A ferry from the Divine Continent of the Central Plains docked at Inverted Peak in the dead of night, but instead of unloading cargo, over a hundred Qi Refinement cultivators disembarked. Their breathing was deep and steady, all accomplished in the Dao, and each adhered strictly to regulations.

From the Spring Banner Studio, Nalan Caihuan and Shao Yunyan personally greeted them, escorting them to the city gate. These cultivators were all Yin Yang School diviners and Moist School mechanical engineers, but they would not be joining the battle on the walls.

They divided into several groups, heading to the Mirage, the Summer Retreat Palace, and the Winter Solitude Palace, as well as several Sword Immortal private residences, including the Elm-Planting Immortal Pavilion. Its foundation was a poetry plaque refined by a Sword Immortal using the “Ascending Immortal on the Bright Moon” verse. Next to it stood the residences of several sword cultivators dressed as women. At the behest of a certain Hidden Official line sword cultivator temporarily serving as “Supervisor,” they were allowed to leave the forbidden area established by their master. Three Golden Core sword cultivators, eager to control their swords to the city wall, had been confined to their residences for so many years, focusing solely on sword practice. They were so preoccupied that they hadn’t even bothered to acquire proper robes from the clothing workshop. They were determined to kill a few demons on the walls, but a small girl with an inkstone at her waist and a bamboo basket on her back stopped them. She declared that they could only go to the Mirage, or they should obediently return to their residences and continue practicing their swordsmanship.

Five Yin Yang School cultivators and Moist School mechanical engineers, after receiving a topographical map provided by the Summer Retreat Palace and a detailed commentary, began to break the restrictions on a private residence one by one. The opening went smoothly, and soon a “Mirror of Silent Moon” appeared above the Sword Immortal’s private residence. Within the ancient mirror, four auspicious beasts circled the mirror’s knob, their speed nearly blurring their forms. Once the formation was activated, the surroundings of the residence were illuminated with a radiant light, revealing every detail.

This group of foreign cultivators responsible for moving the Elm-Planting Immortal Pavilion and other residences took a moment to watch the small girl confront the three Golden Core sword cultivators. She spoke rapidly, like beans poured from a bamboo tube. Although the foreign cultivators had learned some of the Sword Qi Great Wall dialect during their journey to Inverted Peak, they could only understand the general meaning. Nevertheless, her aura completely overwhelmed the three nascent immortals.

No matter how the three Golden Core sword cultivators reasoned with her, the small girl remained unmoved. One of them, growing impatient, shouted, “Guo Zhujiu! Just because the Hidden Official is your master doesn’t mean you can treat us like youngsters! We three senior brothers are all Golden Core cultivators, your seniors on the path of cultivation…”

In truth, the little girl often sneaked over to wander around, so they were quite familiar with each other.

Guo Zhujiu crossed her arms, utterly impartial. “Anyway, if you dare to go to the city wall, my Hidden Official line flying sword will arrive even faster, and then you’ll be thrown back here by some Sword Immortal, unable to even visit the larger Mirage.”

One of the more composed Golden Core sword cultivators said with a wry smile, “Is there really no room for negotiation?”

Guo Zhujiu nodded, but then said, “There is!”

The three Golden Core sword cultivators, along with the foreign cultivators watching the scene, were taken aback.

Guo Zhujiu said, “As long as you don’t go to the city wall, you can intercept any roaming demons that cross over, but you can’t die. If one of you dies, the other two will be personally confined for a century by a certain Sword Immortal.”

Guo Zhujiu pointed towards the Mirage. “With the Warden and the Sword Immortal Mi, the leader of our Hidden Official line, there, it’s not your place to meddle.”

The three sword cultivators exchanged glances and smiled. It was better than simply watching from the sidelines at the Mirage.

Guo Zhujiu suddenly said, “Don’t die, okay?”

Three sword lights flashed and disappeared into the distance.

The foreign cultivators, whose cultivation levels were not low, felt heavy and perplexed.

Why were the sword cultivators of the Sword Qi Great Wall so unconcerned with their lives and the Great Dao? Accepting death when there was no other choice was not uncommon in the Grand World, but why would anyone actively seek death when it could be avoided?

Guo Zhujiu turned her head, watching the three sword lights vanish into the distance, and lingered for a long time, unwilling to look away.

She was afraid that they would recklessly charge towards the city wall. She even considered following them if they did.

Guo Zhujiu continued to gaze towards the city wall, secretly searching for the figures of her parents, but failed to find them.

Teachers, parents, children, lovers, ancestral masters, juniors, friends.

Every sword cultivator on the Sword Qi Great Wall had ample reason to kill demons. Many sword cultivators below the Sword Immortal level were willing to kill demons, but not to die. The Great Sword Immortal and the Summer Retreat Palace no longer insisted on it, they only asked to stay on the wall, and retreat if things seemed dire, returning when things seemed safer. Now, the Confucian gentlemen and sages of the Sword Qi Great Wall had relinquished their positions as supervisors, and the Hidden Official line of the Summer Retreat Palace rarely sent flying messages to the city wall.

Guo Zhujiu turned around and smiled. “Seniors, thank you for your hard work.”

Arriving here, the sword qi was too heavy, and there were too many suppressing formations. The foreign cultivators, who initially had some complaints and resentment, were momentarily speechless in the face of a small girl with a bamboo basket offering sincere thanks. After all, they came here to earn some hard-earned money. More importantly, the Academies and Schools would record their actions, marking them as a significant deed.

A group of foreigners arrived at the Winter Solitude Palace.

There were no longer any boxing instructors. The dozen or so children now practiced boxing entirely on their own, following Jiang Yun’s instructions to practice footwork and stances, and then engage in paired sparring, fighting each other to the death.

When the Qi Refinement cultivators passed by the training ground, all the children stopped practicing, mostly with indifferent expressions, looking at the Daoist immortals from the Grand World.

Gu Jianlong, the sword cultivator serving as the temporary supervisor here, didn’t bother explaining anything to the children. He was lazy and unwilling, and besides, if he were to say a few fair words, the two groups, separated by such a large age gap, might start fighting. Gu Jianlong had always believed that even with the Hidden Official, with friends like Lin Junbi and Xuan Can, and with those foreign sword cultivators, the Grand World was still the Grand World.

Over at the sword workshop.

Luo Zhenyi sat on a set of steps, closing her eyes to focus and nourish her flying sword.

A young foreign Golden Core cultivator, taking courage amidst his master’s busy work, went to speak to the woman, but before he could open his mouth, she said “Thank you for your hard work,” followed by a “Get out.”

Two different statements, one referring to the work, the other referring to the person.

At the clothing workshop, Wang Xinshui looked towards the city wall. An old foreign cultivator smiled and asked, “Little brother, may I ask your age and realm? I’m truly curious.”

Wang Xinshui treated him with respect, turning his head and smiling. “At the Sword Qi Great Wall, it’s not worth mentioning.”
Seeing that the old man didn’t believe him, Wang Xinshui added, “This isn’t false modesty.”

The old man chuckled, “To have a pleasant conversation with you, young friend, is already an unexpected joy on this long journey.”

Wei Wenlong had returned to Chunfan Zhai from the mirage city, recounting the terrifying methods of the Great Demon of the Throne. For example, that Huang Luan seemed to have lost her mind, smashing five or six out of every ten pavilions and towers towards the city walls. Within those small worlds meticulously refined by Huang Luan, there were also many hidden Earth Immortal demons. Among them was a demonic swordsman, shouting “He who crosses the city walls first shall be…” After a Taoist temple shattered, he relied on his sword light to fly across, enduring a sword strike from a sword immortal, and barely made it over the city walls. He then infiltrated the city’s grand formation, only to be beheaded by Mi Yu with a single sword strike, splitting his Golden Core and Nascent Soul in two. With a gentle wave of his sleeve, everything dissipated like clouds, truly the bearing of a dashing sword immortal.

Nalan Caihuan, seeing Wei Wenlong’s admiring gaze, said unhappily, “No matter how useless Mi Yu is, he’s still in the Jade Purity Realm. Dealing with a heavily injured Nascent Soul cultivator is more than enough.”

Shao Yunyan smiled and asked, “Who was that ‘He who crosses the city walls first shall be’?”

This sword immortal of theirs, being in the same realm as Mi Yu, was actually slightly inferior in real combat power. Shao Yunyan’s influence in Upside-Down Mountain wasn’t small, but poor Mi Yu could only be casually teased by a Nascent Soul sword cultivator like Nalan Caihuan in Sword Qi Great Wall.

Wei Wenlong shook his head, “I couldn’t understand the barbaric world’s elegant official language. After the fact, Sword Immortal Mi didn’t mention the opponent’s name, only saying the five words ‘He who crosses the city walls first.'”

Shao Yunyan sighed, “Ancestor Yunqian of the Water Crystal Palace should be visiting soon.”

Nalan Caihuan mocked, “Lord Hidden Official has quite the eye and skill. It’s truly only a Qi Refinement cultivator like Yunqian who doesn’t treat their Jade Purity Realm as if it’s the Upper Five Realms. If it were any other sect’s Upper Five Realms ancestor, would they be so restrained?”

Shao Yunyan, a gentle man who rarely revealed his sharp edges, unusually argued with Nalan Caihuan today, saying, “Yunqian’s Dao Heart is higher than mine.”

The unspoken meaning was: I, Shao Yunyan, am a sword immortal, while you, Nalan Caihuan, are only a Nascent Soul cultivator, so naturally it’s higher than yours.

Nalan Caihuan raised an eyebrow, “So what if her realm is high and her Dao Heart is high? If I were to fight her to the death, could Yunqian survive?!”

Shao Yunyan returned the jab with a smile, slowly saying, “So what, it doesn’t stop her Dao Heart from being higher than yours, does it?”

Wei Wenlong cheered for his master in his heart. That “So what” was truly wonderful.

Nalan Caihuan sneered, “Sword Immortal Shao hasn’t spent much time with Lord Hidden Official, but he’s learned seven or eight parts of his essence in speech.”

Shao Yunyan said with a smile, “I don’t deserve such praise.”

However, beyond the casual conversation, when Wei Wenlong faced the account books on the table, he unknowingly fell silent.

The Water Crystal Palace, one of the four great private residences of Upside-Down Mountain, as the only one not yet touched by Sword Qi Great Wall, seemed to be still arguing endlessly, without a conclusion.

First, the Sect Master of the Rain Dragon Sect personally visited the Water Crystal Palace, but still failed to persuade his junior sister Yunqian to abandon her plan to move north. As for Yunqian, she naturally couldn’t convince her senior sister. When Yunqian publicly announced the matter of moving north within a small circle, the Water Crystal Palace, with its many factions, was filled with contradictions. Moreover, most people had obviously received secret letters from the Ancestral Hall, causing Ancestor Yunqian to hit a soft nail. Yunqian, as a Jade Purity Realm immortal, returned to her own mountain in the Rain Dragon Sect, but unexpectedly, many of her direct disciples and later generations of disciples also had objections, unwilling to follow Yunqian to move north. In particular, the direct disciple who had formed a Daoist partnership with Fu Ke was determined and said that she would not leave the Rain Dragon Sect, and could only disappoint her master. This made Yunqian even more mentally exhausted.

Yunqian had to hide her whereabouts and quietly visit Chunfan Zhai, sitting down in the council hall, meeting with Sword Immortal Shao Yunyan and Sword Qi Great Wall Nascent Soul sword cultivator Nalan Caihuan.

Yunqian really wasn’t good at dealing with people. She was worried when she came, and after sitting down, she didn’t know how to open her mouth.

Shao Yunyan didn’t want the Rain Dragon Sect ancestor to be too embarrassed, and took the initiative to say, “Does the Rain Dragon Sect Ancestral Hall think that even if Sword Qi Great Wall can’t hold, it won’t be too rushed to discuss the matter of retreat and relocation at that time? Because the location of the Rain Dragon Sect’s ancestral home is still a long distance from Upside-Down Mountain. If the situation really becomes dangerous, you can just learn from the Jianghu people and pack up some important items and soft packages. After all, you can leave. Besides, if you gather up all the Spatial Objects and Pocket Dimensions, plus your Sect Master’s Universe in a Sleeve, it will be enough to preserve the vitality of the sect in case of emergency.”

Yunqian was silent and nodded lightly.

Shao Yunyan continued, “But if you move now, you will disturb the mountain’s roots and water veins, and dismantle the mountain and water formations. It will be difficult to restore them later. In short, there are many difficulties, it’s not cost-effective, it’s not suitable to move, and it’s better to wait and see. This is the decision made by the Rain Dragon Sect Ancestral Hall after careful consideration.”

Nalan Caihuan suddenly said, “Sword Immortal Shao underestimates the Rain Dragon Sect’s business acumen. They have now begun to secretly buy up shops and stores in Upside-Down Mountain on a large scale. Well, in this way, many shops that originally wanted to abandon their ancestral business are unwilling to sell. The Rain Dragon Sect is truly doing a great service!”

Shao Yunyan glanced at Nalan Caihuan. Nalan Caihuan leaned back slightly, leaning against the chair, signaling to Sword Immortal Shao that she would be a mute from now on.

In fact, these were nothing difficult to hear. The words that really hit the heart were not spoken by her, such as in the Rain Dragon Sect, there must be a high-ranking and powerful person, and not just one or two, who would want to do a bigger business when the world is turned upside down and the mountains and rivers change. Not to mention an Reed Flower Island that you Yunqian are not ashamed to take by force, there is a chance to carve out a large territory in Tongye Continent as the site of a lower sect.

Shao Yunyan said, “From the looks of it, the Rain Dragon Sect’s ancestral home will obviously not move north. The reason why there are so few sect cultivators following Daoist Yunqian is not because they are short-sighted, but because they have calculated shrewdly. First, the cultivators who follow Daoist to move north are all suspected of splitting the Rain Dragon Sect. Once the Ancestral Hall is furious, your senior sister will directly issue a decree to demote them from Sect Headmaster Immortal Masters to a group of wilderness cultivators. This is a real concern in the immediate future.”

“Secondly, even if they risk moving north, where will they move to? Where can they find a celestial island as rich in spiritual energy as the Rain Dragon Sect’s ancestral home? Could it be that they will rent land from others? When have Rain Dragon Sect cultivators needed to live under someone else’s roof? If they just find a place with thin spiritual energy for cultivation, how much will it delay the great future of the northbound cultivators for hundreds or thousands of years?”
“Retreating further, even if a suitable overseas immortal isle were found, the construction of a manor, the crafting of a grand mountain and river formation, and the expenses for cultivation-necessitated spiritual treasures – such a vast sum of immortal coinage, where would it come from? Ancestral Master Yunqian is notoriously inept at managing finances, her coffers are shallow, and furthermore, she is of a pure and ascetic nature, disliking social engagements, her network of contacts being mediocre at best. Following such a great cultivator, rich in power but lacking the means to generate wealth, to a foreign land, it hardly seems like a sound decision.”

Yunqian was rendered speechless, foregoing even a nod.

Nalan Caihuan finally spoke, “What is to be done?”

Shao Yunyan rubbed his brow, grateful that it was Yunqian; had it been a typical Upper Fifth Realm cultivator, they would have likely departed in indignant fury.

Nalan Caihuan glanced at the indecisive Upper Fifth Realm female cultivator and asked, “Yunqian, how many can you take with you?”

Yunqian replied, “Sixty-two, among them three Earth Immortals.”

Nalan Caihuan said, “That many?”

Yunqian blushed.

Mistaking Nalan Caihuan for further sarcastic remarks.

Nalan Caihuan abruptly said, “I can lend you all of the immortal coinage I have accumulated.”

Shao Yunyan was greatly surprised; Nalan Caihuan lending money to Yunqian was not part of the plan.

Yunqian asked in puzzlement, “Why is that?”

Nalan Caihuan explained, “When chaos reigns, worldly currency becomes worthless, while immortal coinage becomes even more valuable. I have but one condition.”

Yunqian nodded, “Please speak.”

Nalan Caihuan stated, “If you, Yunqian, one day break away from the Rain Dragon Sect and establish your own sect, I will become the sect master. Rest assured, I will certainly be a Sword Immortal by then. If not, and you remain steadfastly bound to your Rain Dragon Sect cultivator status, then in a century, you shall repay the debt according to the rules of the mountaintop.”

Yunqian pondered briefly and nodded, “It is settled, then!”

Finally exhibiting some of the decisiveness befitting an Upper Fifth Realm cultivator.

Shao Yunyan knew that a cultivator like Yunqian was naturally suited to be a second-in-command, incapable of being a sect leader.

Nalan Caihuan turned to smile, “Sword Immortal Shao, if there is an opportunity, how about becoming a Chief Offering?”

Shao Yunyan replied without hesitation, “Agreed.”

The karmic connection forged with Nalan Caihuan at the Spring Pennant House was extraordinary. Shao Yunyan was, after all, a Sword Immortal with widespread friendships. Although Nalan Caihuan’s business acumen bordered on being unscrupulous, she would be invaluable in managing affairs when establishing a sect in the Vast Expanse in the future.

Yunqian felt a great sense of relief.

Shao Yunyan’s reputation in the Inverted Mountain was excellent, not to be simply viewed as a Jade Purity Realm Sword Immortal.

Moreover, character is revealed in times of life and death. The Spring Pennant House’s willingness to be so close to the Great Wall of Swords laid bare Sword Immortal Shao’s true nature. Compared to the wealth-generating Nalan Caihuan, Yunqian actually placed more trust in Shao Yunyan.

Nalan Caihuan said, “My transaction is complete, Brother Yunyan, you may continue with the main topic.”

Shao Yunyan was indifferent to Nalan Caihuan’s change in address and said to Yunqian, “Lord Hidden Official’s last visit to the Spring Pennant House involved the thought that if Daoist Yunqian’s northern migration was obstructed, there was a compromise. Daoist Yunqian could revisit the Rain Dragon Sect Ancestral Hall, stating a willingness to personally lead a group of sect disciples on a tour of cultivation, lasting approximately five years. A sum of immortal coinage should be requested from your senior sister to provide for the expedition, but the amount need not be great. Beyond exploring the Flood Dragon Trench, there are also numerous immortal secret realms to visit, such as visiting Reed Flower Island, touring the Creation Grotto, and seeking ancient immortal opportunities within. All Qi Refiners beneath the Earth Immortal level are welcome to follow. Furthermore, they will tour sites such as the Dragon Resting Stone, and other places.”

Shao Yunyan said, smiling, “Lord Hidden Official originally believed that Daoist Yunqian could only take thirty people, but never imagined that it would double, creating a slight problem. If sixty-two people left the Rain Dragon Sect and Water Crystal Palace together, your senior sister and the entire Rain Dragon Sect Ancestral Hall would surely lose face.”

Yunqian was once again in a quandary.

Nalan Caihuan could not bear to see the female cultivator’s ignorance of the world. Some cultivators are simply suited to secluded cultivation. She could not help but say, “What is so difficult about that? Reflect and reproach yourself well at the Ancestral Hall, stating that you have abandoned the absurd idea of northern migration and are willing to make amends, fulfilling your ancestral duty to the sect’s disciples. Then, those cultivators who were initially willing to follow you north should find some plausible excuses to board the intercontinental ferries of Sahā World and Treasure Bottle Continent. For example, they could claim to be visiting friends. Remember, they must leave in batches, a few every now and then, discreetly. Otherwise, with your senior sister’s temper, she might secretly imprison them once you lead the expedition. She is capable of doing that.”

Yunqian nodded lightly.

After finalizing the century-long agreement, Nalan Caihuan found Yunqian’s soft, innocent demeanor endearing. Such a great cultivator, detached from worldly affairs, would not easily cause trouble for the sect leader. Many immortal strongholds in the Vast Expanse have been ruined by their own people. For example, if a cultivator’s realm rises to become the foremost figure of a stronghold, they may become ambitious and power-hungry, leading to internal strife.

Shao Yunyan said, “Mobilizing the masses, dismantling houses, and relocating – the matter of northern migration is merely treating the symptoms, not the cause. The three matters I mentioned earlier were concerns that Lord Hidden Official had all along. However, we had not yet spoken frankly at the time, fearing that Daoist Yunqian would misunderstand our intentions, so it was not appropriate to speak clearly. The desired result at the time was simply to help Daoist Yunqian leave some cultivation seeds for the Rain Dragon Sect. However, Lord Hidden Official also admitted that there was no optimal solution to the migration, and we could only strive to avoid the worst. Now, I will speak of matters that I ask Daoist Yunqian to consider carefully. The so-called tour is, of course, a pretense. Abandoning the northern migration is the truth. Only then can the Rain Dragon Sect feel at ease in letting you go.”

Shao Yunyan sighed as he spoke.

Yunqian listened attentively, “I implore Sword Immortal Shao to enlighten me.”

Shao Yunyan smiled, “After you tour the Creation Grotto of Reed Flower Island, you will continue eastward, eventually landing on the Eastern Tree Leaf Continent. Lord Hidden Official previously wrote the phrase ‘Firewood on Green Mountain’ in a letter, which means both to leave the green hills so there’s always firewood, and that the firewood is on the green mountain, not in the deep waters. Then, Daoist Yunqian and your fellow disciples will have three choices. First, seek out Old Lord of the Supreme Peace Mountain, and say that you are friends with ‘Chen Pingan’.”
“Then, proceed north, crossing continents and disembarking at Old Dragon City. First, seek out Fan Junmao, the Mountain God of Southern Mountain in Treasure Bottle Continent. The Great Li Song Clan is currently excavating a grand canal, and the Rain Dragon Sect cultivators are skilled in water-based arts. This will not only hone their Dao, but also accumulate a bounty of incense offerings. If this task is accomplished, continue north, journeying across Treasure Bottle Continent. From Ox Horn Mountain Ferry, take the Hemp Robe Sect ferry to the Bone Beach, and then the Spring Dew Garden ferry. Your ultimate destination is the Dragon Palace grotto-heaven in the central region of Northern Club Reed Continent, shared by the Water Dragon Sect, Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, and the Yang Clan of Cloud Soar Palace. Within, Grand Canal Water Warden Li Yuan and Lady Shen Lin of the Southern Fragrance Water Palace are both friends of Lord Hidden Official. You can settle on any of the Duckweed Islands to cultivate, even for a century. As for which of these three locations Daoist Cloud Sign ultimately chooses to settle in – whether to attach yourself to Mount Taiping, establish a manor along the Grand Canal of Treasure Bottle Continent, or remain in the Dragon Palace grotto-heaven with its abundant water energies – that all depends on your karmic affinity.”

Shao Yunyan paused for a moment, then said in a deep voice, “Lord Hidden Official once said that this journey will ultimately be one of constant wandering, and certainly not smooth sailing. You will inevitably have to observe others’ faces and act accordingly. Senior Cloud Sign must pay close attention to the mental state of your sect disciples and offer guidance.”

Cloud Sign glanced at the chair at the head of the council hall and asked, “I have only one final question. I implore Sword Immortal Shao and Daoist Nalan to tell me, why is that Lord Hidden Official willing to act in such a way?”

Shao Yunyan chuckled knowingly, “To be honest, I also find it strange. Lord Hidden Official’s impression of the Rain Dragon Sect… is rather ordinary.”

Nalan Caihuan, however, spoke bluntly, “I dare say, that fellow is helping himself even more than he’s helping others. A young man without any enemies is incapable of achieving such success today, or possessing such a Dao heart!”

Shao Yunyan joked, “Fortunately, Wenlong isn’t one to tattle, and Mi Yu is accustomed to being bullied by you. Otherwise, with Lord Hidden Official’s pettiness, hehe.”

Nalan Caihuan suddenly stared intently at Cloud Sign.

Cloud Sign was bewildered.

Nalan Caihuan suddenly smiled, “Your Rain Dragon Sect has many female cultivators.”

Cloud Sign didn’t understand why she said this.

Nalan Caihuan chuckled to herself, “Good, good. Our Lord Hidden Official, to say nothing else, has always kept women at arm’s length. The more beautiful they are, the more wary he becomes.”

Shao Yunyan, unwilling for Nalan Caihuan to continue speaking nonsense, stood up and clasped his fist in salute, “I wish Daoist Cloud Sign a successful journey.”

Cloud Sign stood up, returning the gesture, “Cloud Sign will remember Sword Immortal Shao’s scheming and Daoist Nalan’s generosity in lending money.”

After Cloud Sign departed.

Nalan Caihuan and Shao Yunyan walked together towards the accounting office. She asked, “Are you clear on Chen Ping’an’s situation back in his hometown?”

Shao Yunyan shook his head.

He was pondering something else. According to the young Hidden Official’s prediction, the possibility of Cloud Sign and the Rain Dragon Sect ultimately choosing to settle in Tongye Continent seemed the smallest, but was in fact the largest.

The reasoning was simple: Tongye Continent, as a whole, would mostly fall apart, and few of the immortal forces would survive. It’s just that Cloud Sign would visit the other two continents first.

Nalan Caihuan laughed in exasperation, “I’m neither friend nor foe to Chen Ping’an. It won’t kill you to tell me. Don’t forget, we may be on the same mountain in the future.”

Shao Yunyan smiled, “Whether or not to befriend Chen Ping’an is a matter of personal preference. As for being enemies, I think we should avoid that.”

Shao Yunyan actually knew quite a bit about Chen Ping’an.

Because Shao Yunyan would be accompanying Lu Zhi and Madam Tuoyan to Southern Po娑 Continent, Chen Ping’an hoped that Shao Yunyan would meet Liu Xianyang after arriving there. Moreover, the direct disciple Wei Wenlong was a confirmed offering of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, so both sides were very frank. The last time Chen Ping’an appeared at Spring Banner Zhai, they discussed some insider information from his hometown.

The young Hidden Official, residing in the Great Li Dynasty that occupied a continent, the matter of sword dueling at Righteous Sun Mountain affected everything. Once relations with the Great Li were severed, Fallen Phoenix Mountain would be surrounded by enemies, with nowhere to hide, and the Ancestral Hall of Jise Peak would have nowhere to be moved.

But once the chessboard was enlarged, Treasure Bottle Continent was located between Northern Club Reed Continent and Tongye Continent. Northern Club Reed Continent had the Hemp Robe Sect of Bone Beach, the Taihui Sword Sect, Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, Spring Dew Garden, and so on. Tongye Continent had the Jade Decree Sect, where Jiang Shangzhen was seated, and Mount Taiping, where affinity was easy to find.

Since the Great Li Song Clan had been immersed in the study of statecraft for over a hundred years, they would naturally carefully calculate this account, determining the specific gains and losses, and whether it was truly worthwhile to act as a protector for Righteous Sun Mountain.

Liu Xianyang’s method of sword dueling was, of course, commendable.

However, deep down, Chen Ping’an hoped that one day, the old ape demon would be personally surrounded and killed by Righteous Sun Mountain.

At that time, he would only need to sit in the Ancestral Hall of Righteous Sun Mountain, be treated as an honored guest by a group of so-called sword cultivators who held their noses, and drink tea and wine as he pleased, and then personally witness the old ape demon fall into a state of utter betrayal and isolation.

The sword duel resided in the heart.

Of course, directly ascending the mountain with Liu Xianyang, sword dueling at Righteous Sun Mountain, and throwing the head of the ape demon into the Ancestral Hall would also be a joyful matter.

I will not suffer losses, you are free to do as you please.

At the entrance to the accounting office, Nalan Caihuan suddenly said, “Just looking at the arrangement for Cloud Sign’s retreat, Shao Yunyan, are you afraid?”

Shao Yunyan laughed, “Afraid? Afraid of what?”

Nalan Caihuan shook her head, “Never mind.”

Above the city walls, Lu Zhi looked down at the battlefield below, where the demon race swarmed like an ant colony. The female Great Sword Immortal was currently recuperating from her injuries, with half her face a bloody mess. The battle was fiercely contested, and she couldn’t spare the time to heal.

Besides, Lu Zhi had never cared about her appearance.

Earlier, she had ventured too far outside the city and suffered a hit from the great demon Chongguang’s natal sorcery, as well as a flying sword from the Sword Immortal Shouchen.

However, at that moment, within the largest ant colony in the world, a wave surged south.

Flying swords were in the lead, with thousands of sword cultivators following behind.

At the vanguard, the flying swords clashed head-on with the demon race.

Countless demons were instantly sent flying, scattering broken limbs and corpses.

This was the sword formation led by the three Great Sword Immortals, Nalan Shaowei, Yue Qing, and Mi Hu. Those who were willing to go out and fight could freely unleash their swords.

Further away were the three Sword Immortals, A-Liang, Chen Xi, and Qi Tingji, who were carving inscriptions on the city walls. Each occupied a section of the battlefield, forming a triangular formation.

Among them, after Qi Tingji exerted his full strength, each shockwave of sword energy that scattered outwards would clear the area within a hundred feet, only to be swarmed by countless demons.

Apart from the great demons Huangluan, Yangzhi, Baiying, and the Golden Armored Divine General, who were responsible for disrupting the city walls, would each fight with A-Liang and the others from time to time, and occasionally other King Seat demons would participate.
High above, Dong Sangeng and the throne demon, half-refined with lunar essence, waged a protracted battle with the great moon as their arena.

Looking up, a distinct, slender black line marred the colossal orb.

Even from afar, the mark was visible, yet within the moon itself, one would need to traverse great distances by sword to behold its full extent.

It was the result of Dong Sangeng’s earlier strike.

Though Old Long’er was a demon, he dispatched his own kind with a directness surpassing many sword immortals, superimposing his immense true form and majestic Dharma body through a unique secret art, specializing in rending the heads and limbs of colossal demons, then casually hurling them as flying swords towards the southern battlefield.

Among the Three Sages, the Old Daoist’s robe was embroidered with an ancient map of grand mountains, far exceeding the Five Peaks in number.

The Old Daoist wielded his natal treasure, the Immortal Treasure Mirror, vast as a great lake above the clouds, its reflected light scorching all it touched.

The Confucian Sage withdrew a scroll, “The Yellow Torrent Crossing,” from his sleeve, lightly brushing it with two fingers. The scroll unfurled, plummeting from the city walls, suspended between heaven and earth. The Yellow River cascaded from the sky, smashing the ant-like demons swarming the city back to the earth, drowning them in a flood, instantly leaving countless bleached bones.

The Buddhist Sage, bathed in blood, his golden essence coalescing into ten golden dragons.

The monk severed his own fingers, using them as the dragons’ spines, then used the blood from the severed digits to dot the dragons’ eyes.

Finally, with all ten fingers gone, the monk gently clasped his hands, lowered his head slightly, and intoned a Buddhist chant.

On the battlefield, Li Cai stood alone, plunging deep into the fray, surrounded by demons and their sorcery on all sides.

Endless slaughter, what to do?

Kill again!

If I die here today, Jiang Shangzhen, you heartless bastard, remember to squeeze out a few tears and put on a show!

Thousands of swordsmen, leaving the city walls, formed a “One Line Tide” formation, gradually thinning and twisting as the battle raged.

A young swordsman named Chen Li, following the tide of sword intent, moved freely across the battlefield, never lingering, delivering a final blow to the wounded demons. One strike was enough, he never dwelled.

Young Chen Li, bearing the sword Huiming, his natal flying sword “Wumei.” The sword was a relic of a sword immortal. Once its power was amplified, it could create a nascent form of a small world. Though only at the Sea Gazing realm, he was extremely shrewd in battle, masterful in calculation, his instinct for exploiting advantages and avoiding harm bordering on instinct. He also relished scavenging on the battlefield, darting about until he spotted money or treasures, becoming utterly reckless in his pursuit. He earned the nickname “Little Hidden Official” for it.

The youth had once left the bold declaration “Centenarian Sword Immortal, Easily Within Reach” on a nameless plaque at a liquor shop.

Chen Li beheaded a burly demon, wiping blood from his face while running, dodging a hidden demon swordsman’s flying sword with a roll. Simultaneously, he controlled his Wumei to strike, the opponent also dodging the attack. They parted ways, neither pursuing the other.

An elderly Golden Core swordsman from the Sword Qi Great Wall, trapped in an encirclement, almost had his sword arm cleaved off by a demon’s axe, only to have it blocked by a silent, green-robed swordsman. The swordsman casually sliced off the demon’s head. The Golden Core swordsman gave his thanks. Even with an axe wound, he wouldn’t die, but losing an arm on the battlefield meant temporary retreat. The green-robed swordsman tore off his facial disguise, offering a faint smile. The Golden Core swordsman was stunned, then laughed heartily. “Damn it, Second Shopkeeper!” A sudden stabbing pain in his chest followed, the “Young Hidden Official” piercing his heart with his sword, shattering the old man’s Golden Core with sword energy. The disguised youth replaced his mask and vanished into another part of the battlefield.

Wei Jin of the Wind and Snow Temple, resting and observing the battlefield, immediately stood and flew away on his sword.

This person must be eliminated.

Otherwise, he would be a great danger.

He was of the same kind as Chen Ping’an and Shouchchen, and extremely so. Self-preservation combined with lethal power. Only then did schemes and means become meaningful. Otherwise, a direct, straightforward sword strike would be better.

In the heart of the battlefield, a heavily armored warrior, mounted on a steed, wielded a long spear impaling the bodies of three swordsmen.

The great demon held the reins with one hand, the warhorse circling in place. The hulking knight, his face concealed by a visor, seemed to be patiently awaiting a sword immortal.

A young swordsman was punched through the chest by a humanoid ape demon. As he fell, his head was crushed underfoot. The demon raised its head, only to have it detonated by a sword light from afar.

A young swordswoman, her natal flying sword destroyed, stumbled in retreat, only to have a demon rushing from the side seize her arm and smash her neck with a fist. Her entire arm was torn off. The demon stuffed it into its mouth and began to chew, gesturing with its jaw to the two swordswomen companions, indicating they could try to save her. The girl, lying in a pool of blood, her vision blurred, desperately looked at her childhood friends in the distance. She grabbed a broken weapon nearby and plunged it into her heart.

The demon frowned, dropping the half-chewed arm. Just as it was about to attack the two young swordsmen, it was abruptly struck by a fist that shattered its body.

Until its death, it didn’t see the face of the female martial artist, only knowing it was an unremarkable, frail old woman.

At the entrance of the Jiazi tent, a gray-robed old man calmly gazed upon the battlefield.

The heavily bearded Liu Cha stood beside the old man and asked, “Are we just going to let the Sword Qi Great Wall drag on? Since they haven’t chosen to retreat to the Vast World, Chen Qingdu is clearly willing to sacrifice the Sword Qi Great Wall in order to leave behind a large number of sword cultivator seeds.”

The gray-robed old man smiled, “Retreat to the Vast World? I would be happy if they did, as long as they leave me this entire Sword Qi Great Wall. Let the sword cultivators go wherever they please, as long as they withdraw from this place and go to Upside Down Mountain. Given the virtue of those Qi refiners in the Vast World, in the lands of Nanposuo, Fuyao, and Tongye continents, they might start fighting each other before we even have to lift a finger. Unfortunately, Chen Qingdu is not stupid. Otherwise, if the Sword Qi Great Wall sword cultivators retreated today, Nanposuo Continent would retreat tomorrow, and Tongye and Fuyao Continents would follow the day after. Might as well have all the cultivators from the Eight Continents retreat to Central Earth Continent. I wouldn’t stop them.”

Liu Cha said, “According to the death squads who crossed the city walls, the Sword Qi Great Wall has mobilized a large number of Yin-Yang School and Mohist School mechanists, planning to ascend the entire city.”
The grey-robed elder nodded, “In that case, we’re facing a slight predicament. Relying solely on the defensive foundation of the Great Wall of Sword Qi, even with the Mirage Dragon as the tip of the Heaven-Splitting Sword, and those Immortal Abodes lending a hand to clear the path, it still won’t be enough to sustain the entire city.”

The elder chuckled, “Wouldn’t Chen Qingdu’s actions be considered a desperate gamble?”

Liu Cha remained silent.

On Upside-Down Mountain, the young innkeeper of the Crane Pavilion Inn sat at the entrance, basking in the sun, year after year, without any novelty, but it was still better than being exposed to wind and rain.

On the Old Gate side, the little Daoist boy was still engrossed in reading, while the sword-bearing burly man squatted beside him, complaining about the speed of the page-turning.

When the Grand Heavenly Sovereign emerged from seclusion, he received a decree from his master.

The Sword Respect Pavilion had long been closed. The shops that were still open on Elk Cliff were all deserted. The Spiritual Herb Hall was almost empty, and the Arrest Pavilion no longer had the bustling crowds of people.

Most cultivators of the Rain Dragon Sect still felt that the sky was not falling.

The children of Reed Catkin Island were still pestering the old men with questions about the extraordinary people and strange events on the mainland.

In the Fifth World, an old scholar was urging the most accomplished scholar of mankind to wield his sword more decisively, more domineeringly, and with more of an immortal swordsman’s demeanor.

At the highest point of the Azure Vault World’s Jade Capital, a young Daoist priest, returning from a long journey, was strolling slowly along the railing, holding a stack of scrolls in his arms, all of which were divine paintings scavenged from various places. Once unfolded, they would reveal a dreamlike spring garden, with vibrant colors and a woman half-hiding her face behind a silk fan. There was also a summer retreat scene, with a small yellow cat curled up on a rock, enjoying the cool. There was also a painting with a lot of blank space, depicting a lone fisherman in a snowy river, inviting one to join the fisherman in his solitary fishing. There were also paintings of scholars in green robes watching lumberjacks in the Peaceful Mountain.

On Treasure Bottle Continent, in the Ancestral Hall of Jise Peak on Fallen Phoenix Mountain, ripples stirred, and a tall woman in white appeared out of thin air.

Great Mountain Monarch Wei Bo of Cloud-Draped Mountain opened his eyes and then closed them again, pretending not to notice.

Old Man Yang in the backyard of the small town’s pharmacy was puffing on his pipe.

On the Great Wall of Sword Qi, inside the prison, Chen Ping’an, having withdrawn his natal ability of the caged bird, was holding the head of a demon sword cultivator dripping with fresh blood. A golden vortex appeared in the center of his chest, where he had been pierced by a sword, but there was no sign of injury or blood.

Nianxin began to prepare for sewing clothes, urging him to be careful this time, as sewing the true name was different from the past, with much greater weight.

Shuangjiang squatted beside the bare-backed young man, who was sitting cross-legged, asking him, “Since Hidden Official Ancestor, you are a scholar, do you have a Destiny Word?”