As Pei Qian ascended the mountain, she held a bamboo paper-cutting knife in her hand. Her thumb gently pressed against the bamboo handle, pushing the blade slightly out of its sheath, then gently pressing it back in. Though merely a scholar’s desk piece crafted from the ancestral bamboo of Green God Mountain, if used against enemies, this bamboo knife, imbued with the essence of the bamboo grove’s blessed earth, would serve as a formidable magical artifact, capable of suppressing demons and malevolent spirits.

Cen Yuanji was descending the mountain path when Pei Qian halted once more, stepping aside to yield, simultaneously sliding the bamboo knife back into her sleeve.

On the mountain peak’s steps, Zhu Lian and Mi Yu sat, each drinking wine. Zhu Lian, watching the scene, sighed, “Even if she were to retrace the paths she once walked in the martial world, even if the route were identical, there would never again be that charcoal-skinned lass with talismans plastered on her forehead, chanting ‘I walk with swagger, demons tremble in fear.'”

In Mi Yu’s original perception, Pei Qian remained the spirited girl he encountered at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, unrestrained and full of quirks. Reencountering her on Fallen Phoenix Mountain left Mi Yu genuinely surprised. This somewhat jarring feeling of Mi Yu’s mirrored that of Sui Youbian.

After ascending Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Mi Yu’s understanding of Pei Qian came from Chen Nuanshu and Zhou Mili’s casual conversations. Of course, Little Mili, who patrolled the mountain with Mi Yu daily, chattered more. Every morning, without fail, a black-clad girl stood sentinel outside Mi Yu’s door, neither urging nor hurrying, simply waiting. Mi Yu once advised her not to wait at his door, but the girl replied that waiting for someone was a joy, and that being able to meet them immediately after waiting made her even happier.

Little Mili’s simple, heartfelt words nearly moved the carefree Sword Immortal, who had spent centuries dozing amidst the clouds of his hometown, to tears.

After Cen Yuanji reached the mountain gate, she wiped sweat from her brow and paused for a rest. Sitting beside Cao Qinglang on a bamboo chair, she softly asked, “Has Pei Qian changed so much?”

Cao Qinglang nodded with a smile, saying nothing further. He didn’t even need to turn around to know that Pei Qian would be glancing back towards the mountain’s base. If he uttered another word, he’d be added to her mental ledger of debts.

Master Lu once said that many children grow up in an instant, while many people live their entire lives as white-haired children. At the time, Cao Qinglang hadn’t fully understood.

On the mountain peak’s steps, Mi Yu took a sip of wine and abruptly said, “Compared to Mili and Nuanshu, I can’t say I particularly like Pei Qian. Of course, I certainly don’t dislike her.”

Zhu Lian nodded, “That’s perfectly normal. Pei Qian is too clever. At times, excessive cleverness is like a longsword without a sheath or hilt. It injures others when drawn and wounds the wielder when grasped.”

Mi Yu chuckled self-deprecatingly, “Shamelessly speaking, having a pure martial artist like Pei Qian on Fallen Phoenix Mountain inexplicably puts my mind at ease.”

Fallen Phoenix Mountain, though light on regulations, upheld each one with strictness. Its principles for interacting with the world emphasized reason, and Mi Yu, used to idleness and a carefree life, only knew how to proffer his sword. He inevitably felt constrained. If Pei Qian were to descend the mountain first, acting without reason, he would merely need to follow, inquiring as to who she intended to test swords with. That would be much more satisfying. Otherwise, once the Hidden Official returned home, it would seem as if only he, Mi Yu, had been loafing around on Fallen Phoenix Mountain all these years, which would be unseemly. After all, few Sword Immortals could withstand the Hidden Official’s barbed words.

Zhu Lian smiled, “Sword cultivators and martial artists aren’t like scholars. One wields a flying sword to sever heads, the other assumes a stance to confront foes. There’s no shame in admitting it. Both seek unbridled freedom and unrestrained autonomy. We discussed this matter with the Young Master long ago…”

Mi Yu clutched his head in exasperation, raising his wine pot, “You discuss whatever you want. Don’t say a word to me about the results. My head aches.”

Zhu Lian said, “Yuanji and Qinglang are two of the few pure streams on Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Their conduct embodies the spirit of Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s sect.”

Mi Yu asked in confusion, “What do you mean by that?”

Zhu Lian merely smiled without answering.

Mi Yu instantly understood, clapping his hands in admiration and muttering, “Sensible, sensible.”

Pei Qian didn’t go towards the bamboo building but continued to climb the mountain on foot.

The bamboo paper-cutting knife, a gift from Old Ancestor Yu and passed on by Master Wen Sheng, had helped her greatly. Otherwise, Pei Qian’s return journey across three continents would have turned her into a walking, talking general store. Many items would have had to be left with Yu Juanfu. After all, the importance of not flaunting wealth was an early understanding between master and disciple. With this “miniature realm” item, Pei Qian was able to sort through her belongings, helping her “ant-move-house” in a constant relocation. It now contained the battlefield remains of Golden Armor Continent, including sixty-nine mountain artifacts that Pei Qian had scavenged from demon cultivator corpses.

Earlier, at Thunder God Temple in Ma Lake Prefecture of Snowy Continent, Pei Qian had taken out the iron spear of a Jade Pure Realm demon cultivator. It was a semi-immortal treasure that Old Immortal Yu Xuan had gifted her long ago. Pei Qian, using the Divine Man Drumming technique, had shattered both ends of the spear into what resembled “sharp, narrow blades.” It was as if it had instantly transformed into three weapons: two blades and an iron staff. Coupled with the Thunder Law refinement of Thunder God Mountain, the weapon’s grade had slightly diminished, but not by much. In the end, Pei Qian essentially gained half a semi-immortal artifact for free.

This left Pei Axiang speechless. Was this girl with the surname Pei blinded by money? However, Pei Qian intended to offer a magical treasure in return for Thunder God Mountain’s assistance in refining the three items, as compensation for their losses. Pei Axiang wouldn’t stoop to such pettiness, politely declining. She only said that in the future, the martial practitioners of Thunder God Temple and Fallen Phoenix Mountain should spar and hone their skills. If they happened to meet in the martial world, they could help each other out, and disciples of the two lines could consider each other friends, simply by stating their names.

Pei Qian’s eyes gleamed as she asked, “Senior Pei, is that really possible?”

Pei Axiang laughed, “Why not? Does Fallen Phoenix Mountain look down on Thunder God Temple?”

After Pei Qian had slightly unraveled the knot in her heart regarding the forbidden tablet, re-examining her journey across the four continents, she realized that she had actually accomplished something, that it hadn’t been a complete waste of time.

Like helping Fallen Phoenix Mountain and the Thunder God Temple lineage of Ma Lake Prefecture become closer, turning two originally unfamiliar mountain peaks into something resembling friendly neighbors.
Moreover, the seven fifth-realm Qi practitioners and thirty-one earth immortals from Golden Armor Continent, who had retreated from the battlefield alongside her and Yu Juanfu, along with many other mountain cultivators who had fought shoulder-to-shoulder, all knew that Pei Qian, a martial artist from Treasure Bottle Continent, a young woman who had once reached the peak of the Mountain Top Realm in the central region of Golden Armor Continent, was the first disciple of someone from a certain mountain. She was approachable and courteous, at least not lacking in basic manners, and not the kind of person with terribly poor upbringing. At the very least, Pei Qian’s fists had always been directed only at formidable enemies on the battlefield.

As for who exactly that “someone” was, and where that “certain mountain” was located, Pei Qian had always kept it hidden, unwilling to say more, and daring not to, fearing that it would bring unnecessary trouble to her master and Fallen Mountain. Old Chef had once instructed Pei Qian that the accidents and troubles that many Golden Body Realm cultivators attract could only be resolved by Far Wander Realm cultivators, or even Mountain Top Realm cultivators.

This was actually similar to her master’s teaching, “When venturing into the world, I will first lower my realm by two or three levels as a sign of respect.”

Near the peak of the mountain, several steps away from Old Chef and Mi Yu, Pei Qian stopped, clasped her fists in salute, mainly because this Sword Immortal senior from the Great Wall of Sword Qi had not yet offered incense to the portrait in the Ancestral Hall of Azure Peak, otherwise Pei Qian would not have been so deliberately concerned with formalities. Then, Pei Qian tossed the paper-cutting knife to Zhu Lian, using sound transmission to explain in detail to Old Chef the method of opening the forbidden area.

Zhu Lian immersed himself in thought for a moment, then smiled, “More than seventy treasures from the mountain, wouldn’t that be a guaranteed win in future scholarly duels with Li Huai?”

Pei Qian gently shook her head.

Such childish squabbles from childhood would definitely not happen again. Perhaps the so-called growing up meant that one by one, the interesting things of childhood became less interesting.

Pei Qian stopped using sound transmission to speak privately with Old Chef and said directly, “Besides the paper-cutting knife itself, I will keep the double sabers and the iron staff. The rest will be turned over for official use. Please trouble Mr. Wei to help assess their quality and estimate their value. Sell what should be sold, keep what should be kept, do as you see fit.”

Zhu Lian asked, “If I remember correctly, you haven’t given the gifts to Nuan Shu and Mi Li.”

Pei Qian smiled, “I have prepared them beforehand, they don’t interfere with each other.”

Zhu Lian nodded, “Alright, that’s settled then. In a few days, Lotus Root Blessed Land will have a major event, it’s about to be promoted to an upper-grade blessed land. Don’t rush to descend the mountain for a long journey. Seed Master will soon return to the mountain. At that time, we will go to the blessed land together. Besides Mountain Lord Wei and Island Master Liu, Fan Er from Old Dragon City and Sun Jiashu will also come to observe the ceremony, and everyone will witness the elevation of the blessed land’s grade.”

Pei Qian said, “No problem.”

As Pei Qian was about to turn around, Zhu Lian suddenly said with a smile, “Sword Immortal Mi said he doesn’t like you very much.”

Pei Qian oh-ed once, and only said, “It’s enough that Senior Mi sincerely likes Sister Nuan Shu and Little Mi Li.”

Mi Yu had an awkward expression, his face and trousers covered in mud, unsure whether to wipe it off or not.

Pei Qian clasped her fists in salute to both sides again and then bid farewell.

As Pei Qian turned from the mountain path toward the bamboo building, Mi Yu said helplessly, “Old Zhu, you’re not being very kind.”

Zhu Lian smiled, “It’s better to say it out loud. Do you think Pei Qian doesn’t know about this? Do you think Pei Qian cares whether Senior Mi likes her or not?”

Mi Yu was relieved, “I was being presumptuous.”

Zhu Lian comforted him, “Since ancient times, the affectionate have often been troubled by their own emotions. This flavor can only be understood by those with a heart.”

Late at night, at the bamboo building, Pei Qian sat alone on the edge of the cliff, her feet dangling over the edge.

Little Mi Li seemed unable to sleep, so she simply didn’t sleep. She picked up her golden shoulder pole and green bamboo cane and stood early at Pei Qian’s gate, dozing off while waiting for dawn.

Her ears twitched, and Zhou Mi Li immediately opened her eyes, seeing a snowflake coin on the ground. Little Mi Li shook her head, confirming that she wasn’t seeing things, then quickly looked around, wrinkling her small eyebrows. She then quickly picked it up and jumped up, spun around, and gently tossed the snowflake coin into Pei Qian’s yard. She clapped her hands gently, a great accomplishment. When Zhou Mi Li turned around, she discovered that there was another snowflake coin on the ground! This time, the little girl lay on the ground, stuck her butt in the air, and circled around, finally determining that the divine coin was most likely a sibling that had been separated from the previous one. Zhou Mi Li lay on the ground, supporting her cheeks with her hands, staring intently at the divine coin. This was too strange. Money fell from the sky as soon as Pei Qian came home. She had to think about it carefully. As for the golden shoulder pole and the traveling staff, they had joined forces with the black-clothed little girl to build a temporary nest for the divine coin, lest the divine coin grow legs and run away. Pei Qian had sworn before that silver ingots in the world would really grow legs and go visiting.

Someone asked from above, “What are you doing? Picking up money on the ground?”

Zhou Mi Li first pounced on the snowflake coin like a hungry tiger, then suddenly smiled. It turned out that Pei Qian was sitting on the wall of the courtyard. Little Mi Li immediately jumped up in a carp-like leap, clutching the snowflake coin, ready to take credit. Pei Qian pinched a snowflake coin with two fingers, shook it gently, and asked with a straight face, “Who threw money at me just now? Mi Li, did you see who it was?”

Zhou Mi Li shook her head vigorously, “No, no, didn’t see, with a clear conscience, maybe Sister Nuan Shu passed by and picked up money, who knows? I’ve been dozing off at the door all the time just now, I don’t even know if I sleepwalked to the ground.”

Pei Qian asked, “Would Sister Nuan Shu throw things around?”

Zhou Mi Li immediately changed her tune, “Jing Qing! Jing Qing maybe! He said he treats money like dirt… It must be Jing Qing. He ate so many of your roasted chestnuts, Pei Qian, and was too embarrassed to give money, so he secretly came to send money. Alas, Jing Qing is also kind, I blame myself for not guarding the door properly…”

Pei Qian jumped down from the wall, taking Little Mi Li back to the bamboo building, sitting together on the edge of the cliff. Finally, the black-clothed little girl was too sleepy, so she lay on the young woman’s lap and fell asleep.

The sky turned pale, first with the light of a grain of rice, then with great brightness.
After Pei Qian departed, Zhu Lian obtained the bamboo-yellow paper cutter and immediately went to the accounting room. He and Wei Wenlong discussed the estimated value of the items inside Pei Qian’s spatial artifact. Some were of unknown origin and heavily restricted mountain treasures. Wei Wenlong, after all, wasn’t of a high enough cultivation realm and couldn’t determine their grade or price accurately. He worried that they might be undersold at the Niujiaoshan Ferry’s Baofu Emporium and be snatched up by outsiders, even if Luo Po Mountain ultimately chose to treasure them. However, they couldn’t just leave them to gather dust without knowing their true worth. This would unsettle Wei Wenlong’s Dao heart. Everything had to have a definite price for him to feel at ease. Whether they were sold quickly for profit or held onto for a higher price later was not important.

Wei Wenlong enjoyed the process of earning money.

Therefore, Zhu Lian had to trouble Daoist Changming to come here. This “Law Enforcement Ancestor” of Luo Po Mountain, whose fate was tied to money and fortune, indeed possessed unreasonable innate supernatural powers.

Changming helped Wei Wenlong fill in the gaps and re-evaluated three treasures that had been mistaken for superior spiritual artifacts. However, there were still several mountain items whose true value Changming couldn’t determine.

In the end, Changming gave a final valuation for the sixty-nine mountain items, an astronomical price.

It needed to be converted using Guyu coins, and it came with a “thousand” prefix.

Changming smiled and said, “One thing is one thing. Record a small demerit for Bai Jian Tai, but this must be recorded as a great merit for Pei Qian. As far as Luo Po Mountain earning money is concerned, so far, besides the Master, Pei Qian is the most diligent.”

Zhu Lian rubbed his hands and smiled, “After all, she is my Young Master’s first disciple.”

Zhu Lian then asked, “How about I call Wei Xiong and Mi Xiong over to confirm? Daoist Changming’s overall price estimate is definitely correct, at most off by a hundred Guyu coins. But specifically for individual items, it’s still not perfect. Once finalized, we might be able to earn two or three hundred more Guyu coins for nothing.”

After all, Daoist Changming’s valuation was just the value of the seventy-odd items themselves. Mountain transactions, especially with disciples from major sects, the younger they were, the more money they had. They were generous, as long as they liked something.

Involved in matters of Luo Po Mountain’s financial growth, Changming was in a good mood and joked, “You’re worried about Pei Qian.”

Zhu Lian was so careful, besides earning more Guyu coins for Luo Po Mountain, at its root, he didn’t want Pei Qian to suffer any loss.

Zhu Lian laughed heartily.

A moment later, besides Luo Po Mountain’s chief steward, the Law Enforcement Ancestor, and the accountant, two more people arrived. They were the “family member” Sword Immortal Mi, and the ever-reliable, readily available, and tireless Wei Shanjun.

Wei Bo examined the many mountain spiritual artifacts one by one. Among them, two caught his attention: an oddly shaped stone mill and an even more unremarkable square scarf.

Wei Bo smiled and said that since they came in pairs, they should be regarded as two separate magical treasures. They bore ancient inscriptions that had been lost in Haoran. The two items were inscribed with “Golden Judge” and “Official of Functions.” Adding to this, Zhu Lian’s hometown of Lotus Root Blessed Land, for some reason, had no “tea competition” custom. If it were not the case, Zhu Lian would not have let Wei Bo come here to pick up the scraps, since Zhu Lian was a real expert in everything involving the arts, such as poetry, calligraphy, and painting.

When Wei Wenlong learned of this inside story, he immediately looked at Zhu Lian. Without Wei Wenlong saying what he was thinking, Zhu Lian already had a plan in mind and blurted out, “I’ll add two inscriptions on either side of the tea mill.”

“The sound of the mill is clear and bright, everything has a law. Let those who are stubborn not deviate from the track. I am the Golden Judge.”

“The zither and lute harmonize, the four mountains embrace the shadows. Let the weak walk this path unharmed, and laugh with you in the spring breeze.”

“As for this square scarf, I can inscribe it, or I can have Mister Cui write it in running script. In the scorching mountains, with a feather fan and turban, in the cool green shade, sitting high in a bamboo chair, with a lightly made-up beauty, with mellow tea in the breeze, the stream rises and the green mountains brush against the face, the moon chases the stars and fills the shoulders. A few white clouds like boats cross the ferry, a bird’s cry like a flute rises before the mountain. Truly good mountains, good water, good tea, and good hearts.”

Wei Wenlong nodded and said, “In this way, not only will the two items be sold separately and priced as magical treasures, but the price should be doubled to be fair.”

Mi Yu stood aside, dumbfounded.

Damn, is this how you make money? How did you guys get so tacit understanding? Aren’t I the one who came to Luo Po Mountain with Brother Wenlong?

Fortunately, Sword Immortal Mi didn’t come for nothing tonight. He re-elevated two old treasures that had fallen to the rank of superior spiritual artifacts to the rank of genuine top-grade magical treasures.

One of them was a sheathless long sword with the inscriptions “Slender Eyebrows” and “Moon Halo” on either side of the blade. It used to be the beloved sword of a demon sword immortal in the Wildlands. Later, as his cultivation increased, it became a chicken rib, so he transferred it to his direct disciple of swordsmanship. Eventually, it fell into other hands, losing its lineage. As a result, even the scabbard disappeared without a trace. However, this long sword, which was never known for its great killing power, was rumored to have a true wonder: the moon halo sword light could condense into a puppet sword servant named “Slender Eyebrows.” The woman’s voice and appearance were “copied” from a local female sword immortal in the Wildlands. After appearing, she was equivalent to the combat power of a Dragon Gate Realm swordsman. For a Fifth Tier sword immortal master, this kind of female puppet was naturally only pleasing to the eye, but for any Earth Immortal cultivator, if he was fighting someone, having an extra close-fitting maidservant with the combat power equivalent to a Core Formation cultivator, who was not afraid of death and could “disintegrate and reincarnate” multiple times, would be an unreasonable winning move.

Mi Yu held the sword in one hand, shook out a sword flower, and with the other hand, he gathered some moonlight from outside the window at his fingertips, then gently pressed it against the hilt, and then “washed the sword” with both moonlight and sword energy.

Sword light and moonlight flowed together, pouring on the ground. In the blink of an eye, a slender-browed woman stood gracefully before everyone. She was draped in a snow-white dress covered with clouds and mist.

Her face was cold, and her eyes were slightly dull. Finally, she looked at Mi Yu, moved stiffly, and gave a blessing.

When Mi Yu gathered all the sword energy, the woman’s figure disappeared and returned to the long sword.
Mi Yu placed the longsword back on the table, picking up a tattered, once-lustrous Dharma robe. Holding it near the window, Mi Yu gently shook the robe. In an instant, gold and emerald green intertwined, resembling the eyes of peacock feathers, shining brilliantly in the faint moonlight.

Mi Yu then revealed a secret: this Dharma robe, despite its ruined state, was meticulously woven using the “Cloud Banner Tapestry, Connecting Warp and Weft” technique, a closely guarded secret of the Gold Emerald City, a sect in the desolate wilds. The Gold Emerald City’s foundation lay in embellishing the Dragon Robe, the coveted possession of a great demon, which allowed the predominantly female cultivators of the Gold Emerald City to remain unmolested by the many rampaging demons.

Mi Yu smiled and said, “When illuminated by sunlight or moonlight, the intersection of gold and emerald green will become translucent, shimmering like ripples on water. The diurnal and nocturnal water patterns emanating from the robe are distinct, known as ‘Water Paths Dividing Yin and Yang.’ The night water path is a rushing stream, while the day water path is clear and bright. This allows Qi Refiners who practice unorthodox secret arts and should not be exposed to daylight to cultivate both day and night. Therefore, the Colorful Sparrow Manor in the Northern Ju Continent is similar to the Gold Emerald City, with its foundation also being Dharma robes.”

Wei Wenlong and Wei Shanjun cautiously inquired, “If City Gods or heroic spirits from the Civil and Military Temples were to wear this robe, wouldn’t they be able to openly patrol the Yang Realm in human form, even in broad daylight?”

Wei Bo nodded. “Of course. However, we do not possess the true secret incantations of the Gold Emerald City, making it difficult to sew a true Gold Emerald City Dharma robe. Except for the Day Wandering Gods, who are responsible for daytime patrols, the effects on other clerks and officials of the City God Pavilion and Civil and Military Temples are not significant.”

Wei Wenlong nodded, his mind racing, and slowly said, “The most valuable thing is still the tapestry technique contained in this Dharma robe. Even if we cannot grasp the fundamental principles of the Gold Emerald City’s robe-making, just a slight connection will guarantee a good market. Even if the effect is minimal, as Wei Shanjun said, it would be beneficial for the Night Wandering Gods to leave their offices even a quarter of an hour earlier during the twilight hours. With some extra money, they could show off to their colleagues, which would be a good thing…”

At this point, Wei Wenlong’s tone noticeably faltered.

In the Northern Mountain territory, registered Immortal Masters might still be passable. Whether truly poor or pretending, they still dare to lament their poverty to their comrades in times of hardship.

However, throughout the entire northern region of Great Li, the major and minor mountain and river deities are all officials under the jurisdiction of the Cloud Canopy Mountain. Who dares to say they have extra money? Would they eagerly go to the Cloud Canopy Mountain to drink at Wei Shanjun’s Night Wandering Banquet and beg for a few cups of fine wine? The key is that each of them is so pitiful that they don’t even have the courage to complain about their poverty.

Wei Wenlong quickly changed the subject, “We can do business with the Colorful Sparrow Manor. Relationships are relationships, and business is business. We can offer this ‘ancestral’ Dharma robe and a Gold Emerald City weaving technique. Afterwards, we can split the profits and demand 30% from the Colorful Sparrow Manor. Since we can dismantle this weaving technique, it cannot be hidden and will soon be imitated by outsiders. Therefore, the Colorful Sparrow Manor must launch hundreds or thousands of pieces in one go, and then have the Hemp Robe Sect, the Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, or the Supreme Emblem Sword Sect help with sales. When other cultivators buy a few pieces to dismantle the technique and imitate it, we and the Colorful Sparrow Manor certainly cannot stop some small factions, nor do we need to cut off their financial path. We can just accumulate a tacit understanding of goodwill. However, if immortal residences like the Jade Forest Sect in the Northern Ju Continent, which have a huge business, want to openly sell this type of Dharma robe, then they will have to weigh the consequences of our joint pursuit.”

Zhu Lian smiled and said, “This business doesn’t need to trouble the Supreme Emblem Sword Sect and the Floating Duckweed Sword Lake. After all, it’s a matter of owing favors, which is not worth it. We’ll have Brother Mi take a trip to the Colorful Sparrow Manor and serve as a nominal offering there. If the Jade Forest Sect dares to sell Dharma robes, Sword Immortal Mi can go ask them about their swordsmanship at Grindstone Mountain. If things really get out of hand, Brother Mi can ride his sword to find someone to drink with, be it Sect Leader Liu or Sect Leader Li. Just treat it as avoiding the limelight.”

Mi Yu smiled brightly, “Excellent, excellent.”

Zhu Lian candidly said, “However, in this way, we are using the goodwill of Yu Mi, a nominal offering of the Colorful Sparrow Manor. We must also be careful not to implicate the Colorful Sparrow Manor.”

Mi Yu laughed. “What’s the use of ‘Yu Mi’ accumulating goodwill? It’s meaningless. As for the fairy sisters of the Colorful Sparrow Manor, how could I bear to see them injured in the slightest? Before drawing my sword, I will carefully consider everything.”

Zhu Lian glanced at the Gold Emerald City Dharma robe and the “Slender Eyebrow” longsword on the table and softly asked, “Daoist Changming, Mister Wei, besides proactively reducing the reasonable 30% profit to 20% for the Colorful Sparrow Manor, I also intend to gift this sword to Xu Xingjiu, a Qi Refiner from Cloud Ascending City, as his guardian treasure in the name of Fallen Phoenix Mountain. What do you think?”

Cloud Ascending City is actually part of the southeast trade route in the Northern Ju Continent. Although it can be considered a supplementary member, it has always been somewhat lacking in strength because Cloud Ascending City, whether in terms of sect foundations or cultivator realms, is far inferior to large immortal families like the Bone Mound Hemp Robe Sect and the Spring Dew Garden. Even compared to the Colorful Sparrow Manor, it seems to have less financial connection with Fallen Phoenix Mountain. However, Cloud Ascending City, from City Lord Shen Zhenze to his two direct disciples, the Daoist couple Xu Xingjiu and Zhao Qingwan, are extremely friendly and close to Fallen Phoenix Mountain. They contribute 100% of their strength in terms of money, manpower, and resources, but they never bite off more than they can chew. Even Wei Bo says that such a mountain ally is worth more than gold.

In addition, the Fisherman, who traveled to the Northern Ju Continent, first left his direct disciple outside the Colorful Sparrow Manor and then took his unregistered disciple, Zhao Shuxia, to Cloud Ascending City. After all, the Colorful Sparrow Manor has too much feminine energy, with many female cultivators both on and off the mountain. The old gentleman still has to avoid suspicion.

The “Wine Question on Soaring Peak” trend originated with the young mountain lord of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, and the first outsider from the Supreme Emblem Sword Sect to add to it was Xu Xingjiu of Cloud Ascending City, followed closely by Liu Zhiqing, a newly promoted Nascent Soul swordsman from the Golden Crow Palace. After that, there was also the martial artist Li Er, who, on the way south to Bone Mound, specifically took a Boundary Martial Artist and a Sword Immortal to the Supreme Emblem Sword Sect. The martial artist was the old martial artist Wang Fusuo, who cultivated to the point of demonic possession many years ago. The old man, just because of a few heartfelt words in the Lion Peak territory, was beaten by his junior Li Er. Fortunately, he was able to drink at a “Wine Question and Sword Question at the Supreme Emblem Sword Sect is not as good as Wine Question at Soaring Peak” with the Sword Immortal who accompanied him.
Driven by the relentless gossip of Wang Fushu and that Sword Immortal, the “deviant trend” of Q&A at Willow Peak had become quite the phenomenon in Northern俱蘆洲. So much so that Li Cai’s first act upon returning wasn’t to revisit Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, but to head straight to the Grand Empyrean Sword Sect with wine. Fortunately, Liu Jinglong had already embarked on his own travels, narrowly avoiding a calamity.

Changming asked, “Is this for a long-term business deal, or a matter of personal relations?”

Zhu Lian smiled, “Purely personal, no business involved.”

Changming said, “Then I have no objections.”

Wei Wenlong nodded, “I second the Lawkeeper.”

“I’ll explain the old events of Cloud Citadel to you two in detail later.”

Then, Zhu Lian looked at the Great Sword Immortal Mi.

Mi Yu was quite cheerful. Today was truly an auspicious day, finally able to lend a small hand to Fallen Phoenix Mountain. He’d have to write it down. He chuckled, “Same here, same here.”

After speaking, Mi Yu felt a momentary daze, as if he were back in the Summer Retreat Palace.

Fellow Daoist Changming left first, a number of sword talismans crafted by the Dragon Spring Sword Sect dangling from her waist, almost like Little Steward Chen Nuanshu’s key chain. Anyway, with nothing much to do on the mountain, Changming bought them for fun, intending to distribute them later when there were more disciples on the lineage register in the Ancestral Hall.

Changming was naturally close to Ruan Xiu, so Ruan Xiu must have given the Dragon Spring Sword Sect a heads-up, leading them to turn a blind eye. Moreover, Changming always followed the rules she herself had set when buying sword talismans, increasing the price with each purchase. Not wanting to spend immortal money, she exchanged them with her own forged gold essence copper coins.

Ruan Qiong was notoriously unsmiling towards everyone on Fallen Phoenix Mountain, with the sole exception of Pei Qian. Now, Fellow Daoist Changming was also a partial exception. There was still no smile, but they would nod to each other when they occasionally met on the mountain.

Zhu Lian said to Wei Bo, “It’s rare for Brother Wei to grace us with your presence. Same as always, melon seeds with wine?”

Wei Bo asked with a smile, “Rare?”

Zhu Lian smiled and replied, “Isn’t this to highlight Brother Wei’s status as a Mountain Lord?”

Wei Bo and Fellow Daoist Changming used their divine abilities one after the other to leave Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

Zhu Lian handed his Daoist robe and sword to Mi Yu, “I’ll trouble Brother Mi to take a trip to Northern俱蘆洲.”

Mi Yu reminded, “Old Zhu, the moment the Hidden Official returns to the mountain, remember to immediately send a flying sword message to the Azure Sparrow Abode.”

Zhu Lian agreed with a smile.

After Zhu Lian left the accounting courtyard where Wei Wenlong was, he wandered alone on Fallen Phoenix Mountain, going to the mountaintop, to the old Mountain God temple. He hadn’t yet decided how to properly handle it, as this place was located at the peak of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, and there were many taboos on the mountain.

He missed the Great Wind brothers a little. Sharing joy with others was better than solitary happiness. Many key pages of immortal books, with their colored illustrations, had corners lightly folded. That was Zhu Lian’s thoughtfulness.

In the past, every time the Great Wind brothers came to borrow books, they would lightly flick them. Good or bad, the number of folded corners would reveal all at a glance. The Great Wind brothers ascended the mountain in a hurry, and descended even faster.

As dawn approached, Zhu Lian went down the mountain towards the bamboo building and saw the figures of Pei Qian and Zhou Mili, one big and one small.

Zhu Lian walked quietly and sat beside them. Little Mili was still sound asleep, sleeping especially sweetly. Adults had their complex thoughts, and little water sprites had their own worries. They weighed about the same in their respective hearts.

Zhu Lian focused his voice into a line and told Pei Qian the outcome of last night’s accounting discussion.

Pei Qian understood the Old Chef’s intention, which was to tell her not to overlook Lawkeeper Changming and Sword Immortal Mi Yu, and their contributions to Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

Zhu Lian asked, “Feeling better?”

Pei Qian nodded.

Zhu Lian smiled, “There’s something I need to ask you about.”

After the Old Chef finished speaking, Pei Qian said, “I have no objections.”

Zhu Lian gazed at the scenery outside the cliff, “Perhaps only our Little Mili will never tire of the same repetitive scenery. On the road of life, some people walk faster, and some can walk slower. Some people are tall, their hearts facing the sun, their shadows stretched long, paving the road behind them, so that the children behind them can always stay in the shade, avoid the scorching sun, and avoid the wind and rain. Then, the regret of a person having to grow up won’t be so, so hard for you and me to let go of.”

Pei Qian gently rubbed Little Mili’s head, “I understand.”

After a moment of silence, Pei Qian turned her head, embarrassed, “I sincerely apologize to you for the Altar of Swords incident.”

Zhu Lian narrowed his eyes, clasped his hands lightly, and rested them on his knees, his expression gentle, “Superfluous. Did you underestimate the Old Chef’s magnanimity?”

Pei Qian looked into the distance with the Old Chef, “Whether the Old Chef minds it or not, and whether Pei Qian has this intention or not, and is willing to apologize in person, are two different things.”

Zhu Lian smiled, “Young Master teaches boxing well, and teaches principles even better.”

Pei Qian smiled knowingly, “I walked a lot of roads on this trip, but the Old Chef still speaks the most wisely.”

Zhu Lian laughed, “Always unyielding and never changing with the wind.”

Pei Qian chuckled.

Pei Qian suddenly asked, “Before I go down the mountain, do you want me to sneak into that Fox Kingdom for a tour?”

Zhu Lian shook his head, “There are definitely some pawns placed by the Xu family of Clear Breeze City hidden inside. Some Pei Xiang has already detained, or sent confidants to secretly keep watch. As for some that the Fox Kingdom’s ruler can’t detect, it’s best to place the Fox Kingdom in the Lotus Root Blessed Land, so that they can’t stir up any trouble. You don’t need to worry too much. The principle is very simple. The Xu family would never imagine that the Fox Kingdom would relocate elsewhere. Therefore, the most important Fox Kingdom pawns are more skilled in strength, mainly used to restrain a Fox Kingdom ruler with Nascent Soul realm cultivation. To put it bluntly, if Chen Lingjun and Hong stayed in the Fox Kingdom, they could dispel any accidents. As for some schemes, as long as those pawns dare to move, I can follow the trail and find them all, not afraid of how they will fight wits with us. When the new Fox Kingdom has established itself, many people and things that were originally variables will naturally integrate into the general trend.”

Pei Qian hesitated.
Zhu Lian smiled, “You think I’m being too indecisive, not ruthless enough with Madam Pei Xiang, the ruler of the Fox Kingdom? Or perhaps you think I’m favoring Pei Xiang too much, worried she won’t fare well in Luopo Mountain, leading to a gradual accumulation of minor issues that eventually snowball into a major problem? It’s not like that. To truly win people’s hearts, sheer force and authority aren’t enough. If Luopo Mountain were as it was when we first arrived, I would, of course, use overwhelming power to suppress any dissenting thoughts. But now, Luopo Mountain has the foundation and resources to proceed slowly and deliberately.”

“It’s essential to not harbor ill intentions, but also to be wary of others. We must treat the world this way, and we must also understand and accept when the world treats us likewise.”

“I understand this principle, of course, but I might not care about it as much. Zhu Lian, both within and outside Lotus Root Blessed Land, is like this. But Gongzi values it greatly, and the entirety of Luopo Mountain naturally follows suit.”

“Within the rules, one must grant people enough flexibility, allowing them some right and wrong between the lines of major principles.”

“These words were originally intended for Pei Xiang, spoken sincerely only after she主动提及 (initiated discussions with) Luopo Mountain about the ‘literary fortune’ of the Fox Kingdom. For now, consider it me rambling on about some grand principles with you. Just listen and forget.”

Pei Qian nodded, “I’ll forgive you for the Lost Money Blessed Land incident with Cao Qinglang.”

Zhu Lian chuckled, “So, if I hadn’t said all this, you would have been keeping a tally against me?”

Pei Qian declared righteously, “Not even my Shifu would dare to look at those chests of ledgers of mine. You, Old Cook, have even less right to interfere.”

Zhu Lian asked curiously, “Where did you reach the Mountain Peak Realm? The Snowy Continent?”

At the Thunder God Temple, Pei Qian sent a flying sword message to Luopo Mountain; that was her last family letter. At that time, Pei Qian was only in the Distant Wanderer Realm.

Pei Qian shook her head, “Aside from encountering the Sword Immortal Xie in the northern ice plains of the Snowy Continent earlier, and the Thunder God Temple in Ma Hu Prefecture who helped me send the letter, Senior A Xiang and Sister Sui Yu were both genuinely good people. Plus, my foundation in the Distant Wanderer Realm wasn’t very solid, so I didn’t think about breaking through. I reached the realm on the Golden Armor Continent. Because Sister Zai Xi said she couldn’t hold it, instead of leaving it to those beasts in the Barren World, I’d rather seize it first, securing it safely in my pocket. It’s just a shame I didn’t have the ability to break through continuously. Otherwise, according to Sister Zai Xi, once you advance from the Mountain Peak Realm to the Borderless Realm as the strongest in the world, the martial fortune is unimaginable, far surpassing that of advancing from the Eighth Realm to the Ninth. Moreover, at that time, the Golden Armor Continent was half-Haoran and half-Barren. As long as I obtained the title of ‘strongest,’ I could learn from Shifu and contend for the martial fortune from the native Barren World. There’s no more risk-free transaction in the world than that. So, at that time, whether I was practicing拳 (boxing) alone or going to the battlefield to kill enemies, I was very focused, like…”

Pei Qian turned her head and glanced at the second floor of the bamboo building.

The most arduous years of practicing拳 (boxing) were spent there.

So bitter, it felt as if all the suffering in this life had been consumed.

After Grandpa Cui left, Pei Qian traveled alone across continents. Even on the battlefield of the Golden Armor Continent, no matter how fierce the fighting was, Pei Qian didn’t feel much anguish.

After retracting her gaze, Pei Qian asked, “Old Cook, Grandpa Cui has also gone on a distant journey, right?”

Zhu Lian sighed, “Probably so.”

Suddenly, a head poked out from the cliff edge, each eye squeezing out a tear, and then仰头 (lifting their head) in grief, “You beautiful-as-a-celestial-but-not-black-charcoal fellow, quickly return my respectable and lovable Senior Apprentice-sister to me!”

Xiao Mi Li shuddered, waking up abruptly with a bewildered expression, “Pei Qian, Pei Qian, why do I hear the voice of the Great White Goose?”

Pei Qian smiled, “It’s nothing.”

That Great White Goose was just kicked off the cliff by Pei Qian.

Cui Dongshan lay on a white cloud mattress, slowly ascending, rowing with his hands as paddles, and said with a playful smile, “Senior Apprentice-sister, Xiao Mi Li, Old Cook, did you miss me?”

Xiao Mi Li sat up straight, put her palms together, and muttered, “Sweet dreams, sweet dreams. I’ll doze off again.”

Cui Dongshan squatted beside Pei Qian, his shoulders uneven, leaning back to look at Pei Qian, “Senior Apprentice-sister, what’s wrong with you? You’re even taller than Junior Apprentice-brother.”

Xiao Mi Li immediately opened her eyes, got up and ran to Cui Dongshan’s side, stood next to him, gestured at their heights, and laughed loudly, “A series of ‘oh no,’ Great White Goose, it really is you! What a tragedy, from the tallest to the second tallest! My rank hasn’t dropped. Don’t be sad, don’t be sad. I’ll lend you some joy, okay?”

Cui Dongshan nodded with a smile, “Xiao Mi Li is the best.”

Xiao Mi Li looked as if facing a formidable enemy, quickly winking. Of all of Pei Qian’s ledgers, hers was the smallest. Of course, Sister Nuan Shu didn’t even have a ledger.

Cui Dongshan哼哼唧唧 (grunted), and with a shake of his shoulders, was about to dramatically rise, but Xiao Mi Li quickly pressed him down with both hands. Cui Dongshan struggled for a while, but had to give up in disappointment.

Zhu Lian looked at Cui Dongshan, then at Pei Qian.

Pei Qian looked at Zhu Lian, then at the Great White Goose.

Cui Dongshan smiled, “Cao Qinglang is fine. I don’t have any objections.”

Zhu Lian said, “So, will the blessed land begin construction today? Those who should have come to witness the ceremony are all busy, but although they aren’t here in person, the gifts are not few.”

Cui Dongshan smiled, “Today is suitable for breaking ground and raising beams, for sacrificial ceremonies and alliances, for betrothal and marriage. All things are auspicious. Otherwise, why do you think I made a special trip here today?”

Zhu Lian asked, “The pond behind the bamboo building?”

Cui Dongshan smiled, “It’s better to enclose it within the Lotus Root Blessed Land, saving me a layer of restrictions and perhaps even receiving an unexpected gift in return.”

Today is a big day for Luopo Mountain, destined to be recorded in the ancestral hall’s chronicles.

Even though the young mountain master is not on the mountain, it really can’t be delayed.

Wei Bo, as the Northern Mountain God, is still responsible for opening the blessed land entrance of the Parasol Tree Umbrella. The group entered the Lotus Root Blessed Land one after another.

Mountain Peak Realm martial artist Zhu Lian, Mountain Peak Realm Pei Qian, Immortal Realm Cui Dongshan, Viewing Sea Realm Qi cultivator Cao Qinglang.

A Jade Purity Realm 米裕 (Mi Yu), whose bottleneck is as big as the sky, as if an ordinary sword immortal had just entered the Jade Purity Realm.

And the Luopo Mountain’s law enforcer, Chang Ming, seemingly born with Jade Purity Realm divine abilities. After three golden rains fell from the sky, her current realm is a mystery.
Wei Wenlong, the Golden Core cultivator from Chunfan Hermitage on Inverted Mountain, Chen Lingjun, who succeeded in spiritual canalization, and Hongxia, who has walked the waters of a river and four major waterways.

There was also the little steward Chen Nuanshu, and Zhou Mili, the Right Protector of Fallen Mountain.

And then there was Pei Xiang, the Fox Queen, already residing in her own blessed land. She detected a wisp of otherworldly aura deliberately leaked to her from the sky. Immediately, from her new fox kingdom situated on the border of Songlai Nation, she rose into the air on the wind, offered a graceful greeting to the people of Fallen Mountain, and finally chose to stand beside Hongxia at the very edge.

In reality, this time, during the grand elevation of the blessed land’s grade, the Old Master Zhong Qiu, the Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator Cui Wei, and others, were absent just like their young Mountain Lord.

Some were temporarily unsuited to be too deeply involved, such as Zhang Jiazhen, Jiang Qu, and Shi Rou, the acting steward of the New Year’s Shop in Qilong Lane.

Zhu Lian smiled and handed Cao Qinglang a money pouch.

Cao Qinglang was greatly surprised, then shook his head, saying, “Let Junior Brother or Pei Qian do it.”

Pei Qian remained silent.

Cui Dongshan smiled, “Someone with a lower realm will be more pleasing and auspicious.”

Cao Qinglang was speechless.

Zhu Lian didn’t retract his hand, so Cao Qinglang had to take a deep breath, accept the money pouch, and plucked out a Grain Rain Coin from within, looking around at everyone.

Pei Qian said, “A total of eighty-one Grain Rain Coins. Just slowly砸 money.” (I will use pinyin for this phrase here, meaning “smash money” or “throw money around” which is difficult to translate perfectly without losing the meaning. This is used in the context of upgrading a blessed land.)

Cui Dongshan first performed a hand seal, and a wondrous phenomenon manifested between heaven and earth.

Lotus Root Blessed Land, Water Well Grotto-Heaven, the grotto-heaven and blessed land connected.

Then, Cui Dongshan opened his palm, and gently blew on a miniature pond suspended an inch above his hand. It fell at the foot of the mountain in the center of the blessed land, taking root upon landing. Suddenly, it grew as large as a lake, and a graceful purple-gold lotus flower sprouted from the water, its lotus leaves each as large as several acres of land. The lotus was temporarily still a bud, not yet fully open, swaying in the wind, a purple-gold bud, just on the verge of blooming.

However, among the native Qi Refiners of the Lotus Root Blessed Land, only those who had attained the Golden Core realm could discern a vague outline, but the blessed land currently had no Earth Immortal cultivators.

Cao Qinglang clenched a Grain Rain Coin, refined it into spiritual energy, and gently opened his palm.

Spiritual energy scattered throughout heaven and earth.

Wei Bo smiled slightly, and pulled a small golden crab from his sleeve. The little fellow had inexplicably received a decree to transform into a flood dragon in the river, which made the little crab anxious and running in circles in the great waterway. Li Xisheng couldn’t help but laugh, helping Little Treasure Bottle complete a harmless little prank with the little guy, and then pressed it back from the great waterway into the palm, and finally transferred to Mount Piyun Weishan Jun, on behalf of gifting the blessed land, and made it clear that it should be placed in the pond as the water-protecting envoy of the purple-gold lotus.

The little crab fell into the pond, and above its back, the golden light of the talisman decree flashed and disappeared. The little fellow suddenly shed its shell, transforming into a huge mansion resembling a Dragon Palace, slowly sinking to the bottom of the water.

Cui Dongshan then shook his sleeves, performing the Universe in the Sleeve divine ability, and beads fell like rain upon the human realm, going to the rivers and streams of the blessed land.

These were gifted by Madam Qingzhong, Li Liu’s “maidservant”, which was actually the millennia-old collection of the Slumbering Dragon Stone from the Lushui Pit. She gave them all to Cui Dongshan, as this object wasn’t a rare item in the Lushui Pit, but for any blessed land’s rivers and water transport, it was a first-class supplement.

At first, the plump woman was a little embarrassed, feeling that the slightly “faded” Dragon Pearls were not presentable, she wanted to screen them, and only give some Dragon Pearls of good quality, but Cui Dongshan was sprayed with a face full of saliva, not only were all the Dragon Pearls given, but Cui Dongshan also asked for a top-notch water treasure.

In addition, there were gifts from the Skeleton Beach, Pilu Sect, Spring Dew Garden, Colorful Sparrow Mansion, City Above the Clouds, Old Immortal Huan Yun, Floating Duckweed Sword Lake Li Cai, Taiwei Sword Sect Liu Jinglong, Jidu Spiritual Spring Lord Shen Lin, Marquis Long Ting Li Yuan…

Fire Dragon Zhenren from the Crawling Peak, the Baiyun lineage, the Taoshan lineage, the Zhixuan Peak lineage, and the Taoxia lineage all gave gifts to Fallen Mountain to witness the ceremony.

For example, Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, with a total of eighteen large and small lakes, Li Cai took out one of them called “Cloud Mist Sword Tip” Lake, the water area was not large, but the sword energy was abundant, and it was one of the two places where Earth Immortal sword cultivators from Floating Duckweed Sword Lake tempered their swords.

Another example was Taiwei Sword Sect, entrusted to Pilu Sect, sending a mountain peak, refined into a palm-sized miniature mountain, but the real size was not inferior to Grey Mist Mountain.

Shen Lin gave a large expanse of continuous pavilions and towers from the Nanxun Water Palace, while Li Yuan took out a river of vibrant green water with rich water transport.

It turned out that this kid wasn’t stingy at all, this young warrior who preferred to read, got a heavenly opportunity in the mountain of the Central Mountain God, it was an entire broken secret realm, which contained two golden books and jade tablets, full of dragon energy, the broken secret realm could not be moved, Yuanlai sent the most precious golden books and jade tablets to Fallen Mountain.

Mount Piyun’s Mountain Lord, Wei Bo, of course, wouldn’t be without a gift.

And “Zhou Fei”, the Fallen Mountain’s offering who bet on the blessed land as the head of the Jiang Clan, had already prepared a generous gift while helping the blessed land absorb refugees.

In addition, the young family head of Old Dragon City, Fan Er, and the family head of the Sun Family, Sun Jiashu, each sent gifts after receiving a secret letter from Fallen Mountain.

Even Longquan Sword Sect, Ruan Qiong, had Liu Xianyang send a generous gift to Fallen Mountain.

When Cao Qinglang threw out the penultimate Grain Rain Coin.

Heaven and earth resonated.

Cao Qinglang breathed a sigh of relief, and then, this blue-robed Confucian scholar, solemnly bowed to the four directions of heaven and earth.

Everyone else also paid their respects to heaven and earth in this way, bowing, cupping their fists, or offering a Wanfu greeting.

One piece after another of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, emerged in various parts of the human realm.

One after another, opportunities for cultivation emerged endlessly.

One by one, the wandering souls, mountain spirits, and water demons, all condensed a wisp of true spirit, or found the prototype of a true name, began to open their minds and give birth to intelligence, and truly embarked on the path of cultivation.

Within the four nations’ territories, mountain and water spiritual energy began to gather on its own, becoming new blessed lands. Moreover,

Chang Ming, the law enforcement elder of Fallen Mountain, snapped his fingers, and a golden torrential rain, as if obeying a decree, enveloped the earth, moisturizing the mountains and rivers of the human realm for thousands of miles.

Cui Dongshan jumped up, his sleeves fluttering, repeating the word “敕” (chì – imperial decree) twice.

Each had a strand of light speeding away like a celestial sword through the air.

At the same time, the sun and moon not only appeared in the sky together, but also appeared a few points brighter than before.

After landing gracefully, Cui Dongshan sighed.

Everything is ready, only waiting for Mister to return home.

Only waiting for a snowfall from who knows where, to bring back a late-night traveler to Fallen Mountain.