Chen Ping’an bid farewell to his teacher and left the alley early in the morning.

Thinking about the invitation, given by his teacher and accepted by Ning Yao, Chen Ping’an was in good spirits.

The old cultivator responsible for guarding the alley placed the white jade dojo back in its place. In this life, besides cultivation, the old man had no other hobbies.

Liu Jia truly just loved cultivating. As for the level of his cultivation, he wasn’t forcing it. Whether it came or not, he wouldn’t indulge it.

But it was strange. Could it be that his disciple had been struck by lightning again last night because he hadn’t been protecting him? Surprisingly, he didn’t make a fuss, performing martial stances. Instead, he spent the entire night breathing and meditating diligently, repeatedly circulating the Lesser Heavenly Cycle with the River Cart Technique of the Golden Elixir lineage. Perhaps it was because of his sincerity, it looked quite promising.

Throughout the night, besides his own cultivation, circulating spiritual energy through the Great Heavenly Cycle, using the visualization technique, Liu Jia, like an immortal riding a crane, roamed a vast world of his own unique golden jade forest. He descended from the Crimson Palace on a white crane, observing the water on the Bridge of Longevity to comprehend the Dao. The old cultivator also had to focus on Zhao Duanming’s qi flow path, so he could later pick out the flaws and help his disciple identify and correct them.

Chen Ping’an stopped near the alley entrance, waited for a moment, tapped his fingers as if knocking on a door, and gently knocked, smiling, “Old Immortal Master Liu, just dropping by, don’t mind, do you?”

When the knocking sound echoed in the alley, Liu Jia had just finished collecting his thoughts, his cultivation temporarily paused. The old nascent soul couldn’t help but sigh. This young man, worthy of being Embroidered Tiger’s junior brother, had such discerning eyes. Even through a dojo’s small world, he could see his cultivation status so clearly. The old cultivator rose from the futon, used his supernatural power to open a small door in the white jade dojo, and said, “Please come in.”

The addition of “please” was out of respect for his teacher, the Literary Saint. Sword Immortals, Hidden Officials, or whatever, had little to do with it.

Within just one day, first the visit from this young Hidden Official, then Ning Yao’s sharp sword, and now the Literary Saint’s grand arrival, Liu Jia felt that his usually quiet path of cultivation was rarely so lively.

But he was previously thinking of finding that fellow to drink, could it be that he was already drinking now? He could only offer a remote toast of three cups to the old coachman.

Chen Ping’an stepped inside, glanced at the still-cultivating young man, and asked with a mental voice, “Old Immortal Master, are you planning to wait until Duanming reaches the Golden Core realm before teaching him a superior thunder technique naturally suited to his destiny?”

Liu Jia’s expression was strange. He really wanted to nod, puffing himself up in front of a young man who wasn’t even forty, but his conscience wouldn’t allow it. Face didn’t matter, he sighed, “What thunder technique? It’s killing me.”

Chen Ping’an was surprised, “With the resources of the Zhao family of Tianshui, can’t they find a proper thunder law?”

Liu Jia shook his head. “Over the years, the Zhao family has only found a few secret manuals of unorthodox thunder techniques, which are tens of thousands of miles away from the Orthodox Five Thunders Sect of Dragon Tiger Mountain. Even if they dared to give them to me, I wouldn’t dare to teach them.”

What a sword immortal who didn’t understand the value of daily necessities! Thunder techniques were revered as the origin of all techniques on the mountains. How could such authentic secret records be so easily obtained? Besides, this wasn’t a matter of money at all. Among the immortals of Treasure Bottle Continent, there weren’t many who specialized in thunder techniques, and there wasn’t even one who could be considered close to “Orthodox.” Even the Great Celestial Lord Qi Zhen of the Divine Edict Sect wouldn’t dare to say he was proficient in thunder techniques.

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and said, “I’ll have to make a trip to Middle Earth Divine Continent later. I have a mountain friend who is a respected figure of the Heavenly Master’s Mansion. We agreed to visit Dragon Tiger Mountain. I’ll see if I can piece together a decent secret manual, but I can’t guarantee it will succeed.”

Liu Jia frowned, “Why are you going to such trouble for no reason, giving Duanming such a huge favor? What, are you trying to win over the Zhao family of Tianshui as an ally in the imperial court of Great Li for your Fallen Mountain?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and smiled, “If it really succeeds, then consider that thunder technique manual accidentally left behind in the ‘Everyone Says’ building by me, just as a thank you to Old Immortal Master Liu for helping to look after my senior brother’s residence. Old Immortal Master Liu only needs to do one thing, which is to hide this matter from the Zhao family of Tianshui. In short, it has nothing to do with me, and then you can teach Duanming with peace of mind.”

Liu Jia was skeptical, “Just that simple? There’s really no scheming?”

Chen Ping’an asked in return, “Can’t you trust Chen Ping’an, whom you’ve only met by chance? Or does Old Immortal Master Liu not trust my teacher?”

Liu Jia smiled wryly, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. This kid had even brought out the Literary Saint. This matter was feasible. Confucian scholars valued the lineage of learning and tradition the most, and wouldn’t joke about it.

But the old cultivator suddenly came to his senses and scolded with a smile, “Good kid, you’re tricking me, doing nothing and still getting a good impression from me, right or wrong?”

Chen Ping’an pretended to be puzzled, “What do you mean by that?”

Liu Jia was amused and angry. He pointed his finger at the young man who thought he was a fool and poked him a few times, “Even if you have a good relationship with the Heavenly Master’s Mansion, as a Confucian disciple, you’re ultimately not in the Daoist lineage of Dragon Tiger Mountain. I’m afraid even the Great Celestial Master himself wouldn’t dare to secretly pass on the True Five Thunders to you. You yourself just said that you can only piece it together by taking advantage of the opportunity to read books. Put your hand on your heart, can such a misleading secret manual be better than what the Zhao family of Tianshui has found? You can’t even find a good reason to deceive people, it’s full of holes and doesn’t hold water…”

The old cultivator suddenly stopped talking, only to see the young man in the blue shirt smiling and raising a hand. Five thunders gathered, creation in his palm, the Daoist intent was majestic, and the thunder law was awe-inspiring.

Liu Jia stared intently, looked again and again, and nodded lightly. His expression was as usual, “The little gentleman wields a good thunder technique. Worthy of being a disciple of the Literary Saint, Embroidered Tiger’s junior brother, absorbing the best of all and fusing them into one. Admirable, admirable. Alright, it’s settled. Thanks in advance. We’ll just wait for the little gentleman to accidentally drop a secret manual at the residence, and then I’ll unintentionally pick it up. But?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “All the precautions for cultivating this technique will be carefully written down by me and carefully appended to the end of the book. The text will only be more cumbersome and detailed than the main text. Old Immortal Master’s realm is right there, so there will definitely be no problem in protecting Duanming and passing on the technique afterward.”

Liu Jia was a little embarrassed.

Chen Ping’an said, “I also have to trouble Old Immortal Master with one thing, to help me ask the head of the Zhao family of Tianshui for a piece of calligraphy, just writing the Zhao family’s motto. Of course, it still has nothing to do with Chen Ping’an.”

Being called by his senior brother to watch over the alley here, Chen Ping’an was certain that Liu Jia was definitely someone who could keep a secret. So, he didn’t worry at all that the old cultivator would let anything slip on the Zhao family of Tianshui’s side.
Chen Ping’an breathed a sigh of relief. Requesting calligraphy and paintings was a trivial matter. Even if he carried a bamboo basket to their doorstep, it wouldn’t be anything. It would only be giving face to the esteemed Zhao, who wrote such beautiful pavilion style calligraphy.

The Zhao clan of Tianshui, whom the officials of Great Li jokingly called “Manure Zhao,” actually had a very scholarly family precept. Chen Ping’an particularly admired a few lines: “A refined spirit should be clear and lofty, learning should be profound and far-reaching, integrity should be firm and sincere, and demeanor should be gentle and dignified.”

In fact, after meeting Zhao Duanming during this trip to the capital, Chen Ping’an had really wanted to ask for a handwritten copy of the family precept from the head of the Zhao clan, to have it framed later. It wouldn’t be suitable to hang in his own study, but he could give it to Xiao Nuan Shu. However, the situation in the capital was still unclear, and Chen Ping’an had planned to wait until things settled down before making the request to Zhao Duanming. Now, it was even better—he could get it without spending any money.

Suddenly, the old cultivator was startled. Chen Ping’an turned to look and saw that Zhao Duanming’s mind was immersed in his own small world, influenced by Chen Ping’an’s lightning techniques. A kind of resonating energy flow had appeared, causing the spiritual energy of the entire person to leak outwards. He was like a mountain, surrounded by swirling clouds, with signs of lightning and thunder. Chen Ping’an glanced at Liu Jia, who was stunned for a moment, then immediately nodded and said, “You just focus on protecting Duanming.”

Chen Ping’an took a step forward and arrived beside Zhao Duanming. He lightly stamped his foot, and the closed-eyed youth sitting cross-legged on the prayer mat floated up into the air.

Chen Ping’an raised a hand and gently touched the youth’s head, helping Zhao Duanming to stabilize his mind and Dao heart. The palm, which had originally gathered five thunderbolts, transformed into two fingers pressed together, gently tapping the center of the youth’s brow, instantly placing him in a state of divine slumber.

Liu Jia widened his eyes, a look of disbelief on his face. He saw that the youth’s head was surrounded by myriad phenomena, exceptionally magnificent, like a mysterious painting of heaven and earth being transformed by Dao.

The sun and moon hung together in the sky, countless stars revolved. He saw that azure-robed figure, using his mind to pluck a miniature “star” from the brilliant starry river, a star that was wrapped in golden light and brimming with lightning. Then, with that point on the forehead, as if acting as a bridge of immortality, he slowly rolled it into the youth’s brow. That star, virtualized by Daoist magic, rotated in an orderly fashion within Zhao Duanming’s personal small world, following the small heavenly circulation of spiritual energy. The few strands of essential Dao intent that had been scattered everywhere, unbeknownst even to Zhao Duanming himself, seemed to receive a decree and instantly arrived, reverently worshipping that ancient star that hung like the Dao of Heaven.

Chen Ping’an gently patted the youth’s forehead, and the youth fell back to the ground, prayer mat and all.

Liu Jia carefully asked, “Chen Ping’an, you wouldn’t happen to be a Grand Cultivator of the Ascension Realm, would you?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “I’m not, my wife is.”

Liu Jia held back for a moment, but still couldn’t help asking the biggest question in his heart, “Chen Ping’an, how did you manage to hoodwink Ning Yao?”

Chen Ping’an straightened his clothes, shook his sleeves, and smiled without saying a word.

Wasn’t it obvious? He relied on his looks and his demeanor.

Liu Jia was stunned for a long time, then joked, “Are you a tailor?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said goodbye, striding out of the alley.

The youth, who had been kept in the dark the entire time, slowly regained his senses. After opening his eyes, he stood up and jumped a few times, feeling exceptionally refreshed.

Discovering that his master was sitting on the prayer mat drinking, Zhao Duanming leaned closer and squatted down, sniffing the aroma of the wine to relieve his cravings.

Liu Jia smiled and said, “I didn’t understand before why the National Preceptor wanted me to wait patiently here, saying that the matter of salary could be put on hold, and that someone would come to pay the money later.”

The affairs of the world were complicated, winding and turning, hard to see clearly, but Liu Jia believed he was still pretty good at judging whether a person’s heart was generally good or bad.

Zhao Duanming said, “Would you even have the face to accept money from my Big Brother Chen? Master, your cultivation and teaching are of course very strong, otherwise you wouldn’t have been able to teach a disciple like me, but in terms of dealing with people, you really need to learn from me.”

Liu Jia smiled and didn’t say anything more, turning to look into the alley. In the past, National Preceptor Cui Chan had stayed here year after year, day after day, coming and going alone, but never showing the slightest feeling of loneliness.

“Worry and danger in the heart, like treading on a tiger’s tail, or wading across spring ice.”

Now there was one more junior brother, walking in the alley as well.

“Bright as the sun and moon, distinct as the stars in their courses.”

It seemed that the azure-robed sword immortal, although young, was no longer a chess piece, but had taken a seat in the capital, with the country’s mountains and rivers as his chessboard.

Invite the opponent to take a seat and see what happens.

The old cultivator thought about it again, feeling quite pleased with himself.

He, this gatekeeper, had blocked three people: Chen Ping’an, Ning Yao, and the Literary Saint. He could barely be considered to have blocked them all. Who in the world could compare?

Liu Jia coughed and handed over a pot of wine, smiling, “Duanming, have some wine.”

The youth slapped away his master’s hand, laughing and saying, “Master is joking, what wine? This disciple is still young, and can’t even handle the smell of wine.”

Anyway, it was only a few steps away. When he arrived at the inn, Chen Ping’an wasn’t in a hurry to find Ning Yao. First, he chatted with the innkeeper, and as they talked, he asked about the young woman.

The old man said angrily, “You, Chen, don’t look at what’s in the bowl while eyeing what’s in the pot. Quickly put away those devious thoughts. Besides, did you take the wrong medicine, kid? My daughter’s appearance is pretty, but not pretty enough to be better than Miss Ning.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and tentatively said, “Innkeeper, what are you thinking? What kind of person do you think I am? You’ve seen all kinds of people, the three teachings and nine streams, you’ve already developed a sharp eye, how could you not see? I just think her aptitude is good…”

The old innkeeper laughed and said angrily, “Stop, stop! Do you want her to become your disciple and wander the world? A little girl, what kind of martial arts is she going to learn? Don’t say any more about it.”

Not to mention those martial artists who mixed in the city, either showing off spears and sticks and selling dog-skin plaster, or breaking rocks on their chests to earn a meager living. Although the young man in front of him was probably from a local Jianghu sect, if he let his daughter go to learn martial arts, wouldn’t her hands be full of calluses in a few days? How would she get married? Just thinking about it made him feel upset.

What he was most worried about was his stupid daughter. Since she was little, she had been dreaming of becoming a female knight-errant, flying over roofs and walls, and righting wrongs. Fortunately, the last time the little bastards from Yichi Lane and Chi’er Street had a brawl, it was so fierce that many bricks were broken, and his daughter came home dejected. After that, she calmed down a bit, only saying that she would talk about it when she grew up, and that she would first practice her internal strength before entering the Jianghu.

Chen Ping’an said, “Then if I just happen to run into her in the inn, that’s not against the law, right?”
The old proprietor let out a soft “Eh?” and lowered his voice, saying, “What are you after, really? Chen Ping’an, be honest with me and explain yourself. Otherwise, I’ll really have to kick you out. I have two sons, but only one daughter. If you were to steal her away, my ferocious wife would beat me to death.”

The old proprietor didn’t truly believe that this young outsider was some kind of villain.

Besides, the world was at peace these days. The lives of the Dali populace were stable and secure. Matters of transgression were unheard of, not just among the Jianghu, but even the celestial immortals wouldn’t dare.

The old man suddenly asked, “Chen Ping’an, give me the lowdown. Which Jianghu sect do you belong to? Is it a famous one?”

In Longzhou, all he’d heard of was the towering Piyi Mountain, the rumored wealthy Wei Shanjun, and the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, a mountain full of sword immortals.

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “It’s a small, insignificant sect. The proprietor wouldn’t recognize it even if I told you. There aren’t many of us, but I can guarantee our sect’s conduct is impeccable.”

The old man scoffed, “If I went out and told people that this place was one of the best inns in the capital, and that grandmasters like Yu Hong and Zhou Haijing, or even cloud-soaring celestial lords, were coming and going every day, would you believe me?”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “No, I wouldn’t.”

The old man asked, “You wouldn’t actually be smitten with my daughter, would you? Could it be love at first sight?”

Chen Ping’an forced a smile, “Absolutely not.”

The old man sighed in relief and nodded. That was good. Then he slammed the table. Actually, that was terrible! How was his daughter any worse than that Ning Yao? The old man waved his hand dismissively. Clueless fool! Get lost!

After Chen Ping’an left, people from the yamen quickly arrived to check the registers. Two unfamiliar faces, but their official plaques were genuine, so the old proprietor didn’t think much of it.

After they found the names Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao, the two exchanged a knowing smile. One of the young officials continued to casually flip through the pages, casually saying, “Proprietor Liu, may your business flourish.”

The old man leaned lazily on the counter, not intimidated by these officials in the slightest. His inn had been open on the edge of those two streets for nearly fifty years, spanning two generations. What civil or military officials hadn’t he seen? Many high-ranking officials in the central government, not just familiar faces, but people he could greet on the road. The old proprietor took pride in this, so he simply chuckled and said, “Business is alright, just getting by.”

Ning Yao didn’t intentionally immerse herself in cultivation to nurture her sword intent, as that would be tantamount to a great Dao conflict between two realms.

She simply sat at the table for the entire night. Then, as dawn broke, she opened her eyes and subconsciously reached out, lightly twisting the corner of her sleeve with her fingers.

When a gentle knock sounded on the door, Ning Yao said, “The door isn’t bolted.”

Chen Ping’an pushed the door open. Ning Yao glanced at the jade hairpin in his hair and his green robe but didn’t say anything.

Chen Ping’an pulled out a few collections of scholarly writings from his sleeve and smiled, “We’ll be staying in the capital for a few more days. I was afraid you’d be bored, so I picked out a few books for you to browse.”

Ning Yao looked at the books on the table, picked them up, and asked, “Don’t you have any Jianghu romances or legendary criminal cases?”

Chen Ping’an asked, “You want to read those?”

Ning Yao retorted, “Otherwise, what, read those nonsensical tales of spirits and ghosts, strange and fantastical stories?”

Chen Ping’an was speechless.

Those romances, every other story was about reclusive masters infusing their descendants with sixty years of internal energy. Pretty nonsensical as well.

But whatever his wife said was right.

Chen Ping’an first mentioned the literary temple visit invited by the Sage of Rites. Ning Yao nodded, saying it was fine. Then Chen Ping’an immediately turned to find books, but it seemed that the bookstore didn’t have any of those types of books.

He remembered when his first disciple, Little Black Coal, used to pester Old Wei and Little White every day, telling them to each pass down a few decades of their power to her.

Later, the old cook ratted her out, and Pei Qian was given a good spanking, only then did she let go of Wei Xian and Lu Baixiang.

The old proprietor saw Chen Ping’an coming and going and joked, “Appearances can be deceiving. You’re so young, but you’re quite quick, huh?”

Chen Ping’an pretended not to understand and asked, “Proprietor, are there any bookstores nearby?”

The old man nodded. “Not far, there’s a street lined with bookstores half a street away. But as you can imagine, shops so close to Yichi Lane and Chier Street aren’t cheap. They mostly sell uncommon rare books. What is it? Do you Jianghu sect members now have to spout some ‘zhī hū zhě yě’ before fighting someone?”

The old man gave rough directions. Chen Ping’an thanked him and smiled. “My wife wants to read, so I’ll go over there and look.”

Chen Ping’an treated it as a stroll. He found the street and, sure enough, it was lined with bookstores. He spent seven or eight taels of silver, picked out a few books, and put them in his sleeve. He changed his mind, taking a detour elsewhere. About three li away, weaving through the streets and alleys, Chen Ping’an finally arrived at a celestial inn tucked away at the end of a small, secluded alley. The storefront wasn’t large, and it didn’t have any celestial fanfare. A mortal scholar passing by definitely wouldn’t give it a second glance, and upon encountering this dead end, would simply turn and leave.

Chen Ping’an knew that Song Xu and the others had started their journey from here last night, and they also returned here after coming back to the capital. Most likely, this was their place of cultivation.

Just as Chen Ping’an was about to knock on the door, he frowned slightly. His figure instantly darted backward, landing dozens of feet away. A female ghost cultivator in the Golden Core stage, her figure ethereal, burst out of the door with the colorful painted door gods. Chen Ping’an glanced at her and realized it was the female ghost who accompanied the young Nascent Soul sword cultivator, someone like Song Xu and Ge Ling, just belonging to a different mountain.

Was she here to spar? Or to question his sword or fists?

But seeing her spinning around, her colorful clothes fluttering, there didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to her movements. Moreover, that ravenous, hungry look in her eyes, that face full of longing, what was that about?

Chen Ping’an kept his hands in his sleeves, simply stepping aside to avoid the female ghost’s wind-riding form. Like a colorful ribbon, the female ghost spun halfway, opened her arms, and was about to embrace the green-robed figure.

Are you not done yet?

Chen Ping’an didn’t even turn his head, simply raising an elbow and slamming it backward, hitting the female ghost in the face.

The female ghost, dazed from the blow, collapsed to the ground, sat up, pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve with two fingers, and wiped her eyes, looking like she was about to cry.

Chen Ping’an turned his head, frowning and asking, “What’s going on?”

The female ghost looked vibrant and lively, but didn’t say anything. She simply floated towards Chen Ping’an, with no intention to kill, it seemed like she just wanted to pester him.
Chen Ping’an, hands tucked into his sleeves as always, lifted a foot and kicked the female ghost on her forehead, sending her crashing into the wall.

No, that’s not right.

It’s some kind of bizarre illusion that obscures the true nature of things. In short, seeing is not believing.

Chen Ping’an narrowed his eyes, one hand emerging from his sleeve, fingers like hooks, seizing the female ghost’s head, and forcefully slamming it down onto the ground. He twisted his toes slightly, covering the path with martial artist’s protective energy, preventing her from escaping into the earth. Then, his toe struck her heart with a resounding boom. The poor female ghost’s colorful attire and form became like a rag, wiping clean the entire alleyway. Suddenly, the woman’s body and her colorful robes expanded, suspended near the entrance of the alley, like a massive painted portrait of a beautiful lady hanging on the wall.

Chen Ping’an reminded, “That’s about enough.”

In an instant, countless female ghost heads emerged from both sides of the alleyway walls, the sky and earth darkening. However, they were not ferocious or terrifying, but rather smiling like flowers, like love-crazed women who had finally seen their beloved return home.

Chen Ping’an had originally intended to strike a heavy blow, but he sighed inexplicably and said, “This is your last warning.”

Within the inn, Yuan Huajing walked into the corridor and said in a deep voice, “Gai Yan, cease.”

The female ghost named Gai Yan immediately retracted her magic, appearing in the alleyway, her figure graceful as she curtsied, “Gai Yan greets Young Master Chen.”

Chen Ping’an explained, “I’m here to find someone.”

Gai Yan smiled charmingly, “Finding someone is good. I own this inn, you can look for whoever you want. I’ll lead the way for Young Master Chen.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head, “No need.”

The woman looked extremely aggrieved, timidly saying, “This inn is my territory. Whether or not I open my doors to welcome guests and earn immortal money is entirely up to my mood. Young Master Chen is a refined gentleman, surely you wouldn’t break down the door, would you?”

If Song Xu and his five companions were considered extraordinary individuals, they were still relatively normal in terms of identity, appearance, and temperament. However, the four subordinates under the sword cultivator Yuan Huajing, nicknamed “The Ye Lang,” all seemed like troublesome characters. Besides this female ghost named Gai Yan, there was also the young cavalryman from a wild cultivation background, named Ku Shou (Bitter Hand), and a Qi cultivator from the Yin-Yang school of Five Elements.

Finally, there was a wild cultivator of mountain and swamp spirit origin, appearing as a young boy with a cold face and murderous aura between his brows. He had given himself the name Gou Cun (Survive Cautiously). The boy had a bad temper and a strange wish: to be the state preceptor of a small kingdom, even a vassal state of the Great Li would do, as long as it was small.

Chen Ping’an used a step that shrunk the mountains and rivers, directly breaking the insignificant restrictive array of the inn. He looked around, seeing a residence in the misty haze. With a flick of two fingers, he opened the door and entered, landing lightly with a smile, “There were too many people last night, it wasn’t convenient to say much.”

The boy Gou Cun had already walked out of the secluded cultivation dojo within the house. Seeing the figure in green robes before him, the boy first clasped his fist and then bowed, but still felt it wasn’t right. In the end, he could only scratch his head and call out, “Mr. Chen,” before grinning foolishly.

Years ago, in Shihao Kingdom, there was a boy working in a dog meat shop, mistakenly thought to be mute. He had met a man in a blue cloth cotton coat, who bought him a meal, said many things to him, and gave him a possibility.

And lent the boy a Xiaoshu coin.

“An old debt.”

Gai Yan in the alley was not annoyed, but stomped her foot coquettishly and followed behind.

Arriving at the courtyard, she was extremely surprised. Did Gou Cun know Chen Ping’an? How come she had never heard of it?

Han Zhoujin also arrived at the courtyard gate, with Yu Yu, the little tag-along, by her side.

The boy smiled brightly, “Mr. Chen, today my name is Gou Cun.”

Chen Ping’an nodded with a smile, “A good name.”

Gou Cun.

Don’t forget your roots, live on.

Chen Ping’an extended his hand.

The boy quickly took out a Xiaoshu coin, which he always carried with him, from his sleeve and handed it to him apologetically, “Mr. Chen, I spent the Xiaoshu coin back then.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Borrowing and repaying money, shouldn’t we talk about some interest?”

The boy grinned, knowing that Mr. Chen was joking.

Chen Ping’an put away the Xiaoshu coin, and with a twist of his wrist, a green bamboo cane appeared, the kind of hiking stick used by refined scholars for mountain excursions, “Here, I’ll give it to you.”

On the hiking stick, there were two engraved characters, “Zhi Yuan” (Reaching Far).

The boy held the hiking stick in his arms, inarticulate, he merely bowed silently to thank Mr. Chen.

The next moment.

Before the boy could even raise his head, he instantly became alert.

In fact, not only Gou Cun, but also the female ghost Gai Yan in the courtyard, Han Zhoujin and Yu Yu at the gate, and Song Xu and the others gathered in a nearby courtyard, everyone found themselves in a misty haze.

Array Master Han Zhoujin had already released the Immortal Palace ruins. Then, only a sword light remained in the heavens and earth, splitting the sky and earth, forcibly breaking open the mountain and water restrictions of an ancient Tongbai blessed land. Chen Ping’an grabbed Gai Yan’s hair with one hand and Gou Cun’s neck with the other. The female ghost Gai Yan’s spiritual energy was suppressed by fist intent, almost stagnating. At the slightest movement, her Five Elements elemental destiny house would experience heart-wrenching pain. As for Gou Cun, he had already fainted. The most troublesome thing was that both Gai Yan and Gou Cun had been lightly pierced in the center of their brows by a flying sword,

The sword Qi permeated the small world within their bodies.

The green-shirted sword immortal, who attacked without warning, looked around, glanced at the aura of the ancient immortal dojo’s great path, and then stared at Han Zhoujin with a slight smile, “I’m a bit puzzled, how did you kill the Jade Purity Realm demon clan general back then, through assassination and beheading? No way, you must have been handed the head on a silver platter, right?”

Chen Ping’an said to himself, “Or is it that if the team isn’t complete, the eleven of you are just a pile of loose sand? It’s okay, everyone can come in. Besides, there’s no such thing as only you scheming to kill others. Debts must be repaid one day, and that day is now.”

The Yin-Yang school Qi cultivator was about to perform a Daoist incantation, using an extremely mysterious natal supernatural power, at the cost of dropping one realm, reversing the flow of time slightly, to help the eleven return to “before” and prepare in advance.

As a result, sword light descended directly above his head. Yuan Huajing appeared to protect Sui Lin, summoning a natal flying sword to clash against the sword light. Unexpectedly, countless sword lights flared around the Five Elements cultivator, directly shattering that slender strand of the river of time.
Chen Pingan, abandoning the barely-alive Gou Cun and the transformed Gai Yan, stepped towards the Daoist, Ge Ling. The Daoist had chosen to directly detonate his Golden Core and nascent soul, a move that would normally result in the utter demise of even a terrestrial immortal.

Chen Pingan’s fist intent surged like a waterfall, leaving him unscathed. He casually strolled out of the slightly chaotic battlefield, a painted landscape, and reached out to restrain the military strategist, Yu Yu, with a close-quarters punch. Gently pulling Yu Yu closer, he spun and delivered a devastating elbow strike to the face, sending Yu Yu flying dozens of feet, spewing blood. Just as he was about to stomp down, a flicker of his eye caught that Yu Yu was actually elsewhere. “Interesting,” he mused, “Even within the caged bird’s little world, perception can still be manipulated.” It seemed the legendary mountain “Eyebrow-Drawing Painter,” the female ghost from the alley, had been holding back.

In the next instant, the eleven individuals experienced varying degrees of tilting, distortion, and inversion of the world around them.

It was as if a world had been meticulously dissected into countless realms by its master.

The female ghost, Gai Yan, was about to act when her vision was filled with sword light. Dozens of longswords instantly pinned her to the spot, piercing her body and the colorful garment she wore.

Gou Cun, who should have been in a deep slumber, suddenly opened his eyes, only to have Chen Pingan stomp on his chest, sending him back into unconsciousness. At the same time, Chen Pingan glanced at the little novice monk and smiled, as if saying, “So, it was you.” His azure robe flowing, he seemed to step through a doorway, treading on air, appearing behind the little monk. He wrapped an arm around the monk’s neck, supporting his chin with a hand. Hesitating for a moment, Chen Pingan chose to pull back his attack, patting the monk’s head instead, and chuckled, “Be more careful in the future.”

With two fingers joined, he drew a circle around the little monk, creating a golden lightning pool that enveloped him.

Chen Pingan shifted the battlefield, flicking his sleeves, and talismans cascaded down like two silvery rivers, trapping the Qi cultivator of the Five Elements school.

Han Zhoujin was greatly alarmed, realizing he had lost his connection to the aura of the Immortal Abode ruins.

Chen Pingan surveyed the surroundings, casually swatting away the flying swords of Yuan Huajing and Song Xu, and declared, “I know you have many tricks up your sleeves, but they are useless. You won’t have a chance to use them. You have already lost.”

With a flick of his finger, he launched a shard of golden body towards the Yin-Yang school cultivator, saying, “Consider this compensation. Go back now.”

Time reversed momentarily, returning the eleven individuals to their original positions. However, thanks to the little monk’s Buddhist magic, their memories remained intact. Sui Lin collapsed to the ground, his face pale, but the shard of golden body in his hand was more than enough to compensate for the loss of his cultivation, even with surplus to spare.

Half of the cultivators were unwilling to accept defeat, while the other half were filled with lingering fear.

The azure-robed swordsman, whose attacks were ruthlessly efficient, seemed unaffected by the river of time. He was the first to return to his original spot in the inn, standing in the corridor with his hands tucked into his sleeves. He smiled at the young Gou Cun, who still had his head lowered, and asked, “Did I frighten you?”

The young man, still clutching his walking staff, looked dazed. He rose, scratched his head, and then shook it. “Mr. Chen, I… I learned something.”

Chen Pingan said softly, “Cultivation on the mountain is full of unexpected twists and turns. The higher you climb, the stronger the winds. Be careful in the future.”

Then Chen Pingan chuckled, “Of course, I’m not saying you should always be wary of my ambushes. Today’s actions were an exception.”

Chen Pingan began to analyze the fight for the eleven individuals, offering advice. Whether they heeded it or not was their choice.

If they weren’t cultivators carefully selected and cultivated by his senior brother at great expense, Chen Pingan wouldn’t have bothered to intervene today. That large shard of an ancient god’s golden body wasn’t cheap.

Chen Pingan finally asked Gou Cun in a mental voice, “Gou Cun, now that you’ve seen those who eat dog meat, what do you think?”

Gou Cun remained silent for a moment before raising his head and honestly replying, “It still makes my heart ache. So, I’ll listen to Mr. Chen and become the state preceptor of a small country, decreeing that no one within its borders is allowed to eat dog meat.”

Chen Pingan nodded. “Take your time.”

Chen Pingan was about to leave the immortal inn when the female ghost surprisingly dared to approach a few steps, batting her large eyes. “Mr. Chen, are you leaving already? Shall I see you off?”

Chen Pingan scoffed and said, “Aren’t you being a bit too forward? Tell me, what are you after?”

She revealed an unprecedented shyness. “I’m just like Han Zhoujin, smitten at first sight, unable to control myself.”

Han Zhoujin’s face flushed red with embarrassment and anger. “Gai Yan, watch your mouth!”

Chen Pingan was speechless and vanished in a flash.

Fire God Temple.

Under the flower trellis, Aunt Feng glanced over, annoyed. Uninvited guests who barged in without knocking, what kind of people were they?

The old coachman went straight to the point. “Due to circumstances, I need to answer three questions from Chen Pingan. What do you think the kid will ask? I need to prepare. Don’t give me that dismissive attitude. If it weren’t for your meddling, I wouldn’t have taken those two extra sword strikes.”

Aunt Feng smiled gently. “Chen Pingan will definitely start by asking who you are.”

The old coachman asked, “What else?”

Aunt Feng continued, “He’ll ask if you were involved in the matter of his natal porcelain shattering.”

The old coachman nodded. “That’s easy to answer, I had nothing to do with it.”

Aunt Feng clicked her tongue. “Are you sure you’re being honest? You bet on the Ma family of Apricot Blossom Lane long ago.”

The old coachman didn’t try to hide it. “I had the highest hopes for Ma Ku Xuan, there’s no point in denying it. But the actions of the Ma couple had nothing to do with me. I didn’t instruct them, and I didn’t help cover up the traces afterward.”

Aunt Feng pondered for a moment. “As for the third question, there are many possibilities, making it difficult to guess.”

“For example?”

“For example, who was the instigator behind the forging of natal porcelain in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven? Will you answer? How will you answer?”

The old coachman retrieved a small porcelain bottle, opened it, and a purple aura swirled out. He took a gentle sniff, and golden light instantly radiated from his body, flowing throughout, mending his injuries.

Being slashed by that sword cultivator while in a divine body had one advantage: no residual sword energy remained. The after-effects of the sword energy would be washed away by the river of time. As long as the golden body didn’t collapse on the spot, even severe injuries and numerous cracks could be repaired, restoring the golden body.

The old coachman remained silent for a moment, slightly helpless. “I agreed with Ning Yao that if there’s a question I don’t want to answer, Chen Pingan can change it.”

Aunt Feng smiled. “That’s all?”

The old coachman grumbled, “That little shrew gave me a limit, no more than three times.”

The old coachman suddenly looked up. “Don’t you dare try to trick me again, old woman!”
Aunt Feng jested, “If all else fails, it’s better to sacrifice a fellow Daoist than to suffer myself! Let’s just reveal that person’s background to Chen Ping’an.”

The old coachman shook his head. “Forget those so-called Four Troublesome Ghosts of the Mountain, the one you should never offend is a diviner.”

Among the other two masterminds, one is a Dragon Raiser from the Supporting Dragon lineage. The other hails from the Lu family of the Yin-Yang School in the Central Earth. One operates in the open – the Qi Refiner from the capital whom Song Changjing beat to death with a flurry of fists. The one lurking in the shadows is responsible for selecting the locations of the former Great Li’s Five Peaks.

These old immortals, relying on the Lvzhu Grotto-Heaven, naturally each had their own agenda. The Dragon Raiser’s ancestor wagered on the Great Li’s Song clan, while also suppressing the fortunes of the Lu family on Fortune Street.

As for this Aunt Feng, aside from her duty as a protector, she was merely seizing opportunities to forge connections. For instance, she brought Cao Hang and Yuan Xie out of the Lvzhu Grotto-Heaven, presenting this pair of future literary and martial prodigies to the Great Li court. This led to the Great Li’s renaissance, preventing the Song clan from having their dynasty cut short and easily annexed by the Lu dynasty, which was once Great Li’s suzerain.

Compared to Aunt Feng and the old coachman, the Yin-Yang School cultivator from the Central Earth’s Lu family remained hidden behind the scenes, constantly pulling strings. His actions were most insidious, yet he maintained a sense of propriety, always staying within the bounds of the rules.

The old coachman suddenly said, “Within a Jiazi cycle, first come, first served. Ma Kuxuan actually still has a chance.”

He was referring to the ethereal and omnipresent Great Righteous Qi. With the fragmentation of mountains and rivers across several continents and the fall of countless great cultivators from the two realms, who were not originally blessed with great fortune, all that Qi had returned to the heavens and earth. This was like an invisible race to cross a river. Earlier, the sword immortal prodigies of the Great Wall of Sword Qi and the Hundred Sword Immortals of Mount Tuoyue all arose in response to the impending war. Afterward, figures like the Sword Immortal Xu Xie and Gu Can of White Emperor City emerged out of nowhere, rising rapidly. Therefore, the last century was an unprecedented era for cultivators, a chance that comes only once in ten thousand years. Miss it, and you miss everything.

Unless…

Zhou Mi of Literary Sea, who had already ascended to the heavens, could return to the mortal world and the war would start again.

The old coachman glanced at the sky and sighed, “I must say, this Zhou Mi is truly remarkable.”

Aunt Feng smiled, “Conserving one’s Qi and not seizing it from others is the way of a cultivator.”

The old coachman frowned, “Merit is hard-earned. Is this Chen Ping’an crazy in the head?”

Aunt Feng shook her head, unwilling to say more.

Human nature, in the end, is simply the love of fighting with oneself.

As a deity, she was naturally capable of categorizing and differentiating with precision, dividing joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure into hundreds or thousands of “domains,” each meticulously organized.

Regarding this matter, the Three Sages had many solutions. For example, both Buddhism and Taoism advocated the “Method of Guarding the One.” Closer to home, the old scholar who restored the Wenmiao deity status had long seen through the secrets in the books of sages. For example, “When observing things, if there is doubt and the center is unsteady, then external things will be unclear. On a moonlit night, looking down at one’s shadow, one might mistake it for a lurking ghost… The heart is the sovereign of the body and the master of the spirit. Therefore, one must restrain oneself, command oneself, seize from oneself, take from oneself, act for oneself, and stop for oneself…” This was the essence of the old scholar’s “Dispelling Obscurity” essay.

That’s why the old scholar seemed to casually mention his “Dispelling Obscurity” essay back at the inn.

At that time, Aunt Feng had tactfully withdrawn a wisp of gentle breeze, ceasing to eavesdrop on their conversation.

The so-called rumors in the world were not that she intentionally eavesdropped; it was simply the nature of her natal divine power.

Chen Ping’an retraced his steps. As he approached the inn, he happened to see the young girl come out. Upon seeing him, she immediately turned around, ran back into the inn, and hid behind the counter, pretending to use the abacus.

Chen Ping’an crossed the threshold, not looking to either side.

Suddenly, he stopped, turned around, and walked out of the inn, heading towards the small alley house.

The Great Li Empress Dowager had finally arrived.

Behind the counter, the young girl whispered, “Dad, did I wrongly accuse him?”

The old innkeeper said in a low voice, “No, this kid is a Jianghu person. He’s full of tricks and is just playing hard to get.”

Chen Ping’an felt rather helpless.

Walking slowly down the street, with nothing else to do, Chen Ping’an began to improvise a few lines.

Bamboo horses strike skirts, stop the horse to hear flower sellers’ voices. Lotus seduces carp, gauze window resents jade mats in autumn. Jade drip delays good times. Crossing the River Clouds send boats that cannot carry water, Magpie Bridge Immortals see the heavens in pots, Mountain Ghost Songs sing ten thousand years of spring.