Before heading to the Great Li capital, Chen Ping’an stood at the bow of the boat with Ning Yao, unable to resist asking, “Following me around, running east and west, doesn’t it get annoying?”

Ning Yao glanced at him without a word.

The matter wasn’t annoying, *he* was.

Jiang Shangzhen remained in his room, indulging in the ephemeral illusions of various celestial maidens. Chen Lingjun, accompanied by Yu Yue, was broadening his horizons. Yu Yue could only marvel at the lavishness of the Zhou chief disciple. The spiritual artifacts for viewing these illusions were piled high on the table, a panorama of landscape paintings unfurled simultaneously. Yet the Zhou chief disciple, surrounded by piles of “Minor Heat Coins,” casually chatted here and there, tossing coins without pause, a testament to his expertise.

Cui Dongshan, on the other hand, stayed by his teacher’s side, discussing matters to note when traveling in the Great Li capital. As it seemed this was his teacher’s first visit, Cui Dongshan described the local customs and traditions.

Within the Great Li capital, there was a private residence housing the “Echoing Opinions Pavilion” and the ruins of the old “Old Mountain Cliff Academy.” These two places, he was sure, his teacher would want to visit.

Wei Xian and Lu Baixiang were conspicuously absent from the Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s observance of the Righteous Sun Mountain ceremony. Revealing their identities at this time was still inadvisable. Wei Xian and Cao Jun had once been the right and left arms of the military prodigy Liu Xunmei. Wei Xian, with his insatiable thirst for officialdom, had earned the military title of “Upper Cavalry Commandant” through genuine merit. He was now a legitimate fifth-rank military officer in the Great Li border army, qualified to lead a detachment of elite border cavalry. As for Lu Baixiang, he had forged a connection with a potential crown prince amongst the mountain gods of Central Mountain. The two found themselves kindred spirits, and perhaps one day Lu Baixiang would be transformed into the chief devotee of a great mountain’s crown prince.

Chen Ping’an brought up Yang Hua, the Water God of the Iron Talisman River, naturally leading him to mention the Dragon Whiskers River, a waterway he knew so well.

The Dragon Whiskers River’s shrine, elevated from a mere creek, unusually did not enshrine a golden statue. Therefore, to this day, the locals, apart from the prominent families of Fortune and Peach Leaf Lane, were unaware that the river goddess was Ma Lan’hua. The old woman, Ma Lan’hua, had once been a prominent figure in town, serving as a swindler, matchmaker, and midwife.

Cui Dongshan chuckled, “Old Man Yang seemed to promise the River Hag that after thirty years, when most of the old folks in town who remembered her youthful face had passed, she could then fashion a statue and enjoy the incense offerings.”

The matter of the natal porcelain was complex, involving the Ma family of Apricot Blossom Lane, the owners of the town’s dragon kilns, and even Song Yuzhang, the former supervisor who oversaw the relocation of the Mountain God shrine to Chess Mound Mountain.

Lin Shouyi’s father, a minor official in the kiln affairs bureau, a man who remained low-profile even in the capital’s bureaucracy, had once assisted several dragon kiln supervisors.

Then there was the Imperial Observatory of the Great Li capital, with its geomancers, diviners, and a small group of “water masters” who had once been responsible for the secret firing of the town’s natal porcelain.

The one who leaked the secrets of the natal porcelain was Ma Ku Xuan’s father, but the Ma family of Apricot Blossom Lane was definitely not the real mastermind.

Compared to challenging the Righteous Sun Mountain with swords, which was as simple as travelling upstream, with a straightforward route, the natal porcelain matter was a tangled mess, a complex web of rivers, streams, lakes, and waterways.

However, despite the complexity, Chen Ping’an didn’t find it particularly difficult.

Cui Dongshan asked, “Teacher, is our Fallen Phoenix Mountain planning to open its doors and accept disciples soon? Or should we wait and maintain our semi-closed-door state?”

Chen Ping’an had already considered this and replied without hesitation, “The latter. For at least thirty years, unless one of you takes a fancy to someone’s talent and accepts them as a personal disciple, Fallen Phoenix Mountain will not accept any aspiring cultivators who come knocking, no matter how talented they are.”

Cui Dongshan leaned on the railing, his legs dangling, and said, “After our commotion at Righteous Sun Mountain, people will definitely come flocking, desperate to become disciples of Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Grand Sword Immortal Mi and the others are all first-rate mentors, all powerful figures. Grabbing onto any one of them would be an incredible opportunity that others would envy to death.”

In truth, any sect with the title of “Sect” or “School” never lacked aspiring cultivators seeking immortality.

Chen Ping’an said softly, “Those who are willing to wait can wait in Dragon Province. It’s a good opportunity to observe their character. Those who aren’t willing can return home. The land is vast and recovering, there’s plenty of opportunity and no need to worry about becoming a registered immortal.”

The paths for mountain sects to recruit disciples and register them as immortals were generally few. The dynasty or kingdom where the sect was located could help select promising cultivators from within its borders and send them up the mountain for training. Or, by chance, some without teachers or guidance, through luck and circumstance, would embark on the path of cultivation, becoming wandering cultivators, or carefully try their luck with the larger sects.

Within each sect, there would also be a group of registered cultivators skilled in examining bone structure and observing aura, who would receive a task from the Ancestral Hall every few decades, lasting from a few years to more than a decade, spending the year traveling the mortal world, searching for promising talents for their sect.

Tian Wan of Righteous Sun Mountain often did this.

There was also the path of wandering and training taken by celestial masters, following fate and acting as the opportunity arose, emphasizing a master choosing a disciple and a disciple choosing a master. Such master-disciple relationships were often the most solid and long-lasting.

Cui Dongshan chuckled, “With Long Life watching over the Lotus Root Blessed Land, there shouldn’t be any major problems. Teacher doesn’t need to worry too much about it.”

This was the benefit of owning a blessed land. Those nearest to the water get the moon first. Aspiring cultivators, pure martial artists rising through the ranks in the martial world or on the battlefield, and heroic spirits of ghosts with the potential to establish shrines, awaiting official recognition from the court, could be promoted to mountain and water deities, legitimately protecting a region. Registered immortals, wandering cultivators, demons, and spirits would appear one after another, from city gods to great mountain gods, great river lords, river and lake deities, land gods and goddesses…
As the spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth grows more abundant, and with various mountain and river deities fulfilling their duties to stabilize fortune, the Dao cycle of a blessed land becomes increasingly complete and without flaw.

No matter how much immortal money or magical treasures the owner of the blessed land pours into it, it’s all like enriching one’s own field, never benefiting outsiders.

Chen Ping’an softly said, “Although it is our own blessed land, we cannot treat it like a field that must be planted in spring and harvested in autumn. We can’t simply reap one harvest this year and wait for the next one.”

Cui Dongshan nodded, “Cultivate diligently, harvest carefully. Let everyone have a choice.”

In truth, this is the most fundamental principle of Luopo Mountain. This unwritten rule, which doesn’t need to be put on paper, will instead be Luopo Mountain’s greatest ancestral precedent in the future.

From Chen Lingjun and Chen Nuan Tree, who were the first to follow Mister into the mountain, to the Four Gentlemen of the Painting, then Shi Rou, Cui Wei, Mi Yu, Hong Xia, Pei Xiang… everyone is like this.

It’s not because Zhu Lian, Zhong Fuzi, and the others, including Pei Qian and Cao Qinglang, all come from the blessed land, so they must have their feelings taken into consideration. Rather, Luopo Mountain is Luopo Mountain precisely because of these “always like this, yet not quite like this” matters, big and small. Within a blessed land, all sentient beings on the map of mountains and rivers have a choice, which actually means that Luopo Mountain, to a large extent, relinquishes the identity of being a ‘God’.

Cui Dongshan said, “Mister, but this is a great risk. Jiang Shangzhen’s Yunku Blessed Land, the bloody upheaval that happened in the early years, with corpses strewn across the mountains and valleys, is a lesson to be learned from. We need to take it as a warning.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Of course it will be. There is no extreme in the world that can bring about good things. That’s why I will have Zhong Fuzi return to the blessed land from time to time to keep an eye on the situation below, and also have Hong Xia and Pei Xiang, two outsiders from the blessed land, help watch the trends on the mountain. Finally, after dealing with the Lower Sect matter, I will choose a place in the blessed land to cultivate, and every hundred years, I will spend a few years traveling and wandering within it. In short, I will never let the Lotus Root Blessed Land repeat the tragedy of Yunku Blessed Land.”

Cui Dongshan nodded, “I’m relieved that Mister has this plan.”

Jiang Shangzhen once intended to let things be, thinking that the Yunku Blessed Land, which he had managed for many years, with rules and frameworks established after centuries of peace, was like a strong-boned youth. He planned to let go for a hundred years or so to see if there were any cultivation geniuses who could “ascend” on their own merit.

After that, Jiang Shangzhen went on a tour of the Northern Altar Continent.

As a result, a meticulously interconnected conspiracy appeared within Yunku Blessed Land, coupled with the instigation, funding, and support of behind-the-scenes schemers, encompassing most of the immortal native factions of the blessed land, along with dynasties and vassal states. Thousands of Qi refiners on the mountain, and the sounds of horses’ hooves and the clanking of armor below, changed the color of the mountains and rivers. Within just three days, over a hundred members of the Jiang clan were killed in Yunku Blessed Land.

It eventually evolved into a situation where anyone with the surname Jiang was killed, rather risk killing the innocent than letting one go.

Many of Jiang Shangzhen’s friends from his younger days, both on the mountain and in the martial world, either sent by him personally to the blessed land for retirement or helping to manage and repair the blessed land’s ferry, were almost completely wiped out, with few survivors.

If it were Luopo Mountain, it would be like having Fuzi, Little Warm Tree, Xu Yuanxia, and the like in a blessed land, and then, because of the young mountain master’s carelessness, they all became stories of the past.

Therefore, Jiang Shangzhen, who almost never showed any fierceness on his face, no matter what kind of dangerous situation he encountered or what kind of life-or-death enemies he fought, was smiling grimly when he led people to open the gates of the blessed land that one time.

After that catastrophe for the Jiang clan and Yunku Blessed Land, Jiang Shangzhen had essentially completely lost the competition for the next sect master of Jade Decree Sect.

Because the sword cultivator Wei Ying was sent to Nine Yi Peak by Xun Yuan at that time. Before that, even Wei Ying, who had extremely high ambitions, did not think he had the ability to compete with his senior Jiang Shangzhen. Once there was a conflict of Dao with Jiang Shangzhen, Wei Ying believed that he had no chance of winning. Once Jiang Shangzhen set his sights on him, the only outcome was either death or a fate worse than death.

Jade Decree Sect was ultimately one of the most outstanding reputable sects on the continent, but Jiang Shangzhen’s methods of governing the blessed land were too cruel and tyrannical. Xun Yuan secretly called Jiang Shangzhen outside the Ancestral Hall and asked him three questions in a row: Did he regret it? Did he want to stop? Did he want to die in the Ancestral Hall?

Jiang Shangzhen said he didn’t regret it, there was no one left to kill in Yunku Blessed Land, so of course he could stop. As for those old bastards in the Ancestral Hall, since he couldn’t beat them for now, he would take the long view and talk about it later, just consider it as cultivating his mind and temperament.

Cui Dongshan once chatted with Jiang Shangzhen about this past event, asking with a grin what the Chief Seat thought looking back on the past.

Jiang Shangzhen smiled and said, “I was stupid myself, I can’t blame others. Those who were stupid enough to be my enemy didn’t have my ability to escape, so of course they died, don’t blame me.”

Cui Dongshan finally asked with a smile, “Chief Seat, you are so conscientious in helping our Lotus Root Blessed Land, are you holding back a bellyful of bad water, waiting to watch the show?”

Jiang Shangzhen cursed incessantly.

In the end, the two extremely intelligent people simply drank silently. People like them didn’t really need snacks with their wine.

For example, those old bastards in the Jade Decree Sect’s Ancestral Hall had actually died in that great battle. So Jiang Shangzhen didn’t need to settle accounts after the autumn harvest or seek revenge.

Whether on the mountain or below, good people or bad people, kind hearts or evil, adult men and women, who doesn’t have a few jars of sorrowful wine buried deep in their hearts? Some have forgotten where they put it, some don’t dare to open it. On the path of life, every time you dare not be angry but have to bow your head and smile at people, it may be a jar of bitter wine. Perhaps with too much bitter wine, people can only be silent. Consecutive jars, that is a sea of bitterness.

Cui Dongshan looked into the distance, his eyebrows and eyes soft, “Mister hopes that Luopo Mountain will always be today’s Luopo Mountain, and I hope that Mister will always be tomorrow’s Mister.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Why not today’s Mister?”

Cui Dongshan leaned on the railing, his eyes squinting with a smile, and murmured, “This student believes that every tomorrow’s Mister will definitely be better than every today’s, right?”

Chen Ping’an reached out and pressed the white-robed boy’s head, then raised his palm, bent his fingers, and struck a heavy blow, “Still saying that Luopo Mountain’s atmosphere wasn’t twisted by you?!”
In the distance, Little Millet tugged at Pei Qian’s sleeve, raising a hand to her mouth and giggling, “Pei Qian, Pei Qian, look, that Big White Goose must have blurted out something again.”

Pei Qian chuckled, “Don’t call him Big White Goose, Junior Brother remembers everything.”

Little Millet laughed heartily, “I will, I will. When we need something, we call him Junior Brother, when we don’t, we call him Big White Goose.”

Pei Qian blinked, “What kind of talk is that? Who taught you that? Nobody taught you, right? You must have learned it yourself, am I right?”

Little Millet looked surprised, “Huh?”

She gave Pei Qian a look, hinting for a suggestion on how to answer this tricky question.

Pei Qian raised her arm, curling her fingers into a chestnut shape and lightly twisting her wrist, exhaling a breath.

Little Millet understood, and immediately shouted, “I figured it out myself, self-taught, nobody taught me!”

Cui Dongshan turned his head and smiled.

Little Millet coughed, turned around, and gave Big White Goose a meaningful look, glancing sideways at Pei Qian.

Cui Dongshan shouted, “Eldest Senior Sister, the Right Protector seems to be hinting at something to me.”

Little Millet quickly stood between Pei Qian and Big White Goose, jumping up and down, waving her hands vigorously to block Pei Qian’s view, shouting, “Pei Qian, Pei Qian, nope, nope! Big White Goose is trying to sow discord.”

As a result, Cui Dongshan received a flick on the forehead from Chen Ping’an, and Little Millet received a flick on the forehead from Pei Qian. Neither gained nor lost.

Cui Dongshan held his head and smiled, “Teacher, the ferry is saving money, so we can only slowly return home like this. If Teacher has urgent matters, it would be faster to ride the wind to the capital.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, thinking it was feasible. The tradition of diligence and frugality should be upheld in Fallen Phoenix Mountain; one shouldn’t be extravagant just because one has a little fortune.

So, he took Ning Yao and left the Dragon Boat ferry, flying away together on the wind.

Little Millet hugged the railing, rubbing her face against her arm, “The good Mountain Master is busy again.”

Cui Dongshan sat on the railing, inching his bottom along, “Little Millet, want to have a chat?”

Little Millet was busy thinking, also resenting Big White Goose’s lack of loyalty, deliberately not looking at Cui Dongshan. She just giggled, “Who are you? The Big White Goose I know is generous, the Junior Brother is amazing. Someone is nothing like him, not even the size of a melon seed.”

Cui Dongshan leaned back, his body turning upside down, and floated to the ground, hugging the railing with Little Millet.

Pei Qian hesitated, then asked about the Great Li Empress Dowager. Pei Qian had heard of her back in the battlefield of the accompanying capital.

Cui Dongshan smiled and said there was nothing to talk about, just a woman who clung to her small territory and scratched anyone who came near.

Little Millet wasn’t interested in these things, and couldn’t remember them even if she listened.

When Pei Qian was only a little taller than herself, it was so much fun patrolling the mountains together every day.

They would ask the old cook for some cloth, learn the attire of the heroines in the romantic novels, and have Warm Tree Sister help them cut out capes. One would hold a green bamboo staff, and the other would hold a golden carrying pole, howling through the mountains, passing through obstacles all the way. As long as they ran fast enough, their capes would fly.

Every time Fallen Phoenix Mountain had heavy snow, Pei Qian would have her stand still and become a big snowman. Warm Tree Sister was either waiting under the eaves with a charcoal brazier or had a fire stove ready in the house. Haha, she was a water monster.

Once, Pei Qian pulled her, and the two hid around the corner. They had agreed beforehand to let the old cook experience what the most powerful hidden weapon in the world was. In the end, she stood still and nodded, Pei Qian stretched out her hands, slapped them together, grabbed her face, staggered for a moment, spun around and around until she spun to the center of the road, and just threw her out. But the old cook had some real skills, barely blocking her, and placing her on the ground. But the old cook was still quite frightened, constantly moving back, throwing punches wildly. Finally, when he stood still and saw clearly, the old cook blushed and said embarrassedly that he had never heard of such a Jianghu hidden weapon, no matter how much he traveled the world or read novels. It was caught off guard, really caught off guard.

Whenever there was a thunderstorm, they would stand side by side on the second floor of the bamboo building. For some reason, Pei Qian was amazing. Every time she held the mountain staff and pointed it at the rain curtain, there would be lightning and thunder. Every time she asked Pei Qian how she did it, Pei Qian would say, “Little Millet, you can never learn it. Master took a liking to my martial arts aptitude at first sight.”

When Pei Qian grew up, they didn’t play like this anymore.

Pei Qian also said that Chen Lingjun had been deliberately suppressing his appearance since he entered the Nascent Soul realm, otherwise, he would at least be a Daoist with the appearance of a young man, and he could even turn into a commoner about the age of crowning if he wanted to. Little Millet asked why, wouldn’t it be good to grow taller for free? Pei Qian smiled and said that he was waiting for Warm Tree Sister. Little Millet immediately understood that Jing Qing liked Warm Tree Sister. Pei Qian reminded her to keep this matter to herself and not ask Warm Tree Sister or Chen Lingjun. She brought her two fingers together and wiped them across her mouth, understanding!

Pei Qian also said that when you patrol the mountains alone in the future, if you encounter Cen Yuanji practicing boxing stances on the steps, you can keep walking, just don’t forget to greet Cen Yuanji. Whether the other party answers or not, you should treat it as homework, it doesn’t matter if you forget it sometimes, just make it up next time. Little Millet thought this was not difficult, and just asked Pei Qian why. Pei Qian smiled and said that in Master’s eyes, Sister Cen was a truly pure martial artist. Hearing this, Little Millet nodded and felt sad, Pei Qian didn’t even call her by that nickname anymore. Fortunately, Pei Qian quickly added, “You can call her Sister Cen in person, and we’ll continue to call her Silly Cen behind her back.”

Pei Qian saw that Little Millet was in a daze and couldn’t help but ask, “What are you thinking about? Are you worried about something?”

Little Millet let go of her hand and landed on the ground, nodding vigorously, stretching out her palm and then clenching it into a fist, “Such a big worry!”

Then, re-opening her hand, Little Millet smiled and said, “Swoosh, and it’s gone.”

In the layers of clouds, two figures flashed by. If one looked down at the mountains and rivers, they would be like winding silk threads.

In Ning Yao’s sight, Chen Ping’an seemed to be practicing a superior escape technique, his figure turning into more than a dozen sword lights, scattering with a bang. But when he was forced to regroup his figure, he would always be crooked and return to Ning Yao’s side in an arc, again and again, tirelessly.
Only then did Ning Yao recall that Chen Pingan, who liked to learn everything, seemed to have not put much effort into studying life-saving escape techniques. This was actually quite uncommon among the registered immortal masters on the mountains.

Ning Yao, being idle anyway, paid a little attention. After watching him perform it a few times, her mind stirred. Her figure quietly dispersed into eighteen streaks of sword light, eventually coalescing dozens of miles away in the sea of clouds. Ning Yao paused in the air, treading on the clouds, quietly waiting for that fellow behind her.

Chen Pingan, after catching up with Ning Yao, stopped practicing this escape technique. Soon, the two passed by an immortal sect. Green peaks soared, ancient pavilions stood with upturned eaves. Precariously constructed buildings and residences rose against the mountain, with waterfalls cascading down and crimson plaques hanging on the cliffs. A group of brightly dressed fairy maidens, carrying flower baskets, seemed to be on their way to gather flowers for making incense. Their merry laughter and sweet voices filled the air. Upon seeing the two figures flitting through the air like startled swans, they immediately stopped, ceasing their chatter and casting curious glances at the unfamiliar man and woman. Could they be a pair of Daoist companions from the mountains, traveling together?

Ning Yao asked Chen Pingan if he knew what sect it was. Chen Pingan then narrated the historical origins of this small sect in detail. Ning Yao raised her chin slightly, asking if he knew anyone and whether he needed to say hello. Chen Pingan smiled and said no need, no need, he had only heard of them, not acquainted at all.

Once they recognized the face of the man passing by in the distance, a woman suddenly exclaimed in surprise, overjoyed, and quickly told her fellow disciples that it was that Qingyi (green-robed) Sword Immortal, the one from Fallen Mountain!

It turned out that during the previous sword challenge at Zheng Yang Mountain, the cultivators of this immortal sect had also watched half the excitement through the “mirror flower, water moon” technique.

Chen Pingan didn’t recognize them, but they recognized Chen Pingan.

Earlier, on the mountain, they had been chattering and arguing while watching the scene through the “mirror flower, water moon.” The women, in their typical manner, debated. Some thought that Liu Xianyang, the direct disciple of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, might have a slightly higher level of swordsmanship, but as for looks and demeanor, he was ultimately inferior to that Mountain Lord Chen from Fallen Mountain. Afterwards, some learned that Fallen Mountain was near Cloud-Draped Mountain, and they had already made plans with their fellow disciples to visit the northern Great Li Kingdom for training next time, to try and catch a glimpse of the Fallen Mountain Sword Immortal.

They never expected to see the young Sword Immortal flying by just today.

Too bad that Mountain Lord Chen was accompanied by a woman whose appearance was just passable.

Perhaps she was the Sword Immortal’s disciple.

Although they were both cultivators flying through the air, there was a world of difference in their speed. The two had already left the women far behind. Seeing Chen Pingan’s helpless expression, Ning Yao couldn’t help but smile and say, “You don’t need to deliberately put on this act. I really don’t care at all.”

Chen Pingan smiled softly, “I know.”

But in fact, what if he didn’t put on this act and try?

Whether Ning Yao cared was one thing, but whether he himself cared was another matter entirely. The reason she didn’t care was precisely because he always cared so much, wasn’t it?

Things have an order of priority. Chen Pingan was putting his teacher’s theory of sequencing into practice.

After Liu Xianyang left First Line Peak, he gathered with Dong Gu and a few fellow disciples at a Mountain God shrine on the outskirts of a small northern country. Xie Ling smiled and said, “I just received a message from Master via flying sword, telling us to hurry back. Master is waiting for us at Divine Show Mountain.”

Liu Xianyang was a bit surprised. Ruan the Blacksmith hadn’t returned to Divine Show Mountain for many years. Could it be that this taciturn man secretly watched the “mirror flower, water moon” and felt that the master’s swordsmanship was inferior to his disciple’s, losing face and getting angry at the sword challenge, and wanted to discipline him?

After the Great Li Song Clan allocated the vast territory of the former Central Mountain Range to the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, they gradually moved their business north. First Xu Xiaoqiao, and then Xie Ling, were in charge of building residences and repairing Daoist temples there. With the help of Great Li craftsmen, they engaged in large-scale construction and also worked with a Northern Mountain Crown Prince Mountain God to stabilize the mountain’s roots and water veins. Later, Ruan Qiong also started forging swords there. Dong Gu, the eldest disciple whose original residence was at Hengshuo Peak, led a dozen or so direct disciples of the Sword Sect, leaving the western mountains under the jurisdiction of Longzhou, and went to the Sword Sect’s new location to cultivate and practice swordsmanship together. In the end, only Liu Xianyang was left alone, guarding the blacksmith shop by the Dragon Beard River.

Currently, among the four most senior direct disciples of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, besides Liu Xianyang, who was already a Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator, the eldest brother Dong Gu was a Nascent Soul Realm Qi practitioner, Xu Xiaoqiao was a Golden Core sword cultivator, and Xie Ling’s studies were mixed. He was both a Nascent Soul Realm sword cultivator and a deeply hidden formation master, and also proficient in alchemy. It was no wonder that Ruan Qiong was not in a hurry to accept direct disciples or second-generation disciples, and was even willing to pave the way for others, sending Yu Lin and Liu Yu, those sword immortal embryos who were enough to open peaks, down the mountain, which was equivalent to giving away several Golden Core Earth Immortals to others for free. Ruan Qiong’s apprentice-taking was always like this.

If someone had previously felt that the Zheng Yang Mountain, one of the two major sects based on swordsmanship, was overwhelming the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, after Liu Xianyang’s sword challenge, it was estimated that no one would think that the Dragon Spring Sword Sect was just an empty shell supported by Xie Ling.

A Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator before the age of fifty was a rare existence, not to mention in Treasure Bottle Continent, but in any continent of the Great World.

Miss Yu was also present. She simply stood there, and even without speaking, she was pleasing to the eye, like beautiful flowers and a full moon.

The Mountain God stood far away near the entrance of the shrine, and when he saw the visiting Sword Immortal Liu, the Mountain God bowed his head and smiled brightly, but did not take the initiative to say hello, not daring to disturb the young Sword Immortal who had soared to the heavens at Zheng Yang Mountain.

Liu Xianyang cupped his fists high, “Disturbing the Mountain God’s quiet cultivation.”

The Mountain God quickly cupped his fists in return, “With immortals, there is divinity. This humble god is fortunate.”

Liu Xianyang ran over to massage the shoulders of his eldest brother Dong Gu, and said with a smile, “Senior Brother Dong, and Senior Sister Xu, when you see Master, you must speak up for me. This trip to Zheng Yang Mountain was full of dangers, and I was seriously injured. I risked my life to let our Dragon Spring Sword Sect show its face. If Master still wants to scold me, it’s too heartless and unethical. If I get depressed, it will damage the foundation of my Great Dao. Master will have to cry afterwards.”

Dong Gu nodded with a smile, “No problem. In fact, Master has been unhappy with Zheng Yang Mountain for more than a year or two.”

Xu Xiaoqiao, however, was a straightforward person with little social skills, “I can say a few words of advice, but in the end, Master will make his own decisions.”

Liu Xianyang turned his head and asked with a smile, “Miss Yu, how was my sword challenge this time?”

Sheyue nodded, “It was quite good.”

Liu Xianyang was speechless.
Xie Ling couldn’t help but chuckle, “One thing conquers another.” Remembering something, Xie Ling suddenly said, “I recall that Master once declared that whoever amongst us sword cultivators reached the Jade Purity Realm would be appointed the next Sect Master.”

Liu Xianyang frowned. “I don’t remember that.”

Dong Gu nodded. “Master did mention it, but at the time, Junior Brother Liu was still traveling and studying in Southern Suvasa Continent.”

Liu Xianyang was puzzled. “Xie Ling, you little rascal, did you secretly reach the Jade Purity Realm sword immortal?”

Xie Ling shook his head. “Not yet. The bottleneck of the nascent soul is difficult to break through. It will take at least ten years of patient cultivation.”

Liu Xianyang stroked his chin. “So, it still depends on me. I wonder how many incense sticks Blacksmith Ruan burned to have such a glorious and outstanding disciple like myself.”

Liu Xianyang was silent for a moment, then muttered to himself, “If Master returns to Divine Show Mountain this time with the intention of discussing this matter with us, then I will have no choice but to shoulder this heavy responsibility.”

“Even that kid Chen Ping’an is a Sect Master now. There’s no reason for me not to be.”

She Yue asked, “How much wine did you drink at the Sword Summit?”

Liu Xianyang rolled his eyes. “”

Regarding Liu Xianyang’s proactive request to inherit the position of Sect Master, Dong Gu felt relieved, Xu Xiaoqiao was sincerely convinced, and Xie Ling was completely indifferent, only feeling it was a good thing. Apart from Liu Xianyang, Xie Ling didn’t think his senior brothers and sisters were capable of serving as the second Sect Master of Dragon Spring Sword Sect. If either of them were to take on the position, it would be difficult to convince the masses and would harbor great hidden dangers. However, if the extremely patient Senior Brother Dong Gu was responsible for the operation of the treasury, and the upright Senior Sister Xu Xiaoqiao was in charge of the sect’s regulations, it would be a good choice, allowing Master to focus on forging swords in peace. As for himself, he could concentrate on his cultivation, ascend step by step, prove the Dao of eternal immortality, and ultimately…

Thinking of this, Xie Ling raised his head and looked towards the sky.

Ascension. Soaring to the Heavens.

If only judging by appearance and immortal aura, within the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, it was still Xie of the Peach Leaf Lane, the “Orchid of the Courtyard,” who possessed it best.

She Yue inquired telepathically, “Why are you willing to be the Sect Master?”

In her view, Liu Xianyang was actually…

Liu Xianyang smiled and said, “Master Ruan is a good person, and Chen Ping’an is also a good person.”

She Yue was confused, not understanding how his master and friend being two good people had anything to do with Liu Xianyang unwillingly taking on the position of Sect Master.

Liu Xianyang said, “If I really become the Sect Master, it’s actually just a transition. Master Ruan’s ambition doesn’t lie here, and I’m also half-hearted. So, the one who truly leads the Dragon Spring Sword Sect to greater heights will be the future third Sect Master. As for who that will be, it’s hard to say for now. Let’s wait and see.”

The group hurried on their way back to Great Li’s Dragon Province.

On Divine Show Mountain, Ruan Qiong stood alone on the cliff, silently watching the mountain scenery.

In the past, this western mountain range of Li Zhu Grotto Heaven, including Northern Peak Pi Yun Mountain, totaled sixty-two mountains. The ranks of the mountains varied greatly. The larger peaks could rival the mountains of a small country, while the smaller peaks would be somewhat shabby for a Golden Core Earth Immortal’s secluded cultivation, lacking in spiritual energy. They would have to spend immortal money to avoid hindering their cultivation. The abundance of heaven and earth spiritual energy and the depth of Daoist Qi in a blessed land for cultivation ultimately boiled down to the Daoist rhyme accumulated through the possession of many Grain Rain Coins.

Among the two major sects, Fallen Phoenix Mountain had the most vassal peaks under its jurisdiction. Gray Mist Mountain, Sword Worship Platform, Ox Horn Mountain, Crab’s Back Mountain, Azure Haze Peak, Illumination Ridge… The young Mountain Lord, in less than thirty years, had gradually acquired nearly twenty mountain peaks. If ignoring the number and only considering the mountain terrain, and setting aside Great Peak Pi Yun Mountain, because Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Gray Mist Mountain, and Yellow Lake Mountain were all extremely large peaks, Fallen Phoenix Mountain had already encompassed half of the western mountain range.

As for the Dragon Spring Sword Sect of the Sage Ruan Qiong, in addition to the ancestral mountain Divine Show Mountain, and Tiao Deng Mountain and Heng Shuo Peak, which formed mutually supportive positions, plus the rented Rainbow Cloud Peak, Immortal Herb Mountain, and Precious Talisman Mountain from Fallen Phoenix Mountain, which formed a continuous sect territory, and later a batch of mountain peaks were brought into the fold, forming a circle of outer sect forces, compared to Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s continuous influx of people settling in the mountains, the Dragon Spring Sword Sect always had a small number of people. In fact, it seemed that Fallen Phoenix Mountain had surpassed it, and coupled with the matter of the Sword Sect pioneering new territories and the direct disciples relocating north, it ultimately formed a situation where Fallen Phoenix Mountain was the only dominant force here.

Ruan Qiong had also once wanted to focus wholeheartedly on settling down here, taking in direct disciples, direct disciples taking in disciples, and those disciples each having their own personal disciples, thus branching out and expanding, ultimately developing a sect under his hands. As for the land granted by the Great Li Dynasty to the north, Ruan Qiong originally intended to use it as the site for the Dragon Spring Sword Sect’s lower sect, but over time, it turned into an improper “large tributary, small ancestral mountain.”

On the border of the mountains and rivers of Dragon Province, a sword light flashed, speeding past the mountains and following a set route, finally flying to Divine Show Mountain. Ruan Qiong raised his hand to catch a messenger talisman sword sent back by Xie Ling, saying that a few direct disciples were about to enter the borders of the Yellow Court Country, and the letter said that Miss Yu would also be joining them for a meal, which was clearly Liu Xianyang’s tone. Ruan Qiong put away the talisman sword and began to cook, personally preparing a table full of dishes, then sat in the main seat in the main room, patiently waiting for a few direct disciples and a guest to come to the ancestral mountain for a meal.

She Yue wanted to return to the blacksmith shop alone, but Liu Xianyang did not agree, saying that he had previously told Master in the letter that you would be there. If you temporarily changed your mind, it would be disrespectful to Blacksmith Ruan. In our Dragon Province, Blacksmith Ruan and Mountain Lord Wei are both big shots. They are mostly easy to talk to, but occasionally they are petty.

When they arrived at the house, Ruan Qiong, who usually didn’t smile at anyone, still had some smiles for She Yue, calling her Miss Yu, and even rarely made a joke, saying that everyone was family, so there was no need to be polite. If the food didn’t suit her taste, just say so.

Liu Xianyang was overjoyed. Blacksmith Ruan still knew how to treat people, pulling She Yue to sit on a long bench. Dong Gu and Xu Xiaoqiao, who were sitting across from them, were both sitting upright. Xie Ling was more casual, sitting on a long bench with his back to the door.

Liu Xianyang helped everyone serve rice one by one. After She Yue sat down, she looked at the table full of dishes, which were both meat and vegetables, and looked and smelled delicious. It was a pity that there wasn’t a large pot of bamboo shoot and old duck soup, which was the only flaw.

After Ruan Qiong took the rice bowl from Liu Xianyang’s hand, he didn’t pick up his chopsticks. Liu Xianyang had already begun to wolf down his food, and She Yue elbowed him. Liu Xianyang’s cheeks were bulging. He looked up and saw that everyone hadn’t moved their chopsticks. Ruan Qiong said, “It’s okay, eat yours.”
Liu Xianyang was about to nod when She Yue stomped on his foot under the table again, forcing him to put down his chopsticks.

Ruan Qiong said, “I plan to have Liu Xianyang take over as sect master. Dong Gu and the rest of you, if anyone has any objections, speak up.”

The Dragon Spring Sword Sect had always been this way. There were never any ancestor hall meetings. Important matters were discussed at the dinner table.

Dong Gu said, “Master, I have no objections to this. It would be best if Xianyang takes over as the next sect master.”

Xu Xiaoqiao said, “Master, your disciple has no objections.”

Xie Ling smiled and said, “Junior Brother Liu succeeding as sect master is what everyone desires.”

Liu Xianyang grumbled, “Why are you still calling me Junior Brother Liu? You should be calling me sect master.”

Ruan Qiong turned his head to look. Liu Xianyang quickly put a chopstick of vegetables into his master’s bowl, “Master’s cooking skills are clearly a transformation of the sword-forging arts, reaching a state of refined perfection!”

She Yue understood somewhat why the rascal Liu Xianyang was so popular. It was because this military strategist, Saint Ruan, was quite rigid. The eldest disciple, Dong Gu, followed suit, respecting their master too much, to the point of being overly cautious. Xu Xiaoqiao was introverted and didn’t like to speak, and Xie Ling was too ethereal and otherworldly, far removed from worldly affairs, especially disliking mundane tasks. If it weren’t for Liu Xianyang, a meal would probably consist of everyone eating in silence before dispersing.

Ruan Qiong continued, “Dong Gu will be in charge of the treasury’s income and expenditure from now on. Xu Xiaoqiao will be responsible for the ancestor hall’s rules and regulations. Xie Ling should focus on cultivation. If you’re willing to spare some effort, you can take in more personal disciples. There are indeed too few disciples of the next generation on the mountain. As for how to deal with the Great Li Dynasty and the cultivators on the mountain in the future, the few of you can discuss it amongst yourselves. It’s not like Liu Xianyang has to bear all the responsibility just because he’s the sect master.”

With a few brief words, Ruan Qiong finished discussing a series of major sect matters.

Ruan Qiong picked up his chopsticks and said, “Eat.”

With that command, everyone began to eat.

Still, apart from Liu Xianyang’s humorous remarks, there was no other conversation at the table. She Yue only admired this one thing about Liu Xianyang: no matter what he said or did, it was never awkward.

Ruan Qiong was the first to finish eating. He put down his chopsticks and said before getting up, “Xianyang, you’re the sect master from today onwards, so you don’t need to ask me about everything. I’ll only be responsible for forging swords from now on.”

He then looked at the other three direct disciples and said calmly, “No matter what position you hold within the sect, fellow disciples should act like fellow disciples. Don’t bring any of the unpleasant habits from the outside world to the mountain in the future.”

After saying these words, Ruan Qiong walked out of the house and left on the wind.

As soon as Ruan Qiong left, Dong Gu and Xu Xiaoqiao began to speak more. On the other hand, Liu Xianyang began to chew slowly and no longer spoke.

After the meal, Xu Xiaoqiao was responsible for cleaning the dishes, and She Yue helped. Xu Xiaoqiao had a very good impression of this Miss Yu.

Liu Xianyang, like a lord, crossed his legs and chewed on a toothpick. When the two women went to the kitchen, he tapped the table lightly with his fingers and said earnestly, “Old Dong, Little Xie, you two aren’t young anymore. You can start looking for wives, otherwise, as the sect master, I’ll feel guilty looking at a bunch of bachelors every day. It doesn’t sit right with me.”

Xie Ling smiled and said, “Senior Brother Dong, if I had known that someone would be like this after becoming sect master, wouldn’t you have competed for the position? Otherwise, let’s change our minds and beg Master? I’ll be responsible for helping to persuade Senior Sister Xu, and you’ll be responsible for pestering Master. We can change the sect master then. Anyway, it’s just a matter of one meal.”

Dong Gu nodded and said, “It does feel a little uneasy in my heart.”

Liu Xianyang spat and said, “With the two of you, you think you can cause trouble for Ruan the Blacksmith?”

Liu Xianyang opened a palm and smoothed his sideburns. “Besides, let me tell you a secret. Senior Sister Xu’s gaze towards me has long been strange.”

Xu Xiaoqiao, who was in the kitchen, was inexplicably caught in this disaster and said in anger, “Liu Xianyang, are you courting death?! If you keep talking nonsense without restraint, there should be a limit! Do you believe I’ll tear your mouth apart?”

Liu Xianyang said with an innocent expression, “I was saying that Senior Sister, the way you look at your junior brother is like a loving elder sister looking at a long-lost brother who has been reunited. It’s so kind and gentle that it warms my heart. Is that wrong?”

She Yue tugged on Xu Xiaoqiao’s sleeve and said softly, “Don’t pay attention to him. He’s always dreaming and not thinking straight.”

Xu Xiaoqiao said with an angry smile, “I won’t lower myself to his level. Miss Yu, you’ll have to keep an eye on Liu Xianyang in the future, so he won’t be so unreliable, frivolous, and casual every day.”

She Yue felt a bit depressed. Why was this girl so bad at talking? She wasn’t a bad person, but she was a bit lacking in the brain department.

Liu Xianyang got up and said, “I have to go to Pi Yun Mountain to discuss something as the sect master. You guys go about your business.”

He patted Xie Ling’s shoulder and said, “Little Xie, cultivate well, and don’t be arrogant or impetuous.”

Xie Ling smiled and cupped his fist. “I’ll listen to the sect master.”

Liu Xianyang felt that it wasn’t satisfying enough and was about to pat his eldest brother’s shoulder and teach him a few words, but Dong Gu waved his hand. “Spare me.”

Liu Xianyang walked out of the house with a smile and asked, “Miss Yu, shall we go down the mountain together?”

She Yue shook her head. “No, I have to go back to the shop.”

Liu Xianyang went to Pi Yun Mountain alone and told Wei Bo a matter.

Wei Bo was shocked. The matter was of great importance. He neither shook his head nor nodded, but asked, “Is this Saint Ruan’s own intention?”

Liu Xianyang patted his chest and laughed loudly, “Great Mountain Lord Wei, don’t worry about it. Anyway, now in the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, I, Liu Xianyang, have the final say.”

Wei Bo asked in confusion, “What do you mean?”

Liu Xianyang laughed loudly, “I’m already the new sect master, so don’t I have the final say?”

Wei Bo was silent for a moment. Liu Xianyang restrained his smile and nodded. Wei Bo sighed and smiled, “I understand. I’ll take care of it immediately. I’ll help explain to the Great Li Dynasty.”

Liu Xianyang said with emotion, “Friends like Mountain Lord Wei are hard to find even with a lantern.”

On this day, the mountains of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect in the western mountains, except for the three peaks rented to Fallen Phoenix Mountain, remained in place. The rest, including Mount Shenxiu, were all moved away by the North Mountain Lord Wei Bo, who summoned the Crown Prince Mountain God and jointly used their divine powers to relocate them to the old Central Mountain Range.

From now on, there would be no Dragon Spring Sword Sect in the old Lizhu Grotto Heaven. Only the Fallen Phoenix Mountain with the sect name would remain.

While Wei Bo was busy, Liu Xianyang squatted on the peak of Pi Yun Mountain, with his hands in his sleeves and a grass root in his mouth.
In truth, this was Master Ruan Qiong’s intention, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

At the Great Wall of Sword Qi, dressed in Confucian robes, he sat cross-legged with his sword across his lap, gazing forward.

Cao Jun, having traveled all the way across the sea, arrived here covered in dust. He plopped down not far away, panting heavily. After his breathing calmed a bit, he turned his head and greeted with a smile, “Mr. Zuo!”

Zuo You nodded lightly.

Cao Jun waited for a long time, but Zuo You showed no intention of speaking. He had no choice but to brace himself and say, “Mr. Zuo?”

Zuo You asked with a puzzled expression, “Is there something you need?”

This sword immortal in the making from South Jambudvipa, even after his sword heart was damaged, still dared to wield his sword on the battlefields of both Treasure Continent and Tongye Continent. Now he had even come here of his own accord, seemingly intending to draw his sword against the Desolate World?

Zuo You’s impression of this person improved considerably.

Cao Jun was completely baffled. Didn’t Chen Ping’an say that his senior brother told him to come to the Great Wall of Sword Qi to practice swordplay with him? Was he going to deny it now?

But there was no point in arguing with Zuo You.

Cao Jun asked cautiously, “Mr. Zuo, have you perhaps forgotten something?”

Zuo You frowned and said, “As a sword cultivator, speak plainly.”

Cao Jun said with a mournful face, “Chen Ping’an suggested that I come here to practice swordplay under Mr. Zuo’s guidance.”

He didn’t dare to tell the whole truth.

Chen Ping’an, that bastard, was Zuo You’s junior brother, but he was not.

Zuo You nodded and said, “That is acceptable.”

Cao Jun breathed a sigh of relief. It was frustrating, but at least his trip wasn’t in vain. However, he couldn’t help but curse inwardly, “That damned Hidden Official.”

“Did my junior brother perhaps tell you that your coming here was my suggestion?”

Zuo You smiled, casually placing his hand on the sword hilt. He was only waiting for A Liang to stir up some trouble in the south before he could draw his sword.

As for teaching Cao Jun sword techniques, there was no problem at all. Cao Jun’s current state of mind, aptitude, and character were all suitable. He was completely different from the young genius from South Jambudvipa he had been in the past.

Cao Jun glanced at Zuo You’s hand on the sword hilt and immediately shook his head vigorously, saying decisively, “Nothing of the sort!”

Zuo You turned his head and asked curiously, “Really? Tell me the truth.”

Cao Jun forced himself to say, “Chen Ping’an did indeed say that Mr. Zuo had asked me to come.”

Zuo You gazed into the distance, seemingly in a good mood, and smiled, “He certainly doesn’t stand on ceremony with his senior brother.”

Cao Jun was stunned for a long time. Zuo You could actually smile?

On the northernmost side of Zheng Yang Mountain, a boundary marker quietly appeared one night, reading “Twenty Thousand Li North to Fallen Phoenix Mountain.”

A transcontinental ferry named Wind Kite arrived from the Central Divine Continent, slowly hovering at Ox Horn Mountain Ferry.

And in Dali Capital, which had no curfew, the lights shone brightly like daylight. At the city gate, two people could enter without submitting any mountain and river documents, without any questions, because the young couple, resembling cultivators, each wore a Peace Amulet issued by the Ministry of Justice.

A grand and bustling Dali Capital City simply gained two more Peace Amulets tonight, which wasn’t very noticeable.

Ning Yao looked distantly at the Dali Imperial Palace. “The layers of mountain and river restrictions are impressive,” she said. “Where shall we go next? If we are to mimic the swordsmanship of the Jade Capital, I will block it. You only need to reason with people in the imperial palace.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “No rush. First, let’s find a place for a midnight snack.”

Ning Yao nodded, “As you wish.”

After finding a late-night stall, Chen Ping’an sat down and ordered two bowls of wontons. He took two pairs of bamboo chopsticks from the bamboo container on the table, handing a pair to Ning Yao. Holding his chopsticks, Chen Ping’an gently blew on the steaming bowl of wontons, subconsciously reminding her to be careful of the heat. But he quickly stopped and gave her a wry smile, then lowered his head, picked up a wonton, and began to chew slowly. Ning Yao turned her head and stared for a long time without looking away. By the time Chen Ping’an looked up, she quickly averted her eyes, only showing her quivering eyelashes.

When Ning Yao finished eating, she found that Chen Ping’an already had his hands in his sleeves, watching her with a smile.

Ning Yao thought for a moment and said, “It’s not very filling. Another bowl?”

Chen Ping’an waved his hand generously. “I have money in my pocket. Eating an extra bowl of wontons is no big deal.”

A diner nearby muttered under his breath, “Look at this kid showing off. How downtrodden must a wandering rogue be to get so much gusto from a bowl of wontons?”

Looking at the smiling woman, he thought, “Such a beautiful face, what a dimwit to choose such a pauper to live with and roam the world.”