Dao the Second, garbed in ceremonial robes, a celestial sword upon his back, and a fish-tail crown atop his head.

Beside him, sprawled upon the railing, was his junior brother, Lu Chen, a lotus crown adorning his head, a yellow oriole perched upon his shoulder.

Long ago, the Grand Master of White Jade Capital, the Dao Ancestor’s foremost disciple, wore a ruyi crown and a peach talisman. His ability to accept disciples on behalf of his master stemmed from his profound understanding of the Dao, rivaling even the Dao Ancestor himself.

At this moment, Dao the Second’s celestial sword vibrated ceaselessly, its scabbard emitting radiant light. Golden cloud-scripts, manifestations of the Great Dao, materialized one after another. However, these golden characters, as soon as they emerged, were immediately restrained by Dao the Second’s immense Daoist power, almost solid in its presence. The contents of Daoist scriptures, precious edicts, and azure prayers could only exist within a limited space, their creation and destruction ever uncertain, akin to countless fish swimming in a stream, their lives forever confined to the water. Unable to leave the riverbed, heaven and earth. Occasionally, a fish might leap out, catching a glimpse of the true face of heaven and earth for a fleeting moment, only to fall back into the water in the end.

Lu Chen jested, “Senior Brother, your killing intent is so strong. Be careful of provoking the Grand Profound Capital Temple to initiate a sword array and challenge White Jade Capital. Our Sun Daoist has been tolerating you for quite some time. Fortunately, I found a junior brother for you; otherwise, gathering five hundred spirit officials in the Fifth Heaven would likely be delayed for many years, perhaps three hundred years at the longest, or a century at the shortest, which would not be ideal.”

Dao the Second remained noncommittal. The millennia-long feud between White Jade Capital and the Grand Profound Capital Temple was an old tune, lacking in interest. As for the matter of the five hundred spirit officials returning to the celestial ranks, it was only a matter of time. In another two centuries, he would lead the five hundred spirit officials to attack the outer heavens, dealing a truly significant blow to those extra-terrestrial demons. The five hundred spirit officials would then become truly worthy of their name.

Regarding those seemingly impossible-to-eradicate extraterrestrial demons, the three branches of White Jade Capital had long held differing opinions. Dao the Second’s branch was simple: prioritize annihilation.

In addition to going to the outer heavens to suppress and kill the demons, preventing some of the greater demons from growing stronger, Dao the Second would also personally traverse the world with his sword, leading the five hundred spirit officials, spending five hundred years specifically to slay the inner demons of cultivators. He intended to reduce those countless extraterrestrial demons to water without a source, wood without roots, ultimately forcing them to merge into three. Then, he and his three martial siblings would each suppress one, bringing peace to the world.

This undertaking would be even more magnificent than someone from the Vast Expanse eliminating all true dragons.

As for that junior brother with the Daoist name “Mountain Green,” Dao the Second’s impression was so-so, neither good nor bad, merely acceptable.

The only thing that made Dao the Second look at him in a different light was that Mountain Green dared to take initiative in that new heaven and earth, willing to do things that even a close disciple of the Dao Ancestor could not use as a protective charm.

Currently, Mountain Green had caused the once dominant White Jade Capital’s influence to decline further, becoming a lone Daoist mountain in the Fifth Heaven, creating a situation where White Jade Capital stood against all the other sects. Precisely because of this, Dao the Second thought it was not bad.

This second leader of White Jade Capital, known as the truly invincible, merely scoffed, “It’s not like I haven’t wanted to chop off the head of the Throne Bull Cleaver for a day or two.”

Back then, the master intentionally spared its life, using a golden armor manifested from a seed of Dao Purple-Gold Lotus to restrain it, forcing it to accumulate spiritual light through cultivation, allowing it to remove the armor on its own. Then, it would have a vast world to roam, perhaps becoming a regional overlord in that barbaric land, expounding the Dao for ten thousand years, almost immortal. Who would have thought that it would not cherish this good fortune, resorting to despicable methods, wanting to use Bai Ye’s sword to break open the Dao armor, wasting such a treasure. Such a dull-witted fellow, where did he get the courage to be a guest at White Jade Capital?

Regardless of his temper, Dao the Second, in a sense, was more in line with the worldly definition of respecting his master than his two martial siblings.

“Senior Brother, it’s best not to meddle in the affairs of the Vast Expanse.”

Lu Chen lazily said, “How invincible was the First Ancestor of the Military School back then? Didn’t he end up with his corpse being divided into five parts, killed by ants in his eyes?”

In addition to his remains becoming objects of contention, after the First Ancestor of the Military School dissolved, he integrated his soul into the nation’s martial fortune, paving a path to ascension for future martial artists. This is why the other heavens and earths never deliberately influence the whereabouts of martial fortune. That First Ancestor of the Military School had the merit of ascension, but also the fault of dividing the human race. Merit and demerit do not cancel each other out; the merit is still a great merit, and the fault must still be punished for ten thousand years.

As for the five cultivators who divided the corpse back then, their cultivation levels were not actually high in the ancient battlefield. Someone took the head first, and the other four each gained something, which is called “joint beheading” on a certain page of the old almanac.

A little Daoist child rose into the air from Azure City, one of the five cities of White Jade Capital, stopping far away on the sea of clouds, offering a bow to the higher realms. The little Daoist dared not act presumptuously, ascending to such heights without permission.

Azure City, as one of the five cities of White Jade Capital, is located in the northernmost part. According to Sun Daoist of the Grand Profound Capital Temple, the name of Azure City comes from the saying “Jade Emperor Plums are truly crisp,” similar to the Dao Ancestor planting a gourd vine and turning it into seven sword-nourishing gourds. Of course, the Daoists of Azure City would not admit to this, regarding it as nonsense.

However, Azure City does have the alias of Jade Emperor City within the White Jade Capital Daoist lineage. Azure City governs seventy-two lands in the Azure Void Heaven, including one of the ten great paradises, two of the thirty-six minor paradises, three of the seventy-two blessed lands, and six dynasties. As for the Daoist temples and abbeys on and off the mountains, they are countless. Every sixty years, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, the city lord of Azure City would offer a royal carriage to inspect the merits and demerits of the Daoist officials of the secular dynasties, and examine the mountain gods and ghosts. The places passed by the royal carriage are all within the scope of evaluation and inspection, and may not even be limited to the jurisdiction of a city.

Therefore, Azure City is a celestial mansion in White Jade Capital’s five cities and twelve towers, holding great power despite its not so high ranking position.

The reason why this city has such an extraordinary status is that the Grand Master of White Jade Capital cultivated here for a very long time, and often preached to the world here. Whether they were Daoists from the three branches of White Jade Capital, secular officials, mountain spirits, or ghosts, they could all come to the city to ask about the Dao. Therefore, Azure City is also regarded as the place where White Jade Capital best builds ties with the world.
Lu Chen chuckled, waving his hand and calling out, “Yun Sheng, come quickly! Why stand on ceremony?” Only then did the young Daoist approach the highest point of the White Jade Capital, settling down on the corridor after bowing once more to the two Sect Leaders, not daring to overstep the bounds of propriety. In truth, the White Jade Capital didn’t have many rules. When the Grand Sect Leader oversaw the White Jade Capital, or rather, the entire Azure Clarity Heaven, he truly achieved governance through non-action, earning the sincere respect of even Daoist strongholds like the Great Profound Capital Temple and the Year-End Palace. Even Lu Chen, the former junior disciple of the Dao Ancestor, taking charge of the White Jade Capital was considered natural. The only difference was that there were more disputes, more chaos, and more killings in the world. The eight Celestial Drums were struck almost every year, but the White Jade Capital and Lu Chen didn’t interfere much. Only when the Second Master of Dao held the reins of the White Jade Capital would the rules become stricter.

The Second Master of Dao glanced at the little Daoist’s headdress and sneered.

In Inverted Mountain, it was a fish-tail coronet, likely at the behest of the Ginger Clan’s old ancestor from the Purple Qi Tower, a subtle way for the little one to curry favor with his lineage. Now, returning to the White Jade Capital, Jiang Yun Sheng had switched to the style of the Green Verdant City Daoist coronet, an As-You-Wish Crown.

If it weren’t for their brotherly bond, if the little Daoist had dared to wear a lotus crown of his junior Lu Chen’s lineage, the Second Master of Dao wouldn’t have been so lenient.

The White Jade Capital, and indeed the entire Azure Clarity Heaven, understood one thing: the Second Master of Dao’s silent observation was the greatest form of acquiescence.

“Yun Sheng, when did you become the City Lord of Green Verdant City? Your uncle has even prepared a congratulatory gift. You can’t keep your uncle waiting for too long; it’s bad for my old eyes.”

Lu Chen leaned his face against the railing, turning his head and smiling mischievously. “My relationship with your Grandmaster and Master is excellent. Even if they couldn’t attend the City Lord investiture ceremony, it would still be legitimate for your uncle to preside over it. Besides, your uncle is known for having the fewest rules. What would usually take several days of rituals and ceremonies can be done in less than an incense stick’s time.”

The little Daoist remained silent, only bowing respectfully once more, thanking his uncle Lu Chen and simultaneously apologizing to the Second Master Uncle.

Back then, in his youthful ignorance, he had transferred to the Grand Sect Leader’s lineage of the White Jade Capital without his family’s consent, which was a grave offense. The key was that the Grand Sect Leader was suppressing the extraterrestrial demons beyond the heavens and was unaware. It was entirely his little uncle who secretly took him to Green Verdant City to burn incense and pay respects to the portraits. Because of this, his family quickly “exiled” him to the Blessed Land, specifically to Inverted Mountain, demanding that he wear the fish-tail coronet at all times, or else be expelled from the family’s ancestral hall or simply remain in the Blessed Land.

The little Daoist was named Jiang Yun Sheng. In Inverted Mountain, he was neighbors and door gods with the sword-wielding man, Zhang Lu, for many years. This Jiang Yun Sheng, who was expected to become the City Lord of Green Verdant City, often leaned against the hitching post in Inverted Mountain, enjoying talent and beauty, romance and chivalry novels while sitting on a prayer mat. He was one of the most approachable high Daoists in Inverted Mountain, and many children loved to play around him, asking him to use his Daoist techniques to help them fly through the clouds.

Jiang Yun Sheng’s family ancestor was the Master of the Purple Qi Tower, one of the five cities and twelve towers of the White Jade Capital, an Ascension Realm cultivator.

The Purple Qi Tower was adorned with swirling mists and a surge of purple Qi, and had a sword energy that soared into the heavens. It was praised as “A pile of purple Qi, where the sun and moon float. A home in the palm of immortals.” Located in the easternmost part of the White Jade Capital, and ranked among the highest immortals, it was always the first to greet the sun and moon. The female Daoists and fairies who practiced here were mostly surnamed Jiang, or granted the surname Jiang, often adorned with hibiscus coronets and crystal hairpins, and were reputed as the “Spring Officers”.

The Jiang Clan of the White Jade Capital and the Jiang Clan of the Tung Leaf Continent found themselves in similarly peculiar situations.

Green Verdant City was adjacent to Divine Firmament City, and both City Lords belonged to the Grand Sect Leader’s lineage of the White Jade Capital. The latter was the Daoist Saint who oversaw the heavenly curtain of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

And the Great Heavenly Lord, who resided on the main peak of Inverted Mountain, was the Second Master of Dao’s direct disciple, responsible for guarding the world’s largest “Mountain” character seal, which hung upside down in the Blessed Land.

Jiang Yun Sheng was born in the Purple Qi Tower, which undoubtedly belonged to the Second Master of Dao’s lineage. However, in his youth, Jiang Yun Sheng, with the instigation of the Third Master Lu Chen, transferred to the Grand Sect Leader’s lineage, even though he was a direct descendant of the Jiang Clan of the Purple Qi Tower. According to the family records, Jiang Yun Sheng was several generations younger than his own old ancestor of the Purple Qi Tower. But according to the Daoist lineage seniority in the Azure Clarity Heaven, he was therefore on the same level as his ancestor in the White Jade Capital. Therefore, as long as he was not in the Purple Qi Tower, he could exchange bows and greetings with his ancestor, addressing each other as fellow disciples. Once back in the Purple Qi Tower, it was another matter.

The Heavenly Lord Xie Shi of the Northern Clam Continent and the Sect Master of the Divine Edict Sect of the Treasure Bottle Continent, Heavenly Lord Qi Zhen, originally included the Old Heavenly Lord of the Heavenly Peace Mountain of the Tung Leaf Continent, as well as the Mountain Lord Song Mao.

They belonged to the Lu Chen lineage, the Second Master of Dao lineage, and the Grand Sect Leader lineage, respectively. Among them, the Divine Edict Sect’s Daoist tradition was relatively complex. Although every Daoist man and woman wore the fish-tail coronet, they were related to the other two lineages and could even claim distant kinship with the five cities and twelve towers of the White Jade Capital across the sky.

Of course, there was also He Xiao Liang, who founded his sect in the Northern Clam Continent, and the reclusive Daoist Cao Rong of the White Frost Dynasty, who was in the Treasure Bottle Continent, both direct descendants of Lu Chen’s lineage.

These Daoist sects originating from the three lineages of the White Jade Capital were in opposition to the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion and the Talisman and Xuan arts of the Blessed Land, acting as the stabilising force of the world’s five sects.

In the Blessed Land, the three teachings and hundreds of schools of thought each pursued their own path, and the human heart was naturally not as simple as the distinction between good and evil.

The Second Master of Dao asked, “Back in the Luminous Pearl Grotto-Heaven, why did you single out Chen Ping An, wanting to make him your closed-door disciple?”

He had heard that one of his junior brother’s direct disciples, the Sect Master of the Serene Cool Sect, He Xiao Liang, had some messy entanglements with Chen Ping An.

In fact, judging by the earnestness that this lazy junior brother had shown that year, as long as Chen Ping An was willing to bargain, Lu Chen would have been willing to elevate his seniority further.

Lu Chen laughed, “Chen Ping An had already revealed the secret near the Flood Dragon Ravine. I valued the Chen Ping An who was likely to become my disciple, who was willing to abandon his original path, not Chen Ping An himself. Otherwise, what could one Chen Ping An possibly do? Seemingly giving him many choices, but in reality, he had no choice at all. Isn’t that how life is? It’s not just Chen Ping An who’s trapped in such a predicament.”
Lu Chen continued, “It’s the same principle. That unreasonable ancient being chose Chen Ping’an not out of Chen Ping’an’s own volition. What could an ignorant youth have known back then? In truth, it was still Qi Jingchun’s intention. However, one gives rise to two, two gives rise to three, and three gives rise to myriad things, gradually becoming quite remarkable. In the end, Qi Jingchun’s initial hope transformed into Chen Ping’an’s entire life. I just wonder what Qi Jingchun asked his master during his final journey to the Lotus Grotto Heaven. I once asked my master, but he didn’t elaborate.”

Thinking back to that year, the grass-shoe-wearing youth from Mud Bottle Lane, who first set foot on the bluestone streets of Fulu Street and Peach Leaf Alley, the pottery apprentice who subconsciously wiped his hands before taking out a letter outside the school – at that time, the youth certainly couldn’t have imagined his future, the life he would lead. He would walk through so many mountains and rivers, witnessing so much grandeur and parting.

Dao Lao Er asked, “It seems Cui Chan has changed his trump card to deal with the Barbarian Desolate World. Otherwise, with the chaos, Cui Chan would have been free from many constraints.”

Lu Chen smiled, “He wouldn’t dare. Once unleashed, it would be far more rebellious than betraying his master. Moreover, the matter is rushed, and time is of the essence. There’s no such thing as being able to discuss things properly under the heavens.”

Lu Chen sighed, “Cui Chan won against the founder of the Artificer school in his early years, leading the latter to believe he had attained ‘Ten’. The vast majority of peak cultivators in the current realms don’t understand the knowledge within. It’s a great knowledge. If that dreaded Era of Dharma Decline truly arrives one day, and no one can stop it, then even if there are no Artificer cultivators in the world, and no cultivators at all, and everyone is down the mountain…”

“At that time, only the principles left behind by the Artificer school will still be able to attain the Dao the most. It’s possible that the thing that greatly worries Cui Chan, such as… the human race disappearing as a result, completely becoming the old subordinates of the new Heavenly Court, is highly possible. Cui Chan seems to always believe that day will come. Therefore, even though the situation in Treasure Bottle Continent is precarious, Cui Chan still doesn’t dare to truly join hands with the Mohists.”

“So, that Mo family Grandmaster, inevitably disappointed, lost face, feeling he had been tricked by the Embroidered Tiger, and went to Southern Suo Po Continent to help Chen Chun’an. However, the Mohists are the Mohists after all. The wandering knights retain their ancient style, and they still bet all their wealth on Treasure Bottle Continent. Moreover, this deal for the Mohists is indeed profitable. The Mohists and Merchants indeed have more courage than the Farmers and Apothecaries.”

Dao Lao Er recalled something, “That Lu family disciple, what do you plan to do with him?”

The Lotus Root Blessed Land of Tongye Continent in the Vast Expanse World was divided into four by the Old Master’s divine power, combining both ink wash and heavy color techniques. Three parts of the Lotus Root Blessed Land followed the Old Master, ascending to the Azure Heaven World.

Among them, Lu Tai possessed one of the blessed lands and successfully “ascended” from the blessed land, beginning to show his talents in the Azure Heaven World. He has an excellent relationship with the young female cultivator who ascended to the Staying Realm in one step, more than friends, less than lovers.

Lu Chen helplessly said, “What, do you want to take him as a closed-door disciple? Are you not afraid of letting that Zou fellow have his wish?”

Regarding this apprentice’s apprentice’s apprentice, who had once again changed his name to “Lu Tai”, possessing the rare Yin-Yang Fish physique, and undoubtedly a divine immortal seed, Lu Chen was reluctant to see him. Later generations often only have a superficial understanding of the term “divine immortal seed,” not knowing that first god, then immortal, is the true seed of the Dao. It’s not that having good cultivation aptitude is enough to be called a divine immortal seed; at most, it’s just a cultivation embryo.

Jiang Yun Sheng was stunned. Back in Inverted Mountain, this little Daoist priest had slapped Lu Tai out of the Incense Offering Building.

Lu Tai now has a deep connection with that stinky bull-nose. If he becomes the Second Martial Uncle’s direct disciple and later sits in one of the Five Cities and Twelve Towers, with Lu Tai’s petty-mindedness like his own ancestor, wouldn’t he fight to the death with himself for a hundred or a thousand years? In Jade Capital, his own master has not shown his face for a long time, and the two martial uncles take turns managing it for a hundred years, which has increased the fighting and killing in the entire Azure Heaven World. If it weren’t for the opening up of the Fifth Realm, Jiang Yun Sheng would have thought that his relatively peaceful hometown had turned into the Vast Expanse World where Inverted Mountain was located.

Now, that Inverted Mountain has been transformed back into a mountain-shaped seal that can be worn on the waist or even refined into a Natal Item.

It is said that it was entrusted to someone by the Second Master to be given to Little Martial Uncle Shan Qing.

Jiang Yun Sheng was actually quite curious about this Little Martial Uncle whom he had never met, but in the recent ninety years, the two sides were destined not to meet.

Dao Lao Er said, “I never care about these things. Let him calculate heaven and earth, I walk my own path.”

Lu Chen shook his head, “Zou Zi’s thinking is very… peculiar. He initially regarded the current world as an Era of Dharma Decline and deduced and evolved from there. The Artificers can only wait for the arrival of the Era of Dharma Decline, but Zou Zi began to lay out plans long ago, even ignoring the Patriarchs of the Three Teachings. This disregard is not a lack of vision, but rather… turning a blind eye. Therefore, it is indeed normal for one person to suppress the entire Lu family in the Vast Expanse World.”

In the Li Zhu Grotto Heaven, Lu Chen and Zou Zi didn’t actually meet face to face. One set up a stall, and the other also set up a stall, each calculating their own fate.

The two sides seemed to mind their own business, but in fact, it was just like the naming of the two “Natal Flying Swords” of Zou Zi’s direct disciple and Lu Chen’s descendants – needle to needle, wheat to wheat.

The idle chat between the two martial brothers was only pitiful for the little Daoist priest in Green Jade City. The two martial uncles kept mentioning the Era of Dharma Decline, which made Jiang Yun Sheng tremble and his Dao Heart was about to become unstable.

Lu Chen suddenly smiled and said, “Yun Sheng, your ancestor punched open the Sea of Clouds and smashed towards the Li Zhu Grotto Heaven back then, very imposing. It’s a pity you were far away in Inverted Mountain at the time, and your Daoist cultivation was insufficient, so you couldn’t witness this scene in person. It doesn’t matter, I have a long scroll of the River of Time that I have treasured for many years. I’ll give it to you. When you get back to Purple Qi Tower, have it framed properly. Your ancestor will definitely be happy and will no longer secretly support you in becoming the City Lord of Green Jade City, but will do so openly…”

The little Daoist priest lowered his eyes and concentrated his mind, ignoring everything.
Dao the Second furrowed his brow and said, “Alright, stop trying to plead for the little whelp with your roundabout ways. I have no designs on Jiang Yunsheng or Azure Emerald City. Whoever wants the city lord’s position can compete for it fairly. I don’t care if Jiang Yunsheng gets it. Azure Emerald City has always been considered Senior Brother’s territory. I don’t mind who guards the door, but I object if the gatekeeper does a terrible job, leaving Senior Brother with a mess.”

Lu Chen shook his head. “Senior Brother, up here where we are, even a casual flick of the sleeve, a frown, or a yawn is enough to make the immortals below ponder our intentions for ages. Compete? How can Jiang Yunsheng compete? He barely mustered the courage to reminisce with the two Martial Uncles today, and the Second Master never even gave him a proper look. How do you think the Five Cities and Twelve Towers will view Jiang Yunsheng? Ultimately, your casual ‘whatever’ is precisely the Great Dao that Jiang Yunsheng would risk his life for, yet still be unable to control. Of course, Senior Brother can be indifferent, thinking it’s the natural way of the Great Dao, all things returning to one…”

Dao the Second couldn’t stand Lu Chen’s mannerisms the most. He was neither as natural as Master, nor as straightforward as Senior Brother. Growing impatient, he asked directly, “Do you want Shan Qing to take over Azure Emerald City, or Jiang Yunsheng?”

Jiang Yunsheng sighed in despair. “Here we go. Third Master is just spouting nonsense, dragging me down with him.”

He truly didn’t know if Third Martial Uncle was trying to help him or harm him. If Second Martial Uncle wasn’t here, this little Daoist would have already cursed him out.

Actually, Jiang Yunsheng genuinely didn’t care about the ownership of Azure Emerald City. He had only come here today, steeling himself, because he had rarely seen Martial Uncle Lu. It would be better if Azure Emerald City went to that newest Little Martial Uncle, saving him from being forced into a position he didn’t want. Once he became the City Lord of Azure Emerald City, he would be very busy with endless disputes. Jiang Yunsheng had spent too long on Upside-Down Mountain and was accustomed to a leisurely life, cultivating when necessary and reading when he wasn’t. Moreover, with his cultivation level and reputation, he simply wasn’t qualified to stand out and govern Azure Emerald City, a place renowned throughout the land as Little White Jade City.

Lu Chen chuckled and patted the little Daoist’s head. “Go back.”

The little Daoist quickly performed a Daoist salute, bid farewell, and flew back to Azure Emerald City on the wind.

Dao the Second said through mental communication, “You just casually placed a demonic outsider in Jiang Yunsheng’s Dao heart?”

Lu Chen smiled. “I was bored.”

Dao the Second reminded him, “You should return to the Extraterrestrial Heavens.”

Lu Chen simply feigned ignorance and delayed. After a long silence, he suddenly said, “Senior Brother, have you ever considered the day someone will challenge you with their sword?”

Dao the Second said, “It happens all the time.”

Even though he was hailed as truly invincible, there were still people in this Azure Empyrean World who challenged the Second Master of White Jade City with their swords, both literally and metaphorically.

Lu Chen smiled. “I mean the kind of challenge that would make you draw your sword with all your might.”

“A Liang? Bai Ye? Or perhaps Chen Ping’an, who ascended here?”

Dao the Second asked, “How long will that take? Besides, it’s not certain that we’ll even get to see it.”

Lu Chen raised both hands, lightly tapping his lotus crown with two fingers, and said with an innocent look, “Senior Brother, you said that yourself. I didn’t say anything.”

Dao the Second smiled. “You are indeed utterly bored.”

Lu Chen leaned on the railing. “I’m looking forward to Chen Ping’an traveling the world. Who knows, he might set up a fortune-telling stall and be even more familiar with it than I am.”

Dao the Second said, “He would need the physical strength of a tenth-realm martial artist and the spiritual energy support of an ascension-realm cultivator to truly wield a sword and barely serve as a sword attendant.”

Lu Chen said, “No need for that much trouble. Reaching the fourteenth realm will suffice. Not some sword attendant, but the Sword Master’s Sword Master. Of course, he has to stay alive.”

Dao the Second laughed heartily. “I have some anticipation. I’ve cultivated for eight thousand years and missed the ancient battlefield. I’ve yet to meet a worthy opponent.”