**Mount Zhengyang, Overcloud Pavilion.**

The sky cleared after the rain, the atmosphere refreshed.

Outside the mountain, at Egret Crossing, clumps of reeds had already blossomed, while the terraced fields glowed golden with ripe rice.

Further off, the several peaks of Mount Zhengyang seemed particularly busy, with earthworks underway, mending and patching.

In that all-too-familiar Class A room, devoid of guests, Chen Pingan moved a rattan chair to the observation deck, gazing towards the nearest Azure Mist Peak, gently shaking the gourd that nurtured his sword.

Some things, once started, are hard to quit, like affection for someone, or fondness for wine.

At the wine table, Chen Pingan had witnessed many human conditions. Wine could make the taciturn loquacious, the habitually loud softly murmur, bring smiles to faces even as tears welled in eyes unbeknownst to the drinker, and transform an old man into a child.

He wondered what sights his own Chief Zhou would encounter in the wild lands, and what great commotions he would stir.

*A willow leaf that slays Immortals.*

As for the innate ability of Jiang Shangzhen’s flying sword, Chen Pingan never asked.

Cui Dongshan casually mentioned that Chief Zhou’s flying sword was of exceedingly high quality, its edge unmatched. It could even be rated as top-tier back at the Summer Palace, capable of scaling mountains, crossing rivers, and piercing any armor it met.

More surprising was that Ni Yuerong, who should have been heading to the Central Sacred Land of Dali, was actually here at the inn, seemingly auditing accounts.

Sensing the unusual Qi activity here, Ni Yuerong immediately set aside the increasingly disheartening ledger and hurried to investigate. Before leaving, she silently prayed that it wouldn’t be *that* person, not *that* person of all people…

Perhaps she hadn’t burned enough incense at the temple lately. What she feared most was precisely what came to pass. Ni Yuerong slightly turned her body and offered a *wanfu* greeting to the unexpected guest. Hesitating for a moment, she carefully considered her words and deliberately used a rather formal address, “Greetings, Immortal Master Cao.”

Chen Pingan turned his head, lifting the gourd in his hand, and said, “First, I must congratulate Immortal Master Ni, for achieving the popular will and becoming the God of Wealth for the future Lower Sect of Mount Zhengyang.”

Ni Yuerong quickly curtsied again.

Truth be told, her rise to become the third-in-command of the future Lower Sect was truly thanks to the upheaval caused by this Fallen Mountain Sword Immortal.

Otherwise, with every position tightly filled, how could she, a non-sword cultivator from Azure Mist Peak at the Dragon Gate Realm, occupy such a vital role in the Lower Sect? It was a dream she wouldn’t dare to entertain.

She, the former manager of Overcloud Pavilion, and her senior brother Wei Yueshan were both non-sword cultivators. The two senior siblings, once outwardly cordial but inwardly estranged, now had a much closer relationship. The shared adversity of near-total sect annihilation had truly deepened their bonds. Before Ni Yuerong left the sect, they had an unprecedentedly frank conversation, resolving to support each other in the future. Wei Yueshan would hold down Azure Mist Peak, while she would manage the finances of the Lower Sect, doing her best to care for their peak.

Ni Yuerong carefully said, “The matter of the Lower Sect has not yet been decided.”

Chen Pingan smiled, “Mount Zhengyang is renowned for having friends everywhere, this small matter is nothing.”

Ni Yuerong didn’t seem particularly embarrassed. After years of greeting guests and handling affairs, her face had become as thick as a stack of ledgers.

Chen Pingan asked with a puzzled expression, “Why is Immortal Master Ni still at Overcloud Pavilion?”

Logically, with the preparations for the Lower Sect being complex and multifaceted, Ni Yuerong, as the one managing finances, and being newly appointed, should be the most indispensable.

Ni Yuerong was somewhat absent-minded, feeling a sense of unreality, as if engaging in casual conversation. Yet, she recalled a time not long ago, right here, when Chen Pingan met with Sect Master Zhu Huang, and she hadn’t dared to even breathe loudly. The two Sect Masters sat face to face, and she didn’t dare to glance at either of them.

Hearing the question, Ni Yuerong immediately composed herself, carefully choosing her words, “Replying to Immortal Master Cao, Yuerong is here temporarily, with a matter that requires a trip to the Ancestral Hall of the Upper Sect. Regarding the Cloud Radiance Incense trade, I hope Sect Master Zhu can make a decision, because the price offered by Cloud Radiance Mountain…”

“There’s no need to go into specifics, I’m an outsider, let’s not break any rules.”

Chen Pingan waved his hand, stopping Ni Yuerong, and casually said, “It seems the inn’s business has become a bit slow.”

Ni Yuerong only gave a soft “Mm” and didn’t dare to mutter even half a complaint.

Why was business poor, with so few guests? Whose fault was it? Of course, it was her fault, the manager, for not knowing how to make money.

It wouldn’t be right to blame the courteous Mountain Lord Chen, that would be far too unreasonable.

The first Sect Master of Mount Zhengyang’s future Lower Sect was none other than the former Zhu Ying Dynasty sword cultivator, Yuan Bai. Because of a sword duel with Huang He of Wind Thunder Garden, Yuan Bai had damaged the very foundation of his Dao. Barring any unforeseen events, the sword path of the once-genius cultivator, one half of the twin stars of the former Zhu Ying, would forever be stuck at the nascent soul realm.

Zhu Huang was indeed a patient person. Yuan Bai had publicly declared his withdrawal from Mount Zhengyang during the observation ceremony, in front of everyone, making it clear that if the Ancestral Hall of the First Line Peak didn’t remove his name from the records, Yuan Bai would take it upon himself to strike it out.

Of course, it was currently only a so-called Lower Sect. As Ni Yuerong said, it couldn’t be considered set in stone. After that observation ceremony, more unexpected events occurred.

During the previous council at the Central Earth Literary Temple, Song Changjing had requested at least three additional sect slots from the Literary Temple. Among the sect candidates in Treasure Bottle Continent, besides Mount Zhengyang, there was Cloud Radiance Mountain, lacking only an Upper Fifth Realm cultivator; an ancient Buddhist temple near Yandang Mountain’s Greater and Lesser Dragon Falls; the mountain Daoist temple of Cao Rong, Lu Chen’s direct disciple; and the Divine Edict Sect hoping for one more Lower Sect. Add to that, the Dali native Immortal Mansion, Evergreen Palace. In short, all factions were vying for these three slots.

Originally, Mount Zhengyang had the best chance of adding a sect-headed Immortal Mansion. Ignore the obstacles put up by Dali Prince Song Mu, deliberately interfering to prevent this matter, even feigning a no-negotiation stance. In fact, he was putting on a play with Dali’s Emperor, one playing the bad cop, and one playing the good cop, to prevent the Mount Zhengyang cultivators from becoming too arrogant, preventing them from becoming a hard to control force in the future, and forcing Mount Zhengyang to relinquish some tangible sect heritage. It also alleviated the resentment of some Immortal Mansions on the mountain, especially the old, sect-headed ones, towards Dali’s Song Clan’s efforts to support Mount Zhengyang.

In addition to achieving three objectives at once, the Dali court also had a backup plan hidden.
It wasn’t so much the Grand Li court favoring True Yang Mountain, but rather the Song family of Great Li and the entire Precious Bottle Continent needed to gather the scattered sword dao fortune that permeated the land.

Therefore, the creation of a lower sect by True Yang Mountain was almost a certainty.

In Chen Ping’an’s view, it was actually Cloud Radiance Mountain, which had always had the best reputation and the loudest calls for formal sect status, that was the least likely to officially join the ranks of sects. It wasn’t just the lack of a Jade Pure Realm expert to preside over the mountain, but the Grand Li court had deeper, more far-reaching plans.

Mountain Cliff Academy and Lin Deer Academy had already joined the ranks of the Seventy-Two Academies of the Literary Temple. Add to that a temple and a Taoist temple joining the ranks of sects, and the three teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism would truly take root in Precious Bottle Continent. The fortune of the continent could then gradually stabilize, and the timing would fall into place.

Most crucially, after the three ancestral teachers dispersed their dao, Precious Bottle Continent would receive even greater fortune in return. He believed these plans were already within Senior Brother Cui Chan’s established strategies.

Chen Ping’an considered himself like a chess player, only having memorized some so-called brilliant moves and standard formations, piecing things together on the chessboard. He was good at dismantling and cutting, but poor at mending and gluing.

This was also the root cause for Chen Ping’an’s meticulous planning and deliberate action when attending the True Yang Mountain ceremony. He had to ensure he had the upper hand, taking the initiative on the chessboard.

Therefore, he was far inferior to Senior Brother Cui Chan, Zheng Juzhong, and Wu Shuangjiang.

Their understanding of human relationships was unconsciously refined, and their deep calculations were imperceptible.

Song Jixin from Mud Bottle Alley was also growing.

It was said that several mountain and water gazettes in the Central Earth Continent had begun to specifically study the young people of Li Zhu Cave Heaven.

Bamboo shoots after rain, thriving and growing, forming a forest of bamboo.

Earlier, Ni Yurong mistakenly thought that Chen Ping’an’s statement about creating a lower sect being a small matter was mocking True Yang Mountain, rubbing salt in their wounds.

In reality, it was indeed a small matter. Of course, that was under the premise that True Yang Mountain didn’t continue to cause trouble. If they honestly humbled themselves and sought help, contributing both money and manpower, and sword cultivators obediently joined the army as accompanying cultivators, following the Grand Li iron cavalry to participate in the war in the desolate lands, then the matter of the lower sect would naturally fall into place.

It wasn’t that Ni Yurong wasn’t clever enough, but rather that Passing Cloud Pavilion and Azure Mist Peak weren’t high enough. Even if cultivators stood on the mountain peaks, they couldn’t see far.

The real surprise was that Chen Ping’an was determined to let True Yang Mountain perish on its own within a few centuries. For example, the location of Fallen Mountain’s lower sect was chosen in the Central Mountain region of Precious Bottle Continent, rather than Tung Leaf Continent, directly opposing True Yang Mountain in every way. The latter would soon become like water without a source, consuming its resources without replenishment.

Chen Ping’an couldn’t compete with the smartest people in the world for the time being, but he was more than capable of dealing with old sword immortals like Bamboo Emperor and Yan Chu, who liked to be frogs in a well.

Ni Yurong asked, “Immortal Master Cao, may I prepare some wine and fruit?”

She had recently received a square object from the ancestral hall called “Number of Peaks Green,” inside which was placed the white jade-shafted painting scroll. Her Azure Mist Peak actually had one originally, but her elder brother was the peak master, so it wasn’t her turn to have it.

According to the ancestral rules of First Line Peak, all important treasures of the mountain gate recorded in the registers were only for use by direct disciples, and still belonged to the ancestral hall.

Just like the immortal Su Jia before, whose sword heart was shattered by Huanghe of Wind and Thunder Garden. Before she left the mountain in disappointment, she had to return that invaluable sword-nurturing gourd.

Chen Ping’an declined, “No need to be so polite. I’m not here to freeload, just passing by.”

In his view, the various peaks of True Yang Mountain after the rain had different scenery. Between Water Dragon Peak and Rain Foot Peak, where water vapor was relatively dense, there was even a rainbow, a truly ethereal painting of immortal energy.

First Line Peak, Big and Small Solitary Mountains, Immortal Carrying Sword Peak, Full Moon Peak, Autumn Order Mountain, Water Dragon Peak, Cloud Dispelling Peak, Fluttering Peak, Jade Branch Peak, Rain Foot Peak, Dogwood Peak, Azure Mist Peak…

This was Fallen Mountain’s first hostile sect.

Xia Yuancui’s Full Moon Peak and Autumn Order Mountain, which was strictly sealed by Bamboo Emperor, Xia Yuancui and Tao Yanbo, a Jade Pure and a Core Formation old sword immortal, had indeed formed an alliance.

Autumn Order Mountain suffered the most damage. Tao Yanbo himself resigned from the position of the sect’s treasurer, claiming to be in seclusion for sixty years to reflect on his mistakes. Yan Chu of Water Dragon Peak resigned from the position of Law Enforcement Elder of the ancestral hall and became the person in charge of the sect’s finances, which was considered trading a mere reputation for actual benefits. The most senior Xia Yuancui replaced Yan Chu as Law Enforcement Elder, taking whatever benefits were available.

Cold Qi, the female ancestral teacher of Jade Branch Peak, had already closed her doors to guests and was in seclusion. Now, the peak was also close to being sealed. Before “secluding” herself, Cold Qi handed over a lot of affairs to Liu Yu, the female sword cultivator who had the first sword duel with Liu Xianyang.

As for Yu Lin, the peak master of Rain Foot Peak, this promising young Golden Core sword immortal would probably never have the heart to challenge Dragon Spring Sword Sect again.

Situ Wenying, who came from Full Moon Peak, didn’t hesitate to become a ghost, but still left in the end. Before and after her death, she was always infatuated with Li Tuanjing of Wind and Thunder Garden, but she didn’t know that Li Tuanjing had resorted to a martial dismemberment to reincarnate, far away in the horizon yet close at hand. In fact, it was that genius boy who was brought up the mountain by Tian Wan of Dogwood Peak.

Bamboo Emperor suddenly established a rule that during his tenure as the True Yang Mountain Sect Master, First Line Peak would no longer establish the position of Mountain Guardian Enshrinement.

Chen Ping’an shook the vermilion wine gourd and laughed, “I have to eat my words. I’ll trouble Immortal Master Ni to fetch two jars of wine from the wine cellar.”

Ni Yurong immediately excused herself and left to fetch the wine.

Daring not to be negligent, she quickly returned. Ni Yurong brought two jars of Changchun Wine Brew, treasured by Passing Cloud Pavilion for many years. Chen Ping’an, who had been sitting on the wicker chair, only took one jar of wine, waved his sleeve, and moved a chair inside the house to the viewing platform.

Ni Yurong thanked him, and after taking a seat, she opened the mud seal of a jar of wine and took a small sip.

Chen Ping’an shook the wine pot, placed it next to his ear, listened to the wine bubbles, and then laughed: “It’s real wine, but unfortunately, a lot of it has evaporated.”

New grievances and old hatreds, new wine and old wine.

Perhaps some new grievances, after turning into old hatreds accumulated over many years, would also evaporate, unknowingly decreasing in quantity year after year.

But there were also some grudges that, as Chief Zhou said, were like that old turtle’s mouth, biting down and never letting go.

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked, “Has anyone from True Yang Mountain secretly gone to destroy that stone tablet standing on the border?”

Ni Yurong’s heart suddenly tightened. Sure enough, this return to True Yang Mountain was to question them?

Was she drinking a penalty drink?
Only, what this half of the stele-setter said next utterly baffled Ni Yuerong. “The stele must stand there for a long, long time. This is a rule agreed upon by Fallen Mountain and True Sun Mountain. Beyond this, you don’t need to be too nervous about anything that happens. For example, if it’s shattered, First Line Peak will simply erect a new one. Anyway, it doesn’t cost me anything. Just don’t delay too long. If it’s thrown too far away, just move it back to its original spot. If the inscription is erased by sword qi, just remember to re-engrave it.”

Ni Yuerong could only softly agree.

Chen Pingan, having tasted the first mouthful of Everlasting Spring Wine, laughed, “If your True Sun Mountain is worried that I’ll find an excuse to make trouble, and deliberately punish someone severely, especially if you resort to ruthless measures, like breaking a disciple’s Bridge of Longevity, expunging their name from the Register of Mountains and Rivers, or driving them down the mountain, just don’t.”

Ni Yuerong’s mind raced, not daring to agree immediately. Of course, she suspected that this Green-Robed Sword Immortal was speaking ironically.

Chen Pingan didn’t care what Ni Yuerong was thinking. “Later, Immortal Ni, please relay a message to Bamboo Emperor, just say that these hot-blooded young people are probably the future of your True Sun Mountain.”

Ni Yuerong quickly glanced at the young Sword Immortal’s profile, his expression appearing genuine. She quickly lowered her head to drink, feeling utterly bewildered and absurd. For some reason, she felt that this Master of Fallen Mountain was more like her own True Sun Mountain’s Sect Master.

Chen Pingan continued, “Of course, the path of cultivation is fraught with unexpected events. You can’t be young and impetuous forever, always treating mistakes and blunders as abilities. For example, if one day a direct disciple of True Sun Mountain, in a moment of passion, secretly goes to Fallen Mountain to strike a heavy blow, using underhanded tactics, and can’t escape a life-or-death struggle, you elders of the mountain should avoid such things as much as possible, stop them if you can.”

“Otherwise, if something similar really happens, I’ll have to trouble the new Law Enforcement Elder, Xia Yuancui, to personally collect the corpses over at Fallen Mountain, then return here with a certain sword cultivator from Fallen Mountain, to receive a return gift.”

“As for True Sun Mountain sword cultivators, going to Great Li Dragon Province, openly and uprightly, to ascend Fallen Mountain and challenge with swords, that’s another matter.”

Ni Yuerong silently noted these important matters. Then, taking it upon herself, she retrieved that scroll from her dimensional storage, intending to find an excuse to part with it, however painful, to curry favor with Fallen Mountain, or rather, with the young Sword Immortal before her, and establish a private relationship, a little bit of goodwill. Even if he accepted the treasure but didn’t appreciate it at all, it wouldn’t matter. She’d just consider it money spent to avert disaster. Since ancient times, no one strikes a smiling face.

Chen Pingan, without looking directly at her, seemed to see through her heart, knowing her intentions. He laughed, “Cultivation isn’t easy. No one’s money is earned from strong winds or floods.”

Ni Yuerong sullenly put away the scroll, mustered her courage, and asked a question that she had been pondering over for days, “Sect Master Chen, why are you particularly… courteous to Green Mist Peak and Passing Cloud Pavilion?”

Similarly, as female cultivators, Leng Qi of Jade Branch Peak was in a miserable situation, no better than Tao Yanbo of Autumn Decree Mountain. The current Jade Branch Peak was more like a closed mountain than a closed mountain, and the Peak Master Ancestor Leng Qi was more like secluded cultivation than secluded cultivation.

Chen Pingan leaned back in the rattan chair, hands in his sleeves. “I said earlier, cultivation isn’t easy. It’s especially difficult for women to cultivate in True Sun Mountain.”

Then, sitting up, Chen Pingan gazed at the tranquil scenery by the ferry crossing. “Some things can be understood, but just because I don’t think you did right, I won’t look down on you. I just won’t pity you for anything.”

Ni Yuerong neither showed a tearful expression of gratitude nor said anything.

She simply stopped drinking. The woman’s eyes were gentle, her fingers interlaced, quiet and peaceful, looking towards the distant green mountains and white clouds.

Chen Pingan prepared to finish the jug of Everlasting Spring Wine in his hand, then leave True Sun Mountain and continue his journey, traveling to the next destination. He laughed, “I wasn’t planning on saying this much. If Immortal Ni wasn’t here, I’d at most visit Water Dragon Peak and express my thanks.”

He was referring to a certain talented brother from Water Dragon Peak who diligently and conscientiously managed True Sun Mountain’s intelligence.

Chen Pingan casually asked, “Have you decided on a name for that subordinate sect?”

Ni Yuerong didn’t think there was anything to hide. Without hesitation, she said, “The Ancestral Hall intends to name it ‘Bambusa Sword Sect’, but it hasn’t been officially finalized yet. It’s tentatively named that.”

Previously, during the discussions in the Ancestral Hall of First Line Peak, they hadn’t discussed this matter much, since it was still uncertain whether they could even have a subordinate sect.

Moreover, even if they created a subordinate sect and obtained permission, the matter of the sect’s name would still depend on the Great Li Dynasty. If the Central Earth Confucian Temple didn’t ultimately approve and nod, they would have to rename it again. It was rumored that in history, there were many examples of sect names not passing through the Confucian Temple. For example, there was once a Sword Dao sect in the Northern Ju Continent that initially prepared to name itself “First Sword Sect”, but was directly rejected by the Confucian Temple. Fine, then I’ll change to a less high-profile name, right? So they gave the Confucian Temple “Second Sword Sect”…

As a result, a Confucian Temple Worthy who guarded the Heavenly Canopy of the Northern Ju Continent asked that Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator who intended to establish a sect, “Are you out of your mind?”

Chen Pingan laughed, “This shows that your Sect Master has high hopes for this subordinate sect.”

The subordinate sect was named “Bambusa Mountain”, full of bamboo, the meaning was certainly good.

Sect Master Bamboo Emperor certainly also had two selfish intentions. One was to use this to tell all the disciples of the mountain and the subordinate sect in later generations that this subordinate sect was created by him alone. Second, “Bamboo Emperor” was “Bambusa”, and at the same time, green bamboo filled the “mountain”, which could gather the flowing Sword Dao fortune of the old Vermilion Luminary territory. Bamboo Emperor clearly wanted to use the Sword Dao fortune of the entire subordinate sect to help him break through the Jade Purity Realm bottleneck in the future, ascend to immortalhood, and leap to become the second immortal realm sword cultivator after Wei Da, the Great Sword Immortal of the Wind Snow Temple.

Like Qi Tingji’s Dragon Elephant Sword Sect built in Southern Saha Continent, and Teacher Ruan’s Dragon Spring Sword Sect, as well as the Taiwei Sword Sect and Floating Duckweed Sword Lake in the Northern Ju Continent… these Sword Dao sects mostly had a “Sword” prefix, not just to show their identity. In a large extent, it involved the matter of fortune. Similar to the demon race taking true names and mountain and water spirits being officially sealed by the imperial court, they all pursued a “just name.”

Regarding the naming of Fallen Mountain’s subordinate sect, the reason why it had always been undecided was that Cui Dongshan wanted the subordinate sect’s name to have a “Sword” character in it.
Then the subordinate branch of the Fallen Mountain would rightfully become the first sword dao sect of the Tongye Continent in the South, just like Ruan Qiong’s Dragon Spring Sword Sect, becoming the “chief seat” of the continent’s sword dao.

When fortune arrives, heaven and earth lend their strength, and the ambition to swallow a myriad of miles like a tiger is no trivial matter. The Dragon Spring Sword Sect, though newly established, already had Liu Xianyang, Xie Ling, and Xu Xiaoqiao. If we add Yu Lin and Liu Yu, who defected to the Righteous Sun Mountain halfway, and the support of the Great Li Dynasty to carefully select sword immortal seedlings, within two or three centuries at most, the Dragon Spring Sword Sect would become a true grand sect of sword dao with a small number of sword cultivators.

It’s like naming a child; it’s not advisable to give them too grand a name, fearing they cannot bear it. But if one insists on a “grand name,” they will often give the child a very “rustic” nickname for the elders to call as a transition.

For example, the Tongye Sect of Tongye Continent is a typical “grand name” on the mountain, named after the continent itself.

Throughout the vast Nine Continents for thousands of years, many grand sects with such names in history have disappeared, leaving only the Tongye Sect.

Then, the barbarians attacked the lands of Humanity. In retrospect, the initial disintegration of the Tongye Sect seemed to be a sign of the sinking of Tongye Continent.

On the other hand, Xun Yuan, the old patriarch of the Jade Tablet Sect, traveled far to the Treasure Bottle Continent and was willing to offend the lineage of the Literary Sage to choose the location for his subordinate branch on the Shujian Lake of the Treasure Bottle Continent. It must be said that he had great foresight.

Furthermore, Jiang Shangzhen’s friendship with Chen Pingan, the direct descendant of the Literary Sage, prevented the two sides from becoming mortal enemies. Perhaps this is the seasoned way of an old patriarch.

Ni Yuerong did not realize that her unintentional remark would lead the mountain lord of the Fallen Mountain to think so much.

Chen Pingan silently drank his wine.

Ni Yuerong hesitated to speak.

Chen Pingan said, “Something on your mind?”

Ni Yuerong took a big gulp of wine, emboldening herself before changing her address to “Mountain Lord Chen” as a beginning, and whispered, “Recently, our Azure Mist Peak took in two young sword cultivators, one of whom is a sword immortal seedling with excellent aptitude, who greatly admires Mountain Lord Chen. Truly, Yuerong is not deliberately trying to get close. That little girl genuinely admires Mountain Lord Chen’s sword immortal demeanor. She’s from the latest batch of sword cultivators our sect has taken in, so she missed the ceremony. She’s also simple-minded and doesn’t think too much. My elder brother actually reminded her of this matter, but the child didn’t listen, taking it as a passing breeze. As a result, she learns some Jianghu-style martial arts in addition to practicing her sword, no matter how we try to dissuade her. My elder brother treats her like half a daughter and almost wants to steal some superior sword manuals from other peaks, hoping she can practice her sword diligently and strive to form her golden core within sixty years to protect Azure Mist Peak.”

In the early years, Azure Mist Peak relied on Ni Yuerong’s master, Ji Yan, and her connection with the Bamboo Empress, the mountain lord, who occasionally threw one or two sword cultivators to Azure Mist Peak. However, Azure Mist Peak couldn’t keep them. As a result, Azure Mist Peak hasn’t had an earth immortal sword cultivator stationed on the peak for two hundred and forty years. Adding Ni Yuerong and her elder brother, they are both destined to have no hope of forming a golden core, and neither are they sword cultivators. Therefore, if it weren’t for the change at the ceremony, according to the rules of the First-Line Peak, a peak without a golden core sword cultivator for three hundred years would be removed from the list. Then she and her elder brother would be the biggest culprits in personally burying Azure Mist Peak.

Ni Yuerong suddenly realized that her words were inappropriate.

Excellent aptitude? Sword immortal seedling?

She was thinking of the young mountain lord of the Fallen Mountain beside her. Wouldn’t he find it laughable to hear these things?

Chen Pingan helplessly said, “Why are you telling me this?”

To protect the incense of Azure Mist Peak, Ni Yuerong wiped the sweat from her forehead and decided to ignore everything, tentatively saying, “Yuerong dares not have any unreasonable thoughts, only hoping that if Mountain Lord Chen ever passes by Azure Mist Peak in the future, he can give her some guidance on swordplay, even if it’s just a few words.”

Chen Pingan waved his hand and stood up. “Don’t even think about such things.”

Even asking for a sword fight at Righteous Sun Mountain didn’t feel so treacherous.

Ni Yuerong sighed and had no choice but to give up.

Chen Pingan looked at the terraced fields and asked without reason, “Have you harvested rice before?”

Ni Yuerong shook her head and said, “I’ve only seen it from afar.”

Chen Pingan jokingly said, “You can have the disciples of Azure Mist Peak go down the mountain to try it out in their spare time.”

Ni Yuerong acted as if she had received an imperial decree, “I will discuss this with my elder brother later and include it in the ancestral rules of Azure Mist Peak.”

Chen Sword Immortal’s words seemed light and casual, but they must have a deep meaning!

Chen Pingan rubbed his brow, helpless, and said, “I was just joking. Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at by the other peaks?”

Ni Yuerong smiled sweetly, “Have we been laughed at by others at Azure Mist Peak any less? We don’t care about adding one more thing.”

Heh, maybe Azure Mist Peak will set a precedent, and the other peaks will follow suit.

Before leaving, Chen Pingan put the empty wine bottle into his sleeve and smiled, “I hope I didn’t drink Shopkeeper Ni of Cloud Pavilion’s bottle of wine for nothing.”

Ni Yuerong thought it was just a joke and didn’t pay attention.

In an instant, the figure in azure robes was no longer on the viewing platform.

Ni Yuerong breathed a sigh of relief.

A moment later, a blue sword light flew straight from the First-Line Peak to Cloud Pavilion.

The Bamboo Empress landed gracefully, sheathing her sword.

Ni Yuerong immediately bowed, “Greetings, Sect Master.”

“Are you crazy?”

The Bamboo Empress smiled and said bluntly, “How dare you transmit a message to the ancestral hall with a flying sword under Mountain Lord Chen’s nose?”

It turned out that while Ni Yuerong was helping Mountain Lord Chen get the two jars of Longchun wine, after a struggle, she still risked her life to secretly send a flying sword message to the First-Line Peak, informing the Sect Master Bamboo Empress.

Ni Yuerong was uneasy, wondering if she would incur the Bamboo Empress’s wrath and lose her future third-in-command position in the subordinate sect.

The Bamboo Empress said, “Do you know that Mountain Lord Chen personally helped you send the message to the First-Line Peak with a flying sword?”

Ni Yuerong was dumbfounded, terrified. Alright, not only would she suffer the consequences, but Azure Mist Peak would probably be implicated.

But why did Chen Sword Immortal still accept the jar of wine knowing about this? Was he waiting to laugh at her?

Did Chen Sword Immortal deliberately ask for the wine to wait for her to send the flying sword message?

And why did the Sect Master Bamboo Empress not seem angry at all, but rather seemed relieved?
The Bamboo Sovereign, gazing at the woman who hadn’t yet grasped the crux of the matter, shook his head. Could this be considered foolish people have foolish luck?

Ni Yurong asked softly, “What did Mountain Lord Chen just say to me? Should I repeat it to the Sect Master word for word?”

The Bamboo Sovereign shook his head, walked to the railing, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked towards the Azure Mist Peak. “No need, this is a fortune unique to you.”

Ni Yurong looked embarrassed and said, “However, Mountain Lord Chen asked me to deliver some words to the Sect Master.”

The Bamboo Sovereign turned his head.

Ni Yurong waited for the Sect Master to speak.

The Bamboo Sovereign chuckled in anger, “What, are you waiting for me to kneel and beg you to open your golden mouth?”

The Qingfu Workshop’s business at the Earth Dragon Mountain Immortal Ferry was uniquely prosperous.

In the central region of Treasure Bottle Continent, the site of the final battle, the extent of the destruction was actually much less than Chen Pingan had imagined. In fact, the southern half of Treasure Bottle Continent was much better off than the fragmented, war-torn Tongye Continent. The barbarian army’s landings on the shores of Fuyu and Tongye continents were like a razor, the most tragic. Not a single blade of grass grew. Later, as the barbarian forces spread out in Tongye Continent, they combed through the land, carefully plundering everything. Ruins and corpses were everywhere, a truly ghastly sight. Especially those mountain sects rich in spiritual energy and the wealthy dynasties below the mountains, almost none escaped unscathed. When they crossed the sea northward and Old Dragon City fell, their march north into Treasure Bottle Continent was like a comb.

From this, it could be seen that the barbarian military headquarters had decided to rely on the entire southern territory, abandoning any plans for a quick victory, and engaging in a bitter war of mutual “exploitation” with the Great Li. Each side added fuel to the fire of war, seeing who could outlast the other, to see whether the Great Li iron cavalry, once gathered from an entire continent, would kill more enemies or die in greater numbers.

The Qingfu Workshop remained the same, five stories tall, but the wood was new, recently built, only the signboard and couplets were old.

Presumably, when they moved north to avoid the disaster, they couldn’t take too much. The barbarian demons, of course, wouldn’t let go of this kind of extremely valuable immortal ferry.

Chen Pingan looked at the couplets and smiled.

“Honest and fair to all, our prices are reasonable; Treat others as you would be treated, customer please come again.”

At his own small wine shop in the Sword Qi Great Wall, the business philosophy was similar.

Inside the hall, five women were waiting for business. A young girl in simple and elegant clothing immediately stepped forward and asked, “Does the young master want to have treasures appraised, or purchase the shop’s treasures?”

Chen Pingan looked towards a woman who happened to be looking in his direction, first apologized to the girl, and then smiled, “I’ve come to your workshop this time to find Old Man Hong. Let Cuiying lead the way.”

Because according to the workshop’s rules, among the five women serving guests in the hall, unless their regular customers arrived, there was an order to who could show their face and speak first.

The woman, with a jade-carved azure flying insect hanging on her shoulder, hurried to the azure-clad man who had asked her by name to lead the way. She smiled charmingly, with a hint of apology in her eyes, and asked softly, “Forgive my ignorance, may I ask who you are, young master?”

“My surname is Chen.”

Chen Pingan smiled and explained, “More than twenty years ago, I came to the Qingfu Workshop with two friends, and you were the one who helped lead the way to Old Man Hong.”

However, the woman couldn’t remember at all, but she put on a look of sudden realization and smiled sweetly, “Young Master Chen’s demeanor is as elegant as ever.”

In fact, the man before her was just a sword-carrying youth during that visit, and the Qingfu Workshop had a lot of business, with countless people coming and going. No matter how good her memory was, how could she recognize him?

Chen Pingan didn’t expose her flattery, and followed her all the way to the second floor. The corridor was covered with colorful brocade carpets, a specialty of Caiyi Kingdom, with exquisite embroidery, but they were new.

Chen Pingan asked, “How much does this carpet cost in snowflake money now?”

Cuiying smiled, “The price is at least double what it was a few years ago, they’re terribly black-hearted. Now the Caiyi Kingdom relies on this and the cockfighting cups to fill its treasury, they’re really making a lot.”

Chen Pingan knew that this was one of Dong Shui Jing’s many sources of wealth. This fellow townsman had one business principle: earn the money of the rich.

Cuiying gently pushed open the door and said softly, “Mr. Hong, a guest has arrived.”

Chen Pingan, at the threshold, clasped his fist and smiled, “Old Mr. Hong, we meet again.”

Hong Yangbo was stunned for a moment, and quickly got up, “Young… Master Chen?”

He originally wanted to respectfully address him as Sword Immortal Chen or Mountain Lord Chen, but Cuiying was present, so as not to offend the taboos of the mountains and rivers.

The first time they met, he was still a curious, slightly restrained young man. He would carefully look around, but not in a sneaky way.

At that time, in Hong Yangbo’s eyes, the traveling youth was at most a third-realm martial artist, just starting to enter the doorway of martial arts.

The second time they met, he had become a young man wearing a bamboo hat, clad in azure, carrying a sword, like a wandering knight-errant.

This time, he was the Mountain Lord of the Fallen Phoenix Mountain Sect.

Indeed, the owner’s vision was sharp.

Having only met him once, she was certain that this person was the young Sword Immortal who had driven back Su Lang within the territory of Shushui Kingdom.

Hong Yangbo had been skeptical back then, but now it seemed that the owner truly had discerning eyes, and his own were failing him.

On the large desk, besides the small incense burner, there was also an ancient cypress bonsai. A row of green-clad children were sitting on the branches, swinging their feet, but didn’t get up.

The old man said helplessly, “The little fellows are throwing a tantrum at me.”

Chen Pingan’s expression softened, and he waved his hand with a smile, greeting the little green people, “Long time no see.”

Anyway, he was determined that if the little fellows didn’t bring him good news today, he wouldn’t cross the threshold.

Fortunately, the little fellows were very cooperative, chattering and laughing, rising one after another, making obeisances, their childish voices and innocence saying auspicious words that Chen Pingan never tired of hearing, “Welcome honored guest to our shop and house, wishing you wealth and prosperity!”

Chen Pingan then smiled and crossed the threshold, turning to the young woman and saying, “No need to be busy here, Mr. Hong and I are old acquaintances. Doing some business, the commission will be distributed afterwards, according to the rules. If you don’t trust me, you must trust Mr. Hong. No need for tea, I brought my own wine, I’ll invite Mr. Hong to drink.”

Hong Yangbo nodded to her. She smiled sweetly, made a curtsy, said, “Wishing Young Master Chen all the best and a prosperous business,” and then gracefully left.
Chen Ping’an didn’t close the door. He walked straight towards the desk, stopping the old man who was about to move. “Elder Hong, please don’t be so courteous with me. I couldn’t be more familiar with this place. I won’t consider myself an outsider. If you’re too polite, does that mean you see me as one?”

Chen Ping’an moved the chair himself, the same antique jujube-red chair as before.

Old men and youths, both cherish the past.

Hong Yangbo smiled and nodded, finally not going around the desk and sitting down again.

He glanced at the open door. The old man was filled with emotion. Back then, he had only casually mentioned it, but so many years had passed, and Chen Ping’an’s memory was truly exceptional, far from ordinary.

Chen Ping’an held back a smile and cut to the chase, “Elder Hong, are you truly unwilling to come and help me?”

The sundries shop at Ox Horn Mountain Ferry was expanding rapidly, and it had always lacked a true manager. Neither Shi Rou nor Jia Sheng, the acting shopkeepers of the two shops in Riding Dragon Lane, were quite suitable.

Shi Rou preferred a stable life. As for Old Immortal Jia, he was actually more suited to being a second-in-command.

Hong Yangbo waved his hand, apologetically saying, “It’s really not possible. It’s not that this old man is deliberately acting coy or inflating his worth. The root of any business, after all, is in dealing with people. The old proprietor showed me great kindness in my early years, and the young proprietor has treated me generously since taking over Green Grub Workshop.”

The old man then mocked himself, “Saying such profound truths to Mountain Master Chen is a bit presumptuous.”

The old man had been in Green Grub Workshop for what felt like only a few cups of wine, but nearly eighty years had passed in the blink of an eye.

Chen Ping’an took out two jars of Azure God Mountain wine brewed at his own wine shop, handing one to the old man, then flipped his wrist, producing two more wine cups, the Flower God Cups from Hundred Flowers Blessed Land, and joked with the old man, “Is that proprietor in the workshop? I’ll discuss this matter directly with her. If it really doesn’t work, I’ll just snatch you away.”

If one gets used to making illicit gains, ill-gotten wealth, and unjust riches, it’s like drinking poison to quench thirst. The more money, the greater the calamity. It was better to err on the side of caution.

This was also why Chen Ping’an cared so much about the business of the two shops in Riding Dragon Lane. As long as he was at Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Chen Ping’an would personally make a trip to Riding Dragon Lane, carefully checking the accounts on time, and even not letting the two shops submit the account books to Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Because only he, as the Mountain Master, truly cared about the matter, would Shi Rou and Jia Sheng, the two shopkeepers, take it seriously and not dismiss a few taels of silver or a few snowflakes coins as insignificant.

Hong Yangbo’s eyes lit up, and he picked up the wine cup, “This Flower God Cup, it doesn’t seem to be a replica?”

This was similar to the pair of Azure God Mountain bamboo chopsticks from years ago, both being invaluable treasures.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Whether it’s real or fake, I can’t guarantee, but I picked it up by chance. If Elder Hong is willing to change his mind now, I’ll directly gift an entire set of Flower God Cups as a welcoming gift.”

Hong Yangbo glared, “Aren’t you being bothersome? I said I’m not going, it’s not a laughing matter. If Sword Immortal Chen keeps pestering me, I’ll really have to kick you out, hmm, this wine cup has to stay.”

Chen Ping’an looked around and asked, “Does the shop have any new prized possessions? As for that Imperial-made Pine Soot Ink and the ‘Alas!’ Calligraphy, are they still here?”

Everything in the world is connected by a thread. Many times, you have to believe it, even if you don’t want to. It’s better to err on the side of caution.

That Pine Soot Ink was deeply related to the Divine Water Kingdom, which was related to the Cloud-Covering Mountain’s Mountain Lord Wei. Back then, Chen Ping’an didn’t buy it not because he was stingy with immortal money, but because he was worried that Wei Bo would be saddened by seeing it. Now, with the passage of time, there was no such worry.

Hong Yangbo first shook his head, then nodded, “There are many good things, but there aren’t any true treasures. I wouldn’t want to embarrass myself in front of Sword Immortal Chen. Fortunately, the two items you mentioned happen to still be here.”

He increasingly admired the proprietor.

These two items were not that they couldn’t be sold, but the proprietor had deliberately asked him to keep them, saying that in case the azure-robed Sword Immortal came to visit one day, they could be used to offer goodwill.

Of course, offering goodwill didn’t mean giving the two items away for free. There was no such logic in business.

That rare calligraphy by the ancient Shu Sword Immortal, although a copy, its script was as beautiful as a cicada’s molted skin. Because it was almost indistinguishable from the original, it had the reputation of being a “second-grade authentic.” Hong Yangbo had quoted a price of five Lesser Heat coins back then, and the young man had clearly been tempted but had directly said three words, “Can’t afford it.”

In the end, he had used five Grain Rain coins to buy that prized possession, a complete set of four Heavenly Master Ghost-Slaying Coins.

Hong Yangbo took out the Imperial ink and calligraphy, smiling, “I’ll calculate it at the old price.”

Chen Ping’an unhesitatingly took out the immortal money, clear and refreshing, with the money and goods exchanged.

Both sides said in unison, “Could there be a little something extra?”

The old man laughed heartily, and Chen Ping’an didn’t feel embarrassed.

Hong Yangbo shook his head, “Still the old rules, nothing extra.”

Afterward, the two drank and chatted leisurely.

Traveling far and returning home, one’s horizons broaden, and the hometown shrinks. As one ages, the hometown follows, becoming thin.

Life is short, and the path of the martial world is long. The human heart is treacherous, and the wine cup is the widest.

How many gatherings and separations are there in the world? Let us drink slowly.

Finally, Chen Ping’an drank until his face was slightly red.

After leaving Green Grub Workshop, last time he had walked on the ferry pulling his horse, and he had encountered two sallow and skinny children who were short in stature. In the end, Chen Ping’an had spent twelve snowflake coins to buy three things from them: a “Forever Receive Blessings” eaves tile inkstone, a pair of old pit yellow jelly old seals, and a red material shallow bowl. According to the market price, of course, it wouldn’t have cost so many snowflake coins.

It was estimated that the two children had taken him for a fool. As soon as they got the money, they ran away quickly.

The two light-footed children began to whisper to each other after running far away, with smiles on their childish faces.

Chen Ping’an didn’t think he had wasted his money.

Just like back in his hometown, the straw sandal boy would dash to the next place after delivering each letter.

Chen Ping’an had left those pessimistic emotions on the half of the city wall that he had merged with the Dao, and besides that, there was… all the hope.

What was there to fear?

The old remaining, the new can still come.

Hope is like the spring grass on the desolate plains, growing farther and farther away.

Even if disappointment can pile up into mountains, hope can still bloom in succession.

Chen Ping’an turned to look at the third floor of Green Grub Workshop. A woman was standing by the railing, the Green Grub Workshop proprietor who had disguised herself as a servant in the workshop, a female sword cultivator who had deliberately concealed her aura.
Seeing Chen Ping’an turn his head, she immediately turned and entered the house.

After her last encounter with that young Sword Immortal, upon returning to Qingfu Square, she had said a single sentence to Hong Yangbo.

“At that moment, he must have been as fixed and immobile as a clay Bodhisattva upon a shrine.”

Chen Ping’an withdrew his gaze, instantly traversing thousands of miles in spirit.

Upon a sea of golden clouds, he strolled leisurely, retrieving the calligraphy scroll he had just purchased from his sleeve, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips.

For in the wild and untamed lands, the young Hidden Official with the lotus crown had just resolved to test his sword against Mount Tuoyue.

And the opening words of this *Xi Zai Tie* (Regretful Scroll), were a sentiment shared by both Chen Ping’an, in the Great Domain of the Human Race, and the wildlands:

“Alas, my swordsmanship is wanting.”