A dragon boat ferry, named “Ink Wash,” shed its illusionary veil at the edge of Mount Zhengyang, slowly heading north for home.

The band from Fallen Mountain disembarked from the ferry.

Only Sui Youbian did not board, choosing to journey alone on her sword.

Hongxia and Pei Xiang still stood together. One, a water-born creature who had successfully transformed into a flood dragon; the other, the ruler of a fox kingdom. Both originated from mountain spirits and were now cultivating in the Lotus Root Blessed Land. They always felt out of place during the Summit discussions at Jise Peak, so they seemed to rely on each other, standing together even when they had nothing to say. As for the breakthrough opportunity Pei Xiang had previously encountered, everyone saw it but no one made a fuss about it, not even Pei Xiang herself felt it was worth mentioning. After all, even if she reached the Jade Pure Realm tomorrow, what difference would it make?

Zhu Lian, with a hunched back and hands clasped behind him, was chatting and laughing with the scholar Zhong Qiu.

Xiao Mili, holding his walking stick, ran around Pei Qian, chirping about how he had accompanied his little senior brother in controlling the wind and hovering. He was as steady as a turnip rooted in the field, without the slightest bit of nervousness from beginning to end.

Chen Lingjun was once again unleashing some kind of mysterious innate ability, becoming sworn brothers with the Jade Pure Realm old sword cultivator who went by the alias Yu Daoxuan. The two got along famously.

One boasted that he was well-known in the Northern Peak territory and the Northern Ju Continent, and that he could drink for free just by mentioning his name.

The other said that he also had a decent reputation in the Flowing Sunset Continent and the Aiai Continent, but he was inevitably inferior to Brother Jingqing.

As for the Mountain Lord’s wife, who had not yet been formally wedded, Chen Lingjun kept a slight distance from Ning Yao as she boarded the boat. With a few flowing steps, like a fish darting through the crowd, he clasped his hands and bowed deeply, sticking his backside high in the air, about to speak. However, he received a kick from Cui Dongshan, falling flat on his face in a most undignified manner. Lying on the ground, Chen Lingjun simply stayed put and shouted, “Jingqing greets the Mountain Lord’s wife!”

Ning Yao said helplessly, “Get up and speak.”

Chen Lingjun blurted out, “Replying to the Mountain Lord’s wife, the ground is cool.”

A man’s knees are worth gold, the more you kneel, the more you get.

Having witnessed Pei Qian’s earlier performance at the Ning residence in Sword Qi Great Wall, Ning Yao was somewhat accustomed to Fallen Mountain’s customs.

In fact, she had heard many stories about this young man in blue from Chen Ping’an.

Whenever Chen Lingjun was mentioned, Ning Yao could almost see, from Chen Ping’an’s expression and eyes, a *jianghu* brimming with good wine. It seemed that in the *jianghu* that Chen Ping’an had only brushed past, he had not walked through, but he had at least seen it, a place filled with banquets, clinking glasses, large bowls of wine, large pieces of meat, and the joy of settling grievances.

The young man in blue had just risen when the big white goose pretended to raise its foot to kick again.

Chen Lingjun put up a defensive stance with his hands. Cui Dongshan withdrew his foot and turned, then suddenly turned back to strike, Chen Lingjun immediately took a leap and shifted his steps, his palms flowing smoothly, forming a boxing stance. Finally, the two exchanged a look, nodded, and stood still, raising their sleeves, focusing their *qi* in their *dantian*. This kind of literary duel was more dangerous than a martial one, killing people invisibly, with knowledge greater than the heavens.

Jiang Shangzhen stood alone, leaning on the railing. Cui Dongshan came to his side, stood on tiptoes, and leaned on the railing. “Planning to go back?”

Jiang Shangzhen nodded. “Wei Ying has no problem being the Sect Master, but he may not know how to make big money. Furthermore, it’s not appropriate for him to interfere with my Cloud Grotto Blessed Land. I need to personally step in and force many people to bend down and pick up money. After that, once the Fallen Mountain branch sect’s location is finalized, I plan to make a trip to the Sword Qi Great Wall ruins. Some old scores need to be settled.”

Currently, the only one missing on this dragon boat ferry was the Fallen Mountain Lord.

Jiang Shangzhen glanced at the outline of Mount Zhengyang. “The Mountain Lord is still too polite. If it were me, I would make that ledger public and let Bamboo Sovereign explain clearly why the mountain-protecting Grand Elder was removed.”

Cui Dongshan chuckled. “You could say that our old ancestor of Moving Mountains earned this ending through his own ability. Compared to old sword immortals like Xia Yuancui who like to be cowards, he has more heroic spirit. Lose or die, he’s upright and honorable.”

Jiang Shangzhen twitched his lips. “Rampaging recklessly across a continent, wreaking havoc for thousands of years, turning a blind eye to at least thousands of lives, yet only seeing the glorious death today and giving a thumbs up, regarding him as a hero? If I remember correctly, among the observing immortals, there’s more than one or two sects who suffered losses and hardships at the hands of Yuan Zhenye in the early years.”

Cui Dongshan still grinned. “Zhou, you’re being no fun, what is excitement? It’s those young female cultivators on Qiongzhi Peak who have to submit to powerful dignitaries. They can’t survive, they wait to die, and those that do survive, are eager to watch other people’s entertainment.”

Jiang Shangzhen said lazily, “Helping someone light a lantern in the night, helping someone hold an umbrella in the rain, only to be嫌弃ed for the lantern not being bright enough and complaining that the rain wet their shoes.”

Cui Dongshan folded his sleeves. “You have to think of it this way, without these petty people, why would the strong strive?”

In life, the real mistakes, the missed and lost opportunities, are not the chances that brushed past, not the benefactors that were missed, but the mistakes that could have been corrected. Then missing becomes losing.

Jiang Shangzhen nodded with a smile. “This reasoning is enough to make an old man like me feel rejuvenated, returning to my youthful days.”

Cui Dongshan casually said, “Besides Mr.’s hometown, Huaihuang County, there are actually two other good places, worthy of being called immortal caves, and forests of gold and jade.”

Jiang Shangzhen asked curiously, “Is there such a saying?”

Cui Dongshan said, “In the Azure Nether World, in the capital of a large dynasty, a group of cultivation geniuses called the Five Tombs Youths emerged. Among the most famous is Wang Yuanlu, regarded as a ‘rice thief’ by Jade Capital. Another, also among the young potential top ten, is also from there. As for the Wilderness World, Liu Cha’s eldest disciple, Zhuqie, and two sword immortals of the Hundred Swords of Tuoyue Mountain, as well as a few younger ones, not sword cultivators, but with very good cultivation aptitudes, all came from a small place.”
Jiang Shangzhen inquired, “Is someone manipulating the celestial timing from behind the scenes, doing this intentionally?”

Cui Dongshan shook his head. “Such actions are prone to divine retribution, and human power can only influence it a little, at most adding fuel to the fire, trimming the wick. No one can conjure such a situation out of thin air.”

Jiang Shangzhen asked, “What does our Mountain Lord intend to do now that he went back after leaving?”

Cui Dongshan blinked. Jiang Shangzhen turned around and began writing in his palm, and Cui Dongshan did the same. When they opened their palms and clasped them together, they both laughed heartily, their minds in perfect harmony, great minds thinking alike.

They had both written four characters:

Supreme Sect Master.

The Ancestral Hall at Sword Peak was utterly empty, and one Immortal Back-Sword Peak was completely shattered. Rain Foot Peak had a new mountain peak. Several affiliated hilltops of the old and new peaks were uprooted, causing the spiritual energy of the sect’s thousand-mile private domain to become chaotic and unstable.

The Summer Heat Lake on Autumn Order Mountain now had a water level as low as a stream. Moonrise Peak had a tunnel carved through it. Jade Branch Peak was not only struck by Cao Jun’s three swords, but also seemed to have been washed by Mi Yu’s radiant sword Qi. The water-dwelling creatures carefully nurtured at Water Dragon Peak were still trembling under the suppression of the Dragon King Basket. The ancient mirror, the treasure of Cloud Dispelling Peak, was turned aimlessly like a child’s rattle, causing the peak to alternate between darkness and daylight…

The sword cultivators of Righteous Sun Mountain tried to stop Liu Xianyang from ascending the mountain for a sword challenge. Not many died, but dozens were injured, and their spirits plummeted.

Venerable Yuan Bai betrayed Facing Snow Peak and defected to Lord Jin Qing of Central Peak Mountain, openly sailing back to his hometown.

Wu Tijing, considered the “Little Wei Jin of Treasure Bottle Continent” and the “Second Li Tuanjing,” had vanished without a trace. It was said that Tian Wan of Cornel Peak received a letter in which Wu Tijing, the rebellious disciple, cursed his master, Bamboo Sovereign, calling him inhuman and unworthy of being a sword cultivator. He declared that if they ever met again, they would still be master and disciple, but Wu Tijing would be the master, and Bamboo Sovereign the disciple.

Dong Hu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites in Great Li Capital, no longer needed to worry about ascending any mountains. He wrote a secret letter, gently blowing on the ink. His regular script calligraphy was strict in its rules but also had a touch of freehand style, earning him the reputation of “resembling Embroidery Tiger’s brushstrokes” in the Great Li officialdom and literary circles. After informing the Minister of the Ministry of Rites of the situation, the old Vice Minister felt carefree and ordered a boat to sail north, both he and the boat drifting leisurely among the white clouds.

As Wei Jin was about to leave the ferry, Yu Huiting asked, “Is Uncle Wei going to see that young Hidden Official?”

Wei Jin shook his head. “No. His drinking habits are terrible. There’s no good in seeing him.”

Back in Sword Qi Great Wall, Wei Jin always got ripped off when he bought alcohol from the wine shop.

Yu Huiting knew that if Wei Jin didn’t consider the Hidden Official a friend, he would never have said such a thing.

The celebration originally held to congratulate Old Ancestor Moving Mountain on reaching the Upper Fifth Realm ended miserably. Sect Master Bamboo Sovereign was still personally responsible for cleaning up the mess. No matter how bad the situation, it was still a sect about to establish a Lower Sect.

Bamboo Sovereign cupped his hands, paying respects to the four directions of the heavens and earth and the guests from the peaks. He laughed casually, “The celebration is canceled. Today, everyone has made a wasted trip. Righteous Sun Mountain will definitely provide gifts and compensation afterward.”

Leng Qi, the Peak Lord of Jade Branch Peak, was instructed by the Sect Master to have the pale-faced female cultivators of the Flower and Wood Workshop quickly remove all the tables.

Bamboo Sovereign retracted his gaze and spoke to the peak lords in secret, “Do not stop any guests who leave Righteous Sun Mountain now. There should be no dissatisfaction or offense in your words. Even if you have to pretend, put on a smiling face. Send people to watch all the guests leaving the peaks. Any violation will result in immediate removal from the Golden Jade Register. If any guests wish to stay, treat them well and remember this bond. A friend in need is a friend indeed, so cherish it.”

Bamboo Sovereign used his Qi Observation Divine Power to look at the mountain ranges beyond First Line Peak. The landscape was crude and severely damaged. However, Bamboo Sovereign was not discouraged. Instead, he joked with the old sword immortals around him, “It’s a pity that the celebration was interrupted by Mountain Lord Chen and Sword Immortal Liu ascending the mountain for a sword challenge. Otherwise, we could have made up for the losses with the congratulatory gifts. Then, we wouldn’t have to rob Peter to pay Paul to repair the mountains and rivers, and we wouldn’t have to divert funds from the Lower Sect site selection.”

Xia Yuancui sighed softly.

This nephew of hers was indeed exceptional in temperament. Even now, his words were so light and breezy. The oldest ancestor of Moonrise Peak, the most senior member of Righteous Sun Mountain, suddenly restrained some of her gloomy thoughts. Now that the great enemy was gone, if Fallen Mountain could truly stop, would Moonrise Peak abandon its past grudges with Bamboo Sovereign’s First Line Peak and cooperate sincerely?

The God of Wealth, Tao Yanbo, hesitated to speak.

Yan Chu’s face was filled with unconcealable joy because Bamboo Sovereign had smiled and spoken to him directly, rather than to the God of Wealth Tao of Autumn Order Mountain.

It was clear that the once glorious Autumn Order Mountain was destined to decline.

When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter; when a person leaves, the tea grows cold.

Very few guests remained.

One by one, the observation boats, like mountain sparrows, flew along the paths that resembled bird tracks and flew away, unwilling to stay in Righteous Sun Mountain, a place of trouble.

Bamboo Sovereign said seriously, “Let’s take this opportunity, while the enshrined guests are all here, to hold the second council meeting.”

Yan Chu immediately waved his hand with a stern face as the Law Enforcement Ancestor, “All irrelevant people, quickly go down the mountain and stay at the Sword Stopping Pavilion. Do not move around at will, and await orders from the Ancestral Hall.”

Bamboo Sovereign smiled. “Since Yuan Zhenye has been removed from the list, the position of Mountain Protector of Righteous Sun Mountain will be temporarily vacant. Tao Yanbo, what do you think?”

Regarding Yuan Zhenye, who had protected the mountain for thousands of years, Bamboo Sovereign only mentioned removal, not his life or death.

Tao Yanbo said miserably, “Sect Master, Autumn Order Mountain is responsible for this disaster. I voluntarily resign from my position and will seclude myself for sixty years to reflect on my mistakes.”

The situation was hopeless. Resistance was futile and would only incur public anger, involving the entire Autumn Order Mountain and being greatly hated by the ambitious Sect Master Bamboo Sovereign.
Bamboo Sovereign fixed his gaze on Tao Yanbo, and slowly said, “Then let Overseer Yan assume this post. From today onward, Autumn Order Mountain will be sealed for a century. Henceforth, all Autumn Order Mountain sword cultivators seeking worldly experience must heed the arrangements of First Line Peak’s Ancestral Hall, brooking no dissent. I trouble Tao Sword Immortal to return to the mountain and soothe hearts and minds. Senior Uncle Xia is of venerable stature and high renown. In this moment of crisis, we must trouble him to emerge from his sword cultivation, temporarily taking on the mantle of Overseer of the Ancestral Hall.”

Xia Yuancui stroked his beard and mused, “So it must be.”

Although Yan Chu was somewhat reluctant, having initially hoped to concurrently serve as the God of Wealth while holding the position of Overseer of the Ancestral Hall, the prospect of managing the financial affairs of both upper and lower sects still held considerable allure.

Upon hearing this, Tao Yanbo erupted in fury. Sealing the mountain for a century, and allowing First Line Peak to completely take over all Autumn Order Mountain sword cultivators?! Was Bamboo Sovereign intending to slowly bleed Autumn Order Mountain dry, to eliminate the power of its various peaks?

Once Autumn Order Mountain was sealed for a century, would not the hearts of the sword cultivators of this bloodline, especially the younger generation, change, following the example of Azure Mist Peak and seeking cultivation on other peaks?

Each adding a brick, each pushing and shoving, each with their own grievances and difficulties. When the wall crumbles, everyone pushes it down; only a fool would not.

Bamboo Sovereign stated, “Tao Yanbo, do you have any objections?”

Tao Yanbo’s expression shifted between light and darkness, glancing at the jade token hanging from Bamboo Sovereign’s waist. In the end, he shook his head.

Although this was a meeting of the Ancestral Hall, Bamboo Sovereign clearly gave no one a chance to say “no.” Without the Sword Apex of the Ancestral Hall, Bamboo Sovereign was the sole voice today.

Bamboo Sovereign turned, smiling towards the female Ancestor of Dogwood Peak, and said, “Tian Wan, your duties remain unchanged. You will continue to oversee the three aspects: Mirror Flower, Water Moon; Mountain and River Gazette; and the mountain gate’s intelligence.”

Tian Wan appeared flustered, her voice trembling. “Sect Master, it was precisely due to Dogwood Peak’s faulty intelligence that we underestimated those two young men. Tian Wan deserves death a thousand times over and wishes to join Ancestor Tao in seclusion for self-reflection.”

Bamboo Sovereign smiled, shaking his head, and declined Tian Wan’s request to resign.

He, of course, knew that this woman was highly suspicious.

Bamboo Sovereign was even certain that she had either a deep connection to Fallen Phoenix Mountain or had reached some sort of alliance. However, this was the price that Righteous Sun Mountain had to pay, a token of sincerity that First Line Peak and he, Bamboo Sovereign, had to present with both hands to that Chen Mountain Lord.

Yan Chu’s heartstrings instantly tightened, no longer daring to haggle over any concurrent positions. After all, Water Dragon Peak had always held the power of intelligence.

This damned woman, Tian Wan, had touched a nerve.

As for Dogwood Peak, let alone any direct disciples, there weren’t even any handyman disciples usually. Only Tian Wan lived there in seclusion and cultivation. Wasn’t this clearly trying to smear Water Dragon Peak?

Bamboo Sovereign felt conflicted. The Sect Master’s state of mind was far from as calm as it appeared on the surface. In truth, he was already exhausted. At the slightest disturbance, even Bamboo Sovereign felt like he could not support the weight alone.

Truth surfaced, people’s hearts revealed, everything laid bare. There was no need to look at the blank expressions and unease of the direct disciples from each peak at Sword Hangar Pavilion. Just look at those at Sword Apex. Some were just useless drunkards, others were clever but harbored their own agendas, still others were just bystanders, choosing to protect themselves. Bamboo Sovereign could not help but smile bitterly, was it true that birds of a feather flocked together?

Bamboo Sovereign’s gaze swept quickly across the area, trying to find a certain person’s trail.

Bamboo Sovereign dared to assert that person was somewhere in the mountain at this very moment.

At the Viewing Pavilion built on the cliff of Full Moon Peak, the Yunlin Jiang siblings remained.

The plaque was inscribed with the golden characters “Solitary Cloud Pavilion” on a black background. On either side of the pavilion pillars hung couplets, the content rather lengthy.

“At dawn, opening the door, the mountain is filled with snow, Watching cranes cry in the wind through the pines, Years cast aside, the heart’s moon is originally round;
At dusk, returning in drunken dreams, falling to the woodcutter’s song, You speak of the White Day Ascension Method, Flowers and trees offered for true appreciation, Incense burned, listening to the rain.”

Inside the pavilion, Jiang Sheng asked doubtfully, “In this state, does Righteous Sun Mountain still have the face to create a Lower Sect?”

That Bamboo Sovereign, who served as the Sect Master, simply had a face as thick as a city wall, truly an eye-opener for Jiang Sheng.

The cultivators of Treasure Bottle Continent, as well as the great aristocratic families, had witnessed this scene. The Mirror Flower, Water Moon, had been closed too late.

Moreover, she heard that the Confucian Temple had already lifted the ban on the Mountain and River Gazette. Righteous Sun Mountain could at most control the eyes of others today, but it could not control their mouths.

Jiang Shan, with the identity of a Confucian gentleman, nodded and said, “Of course.”

Bamboo Sovereign was actually a Sect Master of great cunning and tenacity. Such a person would thrive no matter where he cultivated. As long as he was not killed, and if he could grasp even one or two straws, he could climb back to the top.

Jiang Sheng’s shock at this moment, hearing those two words from her elder brother, seemed even more absurd than seeing Liu Xianyang fight his way to the Sword Apex.

Jiang Shan said, “The establishment of the Lower Sect is without suspense. Together with Righteous Sun Mountain’s Upper Sect, it will merely repeat the past several hundred years, becoming like it was under Li Tuanjing, suppressed to the point of barely being able to breathe. Of course, Righteous Sun Mountain’s situation this time is even more precarious because Fallen Phoenix Mountain is not Wind and Thunder Garden, it has more than one Sword Immortal. Moreover, the two Mountain Lords, Chen Ping’an and Li Tuanjing, are both Sword Immortals, but their styles of doing things are vastly different.”

Jiang Shan looked out, the hearts of Righteous Sun Mountain were like clouds and rain, gathering and dispersing like fragile glass, scattered and brittle like drifting catkins. After several sword matches, it was indeed vulnerable.

Wei Liang’s so-called dismantling was essentially about “cutting.”

Jiang Shan smiled, “Through the patrolling envoy, Cao Ping, a certain degree of distinction was made with the Great Li Dynasty and the Great Li border army, not completely, but it was of great significance. Furthermore, through Yuan Bai, who will most likely go to Study of Books Lake to cultivate, the Central Peak of Azure Jin and the True Realm Sect will besiege the Righteous Sun Mountain Lower Sect, which will be located in the former Crimson Glow Domain. The Crown Prince of Southern Peak, Gathering Herbs Mountain, the Yong River Water God, and the Old Jiao of the Money River Feng Shui Cave near our home, have all made their choices. To accomplish these things, the young Mountain Lord of Fallen Phoenix Mountain had to expend a great deal of mountain incense, the connections he had secretly cultivated, and the genuine exchange of benefits.”

“This is only the first step.”

Jiang Shan explained in detail, “The second step is aimed at the interior of Righteous Sun Mountain, separating the sword cultivators of Pull Aside Peak, Dancing Flutter Peak, all those sword immortals who often took the lead in standing up at First Line Peak’s Ancestral Hall, from those who always sat through the entire meeting. This not only makes a scattered sand even more scattered, but more importantly, it hides a follow-up move, allowing Righteous Sun Mountain’s Upper Sect and the future Lower Sect to begin creating some kind of irreparable division from this day forward.”
“If I were that young Hidden Official of Falling Mountain, after the sword duel, upon departing, I would initiate a fourth step. On the surface, it would seem like I’m letting Righteous Sun Mountain be, of course, welcoming anyone who wishes to challenge Falling Mountain. In this way, Falling Mountain would be giving the Great Li Dynasty some face, leaving a way out for both sides. But in the shadows, I would ally with Central Peak and True Realm Sect, focusing all our efforts on that Lower Sect of Righteous Sun Mountain. It would be simple: any sword cultivator not from the peaks of Dispelling Clouds would find life difficult, even daring not to venture out for training.”

Jiang Sheng was puzzled, “On the surface? A fourth step?”

Jiang Shan chuckled, “White Egret Crossing and Azure Mist Peak are already spent forces. Xia Yuancui of Full Moon Peak is the most adaptable, Leng Qi of Jade Branch Peak is best at clinging to the powerful, and Yan Chu enjoys scheming and profiting. Autumn Command Mountain, having lost Yuan Zhenye, who was practically their own mountain guardian, is the most weakened. Otherwise, Tao Yanbo would have been the most suitable and promising candidate for Lower Sect Master. Regardless of the reason, Righteous Sun Mountain has fallen to this state, a far cry from the days when Li Tuanjing single-handedly suppressed it.”

“Li Tuanjing could challenge Righteous Sun Mountain at will, slaying any sword cultivator. But during those three hundred years, Righteous Sun Mountain endured the pressure, united in hatred against a common enemy, because everyone believed that a single Wind Thunder Garden and a single Li Tuanjing could not truly destroy Righteous Sun Mountain. But this time, Falling Mountain’s joint observation ceremony is different. Therefore, this ceremony is the young Hidden Official’s third step, making everyone in Righteous Sun Mountain, from the Old Ancestor to the youngest disciples, understand one thing: don’t confront Falling Mountain head-on. Seeking revenge is a fool’s dream. The older generation can’t win, and the most outstanding of the younger generation, Yu Lin, lost shamefully. Wu Ti capital has already left, and morale is scattered. Scheming is pointless; the gap is too wide. A direct confrontation is even more out of the question. Given all this, Jiang Sheng, I ask you, if you were a direct disciple of Righteous Sun Mountain, and cultivation in the mountain must continue, what could you do?”

Jiang Sheng tentatively asked, “Internal strife?”

Jiang Shan nodded, but also shook his head, “Yes and no.”

Jiang Sheng was annoyed, “Here we go again?!”

Jiang Shan, who rarely drank, took out a flask of wine, took a sip, leaned against a pavilion pillar, and gazed towards the One-Line Peak, “To outsiders, it looks like internal strife. But to the people of Righteous Sun Mountain, it’s just the natural competition for resources. Outer disciples vying for the status of direct disciples, direct disciples fighting for the order of seats on each peak, competing for the heavenly treasures needed for sword forging. Fame and fortune are inseparable. The path of cultivation is difficult, and ascending is even harder, with competition everywhere.”

“It will only be more intense than before, because they suddenly realize that Righteous Sun Mountain, once considered invincible in the continent, is not a potential successor to a Deity Bestowed Sect. Even if the Ancestral Hall of One-Line Peak is rebuilt, it seems like every day is precarious, fearing that it will disappear at any moment.”

Jiang Shan held up the wine flask and drew a large circle in the air, “In the past, Righteous Sun Mountain could continuously expand, allowing many hidden troubles to be temporarily ignored, even having the chance to ignore them forever.”

Then, Jiang Shan drew a small circle, about the size of a palm, “Now it seems to have shrunk to this small area.”

Finally, Jiang Shan drew another circle between the large and small circles with his wine flask, “Although the reality is this big, people won’t be so optimistic. It has gone to extremes, from the former blind optimism, looking down upon everyone, feeling that the mountains and rivers of the continent all belonged to Righteous Sun Mountain cultivators, to the current blind pessimism, with no ambition left, so they can only focus on the small patch of land a few steps away.”

Jiang Sheng frowned, “Just listening to you, it’s already so complicated. Wouldn’t Falling Mountain’s undertaking be even more exaggerated?”

Jiang Shan laughed, “Whether it’s complicated to do, I, an outsider, can’t easily comment. But just talking about it, it’s really not complicated, right?”

In short, Chen Pingan’s sword challenge not only did not end, but has just begun.

The first sword challenge, Jiang Shan speculated, would be the selection of the Lower Sect Master of Righteous Sun Mountain, where the Falling Mountain’s green-robed sword immortal would place his sword.

Jiang Sheng complained, “Just listening to it is annoying to death.”

“Standing from a high vantage point, grasping the key points, problems can be easily solved, and success will come naturally.”

Jiang Shan pointed to the winding stream called胭脂溪 outside the cliff, and laughed, “Since Falling Mountain has helped Righteous Sun Mountain carve out a riverbed, then people’s hearts, like flowing water, will naturally flow into it, and those who walk and step into it will not even realize it.”

Jiang Shan suddenly stood up, bowed to the pavilion steps, stood up again, and asked with a smile, “Mountain Master Chen, I wonder if there is anything wrong with my shallow views?”

Chen Pingan, who had returned, smiled, “All correct, no major flaws. But it’s not as mysterious and profound as Gentleman Jiang said. In my opinion, the essence of all knowledge is just ‘patience’.”

Jiang Shan pondered for a moment and nodded with a smile, “Mountain Master Chen’s insight is unique, indeed more concise and to the point than what I said.”

Chen Pingan knew this person was waiting for him.

So, he came to meet the future head of the Yunlin Jiang Clan.

Jiang Sheng was shocked, suddenly turned his head, and saw an uninvited guest who had returned.

Righteous Sun Mountain was truly cursed for eight lifetimes to be plagued by such a persistent ghost.

He saw the man walking slowly up the steps with a smile. This young Mountain Master of Falling Mountain, the last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall, had changed his attire, wearing a lotus crown that overstepped orthodox Daoist norms, with a robe of fine gauze, cloud-walking shoes, and holding a white jade Ganoderma. The Daoist aura was misty, ethereal, and fluid. The so-called immortal bearing in the strange legends of the mountains below was nothing more than this.

After sitting down in the pavilion, Jiang Shan asked with a smile, “Mountain Master Chen, would it have been better not to kill Yuan Zhenye?”

Chen Pingan said, “Speaking only of the result, it would be better. But doing things, one cannot resort to unscrupulous means and manipulate people’s hearts, even if the result is the same. There is some difference between controlling and playing with people’s hearts, even if the result is the same. To one’s own heart, the difference is even more vast. What do you think, Gentleman Jiang?”

Not killing Yuan Zhenye would have left Righteous Sun Mountain with a huge surprise. Chen Pingan could have indeed done it, and even done it without anyone knowing. Back then, on Sword-Bearing Peak, he could have used the Bird-in-a-Cage sword.

Jiang Shan nodded solemnly, “Indeed.”
Chen Ping’an smiled and handed over a pot of Qing Shen Mountain wine brewed by his own wine shop, “It’s not fine wine, and the price isn’t high, it’s just that I don’t have much stock here. Each pot drunk is one less.”

Jiang Shan thanked him, took the wine pot, took a sip, then another, and finally said, “The flavor seems just so-so.”

Chen Ping’an said with a straight face, “That must be because Esteemed Jiang has not imbibed enough.”

Jiang Shan changed the subject, “Mountain Master Chen, why not announce to the entire continent today the past history of Yuan Zhenye, how tyrannical he was, and how he slaughtered innocents? In doing so, it would lessen the unwarranted accusations from the mountain cultivators. Even if it’s just a simple matter, such as when Yuan Zhenye moved three broken mountain ranges, he didn’t even bother to have the local government notify the people, those mortal woodcutters who ultimately died unjustly in the mountains.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and smiled, “Even those who know the truth will still curse, let alone those mountain cultivators who don’t know the truth, it’s unstoppable. Fallen Phoenix Mountain is too reasonable, and adheres to the rules everywhere. If they curse us less, some people will become emboldened. If Fallen Phoenix Mountain is unreasonable, they will curse us more in secret, but they won’t dare to provoke us. Since it’s difficult to have both, let’s be pragmatic and reap some tangible benefits.”

Jiang Shan thought for a moment, “That makes sense.”

This Confucian gentleman put down the wine pot in his hand, sat upright, facing the young Mountain Master, and smiled, “If we allow the Upright Sun Mountain to rise step by step, and ultimately become the number one sword sect in our Treasure Bottle Continent, at least in my opinion, it would be a great joke.”

Jiang Sheng looked embarrassed. After all, she had a thin skin. Was her elder brother forgetting things after drinking? It was their Cloud Forest Jiang Clan that helped Upright Sun Mountain establish a sub-sect in the Confucian Temple.

Chen Ping’an glanced at this “corpulent” daughter-in-law of the Fu family in Old Dragon City, feeling somewhat strange. Jiang Shan and Jiang Yun were both very intelligent, but it seemed that this woman was not particularly clever?

The Cloud Forest Jiang Clan naturally had some selfish motives in supporting Upright Sun Mountain’s establishment of a sub-sect, but it couldn’t be considered too biased. This was because Upright Sun Mountain did not yet know that the Confucian Temple was about to launch a large-scale attack on the Savage Desolate World. As a condition, Upright Sun Mountain had to provide a considerable number of “extra” sword cultivators to go to the Savage Desolate World. Coupled with the quota from the Great Li Song Clan, after these two groups of swordsmen from the peaks of Upright Sun Mountain descended, there wouldn’t be many left. Moreover, this time traveling to wield their swords was no child’s play. At the ports in the Savage Desolate World, even the Great Li Iron Cavalry had to obey orders. It would be difficult for Upright Sun Mountain to spend money to avoid disaster again.

Therefore, there was no problem with Jiang Shan’s words, bluntly expressing his dislike for Upright Sun Mountain. Jiang Sheng didn’t need to feel guilty.

However, if there hadn’t been today’s sword duel, with the life-saving abilities of those old sword immortals of Upright Sun Mountain, they could have repeated their old tricks, using the swords and lives of the Cloudy Peak and Fluttering Peak sword cultivators to help First Line Peak seize fame and fortune.

Jiang Shan knew more about the truth of the Sword Qi Great Wall than Jiang Sheng, who had married into Old Dragon City.

The battle under the city, replacing Ning Yao, slaying Li Zhen with his sword.

A carefully planned assassination by the Jia Shen camp. Bamboo Chest, Li Zhen, Rain Four, Beach, and Flow White, these five talented sword cultivators who lacked neither mentorship, opportunity, nor aptitude, were all among the Hundred Sword Immortals of Holding Moon Mountain. As a result, Chen Ping’an not only successfully escaped, but also counter-killed Flow White.

South Nuan Chen, North Hidden Official.

Leading the Hidden Official lineage and sitting in the Summer Palace was equivalent to winning about three more years for the Vast Bright World, preserving the seeds of the Flying Ascension City sword cultivators to the greatest extent, making Flying Ascension City stand out in the Five Colors World, expanding its territory far surpassing other forces.

It was said that the current new master of Holding Moon Mountain, the nominal co-ruler of the Savage Desolate World, Fei Ran, had also specifically targeted Chen Ping’an on the battlefield.

He had guarded the city alone for many years, confronting a Dragon Lord of the Throne Demon race.

As a result, during the Confucian Temple discussion, the family head smiled after returning to his hometown, saying that many great demons openly ridiculed Chen Ping’an during the confrontation between the two worlds.

It was rumored that Zhou Qinggao, who held a high position and was a closed disciple of Wen Hai Zhou Mi, had always hoped to replay the game of chess with Chen Ping’an, but unfortunately, his wish was not fulfilled.

Jiang Shan admitted that he was far inferior to the peer in front of him.

Apart from the fact that the young Hidden Official’s cultivation was not high enough back then, and he was unable to personally kill a Flying Ascension Realm demon on the battlefield and inscribe his name on the city wall.

This young man, also from Treasure Bottle Continent, seemed to have accomplished everything else.

But in fact, Jiang Shan knew very well that in the future, there would still be a small group of people on Treasure Bottle Continent who, even if they knew this news and inside information, would still feel that Chen Ping’an wasn’t even a Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator back then, so how could he be worthy of being the Hidden Official? How could he be worthy of respect from the Vast Bright sword cultivators?

Some people thought that the strong were always right, even if they were trampling on others.

Some people thought that the strong were always wrong, even if they were protecting others.

Chen Ping’an folded his hands in his sleeves and looked outside, as if after the storm, the green mountains were still there, and the clouds and water were even more carefree. After a moment of silence, he turned his head and smiled, “Jiang Shan, does your Cloud Forest Jiang Clan, or rather, you yourself, have any interest in being the behind-the-scenes Supreme Sect Master of Upright Sun Mountain?”

Jiang Shan felt somewhat regretful and shook his head, “It’s ultimately not something a gentleman would do.”

Chen Ping’an stood up, smiling and nodding, “Fortunately, I’m not even a Sage of the Academy.”

Jiang Shan followed suit and asked, “Is Mountain Master Chen going to do it personally? Will the Confucian Temple have any objections?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “How is that possible? I am a serious scholar, I can’t do such a thing.”

Jiang Shan tentatively asked, “Is the candidate for the sect master of Upright Sun Mountain’s sub-sect Yuan Bai, whose name has not yet been officially erased from the Landscape Register?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “I originally recommended someone with Sect Master Zhu Huang, Liu Zhimao, the second-in-command of True Realm Sect, to change his affiliation and serve as the sect master of the sub-sect. Of course, it would be very difficult, and perhaps we would have to break ties with Zhu Huang and fight fiercely. Obviously, Esteemed Jiang’s proposal is better.”

Jiang Shan looked surprised and shook his head helplessly, “Mountain Master Chen, that would be unkind.”

Chen Ping’an clasped his fist and said, “Jiang Shan, I have made you my friend! You are definitely a frank friend.”

Jiang Sheng couldn’t say anything anyway, she was just sitting aside listening to the conversation between the two. At this moment, she thought she was just being nosy, recieving that flying sword transmission. But, older brother, you are more amazing. You knew what kind of person this guy was, and you still drank and chatted with him. Now, how about it? Are you “yes” or “no”?
Jiang Shan glanced around, a hint of surprise in his eyes. The anticipated Bamboo Emperor hadn’t appeared near the pavilion. It seemed this young hidden official was somewhat considerate after all.

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “It’s not very gentlemanly of you to think that way, Master Jiang.”

Jiang Shan clasped his fist in farewell, saying nothing more. He didn’t forget to take the wine pot with him, though. Only after walking a good distance away from the Lonely Cloud Pavilion did Jiang Shan look back. The pavilion was already empty. This was indeed considerate; it was as if the man’s appearance was merely to exchange a few irrelevant words.

Outside Azure Mist Peak, near Egret Crossing, in Overcloud Inn, Ni Yurong, who had just dazedly returned to the inn, hadn’t fully recovered. She was stunned into silence again, staring blankly at the “young Taoist” with the lotus crown atop his head. Again?!

Chen Ping’an re-secured the premier room. Then, he quietly waited for the Bamboo Emperor’s meeting to conclude and for news to reach him.

Lying on a rattan chair, he closed his eyes to recuperate, basking in the sunlight. Opening them and turning his head, he seemed to see an idiot who had actually built a snowman in the summer.