The saying goes, “A year feels like a lifetime.” To be trapped in a vast, illusory realm, languishing for a hundred years, one can only imagine the torment. Of course, Chen Ping’an’s ‘Sleeve Universe’ was one extreme, while Cui Dongshan’s was another. Even for a Grand Cultivator of the Ascension Realm, perhaps only Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City possessed a ‘Sleeve’ as mystically profound as Cui Dongshan’s.

Yu Xiehui, He Gu, He Xiangting, and others gradually approached a mental breakdown, and Cui Dongshan, with impeccable precision, ejected them from his sleeve. After that, they looked at Cui Dongshan as if he were a plague.

Then it was Yu Qingzhang who couldn’t bear it. After another “few years” in the mountains, it was Bai Xuan, the precocious brat with eyes on the top of his head. However, this little rascal wasn’t struggling with his Dao Heart as a cultivator, but with his innate disposition. He found it utterly boring and begged Cui Dongshan to release him, even if just to eat a meal and chat before being thrown back in. Cui Dongshan deliberately ignored him, but the little devil unleashed his flying sword, wildly charging around, crashing and bumping until his spiritual energy was exhausted. He then collapsed, cursing Cui Dongshan as a worthless wretch and vowing to make him suffer if he ever encountered the Hidden Official. So Cui Dongshan, being so understanding, first tossed Bai Xuan out of his sleeve, then abruptly snatched him back. The child, ever adaptable, started flattering Cui Dongshan, but when that seemed ineffective, he began praising the Hidden Official, showering him with compliments. Cui Dongshan, thoroughly amused, finally released the little turtle from his sleeve, patted Bai Xuan’s head, and reminded the boy, whose hands were carefully not placed behind his back, to behave himself in the future. Bai Xuan, with utter sincerity, shouted, “Absolutely!”

Cui Dongshan, feigning surprise, said, “Such a loud voice! Scared me half to death. Full of energy! You can practice your swordsmanship some more.” And so he threw Bai Xuan back in again. Discovering that the child was most afraid of the pale-faced, weeping female ghost, he had Bai Xuan thoroughly explore dozens of eerie haunted houses, “conjured from the heart and shaped by the mind, creating a separate world of bizarre encounters amidst countless fish, insects, flowers, and birds.”

When Bai Xuan finally saw the light of day again, the child grabbed the sleeve of that crazy old man Cui and burst into a heart-wrenching wail.

Lastly was Sun Chunwang, an unassuming little girl, who actually cultivated diligently within the Sleeve Universe, maintaining a strict routine. Half-asleep, she nurtured her flying sword, then promptly rose to take a walk, muttering to herself and drawing talismans in the air, before returning to her spot to continue nurturing her flying sword. She seemed determined to persist until the end of time, never once begging Cui Dongshan for release.

Besides her, there was Cheng Chaolu, Nalan Yudie, and Yao Xiaoyan: a little chef who beamed at the mention of Master Cao, a little accountant, and a little scatterbrain. Cui Dongshan found them all pleasing to the eye and left them alone.

Recently, Cui Dongshan, on his own initiative, had moved the Dragon-Slaying Platform out of the White Jade Hairpin, allowing the children to practice their swordsmanship together, occasionally overseeing their progress himself.

Until today, Bai Xuan, Cheng Chaolu, Nalan Yudie, and Yao Xiaoyan, along with the unpredictable and terrifying Cui Dongshan and that not-so-fat fellow named Zhou Fei, left the secret cave abode on Yunji Peak to visit Yellow Crane Islet. Upon hearing that they could freely haul stones from Old Monarch Mountain’s Inkstone Mountain, they eagerly ran off to try their luck at finding treasures.

Jiang Shangzhen laughed, “At least nine Earth Immortal sword cultivators within a hundred years. Our Fallen Mountain is truly terrifying!”

Cui Dongshan lamented, “Sword cultivation is such a money pit!”

Jiang Shangzhen complained, “Talking about money? Are you cursing me, Brother Cui?”

Cui Dongshan gave a thumbs up. “Brother Zhou Fei is generous too!”

Jiang Shangzhen suddenly said, “I heard that the Fifth World made an exception for a young Confucian scholar, allowing him to return to the Great Domain of the Vast Expanse. Is his name Zhao Yao? He’s from the same hometown as our Mountain Lord, isn’t he?”

Cui Dongshan nodded. “Zhao Yao is highly likely to become the future Grand Preceptor of Great Li, first groomed as a Prime Minister in waiting, then ultimately assisting the next emperor. It’s the Old Turtle’s handiwork, nothing to do with me, not even half a copper coin’s worth.”

Jiang Shangzhen nodded. “That makes sense.”

The situation in Treasure Bottle Continent is now extremely complex.

The Great Li Dynasty, which once occupied the entire continent, has, as promised by Emperor Song, allowed many former dynasties and tributaries to be restored. However, the auxiliary capital of Great Li, built near the Qi River in the central region, still