Within the borders of Mengliang Kingdom.

The sea of clouds on Yunjia Mountain is a renowned immortal scene in Bao Ping Continent. Especially when illuminated by sunlight, it doesn’t display ordinary gold, but rather a vibrant, five-colored radiance emanating from spiritual energy, earning it the praise of Qi refiners as a “heavenly wonder.” It’s no wonder it made its way into the best-selling *Records of Mountains and Seas of the Nine Continents*. Furthermore, these unpredictable mists, at times, contain a wisp of true spirit, transforming into the images of ancestral masters. Yunjia Mountain disciples, with the right affinity, can converse with them, seeking guidance on the sect’s Daoist arts.

Chen Ping’an stood above the sea of clouds, gazing towards the distant capital of Mengliang Kingdom, taking in the ebb and flow of the nation’s fortune.

In the past, Upside-Down Mountain had a small wine shop, a broken land of Yellow Millet dreams, implying that after drinking fine wine, one could attain a Yellow Millet dream.

It’s just unknown whether it has any connection with this Mengliang Kingdom.

Withdrawing his gaze, he looked towards a low mountain peak submerged by the sea of clouds.

Yunjia Mountain, to date, has established sixteen peaks. The Green Cypress Peak’s female ancestral master, Cai Jinjian, was sitting on a prayer mat, with a wisp of purple smoke curling from an incense burner beside her. She held an old bamboo and wood *ruyi* scepter and was, as usual, giving a lecture. As it was nearing its end, she began to explain characters to her junior disciples, currently dissecting the character “Fate” (命).

According to Cai Jinjian’s understanding, the character “Fate” can be broken down into “Human” (人), “One” (一), and “Kowtow” (叩).

Hence, “Human, One, Kowtow” signifies cultivating the Dao.

Cultivating the Dao is about inquiring one’s heart, where life and death are intertwined, and existence hangs in the balance. If a cultivator can free themselves from external objects and physical constraints, they can see the Great Luo Heaven upon opening their eyes.

Within the sixteen peaks, including Yunjia Mountain’s ancestral peak, the Earth Immortal ancestral masters qualified to establish a peak all adhered to the ancestral precedent of opening their abodes to impart teachings on schedule.

While not entirely devoid of sectarian bias—some crucial cultivation secrets would naturally be kept private, remaining unrevealed except to direct disciples—compared to ordinary immortal sects, they were considered quite open-minded.

Some ancestral masters lectured with substance, but unfortunately, their teachings were dry and tedious. Others were engaging, but often digressed and wandered far from the point, often sharing anecdotes of mountains and waters or immortal tales for an hour, rarely hitting the mark. Disciples from other peaks enjoyed the entertainment, but their cultivation questions remained as unclear after the lecture as they were before entering.

Cai Jinjian’s Green Cypress Peak, however, was always packed. Her lectures combined the casual, interesting anecdotes, such as explaining characters, with detailed annotations of cultivation bottlenecks and insights, sharing them unreservedly.

“Peak Master Cai’s lectures are substantial, well-organized, and neither too dense nor too sparse. I am ashamed to admit my inferiority.”

What truly made the old cultivators of other peaks admit their inferiority was Cai Jinjian’s transmission of knowledge and resolution of doubts, treating disciples from other peaks as if they were her own. It seemed that as long as one was a disciple of Yunjia Mountain, even an outer disciple not directly descended from the ancestral hall, Cai Jinjian treated them equally, not caring in the slightest about the potential leakage of Green Cypress Peak’s techniques.

What a lush green cypress, dense mist of cinnabar clouds, embracing an immortal abode.

The mistress of this mountain, with her clear spirit and refreshing aura, possessed the air of the mountains, truly ethereal.

In truth, Cai Jinjian’s choice to establish her residence on Green Cypress Peak was a significant surprise. The peak had been neglected for many years in Yunjia Mountain, with neither outstanding spiritual energy nor remarkable scenery. It wasn’t as if she didn’t have better peaks to choose from, yet Cai Jinjian chose this one alone.

Chen Ping’an’s gaze shifted slightly to a mountain peak resembling an island in the sea. A young Golden Core Earth Immortal was sitting on a white jade railing, seemingly drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

Based on the robe he wore, he recognized him as Huang Zhonghou of Yunjia Mountain’s Cultivating Cloud Peak.

Before they formed their Golden Cores, Huang Zhonghou and Cai Jinjian were recognized as a golden couple, the most promising pair to become immortal partners of Yunjia Mountain.

The robe he wore was a time-honored treasure of the mountain, named “Colorful Luan.”

Chen Ping’an drifted down to the summit of Cultivating Cloud Peak on the wind. Huang Zhonghou ignored him, too lazy to investigate a stranger’s impolite entrance without going through the mountain gate. The young Earth Immortal simply drank on his own, no longer gazing wistfully towards an immortal residence on the ancestral mountain.

Chen Ping’an sat on the railing and took out a pot of Crow’s Cry Wine.

Huang Zhonghou glanced at the wine pot in his hand and shook his head, saying, “This wine is no good.”

With a flick of his wrist, Huang Zhonghou produced a pot of Yunjia Mountain’s Spring Slumber Wine and tossed it to the uninvited guest he didn’t recognize. “Drink mine.”

Chen Ping’an caught the pot, said thank you, broke the mud seal, and took a large gulp.

Heaven and earth are a wine vat, and all are drunken travelers.

Huang Zhonghou introduced himself, “Cultivating Cloud Peak, Huang Zhonghou.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Decline Mountain, Chen Ping’an.”

Huang Zhonghou almost spat out his mouthful of wine, raised the back of his hand to wipe his lips, and turned to stare at the man. He looked left and right, but something wasn’t right. How could this be that young sword immortal from Decline Mountain? Though, his attire was a decent imitation. Huang Zhonghou laughed, “Fellow Daoist, you’re not being honest. You’ve wasted my good wine. After you finish drinking, hurry up and scram.”

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “I’m curious about something. Why was it Immortal Cai who went to the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven to seek opportunities back then, and not Brother Huang with better aptitude?”

The foundation of cultivation for Yunjia Mountain Qi refiners lies in subduing the Mind Ape and tethering the Will Horse.

Back then, Cai Jinjian traveled to Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, seeking not only external objects like magical treasures, but also a chance encounter with immortality.

Unfortunately, Cai Jinjian at that time hadn’t even understood what the Mind Ape and Will Horse truly were.

In Chen Ping’an’s view, the young Golden Core Earth Immortal before him, despite being troubled by love, was still more suitable to descend the mountain to Great Li for good fortune compared to Cai Jinjian back then.

Huang Zhonghou cupped the wine pot in both hands and twitched his lips. “Fellow Daoist, are you really addicted to pretending to be that sword immortal? Hurry up and drink, or I’ll have to take action to drive you away. Be careful, or you’ll be spitting back two pots for every one you drink.”

The current Mountain Lord of Yunjia Mountain is a female ancestral master who doesn’t like to show her face. Besides her, the two ancestral masters truly in charge are one who manages the mountain gate’s rules and regulations, and the other who manages finances and treasures.

Cai Jinjian’s mentor is the one in charge of finances, while Huang Zhonghou’s guide is the one who governs Yunjia Mountain’s laws.
Within the intricate web of connections, the feudal lord Song Mu was particularly affable, never failing to attend gatherings, showing a marked closeness to Yunxia Mountain.

Secondly, there was the matter of Cai Jinjian’s marital prospects.

Not only her master, but even the Mountain Lord himself had repeatedly approached Cai Jinjian indirectly, careful not to directly inquire about any beloved. Instead, they skirted around the issue, discussing the promising talents and exceptional individuals of similar age within Treasure Bottle Continent. Sadly, Cai Jinjian always skillfully avoided the topic, or simply declared that matters of the heart were best left to fate and not forced.

Chen Ping’an chuckled wryly as he returned the wine pot to his sleeve, waving his hand, “Brother Huang overthinks.”

After finishing a pot of Yunxia Mountain’s secret Spring Slumber Wine, Chen Ping’an said, “If one dares to love, why not dare to speak? With Brother Huang’s cultivation talent, the heart is the key, and once that hurdle is crossed, ascending to Nascent Soul will be effortless. The hurdle of love is merely a ‘rupture of the Dao.'”

Huang Zhonghou scoffed, “What do you know? You act as if you’re some ancient immortal of the Upper Five Realms!”

Seeing the azure-clad guest about to leave, Huang Zhonghou said, “Where are you going? A word of caution: other peaks of Yunxia Mountain aren’t as lax as my Gengyun Peak, with its disregard for mountain gate restrictions. Wandering around carelessly could lead to trouble.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Naturally, I’m going to Green Juniper Peak to discuss something with Fairy Cai.”

Huang Zhonghou couldn’t help but grin. So, he’s one of those who dare to act but not to speak. He waved his hand, “Going to Green Juniper Peak isn’t a problem. Cai Jinjian changed greatly after her trip down the mountain. She’s truly remarkable now and will undoubtedly become a Mountain Lord in the future. Right, Fallen Peak Mountain Lord Chen?”

Standing on the railing, Chen Ping’an pushed off with his toes, soaring forward. He turned his head and laughed, “I think Brother Huang, having overcome the hurdle of love, might be better suited to be Mountain Lord.”

Huang Zhonghou smiled noncommittally.

This thick-skinned fellow seemed like a decent drinking companion. Without a bit of nonsense at the table, even the finest wine loses its savor.

If he got drunk enough, Huang Zhonghou might even compete with that friend for the title of Mountain Lord Chen.

After all, Huang Zhonghou had long admired the young Sword Immortal from Fallen Peak, who rose from humble beginnings. He only regretted never having the chance to drink with him face to face.

Unlike Cai Jinjian, Huang Zhonghou, like Mountain Lord Chen, came from humble origins and only began cultivating at a young age. The only difference was perhaps the latter’s romantic life, while he himself was devoted to a single love.

So Huang Zhonghou opened another pot of Spring Slumber Wine and took out a travel journal filled with romantic encounters to enjoy as a snack, finding it quite satisfying.

If he ever had the good fortune to meet Chen Ping’an, he would humbly seek advice on how to interact with women in a proper and unspoken manner.

At Green Juniper Peak, most of the Yunxia Mountain cultivators had dispersed, leaving only a few disciples from other peaks with questions for Ancestor Cai.

When the last outer sect disciple respectfully departed, Cai Jinjian looked up and noticed someone still present. She asked with a smile, “Do you have a question?”

She vaguely remembered him as someone who had come to listen to the lectures halfway through and sat on the ground by the pillars, as there were no seats available.

But he was an unfamiliar face, whom she had not seen before. He was probably a newly accepted disciple of Yunxia Mountain.

As one of the top contenders for a sect, and given Yunxia Mountain’s close relationship with the Great Li Dynasty, countless individuals flocked to the mountain seeking immortality and discipleship. This overwhelmed the Ancestral Hall, who were constantly annoyed by older immortals of similar stature pushing children upon Yunxia Mountain. To refuse would damage the relationship, but to accept would be a burden on Yunxia Mountain.

In the end, Cai Jinjian proposed a solution that solved this small problem:

She suggested that an old, inflexible Dragon Gate cultivator from叠瀑 peak, who focused solely on cultivation and was poor at social interaction, be responsible for welcoming guests and managing the selection and admission of outer disciples.

The man smiled, “Fairy Cai, it’s been many years since we parted ways in the alley.”

Cai Jinjian gripped the wooden spiritual mushroom in her hand, her heart filling with apprehension. She narrowed her eyes and asked, “Who are you?!”

When the figure seemed to emerge from the dispersing clouds, revealing his true face, Cai Jinjian’s expression turned complex. She sighed inwardly, holding the wooden spiritual mushroom and bowing respectfully, “Green Juniper Peak’s Cai Jinjian greets Mountain Lord Chen.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and returned the greeting, “Greetings, Peak Lord Cai.”

Chen Ping’an cut straight to the chase, “It will be difficult for Yunxia Mountain to remove the ‘candidate’ title anytime soon.”

The Great Li Dynasty was extremely pragmatic.

Cai Jinjian nodded, “I have discussed this with several ancestors, and we all agree that it is not optimistic, unless…”

She paused for a moment, then smiled wryly, “Unless Yunxia Mountain suddenly produces a cultivator of the Upper Five Realms before the overall situation is settled.”

Otherwise, the Middle Earth Confucian Temple would never make an exception for Yunxia Mountain of Treasure Bottle Continent. Of course, there were precedents for exceptions. After discussions at the Confucian Temple, the Mountain and Water Gazette was unsealed, and sixteen newly promoted sects emerged. One was Fallen Peak, belonging to Chen Ping’an. The seven had no Upper Five Realm cultivators, and seemingly there were many, but in the Nine Continents, each continent barely got one, so where did Yunxia Mountain get the confidence to become one of them? Yunxia Mountain had made contributions in Treasure Bottle Continent, but they were miniscule compared to those who had broken into the sects in other continents. If Yunxia mountain took the proper path, it would need the official Edict of the Confucian Temple, which was impossible. Cai Jinjian knew she needed over a hundred years, and she was no longer considered a cultivation prodigy.

“I’ve come to the mountain to discuss a deal. I want to buy some cloud root stones and cloud radiance incense from Yunxia Mountain, the more the better.”

Chen Ping’an said, “I know that demand exceeds supply, and they are almost monopolized by the Great Li Dynasty. So, I may need Fairy Cai to use some friendships with fellow disciples. Price is no object. I want as many cloud root stones and cloud radiance incense as you have. Yunxia Mountain can set the price.”
The plan was to place those Cloud Root Stones within several dragon lairs of the Rainbow Cloud Peak, and then gift them to Little Warm Tree as her cultivation grounds for establishing her own estate.

Cloudglow Mountain was abundant in Cloud Root Stones, a crucial material for alchemists of the Daoist Inner Alchemy school in refining external elixirs. This earthly treasure was praised as “flawless and immaculate,” most suitable for refining such elixirs, somewhat akin to the three types of Immortal Coins, containing pure spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth. As the saying goes, the land nourishes its people, so most Qi Refinement cultivators practicing in Cloudglow Mountain were remarkably clean, with impeccably tidy garments.

As a potential mountain peak for the sect, the Cloud Root Stones of Cloudglow Mountain were their foundation. However, excessive quarrying in the past thirty years had created a “draining the pond to catch all the fish” situation.

Fortunately, there was also an additional revenue stream: the Cloudglow Incense, a secret recipe of Cloudglow Mountain. The Great Li Dynasty used it in various battlefields to guide the souls of fallen heroes back home. Besides mountain and water incense, Cloudglow Incense was often needed. Whether for burning incense to pay respects to mountain and water deities, or for ancestral sacrifices in the family shrines of officials and dignitaries below the mountain, Cloudglow Incense was a top-tier item.

Tracing its origins, Cloudglow Mountain could be considered related to one of the major orthodox Buddhist schools of the Central Continent. Legend had it that the founding patriarch, Old Immortal Cloudglow, actually originated from some mystical being within a great Zen Buddhist temple of the Central Continent. Having listened to Buddhist teachings and comprehended Zen principles, he refined his form successfully. Therefore, Cloudglow Mountain greatly emphasized that each arising and ceasing was a tribulation to overcome.

During the Central Continent Confucian Temple council meeting, when the two worlds were in opposition, several eminent monks appeared, their precious appearances solemn and dignified, each with unique phenomena. Among them was Abbot Liaoran of Profound Emptiness Temple.

Therefore, several secret Daoist arts passed down through generations in the Ancestral Hall of Cloudglow Mountain were closely related to Buddhist principles. However, although Cloudglow Mountain favored Buddhism over Daoism, in terms of mountain relationships, it had closer ties with Daoist temples due to the Cloud Root Stones.

Cai Jinjian found herself in a difficult position. Scrounging up some was not impossible, but as Chen Ping’an said, it would indeed require her to scrape and borrow. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to establish good relations with Fallen Phoenix Mountain, but the question was, with Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s current formidable foundation, how could a few dozen catties of Cloud Root Stones and a hundred incense sticks be enough to warrant a visit from a young Sword Immortal Mountain Lord, asking for them in person?

Moreover, after the emergence of that list years ago, Cai Jinjian saw that Cloud-veiled Sword Wall “Chen Eleven.” Cai Jinjian had almost no doubt that it was Chen Ping’an from Mud Bottle Lane!

So Chen Ping’an had an even more hidden identity: the last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Cai Jinjian had to brace herself and report two numbers.

Chen Ping’an nodded and smiled: “Acceptable, it has exceeded expectations.”

Cai Jinjian was greatly surprised, but still relieved.

Chen Ping’an suddenly clasped his hands in a solemn bow.

Cai Jinjian was first shocked, then instantly understood. She quickly dodged the bow, daring not accept such a great gift.

That small matter back then was just her lending a hand, a mere act of convenience, simply delivering a message.

Therefore, even now, several old ancestors within the mountain peak speculated: could it be that Cai Jinjian has some unspoken connection with the Sword Qi Great Wall?

After Chen Ping’an departed, Cai Jinjian hesitated for a moment, and then rode the wind towards the rarely-visited Cultivating Cloud Peak, mainly to avoid the mountain’s ancestors misunderstanding that there was something between her and Marquis Yellow Bell.

Marquis Yellow Bell, seeing Cai Jinjian from afar, was clearly surprised. He quickly put away the travelogue about mountains and rivers, shook his wine pot, and laughed: “Peak Lord Cai is a rare guest.”

Cai Jinjian asked via voicetransmission: “I heard someone say you plan to formally confess to her?”

The woman Marquis Yellow Bell liked was named Wu Yuanyi, the closed-door disciple of the previous Mountain Lord. Therefore, her seniority was high. Even Marquis Yellow Bell, as the Lord of a peak, had to call her “Grand-Aunt.”

Marquis Yellow Bell was stunned. “What?”

Cai Jinjian smiled knowingly and said softly: “What’s there to be ashamed of? You’ve been dragging it on for so many years. Senior Brother Yellow should have been so forthright long ago. It’s a good thing. Jinjian wishes Senior Brother Yellow to overcome this hurdle of love…”

Marquis Yellow Bell’s face flushed red. He slammed the railing hard and angrily said: “Is it that bastard who calls himself Chen Ping’an, spouting nonsense on your side? Are you an idiot? You dare to believe such outrageous words?”

Cai Jinjian said cautiously: “Before that person left, he said that Senior Brother Yellow was thin-skinned, and he became acquainted with him on Cultivating Cloud Peak, speaking his true feelings after drinking. But he still didn’t dare to speak himself, so he hoped I could help send a flying sword letter to the Ancestral Mountain, asking to meet Grand-Aunt Wu Yuanyi. By now, the flying sword might have already…”

Marquis Yellow Bell was speechless and silent for a long time. He gritted his teeth and said: “Tell me, who exactly is that outsider? I’m going to chop him to death.”

Cai Jinjian smiled: “Can’t he just be who he claims to be?”

Wind Thunder Garden.

After the Garden Master, Yellow River, finished his Sword Inquiry at True Sun Mountain, he travelled alone, wielding his sword, and left Treasure Bottle Continent.

First to the ruins of the Sword Qi Great Wall, then to that barbaric world he described as “vast and boundless, most suitable for drawing the sword.”

If Master Li Tuanjing hadn’t died and dissolved, and Eldest Brother Yellow River had to shoulder everything, then with his personality and temperament, he would have gone to the Sword Qi Great Wall long ago.

On the railing of the high-rise building, Liu Baqiao spread his hands and strolled about.

A man who was originally handsome was unkempt, with a stubbly beard.

Today was another uneventful day. Liu Baqiao was truly bored.

He deeply respected, feared, felt ashamed, and also guilty towards his Senior Brother Yellow River.

The closest Liu Baqiao had ever been to becoming the Garden Master of Wind Thunder Garden was before he went to the Dragon Province of Great Li. At that time, Senior Brother Yellow River intended to relinquish his position as Garden Master. Senior Brother was actually prepared to die in battle on Treasure Bottle Continent.

The one who benefited the most from following the Soaring Platform’s “Ascension” was Xu Hun of Qingfeng City, who wore an armor of warts. Although he only broke through one realm, he advanced from Nascent Soul to Jade Purity.

But the most regrettable was Liu Baqiao, who ascended the Sea of Clouds and saw the gate with Xu Hun.

He actually had a chance to break through two realms in a row and accomplish a feat, but Liu Baqiao clearly took a big step forward, but for some reason took a small step back.

Liu Baqiao hugged the back of his head and couldn’t help but sigh.

After his Senior Brother travelled to the barbaric world, he was the only Nascent Soul cultivator in Wind Thunder Garden.
Liu Baqiao was simply not cut out for managing affairs. All the mundane matters were handed over to those junior brothers and nephews: Song Daoguang, Zai Xiang, Xing Youheng, and Nangong Xingyan. These four sword cultivators were all young, two Golden Core cultivators, not even a hundred years old. One Dragon Gate, one Observing Tide, naturally even younger.

Without any surprises, the next sect master of Fenglei Garden would be chosen from among these four young men.

As for Liu Baqiao, already a Nascent Soul Realm sword cultivator, he had neither the inclination nor the ability.

Sometimes, Liu Baqiao wished he could give his cultivation realm to that Xing Youheng kid.

If he could, Liu Baqiao wouldn’t even frown.

Of course, don’t let Xing Youheng’s usual carefree appearance fool you. He was just as proud and aloof as his senior brother and wouldn’t accept it.

As for those stubborn, sharp-tongued old antiques in Fenglei Garden, they had no objections either, only focusing on sword practice. Contending for power and profit? Such a concept had never existed since the founding of Fenglei Garden.

The elders would occasionally run into Liu Baqiao and scold him without holding back, almost implicating the previous garden master, Li Tuanjing.

It was only because they couldn’t beat Liu Baqiao or keep up with his sword flight, otherwise, they would have slapped his face with their shoe soles.

Anyway, these elders would always seek out the annoying Liu Baqiao whenever their sword practice didn’t go well. Since he was an eyesore, wouldn’t it be a waste not to go and scold him a few times?

As one of the ten most promising youngsters of Baoping Continent, Liu Baqiao’s ranking had been steadily declining. First, he was overtaken by Xie Ling of the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, and then by Yu Shiwu, the military strategist Shibo of Ma Kuhuan.

“Baqiao, can I call you Grandpa Liu? The ten most promising youngsters, there are only ten, not a hundred.”

“Shibo, you are mistaken. I can still fall to the bottom of the top ten, right?”

The elder said earnestly, “Can you put some effort into sword practice? Isn’t it just advancing from Nascent Soul to Jade Purity? What’s the big deal? If Shibo were in Nascent Soul…”

Liu Baqiao immediately flattered the Golden Core Shibo, “What Nascent Soul? Shibo is wronged even in the Jade Purity Realm.”

“You little bastard, quickly turn your face over here, Shibo’s hands are itching.”

Liu Baqiao had already promised his senior brother to reach the Fifth Realm within a hundred years.

If his senior brother couldn’t return from the Wild Desolate World, Liu Baqiao would have to strive to achieve the Immortal Realm. If he succeeded, he would have given Fenglei Garden a passable account.

Liu Baqiao took a deep breath and turned to look into the distance.

Su Jia had regained her status as a direct descendant of the Zhengyang Mountain Ancestral Hall.

He heard that she seemed to have stayed on Little Lonely Mountain but would also go to Zhuyu Peak.

In his spare time from sword practice, Liu Baqiao would often secretly go down the mountain and visit that bookstore in the county town of the former Zhuying Dynasty’s vassal state. The bookseller used to be a young woman of ordinary beauty, who was once named He Jia.

After she left, Liu Baqiao bought the shop, leaving everything as it was.

Even if he only looked at the closed shop each time, without opening the door and stepping inside, Liu Baqiao would feel a little more at ease.

As a sword cultivator, sword practice seemed to have been for not disappointing his master, then for not being looked down upon by his senior brother, and now for Fenglei Garden. What about in the future?

Liu Baqiao didn’t know.

It seemed that only his affection for that woman would be unwavering.

A warm voice sounded above Liu Baqiao’s head, “Hey, Great Sword Immortal Liu, who are you thinking about?”

Liu Baqiao leaned forward, looked up, and saw a man in a blue shirt sitting on the edge of the roof, a familiar yet unfamiliar smiling face that was quite punchable.

“Oh, isn’t this Great Sword Immortal Chen? A pleasure, a pleasure.”

Liu Baqiao immediately reached out and waved, “Be careful. The sword cultivators of our Fenglei Garden have bad tempers. Outsiders who trespass here will be ganged up on with swords.”

There was no need for formalities with Chen Ping’an.

Besides, Fenglei Garden didn’t have those cumbersome rituals for treating guests either.

Anyway, there were few guests throughout the year because Fenglei Garden’s sword cultivators didn’t have many friends, but those they looked down on were numerous.

Chen Ping’an lightly leaped down from the roof, then stepped onto the railing, throwing a pot of wine to Liu Baqiao. The two sat on the railing in unison.

Liu Baqiao raised his head and took a big gulp of wine, wiping the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, and smiled, “Actually, it hasn’t been many years since the last time. What is twenty or thirty years on the mountain? How come it feels like we haven’t seen each other for a long time?”

Chen Ping’an jokingly said with a smile, “I almost didn’t recognize you. What, do the immortals of Baoping Continent like men in this uninhibited state now?”

Liu Baqiao said with a playful smile, “The autumn wind has made the Liu slender, hard to gain autumn fat.”

Liu Baqiao remembered something and lowered his voice, “You really have to be careful. We have a little girl here named Nangong Xingyan, who is quite pretty but has a bit of a bad temper. She watched a Mirage Bloom before, and the little girl’s eyes lit up. Now, her daily mantra is, ‘How can there be such a handsome man in the world?!’ Sword Immortal Chen, are you afraid?”

Chen Ping’an ignored this and said, “Your senior brother seems to have gone to the Wild Desolate World and is now at the Sunset Ferry, getting along very well with Wei Ying of the Jade Guidon Sect.”

He heard that Huanghe had only stopped briefly at the Sword Qi Great Wall ruins, chatted with his fellow swordsman Wei Jin for a few words, and quickly went to Sunset. However, Huanghe directly told the several stationed cultivators upon arriving at the ferry that he would draw his sword as a rogue cultivator. But then he seemed to have changed his mind and temporarily served as an unregistered military cultivator in a Dali cavalry unit.

Besides Su Zi and Liu Qi, there were also Dali’s Song Changjing and Jade Guidon Sect’s Wei Ying at Sunset.

Chen Ping’an had always believed that both Li Tuanjing and Huanghe, this master and disciple, would have achieved great heights in sword practice if they had been born in the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Perhaps they could have stood shoulder to shoulder with great sword immortals like Mi Hu and Yue Qing.

Liu Baqiao asked curiously, “How do you know that my senior brother is at the Sunset Ferry, and even know that he gets along well with Wei Ying? Did you open your Heavenly Eye?”

Chen Ping’an smiled mysteriously, “You can guess.”

Fenglei Garden had no Mirage Bloom of its own, no established Landscape Gazette, no unnecessary social interactions, and extremely limited external trade.

In the eyes of outsiders, Fenglei Garden was a secluded place, where cultivation was dull and tedious, and all they did was practice sword after sword.
Dozens of direct disciples from the Ancestral Hall, along with uncounted outer sect disciples, and some stewards and maids who helped manage mundane affairs, numbered just over two hundred people.

According to the Wind and Thunder Garden’s ancestral teachings, this was a place to impart the Sword Dao, not a sanctuary for idlers.

In other mountain sects, cultivators would typically receive a generous reward of Immortal Money upon breaking through each cultivation realm. However, this was not the case in Wind and Thunder Garden. Sword cultivators in the Lower Five Realms could pre-borrow Immortal Money from the Garden for all their cultivation needs and the consumption of natural treasures. Once they advanced to the Middle Five Realms, they were required to repay the debt. If they went down the mountain for training, and their master or elders were willing to cover the cost, the Garden would not interfere.

Several dynasties located at the foot of the mountains near Wind and Thunder Garden not only sent sword immortal seedlings but also proactively offered honorary titles and guest positions, which came with substantial stipends. Even after Li Tuanjing’s passing, no dynasty or tributary state dared to remove those titles or withhold the Immortal Money.

Their deep-seated reverence for the sword cultivators of Wind and Thunder Garden had been etched into their very bones.

Wind and Thunder Garden sword cultivators, regardless of gender, possessed a temperament that seemed to be molded from the same cast, differing only in cultivation realm.

Their sword strikes were direct and decisive, their sense of gratitude and resentment was clear, and their actions were swift and resolute.

Once, a Middle Five Realm sword cultivator had their arms severed during training, intentionally left alive.

After learning the details, the Garden Master, Li Tuanjing, descended the mountain alone, carrying his sword, and went to the great mountain sect of the former Zhu Ying Dynasty. Without a word, he severed the arms of all twelve members of their Ancestral Hall.

The former Zhu Ying Dynasty, once hailed as having the most sword cultivators and being the most outstanding in the continent, saw not a single sword cultivator willing to step forward and speak out.

Li Tuanjing even made a special trip to a ferry outside the capital of Zhu Ying, where he waited for three days, intentionally provoking challenges.

Liu Baqiao asked, “What made you think of coming to our Wind and Thunder Garden? How long will you stay?”

Chen Ping An replied, “I’m leaving immediately.”

Liu Baqiao joked, “Are you really that afraid of a little girl?”

Chen Ping An shook his head and said, “Remember to visit Fallen Mountain when you have time. I need to make a trip to Old Dragon City.”

Liu Baqiao sensed a hint of something unusual, nodded, and did not try to persuade Chen Ping An to stay.

At the Old Dragon City ruins, the once magnificent inner and outer cities were being rebuilt on a grand scale.

However, the hundred-mile-long street formerly under Sun Jiashu’s name, the Dragon Ascension Platform, the clouds in the sky, the dusty apothecary in the alley, and the ten-mile lotus pond that the Great Sword Immortal Mi missed dearly were all gone.

It was night in the Vast World, but daytime in the Wilderness World.

Chen Ping An stood on the coast of the Southern Sea, seemingly closing his eyes to rest, but in reality, he was reviewing a time-lapse image, as if witnessing the Thunder Formation firsthand.

Opening his eyes, Chen Ping An immediately returned to the north, choosing his hometown as a place to set foot. He stood at the top of the steps on Dragon-Riding Lane, his hands in his sleeves.

Just then, a heavy rain poured down on his hometown, descending from the sky to the earth.

The battle at Mount Tuoyue had already concluded, with a peak Ascension Realm cultivator slain by the sword.

Chen Ping An slowly walked down the steps.

Countless raindrops and droplets seemed to follow his azure robes, cascading down the steps.

Chen Ping An reached out to his brow and stopped halfway down, first looking at the Yang family’s apothecary, then turning his head towards Fallen Mountain.

Even in the heavy rain, the Right Protector of Fallen Mountain remained dutifully guarding the gate alone at the foot of the mountain.

Little Millet seemed a bit bored, shaking her head and muttering to herself, as if boasting to someone, one hand holding a golden carrying pole, the other a walking stick, pointing at the rain curtain, saying, “You can’t tell, can you? Actually, I have a terrible temper, a real short fuse, fiercely savage. Believe it or not, I’ll knock you down with one pole and turn you into a pig’s head with one cane. Never mind, never mind, I’ll let it go this time, but let’s make a deal, both sides must remember and be careful, or it will always cause trouble for others. It’s not proper. Besides, we’re all wandering the world, so we should be harmonious. Fighting and killing are not good, isn’t that the truth? Good, since you don’t deny it, I’ll take it that you understand…”

The little girl in black abruptly stopped speaking, her small face and sparse eyebrows furrowed, motionless.

Could it be that enemies have come to the door?

Even the rain has stopped? It seems that the other party’s cultivation is very high. What to do?

Chen Ping An asked with a smile, “What are you doing? So fierce?”

Little Millet suddenly looked up, laughing heartily. It turned out to be the good man Mountain Master.

Chen Ping An rubbed Little Millet’s head and asked softly, “Tell me, how did you cause trouble for others?”

Little Millet shouldered the golden carrying pole, poked the ground with her walking stick, and grinned. “Nothing, nothing, I was making up an exciting story about the martial world.”

Chen Ping An turned his head to look at a river near Red Candle Town.

Little Millet quickly reached out and tugged at the good man Mountain Master’s sleeve, saying, “Want to eat sunflower seeds?”

Chen Ping An hummed in agreement and reached out his hand. Little Millet immediately opened her small cotton bag and scooped out a large handful. After the good man Mountain Master took the seeds, she ran off to fetch two bamboo chairs, one large and one small, and placed them side by side. They sat together, cracking sunflower seeds.

Little Millet scratched her face and asked, “Good man Mountain Master, when are you going home?”

Chen Ping An smiled and replied, “Soon, after I carve a word on the city wall.”