Nian Xin wasn’t one to enjoy a spectacle, but this Heavenly Devil from the Azure Vault piqued her interest for the first time. The Devil’s earlier “True Immortal” visage had deeply impressed her, especially the celestial robe worn by “Daoist Frostfall,” an item of astonishing quality. Nian Xin felt that if she could unravel the countless “threads” of its construction, her own seamstress skills would reach a new level. With a bit of luck, it might even be the breakthrough she’d been seeking after years of confinement.

“Your name is Wu Shuangjiang,” Nian Xin stated.

The white-haired child squatting on the ground looked up. “And?”

Nian Xin continued, “Wu Shuangjiang was a strategist and tactician in life, not a Daoist priest.”

She paused, then added, “And perhaps Wu Shuangjiang isn’t necessarily dead.”

The white-haired child chuckled. “Why a strategist? What’s your reasoning?”

Nian Xin replied, “Wu Shuangjiang, Unparalleled General—it sounds like a name perfectly suited for the battlefield. Not being a military strategist would be a waste.”

The Old Deafie thought the young woman’s mind was truly muddled. According to her logic, since he was nicknamed Old Deafie and there was an Old Blind Man in the Southern Hundred Thousand Mountains, they must be long-lost brothers? But then again, if she were truly sharp, she wouldn’t have remained a seamstress all this time. Those infamous demonic cultivators like the Lone Rider of the South Sea, the Passerby, the Plague God, and the Corpse Beauty were all on dead-end paths with no turning back. But seamstresses, executioners, and mirror sellers could switch to unorthodox methods mid-journey. With the right maneuvering, even secretly becoming a registered Immortal Master wasn’t difficult. But this Nian Xin, regardless of how she initially became a seamstress, or whether she even wanted to, had clearly decided to see this path to the bitter end.

The white-haired child spat and rubbed his face, looking utterly bewildered. “That works too?!”

Old Deafie asked, “Did Nian Xin actually guess right?”

The white-haired child mimicked his own Ancestor, folding his sleeves and looking at Nian Xin and Old Deafie with pity. Two fools—why didn’t they just acknowledge each other as father and daughter?

If the Great Dao weren’t in such dire straits, threatening his very existence, he could have built upon Nian Xin’s so-called strategist ancestor identity and concocted a series of thrilling tales: Wu Shuangjiang flooding the Water God Palace, burning the Fire God Temple, trampling the Jade Capital, smashing the Heavenly Drum, and storming the White Jade City, all logically connected and well-supported.

He turned sideways, stuck his backside out, and pressed his hands and ears tightly against the small door. “Why isn’t there any movement? I’m so worried about Ancestor Hidden Official! With his vindictive nature, if this refining fails, he’ll definitely settle the score with me. Grandson, Great-granddaughter, you two hurry up and pray to the gods and Buddhas with sincerity. If it works out, I’ll credit you for it. From now on, our family of three will establish our own faction, and we won’t have to envy the executioner’s side for their numbers. By then, I’ll deal with the clothes-pounding woman and the silk-washing maid, Old Deafie will fight the executioner until their brains spill out, and Nian Xin, you’ll just stand aside with a bucket to collect them…”

Nian Xin pressed her foot against the white-haired child’s head, slowly increasing the pressure, causing half of the Heavenly Devil’s face to be plastered against the door.

The white-haired child didn’t seem bothered in the slightest.

Old Deafie was somewhat envious of Nian Xin. He had spent years competing with this Heavenly Devil when they first met, and it was even worse between it and the executioner. Yet, for some reason, Frostfall didn’t seem to focus on Nian Xin. Old Deafie wasn’t worried about the Heavenly Devil causing trouble, but its constant presence was irritating. Back when the Heavenly Devil followed Old Deafie around like a shadow for eighty years, it was difficult for Old Deafie to even find a moment of peace to cultivate. Eventually, he had to call it “Grandfather” to barely escape its clutches.

Nian Xin retracted her foot.

The white-haired child maintained his posture and said, “If you say hello to Ancestor Hidden Official, and then have him say hello to me, I’ll agree to conjure up that ‘Crimson-Violet’ Dharma robe and let you look your fill.”

The white-haired child, as if worried that Nian Xin, a Qi cultivator from the Great Brightness World, wouldn’t understand the profundity of the “Crimson-Violet” robe, explained, “That feathered robe of mine is one of the three replicas of the Daoist robe worn by the Dao Ancestor when he rode the ox out of seclusion. Even though it was woven by later generations, it still contains boundless Daoist principles. It’s one of the treasures guarding the Year-End Palace, the center of the mountain and river formations. As soon as the Ancestor shakes the robe, the mountain peak is covered as if with feathered garment. No matter how many times the Sword Immortals strike, it will remain unbreakable.”

Here, the white-haired child sneered, “The Year-End Palace is on par with the Great Azure Capital. Nian Xin, consider it yourself.”

Nian Xin offered a word of thanks and stopped wasting time at the door. She could begin extracting the text from the Golden Registers and Jade Tablets.

Old Deafie praised, “Good tactic.”

Frostfall stood up and shook his sleeves. “Good Grandson.”

His actions helped Nian Xin obtain a great Daoist opportunity. It also helped Chen Ping An avoid unnecessary suffering at Nian Xin’s hands, and allowed him to repay the debt of the Golden Registers and Jade Tablets. As for Frostfall, he was also helping himself. He had previously received secret instructions from Chen Qingdu: rather than choosing to be Chen Ping An’s enemy in matters of the heart, it was better to befriend those around him. The guidance was false, the threat was real. It was a clear signal for him to withdraw and cease his manipulations, ambushes, and pitfalls in Chen Ping An’s mind.

Frostfall wasn’t just scaring Chen Ping An. After several journeys, he had used the Three Mountains and Nine Marches technique as a foundation, then the derived Twenty-Four Mountains’ methods, known as “Seeking Dragons,” to identify an “auspicious site,” known as “Pinpointing the Meridian,” within a quiet corner of a useless grotto in the human body’s world. There, he dug out a mirror-sized circular pit, known as “Breaking Ground.” The pit was called a “Golden Well,” and was then covered with a bushel-shaped wooden box. After that, the heart pit was like a covered, dried-up well, never again seeing the “light of sun, moon, and stars.”

Seeking Dragons and pinpointing meridians, breaking ground and covering with a box – each journey completed one step, while carefully avoiding the patrolling fire dragon, especially the golden figure wearing a sword and carrying scriptures. Every time the Heavenly Devil entered Chen Ping An’s heart-lake, it would play hide-and-seek with that little fellow.
This subtle maneuver, hidden so deeply, wouldn’t affect Chen Ping’an’s current realm or cultivation in the slightest. However, once this scholar’s mind was tainted, even with the slightest shadow, it would grow to the size of a mountain when his cultivation reached a higher level. Or, like a sudden frost, it could shatter the golden well of his mind, leaving an irreparable flaw in his heart. His Great Dao would no longer be complete. Could it be fixed? Of course, it could. Chen Ping’an would simply need to offer this golden well to it, this extraterrestrial demon, as a dwelling. Not only would this repair the flaw, making it seamless, but it would also benefit his cultivation, becoming a source of Daoist magic for a Qi refiner.

As for refining the Three Mountains technique, Shuang Jiang was certainly no stranger to it; he had more than just heard of it.

However, Shuang Jiang still couldn’t figure out one thing. From Chen Ping’an taking the initiative to ask for his name, to mentioning the Fire Dragon True Man’s teaching of the Three Mountains refining technique, was Chen Ping’an doing it on purpose? Did he already sense something strange, and thus, at the risk of tearing off the facade, call upon Chen Qingdu to back him up?

The white-haired child couldn’t help but lament, “Forced to make do in a snail shell, restricting Master’s great supernatural powers.”

Chen Ping’an had successively refined four Natal Treasures: the Cloud Sea of Old Dragon City, the immortal inn at the mouth of the Great River, the Dragon Palace Grotto-Heaven, and the secret room in the Ning Residence of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

The final item belonged to the Five Elements, and he had two dispensable Dao protectors: the Ascension Realm great demon Cheng Shan, and the Ascension Realm extraterrestrial demon, Shuang Jiang.

The small door slowly opened, and Chen Ping’an appeared.

The white-haired child immediately fawned, “Hidden Officer Ancestor, your talent is outrageously exceptional! Refining treasures so quickly, forget about Cao Ci or anyone else, they’re not even worthy to carry your shoes! Eh? Why hasn’t Hidden Officer Ancestor started refining yet? Is it because you have too much martial luck, and it hasn’t been thoroughly tempered? Such a worry, how many martial artists in the world can understand?”

Old Deafie felt that it wouldn’t hurt to call it grandpa, not even a little, for its skill in flattering and disgusting people.

Chen Ping’an said, “Just coming out for some air.”

Chen Ping’an strolled along the steps, surrounded by natural, dim, and obscure darkness. How far one could see depended solely on one’s cultivation.

Because the young Hidden Officer was walking downwards, the white-haired child walked ahead, sideways, bending over and extending his hands, reminding the Hidden Officer Ancestor to watch his step.

If they were ascending, the white-haired child would follow behind, also extending his hands, to prevent the Hidden Officer Ancestor from accidentally falling backward.

In terms of superficial bootlicking, it was estimated that Mi Yu, Gu Jianlong, and Cao Gun combined, from the Hidden Officer lineage of the Summer Palace, were no match for this extraterrestrial demon.

Seemingly interesting and boring, the white-haired child would silently count in his mind, seeing when Chen Ping’an would finally deny this behavior. It was truly boring, yet interesting.

Chen Ping’an didn’t care about this extraterrestrial demon’s absurd behavior, letting it do as it pleased.

Chen Ping’an hadn’t actually refined the magma furnace. The martial luck in his body wasn’t the reason. Nian Xin had already helped to extract two sparks from the fire dragon, the two eyes of the fire dragon. Compared to the patrolling fire dragon formed purely from a martial artist’s true Qi, the two sparks constantly fusing into the fire dragon’s eyes were, in essence, external objects. After Nian Xin cut them out and took them away, it didn’t harm the fire dragon’s vitality. However, the process of “eye extraction” was somewhat unexpected. As a Jade Pure Realm seamstress, she was actually unable to suppress the unruly true Qi fire dragon. If she had forcefully taken the two eyeballs, it was estimated that a major commotion would have been needed, harming Chen Ping’an’s fundamental body. This was probably the innate incompatibility between Qi refiners and pure martial artists.

Chen Ping’an had no choice but to negotiate with the golden little man, pleading and being cursed countless times before the latter finally stepped on the fire dragon’s head, making it docile and unmoving, allowing Nian Xin to take the objects.

Up to this point, everything went smoothly. However, when Chen Ping’an entered the small door and began to circulate the ancient immortal technique taught by the Fire Dragon True Man, he realized that he was in an awkward situation. The refining incantation evolved from the Rain-Praying Stele outside the Biyou Mansion Water God Temple was faintly, as if a disappointed person, hiding and lamenting to itself, autonomously operating its magic, stirring up wisps of ripples in the heart lake. In ordinary times, this would be a good omen of successful cultivation, a heaven-sent opportunity. However, at the crucial moment of refining a fire-attributed object, it was a deadly trouble. When Chen Ping’an realized something was wrong and sent his mind mustard seed to the Water Mansion to take a look, he saw that the green-robed children were all restless, huddled under the mural resembling a Water Immortal Pilgrimage. It was clear that Chen Ping’an had a bud of water-fire conflict in his microcosm. Because Chen Ping’an’s Great Dao was water-inclined, he had to refine a fire-attributed object from a divine heart of unimaginable quality. Therefore, this water-fire conflict was the most apparent. Before, he first had the Water Mansion, then refined the Mountain Shrine. Because the mountains and water were interdependent, it actually benefited the refining process. Then, when refining the wood-attributed Natal Treasure, both water and earth aided it. The microcosm’s atmosphere also had no setbacks.

After that, no matter how Chen Ping’an suppressed the water mansion atmosphere, it had little effect.

Chen Ping’an stood outside a prison cell, inside which was imprisoned a Nascent Soul sword cultivator demon race, who went by the name Huang He, whose Natal Sword was “Dripping”. His true form was a scorpion, according to the “Search Mountain Chart”, a cockroach species.

Chen Ping’an often came here to stand, without saying a word. Huang He had been concentrating on nurturing his sword, pretending not to see the young man outside.

Chen Ping’an opened his mouth and asked, “Do you have any methods of suppression? To cast a mountain sealing spell and close the Water Mansion’s gates.”

The white-haired child put on a wailing face and said, “Hidden Officer Ancestor, seniority is seniority, business is business. Right now, we have a clear-cut relationship, so don’t try to take advantage of me, okay?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Why not do business? From now on, we’ll start doing real business. As long as you give enough, you can earn a life. Your oath is useless, but my oath is absolutely true. When the time comes, I’ll plead with the Eldest Sword Immortal. But there’s a bottom line, you can scheme against others, but I’ve already told the Eldest Sword Immortal, if you scheme against me again, I’ll just cut you down with a sword.”

The white-haired child asked, “Are you really willing to change your original intention and let me leave the prison?”
Chen Pingan stated, “Everything has its order. You schemed against me first, seeking to seize my body and soul, coveting my entangling karma and meager fortune, hoping to conceal yourself deeper. Had you succeeded, even Great Sword Immortal might have found it difficult to eradicate you completely, allowing you to reap all the benefits. Why should I let you leave this prison alive? Do you truly think I am your dear grandfather or ancestor? If you were truly from my lineage, with your conduct, you would be a degenerate offspring, long since disowned by righteous family members.”

The white-haired child pouted, saying, “Aren’t you just trying to pave the way for yourself, get me to reveal the inside rules of the Azure Vault Heaven, so you can prepare for your ascension and the sword questioning at White Jade Capital?”

“Did I ever deny it?”

Chen Pingan chuckled and ruffled the white-haired child’s head, “Why don’t you call me ancestor anymore?”

The Extraterrestrial Demon happily said, “Alright, Grand Ancestor!”

Chen Pingan changed his palm into a fist, and an Extraterrestrial Demon shattered with a *bang*. It then reformed its humanoid shape elsewhere, adorned with a jade-green snake and wearing a Dharma robe, skipping back merrily, exclaiming, “Grand Ancestor Yin Guan’s punch displays the demeanor of the Distant Wanderer Realm!”

Chen Pingan lightly twisted his wrist, having entered the Distant Wanderer Realm. It was indeed far more formidable than the Golden Body Realm. He just wondered in which realm Cao Ci was currently.

The white-haired child revealed a heavenly secret, grinning, “Dharma Seal Refines All. Grand Ancestor Yin Guan possesses two immortal seals that both claim to refine all things. So, what about refining a seal with a seal?”

Chen Pingan pondered for a moment, then shook his head, “If I had to sacrifice one, I would find it hard to choose. Besides, I have no idea what the outcome of merging them would be. Furthermore, there are too many variables in the process. The two immortal seals are of too high a grade, and my cultivation is too low. So, you can tell me your true intentions now. How should we calculate the price for this first transaction? Let’s discuss it.”

The white-haired child held up two fingers, saying, “Actually, it’s the second transaction. Nian Xin will be looking for you soon.”

Chen Pingan clasped his hands in his sleeves, smiling, “That doesn’t count as a transaction; it should be considered the respect paid for your return to the ancestral home.”

The white-haired child also clasped his hands in his sleeves, his eyes darting around, nodding, “That makes a lot of sense.”

Chen Pingan said, “I told you before, there’s nothing in the world that can’t be negotiated, but you didn’t believe me.”

The white-haired child confessed, “Being an Ascendant Realm cultivator, it’s easy to get carried away.”

The sword cultivator demon race at the Yuan Ying bottleneck, no longer nurturing its natal flying sword, opened its eyes and looked at the “harmonious” ancestor and grandchild pair outside the sword light barrier. A thought suddenly arose in its ochre heart: If the young people of the Grand Brightness World are all like this, our demon race should probably stay away from there. They read books and recognize characters, their hearts are soaked with ink, and their livers and intestines are all black.

After leaving the cage, the white-haired child understood why Chen Pingan lingered for so long. But having seen the young man’s two mental state paintings, it dared not be frivolous about such things.

Chen Pingan asked, “Regarding the Five Poisons, are there any corresponding folk customs in the Azure Vault Heaven?”

Frost Descent nodded, “Many. For example, common households cut five-colored small gourds from colored paper and stick them upside down on their doors, called ‘Overturned Disaster Gourds’. In government offices, incorruptible officials with Taoist ordinations specially put on Dharma robes bestowed by the Daoist sect on this day, embroidered with images of the Five Poisons, and then go to all the water-drawing places within their jurisdiction, tossing in Grain Rain Talismans.”

Chen Pingan said, “In the southeastern part of the Northern Reaches, both on and off the mountains, there’s also a custom of posting Grain Rain Posts. In wealthy families, having a post personally written by an immortal displayed on their door is something very worthy of boasting about, no less than hanging the family name plaque in the main hall.”

Frost Descent said, “With higher cultivation, new troubles may arise, but there’s one good thing: a cultivator’s realm can truly solve many problems. With a higher realm, many troubles will naturally dissipate. Good fortune comes uninvited, and unwanted guests leave unbidden.”

Chen Pingan seemed to understand, nodding, “That’s a human thing to say. I’ve learned something.”

Frost Descent raised a hand and wiped away a tear of bitterness, sobbing, “Grand Ancestor’s words touch the heart and move the soul.”

Nian Xin arrived quickly, as it involved the foundation of the Great Dao, and there was no need for embarrassment.

She wasn’t like Chen Pingan, a big man, what was there to be ashamed of? Acting like a girl was not refreshing.

Chen Pingan was very interested and decided to observe.

A Celestial Immortal Cave Dress, of renown even in the Azure Vault Heaven, was being meticulously disassembled by Nian Xin, using her sewing divine power, into 36,000 intersecting warp and weft threads. This process alone was a rare and precious “observation of the Dao.”

Nian Xin first summoned the Golden Register and Jade Edict, saying, “Originally, I planned to let you suffer a little after you succeeded in refining things, and then help you build a heart chamber.”

She suddenly said, “Do you have any talisman paper of relatively high grade? Otherwise, it won’t be able to bear these characters. If the grade is not good, we’ll have to stack them together, which won’t be a small number.”

Chen Pingan took out a piece of azure talisman paper from his square-inch object.

The white-haired child’s eyelids twitched slightly.

Nian Xin nodded, and let Chen Pingan place the talisman paper next to the Golden Register and Jade Edict.

She took out the Dharma knife “Willow Tendon,” refined as her natal object, and began to peel off the characters from the Golden Register and Jade Edict one by one. The knife looked ordinary, but the tip was extremely thin.

Each time a character left the register, Nian Xin immediately used the knife tip to place it on the azure talisman paper. The character landed on the paper and immediately embedded itself within, slightly indented, fortunately without breaking the paper.

Finally, Nian Xin’s face was pale, and the body below her head was in turmoil, her internal organs churning and crushing each other, a bloody mess like a mud pit.

Nian Xin opened her embroidered pouch, took out a large handful of scarlet pills of unknown origin, chewed them roughly, and swallowed them down.

Chen Pingan folded the talisman paper, which felt extremely heavy in his hand, carefully put it in his sleeve, stood up, and solemnly clasped his fist in thanks.

Nian Xin ignored him.

From beginning to end, the woman, fundamentally injured and on the verge of collapse from the Jade Purity Realm, did not even slightly furrow her brow.

Chen Pingan felt that Nian Xin could actually switch to martial arts.

Being carved upon by others without moving, and carving upon oneself without moving, are two different realms.

Nian Xin looked at the white-haired child.
The white-haired child did not transform into his true form, the “Frost Descent, a Grand Cultivator of the Ascension Realm,” but instead glanced at the expressionless Old Ancestor Yin Guan beside him. Then, shrinking back, he extended two fingers, pinched a corner, and slowly pulled. Instantly, brilliant light flowed, and a myriad of auspicious rays burst forth, gradually revealing the Daoist robe. Then, the white-haired child yanked it suddenly, holding the robe in his hand. The ethereal robe shimmered, cascading like a waterfall, with swirling clouds and vibrant colors.

Chen Pingan curiously asked, “The Dharma Image is an illusion, and the Daoist robe is also an illusion, so why are they so real?”

Nian Xin’s eyes burned with fervor, feeling that Chen Pingan was far too ignorant. She said, “Imbued with the essence of the Dao, when manifested in the world, it is almost a display of the Great Path itself. How can you speak of truth or falsehood?”

Chen Pingan’s eyes widened, gaining new understanding. Although his own robe, Jin Li, had its grade raised to that of a Celestial Weapon through continuous “feeding” with golden essence coins, it was nowhere near as profound as this garment.

The white-haired child raged, “Little brat, how dare you speak to my Old Ancestor like that?! Show some respect to your granddaddy!”

Nian Xin responded with a cold sneer and glanced at Chen Pingan. Chen Pingan looked at the white-haired child, who glanced left and right, laughing sheepishly.

Nian Xin received the robe, which was extremely light, almost weightless, and spread it out on her palm, gently caressing it. Her expression was like that of a drunkard savoring fine wine, or a passionate lover caressing the skin of their beloved.

Chen Pingan was somewhat apprehensive. Previously, the risqué words of the female sword immortal Xie Songhua, and now Nian Xin’s gaze towards her treasured object, were both overwhelming to Chen Pingan.

The white-haired child told Nian Xin about the many restrictions within the robe. She sat down, gently placing the robe on her lap, and manipulated ten natal embroidered needles, working together to pick up a single thread. After slowly drawing the thread, she wound it into a ball and placed it at her feet.

Just extracting a single strand of silk took a full incense stick’s worth of time.

Nian Xin expended a great deal of mental energy, closing her eyes and slowly breathing in and out.

Even a tiny error in picking the needle triggered several layers of restrictions. The sun, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers on the robe changed color accordingly. In the end, the robe directly tried to clothe Nian Xin, causing her soul to tremble as if she had been thrown into a forbidden realm. Frost Descent quickly manipulated the robe to leave Nian Xin’s body. This showed the danger within it. Nian Xin spat out a mouthful of stagnant blood, which she then collected into her embroidered pouch.

Chen Pingan sat on the steps, watching for a good while before silently getting up and leaving.

Before this, it was as if he were in an ordinary household, watching a woman mend clothes under the lamplight.

The white-haired child asked telepathically, “No need to close the Water Mansion gate?”

Chen Pingan shook his head, “No need. My mind is at peace.”

The white-haired child rarely refrained from following, holding his cheeks in his hands, staring at Nian Xin’s needlework, and said softly, “If this were a real object, your first pick of the needle would trigger the restrictions, and no one could help you take off the clothes. You would die.”

Nian Xin was single-minded, treating it as the wind in her ears.

The ball of thread at her feet grew larger and larger, clustered together like miniature suns and moons nestled together.

The white-haired child suddenly said, “Nian Xin, why is it that you clearly want to live, yet you are not afraid of death in the slightest? Not to mention the greedy Old Deaf, even the abstemious Execution Official fears death. In my view, among those in prison, your state of mind is the closest to Chen Qingdu.”

Nian Xin extracted another warp thread that pierced through countless mountains and rivers on the robe, intending to rest for a moment. She replied, “There is something to love in life, but not so much that I am too attached. Death is a pity, but not a great regret. It is already so, so what can be done?”

The white-haired child said, “It’s just that your innate talent is a bit lacking. Otherwise, the Great Path would be within reach, and there would be great hope of entering the Ascension Realm.”

Seeing that Nian Xin had no intention of replying, he laughed, “Have you ever heard of the Glazed Kiln in the Azure Billow Heaven? Even if you don’t seek beauty, changing your skin can still increase your cultivation.”

Nian Xin said, “I’ve only heard of the Fox Den in the Savage Wastelands.”

The white-haired child was somewhat helpless. Nian Xin’s dry humor indeed made it easy to cut off the conversation.

Just then, the white-haired child was the first to frown, stand up, and for the first time, looked somewhat grave.

Nian Xin was about to pick the needle but also stopped.

Someone pushed the door open and walked out. The sound of his heartbeat was loud, like the power of a deity drumming.

Each time his heart beat like a drum, the entire small world of the prison shook accordingly.

The Summer Retreat Palace received a flying sword message.

Sword Immortal Chou Miao handed the secret letter to Song Gaoyuan. It came from the Water Crystal Palace of Upside-Down Mountain. The envelope was only stamped with a flower signature, with no name signed, making it impossible to identify the owner of the flower signature.

Song Gaoyuan was accompanying Xuan Can, focusing on a certain battlefield on the ground painting. After reading the secret letter, he hesitated to speak.

Now, the sword cultivators of the Hidden Official lineage were much more relaxed. As long as they wanted to go to the city wall to fight, they no longer had to follow the rule of three people in a group. Whether they were alone or in groups of three or five, they could go whenever they wanted. At the moment, the three female sword cultivators Dong Bude, Guo Zhujiu, and Luo Zhenyi left the Summer Retreat Palace together. In addition, Xu Ning, Gu Jianlong, and Cao Gun also flew their swords to go together.

Chou Miao smiled, “What are you hesitating about? Learn from Lin Junbi.”

After hesitating, Song Gaoyuan said, “I will reply to the Water Crystal Palace in Upside-Down Mountain. I will wait for Sword Immortal Xie Zhi to withdraw from the battlefield before going to Upside-Down Mountain with this senior.”

Chou Miao asked, “Are you just going to leave your sect senior hanging in Upside-Down Mountain like that? Isn’t that inappropriate?”

Song Gaoyuan said, “Ancestor Rong Guan wouldn’t mind. She wanted to travel to Upside-Down Mountain anyway.”

Chou Miao let him go.

The next day, Dong Bude and the other three female sword cultivators returned to the Summer Retreat Palace together. Luo Zhenyi remembered something and told Song Gaoyuan that she had brushed past Sword Immortal Xie Zhi on the battlefield and asked her to bring a message to Song Gaoyuan: no need to wait for him.

Pang Yuanji stood up, strode across the threshold, and flew his sword to the city wall before saying, “Song Gaoyuan, I won’t see you off.”

Song Gaoyuan left the Summer Retreat Palace on this day. Before leaving, Chou Miao handed this Deer Horn Palace cultivator a package, saying it was from Lord Hidden Official.

Song Gaoyuan slung the package diagonally, alone, crossed the gate, went to Upside-Down Mountain, found the Water Crystal Palace, and saw his sect’s female ancestor, Ancestor Rong Guan.

The young sword cultivator saw his ancestor. Regardless of whether there were several other female immortals of the Rain Dragon Sect beside Ancestor Rong Guan, the young man’s eyes were slightly red and he said in a trembling voice, “Many people have died. Senior Xie Zhi is not returning home either.”

Ancestor Rong Guan sighed and did not know how to comfort this junior.
Upon the Golden Armor Continent, the young swordsman Xuan Can, together with the sword immortal Song Ping, who bore a longsword upon her back, traversed the great gateway, arriving at Inverted Mountain and heading straight towards a ferry crossing.

Song Ping exuded a palpable aura of slaughter, her mind seemingly still lingering on some distant battlefield.

Accompanying them were two young girls from the Great Wall of Sword Qi, both initiated into the way of the sword at a tender age. The one with a perpetually stern face was named Sun Zao, while her elder sister, Sun Qu, was still engaged in martial practice. Unlike Sun Zao, the child gazing about with wide-eyed curiosity was named Jin Luan.

They were both destined to follow Sword Immortal Song Ping in cultivation, and upon reaching Song Ping’s sect, they would be formally accepted as direct disciples in the ancestral hall.

The party arrived at the ferry near Elk Cliff, where they would board a cross-continental vessel bound for Ascending Cloud Continent.

For Song Ping and Xuan Can, this was a homecoming, but for the two children, it marked a departure from their homeland, a journey of ten thousand leagues.

The female sword immortal purchased only two boarding tokens at the ferry crossing. When it was time to embark, the Qi Refinement cultivator in charge of passage inquired as to why the two young girls lacked tokens, deeming it a breach of regulations.

Of course, Sword Immortal Song Ping recognized the attendant; he was not blind. Such a woman of surpassing beauty, bearing the longsword “Ascension,” rumored to contain a great many sword fortunes from a whole continent, could be identified at a glance by cultivators from both Golden Armor and Ascending Cloud Continents.

Song Ping simply stated, “I’m doing you a favor. Just accept it.”

Xuan Can, maintaining an air of composure, found Sword Immortal Song Ping’s words perfectly justified.

In the end, the ferry supervisor rushed over in a flurry, personally clearing the path for the four to board.

Jin Luan’s mouth fell slightly open. The young girl was momentarily bewildered. Sword Immortal Song Ping, in their private moments, was not like this at all – she smiled often, her voice gentle, possessing an amiable temperament.

The ferry freed up several of its finest rooms, and Song Ping led the two young girls to an observation deck offering a panoramic view, smiling slightly as she said, “This is the scenery of the Vast Expanse.”

Jin Luan whispered, “There’s so little sword qi.”

Sun Zao rolled her eyes, retorting, “Nonsense. Can it even compare to our Great Wall of Sword Qi?”

Jin Luan fell silent, not out of fear of Sun Zao, but because she was always eager to hear Sun Zao’s strange and wondrous tales of mountains and rivers.

Song Ping said softly, “Therefore, you need to adapt quickly. Once you arrive at the Golden Armor Continent sect, your Shifu will reserve two spiritual mountains for you. When you reach the Golden Core realm, you can hold an opening ceremony for your peaks, and then they will be your residences. From that moment on, you will have truly established yourselves in the Vast Expanse.”

From the observation deck of the neighboring room, the young swordsman extended a hand, gently waving in greeting to the two young girls.

Jin Luan stood on tiptoe, smiling radiantly as she said, “Brother Xuan Can.”

Xuan Can made a funny face.

Sun Zao suddenly felt a pang of sadness, gently tugging on the female sword immortal’s sleeve, sobbing as she said, “Shifu, I miss home.”

Song Ping grasped the young girl’s hand, whispering, “Never say such things to anyone except Shifu in the future.”

Sun Zao did not fully understand, but quickly wiped away her tears, nodding with a smile.

One night, under the veil of darkness, a gaunt, wizened old man, after crossing the gateway, immediately paused, closed his eyes, and tilted his head, sniffing deeply, chuckling as he said, “Long time no see.”

It was none other than Jade Purity Realm Sword Immortal Pu He, though now reduced to the Nascent Soul Realm. Even clothed in a magical robe, he could not conceal the bloody aura that clung to him.

Following Pu He into Inverted Mountain were Cao Gun, and a young man and woman from the Great Wall of Sword Qi.

Cao Gun was only in the Dragon Gate Realm when he became a Hidden Official lineage swordsman, but now he was a Golden Core guest.

The young man and woman Pu He brought from the Great Wall of Sword Qi were not exceptional talents. The young man was only in the Cave Mansion Realm, his aptitude at the Great Wall of Sword Qi not considered outstanding.

But he suited Pu He’s tastes.

As for the young woman, a Seascape Realm cultivator with even greater aptitude, Pu He intended to have a close friend of his impart her teachings. As a Rushing Haze Continent sword immortal known for his prowess in battle, how could he not have a few confidantes? Even if she now surpassed him by a realm, even if she still possessed the appearance of a maiden, she would still address him as “Brother Pu” with a thousand turns of affection when they met.

The young man complained, “Old Pu, when are you going to become a sword immortal again? Otherwise, it’s embarrassing for me to be your disciple.”

Pu He scoffed, “Having accepted a disciple like you, a mere Cave Mansion cultivator, do you think *I* have any face to show? Do you know that at my drinking parties in Rushing Haze Continent, Golden Core cultivators aren’t even qualified to sit down? They have to stand and drink and serve the dishes?”

Cao Gun was speechless. What Sword Immortal Pu He said was the absolute truth. Golden Core Earth Immortals with a bit of backbone would often not attend feasts with Pu He present, but even more were willing to go.

The young man raged, “Don’t keep calling yourself ‘Old [name]!'”

Pu He did not get angry, but laughed, “Worthy of being Pu He’s disciple! When he’s not drunk, he speaks nonsense. After drinking, at the slightest disagreement, he wants to draw his sword and cause a stir across the continent!”

But the young man refused to be flattered, saying, “Small Nascent Soul, such a big mouth! If you didn’t know better, you’d think an Ascension Realm cultivator was yawning here.”

Cao Gun became even more speechless.

Like master, like disciple. Birds of a feather flock together.

The taciturn young woman felt envious of the boldness of her peer. She would never dare speak to Sword Immortal Pu He in such a manner.

The young man said, “I heard you have a lot of enemies in Rushing Haze Continent. Now that you’ve fallen in realm, will I get killed along with you by your enemies?”

Pu He reached out and pressed down on the young man’s head, pushing him away, “Say less unlucky things.”

The cross-continental ferry they were traveling on would stop at the ferry crossing near Spiritual Mushroom Lodge. Pu He happened to be planning to buy a few items at that immortal shop, but he didn’t have much money, so he could only choose cheap things. If necessary, he would borrow money from that kid Cao Gun. How deep the friendship was at the Great Wall of Sword Qi depended on whether or not they would lend money or treat you to drinks. Anyway, it was all one-way.

At Spiritual Mushroom Lodge, the young woman was full of energy, but the young man was unwilling to go inside, merely sitting on the steps.

Cao Gun sat with him by his side.

The party boarded the ship that night. The young man lay weakly on the railing, saying, “Old Pu, so this is your Vast Expanse. Doesn’t look like much.”

Pu He smiled, “Remember one thing: cultivating at the Great Wall of Sword Qi is different from practicing the sword in the Vast Expanse, so it’s normal for your realm to stagnate in the future. You don’t need to worry about it at all. My closed-door disciple, sooner or later, will be a great sword immortal!”

The ferry supervisor stood trembling not far away.

Their northwestern Rushing Haze Continent had lost contact with Sword Immortal Pu He for a long time, at most hearing rumors that Pu He had lost a sword challenge at the Great Wall of Sword Qi.
However, Pu He’s illustrious reputation, especially his eccentric and unpredictable nature, still filled many cultivators above the Fifth Realm and Earth Immortals with lingering fear.

There was a saying that a smile from Pu He meant someone would die.

It undoubtedly implied he was about to draw his sword and start hacking people.

Pu He was an ancestor of the sect, a proper registered Immortal Master, but he had always acted without restraint. Murdering, looting, swindling, and deceiving were all things he could do. He was also skilled in disguise, especially adept at framing others. His methods were so unorthodox that even rogue cultivators from the mountains and swamps would call him ancestor. Therefore, Pu He had a bad reputation on the mountain, but in the martial world and among rogue cultivators, he enjoyed high prestige. Back then, when Jiang Shangzhen stirred up trouble in the Northern Ju Continent, he had once been hailed as a second Pu He. They were both the kind of scoundrels who would defecate in their pants and then run around spreading it everywhere.

However, the ferry manager found it hard to associate the old man he saw now with the Sword Immortal Pu He he had heard of.

Reaching the door of his room, Pu He tossed two bottles of elixirs to his disciple, instructing the boy to apply them externally and take them internally. After the boy closed the door, he took off his clothes, wincing in pain. A massive wound covered his body, far from healed.

It was that old Pu who had pulled him from a pile of corpses.

Applying the ointment, swallowing the elixir, and re-dressing, the boy sat cross-legged on the bed, diligently cultivating, nourishing his natal flying sword.

A moment later, a knock sounded, and Cao Gun announced his name.

The boy spoke freely in front of Pu He, but he held this foreign sword cultivator from the Hidden Official lineage in awe, even though Cao Gun’s realm was not high.

The boy hurriedly opened the door. Seeing the somewhat restrained boy, Cao Gun smiled and said, “I’ll tell you some things to note about cultivating in the Vast Heaven. As a registered Immortal Master, formalities may not be pleasing, but listen anyway.”

The boy listened attentively, completely focused.

Cao Gun concluded, “Ye Du, cherish the opportunity to cultivate with the Sword Immortal Pu He from now on.”

The boy named Ye Du nodded vigorously, “My master… is this!”

Cao Gun watched the spirited boy give a thumbs-up, barely suppressing a laugh. The old Pu, who had been lingering in the corridor outside for a long time, nodded with a smile, and went to find some wine.

Deng Liang, a sword cultivator from the Ai’ai Continent, left Sword Qi Great Wall alone, a look of dejection on his face.

He had trained here for many years, only managing to slowly grind his realm to the bottleneck of the nascent soul, never breaking through to reach the Fifth Realm.

Earlier, the sect had asked the intercontinental ferry to help, sending flying sword messages to the Summer Retreat Palace twice, asking when he would return, but Deng Liang had ignored them all.

Although Deng Liang was not as “outstanding” as Cao Gun, Xuan Shen, and other young sword immortals in the Summer Retreat Palace, it was easy to forget that Deng Liang was an extremely young nascent soul sword cultivator!

Not only did he have a seat in the ancestral hall of his Ai’ai Continent sect, but his position was also very close to the front.

Deng Liang was also a rogue cultivator, having struggled in the mortal world for many years. After becoming a registered Immortal Master, his dealings with others were impeccable, so he was well-liked, and the sect master greatly valued and relied on him.

Before leaving Sword Qi Great Wall, Deng Liang went to the wine shop and wrote on a blank tablet: “Came as a nascent soul, leave as a nascent soul, never broke through, ashamed of the fine wine.”

Slinging a bundle over his shoulder, he boarded the ferry.

The ferry manager personally greeted him, and Deng Liang exchanged polite words and smiles with him.

Deng Liang first sent a flying sword message to his sect, saying he had already set off on his return journey.

Reaching the cabin, he took off his bundle. Besides a few now-relic tablets, there were some miscellaneous items. Deng Liang took out a letter. The Sword Immortal Chou Miao had told him to open it after boarding the ship, saying it was a personal letter from the Hidden Official, with very familiar handwriting. The letter mentioned a few things, one of which was to ask Deng Liang to deliver a letter to Sword Immortal Xie Songhua, and another was to ask him to take care of the sword cultivator disciples that Xie Sword Immortal had brought from Sword Qi Great Wall. The end of the letter also mentioned a secret matter about the Fifth Heaven, which he was to bring to the sect’s ancestral hall. If Deng Liang’s sect had any ideas, they could prepare early.

Deng Liang put away the letter, left the room, and went to admire the night view, the sky high and the moon bright.

He greatly missed the Summer Retreat Palace, and greatly admired the young Hidden Official.

In the Spring Banner Studio of Inverted Mountain, after just finishing discussing an important matter, Yan Ming stood up from behind his desk and smiled, “These days, working with everyone has been very pleasant.”

Mi Yu, Shao Yunyan, Nalan Caihuan, and Wei Wenlong stood up at the same time.

Mi Yu did not say anything, only cupped his fist in farewell.

Shao Yunyan smiled and said, “To be able to spend time with Sword Immortal Yan, it is truly fortunate and an honor.”

Nalan Caihuan cupped her fist and said, “Yan Ming, taking charge and managing business, I may not be better than you, but as a sword cultivator, I am inferior to you.”

Mi Yu looked dejected, “Even more so for me.”

Yan Ming nodded with a smile, striding out of the room, only saying to his two fellow villagers, Mi Yu and Nalan Caihuan, that the living were always at ease and carefree, so there was no need for guilt.

In the Summer Retreat Palace, the foreign sword cultivators had all left and returned home. Sword Immortal Chou Miao stood up and said, “From today onwards, before the Hidden Official returns, Dong Bude and Xu Ning will jointly be responsible for making decisions.”

Luo Zhenyi hesitated, but in the end could not say any words of retention.

After Chou Miao stepped over the threshold, he faced away from the crowd, smiled, and said, “Taking my leave.”

Yan Ming, who had lost both arms, fastened a seal around his waist, returned to Sword Qi Great Wall, and returned to the city walls as a sword cultivator.

The ninth-realm female martial artist, Bai Lian Shuang, stopped teaching the children martial arts and stopped feeding them punches. She left the Winter Retreat Palace and returned to the Ning Residence, cleaning up and tidying every part of it. Then, she stood at the gate for a long time, muttering many words, before finally heading to the city walls.

The nascent soul sword cultivator, Yin Chen, left his cultivation ground for the first time, riding his sword and heading to the battlefield, never to return.

In the wild and untamed world, a round moon was dragged from the sky to the human world, crashing towards Sword Qi Great Wall.

The old sword immortal Dong Sangeng, on top of the city wall, scoffed, “I’ll go to your mother,” and then rode his sword to meet the moon.