Pei Qian opened the courtyard gate. Zhou Mili, staff in hand and a small carrying pole over her shoulder, had a sack of melon seeds hanging from each end. The little girl in black was chatting with the stone lion at the entrance, one chirping away, the other silent and unmoving, yet they seemed to find each other congenial.

Hearing the creak of the opening gate, Zhou Mili quickly turned towards Pei Qian, about to ask something, but Pei Qian gestured for her to remain silent. Then, she looked towards a distant rooftop ridge.

A martial arts grandmaster, in his prime, stood atop the main ridge of a magnificent hip-roofed building. Now that he had been discovered, he wanted to leave and report the situation to the young emperor in the palace. In truth, he didn’t know much. The emperor, fearing the maiden who ascended to the heavens and scattered the clouds with a single punch, had hastily ordered him to investigate. He had arrived late, only seeing the woman return like an arrow piercing the earth. However, unlike the earlier tremors that shook the capital and stirred the dragon veins, her landing was silent and imperceptible, like a feather falling. This filled the martial arts master with awe; to reach such heights was truly a transcendent state.

After the demise of the great demon丁嬰, Yu Zhenyi, who had switched to cultivating immortal arts, vanished without a trace. Rumor had it that he had secretly ascended to the heavens. Zhou Fei of Spring Tide Palace and the state preceptor Zhong Qiu had both traveled far away. Many top experts, including Lu Tai, who had risen swiftly to unify the demonic sects in less than a decade and then challenged Yu Zhenyi, had disappeared. Since then, the world of martial arts had not seen any peerless masters for many years.

Could the “maiden” before him be a revered immortal who had mastered the art of eternal youth?

Or perhaps a banished celestial who had descended to this world for leisure?

Now, the world of martial arts seemed to wane, while the air of immortality grew ever stronger, filled with wonders and endless possibilities.

Unexpectedly, the maiden moved with incredible speed. Leaping over the wall and then across the rooftops, she instantly arrived on the opposite rooftop, standing on a hip rafter. Facing the middle-aged master, Pei Qian, standing slightly lower, lowered her fighting stance, cupped her fists, and greeted him in fluent Nanyuan official language: “I am Pei Qian, a disciple of Luo Po Mountain from Nanyuan. May I ask your purpose?”

The middle-aged martial artist, with a saber at his waist, composed himself and returned the greeting with cupped fists, “This humble one is Dong Zhongxia, currently serving as a retainer for the Wei family, and instructor of saber techniques for the Imperial Guard.”

Dong Zhongxia smiled, “I dare not instruct. I was merely ordered to patrol this area. Now that I know it is Miss Pei cultivating here, I can return and report with peace of mind.”

The emperor had issued a secret decree that Nanyuan should treat all Luo Po Mountain cultivators with utmost respect, wherever they were encountered.

The late emperor of the Wei dynasty, Wei Liang, surprisingly abdicated to his eldest son while still in his prime. The new Emperor Wei Yan ascended the throne and vigorously promoted the imperial examination system. He pardoned the three fishing clans, the Xixia musicians, and the beggars of Yuzhou, abolishing their “inferior status” and allowing their descendants to participate in the examinations. He also established a military examination, allowing descendants of those guarding the borders, soldiers, and martial artists with clean family histories for three generations to participate. The edict stated that the purpose of the military examination was to promote capable and loyal individuals for the service of the nation. Thirdly, he ordered the construction of ancestral halls for mountains and rivers, directing the Ministry of Rites to search through the local chronicles of each state and county, selecting loyal and virtuous officials to create golden statues for them, hoping they would transform into guardian spirits after death and continue to protect the land. Furthermore, the Wei Emperor of Nanyuan began to secretly support and recruit cultivators, helping to suppress the ghosts and monsters that emerged in various places, preventing them from harming the people. The heroes of the martial world, even with their exceptional skills, were powerless against these strange entities they had never encountered, suffering many losses.

However, Dong Zhongxia was a rising star among the top martial artists. In his forties, he had broken through a martial arts bottleneck a few years prior. After traveling far and wide, he suppressed several notoriously fierce demons and ghosts, gaining fame and recognition, which led to his appointment as one of the martial arts retainers for Nanyuan by the new Emperor Wei Yan. Dong Zhongxia now knew that the Emperor himself was a true martial arts master, with profound attainments.

Pei Qian asked with a smile, “Senior Dong is not from Nanyuan?”

Otherwise, he would have recognized the peak fist stance she had deliberately displayed, which originated from the former Nanyuan state preceptor, Master Zhong.

However, this indicated that Dong Zhongxia might not be a truly trusted confidant of the Nanyuan Emperor.

Dong Zhongxia nodded, “This Dong is from Songlai, and has only been in Nanyuan for a short time.”

Pei Qian turned her head away, frowning. Was it really necessary to be so secretive? Her previous punch may have been a bit too powerful, and it was the duty of Nanyuan experts to come and investigate, so Pei Qian treated them with respect. However, the other individual besides Dong Zhongshu, after she revealed herself, mistakenly thought she hadn’t noticed him. Instead of backing off, he overstepped his bounds and secretly used a technique to condense a few extremely small water droplets around Pei Qian and Dong Zhongshu, seemingly to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Pei Qian bid farewell to Dong Zhongxia.

Dong Zhongxia was slightly surprised, thinking she might not be a banished celestial from a greater realm after all.

The roof tiles around Pei Qian remained almost motionless, but the dust on the tiles suddenly scattered. In the next moment, Dong Zhongshu lost sight of Pei Qian.

Pei Qian was already crouching beside the upturned eave of a rooftop far from Dong Zhongxia, staring at a young man sitting cross-legged, performing hand seals. He wore a robe rarely seen in Lotus Root Paradise and a high jade crown, with a white jade dagger at his waist.

The young man stood up with a smile, “Wang Guangjing, a guest retainer of the Prince’s Mansion, greets Miss Pei.”

Pei Qian asked, “Immortal Master Wang of the Prince’s Mansion? Weren’t you ordered to leave the capital with two other accomplished masters to reopen the old Dragon Pool Water Rock mine?”

The Nanyuan capital was now a mixed bag, filled with many self-proclaimed immortal masters and Taoist priests seeking fame and fortune. However, there were also some true cultivators, either seizing advantageous locations in scenic areas to “establish their sects” or attaching themselves to the emperors of the three kingdoms, freely taking the divine money that everyone was seeing for the first time. Luo Po Mountain had detailed records of these matters. Nuan Shu would periodically copy them and send them to the Ancestral Hall on Jise Peak for archiving, while the originals were kept with the old cook. Luo Po Mountain had secretly established two channels for collecting information in Lotus Root Paradise. One was personally established by Master Zhong, and the old Emperor Wei Liang and the new Emperor Wei Yan were fully aware of it, as it was one of the terms of the contract between Luo Po Mountain and Nanyuan. The other was located within Songlai, managed by Zhu Lian.
While not fully comprehending the intricacies of courtly affairs, Pei Qian was aware that the relationship between the new and former emperors was not as harmonious as it appeared. Otherwise, the old emperor wouldn’t have been so close to his second son, Wei Yun, nor would the new Emperor Wei Yan have appointed his brother, Wei Yun, as the Prefect of the Capital, and a powerful old minister who had favored Prince Wei Yun in his early years as the state chancellor. If the Minister of Rites, who would oversee the mountain and water deities, wasn’t a confidant of the young emperor, Pei Qian would have suspected that the old emperor still held sway over the Nan Yuan Kingdom.

Wang Guangjing was slightly surprised and apologetic. “Before departing, I rushed to break through, and my cultivation went awry, leading to significant setbacks. I had no choice but to recuperate in the capital.”

As Dong Zhongxia departed, he cast a distant, somber glance in their direction.

That Prince Wei Yun was no simple character. Over the years, with the support of the retired emperor, he had gathered a considerable number of cultivators.

If that martial woman surnamed Pei were to become entangled with the Prince’s府府, recruited as a retainer, wouldn’t it further stir the undercurrents within the capital of the Nan Yuan Kingdom?

Dong Zhongxia quickly returned to a secluded residence near the imperial palace, once the cultivation ground of the state preceptor, Zhong Qiu. Upon seeing the man in plain clothes, Dong Zhongxia was startled and quickly descended, cupping his fist and whispering, “Your Majesty.”

Emperor Wei Yan listened carefully to Dong Zhongxia’s words and smiled. “How dare mere field mice and snakes speak of recruitment before a dragon?”

Could Prince Wei Yun’s small pond withstand a dragon accustomed to rivers and seas taking a few sips? What hospitality could there be?

Standing beside Wei Yan was a graceful woman, his sister, Wei Zhen.

Wei Zhen softly asked, “Since that young woman is from Fallen Phoenix Mountain, what is her relationship with that Sword Immortal Chen? Your Majesty, why not inquire?”

Wei Yan cautioned, “You must not meddle in such important matters of state.”

Wei Zhen was somewhat disappointed.

She was now a semi-cultivator herself, and she longed for the world of Fallen Phoenix Mountain. The more she delved into the imperial archives, the more she yearned.

Pei Qian, upon hearing Wang Guangjing’s circuitous words, maintained a calm facade, finding it somewhat amusing.

Although Pei Qian had intentionally suppressed her mind and body, remaining small and dark-skinned, when it came to understanding people, even when she had just left Lotus Flower Paradise, she was far from a child. Otherwise, the two experienced constables in the border town of the Daquan Dynasty wouldn’t have been fooled by her nonsense, treating her with respect and escorting her back to Granny Jiu’s inn. Even Li Huai and her two academy friends still believed Pei Qian to be a “princess in disguise.”

Pei Qian politely declined Wang Guangjing’s invitation, wanting to return to the residence and meet up with Xiao Mi Li.

Unexpectedly, Wang Guangjing persisted, mentioning Prince Wei Yun, saying that the prince greatly valued virtuous individuals, especially martial artists. Even if Pei Qian didn’t want to take a few steps to the prince’s mansion, it was fine; the prince could personally pay a visit. As long as Pei Qian nodded, the prince would definitely make time to come.

Pei Qian’s head throbbed. His words were insincere, either threatening with backing or spouting sophistry. Had Wei Yun recruited such a fool as a guest elder, helping the prince recruit people or drive them away?

Pei Qian then realized that Wang Guangjing, although full of lies, hadn’t suffered a setback in his cultivation but had succeeded in reaching the Cave Realm, making him one of the earliest mid-tier Qi refiners in Lotus Flower Paradise. With the increasing abundance of spiritual energy in the paradise and more people ascending mountains to cultivate, those who could reach the mid-tier were still few and precious. The key was that a step ahead now meant a step ahead in the future. The next stagnation for the most talented Qi refiners would be when Lotus Flower Paradise encountered the bottleneck of a mid-tier paradise.

Regarding when Lotus Flower Paradise could ascend to a top-tier paradise, Old Chef had said that even if they could afford the Grain Rain money, there was no rush, let alone that Fallen Phoenix Mountain truly didn’t have that money.

At that time, in the small courtyard, all eyes, before Chen Lingjun traveled far to the Northern Continent, and when Zheng Dafeng was still guarding the gate, everyone looked at Great Mountain Monarch Wei Bo.

Zheng Dafeng joked at the time, “Words should be spoken slowly, but money must be earned quickly.”

Wei Bo smiled and said, “If you continue like this, I’m going to overturn the chessboard.”

At this moment, Pei Qian suddenly remembered a reminder from Old Chef before her departure: don’t try to be like your master in everything. You have your own path to walk. If you’re too much like your master, your master will always worry about you. In your master’s eyes, you’ll always be a child who needs his support.

Pei Qian raised an eyebrow, thinking it made sense. Looking at Wang Guangjing again, Pei Qian transformed, no longer with the aura she had when speaking with Dong Zhongxia, and said bluntly, “Stop trying to exploit my Fallen Phoenix Mountain. I won’t interfere in the Wei family’s affairs. You, the guest elder of the Prince’s Mansion, leave quickly and cultivate your path properly. Remember, I only speak my principles once. Listen carefully when others speak kindly. If you harbor ill intentions in the future, wanting to test me with deceitful tricks…”

Pei Qian raised a fist, lightly shaking it, “I’m afraid you won’t be able to withstand this punch.”

Wang Guangjing feigned helplessness, “I’ve heard that Sword Immortal Chen is the most reasonable person. Miss Pei, as half a fellow villager and half a banished immortal…”

“My master said that using righteousness to disgust good people is not much different from bullying with power.”

Pei Qian stomped her foot, instantly appearing before Wang Guangjing. The latter couldn’t dodge, and his heart was filled with dread. The young woman’s fist was already close to Wang Guangjing’s forehead, only an inch away.

Pei Qian said, “Still not leaving? Do you want to lie down and be carried away?”

Wang Guangjing’s white jade short sword, which resembled a paperweight, glowed with light.

Pei Qian didn’t even look at it, “Do you really want to use your sword against my fist? Do you know how many sword cultivators and sword immortals I’ve seen?!”

Wang Guangjing took a step back and smiled, “Since Miss Pei is unwilling to accept the Prince’s good intentions, then so be it. Mountains and rivers are vast, and we are all cultivators. Perhaps we will have the opportunity to become friends in the future.”

Pei Qian retracted her fist, glanced at Wang Guangjing’s mental landscape, and her aura changed again. She said in a deep voice, “Grandpa Cui said that if a martial artist’s fist can make the bad water in a bad person’s belly shallower and the heart of an evil person smaller, then they should strike decisively.”

Wang Guangjing smiled bitterly, “Why must Miss Pei be so aggressive? Do you want me to kowtow and apologize? From beginning to end, have I shown any disrespect?”
Pei Qian was somewhat conflicted, worried that her intuition was correct, her observation accurate, but her punch might lack finesse, leading to a misguided action.

Her dilemma mirrored the one she faced before the shrine of the Jade Liquid River Water God.

She lacked Chen Lingjun’s decisiveness.

Suddenly, Pei Qian looked up.

A gray-robed figure descended with the wind, landing gracefully, pressing down on Wang Guangjing’s head. With a twist of the wrist, the figure spun Wang Guangjing out into the street.

Zhu Lian, with his back to Wang Guangjing, casually waved his hand backward. Before Wang Guangjing could steady himself, his head was struck as if by a heavy hammer, sending him flying down the street for dozens of yards. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.

Zhu Lian chuckled, “There’s no such thing as defending against thieves for a thousand days. One rotten apple could spoil the whole barrel.”

Zhu Lian leaned back slightly, glancing elsewhere. He detected cultivators lurking in the shadows, preparing to rescue Wang Guangjing. Zhu Lian inquired, “Do members of the Prince’s Mansion enjoy collecting chicken droppings and dog dung to bring home?”

That Wei Yun had been stirring up trouble for quite some time.

As for the old Emperor Wei Liang, his Imperial heart remained unchanged. Even with a desire to seek enlightenment and cultivate immortality, he had never truly witnessed the wonders of the Great All-Embracing World. Having become Emperor Emeritus, he had removed his dragon robe but failed to achieve immortal cultivation, leading to constant petty actions. Of course, he also harbored the thought of using this as leverage in negotiations with Fallen Mountain.

If not for the current Emperor Wei Yan’s benevolence, this Lotus Root Blessed Land would soon be a chaotic mess, with Fu Zi Zhong Qiu and Cao Qinglang bearing the brunt.

Pei Qian focused her voice into a thin line, asking in confusion, “Old Chef, why the change of face?”

Zhu Lian replied helplessly, “The winds are strong on the mountain; it blew it away.”

Zhu Lian turned to look at the young immortal napping on the street, remaining silent.

Pei Qian suddenly posed a question, “Old Chef, is there a lack of freedom on Fallen Mountain?”

Zhu Lian sighed, “Indeed, only when grown does one ask such questions. I had thought only the Young Master, upon returning home, would ask me this.”

Pei Qian smiled, “I was just saying. You can tell Master the answer yourself later.”

Zhu Lian slowly said, “The freedom to throw a punch may be limited. But in life, the freedom to speak without restraint, the freedom to cook and prepare meals, the freedom to earn and spend money, the freedom to lower one’s head to read and raise it to admire the scenery, the freedom to play chess with friends without seeking victory, the freedom to watch the younger generation grow day by day – are these not all freedoms?”

Pei Qian asked, “What about Wang Guangjing?”

Zhu Lian said, “Yu Lu and Xie Xie have already taken leave from the academy’s Mountain Master. They will travel through the Lotus Root Blessed Land for the next two years. They can have Wang Guangjing be their guide then.”

Pei Qian asked curiously, “Li Huai didn’t join in on the fun?”

Zhu Lian shook his head, “According to Brother Dafeng, if Li Huai were to get involved, the cultivators of the Lotus Root Blessed Land wouldn’t stand a chance at any great opportunities.”

Pei Qian had an idea but hesitated to voice it.

Zhu Lian asked, “You want to go to Lion Peak in the Northern Entirety Continent to find Li Huai’s father?”

Pei Qian nodded. “Senior Gu has passed away, but Uncle Li’s boxing skills are just as high. He also taught Master, so I want to go there to practice. Coincidentally, Li Huai also wants to see his parents and sister there.”

Zhu Lian considered it, “That’s acceptable.”

Pei Qian sat on the edge of the eaves, feeling somewhat dejected. “But such things should really be approved by Master.”

Zhu Lian squatted beside her, gently comforting, “If Young Master were here, he would definitely agree.”

Down on the street, a little girl with a carrying pole, bearing two sacks of melon seeds, came running. Zhu Lian chuckled, “Do you kids plan to eat melon seeds as a meal?”

Pei Qian leaped forward, landing on the street.

Zhou Mili, running over, cautiously bypassed the unconscious Wang Guangjing. She kept her back to him, thinking, “I didn’t see you, and you didn’t see me. We’re all just traveling martial artists, minding our own business.” Passing the sleeping man, Zhou Mili quickened her pace, the small sacks swinging on her pole. Stopping and steadying the sacks, she asked softly, “Old Chef, I saw Pei Qian chatting with someone from afar. Why did you attack him? That’s not very chivalrous. Next time, give a warning before you strike, or it won’t sound good in the martial arts world. I’ll crack some melon seeds to embolden myself and shout a few times to wake him up, then you can come over?”

Zhu Lian mimicked the little girl’s speech, nodding and smiling, “Indeed, I approve.”

Zhu Lian’s earlier strike had been extremely subtle, so Wang Guangjing had actually woken up as Zhou Mili passed by. Now, with his sharp ears, he heard the little girl’s seemingly righteous but nonsensical words. This young immortal, a guest and strategist of the Prince’s Mansion, almost burst into tears.

Pei Qian pinched Zhou Mili’s cheek and tugged. Zhou Mili immediately tilted her head and tiptoed, gently patting Pei Qian’s fingers, mumbling incoherently, “Not necessary, not necessary.”

Zhu Lian stamped his foot.

Wang Guangjing’s entire body bounced up. Daring not to pretend any longer, he stood and tremblingly said, “Greetings, Old Immortal.”

Zhu Lian nodded, looking kindly, and clapped his hand.

The strike sent Wang Guangjing flying to the very end of the street.

Zhu Lian laughed, “This punch should make him more timid.”

Zhu Lian looked around, muttering to himself, “It’s a pity I met Ding Ying when he was just a child. By the time I finally returned, he was gone. Otherwise, I could have taught him how to behave as a junior.”

This wasn’t the ramblings of a martial arts fanatic.

In fact, Ding Ying’s later actions largely followed Zhu Lian’s path. Earlier, Zhu Lian had fought nine people alone in the Jiazi Agreement. Most of the top ten martial arts masters of the world at that time were killed by Zhu Lian. Zhu Lian didn’t kill Ding Ying only because he felt his own chances of ascension were slim, and that ascension might not even hold much meaning. He deliberately gifted Ding Ying, a person he found barely pleasing, a good head and corresponding martial fortune. One could say that half of Ding Ying’s later success, both in martial arts and mental development, was due to Zhu Lian.

During Zhu Lian’s time.

In this world, there might be a foremost scholar, but there was never a second in martial arts.

Pei Qian said, “Shall we go back?”

Zhu Lian nodded, “Finish one sack of melon seeds first, or Nuan Shu will complain that you bought too many.”

Returning to the residence, Pei Qian inquired about breaking through the Sixth Realm bottleneck and how to deal with martial fortune in the Northern Entirety Continent.
Zhou Milili reminded Pei Qian to inquire about the bottlenecks at the seventh and eighth realms as well.

Pei Qian glared at her. “Can’t you wait for the hot tofu to cool down?”

Zhou Milili was a little confused. No matter how hot the tofu was, wasn’t it all just a matter of one bite?

Zhu Lian still shared some precautions with Pei Qian.

After that, Zhu Lian quickly returned to Luopo Mountain.

Pei Qian said she had a few things to finish. She went to Cao Qinglang’s ancestral home and, together with Xiao Milili, helped clean up the residence. Then, she took Xiao Milili to the Baihe Temple night market and indulged in a hearty meal of that “numbing and scalding stuff” her master talked about. She even ordered two servings of casserole for Zhou Milili. After they were full, they took a distant glance at the government official’s library where her master used to borrow books, telling Zhou Milili that compared to the Zhilan Pavilion back in Nuanshu Township, it was shorter by many of Xiao Milili’s heads.

Later, Pei Qian also went to see that contemporary who had transformed into a young woman even earlier than herself. A few years ago, she had married a scholar from out of town who had passed the imperial examination and was enjoying a successful career.

When the woman’s family entourage rode in a carriage to a temple in the capital to burn incense and pray for blessings, Pei Qian followed from afar, never revealing herself.

Finally, Pei Qian helped her master by taking a trip to Zhuangyuan Lane. Long ago, there had been a story of a poor scholar traveling to take the imperial exams and a wandering woman with a pipa, lovers who were never meant to be.

After inquiring with the local bookstore owner, she learned that the scholar had taken the exams twice but still failed to achieve success. He cried bitterly and seemed to have completely given up, returning to his hometown to open a school.

Who knows if that scholar will ever meet another woman he adores in this lifetime?

Who knows?

On the last day of leaving Nanyuan Kingdom, Pei Qian snuck onto the roof late at night.

Zhou Milili followed along.

The slender young girl and the not-so-young little girl lay together on the ridge, watching the round moon.

Zhou Milili cracked sunflower seeds and casually asked, “Why is it that the more you practice boxing, the less you dare to throw a punch?”

Pei Qian said, “Master treats the lives and deaths of others as if they were fragile porcelain that would shatter with a single knock. Master never said these things, but I’ve always seen it.”

Zhou Milili nodded vigorously. “That’s great. Then there’s no rush to throw a punch, Pei Qian. Let’s not rush, let’s not rush.”

Pei Qian laughed. “What ‘we’? You don’t practice boxing. It’s good that you don’t practice boxing, it’s actually very difficult. See, Master told me not to practice boxing too early, and the only time I didn’t listen to Master, I suffered greatly. So, you must listen to Master.”

Zhou Milili secretly moved the hand holding the sunflower seeds further away, saying such distant, heartbreaking things. Pei Qian reached out to grab them but missed. The little girl laughed heartily and quickly moved her hand back.

Pei Qian looked up at the sky, smiled, and scratched her head. She originally thought that by reaching the highest point to throw a punch, she would be able to see Grandpa Cui again.

Gu Can and Liu Chicheng were traveling north together, along with that Chai Bofu who had fallen two realms in a row.

As expected, Liu Chicheng stopped at the border of two prefectures.

Gu Can continued on his own.

Liu Chicheng and the old Longbo were strolling around a bustling prefectural city in Chizhou. Liu Chicheng was there to see the beauties of the mortal world. Chai Bofu, with his prematurely white hair, didn’t even bother with illusions and was busy healing his wounds. There was nothing he could do, he had accidentally said something wrong earlier and received a slap from Liu Chicheng, almost losing his Dragon Gate realm. Plus, there was Gu Can by his side, seemingly ready to dig a hole and bury him at any moment. A dignified Nascent Soul bottleneck rogue cultivator, Longbo, who had crossed swords with many mountain peak figures in Treasure Continent, felt like he had returned to the dismal years of a lower five realms cultivator.

When Liu Chicheng and Chai Bofu returned to the immortal inn, Liu Chicheng, who was swaggering along, was struck by lightning.

He told Chai Bofu to get lost.

Chai Bofu endured it, immediately leaving to stroll around the streets alone, not even daring to stay in the inn.

Liu Chicheng actually put away that pink Daoist robe and only dared to appear in the Confucian robe of the original owner of this body, gently knocking on the door.

Two people were playing chess in the courtyard, neither of them paying any attention.

Liu Chicheng braced himself and pushed open the door, silently walking behind a man in white, keeping his eyes down.

The person playing chess with the man in white was a solemn-faced old Confucian in green.

The man in white smiled. “Cui Chan, this move isn’t bad. If Gu Can can become my disciple, I won’t hold it against you for meddling in saving a useless person from trouble. If he becomes my junior brother, I’ll agree to your request.”

Cui Chan nodded. “Then it’s a deal.”

Cui Chan moved a chess piece first, but didn’t place it on the board. Therefore, the chessboard remained empty.

Liu Chicheng held his breath.

The man in white didn’t look at the chessboard and smiled. “You found a good seedling for White Emperor City and even brought that person back to play chess with my senior brother. How should I thank you? No wonder Master told me back then that the reason he chose you as a disciple was because he valued your ability to stir up trouble, so that I, as the senior brother, wouldn’t be so bored.”

Liu Chicheng’s mouth felt dry and his face stiffened.

The man in white stood up. “Let’s stop playing. This chess game is a broken game where the capable do more work. You, Cui Chan, brought this predicament on yourself. Don’t think about pulling me into the water outside the chessboard. A Great Li Dynasty can’t bear the consequences.”

Cui Chan sighed, put the chess pieces back in the box, and stood up. “Then I won’t see you off.”

The man in white nodded and disappeared in a flash.

Only then did Liu Chicheng wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Cui Chan put away the chessboard and chess box, glanced at Liu Chicheng, and smiled. “Even I have to admit that your ability to seek death is unmatched.”

Liu Chicheng said with a wry smile, “I never expected to encounter so many unlikely events in a row.”

Cui Chan smiled. “Not many, just three.”

Liu Chicheng was indeed helpless.

Cui Chan said seemingly casually, “If you’re dead, you don’t have to die, and you don’t have to worry about accidents.”

Liu Chicheng bowed. “Congratulations to the National Preceptor on breaking through.”

Cui Chan said, “Congratulating an old man of ninety-nine on living to be a hundred is also seeking death.”

Liu Chicheng started to act shamelessly. “My senior brother is here, I’m not afraid of anything.”

Cui Chan said, “It only takes a word from me to make your senior brother kill you.”

Liu Chicheng immediately bowed again, pitifully saying, “Please, National Preceptor, say something about the principles of scholars. That’s what I want to hear most now.”

Cui Chan said, “Then listen to my advice. After Gu Can arrives at White Emperor City, no matter what happens in the future, just protect him from death. Don’t do nothing, and don’t do too much.”

Liu Chicheng wanted to ask this true expert for more secrets, but Cui Chan had already vanished without a trace.
Liu Chicheng sighed with emotion.

The old Mountain Cliff Academy grounds in the Great Li capital had been sealed off by the imperial court for many years, now desolate, overgrown with weeds, and a haven for foxes and rabbits.

A beam of snow-white light descended from the heavens, upright and unashamed, completely ignoring the Great Li capital’s mountain and river formations, and seemingly paying no heed to the Confucian sage who guarded the sky.

After the man in white appeared, he glanced at the imitation White Jade City, which was stirring to life. It seemed to have temporarily received a secret imperial decree, and the activated White Jade City quickly fell silent.

This man, who didn’t particularly enjoy leaving White Emperor City, walked slowly, lamenting, “A single seedling grows beneath the flowers, remove it and it becomes a noxious weed.”

Before Gu Can returned to his hometown.

There were two pairs of masters and servants, four people in total, three of whom were considered to be returning home.

Song Jixin, the Great Li prince from Mud Bottle Lane, and his maid, Zhigui.

And Ma Kuxuan from Apricot Blossom Lane.

As for Ma Kuxuan’s maid, “Counting the Classics,” she seemed rather superfluous on this journey.

And Song Jixin was utterly disgusted by this Ma Kuxuan, who was using the guise of escorting him.

The ferry docked at Ox Horn Mountain Ferry.

Ma Kuxuan took Counting the Classics to the Dragon Beard River God Temple.

Song Jixin and Zhigui went to Mud Bottle Lane.

But Zhigui, under the cloak of night, left the residence alone, glanced at the clean and tidy courtyard next door with its Spring Festival couplets and good fortune characters, and, lifting her skirt, walked out of the alley.

After she left the lane, in the quiet of the night, Song Jixin carried a small stool to the courtyard, but instead of sitting, he stood by the seemingly shrinking mud wall, looking towards his neighbor’s yard.

Zhigui first went to Iron Chain Well, scooped up a handful of water, weighed it in her hand, and poured it back into the gloomy well.

Then she left the town and, near Li Huai’s residence, looked at the small mountain known as True Pearl Mountain, her brow furrowed.

There lay buried the body of a true dragon, refined and suppressed by the sage of the Three Teachings united.

True Pearl Mountain.

Pearl, Wang Zhu (King Zhu). True Pearl, therefore, is the true body of King Zhu.

And Wang Zhu’s current physique is formed from the dragon pearl, it is not considered her true body, she still needs someone to add the finishing touch to bring back her true body righteously and legitimately.

Only then could she restore her complete true dragon identity, at which point the entire world’s luck of the dragon species would gather on her alone! Helping her break through the Nascent Soul realm bottleneck would be nothing, even breaking through the Jade Purity realm bottleneck wouldn’t be difficult. Once she stabilized in the Immortal realm, her battle prowess would be comparable to more than half of a Ascended realm cultivator.

The one holding the pen, the one to add the finishing touch, was the young peasant boy who signed a contract with her long ago, the first person Zhigui saw after leaving Iron Chain Well in the bitter cold of winter, Chen Ping’an.

But at that time, Chen Ping’an’s soul was too weak, and his luck was so thin it was appalling. She didn’t want to be implicated by him, so she chose Song Jixin, the Great Li prince next door, to “recognize as master.”

Why was that four-legged serpent that Song Jixin threw into the neighbor’s yard, yet always ran back, so despised and unwilling to stay near Chen Ping’an’s house?

Likewise, it was one of the five great opportunities, Chen Ping’an gave the little mud loach to Gu Can, Gu Can not only accepted it, but caught it without any problems.

Logically speaking, after Song Jixin threw it away several times, it should have been Chen Ping’an’s opportunity.

But how could that four-legged serpent with horns on its head dare to sit on equal footing with Wang Zhu?! To recognize Chen Ping’an as its master like Wang Zhu?!

Wang Zhu’s recognition of a master-servant relationship with Song Jixin next door was just a smokescreen. Later, when Song Jixin renamed her Zhigui, there was even more to it than met the eye.

The two characters “Zhigui” originally belonged to the supervising official Song Yuzhang, but were actually given to Song Yuzhang by Cui Chan, and then “coincidentally” seen and known by Song Jixin, unknowingly remembering them, lingering in his mind, and ultimately helping Wang Zhu name herself Zhigui.

The two characters Zhigui were also related to the story of “stealing light by drilling a hole in the wall.”

The plaque hanging in the main hall of the Mud Bottle Lane residence, “Cherishing Distant Lands Hall,” was personally written by the previous Great Li Emperor.

Everything was deliberate.

That was why, in those years, Zhigui was able to slowly absorb the Song Clan’s dragon energy from the Great Li Dynasty.

Therefore, there was a reason why Song Jixin missed the dragon throne, being only a prince and not an emperor.

Destiny and fate were preordained in the dark.

And when Zhigui encountered Lu Chen, who had come specifically to find her in Mud Bottle Lane, Zhigui subconsciously invoked Chen Ping’an’s name to fend off the disaster, rather than Song Jixin.

Zhigui stood in place, gazing at True Pearl Mountain, and remained silent for a long time.

Song Jixin walked to her side.

Zhigui spoke these inner secrets in a mental voice.

Dragging it on any longer would be meaningless, and they might even turn against each other.

Unexpectedly, Song Jixin smiled, “I don’t mind.”

Wang Zhu blinked, “I don’t mind either.”

Song Jixin was speechless, and then felt a faint pain in his heart.

The Fifth Heaven.

The Old Scholar, standing above the sea of clouds, looked at the magnificent mountains and rivers, clicking his tongue, “A poor scholar moves house, moving books is like moving a mountain, only with books on the shelves can one be considered rich.”

The scholar standing next to him had empty hands, with no sword at his side, because in the very center of the world in the extreme distance, a beam of sword light held up the heavens.

The scholar said, “Such great rivers and mountains, yet there will be endless fighting.”

The Old Scholar smiled, “A sage interacts with things without harming them; one who does not harm things, things cannot harm him.”

The scholar shook his head, “If that is how a sage is, how many sages are there?”

The Old Scholar also shook his head, “As far as I can see, there are sages everywhere. From this, it can be seen that your fighting skills are higher, but your vision and realm are lower.”

The scholar was speechless. Now that there were only the two of them in this world, this boast wasn’t false. As expected, the Old Scholar wouldn’t miss a chance to take advantage.

This was what the Old Scholar said himself, not what the world slandered him with.

The Old Scholar was silent for a moment, then suddenly perked up, “Since we have nothing to do, shall I tell you about my disciple in closed-door training again?”

The scholar took a deep breath. He was going to repeat himself again. It wasn’t that he was impatient, but even the best patience couldn’t stand the Old Scholar’s constant nagging. He turned his head and said helplessly, “Can we not talk about this?”

The Old Scholar wrung his hands in regret, “What a regrettable thing in life!”

The scholar breathed a sigh of relief.

Even drawing his sword wasn’t as tiring as listening to the Old Scholar’s incessant chatter.

The Old Scholar suddenly said, “If I don’t talk, will you talk? That’s a very novel idea!”