The Jade Peak of Sui Mountain, in the heart of the Middle Kingdom.

The golden-armored guardian deity, who had been seated on the steps, suddenly rose to his feet. His expression was grave as he clasped his fist in respectful greeting to the approaching figures.

The one who could elicit such sincere reverence from the Sui Mountain deity was, of course, not the sly, ever-grinning old scholar, but the child beside him…Bai Ye, now transformed into a lad wearing a tiger-headed hat.

The most triumphant figure in the human realm, wielding his sword on the Floating Continent, cleaving again and again. If Zhou Mi and Liu Cha’s final aid were included, it was Bai Ye alone, wielding four immortal swords, challenging the eight thrones of kings.

Yet, this child, clad in white robes and a bright red hat, possessed delicate features tinged with an aloof coldness. Upon seeing the Sui Mountain deity, he merely nodded lightly.

The old scholar swiftly pressed down on the tiger-headed hat. “What’s this? Such a lack of courtesy for a child! Seeing our magnificent Sui Mountain deity…”

The child raised a hand, patting the old scholar’s hand, signaling him to cease.

The old scholar feigned concern, adjusting the already straight hat. “The mountain winds are strong; wouldn’t want you catching a chill, now would we?”

Bai Ye’s spirit was currently frail, requiring an object to conceal his celestial origins, lest he be relentlessly pursued by that somewhat unreliable Grand Ancestor of Yue Mountain. Thus, the old scholar had sought a treasure from the Confucian Temple through the venerable Sage and Teacher. After obtaining a ritual artifact from the Temple, the old scholar, through much persuasion, convinced the Sage to refine it slightly. The final form resembled the tiger-headed hats Bai Ye often wore in his youth.

The Sui Mountain deity, genuinely indignant on Bai Ye’s behalf, rebuked the old scholar in his thoughts, “Old Scholar, be serious!”

The old scholar sullenly withdrew his hand, turning to the child with a smile. “Shall we walk to the summit, or trouble the Sui Mountain deity for a ride?”

The child had already begun to walk, not bothering to waste a single word with the old scholar. He intended to ascend Sui Mountain’s peak to meet the Sage and Teacher.

Bai Ye had visited many mountains seeking immortality in his life. Yet, through some twist of fate, he had passed by Sui Mountain several times but never actually climbed it. He wished to take this opportunity to traverse its paths.

The old scholar followed behind the tiger-hatted Bai Ye, turning to the hulking deity who seemed intent on sitting down again. He chided him, “Are you trying to hatch a brood of chicks under your backside? Or do you get paid by the Old Man for standing guard here? Hurry up and protect the young master! The mountain gales are fierce! If this tiger-headed hat blows away, don’t blame me for forgetting our brotherhood. I’ll report you to the Old Man first…”

The golden-armored deity ignored the old scholar’s rambling, silently trailing behind the two, ascending the steps together.

Sui Mountain’s cliff carvings and steles were unparalleled throughout the vast world, both in quantity and literary merit. The golden-armored deity’s one great regret was the absence of a hand-written inscription by Bai Ye.

The tiger-hatted child could now be considered a truly banished immortal.

The old scholar turned and declared, “Bai Ye’s poetry is unrivaled, is it not? Does Sui Mountain acknowledge this?”

The golden-armored deity nodded. “Of course. Master Bai’s verses possess a majestic spirit.”

Indeed, atop Sui Mountain, the golden-armored deity had specifically reserved a blank stone cliff.

Know that on famous mountains, immortal masters and literary figures often leave behind numerous cliff carvings. This is the so-called “famous mountains await sages.” Especially on the great peaks, for millennia, even the smallest patch of open space has been used for inscriptions or steles. This demonstrates the Sui Mountain deity’s sincerity. Furthermore, this “Chief Mountain God of the Central Kingdom” wasn’t like the old scholar. Though he had such an intention, he never advertised it. Bai Ye didn’t come to climb the mountain, so the space remained. If it were the old scholar, he would have actively blocked Bai Ye’s door, bearing brushes, ink, and paper.

The old scholar abruptly turned around, yelling, “Then how is it that such a vast Sui Mountain lacks even half a word of Bai Ye’s poetry? How are you worthy of being the Sui Mountain deity?”

The golden-armored deity replied, “I did not wish to disturb Master Bai’s secluded studies.”

The old scholar spat. “You simply lack sincerity! Your connection with Bai Ye is nonexistent, which is normal. How many in this world can call Bai Ye brother, or even, due to their disciple’s glory, vaguely claim seniority over him?! But what is our relationship? Why don’t you ever ask me for anything? Asking is your business; agreeing is mine. Is there no order of precedence?”

The golden-armored deity felt a surge of anger, retorting in his thoughts, “Or should I leave you to ramble at the foot of the mountain?”

The tiger-hatted child remained indifferent to the old scholar’s attempts to stir up trouble, content to leisurely ascend, enjoying the scenery of Sui Mountain.

The old scholar immediately changed his tone, speaking amiably to the hulking deity. “Later generations of scholars, arrogant and presumptuous, find fault with Bai Ye, claiming his flaw lies in the seven-character regulated verse, lacking rigor and often violating rules. They created a ‘wasp-waist style’ epithet for Bai Ye, less endearing than this tiger-headed hat. Am I right or not?”

The old scholar gestured with his eyes, hoping the Sui Mountain deity understood. Seeing the deity remained clueless, the old scholar, with his back to Bai Ye, lightly rubbed his fingers together.

The old scholar paused, stroking his beard and smiling, coughing a few times in his thoughts before slowly saying, “Listen closely… Poetic laws and rigid rules can never restrain my Bai Ye…”

Unexpectedly, the tiger-hatted child, who had ascended several dozen steps ahead, said, “The seven-character regulated verse is indeed not my forte. If the Sui Mountain deity heard any such verse, it would undoubtedly be a forgery by the old scholar.”

The old scholar sighed, scurrying after the tiger-hatted child. Just as he reached out to steady the hat, Bai Ye, without turning his head, slapped his hand away.

The Sui Mountain deity escorted the two all the way to the summit, clasped his fist in greeting to the old man who was seated, reading a book, and then returned to the foot of the mountain.

Although Bai Ye was no longer the fourteenth-realm cultivator, his leg strength still surpassed that of ordinary pilgrims. The ascent had taken him only half an hour.

The old man turned to the tiger-hatted child and smiled. “A bit busy. I won’t rise.”

The child bowed to the Sage and Teacher.

The old scholar watched gleefully, bending low despite his already short stature.

The view from the summit of Sui Mountain was magnificent. “Half the night, four heavens open, the Milky Way assaults the eyes.”

The old scholar lamented, “Heaven’s will is always difficult to fathom, yet we must ask. The breathing of the world sounds like drums; how can we not listen?”
Just then, across the firmament, ripples spread like pebbles dropped into a lake, stirred by the grey-robed old man above Jiaolong Gulch, his Opening Heaven technique attempting to lure the remnants of ancient deities from beyond the heavens into the vast world.

The Most Sage Master was mending the celestial veil, sparing the Rite Sage from excessive labor. Any mystical techniques or divine powers cast upon the earthly realms by the Great Ancestor of Tuoyue Mountain were similarly dispelled by the Most Sage Master.

A scabbard of the Taibai Sword suddenly appeared beside the tiger-headed hat child, a gift returned to Mount Sui by the talisman master, Yu Xuan.

Bai Ye gently grasped it, hesitant to speak.

The Old Master nodded, “Go. Whether in this world or the Azure Underworld, humanity remains humanity, and Bai Ye remains Bai Ye.”

Bai Ye bowed again, taking his leave from the Most Sage Master for a distant journey to another world.

He owed Sun Daochang too much. Bai Ye intended to make a trip to the Great Profound Capital Temple.

Back then, Bai Ye was in Fufeng Continent, already resigned to death. He had divided the Taibai Immortal Sword into four, giving each piece away. Now that he had the chance to cultivate again, he wasn’t worried about repaying this debt of gratitude.

Once he arrived at the Great Profound Capital Temple, a century at most would suffice.

The Old Scholar squatted down, his hands tucked into his sleeves, and whispered, “Heaven and earth are a temporary abode, life is a candlelit night journey. In my walk, I suddenly see it, the bright autumn moon in the long sky.”

The tiger-headed hat child held the sword scabbard in one hand and pressed down on the Old Scholar’s head with the other. “You’re still young, complain less in the future.”

In truth, aside from the Most Sage Master calling the Literary Sage a “Scholar,” other mountain-top cultivators often referred to him as the “Old Scholar.” After all, countless scholars existed in the world, and one like the Literary Sage, who had been one for so many years, certainly deserved the title “old.” Yet, in terms of actual age, the Old Scholar was much younger than Chen Chun’an or Bai Ye, and even further behind the Great God of Mount Sui. But for some reason, the Old Scholar seemed truly old, both in appearance and demeanor. He lacked the refined elegance of the Confucian Chen Chun’an and the immortal air of Bai Ye. The Old Scholar was short and thin, his face etched with wrinkles like ravines, his hair white and sparse. Thus, when he was enshrined in the Central Earth Temple of Literature, and portraits were hung in various academies and schools, they would ask a painting master, close to him, to paint his likeness. The Old Scholar would complain loudly, wanting to be painted younger and more handsome, where had the scholarly aura gone? Realistic, realistic, realistic your behind, can’t you be more impressionistic! Are you good or not? If not, I’ll do it myself…

The Old Scholar stood up and said, “A traveler returning home is a natural law. No matter how good a foreign land may be, one must remember to return home.”

Bai Ye nodded, “I will.”

The Taibai Sword scabbard flashed and disappeared, returning to a vital point within his body.

The Old Scholar worried, “I hear the vegetarian meals at the Great Profound Capital Temple aren’t very good.”

In the distance, the Old Master hummed in agreement. “I’ve heard that they are indeed mediocre.”

The Old Scholar said to Bai Ye, “You hear that? Would I lie? Would the old man speak nonsense? They’re really not good!”

Years ago, the Second Sage traveled to the Azure Underworld for many years, a reciprocal act from the Central Earth Temple of Literature to the White Jade Capital.

Bai Ye reached up and adjusted the bright red tiger-headed hat on his head, looking up at the sky, then withdrawing his gaze, taking one last look at the mountains and rivers of his hometown, where plum blossoms bloomed every year.

Outside the gates of the Great Profound Capital Temple in the Azure Underworld, a young Daoist with a lotus coronet atop his head wasn’t in a hurry to discuss serious matters with Sun Daochang. He leaned against the gatehouse, smiling and speaking with a female Daoist. He spoke of the Second Senior Brother’s borrowing of Bai Ye’s sword, the Immortal Sword Daoist Canon travelling ten thousand miles, something he had witnessed firsthand in the White Jade Capital. Sister Chunhui, you’re too far away to see it clearly, at most you could only see the hazy Daoist energy traveling with the sword, a small regret.

The sword-bearing female Daoist smiled, “Headmaster Lu, no matter how much you chat with me, you won’t be able to enter the gate. The Ancestral Master has spoken, even a dog wagging its tail can enter, but Lu Chen alone is forbidden.”

Lu Chen laughed, “Sun Daochang still holds me in the highest regard. It doesn’t matter if I can’t enter, half of my intention for this visit is for Sister Chunhui. Seeing Sister Chunhui is enough to make this trip worthwhile.”

The Great Profound Capital Temple female Daoist, whose Daoist name was Chunhui, said with a hint of helplessness, “Headmaster Lu, I really won’t go to the Purple Qi Tower to cultivate, or become the leader of the Jiang clan’s foreign surname Welcoming Spring Official, an unprecedented position.”

Lu Chen looked pitiful. “If you don’t want to be the Welcoming Spring Official, Qingcui City is fine too. Have you heard of Jiang Yunsheng, who just returned home? A baby-faced child, lively and cute, and appointed as the Jade Carving Boy by my senior brother when he left home! As long as Sister Chunhui nods, I’ll make sure there’s a happy event in Qingcui City tomorrow! The betrothal gifts will be numerous, one big share from the Jiang clan of the White Jade Capital and another from Qingcui City, the Great Profound Capital Temple doesn’t need to provide any dowry…” The sword-bearing female Daoist was somewhat annoyed. “Headmaster Lu, please be careful with your words!”

Lu Chen blinked and tentatively asked, “Then should I let Jiang Yunsheng recognize Sister Chunhui as his godmother? No need to betray your sect or go to that Qingcui City, you’ll get a son for nothing. It’ll sound good when it spreads, greatly enhancing the prestige of the Sword Immortal lineage of the Great Profound Capital Temple.”

The youthful-looking Jade Purity Realm female Daoist narrowed her phoenix eyes. “Headmaster Lu!”

Lu Chen helplessly said, “Alright, alright, I’m really not cut out to be a matchmaker. But to be honest, years ago when I traveled to Lilizhu Grotto-Heaven, I diligently studied palmistry for many years, I’m accurate in reading marriages, predicting blessings and misfortunes, and calculating fate. Sister Chunhui, how about I help you take a look?”

A tall, thin old Daoist appeared at the gate, smiling. “Headmaster Lu, could it be that your soul has been occupied by a Demon from beyond the heavens? You’re being very shameless today. In the past, Headmaster Lu’s Daoist arts were profound, flowing like clouds and water, like dew and rain leaving a mess wherever they go. Why have you changed your nature today, kindly becoming a matchmaker. Chunhui, why recognize Jiang Yunsheng as a godson? Isn’t there a ready-made one who’s come knocking? Why be polite with guests?”

The current Sun Daochang’s attire was nostalgic. He carried a peach wood sword on his back, a string of copper bells around his waist, and wore an ordinary silk Daoist robe, with twelve hidden pleats corresponding to the twelve months of the year.

If a certain fellow Daoist from the past were to see him, they would surely secretly praise the old Daoist for his immortal grace and genuine Daoist spirit.

Lu Chen smiled. “No, no, it’s not as easy and comfortable as Sun Daochang, an old dog lying in its kennel guarding the night, moving its mouth but not its body. Once it moves, it takes on a different style, an old turtle stirring the pond, stirring up wind and waves.”

Sun Daochang smiled. “Come on, let’s go inside and talk.”

Lu Chen nodded vigorously, stepping over the threshold with one foot, but not landing.

Sun Daochang remained kind and stood aside.
However, the female Daoist with a sword on her back, a cultivator of the Jade Purity Realm, already had beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

It wasn’t that she was timid, but that once Lu Chen’s foot touched the ground within the gate, the Ancestral Master would receive a guest—and not in a polite way. The mountain-protecting array, the Daoist temple’s restrictions, her large group of fellow disciples, and even many of her elders and grand-elders, would instantly scatter across the temple grounds, intercepting any path… The cultivators of the Great Profound Capital Temple were, after all, most fond of a group “dueling” a single person.

Lu Chen hopped, switching feet as he crossed the threshold, still suspended in the air. “Heh, this little Daoist won’t go in.”

The female Daoist didn’t find it amusing in the slightest. She remained as if facing a great enemy. Although she worried about being caught in the crossfire of a battle between the third and fifth ranked immortals in the world, her duty was clear. The Great Profound Capital Temple also had a tradition of never admitting defeat, so she could only stand her ground. Her hands were hidden in her sleeves, already silently forming a Daoist incantation. While striving to protect herself, she would also look for an opportunity to slash a few sword strikes at the Third Sect Leader of White Jade City, or hurl a powerful Daoist spell.

Sun Daoist turned and walked towards the steps outside the temple gate. Lu Chen retracted his foot, bid farewell to Sister Chunhui, and swaggered alongside Sun Daoist, laughing, “So the Immortal Sword Taibai is just gone like that. Does it hurt your heart? I have some salt here, Old Brother Sun, just take it for cooking. Save the Daoist vegetarian meals from being so bland and tasteless.”

Sun Daoist walked down the steps, but as soon as his foot touched the street surface on the last step, the old Daoist teleported himself and Lu Chen tens of thousands of miles away.

Sun Daoist preferred tranquility. Outside the territory of the Great Profound Capital Temple, he had established a summer retreat. It wasn’t a place of strategic geomancy, nor did it have any elaborate restrictions. The only noteworthy scenery for entertaining guests was an ancient pine tree, its ancient aura seeming to drip with verdant vitality.

Beneath the pine tree, a white-clad boy was brewing tea, and a deity with a purple beard like halberds, wearing a tall crown, stood beside him.

Hanging among the branches of the ancient pine was a luminous and adorable “White Jade Plate,” like a scholar’s elegant desk ornament inlaid within the green shade of the pine.

Besides these, on the ground to the north and south of the ancient pine, were two phrases that Sun Daoist and his junior brother had engraved in the past with the Immortal Sword Taibai: “North Feng” and “South Dipper.”

Beneath the pine tree was a stone table. After Old Daoist Sun Huaizhong sat down, Lu Chen took off his boots, sat cross-legged, and removed the lotus crown from his head, placing it casually on the table.

Lu Chen cut to the chase. “I’m here on my Master’s orders. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t be willing to come here to get scolded.”

Sun Daoist frowned slightly.

Apart from the Fifth Continent from the beginning of time, in the other four continents where the world was in order and the Great Dao was strict, there was a huge rule for cultivators fighting: one had to disregard the top four. For example, in this Azure Nether Continent, no matter how bold anyone was, no one would think they could wrestle with the Dao Ancestor. This wasn’t about the steadfastness of one’s Dao heart or whether one dared, it was simply impossible.

However, the Dao Ancestor was unwilling to even visit White Jade City much, letting his three disciples take turns managing it. Even Sun Daoist, no matter how much he disliked Dao Second Yu Dou, still had a great deal of respect for the Dao Ancestor.

Lu Chen laughed. “Bai is also someone who doesn’t like to owe favors, so if nothing unexpected happens, he will most likely come to the Great Profound Capital Temple to repay it. The Confucian Temple won’t stop him either. I’m here today to say hello. Whatever the relationship between White Jade City and the Great Profound Capital Temple was in the past, it will remain the same in the future. Bai will just cultivate here in peace. Whether Bai enters the Great Profound Capital Temple’s ancestral hall’s genealogy or not, White Jade City will only see him as Bai. So, Abbot Sun, you don’t need to worry about anything in this regard.”

Sun Daoist nodded.

Lu Chen propped his cheek with one hand, leaning against the stone table. “I’ve always heard that Old Brother Sun has taken in several good disciples, all excellent talents. Why don’t you let this little Daoist take a look and feast my eyes?”

Sun Daoist asked, “How did Bai Ye die, and how did he come back to life?”

Lu Chen sighed, gently waving his hand like a fan. “Zhou Mi merged with the Dao in a strange way. It’s a problem for the Great Dao! That fellow has messed up the heavenly secrets of the Great Bright Continent into a complete mess. And half of the Embroidered Tigers, not sooner or later, just happened to sever a crucial vein of mine. I don’t trust what my disciples He Xiaoliang, Cao Rong, and the others saw. Better not to calculate and leave it to fate. Anyway, it’s not my own business for the time being. If the sky falls, there’s still a truly invincible Senior Brother Yu Dou to hold it up.”

Sun Daoist sneered. “Dao Second was willing to lend the sword to Bai Ye, almost making this old Daoist’s eyes pop out.”

Lu Chen said lazily, “Senior Brother Yu is still very heroic, you know. Old Brother Sun, as half a family member, don’t say angry words, it’s easy to hurt feelings.”

Sun Daoist and Lu Chen looked up at the sky almost simultaneously.

Sun Daoist stood up, laughed loudly, and formed a Daoist incantation with both hands. The White Jade Plate among the branches of the ancient pine shone brightly, its radiance covering the heavens and the earth.

Lu Chen quickly put on his boots. He left immediately and quickly left the scene.

After Lu Chen left and the light subsided, an old man and a child stood before Sun Daoist. Sun Daoist stared wide-eyed, full of doubt, and said in disbelief, “Bai Ye?”

The child wearing a tiger-head hat nodded, took out a sword sheath, handed it to the old Daoist, and said apologetically, “The Immortal Sword Taibai has been destroyed…”

The old Daoist waved his hand and shouted, “To hell with it! Why say more about such a small matter?” The old man walked quickly to the child’s side and squatted down, jokingly saying, “Which family’s little doll is this? So cute and exquisite! The young women of the Great Profound Capital Temple won’t be able to focus on cultivation anymore, they’ll just be running over to pinch your little face every day. Even I, as the Ancestral Master, can’t say much…”

Bai Ye remained expressionless, only tugging at the straps of the tiger-head hat around his neck.

The child’s mood at the moment was probably not very good.

On the way here, the old scholar had spoken with certainty, saying that the Sage Confucius had personally reminded him not to take off this hat too hastily, at least until he reached the Upper Five Realms.

Bai Ye couldn’t imagine what it would be like to wear a tiger-head hat all the time before reaching the Jade Purity Realm.

The old scholar beside him pinched a cyan-colored long-distance travel talisman with two fingers, gradually disappearing. When the talisman was completely burned, it would be time for the old scholar to return to the Great Bright Continent.

Sun Daoist stood up, made a Daoist salute, and said with a smile, “The old scholar’s demeanor is unparalleled.”

The old scholar returned a salute, praising with a smile, “Daoist Master, Daoist Master.”

Both sides understood each other without speaking and smiled at each other.

It was better to meet in person than to just hear about it. Indeed, this was family.
Then the old scholar, with a talisman pinched between his fingers and his other hand pointing towards the heavens, stood on tiptoe and bellowed, “Dao the Second, you truly believe you’re invincible, eh? Either debate with me, or be a man and use that immortal sword to chop me down! Come, come, strike right here! Remember to bring that immortal sword, or don’t bother coming. You’re not strong enough without it. This righteous and chivalrous Sun Daoist by my side won’t interfere. Our feud will be settled by the edge of an immortal sword!”

At the highest point of White Jade City, Dao the Second narrowed his eyes, silently calculating with hand seals in his sleeve, while also glancing at the firmament.

Bai Ye suddenly said, “The immortal sword and its Daoist secrets will only return to the Azure Underworld before your talisman disappears.”

Though his cultivation was gone, his perceptive eye remained.

The old scholar chuckled, his expression nonchalant.

However, the hand holding the talisman immediately drooped, swaying gently.

A moment later, he simply raised his hand and blew on the talisman with all his might.

They were all family; why stand on ceremony?

The old scholar might be poor, but he was never poor in spirit.

Sun Daoist laughed, “Venerable Master, no need to rush back. If Dao the Second dares to come here, I dare to go to White Jade City.”

The old scholar clutched the talisman in his hand, rubbing his hands together and laughing, “No, no, we can’t involve Bai Ye in such a dispute so soon after his arrival.”

Sun Daoist suddenly frowned, “Old Scholar, can you go to the Fifth Heaven?”

The old scholar shook his head, “Not yet.”

Sun Daoist reminded him, “You’d best be able to.”

The old scholar instantly understood. He opened his hand, and Sun Daoist, with two fingers pressed together, condensed a spark of spiritual light at his fingertip and gently pressed it onto the far-traveling talisman personally drawn by the Most Sage Master.

The old scholar turned to look at the child with the tiger-head hat.

He should be at ease, but he simply couldn’t bring himself to be.

After all, Bai Ye was now merely a child who needed to seek the Dao anew, no longer the most triumphant figure of the fourteen realms.

Bai Ye said, “Take care of yourself first. I’ll find you for a drink later.”

The old scholar nodded, suddenly overcome with emotion. He softly asked, “That Bai Ye who ‘laughs heartily and walks out the door,’ I’ve always been curious, what kind of Bai Ye was he?”

The old scholar was just asking casually. Whether Bai Ye had an answer or not didn’t matter.

The child with the tiger-head hat thought for a moment, crossed his arms, slightly raised his heels, tilted his head high, opened his mouth and closed it again, reciting three words almost without any intonation, as if reciting a text, “Ha, ha, ha.”

Rather perfunctory.

Even Sun Daoist, who had seen countless storms, felt he had truly broadened his horizons today.

The old scholar laughed so hard his eyes crinkled. The old man who loved to ramble no longer said anything more. As the talisman disappeared, his figure vanished in a flash, and the gate to the heavens opened, returning him to the Vast Land.

On Treasure Bottle Continent, Cui Chan’s Dharma Avatar held a replica of White Jade City in his hand. Cui Chan himself, breaking his usual routine of giving lectures, was entertaining two old acquaintances. Neither of his old friends traveled across the continent in their true forms. Mountain cultivators had many methods, and the more profound the technique, the more it cost. However, Cui Chan didn’t need to worry about that.

As Cui Chan walked on the mortal plane, along the banks of the great river, a portly rich merchant and a plainly dressed middle-aged man followed the Great Li State Preceptor, strolling by the water’s edge.

Liu Jubao, the God of Wealth from the Snowy Continent, and Yu Panshui, the retired emperor of the Mysterious Secret Dynasty in the Central Earth, were not men who would skimp on immortal coins.

Yu Panshui, the same man who gave the young Lin Junbi a headache in the family study, was now flattering Cui Chan excessively, “Brother Cui, what a grand scheme, truly a world-altering masterpiece! The three wonders of the Vast Land are not enough; this should be added as a fourth!”

Liu Jubao wasn’t as shameless as Yu Panshui, but he couldn’t hide his admiration as he gazed upon the great river.

However, Liu Jubao saw more than just the rolling river; he saw a continuous stream of immortal coins. As long as someone was skilled enough, they could open a giant money bag at the river’s mouth.

Cui Chan smiled and asked, “Old Yu, how is your chess these days?”

Yu Panshui complained, “You know very well. Still terrible.”

How terrible was Yu Panshui’s chess? In Cui Chan’s words from years ago, Yu Panshui spent more time cleaning up the pieces than playing the game.

His style was domineering, decisive, and fearless, so he played quickly and lost early. Cui Chan rarely wasted time with such a poor player, but Yu Panshui was an exception. Of course, the moves were made outside the board, and both sides understood and enjoyed it. In the contest of the Three and Four, the lineage of the Literary Sage suffered a crushing defeat. Cui Chan, betraying his teacher and abandoning the lineage of orthodox literature, became a disgraced outcast. But at the time, in the seemingly prosperous Great Cheng Dynasty, Cui Chan and Yu Panshui played chess at the Yingbai Pavilion, and Yu Panshui revealed the decline hidden beneath the flowery facade. It was after that game that the slightly hesitant Yu Panshui made up his mind to change the dynasty.

Cui Chan had one good quality that Yu Panshui admired the most. Unlike most scholars, if he knew of many flaws that were unsolvable, Cui Chan would honestly keep them to himself, never pretending to be profound. In short, Cui Chan only did what he could, what he dared to do, what he was capable of doing. So, when Cui Chan left the Yu family, besides a certain chess victory, he left Yu’s family a booklet on dynastic change, saying it was to help Yu organize the threads and strategies, to corroborate each other’s plans.

Yu Panshui escorted him to the steps of the cool pavilion and asked, “What does the Embroidered Tiger seek?”

Cui Chan replied, “In the future, when I borrow money from the Yu family, don’t be stingy, Yu Panshui. Give me as much as you can. I can’t guarantee how much I’ll earn, but I promise you won’t lose money.”

Yu Panshui, the notorious poor chess player, was a master of subtle intrigue in matters of power and strategy. Before the age of thirty, he was already the state preceptor of the Great Cheng Dynasty, supporting several puppet emperors one after another, earning him the reputation of “Slaying the Dragon.” Regarding “Fat Yu,” there were mixed reviews both on and off the mountains of the Vast Land, including many scandalous secrets of the palace, which circulated widely. Together with the “Wild History of Beauties,” written by Jiang Shangzhen in the Northern Club Reed Continent, and then paid for by himself to be published, they were known as the “Twin Erotic Texts” of the mountain cultivators.

Cui Chan turned to Liu Jubao and asked, “Brother Liu, you’re still unwilling to make a heavy bet?”

Liu Jubao said, “Making money doesn’t rely on gambling; it’s the Liu family’s first ancestral rule. The two loans the Liu family has given to the Great Li are not small.”

Grain Rain Money. Each time, one hundred *wan*. Two times in total.
Cui Chan chuckled, “Gamble? Brother Liu, do you look down on the defensive capabilities of my Treasure Bottle Continent, or do you underestimate the offensive prowess of the Wildlands?”

Liu Jubao smiled without uttering a word.

Dealing with this Embroidered Tiger, arguing was the most pointless thing to do.

As for Liu Jubao, the God of Wealth from the Snowy Continent, he held a Frosty Bliss Land in his grasp, overseeing the source of all Snowflake Coins in the world. Even the Confucian Temple of the Central Earth acknowledged the Liu family’s ten percent share.

It was a written agreement, with the Sage of Rites and Liu Jubao as the contracting parties.

And that Snowflake Coin mine still possessed astonishing reserves. Grandmasters of numerology and yin-yang masters had surveyed and calculated together for years. The final answer brought great satisfaction to Liu Jubao.

In other words, the Liu family of the Snowy Continent was not only wealthy now but would continue to be wealthy in the future, hence the saying that the Liu family of the Snowy Continent could “sit and eat without emptying the mountain.”

Even the old merchant ancestor, Master Fan, said that the God of Wealth Liu was truly rich.

Among the Liu family’s enshrined protectors, the martial artist was Pei Axiang from the Thunder God Temple of the Snowy Continent. As the number one martial artist on the continent, his rank was only third. There were a total of three ancestral masters of cultivation, two of whom were enshrined by the Liu family of the Snowy Continent.

Cui Chan asked, “Xie Songhua doesn’t even deign to be a guest elder for the Liu family?”

Liu Jubao frankly admitted it, nodding and smiling, “Money, after all, cannot sway everyone’s heart. It’s better this way, which is why I sincerely admire that female Sword Immortal.”

A family ancestor of the Liu clan was currently working hard to persuade the female Sword Immortal, Xie Songhua, to serve as a guest elder for the family, since hoping for her to become a protector was out of the question. Xie Songhua had never had any good feelings towards her hometown of the Snowy Continent, and she had an even worse impression of the wealthy and powerful Liu family.

So, as long as Xie Songhua nodded her head, she not only wouldn’t have to go through the motions at the Liu manor in this lifetime, but she also wouldn’t have to do anything as a guest elder. She could be absent from the ancestral hall meetings, but as long as her words were conveyed, they would be effective. In addition, before Xie Songhua’s two direct disciples, Juxing and Zhaomu, reached the Upper Five Realms, the Liu family of the Snowy Continent would be responsible for all the natural treasures and immortal money needed for nurturing their swords and refining artifacts.

But even so, Xie Songhua still refused to nod her head. From beginning to end, she only said one sentence to that Liu family ancestor, “If it weren’t for the sake of the Ape-Ravaged Abode on Upside-down Mountain, you would be asking for a sword duel.”

Of course, the Liu family of the Snowy Continent didn’t really lack a Sword Immortal to guard their home; it was just that the family head of the Liu family of the Snowy Continent had spoken, instructing that family elder to accomplish this matter without fail, and to speak politely, to treat Sword Immortal Xie with respect. Otherwise, when he returned to the ancestral hall, Liu Jubao would not speak kindly.

Cui Chan smiled, “Business is business. It doesn’t matter if Brother Liu doesn’t want to bet big and win big. When I borrowed money before, I returned every Snowflake Coin of principal and interest to the Liu family. In addition, I can have Xie Songhua serve as a protector for the Liu family, as a thank you for Brother Liu’s willingness to lend money.”

Besides, Liu Jubao did not forget his roots, secretly spending countless resources on the martial fortune and sword dao fortune of the Snowy Continent, all of which Cui Chan saw.

The wealthy people in the world come and go, and no matter if they are old or new, someone will always sit in the position of the wealthy. So who deserves to be wealthy is a great question.

In the world, things go around and around, and in the end, it’s still about interactions between people.

Liu Jubao said, “Next, the Wildlands will be consolidating their battle lines. Even if Zhou Mi throws most of their top combat power to the Southern Sahasra Continent, the Treasure Bottle Continent will still be in a very awkward situation.”

Cui Chan sneered, “Mosquito gathering?”

Liu Jubao was speechless.

“Fat Yu,” known to the world for his big heart, still felt his eyelids twitching, and he quickly patted his chest to calm his nerves.

The Great Li Dynasty had been working hard to govern for more than a century, and the national treasury had accumulated a wealth of resources. Coupled with the private property of the Song family emperor, it was actually rich enough compared to an ordinary Central Earth dynasty. However, before the Great Li iron cavalry went south, just building that imitation White Jade Capital and supporting the iron cavalry’s southward campaign had already stretched them thin. In addition, those vast sword boats arrayed in the sky, the mountain-crossing ships that transported border troops across the clouds as if walking on flat ground, the talisman armors tailored for the Great Li iron cavalry so that “men and horses were all armored,” the siege weapons, defensive mechanisms, and secret-method-refined bows and crossbows aimed at cultivators on the mountains, and the array hubs built along several coastal battle lines… So many money-consuming and countless items from the mountains would have emptied even the Great Li’s gold and silver mountains early on. So what to do?

Borrow money.

Embroidered Tiger Cui Chan borrowed from Master Fan of the Merchant family, borrowed from Yu Panshui, borrowed from the Liu family of the Snowy Continent, borrowed from the Giant of the Mo family, and secretly borrowed from the various schools of thought.

A portion was repaid through the Great Li iron cavalry’s southward campaign, the huge profits from the continuous integration of a continent’s mountains and rivers, with one continent equaling one country.

In addition to this, Cui Chan also “pre-spent” a large portion, of course, from the Fallen Leaf Continent, where the continent was destroyed, and the dynasties and mountain sects were almost completely annihilated!

Liu Jubao shook his head, “No need for that, it’s not clear.”

Cui Chan turned his head and smiled, “Xie Songhua takes the initiative to request to serve as a protector for the Liu family, would you be willing to stop her? To go back on your word, are you playing with a female Sword Immortal with a bad temper?”

Liu Jubao said helplessly, “You’re ruthless.”

Yu Panshui gloated and laughed, “Seeing God of Wealth Liu get the short end of the stick is truly refreshing! Good, good, just based on this move by the Embroidered Tiger, I’ll take out half of the Profound Secret National Treasury!”

Cui Chan smiled slightly, “No need to thank me, thank God of Wealth Liu for giving the Yu family this opportunity to make money.”

Yu Panshui clicked his tongue and said, “Only the Embroidered Tiger can borrow money in such a refreshing and refined way!”

Liu Jubao suddenly stopped walking and said, “I only need to confirm one thing: Did you, Cui Chan, leave yourself a way out? I’ll bet on it, starting now!”

Yu Panshui stopped as well, pricking up his ears. This was also the thing that he, as the family head of the Yu family, wanted to know the most. Once confirmed, not to mention the remaining half of the Profound Secret Dynasty’s treasury, Yu Panshui would turn the sixteen vassal states upside down and accompany the Embroidered Tiger and the God of Wealth Liu to accomplish a grand feat. Dare to rebel? Do they think my Profound Secret Dynasty’s territory isn’t big enough?

Cui Chan shook his head, “People’s hearts are different. I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

The implication was that without a way out, one’s heart has a place to rest, and that was all.

Cui Chan calculated human affairs, national fortune, and the general trend extensively, but he was by no means a scheming person who only relied on cunning and unscrupulous methods.
Liu Jubao vigorously rubbed his cheeks, then swore a few rare curses. Finally, he stared blankly at the embroidered tiger and demanded, “Whether the Liu Clan’s all-in bet can truly earn the wealth of the Tongye Continent, and more importantly, whether the money earned will be burning hot – surely you can speak to this?!”

Yu Panshui muttered under his breath, “You deaf fool, the Embroidered Tiger has been saying all along that it can earn money! You only feel happy when you’re being scolded. If a hero like Brother Cui truly desires to amass fortunes, then not only will the Aiai Continent lose its ‘North,’ but you, Liu Jubao, will also forfeit your title as a God of Wealth.”

Cui Chan looked at Liu Jubao and said with a faint smile, “Helping a friend earn money is one of life’s great pleasures.”

Liu Jubao’s expression was complicated. He raised a hand, and Cui Chan hesitated for a moment before gently giving him a high five.

Liu Jubao dispelled his arcane arts, his form dissipating as he left behind a sentence, “The money is a bit much.”

Yu Panshui, however, did not leave. He accompanied Cui Chan for a while longer until the grand shrine of the Great Water was visible in the distance. Yu Panshui then stopped, saying softly, “Regardless of what others may think, I would hate for the world to lose an Embroidered Tiger.”

Cui Chan chuckled, “It’s alright.”

Yu Panshui sighed and vanished in a flash.

Cui Chan sat by the banks of the Great Water, turning his head to glance at the distant gate of Qi Du. He retracted his gaze, his face full of smiles. The aged scholar with white hair at his temples softly murmured, “What more is there to say?”