Having finished their late-night snack, Chen Pingan and Ning Yao strolled leisurely through the capital, without a fixed destination. They simply chose the brightly lit streets and alleys, wandering aimlessly. Street vendors pushing carts laden with chilled desserts made from lotus root and water chestnut frequently passed by. These carts were often followed by a gaggle of hungry children. The capital was a bustling hub of commerce, with merchants operating large and small ice cellars, storing ice blocks harvested in winter for sale during the hot summer and autumn months.

Back in the Sword Qi Great Wall, the two had also taken walks together, but those strolls could hardly be described as leisurely.

Passing a small martial arts hall, Chen Pingan chuckled and said, “After the Battle of Pei Du concluded, the newly recognized Four Great Martial Arts Grandmasters of Treasure Bottle Continent, because Pei Qian was the youngest, and also a woman, coupled with her ranking only second to Song Changjing, she’s far more famous than her master.”

Martial arts halls were plentiful within the city, and many Jianghu sects sought to make a living here. If they could gain renown in the capital, expanding their branches and establishing dojos in other prefectures and counties would be much easier. Chen Pingan knew of one martial arts master who, after patiently waiting in Pei Du for several days and nights, finally seized an opportunity to spar with Grandmaster Zheng. Although it only lasted four punches – the benevolent “Zheng Who Scatters Money” even allowed him three free hits – the Golden Body Realm martial artist, after spewing froth from his mouth after only one blow, returned to the capital. The martial arts master’s doorstep was nearly broken down by young lads and idle youths of the capital with sacks of silver, all seeking to become disciples. It was said that this martial arts master had enshrined the bag of gold leaves “Zheng Qingming” had given him as compensation for medical fees. The first thing he did every morning was not practice stances or fist forms, but to offer incense to the gold leaves.

Ning Yao hesitated, as if wanting to say something.

Chen Pingan asked, “Were you about to mention that Pei Qian is already a sword cultivator?”

Ning Yao, honoring her promise, remained silent.

Chen Pingan strolled along with his hands tucked into his sleeves. “I actually knew about it a long time ago. I noticed the signs back in the Cloud Grotto Blessed Land. But Pei Qian kept it hidden, probably because she had her own concerns. That’s why I deliberately didn’t call her out on it. After all, not everyone can casually receive Zhou Cheng’s sword intent as a gift in the Sword Qi Great Wall. So, it’s not too surprising that Pei Qian nurtured and cultivated a Natal Flying Sword, although it’s certainly a bit unexpected.”

Chen Pingan left something unsaid: Pei Qian was, after all, his first disciple.

Ning Yao finally spoke, “Pei Qian will soon be a true Golden Core Realm sword cultivator.”

Chen Pingan paused, maintaining his smile. He reached for his sword gourd, ready to celebrate with a sip of wine.

Unexpectedly, Ning Yao continued, “Pei Qian’s Natal Flying Sword is extremely unusual. It can actually divide into seven. Carelessly, it will naturally possess multiple Natal Divine Abilities. This is a very rare occurrence, seen only a handful of times in history. As for which senior sword immortals had similar flying swords, you, with your fondness for remembering such details, surely know better than I do. Therefore, whether judged by the old standards of the Sword Qi Great Wall for classifying flying swords, or by the new rankings you established in the Summer Palace, whether for duels or battlefield warfare, Pei Qian’s as-yet-unnamed flying sword should be ranked at least Grade A.”

Extremely, actually, rare…

These were words coming from Ning Yao’s mouth!

Chen Pingan awkwardly hooked his gourd back onto his belt, the wine untasted.

Chen Sanqiu’s Natal Flying Sword, “White Deer,” possessed two innate Divine Abilities, one of which was related to literary fortune.

In the Sword Qi Great Wall’s ten thousand years of history, there were far more sword cultivators with two or three Natal Flying Swords than there were flying swords with two or three Divine Abilities. Purely mathematically, the two situations might seem similar, but in reality, there was a world of difference.

For example, the little girl Chao Mu, who cultivated by Xie Songhua’s side, possessed two Natal Flying Swords, “Torrent” and “Rainbow.” Yao Xiaoyan, whom Chen Pingan brought to the Ruoze Mountain, even possessed three: “Spring Garment,” “Spiderweb,” and “Rainbow Skirt.” However, Yao Xiaoyan’s flying sword abilities all focused on defense and nurturing her physical body, so the ranks of her three flying swords weren’t high. But privately, Chen Pingan was certain that among the nine sword immortal seeds, Yao Xiaoyan, who was relatively timid, might not be the one with the highest future realm or greatest killing power, but she would definitely be the one who would reach the Upper Five Realms with the least doubt.

The Sword Qi Great Wall of the past, embroiled in constant warfare, would not patiently wait for a genius sword cultivator to slowly grow, step by step.

However, flying swords with more than one Divine Ability, as Ning Yao said, were indeed rare, numbering less than ten in the Summer Palace’s records over the past ten thousand years. Without exception, the owners of these flying swords later became sword immortals renowned for their exceptional killing power and outstanding military achievements.

One of the most famous among them was the Ascension Realm sword cultivator, Zong Yuan.

The Zong Yuan whom many young sword cultivators of later generations would mock with the phrase, “Zong Yuan isn’t as strong as me.”

His single flying sword possessed an incredible four Divine Abilities, with three focused on attack and one on defense, complementing each other perfectly.

However, what Chen Pingan truly admired was that Zong Yuan, through countless battles and years of diligent sword practice, had gradually unearthed the other three Divine Abilities that resonated with the Dao for his flying sword, which was originally ranked only as a mid-grade C. In fact, the initial flying sword ability wasn’t particularly remarkable, but Zong Yuan ultimately used it to become a sword cultivator who fought alongside the Old Sword Immortal for the longest period.

Chen Pingan said, “For some reason, the Old Sword Immortal had me bring those children back to Haoran. Do you want to take them to Ascension City? I can smooth things over with the Central Earth Confucian Temple.”

After all, they had Teacher with them, and someone who knew the Sage of Rites.

Besides, the Sage of Rites himself had said to frequently visit the Confucian Temple to complain and plead for help, not to be too thin-skinned, and regardless of success or failure, just keep expressing your difficulties.

Ning Yao shook her head. “Since it was the Old Sword Immortal’s arrangement, they should stay on Ruoze Mountain to practice the sword. If there’s only one Dragon Elephant Sword Sect in the Haoran world, it’s not enough.”

Mi Yu, Cui Wei, were both sword cultivators from his hometown. Oh, and there was a female sword immortal in the nascent soul realm, Sui Youbian, who even shared the same surname as Sui Jingcheng of Floating Iris Sword Lake. How coincidental.

Chen Pingan nodded. The children would remain on Ruoze Mountain for the time being. When the Five Colors World reopened next time, whether the nine sword cultivators chose to stay or leave would be up to them. In any case, Chen Pingan would welcome them all.
Initially, Chen Ping’an intended to accept them as direct disciples, but Cui Dongshan later suggested that these children should not be too young to hold such high seniority. It would be better for them to cultivate on the mountain and gain experience in the world as third-generation disciples of Jise Peak. Chen Ping’an adopted Cui Dongshan’s suggestion.

Ning Yao suddenly said, “Someone is watching us from afar. Should we ignore them?”

On a distant rooftop sat six young earth immortals. Their cultivation aura was remarkably steady, suggesting they were seasoned veterans of countless battles. Aside from Luopo Mountain, no other mountain in Baoping Continent could simultaneously possess six such promising young talents with such profound fortune. Unsurprisingly, they were likely carefully cultivated assassins from some clandestine organization within Great Li.

Chen Ping’an had noticed them long ago but shook his head, saying, “They don’t seem to have any killing intent. Let’s just leave them be.”

There are three places in Baoping Continent where foreign cultivators, no matter how powerful they may be, shouldn’t overestimate their strength.

One is naturally Longzhou, the former site of the Old Lizhu Cave, something Liu Chicheng of White Emperor City can certainly attest to.

Another is the secondary capital of Great Li near the Central Great River, where the National Preceptor Cui Chan left behind his imitation of White Jade City. No one knows the name of the person currently maintaining that sword formation for Great Li. What’s most peculiar to the cultivators of Baoping Continent is that after the sword formation was moved south, it never returned to the Great Li capital. Perhaps the Great Li Ministry of Revenue deemed the cost too high, or perhaps the National Preceptor had other intentions. This makes the relationship between the Great Li Emperor and the Prince Song Mu all the more enigmatic. Is it truly brotherly harmony, close and inseparable, like Song Changjing and the late Emperor?

And then there’s this Great Li capital city itself. As the premier city of the nation, it boasts five City God temples. The Capital City God Temple is undoubtedly the foremost, serving as the headquarters for the thousands of City God temples throughout the Great Li Dynasty. Each year, City Gods from various prefectures and counties come here to report and deliberate. However, the Land God temple with the “Capital” designation isn’t in the capital city but in the southern secondary capital.

Moreover, numerous residences hidden within the city’s streets have connections to the government yet remain unacknowledged, or have mountain origins but display no immortal airs. During their leisurely stroll of less than half an hour, Chen Ping’an noticed several places that seemed quite “deep” and mysterious.

During this time, Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao passed a small Taoist temple. Its facade was small, the red paint was peeling, and the years had left their mark. Instead of Taoist spirit officers or door gods, it only had a seemingly brand-new plaque that read “Capital Taoist Registry.” The couplets on either side were quite ambitious: “Pine and cypress in the golden courtyard nurture true blessings; forever embrace the spiritual valley for cultivating the Way.”

In the darkness, there were no carriages or horses in front of the small temple. Chen Ping’an glanced at the stone tablet standing below the steps. The inscription was by Wu Lingjing of She County, the head of the Chongxu Hall and a Three Caverns disciple serving as the Capital’s Great Taoist Rectifier.

Ning Yao couldn’t discern much from it, so Chen Ping’an explained that the opening phrase, “Three Caverns disciple,” described the lineage and Dharma tradition of the person who erected the tablet. Taoist Rectifier was a newly established official position in Great Li, responsible for assisting the Ministry of Rites in selecting aspiring Taoists proficient in scriptures and adhering to regulations, issuing ordination certificates, and registering them with the Ministry of Personnel. As for Great Taoist Rectifier, it had even more significance. The Great Li court had established the Chongxu Bureau, affiliated with the Ministry of Rites, to oversee Taoist affairs nationwide and manage the sacrifices to the Five Sacred Mountains and Water Gods. The bureau was also responsible for the records and ordination certificates of Taoists in the capital and throughout the prefectures. This Chongxu Hall head, Wu Lingjing, from She County in Great Li, was likely the current head of the Chongxu Bureau in the Great Li capital, hence his qualification to hold the title of “Great Taoist Rectifier,” overseeing dozens of Taoist Rectifiers throughout Great Li. In short, with the Chongxu Bureau in place, the Divine Covenant Sect no longer needed to intervene in any Taoist affairs within Great Li.

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and couldn’t recall any fifth-realm cultivator on Baoping Continent named Wu Lingjing.

In essence, this small and unassuming place was responsible for all Taoist affairs in the Great Li capital, regulating all Taoists in the city.

Furthermore, the Great Li court had also established a Translation Bureau. Emperor Song He had bestowed the title of “Tripitaka Master” upon a young monk from a tributary state of Great Li, allowing him to open a translation center in the capital. In less than ten years, Great Li had gathered dozens of Buddhist elites to jointly translate over eighty sutras and treatises. In the Western Buddhist Kingdom, monks who attained the title of Tripitaka Master were considered “Buddha Sons,” each proficient in sutras, precepts, and treatises. Therefore, the monks who participated in the debates between the three religions were invariably esteemed monks with the Tripitaka Master title.

However, this unremarkable stone tablet would be particularly meaningful to those familiar with the rules of the court.

Ning Yao casually asked, “Is Great Li trying to foster its own Buddhist and Taoist lineages under the control of the court?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “That’s the underlying intention, but it won’t be too obvious in name. Therefore, the Taoists and monks of the Chongxu Bureau and the Translation Bureau in the capital don’t receive salaries from the court. Their ranks are honorary and not high. A prefectural Taoist Rectifier is only a fifth-rank official, far inferior to the prefectural education commissioner in terms of official status. According to Great Li law, local Taoist and Buddhist Rectifiers aren’t even considered part of the elite officialdom.”

The aim is to gradually break down the boundary between the mountain and the mundane world through the Chongxu Bureau and the Translation Bureau, as if moving the government offices onto the mountain.

Meanwhile, Great Li has completely lifted the sea ban in its coastal prefectures, establishing Maritime Trade Offices to trade with the world.

In addition to the Dragon Prefecture Pottery Supervision Office, six silk weaving and dyeing bureaus have been established.

Ning Yao, concerned about Chen Ping’an’s scattered fragments of natal porcelain, asked, “If that woman neither confronts you directly nor submits, but simply throws a tantrum and refuses to hand over the natal porcelain, determined not to reason with you and daring you to kill her, what will you do then? Luopo Mountain can’t actually kill a Great Li Empress Dowager, can it?”

Chen Ping’an replied, “Then I’ll just watch her throw a tantrum, cry, make a fuss, and threaten suicide. I’ll wait until she’s done and then sit down to talk properly. If we can’t reach an agreement, I’ll let her throw another tantrum. I’m good at patience. So, the only thing you need to do, which might be a bit unpleasant for you, is to hold your nose and watch the show from the sidelines. I’m warning you beforehand, if you get impatient, just turn a blind eye and wander around the capital on your own, leaving me there alone. Besides, who doesn’t know how to make threats? If she really annoys me, I’ll say I’m willing to abandon the Luopo Mountain estate, even moving all the peaks, including Jise Peak, out of Baoping Continent, just to kill her.”
Having said this, Chen Pingan chuckled, “You wouldn’t believe it, after you all left, I actually chatted with Dragon Lord, Li Zhen, and the others from time to time. It was quite interesting, actually.”

Ning Yao nodded, “It’s not a bother at all. Just consider it as watching a lively show.”

In navigating the world and establishing oneself, one great difficulty lies in preventing those around you from misunderstanding you.

To maintain long-lasting relationships with loved ones, it’s essential to be “clear and forthright,” ensuring that unexpected events or trivial matters don’t suddenly make others think, “So that’s the kind of person you are.” Many misunderstandings arise from one’s own muddling. Chen Pingan excelled at this from a young age. Thus, when traveling far to the Great Sui with Bao Ping and Li Huai, even Li Huai understood Chen Pingan without needing him to say much. Later, at the Sword Qi Great Wall, Chen Pingan was always honest about matters concerning Ning Yao, never hiding anything, even if it meant upsetting her at the moment.

One can’t always accommodate others in everything; otherwise, a nice guy will always remain a nice guy. Often, a nice guy’s clear conscience comes at the expense of their loved ones.

Chen Pingan softly said, “When we return to the Five Colors World, don’t always think about doing too much for the Ascension Realm. Just do enough. Even if you are capable, there should be a limit.”

Ning Yao smiled, “What I want to do and don’t want to do is my own business, regardless of what others say.”

Perhaps everyone in the various realms believes that Ning Yao’s ascension to the Jade Pure Realm, becoming the Five Colors World’s first upper five realms cultivator, and then reaching the Immortal Realm and Ascension Realm, is inevitable, fitting, and natural. At the same time, no matter what remarkable feats Ning Yao accomplishes, or what earth-shattering achievements she makes, they are also seen as natural and need no further elaboration.

Chen Pingan doesn’t think so.

Why should my Ning Yao have to work so hard?

Are all of you sword cultivators from the Executioner and Spring Residence lines just good-for-nothing layabouts who only know how to enjoy themselves? Dissatisfied?

When I go to Ascension City in the future, I’ll bring two large baskets of reasoning and have a good discussion with you all.

Afterward, Chen Pingan spoke with Ning Yao about Guo Zhujiu. Hearing that she had become much more mature, he felt a pang of heartache.

Silly child, silly child, because children always long to grow up, thinking it’s more interesting.

But some children don’t really want to grow up, but they have no choice but to mature.

He also mentioned Yu Lu and the others. Upon hearing that Li Huai had become a sage of the academy, Ning Yao was puzzled, asking if he had finally become enlightened in his studies.

Chen Pingan couldn’t help but rub his temples, uttering only four words: “It’s hard to explain.”

However, this time upon returning to his hometown, he would definitely visit the backyard of the Yang family’s apothecary. Li Huai said that old man Yang had left something there, waiting for him to see it himself.

Yu Lu had already become a Distant Travel Realm martial artist. Thank You, however, had been stuck at the Golden Core Realm bottleneck for many years, mainly due to the dragon-trapping nails he suffered in his early years.

The two of them often traveled together, but from Chen Pingan’s perspective, they didn’t seem to be romantically interested in each other. They seemed to be just friends.

Of course, in the affairs of the world and the stirrings of the heart, there are many sudden and unexpected developments.

Lin Shouyi had served as a Grand River Temple priest, making him a half-official of the Great Li Dynasty. However, he heard that his relationship with his family was still not very harmonious these years.

Not that Chen Pingan was cursing him, but Lin Shouyi seemed destined to be a bachelor. He was too steadfast in his cultivation path.

Among their classmates back then, only Shi Jiachun, the one with the pigtails, had moved to the capital with her family the earliest. Then, she naturally married and became a wife and mother.

If Chen Pingan remembered correctly, Shi Jiachun’s children seemed to be at the age of marriage.

Thinking of this, Chen Pingan couldn’t help but turn and look at Ning Yao.

Some things, no matter how hard one person tries, they will ultimately fail.

Stopping by a small bridge with flowing water, both sides were lined with brightly lit restaurants, filled with banquets and drinking parties. Drunken patrons were constantly being helped out.

Chen Pingan sat with Ning Yao on the relatively quiet steps by the water, inexplicably thinking of Zong Yuan and Chou Miao, two sword immortals, one old and one young, both very similar.

One he had only seen in the secret files of the Summer Palace, and heard about at the dinner table. The other he had been with day and night and could have become a peak sword immortal.

Zong Yuan was probably the sword cultivator with the best reputation in the history of the Sword Qi Great Wall. Rumor had it that he wasn’t too handsome, had a gentle nature, and didn’t like to talk much. But he wasn’t a complete mute either. When speaking to others, he listened more than he spoke, and his eyes always had a sincere smile. Moreover, Zong Yuan’s talent for sword practice wasn’t too prodigious when he was young. His breakthroughs came slowly and steadily, without attracting much attention. During the most dangerous and critical battle to defend the city in history, Zong Yuan wielded his sword on the city wall and beheaded two Ascensions.

If he hadn’t died in battle, Zong Yuan could have carved two characters alone.

If there hadn’t been that war, Zong Yuan would have certainly become a fourteenth-realm sword cultivator.

He was the backbone of the Sword Qi Great Wall after Chen Qingdu, Dragon Lord, and Guanzhao, and before Dong Sangeng, Chen Xi, and Qi Tingji rose to prominence.

The Sword Qi Great Wall had stood for ten thousand years, and there had never been a situation where there was a lack of successors.

And regarding Chou Miao, who later entered the Summer Palace and became part of the Hidden Official lineage, Chen Pingan hadn’t dared to think too much about it for many years.

Ning Yao asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Chen Pingan said, “Old Sword Immortal Zong Yuan is inspiring.”

He took out the wine pot and drank silently. Chou Miao didn’t have to die.

Ning Yao said, “There’s a saying now that without Zong Yuan, there would be no Sword Qi Great Wall later on. And without you, there would be no Ascension City today.”

At the Sword Qi Great Wall, sword cultivators always addressed each other by their names, except for Chen Qingdu. It wasn’t disrespectful.

Chen Pingan took out the sword-nurturing gourd and mocked himself, “Which bastard under Qi Shou deliberately used those words to disgust me?”

He laughed angrily, “They’re bullying me for not being in Ascension City, right? Just you wait.”

Ning Yao shook her head, “It was an old Nascent Soul cultivator who said it first. Later, it gradually spread, and many people agreed with that sentiment.”

Chen Pingan took a sip of wine. The river was like a silk ribbon embroidered with red lantern patterns. He mocked himself, “Perhaps it’s because of the distance. Those who like me will like me even more, and those who hate me will hate me less.”
Behind them on the stone path, an old man was instructing a young junior, explaining the seating arrangements, the rules for ordering food, the number of cold dishes, and how to order the main courses once they were at the dinner table. “Don’t ask the host what they like to eat, just ask if they have any dietary restrictions. As for the jars of aged wine we brought, don’t mention anything, and certainly don’t put them on the table. The host is a connoisseur; after a sip, they’ll naturally know the type and vintage. When toasting, hold the cup with both hands, and never raise it higher than the host’s. If they tell you to be casual, don’t take it literally. Drink more, but speak less. You’ve read the host’s collections, so focus on discussing the books. Don’t pretend to understand officialdom if you don’t. Treat the other guests with respect, but don’t be overly solicitous or neglectful. These senior officials may not all be petty, but they’re watching to see if you youngsters understand the rules and know how to conduct yourselves…”

The young man, who had just entered the bureaucracy, listened attentively, nodding occasionally. However, a trace of his scholarly idealism lingered. When the old man wasn’t looking, the young man frowned slightly and sighed, feeling as if a scholar’s integrity was being diluted with each cup of wine at the dinner table.

Chen Pingan turned his head, listening. He had long understood these basic rules.

In truth, this young official who had just embarked on his bureaucratic journey was fortunate to have a mentor willing to impart his knowledge.

True scholarly integrity isn’t about being ignorant and opposing all established rules and customs.

It’s about understanding them, and then choosing to disregard them based on personal preference, interacting with the world in a way that isn’t smooth or accommodating.

Later, a middle-aged man led two young women past. The situation was a different kind of dinner party, but the man was still briefing them, instructing these women with light makeup. The two women seemed reluctant and apprehensive. As registered immortal cultivators, they didn’t want to participate in these mundane social gatherings. What did they care about a Deputy Director from the Ministry of Rites in the Great Li capital? Moreover, they feared that their senior disciple might agree to some shady deals. Although they cultivated in the mountains, they had heard tales of the unsavory things that happened in the secular world. They were afraid that the young and ambitious official might be aroused by their beauty, take advantage of his drunken state, and make unwanted advances. They were even more afraid that their senior disciple would side with him and abandon them.

The man, wearing a wry smile, continued to patiently explain the importance of today’s dinner party. It was a rare opportunity. The young and promising Deputy Director had an excellent reputation in the officialdom. If his family weren’t located near their mountain, it would be impossible to invite this fellow townsman, who was already a junior secretary in the Ministry of Justice at just over thirty years old, to a casual dinner.

Chen Pingan turned away.

Ning Yao rested her cheek on her hand, watching the river.

She switched hands, keeping the same pose.

Chen Pingan stood up, grabbed the wine pot, bent down, and moved to sit on her other side.

Ning Yao muttered, “Childish.”

Chen Pingan smiled but didn’t reply, taking small sips of wine.

Ning Yao was silent for a moment, then asked curiously, “We haven’t been particularly discreet entering the city. Aside from a few young men and women watching from afar, why hasn’t anyone shown themselves? There’s not even anyone tailing us.”

Chen Pingan smiled and said, “That’s because His Majesty hasn’t decided how to deal with us yet. If it were just me, it wouldn’t be so difficult.”

The Great Li Dynasty never indulged mountain-top cultivators. This wasn’t the Song clan’s arrogance, but the confidence born of strength.

But Ning Yao was an exception.

The top figure in the Five Colored World, a Flying Ascent Realm sword cultivator, Ning Yao from the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Provoking her would be tantamount to provoking the sword cultivators of the Northern Entire Reed Continent, not to mention the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect of Qi Tingji and Lu Zhi.

Chen Pingan said, “The Great Li Song clan is letting me make the first move on the chessboard. If I went straight to the palace, it would be like the old brick kiln apprentice from Mud Bottle Alley overturning the table and settling old scores. If I went to Carefree Lane to find Cao Jinshou, it would be like a merchant looking to make a deal. If I visited my friend Guan Yiran, it would be like a registered immortal cultivator enjoying the scenery. If I went to the ruins of the Old Cliff Academy, it would be like a direct disciple of the Literary Saint lineage. No matter where I went, the palace would have countermeasures ready. But if we just wander around like this, the Emperor and Empress Dowager might have to join us for a late-night snack.”

Chen Pingan paused for a moment and smiled, “So later, we’ll go to my Senior Brother’s residence.”

Ning Yao turned her head, her eyes questioning.

She didn’t feel like thinking much tonight.

Chen Pingan explained softly, “It’s like telling Great Li that I’m mindful of propriety, so Great Li should reciprocate in kind. No need for anyone to make a show of things.”

*Jade in the mountains nourishes the grass and trees; pearls in the depths prevent the cliffs from withering.*

These were the words of his teacher in his books, widely circulated and passed down through generations. It felt like a dream that his teacher was a sage from the books.

And as Chen Pingan found himself in this capital city, he discovered the traces of his Eldest Brother Cui Chan’s teachings everywhere.

The reason why the Treasure Bottle Continent remained the Treasure Bottle Continent was because his two Senior Brothers had spent a century of painstaking effort, constantly gathering people’s hearts, so that the mountains and rivers of the continent could rise up heroes and together turn the tide.

Therefore, Chen Pingan, as the Junior Brother, would not wantonly destroy this good situation, not because the Fallen Mountain was afraid of the Great Li Song clan.

Chen Pingan smiled, “We’ll rest there, and I’ll take a look to see if there are any rare and ancient books in the library that I can move to the Fallen Mountain.”

Ning Yao asked, “Stealing books?”

Chen Pingan put down the wine pot, crossed his arms, and chuckled, “How can a Junior Brother borrowing a few books from his Senior Brother be considered stealing? Anyone who interferes is in the wrong.”

Ning Yao casually said, “Little Rice Grain heard from Pei Qian and Zheng Dafeng that you have a good friend named Fan Er in Old Dragon City, and you had an agreement?”

Chen Pingan laughed heartily, “Ah, Fan Er, he was young and ignorant back then, and always had some strange ideas. Fortunately, I dissuaded him.”

Chen Pingan had never visited a brothel in his life.
He had only brushed past the brothels and entertainment quarters of Nanyuan Kingdom’s capital, yet he had already experienced a perfume so thick it was impossible to avoid.

Ning Yao recalled something. “Didn’t I smash that jade talisman of the Bamboo Emperor, the one that anchored the sword-top array?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled. “Actually, it’s a good thing. If you hadn’t broken it, I would have found an opportunity to do it myself. Without the mutual restraint between Xia Yuancui of Full Moon Peak and Tao Yanbo of Autumn Order Mountain, and with Yan Chu’s defection, the Bamboo Emperor would have become an absolute ruler on First Line Peak, dominating Zhengyang Mountain. The internal strife of Zhengyang Mountain would have ceased quickly. Now, at least for the next several years, the Bamboo Emperor has lost his greatest reliance, a sword immortal of the sword-top array. He’s now just the peak lord of First Line Peak, a Jade Pure Realm sword cultivator. This creates more variables.”

Chen Ping’an tilted his head back and took a swig of wine, wiping his mouth before continuing. “Tao Yanbo will definitely seek refuge with Xia Yuancui, seeking a way out for Autumn Order Mountain. For example, they might secretly form an alliance, ‘leasing’ their sword cultivators to Full Moon Peak. He might even incite that Senior Aunt Xia to contend for the position of sect master. As a reward, the Autumn Order Mountain’s mountain-sealing order would be lifted early. As for Yan Chu, that weathervane, he will surely fan the flames, seeking greater benefits for himself and Water Dragon Peak. If Sect Master Yuan Bai is chosen for the lower sect, it would create even more variables for Zhengyang Mountain. The situation will be subtle and complex, and it will take the Bamboo Emperor at least thirty to fifty years to quell those internal troubles.”

Chen Ping’an casually wiped his hand. “Back in Lotus Root Blessed Land, that old Daoist priest’s theory of meridians is by no means a panacea, but it is definitely the best axe for clearing the path when traversing mountains and rivers.”

Chen Ping’an hung the sword-nurturing gourd at his waist, then extended a hand, plucking a reflection of a lantern from the river, condensing it into a delicate and exquisite lantern, suspending it in the air. Lantern after lantern, suspended in the air, winding and turning, barely forming a line, like a road. Then, he plucked two subtle strands of water luck from the river, placing them on either side of the lanterns.

Chen Ping’an said, “Most people will step into it, because the road is obvious and easy to walk. On a larger scale, this is the grand tide of events, fate.”

He then pointed to the gap between the two lanterns. “The fluctuations of people’s hearts during this period, the various changes brought about by different life journeys, there’s no need to delve into them too deeply. Besides, even if you tried to manage them, you might not be able to, and it might even backfire. Surely someone will be able to walk out of this road, but that’s okay. For Zhengyang Mountain, this is a truly good thing, and it is what I have always been truly looking forward to.”

This was what Chen Ping’an had learned from Zheng Juzhong and Wu Shuangjiang: one was skilled at calculating the pulse of human hearts, and the other was adept at dismantling all things.

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and said, “To give an example, back in the small town, Zhengyang Mountain was determined to obtain that sword scripture, and Qingfeng City was aiming for the Wart Armor. This is an inevitability on the path of life. If I were to use myself as an example, like… Gu Can’s Earth-Shaking Fist manual, that was a lantern. Chen Ping’an of Mud Bottle Lane, having obtained this fist manual, would definitely learn the fist, because he needed to protect his life.”

Ning Yao said, “And the wooden figurine from Song Jixin’s house next door, you would definitely piece it together and then have me explain the meridians to you?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “That’s the way it is. Many coincidences are actually inevitable. But a series of inevitabilities will lead to unforeseen events and accidents.”

Ning Yao frowned, looking worried.

Chen Ping’an turned around, gently smoothed her brow, and said with a soft smile, “The old saying that one can see a person’s future at the age of three is just a general observation, and it doesn’t necessarily mean one can predict a person’s entire life. No one is destined to become someone else. There is no such thing as fate in this world. Even Zou Zi, who sold candied haws back then, wasn’t really deliberately targeting me, trying to make things difficult for a child. To be precise, Zou Zi was waiting for a choice and certain results, and then waiting to see. This doesn’t conflict with the principle that I always remind myself of: blessings and misfortunes have no door, only people invite them themselves. Later, I saw a similar saying in a book by the Second Sage, which said, ‘All things are complete within me’. When I was chatting with my teacher at the Literary Temple’s Merit Grove, the teacher said that the Second Sage’s saying was excellent and well-intentioned.”

“Back then, the many behind-the-scenes observers of Li Zhu Cave Heaven wouldn’t necessarily personally enter the game, but they were merely placing bets everywhere, fueling the flames, at most digging riverbeds, or diverting lakes, building dams. It’s like we bought a large number of calligraphy and paintings at a very cheap price, and then we think that this person’s fame will grow and the price will rise higher and higher, and one day we can sell it for a sky-high price, easily reaping huge profits. Back then, Old Man Yang was the bookmaker in our hometown, betting on Ma Kuxuan, Song Jixin, Liu Xianyang, Gu Can, Zhao Yao, Xie Ling, etc., in different ways, quietly and silently. Then, if someone could reach a higher level at certain critical moments, others would continue to bet on them. Those who couldn’t might become nameless, or their great path might be cut short, leading them down a completely different path in life. Similarly, my senior brother Cui Chan also bet on Wu Yuan, Wei Li, Liu Qingfeng, Wei Liang, and many others. Among them, Liu Qingfeng was not destined to become the Minister of Rites of the Great Li Capital.”

“When Chen Ping’an, who was fourteen years old and had not yet left his hometown, encountered the disaster with Liu Xianyang, he was unable to get any help, if at that time, when passing by the covered bridge, I hadn’t seen you, and then I still had a chance to start over, I would definitely choose a different life, I would choose to be someone who took that string of candied haws, and one day became a kiln worker, learning to fire porcelain for a lifetime, living a peaceful life.”

“But the me of today, I definitely wouldn’t choose that. Even if I had the chance, I would choose to walk the original path to get here. As for the future…”

Too many things are beyond one’s control.

Ning Yao asked softly, “What will happen in the future?”

Chen Ping’an’s eyes were firm, and he smiled. “In the future, even if I were given ten thousand different choices, I wouldn’t choose any of them.”

Ning Yao’s eyes were bright, and she nodded lightly.

Afterwards, Chen Ping’an led Ning Yao to a certain place, through streets and alleys, familiar and skilled, without even asking for directions. Chen Ping’an seemed to be strolling around his own mountain.
Having passed by Intent-Lingering Lane, a place teeming with aristocratic clans who had served the court for generations, and not far from Flute-Son Street, almost entirely populated by families of esteemed generals, along with the Yuan and Cao clans, whose ancestral homes were in Second-Son Lane and Mud-Jug Lane, and also Guan Yiran and Liu Xunmei, whose capital residences all lay on these two streets, famously one carrot for one hole. Even when meritorious deeds were rewarded, with many new faces in the Great Li court gaining entry to the imperial center, they still couldn’t find a foothold in Intent-Lingering Lane and Flute-Son Street.

At the entrance of a secluded alleyway, two Qi cultivators, one old and one young, appeared, blocking the path.

Their realms weren’t high, one a nascent soul, the other in the Dragon Gate stage.

The old man said calmly, “Regardless of who you are, take another route.”

Chen Ping’an pointed to the inside of the alley and smiled, “I am the junior brother of the owner of the mansion inside.”

Then he added, “Coming here to read.”

The young man sneered, “The Imperial Preceptor’s junior brother? Why don’t you just say you’re the Imperial Preceptor’s senior brother?”

Who didn’t know that the Great Li’s Imperial Preceptor, Embroidered Tiger Cui Chan, had broken away from the lineage of the Sage of Literature for over a century? Where would he get a junior brother? It seemed that the swindlers in the capital these days were quite bold, with many tricks up their sleeves.

The old man seemed to be a reclusive expert who didn’t concern himself with worldly affairs, waving his hand and saying, “Leave quickly.”

Chen Ping’an felt somewhat helpless. How could the Great Li court let these two guard this place?

So he turned to Ning Yao and asked, “Shall we find an inn nearby?”

Ning Yao naturally didn’t mind. In truth, it wouldn’t be difficult for the two of them to infiltrate the mansion.

Compared to the city elsewhere, which was as bright as day, this street was shrouded in darkness. Chen Ping’an said without any reason, “Pure freedom requires the sacrifice of humanity.”

Ning Yao asked doubtfully, “What do you mean?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “It doesn’t really mean anything. Anyway, I think being at ease is what makes one free, whether it’s pure or not isn’t that important. Just like all wisdom begins with compassion, it must also end in compassion.”

Ning Yao said, “Explain it more clearly.”

Chen Ping’an blinked his eyes. How else could he explain it?

Then he received an elbow from Ning Yao, grimacing in pain. Afterwards, Chen Ping’an was picky, taking many detours before finding an inn. As a result, he asked, and there was only one room left. Chen Ping’an sighed, complaining with his mouth while hurrying to take out money to pay.