First, the nascent True Dragon revealed its true form, voluntarily leaving the Dragon Ascension Platform to engage in a bloody battle at sea. It clashed with the Grand Dao-conflicting Throne Great Demon, Crimson Consort, in a dragon-serpent struggle capable of shifting seas. Subsequently, Cui Chan’s White Jade Capital Twelve Flying Swords rushed to the battlefield to relieve the young dragon. Then, Yuan Shou smashed the True Dragon’s head with a single staff strike, followed by shattering the Old Dragon City’s geomantic array with another, aiming it at the princely residence. Finally, Xu Ruo, the Mohist swordsman-errant, blocked the remaining half-staff strike from the peak Great Demon Yuan Shou with most of his unsheathed sword.

On the Old Dragon City battlefield, the demon horde continued to land and assault the city, while the Jewel Bottle Continent cultivators continued to perish.

After those battles atop the mountains, the Wild Desolate World instantly re-laid long bridges and divine pathways, with giant silken ribbons unfurling. The Great Demons, having relocated mountain peaks from the Tong Ye Continent and refined them into miniature objects, tossed them into the sea. They then employed their divine powers to abruptly erect them from the sea, their summits piercing the seabed near the Old Dragon City’s landmass, inverted within the sea, constructing flat海上戰場 sections of sea battlefield. Vast oceans of clouds spread across the sea surface, like white clouds filling mountain valleys.

Crimson Consort, compared to the young True Dragon currently recuperating on the Dragon Ascension Platform, was far superior. Having received a secret order from the Jiazi tent, after a brief wait, countless colossal ice锥ice锥 cones materialized out of thin air along an east-west line on the sea surface where she stood, angled towards the Old Dragon City, which had been obstructing their path for so long. The ice锥ice锥 cones were arranged in rows, resembling tens of thousands of catapults.

Within these ice锥ice锥 cones, there were over a dozen demon cultivators seemingly in deep slumber, sealed within the icy prisons. Most were Plague Gods, with two Travelers.

Apart from these, a large group of demon cultivators were desperately inscribing talismans on the ice锥ice锥 cones containing the imprisoned Plague Gods and Travelers, sparing no expense, to avoid provoking the volatile Crimson Consort, who might freeze them to death on the spot and hurl them into the Old Dragon City along with the others. Truth be told, of the two former Swaying River sovereigns of the Wild Desolate World, the Upward Gaze one was comparatively more gentle. However, how good could the temperaments of these Throne Great Demons be? Except for Liu Cha, who liked to think of himself as a swordsman errant traveling the world, and the rarely seen Zhou, the Sage of the World’s Literary Sea, most were exceptions.

Crimson Consort turned her head and smiled sweetly, addressing someone as “Young Master” in a soft, mental voice.

A sword-wielding youth dressed in black robes with snow-white ribbons tying back his hair, precisely the Jiashen Tent sword cultivator Yu Si, hastily arrived at the rear of the battlefield, seeking out Crimson Consort.

Yu Si was ultimately concerned for her safety, even though she was a Throne Great Demon of the Wild Desolate World.

Yu Si asked, “Are you alright?”

Crimson Consort shook her head. “That little whelp is too green. He’s only relying on a bit of True Dragon destiny and some righteous water aura for protection, boasting a somewhat resilient body but ultimately insignificant. His natal water techniques remain unrefined. Even if he succeeds in walking the river, he won’t even be at the Ascension Realm. Little skill, great temper. This battle won’t grant that little one many chances. I’ll eat her before that old hag Upward Gaze gets the chance. Then, I’ll accompany Young Master to the seashores of the Central Earth Divine Continent for a stroll, if you wish.”

It was only with Young Master Yu Si that Crimson Consort was willing to speak so volubly.

The skeletal Throne Great Demon, Bai Ying, had secretly traveled to Golden Armor Continent after the conclusion of the Tong Ye Continent war.

Zhong Kui, the gentleman of Tong Ye Continent, had previously prevented Bai Ying from fully unleashing her abilities. Zhong Kui, along with Jiang Shangzhen, were the two who most deserved to die but had somehow survived.

As for the others, they had already received a secret order from Mister Zhou. She, on one hand, was unable to disengage from the Old Dragon City battlefield, and on the other, she was unwilling to join in on that grand spectacle.

After all, the one they were preparing to besiege and kill, using the entire Floating Sway Continent as a hunting ground, was Bai Ye, who had slain a Throne Great Demon with three sword strikes. Although the situation was now reversed, with them holding all the advantages of timing, terrain, and popular support, Bai Ye was still, after all, Bai Ye.

Yu Si sighed softly. “Wooden Clog has already received Mister Zhou’s bestowed surname and name, Zhou Qinggao.”

Crimson Consort smiled, reassuring him. “Even if he becomes Mister Zhou’s closed-door disciple, he still can’t compare to Young Master’s esteemed status.”

Yu Si shook his head. He always found it difficult to converse with her.

Crimson Consort, knowing that her Young Master was more concerned with the battlefield’s progress, considerately employed the Divine Ability of “Palm Viewing Mountains and Rivers,” allowing Yu Si to clearly observe the dynamics of the Old Dragon City battlefield.

On the Old Dragon City side, they launched their first counterattack in the past ten days, with great fanfare. The Qi Refiners numbered over three hundred, all surging out of one of the three main gates, charging towards the sea.

Yu Si was stunned. “Great Li is usually very pragmatic, which doesn’t seem like the personality of that Prince Song Mu. Logically, he wouldn’t engage in this kind of emotional strife.”

Once the Jewel Bottle Continent cultivators left the Old Dragon City’s geomantic array, especially when they left the land and were out at sea, they lost the protection of the other two arrays.

Crimson Consort smiled, explaining, “It’s another strange technique from the Righteous World. They’re all paper effigies, with no real offensive power. They’re just being used to intimidate.”

Yu Si nodded. “That must be a unique supernatural power of the Confucian cultivators. After all, they can write out all sorts of human landscapes with their brush. Carving out a few hundred Qi Refiners to create a false image of strength isn’t rare, indeed. I heard Liu Bai mention it back in the Jiashen Tent, and I was always curious, hoping to one day personally visit the White Paper Blessed Land. However, Old Dragon City’s move isn’t entirely meant to intimidate. That Song Mu is indeed quite thrifty. No wonder Cui Chan dared to place him in Old Dragon City.”

As Yu Si had surmised, the batch of paper cultivators sent out of the city were used by Old Dragon City to deceive the demon cultivators’ techniques and lure out any deeply concealed offensive treasures. Even if it consumed some of the spiritual energy of the demon earth immortal cultivators, it would be a good thing. Soon, the Great Li cultivators responsible for supervising and inspecting the battlefield would record every detail in detail. On the battlefield, Old Dragon City didn’t let go of even the smallest gain.

These kinds of measures, large and small, had new variations every day, on both sides.

Zhou Mi never personally coordinated or interfered with the various military tents on the battlefield. Cui Chan was the same, leaving Prince Song Mu fully responsible for all matters, large and small, in Old Dragon City.

As for personally throwing themselves into the battlefield, even more so to be avoided. One misstep, and one might really die!

And the sparse actions of Zhou Mi and Cui Chan were themselves a kind of…

At this point, the old monk said, “Such secret treasures, Great Li may not even have them recorded…”

Speaking of this, the old monk was speechless. That embroidered tiger calculated heaven, calculated earth, calculated the hearts of men, it was really hard to say.

Of course, the old monk had not seen the “white-eye” signature on the final flower-and-bird scroll, but only speculated according to common sense.
Cao Rong chuckled, “My half-senior brother is currently reminiscing with Madam Gui in Old Dragon City. As his junior brother, I wouldn’t want to embarrass him.”

The old monk suddenly understood, “That old boatman from the Fan family’s Osmanthus Island often passes by the Flood Dragon Trench.”

Cao Rong nodded.

The reason he was called a “half” senior brother was because their master had never formally recognized him as a direct disciple.

However, back in the day, when their master traveled the world by sea, the old boatman was responsible for rowing the boat. He journeyed far and wide with their master, and even if he hadn’t made any great contributions, he had certainly endured hardships. Therefore, all the direct disciples acknowledged the old boatman as their senior brother.

Senior Brother Old Boatman had many aliases, one of the most famous being Gu Qingsong. He was once known as “Pretending to be Relaxed” in the Central Earth Divine Continent, a reputation for being stubbornly unyielding.

No matter who he fought, regardless of the disparity in their realms, or the opponent’s immense background, Gu Qingsong was never intimidated. Although he rarely won, he always managed to survive. He had provoked A Liang, the White Emperor City Lord, and even the Fire Dragon True Man. Later, he left the land again and returned to the sea as an old oarsman, supposedly because he truly couldn’t afford to provoke anyone else, lest the younger generation couldn’t catch up.

With Cao Rong there to protect the formation, Old Dragon City and the royal residence were safe.

In the council hall, Song Mu suddenly remembered something and solemnly reminded, “All cultivators who died outside Old Dragon City, even if they left the designated battlefield without authorization, even if they accidentally violated the rules, their deaths are still deaths. Remind all supervising cultivators that these Qi Refiners in the Dali Ministry of War and Ministry of Justice records, their military merits must not be discounted in any way!”

A secretarial scribe said, “This goes against the rules established by the National Preceptor.”

Song Mu turned and stared at him intently, “In Old Dragon City, what I say goes! You just do as I say. If the National Preceptor wants to hold the royal residence accountable, let him come to Old Dragon City to find Song Mu!”

The secretarial scribe’s eyes gleamed, and he clasped his fist, “Understood!”

This young official from Yichi Lane, descended from a Dali pillar of state family, genuinely acknowledged Song Mu’s status as a feudal lord for the first time.

A young gentleman from the Great Sui Cliff Academy was guarding the rear of one of the huge gaps in the Old Dragon City formation. He had divided the defense into three lines of battle, showing just how immense the breach was. Besides helping the Dali accompanying cultivators arrange their troops, he would unleash a powerful attack whenever enough spiritual energy had accumulated.

This time, the young gentleman’s verbal decree was a silent recitation of “Three Million Azure Riders Arrayed.”

These so-called “Azure Riders” were actually willow branches.

Dense and imposing, they were effective at killing the cannon fodder demons who weren’t cultivators, but their main purpose was to slow down the advance of the demonic army.

A carefree sage from the Viewing Lake Academy, Zhou Ju, had finally managed to regain his gentleman status a few years ago. However, after performing meritorious service on the Old Dragon City battlefield, he lost his gentleman title again at the academy, reverting back to a sage. His ups and downs never seemed to end.

Zhou Ju had already launched several attacks before this, even more extravagant than the Cliff Academy’s gentleman. Right now, he was squatting next to the Cliff Academy gentleman, crunching on immortal money, relishing the taste like a delicacy.

A young accompanying cultivator from the Wind and Snow Temple’s military branch was responsible for protecting this physically weak academy gentleman. Simply put, if the latter was in mortal danger, his first words would be, “Protect the gentleman!”

His figure flashed and disappeared. Near the breach, a demonic woman clad in a loose black robe had strange and bizarre sorcery. Her body instantly transformed into millions of birds, completely annihilating the willow branch azure riders. Zhou Ju was going to meet her! He’d find a chance to wring her head off and then say to her, “You were originally a beauty.”

On another battlefield, the situation was even more precarious. Even with the Northern Ju Continent Sword Immortal holding the line, dangers lurked everywhere. Beasts from the barbaric wilderness poured through the breach like locusts.

All the cultivators in Old Dragon City had to admit that these demons truly weren’t afraid of death.

The demonic cultivators also engaged in a battle of suicide tactics with Old Dragon City, both sides returning the favor.

Initially, this caused heavy losses among the first-line cultivators in Old Dragon City. It wasn’t until the secretarial scribe from the royal residence frantically searched through a vast amount of archives and secret records, finally deciphering the identities of the demonic suicide squads as “Nightmares” and “Face Stealers” from a relatively new but undocumented book, that the royal residence was able to quickly find countermeasures. Flying swords were sent to inform all sword cultivators to look for clues of these two strange cultivators, allowing them to turn the tide of the battle.

A small Thunder Pool appeared out of thin air in the battlefield’s sky. Within a radius of dozens of miles, lightning crackled, with lightning bolts like white dragons and five-elemental thunder like colorful snakes, flickering erratically and lashing at the earth.

A demonic cultivator with red and black sleeves was respectively commanding a fire dragon and a water dragon, charging towards the breach.

Beyond this breach, on the distant sea, a great demon appeared for the first time: a gold-armored divine general riding a horse and holding a spear, galloping across the waves towards Old Dragon City.

Although it wasn’t a peak realm fierce demon, this rider was actually quite prominent on the Sword Qi Great Wall battlefield in the past. Its golden armor was extremely difficult to break, so much so that it had once been listed as a must-kill target by the Hermitage official lineage.

If this rider was so formidable on the Sword Qi Great Wall, what would it be like in Old Dragon City?

A Taoist talisman master, not high in realm, stuck at the Golden Core bottleneck, was proficient in written talismans and was currently cooperating with a scholar from the academy who could speak law into being.

Above the South Sea, stroke by stroke, words formed. These were the writings of sages.

A female demon sword cultivator who ranked among the hundred sword immortals of Holding the Moon Mountain, young in appearance, with traces of her demon form still visible on her forehead and cheeks, was advancing even faster than the gold-armored divine general.

She wasn’t riding a sword. Each time she leaped, a white jade step would appear beneath her feet. Behind her, the treasured light was like a lunar halo, shattered by a flying sword or spell from Old Dragon City, turning into a broken mirror. But it would instantly reassemble. She had cultivated for several years at the Sword Qi Great Wall guarded by the Dragon Lord, obtaining a sword intent of “Burning Flowers,” a flying sword of “Shattered Mirror,” and a natal divine power of “Reunion.” Her flying sword and body were both difficult to kill. Of course, one could still die on this battlefield, but as a sword cultivator, how could one become a sword immortal by shirking from battle?

Besides, she had fought on the Sword Qi Great Wall battlefield for several years already. She really didn’t think she would die in such a small place.

To deliver her sword and die outside the Central Earth Confucian Temple gate in the future would be acceptable!
A hidden Old Dragon City Earth Immortal cultivator, erupting in a sudden burst of power, slaughtered a large group of enemies. Just as he was about to achieve his desire, having accumulated enough battle merits to leave the battlefield and return to the heartland of his state, to his sect as an esteemed elder, a figure rose from the pile of corpses behind him. It was a familiar face, a cultivator from Treasure Bottle Continent, who with a single claw tore out the Earth Immortal’s heart, devouring the golden core along with it, crunching it between his teeth. The puppet then collapsed, its mouth still stained with blood.

Nearby, an old sword cultivator of Nascent Soul realm, a veritable Sword Immortal前辈 from Treasure Bottle Continent, unable to find the true form of the sneaky demon race, had no choice but to resort to the next best thing. He unleashed his natal sword “”, surrounding the corpse pile with a vast circle of sword light. The sword light crashed down, shattering most of the corpses, leaving few intact.

Unexpectedly, it was still the puppet, which suddenly darted away. The old sword cultivator’s flying sword followed swiftly.

Even more unexpectedly, the corpse of the cultivator whose chest had been ripped open fled in the opposite direction. At the same time, the puppet that had first appeared went limp, about to fall into the sea.

In a flash, the old sword cultivator was clearly caught off guard. He subconsciously restrained his sword intent slightly, merely cleaving the puppet in two and immediately retrieving his flying sword to slay the heartless corpse first. He was certain that the demon race’s true form was within the latter. Sword light blazed, its aura like a rainbow.

Li Cai was speechless.

“What are you doing with all this fancy nonsense?”

Even though this female Sword Immortal from another land was already exhausted, she still exerted herself to unleash her flying sword, utterly shattering the puppet that had just been cut in half. She also pulverized the demon race’s Earth Immortal soul, which had been hiding within this human cultivator’s skin.

Glancing at the old fellow, Li Cai didn’t bother to say anything. She needed to return to Old Dragon City and drink a few jugs of good wine to revitalize herself. She would first take a good long nap, then fight again.

As for that sword cultivator, he looked very old. Judging by his Nascent Soul aura, he was a newcomer, but his golden core, although of ordinary quality, had been honed for many years.

“How is his battlefield combat experience like that of a fledgling?”

“Could he be an ‘old Sword Immortal’ from the Orthodox Yang Mountain?”

“Oh dear heavens!”

Judging by his vision, understanding of depths, and decisiveness in drawing his sword, not to mention her shrewd disciple Chen Li, even Gao Youqing, that little brat, was far superior.

However, the old Orthodox Yang Mountain sword cultivator had already bowed his cupped hands to the famous female Sword Immortal of North Ju Continent.

“As expected of Sect Master Li of Floating Duckweed Sword Lake! Both continents’ cultivators know of the prestigious female Sword Immortal!”

“A fine Sword Immortal! Her swordsmanship is truly exquisite, and her natal sword never misses, always reaping great rewards!”

“If I have the opportunity to visit the Ancestral Hall of Orthodox Yang Mountain in the future, I will definitely pay my respects to Sect Master Li as if she were half of our disciples, and seek her counsel on the Way of the Sword.”

Li Cai almost rolled her eyes in response to the old sword cultivator. She barely managed to restrain herself, not wanting to say much since one shouldn’t strike a smiling face.

“If your expression were seen on the Sword Qi Great Wall, everyone, not to mention Lord Hidden Officer, even our Little Hidden Officer, would laugh until they rolled on the ground.”

The Sword Qi Great Wall had many oddities. One less noticeable one was that the Young Hidden Officer seemed particularly enthusiastic about cleaning up those Moving Mountain types of demon race on the battlefield.

Li Cai had once inquired privately, “Could there be some deep-seated feud with that Yuan Shou?” Was it because his realm was insufficient, so he could only vent his anger on Yuan Shou’s disciples and descendants?

At the time, Chen Ping’an gave Li Cai a reason she took as a joke. He said, “Ning Yao and I went all out in our first joint battle, but we still didn’t gain much advantage.”

Li Cai was puzzled. Had Yuan Shou attacked Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao before? Or had he encountered a Ascended Realm great demon of the Moving Mountain type on the battlefield, but the battle wasn’t earth-shattering? Like when the Young Hidden Officer sparred with Fei Ran for a while, and they quickly parted ways?

Li Cai rode her sword back to the inner city of Old Dragon City, going for a drink. In fact, her sword-riding posture was already swaying, as if the woman was drunk.

“To hell with the Immortal Realm. It’s truly hopeless now. I’ve ruined the last remaining chance myself. Who can I blame? Blame the wine!”

Temporarily not at the Dragon Ascension Platform on the Old Dragon City battlefield, Wang Zhu had recovered somewhat and was able to sit up. The robe she wore, an ancient dragon robe style, differed greatly from the dragon robes of later emperors.

It had once been the semi-immortal weapon Cloud Sea above Old Dragon City, and after being refined and merged with a discarded remains of a water deity, it became a true immortal weapon.

The yellow-clad boy who had been sitting in a daze at the foot of the steps suddenly stood up, his face stern. “Ma Kuxuan, halt!”

Besides Ma Kuxuan, who had a cat perched on his shoulder, there was also his close-fitting maid, Shudian, and a direct disciple whom Ma Kuxuan had taken in recent years, also named by him, Wangzu (Forgetting Ancestors).

The yellow-clad boy was most displeased about this. “Forgetting Ancestors? Isn’t that a homophone with my master’s alias, ‘Wang Zhu’?”

Ma Kuxuan asked with a smile, “Little lizard, back in Mud Bottle Lane, you could only run around on the ground. Now that you can finally speak, cherish it and don’t be so eager to die.”

The yellow-clad boy said, “One considers the owner when hitting a dog.”

Ma Kuxuan looked at the four-legged lizard with a dragon horn on its forehead that was once from Li Zhu Cave.

The latter took a step back, his heel bumping against the steps.

Sitting on the steps, even to the point of infighting, was quite a joke in the eyes of both Vastness World and Wild Desolate World.

However, Jade Decree Sect had been the subject of ridicule ever since the death of its reviving ancestor, Du Mao. They had better get used to it.

The old man was unlike many old Jade Decree Sect cultivators. He wasn’t afraid of death. His realm was stuck, his body was decaying, and his soul was like a candle flickering in the wind.

Since he wasn’t afraid of death, then he had to do something even less afraid of, such as leaving some legacy for the Jade Decree Sect that truly deserved the word “heritage”.

The young people behind him were it.

But for them to live, they had to first draw a clear line.

If Wild Desolate World wins in the future, conquering the entire Vastness World.

Then these children will eventually have a chance to come out again and make up for their mistakes. To take a step back, they can also cultivate diligently in the Tongye Sect and gain a stable mountain dwelling. The demon races of Wild Desolate World value the strong. As long as your realm is high enough, the world is vast, and perhaps you will be more free than cultivating in Vastness World.
But if the desolate lands lose, and we retreat to that barbarian territory south of the Great Wall of Sword Qi, you will still have a choice then.

I, the oldest living ancestor in the Ancestral Hall of the Tongye Sect, a man with one foot in the grave, can only do so much for those ancestral portraits.

These young people, willing to fight and die for the sect’s honor, are the ones we cannot afford to lose the most!

The Yu Gui Sect in the southern Tongye Continent, who only recently rose to become the leading immortal family of the continent, their Elder of Discipline has already fallen in battle. Even that adorable Little Liu girl from the past, Hua Mao now, has died in battle.

Even if the Ancestral Hall remains standing in the future, how many people will be left to scold me? Wouldn’t that be lonely? I, Jiang Shangzhen, would be lonely to death.

A figure abruptly appeared, enduring a Daoist spell from a great demon in the Ascension Realm who was lying in wait, and crashed heavily into the sect’s last defensive formation of mountains and rivers. He rose and rushed towards Nine Yi Peak.

Since no one is living there for now, it’s the perfect place to practice!

Jiang Shangzhen spat out a mouthful of blood, “Prepare the swords to greet our guest!”

Nine Yi Peak crumbled and shattered, eventually revealing countless chess pieces, nine sword formations, and nine flying swords.

“Old Xun, and all you old ancestors above who’ve eaten more incense ash than I have, don’t blame me for being a spendthrift! The old ones are mostly dead, and our young ones can’t hold on any longer!”

Treasure Bottle Continent.

Sword Immortal Wei Jin of Wind and Snow Temple, along with Bai Chang, the foremost sword cultivator of Beiju Luzhou, and He Xiaoliang, the Sect Master of Qingliang Sect, were heading towards the Western Mountain Range.

As for He Xiaoliang’s half-Senior Brother, the old ferryman, he had already taken his leave with a farewell and headed to Old Dragon City alone.

Under the arrangement of the Great Li Dynasty, they said: “So Senior Xun has departed.”

Old Gang Leader Gao Mian gulped down a large mouthful of wine, “That one-foot spear, not much skill, but plenty of guts, and lousy luck to boot, what else could happen?”

The old man remained silent for a long time, then raised his wine pot and poured some wine towards the south, muttering, “Brother, your one-foot spear from Tongye Continent, you never stood tall in front of this Jade-Faced Young Master, never thought you’d die so bravely. If only I had given you more smiles and said more kind words back then.”

Great Li Capital.

The Mohist school from the Central Earth, who entered the game even earlier than the Shang Clan, with both the main branch and side branches betting on the Treasure Bottle Continent, were still building mountain-moving ships and sword vessels for the Great Li Dynasty.

The Great Li Dynasty was adept at making money, and so was Master Fan.

The former Minister of Revenue of the Great Li Dynasty, known as the “Good Old Man” whom everyone dared to pinch, had now become the one with the worst temper in the Great Li court. He dared to scold the Minister of War, and judging by the way he acted, he would have beaten the Minister of Works, whom he regarded as an enemy, if he could. Every time he met the Minister of Works, who held the same rank, for discussions, he would start by berating him mercilessly. After the discussion, he would scold him again, but the latter would often get up and leave quickly.

The six ministries, originally located on the same street in the Great Li Capital, had long been temporarily relocated to a large area, bringing all the government offices together in close proximity, connected to each other. Officials from each ministry could move freely between offices for official business, without hindrance.

Liu Qingfeng and Guan Yiran, who had both served as supervisors of the Great River project, were now able to meet frequently again. As the direct great-grandson of Grandmaster Guan, Guan Yiran was merely filling a vacancy in the Ministry of Revenue, without promotion or demotion, which, according to the rules of the Great Li court, didn’t even count as a demotion in disguise. Therefore, many civil and military officials spoke out on behalf of Guan’s family.

Liu Qingfeng, who had originally been a civil official from a vassal state, had already been promoted to the Vice Minister of Works, but Guan Yiran, who was from the Guan family of the Great Li and also a military cultivator, was only filling a vacancy in the Ministry of Revenue. Not only that, but it seemed that as soon as Old Minister Guan left, Guan Yiran had deliberately distanced himself from all relations with the Ministry of Personnel. Over the years, he never took the initiative to visit his uncles and elders who held important positions in the Ministry of Personnel during festivals. Even his grandfathers, Guan Yiran remained distant and did not greet them. It was said that a former Vice Minister who had left the Ministry of Personnel more than twenty years ago, and had even served as Minister in another ministry for three years before retiring, had always treated Guan Yiran as his own grandson. After retiring to his home in the capital for many years, Guan Yiran, that ungrateful little brat, still didn’t visit him, which angered the old man so much that he waited for a long time at his own gate on the second day of the first month of the year. In the end, he didn’t see that young man who liked to laugh and was never serious. The old man angrily hit the ground with his cane, cursing Guan Yiran for being a heartless and ungrateful little bastard.

As the old man turned away, he blamed Old Minister Guan for being too ruthless, too ruthless, how could he treat his own child like this.

Yi Chi Lane, an old man who had retired from his official position for many years, had been busy enjoying his grandchildren in recent years. Anyway, the younger generation in his family were all somewhat promising and didn’t bring shame upon him. Walking in Yi Chi Lane and Chi’er Street, he didn’t need to bow his head or shrink his neck.

The old man was walking in the garden with his grandson today. The child, who had just started learning to read with a private tutor, suddenly said to the old man in a childish voice, “Grandpa, we have so many mountain immortals, and the beasts of the desolate lands also have so many great demons. Can’t the two sides just have the heavenly immortals fight in the sky? Then, after the heavenly battle is over, we can start fighting on the ground. When the time comes, I’m too weak to help, so forget about it. Isn’t the Ministry of Revenue short of money? I’ll donate all my New Year’s money. My father is often scolded by the officials of the Ministry of Revenue, if I give them the money, they’ll be too embarrassed to scold my father, right? It’s twenty taels of silver!”

There was too much knowledge and information involved here, the old man could only pick out some things that the child could understand to say, “War is not a game of house, we can’t be afraid to die, not only the immortals on the mountain, but even more so the people below the mountain, no one can be afraid to die! Otherwise, there will be a second Tongye Continent. Then we grandfather and grandson will have to move.”

It might really be moving, bringing some belongings, bringing some books of sages and philosophers, but it might also be moving our heads.

But what was the point of saying the last sentence to a child? Not to mention that the child would be scared, wasn’t he himself scared every time he thought of the worst possible outcome? Did he need to drink a few cups of old wine to calm his nerves?

Now the Great Li allows officials to resign, taking half of their property to hand over to the government. The remaining half, if enough to pay for a cross-continental ferry, they are free to cross north to Beiju Luzhou for refuge. The Great Li will not stop them. If they don’t have enough money, they can borrow it. Officials from the Ministry of Revenue and military cultivators will personally visit them to check all the books. Anyone who dares to conceal or underreport, as long as it exceeds 10% of their actual property, will have all their property confiscated. Regardless of age, the whole family will be exiled. Now the Great Li is in need of money and people.
In the various regions of Treasure Bottle Continent, temporarily spared from the ravages of war, in both the martial world and among the common folk, any unauthorized assembly of ten or more individuals engaging in armed conflict will be met with immediate execution, regardless of the reasons. Cultivators causing unrest in any area will face the same fate.

For disturbances in the mundane world, where no cultivators or demons are involved, local officials will be held accountable and punished for inadequate handling. Furthermore, the Minister of Justice from the affiliated vassal state will be placed in stocks and sent to the nearest of the Five Peaks or the Crown Prince Mountain.

In cases of skirmishes involving cultivators and demons, all immortal mountains will be categorized into three tiers based on their sects and immortal abodes, with each tier responsible for overseeing a radius of 300, 1000, and 3000 miles respectively. Regardless of whether they witnessed the turmoil or not, failure to apprehend or execute the perpetrators on the spot will result in collective punishment. Fear of undeserved calamity? Then dispatch all registered immortal masters from your mountains to monitor the movements around your sect day and night! They are no longer required to fight on the battlefield. Can they not even safeguard the peace and stability of their own mountains and households? Such immortals are better off not being immortals at all.

Lone cultivators from all across the continent’s mountains and marshes can obtain a patrol token, engraved by the Great Li Ministry of Justice, from the Five Peaks, the Mountain of the Crown Prince, or the Ministries of Rites of various vassal states. Regardless of their cultivation realm, these tokens grant them unrestricted passage within their respective jurisdictions, allowing them to assist registered immortals in uncovering any malfeasance. Upon capturing culprits, they can receive immortal coins. Accumulating sufficient credits in the secret files will allow them to exchange for Great Li military merits. Whether they wish to secure an official position in the Ministry of Rites of a vassal state or retreat to Northern Ju Continent with these merits, they are free to choose.

Lone cultivators who do not wish to go to the battlefield will not be forced by the Great Li iron cavalry or the vassal states.

However, any Mountain and River Gods who dare to abandon their posts will be held accountable, along with the vassal monarchs and the entire Ministry of Rites, according to the law.

Registered immortal masters who secretly operate to remove names from the register will, upon verification by Great Li and the vassal states, have their entire ancestral hall held collectively responsible, with the Law Enforcement Elder facing immediate execution and all other cultivators exiled to the Southern Peak region.

Signed, Song He, Emperor of Great Li.

The minor morning court had just concluded. In the imperial study, Song He hurried to close his eyes and rest, as he was about to receive successive waves of ministers from the Six Ministries, each with urgent matters requiring his final decision before issuing imperial decrees to the Great Li court and populace.

Song He recalled the words of Cui Chan, his teacher and state preceptor.

“Today’s seemingly inhumane and harsh treatment of vassal states by Cui Chan of Great Li will, in the future, be slightly adjusted by Your Majesty, with more lenient policies. This will be what the hearts and minds of the future Great Li Song clan will desire.

“We cannot allow Your Majesty to lose at least half a continent of mountains and rivers and still not receive a few kind words in the historical records of various countries.

“In and out of the history books, there will be nothing but praise. You can rest assured.”

In the Color Robe Kingdom, a vassal state of Great Li, near Rouge County.

What was once a gloomy and eerie haunted house is now a place of picturesque mountains and rivers, an immortal’s residence.

She reached out and tugged at his sleeve, shaking her head gently, unable to voice her selfish desires, unable to articulate the reasons she knew were wrong.

She simply did not want him to go to Old Dragon City.

He consoled her, “Is your husband’s cultivation even worth mentioning? Not enough to fill the teeth of a great demon. I’m just going to do odd jobs, trying to help in small ways to ease my mind. How could I bear to leave and not return, leaving you alone? I will come back, definitely.”

Only then did she nod, but she gently held his hand. Anyway, not nodding wouldn’t stop her husband.

In a small vassal state fortunate enough to be located in the heartland of Treasure Bottle Continent, an old scholar who had closed his doors to guests for many years unexpectedly came out to bask in the sun today.

However, the usually refined old man was now cursing and swearing, saying that the tyrannical and oppressive rule had reached such a point! Those who destroy my former country’s mountains and rivers are not far from their downfall.

A group of street ruffians passed by. The leader asked a strategist, who had attended school for a few years, “What is Old Master Jiang saying? He rarely comes out, why does he look like his precious son was beaten up?” The young man who had some education replied softly, “The old master is scolding the Great Li barbarians for meddling too much, for liking to kill at the drop of a hat.” The first young man asked doubtfully, “Then is he right to scold them?” The young man, who could not really be considered a scholar, seemed unsure, saying, “Maybe a little? Our Master Jiang is very learned.”

Thinking of this, the young man glanced at Old Master Jiang’s retreating back.

Old Master Jiang was very learned, it was just that his son was truly worthless, addicted to gambling. He would play dead when he owed money. Once, the gambling den became truly anxious and beat him badly, tying him up. It was he who helped plead for mercy and repaid the gambling debt because one of Master Jiang’s students happened to be his schoolteacher. He could not succeed in his studies, but he still respected the schoolteacher very much. He scolded and beat him often in his youth, which made him feel resentful and think that he interfered too much. However, as he grew older, he felt more and more sorry for his teacher. So he also respected the teacher of the master. However, Old Master Jiang’s son was truly worthless and relied on him after he helped.

The leader of the ruffians nodded to himself and said, “That’s right. Now when we walk on the street, those officials who used to call us brothers and drink with us now look at us like we’re thieves. It’s really depressing.”

Golden Armor Continent.

Yu Xuan was located high above the sky of the continent, near where a sage of the Wen Temple should have been seated.

As for the old cultivator in the mountains and rivers below, Wan Yan Lao Jing, even though he was already a Transcendence Realm cultivator, he was like an old man in the market, watching time pass by drop by drop, dying of old age. Even worse than the old man in the market.

Wan Yan Lao Jing, as the number one cultivator in the Golden Armor Continent, had a long-standing reputation. However, before he left seclusion, he had been in seclusion for five hundred years. Almost every hundred years, there were rumors that the founder of the sect was about to break through the bottleneck and resonate with heaven and earth. However, after so many times, no one cared much anymore. Following the Fire Dragon True Man of the Northern Ju Continent, Chen Chun’an of the Southern Saha Continent, and Liu, the God of Wealth of the Albinism Continent, Wan Yan Lao Jing of the Golden Armor Continent was once the most promising Transcendence Realm cultivator in the vast world to be considered one of the ten apex cultivators in the Central Divine Continent while still being in the Middle Earth.

As for why he didn’t go to the battlefield in his hometown, where the outcome was uncertain, to find a Transcendence Realm demon from the desolate world to fight to the death or destroy the demon army in one fell swoop, and why he had to wantonly kill cultivators above the fifth realm in his hometown, heaven knows.
Was it because the Great Dao had been severed, their divine souls and mortal forms already decaying beyond repair, leaving them only to await death, leading to the collapse of their Dao hearts, the rise of inner demons, and the intrusion of certain extraterrestrial demons into their Sea of Consciousness?

Was it because of the immense restrictions imposed by the Confucian Temple of the Central Earth Continent, against which they had long harbored resentment and grievance? Or was it due to some long-standing grudges from countless years past? In any case, it was destined to become an eternally unanswerable, truthless mystery.

Yu Xuan did not bother to delve into the root of the matter. That old Wan Yan Jing was, after all, an obstinate old coot, and the feud between them was no small thing.

If not for the infuriatingly rigid rules of the Confucian Temple, Yu Xuan would have crossed continents to visit Gold Armor Continent long ago. He liked seclusion, did he? Then he should just never come out again.

Yu Xuan lowered his head and glanced back at the north-central part of Gold Armor Continent, sighing with emotion. What a clever scheme by that Jia Sheng. When scholars turn malicious, it is truly terrifying.

The mirror-like reflection of Tong Ye Continent made the sights outside several ancestral Immortal Sects in the north-central part of Gold Armor Continent clear as day to the old man. What a vivid portrayal of the myriad lives of Tong Ye Continent.

Yu Xuan dared not wander far with his Yin spirit after descending to the mortal realm. To do so in Gold Armor Continent, where most of the land had fallen under the dominion of the barbaric world, would be courting death.

He, Yu Xuan, might possess some trivial skills in the art of talismans, and be one of the Ten of the Central Earth Continent, but so what?

That Jia Sheng even wanted to kill Bai Ye!

The Central Earth Continent, occupying half of the vast world, boasted the renowned Ten of the Central Earth.

The most esteemed in the mortal realm was the Poet Immortal, Bai Ye. Unique and unrivaled.

The remaining nine were roughly divided into three tiers. This might not be entirely accurate, but it was the most widely circulated assessment.

The Grand Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain. The mainstay of military strategists and cultivators. The talisman master Yu Xuan.

Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City, the female Martial God Pei Bei, and a great demon who founded a sect.

The Grand Craftsman of the Mohists, reputed to be capable of besieging a city single-handedly. It was rumored that without one of the Ten to defend it, any ancestral Immortal Sect could be utterly destroyed in an instant.

The Old Sword Immortal Zhou Shenzhi.

Huai Yin.

This list naturally omitted the Confucian Temple of the Central Earth Continent.

There were also the Ten of the Vast World. But those fond of gossip argued endlessly, causing so much annoyance that even Yu Xuan found it utterly tedious.

The Supreme Sage, the Sage of Rites, the Sub-Sage. Bai Ye. The Old Abbot of the Eastern Sea Viewing Daoist Temple. The Grand Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

These were the figures whom Yu Xuan and other great cultivators at the pinnacle of power regarded with relatively more respect.

As for the rest, there was constant fluctuation and change, with various candidates for the Ten sparking endless debates, each driven by their own selfish motives and preferences. For example, from the lineage of the Sub-Sage, there was the swordsman A Liang. His sword intent was at its peak, his swordplay unparalleled, and his strikes were most majestic. Or there was the Second Disciple of the Sage of Literature, Zuo You. His swordsmanship was unrivaled in the world.

Yu Xuan discovered that the great demon in the Ascension Realm had already fled, and the two young martial artists were unharmed. Yu Xuan was instead somewhat worried. Was he really going to make a wasted trip and return to the Central Earth Continent in disgrace? It would only slightly ease his conscience if he had killed or seriously injured a great demon in the Ascension Realm outside the Fourteen Thrones. As for that Floating Cloud Continent, Yu Xuan really didn’t want to wade into such troubled waters. The water was too deep.

And he, Yu Xuan, was short.

Yu Xuan, undecided, decided to chat with the two young martial artists for a while to ease his mind.

Unexpectedly, Cao Ci, with a smile, clasped his fists in thanks and then took his leave, appearing quite calm and composed.

On the other hand, the slightly dark-skinned and handsome young girl was more courteous, clasping her fists in gratitude and not leaving immediately.

Yu Xuan couldn’t help but look towards the south.

Floating Cloud Continent was, after all, no longer part of the Vast World, but had become part of the barbaric world’s territory.

You, Bai Ye, might not care whether you are in the Vast World, but those six beasts are trampling on your homeland.

The Twenty-Four Solar Terms Array on Treasure Bottle Continent might seem ethereal and useless, but its most profound aspect, which ordinary people could not see, Bai Ye would surely know.

One-tenth of Heaven’s Fortune.

A gain here, a loss there.

The seemingly hopeless battles of Treasure Bottle Continent cultivators suddenly had a one-tenth higher chance of victory. Was it important?

A fifty-fifty chance became a sixty-forty chance? Was it crucial?

A ninety percent chance became a one hundred percent chance? Would the demon cultivators facing them tremble with fear?

Bai Ye’s descent upon Floating Cloud Continent was tantamount to choosing to await an ambush alone.

However, the number and realm of the great demons ambushing Bai Ye would likely surprise even Bai Ye himself.

But for Bai Ye, surprise was just surprise. It wouldn’t stop him from drawing his sword.

That old Huai fellow was one who loved to take advantage and seek fame, so he went to South Suo Continent, where Chen Chunan was stationed.

What about Zhou Shenzhi, that bad-tempered old man, leaving the Central Earth Continent and rushing to Floating Cloud Continent? Heroic? Very heroic! He killed demons in the coastal caves of Floating Cloud Continent. Was it exhilarating? Very exhilarating! But then what? Nothing. One of the Ten of the Central Earth disappeared, just like that.

It simply allowed that Huai Yin, who was originally at the bottom, to move up to ninth place.

When Zhou Shenzhi was alive, he had said that as long as he was alive, he would remain firmly in the ninth position. He wouldn’t even want eighth place, just so Huai Yin would be at the bottom forever, so he could shit and piss on his head.

Six great demons.

What if there was a seventh?

Nonsense, there definitely would be!

At the northern ferry of Tong Ye Continent, Zhou Mi silently calculated.

Floating Cloud Continent.

What a fitting name. Perfectly suited for Bai Ye.

Liu Cha would be the seventh.

Liu Cha was indeed on his way to Floating Cloud Continent, and he didn’t bother to conceal his sword aura. He transformed into a beam of sword light and traveled far within the sight of the cultivators on the mountain peaks of South Suo Continent.

Master Zhou had given this swashbuckler with the large beard two options. Either cooperate with the Dragon Lord and kill a junior at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, or see Bai Ye off on his final journey in Floating Cloud Continent.

A swordsman sending off a swordsman.

It was still better than Bai Ye dying tragically under spells and divine abilities, and a more fitting death.

If someone likes to be a show-off, then kill them.

Zhou Shenzhi was only the first. The insane Ascension Realm old Wan Yan Jing was the complete opposite.

Indeed, as the Great Ancestor of Dragging Moon Mountain had said earlier, declaring to the world at the ruins of the Upside-Down Mountain, “You of the Vast World have not been free for too long.”
Who dares bind the free spirits of cultivators atop the mountains? It is the Confucian code, the higher the realm, the heavier the chains. Even Ascendants require permission from the Sages enshrined in the Tianmu Literary Temple before venturing beyond their continent. Such restrictions are unheard of in the Daoist-dominated Azure Canopy World, let alone in the Hundred Schools-contending Grand Righteous World, where immortals and Ascendants are shackled by countless rules.

Liu Cha chose the second option.

His restraint in the Wild Lands stemmed from respect for Chen Qingdu and the sword cultivators. But upon arriving in the Grand Righteous World, after a single sword from Chen Chun’an, could he still hold back?

Bai Ye, like A Liang, was a swordsman Liu Cha most desired to challenge.

Unable to duel him alone, so be it. What could Liu Cha do? Ultimately, nothing.

Before departing, Master Zhou uttered two sentences. The first was, “May I trouble Mister Liu to remember the location of his homeland.”

The second was, “Mount Tuoyue invites Liu Cha to draw his sword.”

Beyond these words, Master Zhou was also scheming against Chen Chun’an and the entirety of the Southern Subhuti Continent.

With Zhou Shenzhi’s demise, the Floating Clouds and Tung Leaf Continents fell into the hands of the Wild Lands.

Yet, the Southern Subhuti Continent, closest to Upside-down Mountain and the Sword Qi Great Wall, saw only scant battles, neither painful nor consequential.

If Bai Ye were to perish in the Floating Clouds Continent…

What then of the Pure Confucian Chen Chun’an?

The Southern Subhuti Continent now had the Huai Clan Ancestor leading reinforcements, alongside Lu Zhi, one of the Sword Qi Great Wall’s ten paramount sword immortals, to oversee the situation.

Chen Chun’an remained leisurely, a Grand Righteous Pure Confucian calmly fishing from his perch.

Zhou Mi ceased his mental calculations, lightly flicking his sleeves, and smiled at Cui Chan, “Once Zuo You repels Xiao Xun with his swords, I shall, as a student, strike down half of my teacher’s life before departing for the Floating Clouds Continent.”

Cui Chan remained silent.

It was something Zuo You would do. If he did not, the Old Scholar would force him to yield and draw his sword.

Cui Chan’s gaze shifted further south of Zhou Mi.

Soon, a towering tree, a majestic stronghold, would rise there.

The Old Scholar had given something, entrusted to Liu Sixteen to deliver to the Tung Leaf Continent.

The Temple of Observation, Tung Leaf Continent, the Phoenix Tree.

You scheme your schemes, and I scheme mine.

I, Cui Chan, care not for the targets of your machinations, be it Bai Ye’s life or death, or even the Old Scholar’s and Zuo You’s fates. Even less so Chen Chun’an, descendant of a Sage lineage.

None of them are worthy of my concern.

However, my petty schemes, a reciprocal gesture, will test whether you, Jia Sheng, dare to disregard them, whether you can afford to.

On all three battlefronts of the continent, lives were being lost, yet the Great Li’s National Preceptor remained composed. Aside from controlling the Jade Capital and executing great demons with his flying swords, he was merely elucidating the essence of the various schools of thought to the Confucian scholars.

While mentally calculating, he spared time to answer the Confucian students’ questions. An impassioned student from Lakeside Academy, for some reason, spoke of a borderless world that encompassed all.

Cui Chan indifferently retorted, “To hell with borderless.”

Silence fell upon the assembly.

These words were not spoken by Cui Dongshan, but by National Preceptor Cui Chan.

In the Floating Clouds Continent, Bai Ye, sword in hand, departed from a secluded academy untouched by war, where an old teacher, with a heavy accent, was imparting knowledge and resolving doubts for the children.

Bai Ye surveyed his surroundings, his smile serene.

Would the plum blossoms back home still be white?

So, after his parents departed, it was a distant journey.

Bai Ye, the scholar, had lived a life worthy of the name, worthy of the Grand Righteous World.

Then, Bai Ye would now take his leave.