(Shamelessly, let’s talk about the physical book of *Sword Coming* Vol. 814. You should be able to buy it from Jingdong, Dangdang, and Wenxuan. There might even be signed copies because the publisher asked me to sign a full two thousand of them…)

Isn’t this Zheng Yang Mountain, which boasts the most sword cultivators on the entire continent, reputed to be our Treasure Bottle Continent’s miniature Sword Qi Great Wall?

The younger generation of sword cultivators from Zheng Yang Mountain’s new and old peaks sincerely believe so, and many immortal sects outside of Zheng Yang Mountain echo this sentiment.

In truth, the Record Immortal Masters and wild cultivators of Treasure Bottle Continent have little impression of that distant Sword Qi Great Wall, or the even more distant Ascending City.

If not for Wei Jin’s travels and the subsequent tragic war that engulfed the entire Vast World, mountain cultivators would rarely mention the Sword Qi Great Wall.

And isn’t the Sword Summit Grand Formation on Zheng Yang Mountain’s First Line Peak hailed as another imitation of the White Jade Capital, capable of easily slaying Qi Refiners in the Immortal Realm?

Almost all those observing from the various peaks were previously gazing up at that incredible floating sword formation. The spectacle was immense, the commotion so great that no one could help but witness the breathtaking sight.

What level of cultivation, what amount of sword qi, what kind of self-cultivation, could create such a magnificent sword formation that resonates with the heavens and earth?

When did our Treasure Bottle Continent, in addition to Wei Jin of the Wind and Snow Temple, produce a sword immortal like Liu Xianyang, whose flying swords are mysteriously profound and who can fell anyone he targets, and another sword immortal with such extraordinary and divine swordsmanship?

In the end, only a handful of fortunate individuals saw Chen Ping An gracefully descend at the foot of the mountain, wielding a long sword. A flash of sword light, first an arc, fleeting in an instant, then the young sword immortal severing the mountain’s foundation, and then lightly tapping the sword hilt, lifting the First Line Peak as if with effortless ease.

Therefore, those who only saw the sword formation crashing to the ground all regretted that the river of time could not be reversed, so they could witness the true sword questioning of the azure-clad sword immortal at the foot of the mountain.

Wasn’t it agreed to question the sword with Zheng Yang Mountain after a stick of incense?

How can this Mountain Lord of the Fallen Phoenix Mountain go back on his word!

Truly worthy of being a Summit Sword Immortal.

Before Chen Ping An’s unannounced sword questioning, especially before the sword formation appeared, the spectators’ attention was mainly focused on the various individuals from Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

On the higher peak of Full Moon Peak, the old butler, Zhu Lian, who spoke first, although small in stature and ordinary in appearance, was clearly a Peak Realm martial artist with boundless boxing techniques. His dense boxing intent solidified into substance, flowing out like water, scattering like immortals crushing the white clouds in the sky.

“What is this person’s identity in Fallen Phoenix Mountain that he can be the first to appear and announce his name?”

“Could he be a martial artist from the Great Li’s local border army, that the Inspector Cao would be so willing to give face to Fallen Phoenix Mountain?”

“Who knows? This Fallen Phoenix Mountain is shrouded in mist and hides its abilities too well. It rose so inexplicably. Could Fallen Phoenix Mountain be a stronghold secretly supported by the Great Li, like the Dragon Spring Sword Sect of that Saint Ruan, one overt, one covert?”

“If that’s the case, does it make sense that Inspector Cao left earlier?”

On Green Mist Peak, located on the edge of Zheng Yang Mountain’s territory, a young woman with her hair tied in a bun, the eldest disciple, Pei Qian.

She is already the newest Limit Realm martial artist in Treasure Bottle Continent, but she is temporarily suppressing her realm at the Distant Excursion Realm.

According to the sect rules, Fallen Phoenix Mountain martial artists must drop two or three realms before going down the mountain to travel, to treat people with sincerity.

“It really is that Zheng Qian! First, she threw her fists to kill demons on Golden Armor Continent, then she questioned fists with Cao Ci of Great End, and then she returned to our hometown and caught up with that battle on the capital battlefield. It’s a pity that she threw so many fists, but it was difficult for outsiders to get close, mostly only catching a glimpse. Because I have a friend on the mountain who had the honor of seeing this female grandmaster’s punches, I heard they are extremely domineering. Under her fists, no demon clan has ever had a complete corpse. And she likes to carve out her own formations, specifically choosing the core areas of dense demon clan formations. One punch down, dozens of feet around the battlefield will instantly become clear and bright. In the end, only Zheng Qian can stand. So, it is rumored that among the Summit cultivators, she already has two nicknames, ‘Zheng Qingming’ and ‘Zheng Sprinkle Money,’ which roughly mean that wherever she goes, it’s like sprinkling paper money during the Qingming Festival, with dead people all around. Everyone, imagine if you and I were her enemy?”

“The outcome is self-evident. Zheng Yang Mountain kicked an iron plate today. They offended the wrong person, provoking a grandmaster like Zheng Qian.”

“But she said she is the founding disciple of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, the martial arts direct disciple of the young Mountain Lord of Fallen Phoenix Mountain? But that Mountain Lord is clearly a sword immortal. How can he teach her boxing?”

“Most likely, Fallen Phoenix Mountain has another expert teaching boxing. She just followed the young Mountain Lord up the mountain to cultivate, and actually only has the identity?”

“That’s right, that’s right. Otherwise, this Mountain Lord, who is rumored to be very young, being both a Land Sword Immortal and a Ninth Realm martial artist, would be too unreasonable.”

In the air above Water Dragon Peak, the white-clad young man, Cui Dongshan, who claims to be the Mountain Lord’s prized student, has a vermillion mole between his eyebrows and a jade-like appearance. Today, he also dropped a realm, only revealing the aura of a Jade Purity Realm cultivator.

Beside him is Zhou Mili, the Right Protector of Fallen Phoenix Mountain. This little girl in black, who doesn’t seem to be at a high realm, is actually unfathomably deep. She is the only guest observing at the Cave Mansion Realm.

Anyone with a bit of sense knows that this Right Protector should definitely not be underestimated. After all, this little girl who seems to be from the Water Tribe is, according to her identity, a Mountain Protector of Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Prestigious mountains and immortal abodes that can have someone serve as a Mountain Protector often have the most capable fighters within the mountain gate, just like the Law Enforcement Ancestor, except one defends against external enemies and the other enforces the sect rules within the Ancestral Hall.

Most likely, she disdains to observe Zheng Yang Mountain with her true realm today?

On Fluttering Peak, Zhou Fei, who claims to be the Chief Offering, is dressed in a blue robe and cloth shoes, like a scholar traveling the mountains. Although his temples are frosted, he is still dashing in his blue robe. In addition to carrying a sword on his back, he also treads on a long sword. His sword immortal demeanor is apparent.

The sword on his back is named Jiawu Sheng, which Chief Zhou borrowed from Cui the younger. The one under his feet, Tianzhou, was obtained by Jiang Shangzhen from a secret mansion in the Northern Juju Continent in his early years.

When returning the sword borrowed from Cui Dongshan, he must also give up that Tianzhou sword. Jiang Shangzhen naturally has no objections to this. In the words of Cui the younger, “Chief Zhou and I are close friends who would exchange lives for each other, so I won’t be polite with Chief Zhou. When Chief Zhou is polite with me, I should be even less polite.”
Liu Laocheng, Liu Zhimao, and Li Fuqu, a sect leader and two honored elders of the True Realm Sect, hadn’t ventured far from Mount Zhengyang. They were still keenly observing the situation, and when they saw that person arrive from afar, the three could only offer wry smiles. This first sect leader in the True Realm Sect’s history, and the former old sect leader of the Jade Decree Sect, always acted in such unconventional ways. Even Liu Laocheng and Liu Zhimao, fierce and unruly rogue cultivators who had risen to the upper five realms, didn’t dare harbor any extraneous thoughts when facing Jiang Shangzhen. In a contest of strength, they couldn’t win. When it came to scheming, they were far inferior.

On Jade Branch Peak, the Jade Purity Realm sword immortal with a youthful face and exceptional handsomeness narrowed his phoenix eyes, a look that could enchant any woman.

Crucially, this second-ranked honored elder possessed a radiant sword Qi, as grand as a waterfall cascading from the heavens, its shimmering light enveloping the entire Jade Branch Peak beneath him. It further separated into two streams of sword Qi radiance, sharing the same origin but flowing differently, circling the peak in a slow spiral, one high and one low. This caused the dawn-like sword Qi halfway up the mountain to ripple with layers of golden light, while near the summit, the evening glow blazed like a fiery sunset. The sword Qi was so abundant, yet it caused no harm to anyone.

Consequently, Leng Qi, the female ancestor of Jade Branch Peak, could only lead her direct disciples, one by one, holding their breaths and carefully passing through the small gate.

On Autumn Decree Mountain, the tall woman claiming to be the Law-Observing Elder, clad in a white robe, possessed an ethereal Daoist air. Wherever she stood, precious light flowed, a testament to her undeniable immortal presence.

At Water Dragon Peak, Chen Lingjun, resembling a blue-clad young boy, stood on a large dragon king’s basket, his natal artifact, his arms crossed. As long as he was away from the small town of LIZHU Grotto Heaven, Chen Da Ye was the boss.

Chen Lingjun couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. Brother Jia, Bai Mang, and Chen Zhuoliu, these good friends and brothers, were nowhere to be seen today to witness his heroic demeanor, a lifelong regret for them.

Wu Fu Zhongqiu, the old master’s martial arts realm, wasn’t particularly high at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, only at the Distant Travels bottleneck. However, Zhongqiu was also a Golden Core bottleneck cultivator proficient in Confucian Qi cultivation.

In the past, in his hometown of Lotus Root Blessed Land, he was known in the Jianghu as the Literary Sage and Martial Ancestor of the Southern Garden Kingdom. It was highly likely that in the wider world of the Grand Azure World, he would make this reputation a reality.

On Rain Foot Peak, the sword cultivator Sui Youbian, during a moonlit night some time ago, swam in the Book Brief Lake and quietly ascended to the Nascent Soul Realm.

“Shi Rou,” the shopkeeper possessed by a celestial demon of the Ascension Realm, stood in the air above Rue Peak. Shi Rou, who had donned the remains of Du Mao in Riding Dragon Lane for many years, finally revealed her true female appearance. The scenery seen by the celestial demon was as clear to Shi Rou in Riding Dragon Lane, even clearer than a divine being observing mountains and rivers. The entire Mount Zhengyang territory was within their sight.

Hongxia, the Water Dragon of the Nascent Soul realm, felt like the only awkward spare part present here today.

In terms of realm, Hongxia was indeed several realms higher than the black-clothed little girl, but her own Fallen Phoenix Mountain had its own peculiar traditions, unique in the world. Anyway, realm was never taken into account. Besides, how could Hongxia dare to compare herself to Zhou Mili, the Right Protector?

Therefore, Hongxia had made up her mind. After this ceremony was over, she would hide in Lotus Root Blessed Land and wouldn’t come out until she reached the Jade Purity Realm.

The appearance of Pei Xiang, the Lord of the Fox Kingdom in the Nascent Soul Realm, also caused quite a stir among the guests on Mount Zhengyang. They whispered to each other, discussing the matter animatedly.

Hadn’t the Xu Clan of Qingfeng City always been the most steadfast ally of Mount Zhengyang? Could it be that Qingfeng City had secretly defected to Fallen Phoenix Mountain? Was the incense offered year after year in the Ancestral Hall of the First Line Peak false incense? Were the ancestral founders whose portraits hung there so stingy with their blessings, unwilling to protect their descendants in the slightest? Otherwise, how could they have fallen into such a state of being surrounded by enemies on all sides?

And how many mountain peak allies did Fallen Phoenix Mountain have? Damn it, wasn’t Fallen Phoenix Mountain just a small vassal sect under Wei Shanjun, helping Pī Yún Mountain earn and launder money?

As for Pei Xiang herself, she felt a sense of relief. This fox spirit, whose Nascent Soul Realm had been stagnant for a long time, had, at this moment, clarified her status as an honored elder of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, publicly breaking ties with Qingfeng City. Her Dao heart became clear and bright, and there was even a hint of a breakthrough at her bottleneck. As a result, Pei Xiang’s mind was immersed in the profound Dao rhythm of that great opportunity, and the tails behind her involuntarily scattered with a bang. The dharma image of the Nascent Soul Earth Immortal suddenly grew as large as a mountain, and her seven giant fox tails slowly swayed in the wind, dragging out bursts of dazzling streamers, creating a dreamlike scene.

The honored elder of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, who openly claimed to be “named” in the Inverted Hanging Mountain, seemed to be another Jade Purity Realm sword immortal?

Any one of them, taken alone, would be shocking enough, but today was different. These things didn’t seem to matter anymore.

What truly shocked all the guests from Treasure Bottle Continent, and even all the cultivators from other continents watching the ceremony through Mirror Flowers, Water Moon, were the last two people to appear.

Wei Jin of Wind and Snow Temple!

Ning Yao of Ascension City?

Guest Elder Wei Jin.

This great sword immortal of the Wind and Snow Temple, who declared his title and name, the undisputed number one swordsman of Treasure Bottle Continent, was now standing on the Da Li ferry boat near the First Line Peak, leaning on the railing.

In the two battles of killing demons in the Sword Qi Great Wall and questioning Heavenly Sovereign Xie Shi, it could be said that Wei Jin’s realm, prestige, and killing power made him a sect in himself.

If Wei Jin hadn’t been so carefree and aloof, with his whereabouts as uncertain as clouds and water, he could have easily founded a sect if he had wanted to. It would have undoubtedly been successful, and he would have had no shortage of disciples. If all the sword cultivator prospects in a continent’s landscape could choose their mountain, they would definitely abandon Dragon Spring Sword Sect and Mount Zhengyang and actively follow Wei Jin to practice swordsmanship.

The reason was simple: the sword path of Treasure Bottle Continent was ignited by Wei Jin.

It was Wei Jin who let the cultivators of the Three Continents know that the peaks of Treasure Bottle Continent also had sword immortals, with a flowing and unrestrained spirit that was not inferior to other continents.

And over at White Egret Crossing, the woman carrying a sword box, Ning Yao?

Ning Yao of the Sword Qi Great Wall and the Fifth World?

Absolutely impossible. Just consider one thing: she went to the New World, so how could she have come to the Grand Azure?

Would the Literary Temple make an exception for her? Or did she ascend with her sword through her own abilities?

So anyone with a brain would know that it was probably just someone with the same name.
Moreover, the appearance and wind-borne hovering of this sword-carrying woman were both understated, not even approaching the spectacle created by the three sword immortals, Mi Yu, Sui Youbian, and Yu Daoxuan.

Yu Huiting stood beside Wei Jin, whispering through the mind, “Uncle Wei? Is he really that ‘Mi Interceptor’ from the Sword Qi Great Wall?”

She recognized that fellow. They first met amidst the landscapes. At that time, he was mingling with a group of women from Changchun Palace, even claiming to know Uncle Wei. She mistakenly took him for a glib-tongued fellow. Later, he secretly went to Uncle Wei’s Immortal Terrace, pilfering a branch from that ten-thousand-year-old pine tree. The Mountain Master clearly discovered it but didn’t stop him, even seeming quite wary of this sword cultivator, believing him to be a Jade Pure Realm sword immortal. Yu Huiting was skeptical at the time, wondering if he truly knew Uncle Wei.

Wei Jin nodded, “Indeed. Mi Yu’s aptitude for cultivation at the Sword Qi Great Wall was considered outstanding, but his swordplay used to be self-limiting. Mi Yu in the Earth Immortal and Human Immortal realms was worlds apart from Mi Yu in the Jade Pure Realm.”

Yu Huiting couldn’t help but look towards the young woman at Egret Ford, “Uncle Wei, who is she?”

Wei Jin said indifferently, “If you don’t believe me, ask yourself.”

Yu Huiting pretended to fly away on the wind, but Uncle Wei Jin remained unmoved. She had no choice but to withdraw her aura ripples.

She asked softly, “Is Uncle Wei going to draw your sword?”

Wei Jin said helplessly, “Is there a need?”

Yu Huiting wondered, “After all, there’s an immortal formed from multiple sword daos on the Sword Peak of Zhengyang Mountain.”

Wei Jin shook his head, “As long as Ning Yao draws her sword, it will shatter with a flick of her finger.”

The taciturn Wei Jin added, “Besides, our Hidden Official, who has never lost at drinking, won’t give Zhengyang Mountain the chance.”

Yu Huiting was shocked, “Hidden Official?!”

Wei Jin was surprised, “You didn’t know?”

Yu Huiting looked aggrieved, how would she know?

Wei Jin stopped speaking, finding it annoying. He should go to the Sword Qi Great Wall sooner and seek sword techniques from Mister Zuo, so he wouldn’t be bothered.

Wu Tijing had been hiding in the shadows, his sword strike extremely decisive. Almost as soon as Liu Xianyang went to Tingjian Pavilion, Wu Tijing drew his sword almost simultaneously with Xia Yuancui of the Jade Pure Realm.

This young sword cultivator, whose realm was temporarily only Golden Core, not only offered his Natal Sword, named Mandarin Duck, but also offered a second flying sword with two Natal Divine Abilities.

Both Divine Abilities were unreasonable, capable of temporarily breaking through his realm and erecting a mysterious Bridge of Longevity.

Previously, Wu Tijing had erected an ethereal Bridge of Longevity between himself and Tao Yanbo and Yan Chu. Thus, if anyone suffered a fatal injury, the damage would be shared, ensuring their lives were no longer in danger. For sword cultivators dueling on the edge of life and death, this was simply an unreasonable move that could alter victory and defeat.

Unexpectedly, it didn’t succeed, and Liu Xianyang continued to climb the mountain.

Wu Tijing wiped his face, covered in blood. It was a backlash from some injury sustained by the Mandarin Duck flying sword. This minor injury didn’t damage the foundation of his dao. Wu Tijing didn’t take it to heart at all. What truly worried him was what he saw through this Natal Flying Sword, two women.

In an instant, Wu Tijing seemed to have his soul separated. One part was in a sea of clouds, looking up, facing the golden eyes of a true dragon. Even squinting, the thick luck and aura of the Great Dao surrounding it, or rather her, was suffocating.

Another part of him seemed to be in a bright moon in the sky. Beneath his feet was an unfamiliar world. The person he saw was a round-faced woman with a clear face and figure. She wasn’t angry, just curious, blinking her eyes as if asking, “Who are you?”

Therefore, Wu Tijing almost retracted his sword the moment he drew it.

This sword strike was against his will. As a registered cultivator of the Ancestral Hall, he had to offer two swords for his sect. When Zhu Huang threatened to remove the White-Clad Old Ape from the register on the Sword Peak, Wu Tijing was extremely disappointed. Such a sword cultivator was not worthy of being his teacher.

He went to Zhuyu Peak but didn’t find Tian Wan, who brought him up the mountain. He left a letter, thanking her for bringing him to the mountain for cultivation.

Then he went to Xiaogushan, met Su Jia. For some reason, he felt familiar. Although Wu Tijing was aloof, he was extremely talented in cultivation, as if born with it. He knew this was some kind of long-cherished wish and destiny on the mountain, related to his previous lives. However, Wu Tijing didn’t think that he could be sentimental about his sword training because of a woman.

In the end, this genius sword cultivator, who was just reaching the age of adulthood, simply left Zhengyang Mountain quietly, intending to become a wild cultivator living amongst the mountains and streams.

Where couldn’t he practice the sword? Wu Tijing never felt that the sword techniques taught by Zhu Huang were anything profound. He would learn them quickly, and even after mastering them, he didn’t find them particularly beneficial.

As for whether Zhu Huang was hiding something, having some ultimate sword techniques yet to be taught, Wu Tijing didn’t care at all. He might as well not learn them.

Wu Tijing transformed into a wisp of subtle sword light, leaving quietly.

Suddenly, he stopped, because Wu Tijing keenly sensed an unusual light in a shady tree ahead. It was a moonlight that should absolutely not appear at this hour.

On the Egret Ford side, a round-faced girl who was idle, casually asked while splashing water with a reed, “Who are you? Where are you going?”

Wu Tijing revealed his figure, straightforwardly saying, “Wu Tijing, preparing to leave the mountain for travels.”

The woman’s voice simply said “Oh” and then fell silent.

Wu Tijing waited for a long time, but after that bit of moonlight dissipated, there was no movement.

Just as Wu Tijing was about to set off again, some more moonlight condensed in another shady tree, “Why are you standing still, I’m not stopping you, no grudges between us. But I have to remind you, you’re someone going out into the world now, don’t just draw your sword recklessly like that, luckily I’m not a sword cultivator, right?”
Wu Ti Jing was not one to be easily spooked. Had the man not spoken those words, Wu Ti Jing would have simply left. However, the more he heard, the more it sounded like the man had no intention of letting him go. He couldn’t help but focus his mind, preparing for an inevitable clash. After all, the other party had every right to demand satisfaction, even to the point of a life-or-death struggle, which Wu Ti Jing considered reasonable.

After a brief deliberation, Wu Ti Jing’s sword light rained down, not missing a single spot among the vegetation, tree shade, or shadows cast by the rocks. Every hint of cool shade was shattered by his sword.

The final ray of sword light intentionally slowed down, before landing within his own shadow.

On the other side, She Yue from Bai Lu Ferry was puzzled, “Are you crazy? So what if you’re a sword cultivator?”

Wu Ti Jing frowned, “Are you going to stop me or not?”

She Yue tossed aside the bundle of reeds in her hand, stood up, and laughed in exasperation, “Enough is enough! Get off the mountain!”

Wu Ti Jing hesitated no longer, transforming once again into a streak of sword light, departing from Zheng Yang Mountain.

Ning Yao sensed the situation with She Yue and asked telepathically, “Is something wrong?”

The round-faced girl quickly waved her hand, chuckling, “Nothing, nothing.”

Ning Yao said, “If there’s something, just say it. No need to be polite.”

She Yue quickly replied, “That’s a must.”

Ning Yao thought She Yue was quite compatible with Liu Xianyang, both having big hearts and a fondness for being informal.

The old mountain master of Yunxia Mountain, who had long since retreated from Zheng Yang Mountain, had been observing the mountain and rivers with his spiritual perception. The scene of Xu Hun being sent flying from the Sword Summit was truly shocking to behold. The old celestial master stroked his beard and sighed, “Jin Jian, I’m fortunate to have heeded your advice. Otherwise, I would have followed in the footsteps of Xu Hun of Qingfeng City. My personal life and reputation are of little consequence, but if I were to implicate Yunxia Mountain, all our previous efforts might be in vain, with no hope of ever joining the ranks of the ‘Sect’ characters. So dangerous! How fortunate, how fortunate!”

Cai Jin Jian simply hummed softly. Her expression was complex as she raised her hand to rub her neck.

Years ago, in a small alley, she had been carelessly killed by a slum boy using a shard of porcelain.

After she left the Li Zhu Grotto Heaven alive, she encountered a string of opportunities. First, she surprisingly and fortunately advanced to the Golden Core realm, opened a peak, and became a member of the Yunxia Mountain Ancestral Hall. Then, as a Land Immortal, she took a trip to the Ascension Platform opened by the Great Li Dynasty, allowing her to break through and reach the nascent soul realm. Both on and off the mountain, she was now respectfully addressed as an “Old Ancestral Master.” Moreover, at her master’s mountain peak, there was the “Cloud Sea” event, where the cloud sea was vast and the clouds and mists were especially beautiful, imbued with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and hailed as a “Celestial Treasure.” Cai Jin Jian also had a stroke of good fortune and was now undeniably the next mountain master of Yunxia Mountain, as her master had decided to enter a life-or-death seclusion after this ceremony, either breaking through the bottleneck to become a Jade Purity Immortal or dissolving and passing away. Regardless, he would fight for the title of “Sect” character. Therefore, Cai Jin Jian would take over as mountain master.

In less than thirty years, Cai Jin Jian felt like she was living a dream.

However, she often thought of one person, as if unwilling to think less, yet afraid to think more.

Dong Hu, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites from the Great Li capital, stood on the viewing platform of the ferry, full of anxiety. With the departure of the Imperial Inspector Cao Ping, the old man had lost his guiding star.

In fact, this old Vice Minister was no stranger to Liu Xianyang and Chen Ping An. On the contrary, the old man had a deep impression of those two young men from the small town.

Years ago, he was the Ministry of Rites official who had traveled to the Li Zhu Grotto Heaven to make rubbings of the memorial arch. Now, it was just a matter of changing a single word, from right to left. Year after year, he became the old Vice Minister, having spent his entire life in that Ministry of Rites. In his early years, he had served as the Minister of Personnel in the Great Li’s auxiliary capital for a few years. It wasn’t a promotion, just a lateral transfer, meant to have him, an experienced Ministry of Rites official from the capital, guide a group of spirited young people, lest they become too radical and lose their sense of proportion. Later, when Liu Qingfeng took office, he gave up his position. After the war ended, Dong Hu smoothly obtained the title of Academician, but not one of the Six Halls or Six Pavilions.

The old man was extremely familiar with places like Fallen Phoenix Mountain and Mud Bottle Lane. The first time he saw those two young men was at the blacksmith’s shop by the river. Especially Chen Ping An, who was just a dark and skinny boy back then, had already secretly become the owner of the five mountains to the west with those few bags of hard-earned gold essence coins. However, when the boy climbed out of the well with a basket of soil on his back, he was probably stunned to see a group of unfamiliar officials, those slum youths were very honest and simple back then.

Therefore, it could be said that the old Minister Dong, who was in the central government of the Great Li Dynasty, had watched as the boy from Mud Bottle Lane gradually bought the mountains with a few bags of gold essence coins, leased them to the sage Ruan Qiong, and met Wei Bo of Chessboard Mountain, eventually choosing Fallen Phoenix Mountain as his ancestral mountain and establishing his sect, with the Ox Horn Mountain ferry. After that, the young mountain master had traveled far and wide several times, continuously buying more mountains and recruiting more people to join his mountain.

Therefore, the old man was now both worried about his own situation and somewhat gleeful, using it as a way to relieve his worries and find joy in hardship.

Because Zheng Yang Mountain’s previous entry into the ranks of the “Sect” characters was overseen by another Ministry of Rites colleague with whom he had worked for many years. And last time in Qingfeng City, it was just a Ministry of Rites Vice Minister from the Great Li’s auxiliary capital. In theory, when Fallen Phoenix Mountain joined the ranks of sects, either the Minister of Rites from the auxiliary capital would come forward, or it would be him.

As a result, Fallen Phoenix Mountain had completely ignored the Great Li Dynasty, so that Ministry of Rites Right Vice Minister, the little brat who used to call him “teacher” at the dinner table, had ridiculed him about this matter more than once.

Dong Hu planned to wait and see, wait for the Zheng Yang Mountain council hall to come to a conclusion, wait for Chen Ping An to finish his sword questioning, and then make a decision.

As for certain hints from the Great Li Empress Dowager and certain explicit indications from the Upper Pillar Kingdom Yuan Clan, he could take them seriously or not.

If the Northern Ju Subcontinent, their northern neighbor, was the continent in the Great Nine Continents that was most qualified to look down on everything, and the Southern Tongye Continent, which was once the most inward-looking and deeply rooted, then before that great war, the smallest and most pitiful Bottleneck Continent, with its low mountains and shallow waters, was a small place that couldn’t even be fierce internally. Its mountains were low, its waters were shallow, and it couldn’t even be insulted by cultivators from other continents for having a “small temple with strong winds and shallow waters with many turtles.” Therefore, Bottleneck Continent was the least concerned about the affairs of other continents and was also the least taken seriously by cultivators from other continents.

Of course, things were different now. The perspectives of those who cultivated the Dao were all elevated, and their tones were all inflated.
At the mountainside, nestled within the newly recognized peaks of Mount Zhengyang, stood a grand estate. A long line of onlookers, men, women, and children alike, all registered as immortal masters on the mountain’s records, crowded the railings, eager to witness the unfolding spectacle. Some sneered, muttering under their breath, denouncing the arrogance of the Falling Phoenix Mountain, claiming they were merely bullies relying on their momentum. They questioned how such overbearing behavior could last, suggesting that the tables might soon turn, with Mount Zhengyang unleashing its formidable sword array. A flash of two sword beams, they predicted, would send the young sword immortal crashing down from the First Line Peak, if not killing him outright.

A companion chuckled, agreeing that these individuals from Falling Phoenix Mountain, appearing from seemingly nowhere, were merely announcing their names like waiters reciting a menu.

Someone inquired curiously about the existence of Falling Phoenix Mountain near the Ox Horn Mountain Ferry, close to Mount Piyun in the Northern Yueshan region. They wondered how such a colossal immortal mountain could be accommodated, given the presence of Mountain God Wei’s Piyun Mountain and Saint Ruan’s Dragon Spring Sword Sect.

Another chimed in, nodding in agreement, reasoning that after the Old Lizhu Cave Heaven fell and transformed into a blessed land, supporting a sword dao sect would surely exhaust the region’s spiritual resources.

Growing weary of this topic, someone steered the conversation back to the spectacle, jesting that these esteemed figures from Falling Phoenix Mountain, whether sword immortals, grandmaster martial artists, or mountain sprites with the potential to attain enlightenment, were merely showcasing their abilities.

Suddenly, a discordant voice cautioned prudence in their words.

An awkward silence fell upon the group, as they turned to the speaker, a figure seemingly hailing from Misty Mountain, near the Colorful Clothes Kingdom.

Lu Yuntai, the master of Misty Mountain, could no longer tolerate the reckless chatter of these fools.

“Damn it all,” he thought, “I didn’t just step on dog droppings, I fell into a latrine pit!” While he had no issue with them supporting Mount Zhengyang’s cause, the problem was that he harbored a grudge against the young sword immortal. What’s worse, his Misty Mountain had suffered a sword challenge even before Mount Zhengyang!

Furthermore, Lu Yuntai sensed a gaze directed specifically at him. He had remained, hoping to remain inconspicuous, watching Mount Zhengyang and its adversaries tear each other apart. But these water-brained idiots had drawn attention to him with their incessant chatter. As feared, a voice echoed in his mind, “Why hide? If I remember correctly, you are an old acquaintance of my master? Our master personally visited your Misty Mountain ancestral hall?”

Lu Yuntai’s face turned deathly pale. After a moment of stifled silence, he stammered, “To be personally challenged by Mountain Lord Chen is a supreme honor for Misty Mountain. We are flattered, utterly flattered.”

Far above on another peak, Cui Dongshan smiled, saying, “Because you speak so well, I’ll spare half your life. As for your esteemed brothers, sisters, and fellow disciples who speak so justly, take note of their names. Then, continue to chat along with their words. This den of piglets, fattened for the New Year slaughter. They speak out of turn, act without consideration, lack judgment, and howl with all their might, but they won’t survive the New Year.”

In a mountain god’s temple in Shuishui Kingdom, Wei Wei, with her two divine attendants, watched the “Mirror Flower, Water Moon” projection, captivated and bursting with laughter. When Bamboo Emperor dismissed the illusion, she began to curse vehemently.

In a picturesque setting, Song Yushao, with his grandson and granddaughter-in-law, watched the same projection. The old man, eating hotpot, simply chuckled and murmured, “That brat is accomplished. Not bad.”

Near Xianyou County, in a celestial mountain, an aging martial arts master watched the projection, courtesy of the resident sect. He clenched and then released his fists on his knees. The white-haired old man straightened his back, as if forgetting to drink.

In Changchun Palace, the Grand Empress Dowager of Dali wore a grim expression.

And in other continents.

At Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, Li Cai, along with Rong Chang, Sui Jingcheng, Chen Li, and Gao Youqing, her direct disciples, watched with great interest.

The great sword immortal Bai Chang in the north, however, had not departed on her journey from Treasure Bottle Continent. She smiled and remarked, “This mountain will certainly feel humiliated today. Perhaps in a century or two, it will feel honored.”

In the Great Yuan Dynasty, a young man, newly appointed as crown prince, leaned over his desk, staring at the “Mirror Flower, Water Moon” landscape painting, and exclaimed with a “tsk, tsk”, “My master is not only invincible in fist techniques but also invincible in swordsmanship!”

Celestial Lord Xie Shi murmured to himself, “Looks like I’ll have to wait to be challenged again?”

In the Clear Cool Sect, the female sect leader propped her chin with her hand, her gaze fixed on a single figure in the painting.

And in the Great Spring Dynasty.

And at Falling Phoenix Mountain, Cao Qinglang, Nuan Shu, Cen Yuanji, Yuan Bao, Yuan Lai, and others gathered together.

Indeed, in many other continents, including Central Earth Divine Continent, numerous mountaintop sects were using various immortal techniques to remotely admire this celebration and sword challenge at the small Mount Zhengyang.

On Little Solitary Mountain, only Su Jia remained, an unparalleled beauty, secluded in a remote valley, standing alone, forlornly relying on the vegetation.

Yu Yue tentatively asked in a mental voice, “Mi Yu from the Sword Qi Great Wall?”

Mi Yu replied, puzzled, “Who are you?”

Could this Hao Ran sword cultivator, openly claiming to be using the pseudonym Yu Daoshuan, be trying to claim kinship with him, Yu Mi, because of the shared surname Yu?

Yu Yue laughed heartily, “I’m old man Pu He’s good buddy from Flowing Sunset Continent. He greatly admires Sword Immortal Mi. Back home, he often mentioned Sword Immortal Mi at the dinner table, praising him without reservation, especially Sword Immortal Mi’s swordsmanship on the battlefield, with great respect.”

One “Sword Immortal Mi” after another?

Mi Yu resisted the urge to interrupt, maintaining a polite smile, and nodded, “It’s nothing.”

Yu Yue, feeling that this kind of conversation was more appropriate, continued to laugh heartily, “Sword Immortal Mi, my real name is Yu Yue. From now on, we’re family. Of course, Sword Immortal Mi is a second-rank provisioner, I’m just a general provisioner, can’t compare.”

Mi Yu was too lazy to waste his breath and simply nodded.

Seeing that he had no opportunity to present his sword for the moment, Yu Yue continued to chat, making conversation, “Looking at Sword Immortal Mi’s sword energy, it won’t be long before you break through and become an immortal.”

Was he ever going to stop?
“Oh, so you, Yu Yue, previously claimed to be a Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator, but when you come to this old man’s place, you become a ‘Rice Sword Immortal’? Even breaking through realms?”

Thus, Mi Yu couldn’t help but curse, “Screw your Sword Immortal! Sword Immortal, Sword Immortal, your whole family are Sword Immortals! I’m just a broken-down Jade Purity Realm, go cool off somewhere!”

Yu Yue was deeply embarrassed. He had finally managed to squeeze out a few good words, but why was Mi Yu still cursing people?

But he wasn’t angry. Pu He had cursed even harsher words. Besides, he had never been to the Great Wall of Sword Qi. What was a few curses? The old sword cultivator actually felt a bit more at ease.

Over at Azure Mist Peak, Pei Qian narrowed her eyes. Some people on the mountain were talking a bit too loudly. Did they think she was deaf?

Cui Dongshan was chatting with Chief Zhou.

Jiang Shangzhen smiled, “It seems that our Tongye Continent’s lower sect selection will not only be much earlier than planned, but also much smoother.”

After today’s commotion, who in the Tongye Continent would dare to obstruct them?

Jiang Shangzhen didn’t contribute anything to this sword inquiry at Righteous Sun Mountain. He had only casually mentioned to Chen Ping’an that Wei Ying was very optimistic about Yuan Bai, the sword cultivator from the Vermilion Dynasty.

As the deserved and universally expected Chief Offering of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Jiang Shangzhen didn’t mind lending a hand with all his might. For example, he could have Liu Laocheng and Liu Zhimao, for no reason, each choose a mountain peak and start fighting. As for how the True Realm Sect and the Jade Tablet Sect would clean up the mess, that was Wei Ying’s problem. Go find Old Sect Master Jiang! It had nothing to do with him, Zhou Fei.

As for Li Fuqu, forget it. She was making Jiang Shangzhen very uncomfortable as a nominal guest elder of Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Her? Being a nominal outer sect handyman was enough.

Actually, they were temporarily called here to observe the ceremony.

This showed that the Mountain Master felt it was necessary to speed up the lower sect selection, rather than the previously planned step-by-step, interlocking approach.

It seemed that the trip to the Central Earth Confucian Temple and the Northern Reed Continent had changed the young Mountain Master’s thinking a lot.

Cui Dongshan vigorously twirled his snow-white sleeves and chuckled, “It’s only because I’m kind and meticulous in my work. Otherwise, if I brought out Sister Tian for a stroll, I could make Sect Master Bamboo Emperor gouge out his own eyes, throw them on the ground, and stomp on them a few times before realizing how blind he was.”

Jiang Shangzhen nodded, “You must be kind and extremely meticulous. After all, the style of our Fallen Phoenix Mountain is there for all to see.”

Jiang Shangzhen suddenly said, “Old Brother Cui, we can start considering matters a hundred years from now. For example, the future trials for the direct disciples and their disciples. What if, by accident, there was someone like the Righteous Sun Mountain sword cultivator among them? What if they aren’t that kind of person on the mountain, but they are once they’re down below?”

Seeing Cui Dongshan silent, but with a serious expression,

Jiang Shangzhen smiled, “What are you thinking about? This kind of question shouldn’t be so difficult for you, right?”

Cui Dongshan said, “I’m wondering if we should buy mountain and water gazettes from other sects in the future. Should we be thrifty and only buy one copy for the entire mountain, or should everyone buy their own since we’re all rich?”

Jiang Shangzhen initially wanted to laugh, but the more he thought about it, the less he could laugh.

Cui Dongshan smiled, “How is it? Did you realize that these small matters are the real problems?”

Jiang Shangzhen asked curiously, “Do you have an answer?”

“I do.”

“Explain.”

“It depends on what Master wants.”

Jiang Shangzhen truly burst out laughing this time, giving the white-robed youth in the distance a thumbs up. What a smug disciple.

Jiang Shangzhen emulated the young Mountain Master, clasping his hands in his sleeves, wondering if he could do anything today, or how else would he secure his position as Chief Offering?

For ordinary mortals, those who travel at night with a candle, facing wind and rain and muddy roads, what they need most isn’t straw sandals, but an umbrella.

Cui Dongshan turned his head and noticed the little girl beside him, her forehead beaded with sweat, her expression serious, unconsciously furrowing her thin, yellow eyebrows.

Cui Dongshan’s eyes softened as he smiled, “Little Rice Grain, what’s wrong? Homesick?”

The black-clad little girl laughed, tugged at the white goose’s sleeve, and tightly gripped the Mountain Walking Staff in her hand. Little Rice Grain put on a stern face, trying her best to look more experienced than a Cave Realm cultivator, but whispered to Cui Dongshan, “Little Senior Brother, I’m a little nervous.”

Cui Dongshan quickly set Chief Zhou aside and smiled at Little Rice Grain, “What’s there to be nervous about? Little Senior Brother is here, and Big Senior Sister is here. Besides, you don’t need to fight. Our Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s Right Protector is wasting his talents on these small fry, isn’t he? Later, you just hold the Mountain Walking Staff and be in charge of directing the troops, point where to strike. I and Chief Zhou will only listen to your deployment.”

Little Rice Grain scratched her face, “But I haven’t read any military books.”

Cui Dongshan reached out and rubbed Little Rice Grain’s head, but she raised her hand to move it away. Cui Dongshan put it back on her head, and she slapped it off again. When he reached out again, Little Rice Grain turned her head and glared, “What are you doing? Be careful, I’ll get angry!”

Only then did Cui Dongshan laugh and withdraw his hand.

The Xu family woman from Qingfeng City, who had been left on the mountain, looked up and stared at the Fox Kingdom Lord. The woman gnashed her teeth, hating her to the bone, muttering in her heart, “Pei Xiang, you son of a bitch, you still have the face to show yourself today? What, did you hook up with that shopkeeper Yan Fang, or did you secretly climb into that mud-legged commoner’s bed? Who seduced whom?!”

Far away at White Egret Crossing, Ning Yao raised an eyebrow because she had sensed the woman’s thoughts.

Apart from the mountain-moving ape on the peak of First Line Peak, Ning Yao hadn’t paid much attention to anything else. Instead, she had lightly swept her gaze over the people on Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s side: the sword cultivator Sui Youbian, the Fox Kingdom fox spirit Pei Xiang. Then, she noticed the Xu family woman.

So Ning Yao truly “acted according to her preferences.” The Xu family woman had just boarded the ship with Xu Hun, and the ferry had just left the peak when, in an instant, the immortal ferry seemed to shatter into a million pieces.

There was no sword light, sword qi, or sword intent.

Moreover, the people on the ferry didn’t notice any ripples of aura or any abnormalities.

Ning Yao only spoke a sentence to the woman’s thoughts, “Watch your mouth, don’t seek death.”

Afterward, Ning Yao would discover the signs of Chen Ping’an drawing his sword even earlier than Wei Jin of Wind and Snow Temple.

Then she suppressed a smile.

Moving a mountain in front of an old ancestor of mountain-moving?

Only he could think of and do something like that.
At the foot of the mountain, a figure in azure robes waited for but half an incense stick’s worth of time before, with a single sword stroke, it lifted the ancestral mountain of the Zheng Yang Sect by several zhang. Then, a sword formation descended upon the peak, smashing the ancestral hall into ruins.

Following the earth-shattering spectacle, dust billowed from the summit, gradually settling to reveal clarity once more.

A Line Peak fell silent.

Throughout the new and old peaks of Zheng Yang Mountain, wherever cultivators dwelled, one could hear a pin drop.

Chen Ping’an, after sheathing his sword, smiled and said, “This only counts as half of the sword challenge. You still have half an incense stick to continue your deliberations.”

Tao Yanbo, who had neither nodded nor shaken his head all this time, trembled inwardly.

The female sword cultivator Tao Zi had not remained at Sword-Stopping Pavilion, but had instead gone to the mountain peak, hoping to lend her meager strength to cheer on Grandfather Yuan.

The white-robed old ape, with arms crossed, glanced at the woman he had watched grow up, from a porcelain doll of a little girl to a graceful young woman, and finally to a beautiful maiden about to be married.

When this mountain-guarding protector saw that familiar look in her eyes, Yuan Zhenye finally felt a pang of heartache.

A look of shame flashed across Tao Zi’s face. She quickly turned her head away, as if afraid to look directly at the white-robed old ape. But she just as quickly turned back, her face filled with youthful innocence, her eyes seemingly clear and resolute.

The white-robed old ape looked somewhat bewildered, glanced at the ruins of the ancestral hall, and finally at the grown-up woman from Autumn Decree Mountain.

Is this Zheng Yang Mountain?

Down at the foot of the mountain, everyone watched as the azure-robed sword immortal actually removed the long sword from his back and casually tossed it away, the scabbard lodging itself in the memorial archway.

Chen Ping’an rolled up his sleeves, one hand behind his back, and the other extended towards the mountaintop, “Old beast, come down and try your luck while you’re still the mountain-guarding protector of Zheng Yang Mountain. Try and beat me to death.”

These words were already arrogant enough.

But the following words were even more astounding.

The figure in azure robes outside the mountain gate, spirited and radiant, with eyebrows raised like a young man striding across a river, “Within half an incense stick, I won’t retaliate!”