist energy.

All the other Qi Refinement cultivators on the tile basin ferry had remained completely unaware of any anomaly.

After that.

The tile basin ferry was safe and sound, still heading towards the Shanshui Grotto of Fuyu Continent.

Only, a sneaky Feisheng Realm great demon and the deceased boatman, Bai Xi, were gone.

An additional Lu Zhi appeared. Chen Chun’an did not accompany her, but gave Lu Zhi a Confucian jade pendant.

Then there was Shao Yunyan, responsible for helping Lu Zhi clean up the mess in the Shanshui Grotto.

The mess was a mess, but the immortal money was plentiful.

Shao Sword Immortal’s Chunfan Study was nominally entitled to one-tenth of the profits.

However, the entire Chunfan Study was now the “private property” of the Hidden Officer lineage of the Sword Qi Great Wall, and Shao Yunyan didn’t understand the meaning of this one-tenth share.

Chen Ping’an had clearly explained to Lu Zhi and Shao Yunyan the specific steps for handling the Shanshui Grotto.

Lu Zhi listened absentmindedly. Anyway, with Shao Yunyan around, she would also undergo a minor closed-door cultivation session on Fuyu Continent.

As for Xie Songhua, she would return to the Nanji ferry at Jiang Gao Terrace and go to Ai’ai Continent together.

Before parting, the young Hidden Officer couldn’t help but nag about the two little children, causing Xie Songhua to become furious, asking if those two children were their daughters.

The young Hidden Officer then shut his mouth.

She didn’t like, nor was she good at, these calculations of people’s hearts.

Chen Ping’an and Mi Yu then boarded a talisman boat together, returning to Upside-down Mountain.

Chen Ping’an stood at the bow of the ferry, glancing back at Mi Yu.

Mi Yu, lazily sitting at the stern of the ferry, immediately felt a little uncomfortable. What was it, another heavy burden falling on his shoulders?

Come, come, let it come! If I, Great Sword Immortal Mi, so much as frown, I’m not worthy of being the leading figure of the Hidden Officer lineage!

Chen Ping’an laughed, “After all the hustle and bustle, Sword Immortal Shao gets one-tenth of the profits from the Shanshui Grotto, Sword Immortal Xie repays the favor, Great Sword Immortal Lu gets a boost to her swordsmanship, plus that Feisheng Realm demon core, our Sword Immortal Mi also improves the grade of his sword, and the close-at-hand and microcosm objects are all public property of our Hidden Officer lineage. Seems like I’m the only one who’s traveled ten thousand miles for nothing?”

Mi Yu said solemnly, “Lord Hidden Officer orchestrated everything, killing the Feisheng Realm great demon is the greatest achievement, well deserved…”

Chen Ping’an interrupted Mi Yu, tsking, “With your sycophantic skills, if you came to my mountain village, you wouldn’t even be worthy of being a registered disciple, let alone an offering.”

Mi Yu was heartbroken.

He wasn’t good at this. His Dao had always been exchanging sincerity for sincerity with beautiful women.

But Mi Yu quickly made amends, saying, “If we really get there, Lord Hidden Officer only needs to entrust me with the task of entertaining the various fairies who visit the mountain. If there’s even the slightest mistake, Lord Hidden Officer can hold me accountable.”

Chen Ping’an said with a forced smile, “Get lost. The atmosphere of my mountain village is already mysterious enough. Even I, the mountain master, am showing signs of not being able to turn it around. If I add you, its reputation will be ruined.”

Mi Yu was extremely aggrieved.

Mi Yu hesitated for a moment, then asked curiously, “Why didn’t Lord Hidden Officer accept the demon core that Lu Zhi offered? She really didn’t want to accept it. According to the calculation of combat merit for the Hidden Officer lineage, it should have been Lord Hidden Officer who received it.”

Chen Ping’an sat down, looking at the vast, boundless, magnificent scenery, and said, “It’s not that I didn’t accept it, I did accept it, but I troubled Lu Zhi to pass it on to a friend in Southern Continent.”

Mi Yu said “Oh”, then suddenly realized belatedly, getting a Feisheng Realm great demon’s demon core was like getting a Feisheng Realm great cultivator’s glazed golden body in the Blessed Land?

This was called “nothing happened”?

Chen Ping’an tapped his palm with a closed folding fan, turning his head with a smile, “Hmm?”

Mi Yu immediately exclaimed, “Lord Hidden Officer is as clean as a whistle, worthy of being an immortal among immortals! In all the tales of talented scholars and beautiful women, gods and monsters in the Blessed Land, all the ‘banished immortals’ should be replaced with the three words ‘Chen Ping’an’.”

Mi Yu felt that he was getting better and better at this. Although he still didn’t dare to spar with Lord Hidden Officer’s direct disciple, Guo Zhujiu, he now had the strength to fight Gu Jianlong, King of Xinshui, on this matter.

Chen Ping’an turned around, continuing to look forward, and after a long silence, suddenly said, “Mi Yu, I’m very happy that we could go from strangers to friends.”

Mi Yu was stunned for a long time, then finally nodded and said, “I’m honored to have met Chen Ping’an.”

After a moment, Chen Ping’an said, “As a farewell gift, what did you write on the folding fan you gave to that Middle Earth Yuanying female cultivator?”

Mi Yu’s smile was a little awkward, “These trivial matters of love between men and women will only make Lord Hidden Officer laugh if I say them, let’s not mention them, let’s not mention them.”

But Chen Ping’an said, “Tell me.”

When it came to the way of dealing with women, Mi Yu’s cultivation realm could be described as towering into the clouds.

Mi Yu hesitated, “Then I’ll really be embarrassing myself?”

After all, this young Hidden Officer was formerly the Second Shopkeeper. The Hundred Swords Immortal Imprint Collection and the Two Hundred Swords Immortal Imprint Collection, as well as so many fan inscriptions, Mi Yu was very likely the most diligent Sword Immortal in the entire Sword Qi Great Wall in studying them. He asked about the fan surfaces that women liked, copied them onto paper, and after reading them, Mi Yu repeatedly pondered them, feeling that he had benefited a lot.

In his heart, Mi Yu actually felt that his fan inscription should have at least seven or eight tenths of the Second Shopkeeper’s skill.

Now that there were no outsiders on the ferry anyway, it was like exchanging Dao methods. Taking it out and talking about it wouldn’t be too embarrassing.

One side of the fan wrote, “Cherish the person before you, yet sniff at the green plum. Slender should be slender because of this, shame is also for the sake of the lover.”
On the other side, it read, “Whether walking or sitting, I think of you. I can neither walk nor sit in peace. Thinking of you, yet unable to see you, I meet wine and laugh, for how much of life remains?”

Chen Ping’an remained silent for a long time after hearing this.

Finally, he couldn’t help but curse, “Get out of the ferry and ride your sword!”

Chen Ping’an felt that in this lifetime, on the path of love between men and women, which emphasized talent above all else and disregarded cultivation, he was destined to not even see the shadow of Mi Yu.

Suffering an undeserved calamity, the great sword immortal Mi Yu could only get up sullenly, obediently leave the talisman boat, and travel far away on his sword nearby.

Upon arriving at Upside-Down Mountain, he first went to Spring Banner Cottage. The most special thing about this residence among the four private residences was that the entire Spring Banner Cottage was a refined object. From the beginning of its construction, Shao Yunyan had set up extremely many arrays and talismans. Therefore, Spring Banner Cottage had never truly taken root in the largest mountain seal of this world. In contrast, Ape-Roughed Mansion, which cost more, did not consider this, and Plum Blossom Garden was even less likely to be refined.

Shao Yunyan handed over the array’s core treasure to Chen Ping’an.

After confirming the details, Chen Ping’an left Spring Banner Cottage with Mi Yu.

Yan Ming and Nalan Caihuan stayed in the residence to receive the stewards of the other eight continents’ ferries as they arrived.

Mi Yu would also stay, but still needed to escort Chen Ping’an to the entrance connecting the two great worlds, curiously asking, “Why do you never take the old gate closer to Spring Banner Cottage? Senior Zhang Lu, who guards that side, and that little Daoist boy who likes to read, are both quite interesting.”

Chen Ping’an simply hummed in response, saying nothing.

Mi Yu was just asking casually and was too lazy to think more about it.

After sending the Hidden Official Lord to the entrance, Mi Yu would need to return to Spring Banner Cottage. Many female ship owners or ferry cultivators were old acquaintances of his, but unfortunately, they were the kind of regrets that were destined to be.

Chen Ping’an arrived at the Great Hall of the Summer Retreat Palace, and everyone looked up.

Guo Zhujiu was the first to speak, “Master, how many Ascendant Realm great demons did you slay on this trip?”

Chen Ping’an was a little tired, so he sat on the threshold. “Just one.”

Guo Zhujiu blinked. “Really? Master, I don’t know what to say next!”

Sword Immortal Chou Miao looked at Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an nodded and smiled. “Really.”

Chou Miao clasped his fist, but said nothing.

The first group of three sword cultivators to draw their swords on the city wall were Chou Miao, Dong Bude, and Deng Liang, who had already returned.

Because Mi Yu was taken to Spring Banner Cottage by Chen Ping’an, only Pang Yuanji and Lin Junbi had gone there to draw their swords.

Chen Ping’an said, “It’s still not as comfortable here. I’ll slack off and rest for a while, you guys go ahead and get busy.”

Everyone in the room began to busy themselves.

Even Guo Zhujiu, restraining her temperament, didn’t get up to chat with her master.

Now, within the Hidden Official lineage, several small factions were gradually forming.

Lin Junbi and Pang Yuanji were quite compatible. Pang Yuanji didn’t have high aspirations now. Besides working, he would occasionally play a game of chess with Lin Junbi, considering it a lesson.

Pang Yuanji learned chess quickly. Lin Junbi grew extremely quickly outside of chess, and everyone else in the Hidden Official lineage saw it and kept it in mind.

The foreign sword cultivator Song Gaoyuan got along well with Luo Zhenyi, Xu Ning, and Chang Taiqing.

Deng Liang liked to chat with Dong Bude every now and then. Even a blind man could see what this Nascent Soul sword cultivator, who came from the wilderness and finally entered the register of a sect’s immortal masters, was seeking.

However, Dong Bude had no eyes for Deng Liang, and everyone could see that as well.

In private, Chen Ping’an had joked with Deng Liang, saying, “I’m a good brother of Chen Sanqiu. If you keep this up, I’ll pull Chen Sanqiu into the Hidden Official lineage.”

Deng Liang laughed and said, “It’s fine, I’m a Nascent Soul sword cultivator, while that young master Chen is only at the Golden Core bottleneck. As long as the Hidden Official Lord doesn’t favor one side, I guarantee he’ll enter standing up but leave horizontally.”

Then Deng Liang added, “Even if we don’t talk about realm and just talk about drinking, young master Chen is still no match.”

Gu Jianlong and Wang Xinshui, plus Cao Gun and Xuan Can, became like four guardians, advancing and retreating together, with great tacit understanding, and liked to follow Guo Zhujiu’s lead. As long as Guo Zhujiu used the lineage’s ultimate skill, the other four would follow suit.

In the end, these four young people were close to the Hidden Official Lord and were shameless enough.

Today was an exception, because the merit of slaying a hidden Ascendant Realm great demon was too shocking, and all four of Gu Jianlong didn’t dare to speak.

Lin Junbi and Xuan Can were both skilled at Go and often played together.

Chen Ping’an would also help Xuan Can by pointing out strategies. Xuan Can was stupid and forgetful, and every time he listened to the Hidden Official Lord’s advice, he suffered a crushing defeat.

Guo Zhujiu would complain that Xuan Can couldn’t keep up with her master’s thoughts, wasting her master’s golden words that could establish victory.

Gu Jianlong and Wang Xinshui didn’t know how to play Go, but liked to stir up trouble, one responsible for cheering for Xuan Can, the other responsible for nagging Lin Junbi, calling it the art of attacking the mind.

Pang Yuanji would often find a quiet place in the Summer Retreat Palace and zone out by himself.

Chou Miao would guide the sword techniques of Deng Liang, Song Gaoyuan, and all the other younger generations. As long as they were willing to ask, Chou Miao, who was already a sword immortal, would be willing to explain carefully.

Dong Bude would occasionally pull Luo Zhenyi aside to talk about women’s boudoir language. Luo Zhenyi, who originally liked to have a stern face all day long, had a slightly more gentle look in her eyes.

Guo Zhujiu was actually the one with the least faction. She could also ask Sword Immortal Chou Miao about sword techniques, could also chat with Pang Yuanji, and even liked to join Dong Bude and Luo Zhenyi, the little girl forcibly whispering with the two old girls from the Great Wall of Swords, naturally always ending with a thud, either her head hitting the table or bumping into the wall, without exception.

Chen Ping’an thought these were all good things.

A person’s state of mind should not always be tense; it should be relaxed and measured in order to last.

The Hidden Official lineage, while fulfilling their respective duties, supplemented each other, covering deficiencies, and learning from each other’s strengths, was actually well-organized and on the right track.

Chen Ping’an could no longer expect these sword cultivators to do better, but that’s what he thought in his heart. As the Hidden Official Lord, sometimes he still had to play the villain.

When it came to the ability to speak sarcastically, to use beautiful words to say sharp and mean things, Chen Ping’an was the true grandmaster. Gu Jianlong, an expert in this, was far inferior.

Of course, the premise was that it had to be on point; otherwise, simply being sarcastic would backfire.
Chen Ping’an, recalling something, tossed the miniature and palm-sized items obtained from the Mountain and Water Grotto ferry boat to Guo Zhujiu, who was responsible for tallying the records, and said with a smile, “These are extra earnings.”

Then, Chen Ping’an recounted the detailed journey of this distant excursion, glossing over the parts that could not be divulged. For example, he omitted the specifics of how he extracted the multitude of hidden secrets of the Mountain and Water Grotto from a Nascent Soul Stage boat owner, and how he managed to kill him while preserving the inkstone and fan, especially how he even learned the method to open the entrance.

Guo Zhujiu cleared her desk, her eyes shining brightly. She spat into her palm, rubbed her hands together, then pinched her fingers and muttered, “Work, work, let’s get started!” Only then did she begin to count the immortal treasures within the miniature and palm-sized items, as well as the massive pile of celestial coins.

Dong Bude chuckled, “Hidden Official, be honest with us, do you possess a Natal Treasure called a Cornucopia?”

Previously, he had returned to the Summer Palace and brought back over a hundred Immortal Treasures from the Chunfan Studio.

This time, after leaving the Upside-Down Mountain, he brought back these two mountain treasures, as well as the rich treasures hidden within.

Without looking up, Guo Zhujiu hummed, “It’s only because my master is benevolent, deliberately restraining his divine abilities. Otherwise, if he took a trip to South娑婆洲 today and Central Earth Divine Continent tomorrow, he could move mountains of gold and silver here.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Mountains of gold and silver are impossible to move, but I did bring you a worthless snowball. You can busy yourself with the matters at hand first, and later we can build a few smaller snowmen.”

Chen Ping’an retrieved the large snowball from his own miniature space.

Elsewhere in the Sword Qi Great Wall, snowballs were difficult to preserve for long. However, in the Summer Palace, as long as it was placed under the big tree, it could probably be preserved for several days without any special care.

Guo Zhujiu was overjoyed, “Master, you’re giving me another gift?! It’s a good thing my Eldest Senior Sister can’t see, otherwise, she’d want to trade places with me as Senior Sister!”

Chen Ping’an’s expression was gentle, and he smiled, “Take it easy. Your Eldest Senior Sister holds grudges. She doesn’t even let me, her master, see her little ledger.”

Guo Zhujiu sat in place, swaying her shoulders from side to side, imitating her Eldest Senior Sister. Today, she was truly ecstatic and didn’t know what to say.

Her little drum was not at hand, how regrettable.

Then, everyone in the room saw the young Hidden Official sitting on the threshold, bending over with his back to them. In this season of summer heat, in this coolest climate of the Summer Palace, he began to build a little snowman.

Chen Ping’an suddenly said, “Regarding the matter of the Ascended Realm Great Demon ‘Border’, do not harbor resentment towards Lin Junbi. He has nothing to do with it. The other party meticulously became Lin Junbi’s Senior Brother, and his schemes are considerable.”

Chou Miao smiled, “We were all waiting for the Hidden Official to say that.”

Sure enough, many people breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Ping’an added, “Oh, right, our Hidden Official lineage does not receive a share of the Mountain and Water Grotto’s treasures.”

Hisses erupted.

Guo Zhujiu slapped the table with both hands, shouting “Outrageous, outrageous!” as the only one protecting the Hidden Official.

Gu Jianlong and Wang Xinshui made the most noise, whistling loudly.

Even Luo Zhenyi joined Dong Bude in complaining.

Xuan Can and Cao Gun were even more miserable, saying that this bitter and frugal life was unbearable.

Chen Ping’an laughed heartily, “It’s really all gone this time.”

Guo Zhujiu gloated, “You little heads aren’t too bright.”

Chen Ping’an beckoned, “Come and see the little snowman your master built.”

Guo Zhujiu leaped up, quickly slung her small bamboo box over her shoulder, swaggered over the threshold, and sat down. After staring blankly for a long time, she timidly asked, “Master, who is this? Is it my Eldest Senior Sister, right?”

The little snowman had two crooked bamboo leaves stuck on its big head, posing in a one-legged stance, holding a bamboo branch in its hand. It looked rather foolish and not handsome.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “It’s a gift for you. Put it on the table.”

Guo Zhujiu frowned tightly, pretending to be deep in thought.

She turned her head to glance at Dong Bude, who raised a palm and gently pressed it on the table.

Guo Zhujiu had no choice but to hold the little snowman and silently return to her seat, dutifully placing the little snowman on the table and then shifting its position so that it faced away from herself and towards Dong Bude.

Chen Ping’an clapped his hands and stood up.

He thought of the two children who had already been taken to the皚皚洲 by Xie Songhua. In the future, Wei Jin, Shao Yunyan, and all the returning Sword Immortals who left the Sword Qi Great Wall would take away one or two young Sword Cultivator sprouts who were not yet at a high level.

Dandelions, carried by the wind to other lands.

He hoped that these children of the Sword Qi Great Wall would all become Liu Xianyangs and Chen Ping’ans who had traveled far from the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven. Even better, they could live better and be more accomplished.