Chen Ping’an arrived in the territory north of the Sword Qi Great Wall. Except for a newly opened road by the Literary Temple, everything else had been razed to the ground. He looked around, and there was nothing to see.

Lu Chen materialized, strolling shoulder to shoulder with Chen Ping’an amidst the desolate ruins.

A city teeming with sword cultivators and lined with taverns, along with the scattered residences of sword immortals outside the city, were now gone without a trace.

The Elm Garden, once home to a female sword immortal who loved planting flowers, had entrusted Lingzhi Zhai of Upside Down Mountain to purchase an ancient elm tree from the Floating Cloud Continent at great expense. Transplanted to her small courtyard, it likely suffered from the unfamiliar soil and the omnipresent sword energy. It withered for many years, but unexpectedly, one year, it bloomed a single flower that towered above the rooftops, a sight of breathtaking beauty.

However, when the Bitter Summer Sword Immortal of the Central Earth Divine Continent returned to the Sword Qi Great Wall, both the woman and the flower were nowhere to be found.

The Armory of the Taiwei Sword Sect, earned through battle merits, Wanhe Residence rented by Li Cai, where the sound of pine waves could be heard every moonlit night, and the Tingyun Pavilion she had purchased, the entire pavilion carved from a single piece of massive jade.

Chen Ping’an squatted down, picking up a handful of earth.

Lu Chen had returned the lotus crown to the young Hidden Official.

Engraving words on the city wall had consumed too much of Chen Ping’an’s spirit and energy. It was not advisable to return the Daoist magic to him for the time being. He needed to wait a while.

In any case, Lu Chen was not in a hurry to return to the Azure Billow Heaven. If he went back, he would only be disliked by his elder brother Yu. Fortunately, the Master had already spoken, not requiring him to go to the Extraterrestrial Heaven to stare at the endless Extraterrestrial Demons. Otherwise, Lu Chen would have found an excuse to stay in the Vast Expanse for a few years, just like the young Hidden Official beside him. Wherever he went, it was a Packaged Treasures Shop. Where couldn’t this Daoist set up his stall to tell fortunes?

Seeing that Chen Ping’an had no intention of getting up for the moment, Lu Chen simply sat down on the ground, taking out a piece of broken stone, about the size of a palm, that he had picked up from the base of a wall.

This time, if the Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall was not Chen Ping’an, Sect Master Lu would definitely find a hidden city wall, engrave a line of tiny “Lu Chen Was Here” and run away.

Lu Chen raised his hand. “Mind if I…?”

Chen Ping’an shook his head.

Lu Chen took out a bamboo-yellow paper-cutting knife, using it as a carving tool. Eventually, he carved a pair of slender, simple square seals. Then, he smoothed out the edges with his fingers, breathed on them, and blew away the stone dust.

Chen Ping’an asked, “Is it really that difficult to deal with the Extraterrestrial Demons in the Extraterrestrial Heaven?”

So much so that the Dao Ancestor needed to create a “Sublime Beyond Heaven” Jade Capital to resist the endless incursions of Extraterrestrial Demons into the Azure Billow Heaven.

Lu Chen nodded, pinching the paper-cutting knife with two fingers. He was engraving the side inscriptions of the seals, roughly recording his and the young Hidden Official’s journey to the Barren Lands, along with their mountain and water views. Hearing the question, Lu Chen revealed a touch of melancholy. “Difficult, very difficult. If this Daoist goes, it’s just like trying to extinguish a fire with a cup of water, or cooking rice with sand, wasting effort for nothing. Therefore, the Daoist officials of the Jade Capital have always regarded it as a thankless task, because it only consumes cultivation and yields no benefits. For cultivators below Ascension, facing those ever-changing Extraterrestrial Demons is like adding fuel to the fire. If a cultivator’s Dao heart is not stable enough, with even the slightest flaw or gap, they will become the Dao sustenance of the Demons, equivalent to pouring oil on the flames. In the history of the Azure Billow Heaven, many aging Ascension cultivators who could not break through their bottlenecks, knowing that their lifespan was approaching, had no choice but to take a gamble, thinking of sneaking into the Extraterrestrial Heaven to try their luck. There were no exceptions, they all died. Either they died in the Extraterrestrial Heaven, being wantonly manipulated by the Extraterrestrial Demons, or they died under Elder Brother Yu’s sword.”

“Elder Brother Yu once had three close friends, who met each other at the foot of the mountain. The four of them began cultivating around the same time, all with excellent aptitudes. They were kindred spirits, and eventually, the four close friends, through thick and thin, ascended together within a thousand years. Only Elder Brother Yu entered the Jade Capital. The other three Ascension Realm cultivators, a great Talisman Grandmaster, and a Daoist couple, one a Formations Master and the other a Sword Cultivator, can you imagine the kind of high spirits Elder Brother Yu and his friends had back then?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Walking the same path of the Dao, invincible under the heavens.”

Liu Xianyang, Zhang Shanfeng, Zhong Kui, Liu Jinglong…

Chen Ping’an also longed for his and his friends’ travels throughout the world, crossing rivers when encountering water, climbing mountains when encountering mountains, and stopping to resolve any injustice they encountered, so that the world would have one less regret.

“Yes, Elder Brother Yu’s ‘True Invincible’ began to spread from that time, sharp and unstoppable, invincible. As the Dao Ancestor’s second disciple, among the many city lords, tower masters, and Heavenly Monarch Immortals in the Jade Capital, he was the only one who was not a sword cultivator, but dared to say that he could win against sword cultivators. Every time Elder Brother Yu left and returned to the Jade Capital, he would bring back a basketful of stories for the Five Cities and Twelve Towers.”

Just like Ah Liang of the Sword Qi Great Wall, the later young Hidden Official, and Ning Yao of Flying Cloud City in the Five Colors World.

“As time went on, rumors spread, and it became Elder Brother Yu’s self-proclaimed ‘True Invincible’. Elder Brother Yu was too lazy to explain, and probably felt that a ‘True Invincible’ title would be his sooner or later, just being called it a few thousand years earlier was nothing.”

“Unfortunately, two of them, one died in the Extraterrestrial Heaven. Elder Brother Yu didn’t stop him at the time, unwilling to cross swords with his close friend, so he deliberately let him go. Because of this, he was impeached by the Jade Capital historian, who complained all the way to Master’s Lotus Cave of Observing the Dao. The other died under Elder Brother Yu’s sword. With only one person left, and because her Dao partner was killed by Elder Brother Yu, she completely broke with Elder Brother Yu, so much so that every few hundred years, the first thing she did every time she came out of seclusion was to challenge the Jade Capital with her sword, acting recklessly, knowing that it was impossible but still doing it.”

“All the world’s Daoist arts and sword techniques can only suppress the Heavenly Demons, treating the symptoms but not the root cause. My two elder brothers, and Sun Daoist’s junior brother, each chose a path, and all tried to find a permanent solution.”

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“To give two inappropriate examples, you can regard all the Extraterrestrial Demons as a collection of certain art masters, or as a great cultivator of the fifteenth realm who can casually ‘scatter the Dao’ or ‘merge the Dao’.”

Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment, and tentatively said, “Buddhism seems to have a saying that ‘one reality, not two’.”

Lu Chen nodded and said, “That’s why they say Heavenly Demons are outside the Dao, destroying the true Dharma.”
The Sect Leader’s method involves personally crafting armillary spheres and celestial globes, truly embodying the principle of “imitating heaven and earth.” He attempts to establish the uniqueness of each extra-terrestrial demon, allowing for a certain degree of boundary ambiguity. However, the scale of the project is simply too vast, akin to counting the sands of the Ganges with one’s own strength. Yet, the Sect Leader diligently dedicates himself to this endeavor for thousands of years. Later, when you visit Jade Capital as a guest, I can take you to see those armillary spheres and celestial globes.

Lu Chen spoke of his two senior brothers with slight differences in address, one being the “Sect Leader Senior Brother” and the other “Senior Brother Yu.”

It seems that in the eyes of this Third Headmaster of Jade Capital, the Taoist who truly deserves to be called “Acting Sect Leader” is still that eldest brother who is “perfectly selfless.”

“Guanzhu Sun’s junior brother has an even more shocking idea, seeking to trace the origins of the extra-terrestrial demons, preparing to use demons to subdue demons. However, this action is fraught with taboos, and if leaked, it is highly likely to trigger an immeasurable calamity in the human world. Your senior brother, Embroidered Tiger, secretly crafting porcelain figures, is even more excessive. Although the approaches differ, he has actually gone a step further than the former, practically putting it into action.”

“My Senior Brother Yu’s method is very simple and brutal. He believes that as long as his Taoist magic is high enough and his killing power sufficient, he can force the extra-terrestrial demons to gather more and more, inevitably converging towards unity, and then he can wipe them out in one fell swoop, suppressing, detaining, and refining them. Once his merits are complete, reaching three thousand, he will ascend to the status of a sage, becoming the second fifteenth-realm cultivator after the master. The price would be to empty the entire Jade Capital, using it as a prison for that extra-terrestrial demon. Senior Brother Yu has long planned for this, seeking a decree from the master, agreeing to let him refine Jade Capital into his natal object, using Jade Capital and the human body’s mountains and rivers as two Taoist heavens, supplemented by a celestial sword ‘Daozang’ (Taoist Canon), plus five hundred spirit officials responsible for patrolling the mountains and rivers, to imprison, refine, and kill all the extra-terrestrial demons.”

“The master’s attitude towards Senior Brother Yu’s actions has always been ambiguous, as if neither supporting nor opposing.”

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked, “Why is the havoc caused by extra-terrestrial demons referred to as a flood?”

Lu Chen smiled, “You can explore the truth yourself when you travel outside the heavens in the future.”

“We cultivators, the closer we get to the summit, the farther we get from the human world. When we finally reach the vicinity of the summit, or stand on the top, and then look into the distance, it is best to learn to cherish every ‘I don’t know.’ Otherwise, the cultivation journey will soon feel devoid of any joy.”

“You previously roamed the Precious Bottle Continent at will, traversing mountains and rivers with your cultivation in the fourteenth realm, and I believe you have understood one thing: the higher you climb, the farther you see. How many times can a limited boundary withstand repeated gazes? No matter how vast the world is, it is ultimately finite. Seeing the same scenery too many times, especially year after year, for thousands of years, will make people feel tired and weary.”

Lu Chen finally finished carving the side inscriptions and bottom inscriptions of the two seals, “This farewell, we will be separated by vast distances. The next time we meet, it will probably be at least a hundred years, and at most several hundred years, with no certainty.”

If Chen Ping’an hadn’t had this distant journey and hadn’t fallen in realm, I believe it wouldn’t have taken long for him to ascend with his sword and travel to the Azure Firmament Heaven, seeking an opportunity to reach the fourteenth realm.

Now it’s uncertain.

Lu Chen lightly tossed one of the seals to Chen Ping’an, and smiled, “Then let’s each have a seal as a memento.”

Chen Ping’an took the seal, the bottom inscription read “Read my books freely”.

He had previously glimpsed that the bottom inscription of the other seal was also five characters, “Befriending mad scholars is appropriate.”

Those few talisman masters, who are among the best, are all recognized as masters of epigraphy, and almost every “leisurely” work, with a bit of “satisfaction”, can be directly taken by ordinary immortal sects as treasures to protect the mountain.

“In my life’s skills, I have dabbled in a hundred schools, all with talent higher than human effort, only in seal carving, heaven five and man five.”

What confidence it takes for someone to say such words, especially the phrase “heaven five and man five,” which seems self-deprecating, but is actually a great arrogance.

And this person is Headmaster Lu by Chen Ping’an’s side.

Chen Ping’an said a word of thanks, and generously put the seal into his sleeve.

Lu Chen then brought up the coral pen holder obtained from Jade Tablet City, and his words were not at all roundabout, directly asking the Chief Envoy to name a price, which shows that the Third Headmaster of Jade Capital is determined to obtain this object.

Chen Ping’an didn’t seem to value this object very much, it was dispensable, and he didn’t refuse the sale, but asked Lu Chen to name a price first, and just one price, if the price was right, he would sell it, if it wasn’t right, he wouldn’t bother anymore, and would just let it gather dust on the Fallen Mountain side.

Lu Chen was troubled instead.

Moreover, dealing with Chen Ping’an for a long time, he knew that he had no intention of waiting for a higher price, and if he said he wouldn’t sell it, he really wouldn’t sell it.

Seeing Lu Chen’s troubled expression, Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “Before naming a price, why don’t we talk about the origin of the coral pen holder?”

Lu Chen said with a dry smile, “Vivid and dripping, with a charming color, exquisitely lovely, who wouldn’t like it when they see it? It’s just that I don’t have enough immortal money in my pocket, otherwise, how could I be willing to make wedding clothes for others, and help that friend from the Loulan Tower buy this object.”

Chen Ping’an casually asked, “Could it be that this coral pen holder is still a former collection of the Water Palace of the East Sea Dragon Palace?”

Just like the antique trade down the mountain, besides paying attention to an orderly transmission of famous collectors, if it is an old object that has flowed out of the palace, of course it is worth more.

Lu Chen didn’t hide it, and said directly, “Good eye, it is indeed a former collection of the Dragon Palace, and can be regarded as a first-class scholar’s object in the world. Moreover, it is also a ‘woodwork’ from the Dragon Palace, a style of a lean mountain, carving water-attribute treasures into the shape of a mountain, which is of course very rare. This is like the Dali Dynasty, which established itself with the virtue of water, leaving behind a Fire God Temple in the capital, a unique one. It may not be that the Fire God Temple itself is anything rare, but the Fire God Temple is very valuable in the Dali capital.”

“The sea moon hangs on the coral, and the branches support the moon.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “From this, it can be inferred that this object is at least three to five thousand years old, and it is very valuable. But what connection does the coral pen holder have with that Loulan Tower of Jade Capital?”

Almost all of the dragon species in the world are assigned to the vast and mighty world, under the jurisdiction of the Confucian Temple.

The dragons on the Western Buddhist Kingdom side are few in number, and without exception, have become Buddhist protectors, and are not counted among the dragons.
“Within the Hall of Splendor, there exists a *Shanhu Tie* (Coral Calligraphy), its spirit overflowing, truly a divine piece. Legend says its ink shines brightly, depicting a branch of coral, beside which are inscribed the two characters ‘Jin Zuo,’ exceptionally marvelous. Rumor has it that the most precious aspect of this Eastern Sea coral branch lies in a prophetic saying: ‘Upon the ten-thousand-year coral branch, jade flowers bloom.’ These blossoms are revered as the Five-Colored Brush Tips, one of the origins of the later adage ‘a flowery writing brush.'”

Lu Chen elaborated, “The most crucial aspect is that within this painting scroll, there’s actually hidden the remains of an ancient dragon palace of no mean rank. While it can’t compare to the abodes of the Four Seas Dragon Sovereigns, it’s not far off. As for who could manage to contain a dragon palace within a calligraphy piece, it’s unknown. Some say it’s the work of that Master of Three Mountains and Nine Marquis. This poor Daoist hasn’t personally seen the calligraphy, as Wang Dongzhi is terribly stingy, not showing it to anyone. Thus, I couldn’t deduce anything. I only know that the Hall of Splendor has consistently failed to break the landscape restrictions. However, one thing is certain: the coral brush holder in Jade Tablet City is very likely the long-lost key.”

Chen Pingan nodded, “Then we must calculate the value as half a dragon palace.”

Lu Chen declared righteously, “Absolutely.”

Anyway, it’s not his own money being spent, so he doesn’t feel the pinch.

Lu Chen recalled some old stories, sighing with emotion. Since he was idle, he turned into a storyteller, saying, “Thinking back to those years, the center of heaven and earth, the lands of the eight extremes, all within the nine realms shared the same wind.”

He continued, “The Four Seas Dragon Sovereigns of the Vast Expanse still held high positions, presiding over maritime and water transport. Countless dragon descendants abounded, and there were numerous aquatic creatures in the great rivers, making it very lively. Whenever mountain cultivators encountered aquatic beings, it always led to incidents. They would frequently argue, and at the slightest disagreement, they’d fight. After fighting, they’d change locations and continue arguing, leaving behind countless tales of the strange and bizarre.”

“How vast and boundless is the azure sea, containing countless treasures within! Nominally, they all belonged to those great and small dragon palaces and aquatic immortal residences. Indeed, the True Dragons had a custom of hoarding natural treasures. Each dragon palace and water abode was a treasure trove. In the ancient Four Seas waters, the Eastern Sea was the most vast and boundless, especially rich in jade trees and corals of the finest quality.”

“The terrestrial immortals entered the sea to seek treasures, cutting down jade trees and plucking countless corals. As the saying goes, ‘Coral may be exhausted, but the gathering is endless.’ Hence, the Dragon Sovereigns would land ashore to complain incessantly, as if fearing their dragon palace treasures would be emptied. There was also the tale of the Golden Carp of the Eastern Sea swallowing the sea in one gulp, leading its million-strong aquatic forces to rise up and rebel against the Four Seas Dragon Sovereigns. Then there were stories of dragon maidens airing clothes, and scholars dreaming of wandering into water palaces, becoming true dragon-riding sons-in-law.”

“Like your Treasure Bottle Continent, the ancient Shu region was plagued with foul winds and strange rains. After thousands of years of breeding, flood dragons roamed rampant. The territories once bordered the coast on both ends. Wandering sword immortals favored performing dragon-slaying deeds to temper their swords. If sword cultivators were to refine their swords and sharpen their blades, how could even the later invaluable Dragon-Slaying Platform compare to real flood dragons? Anyway, aquatic beings were countless, and sword immortals could casually find a pretext to deliver their swords.”

One spoke eloquently, and the other listened attentively. Unknowingly, they arrived at the former city’s boundary.

A yellow oriole perched on Lu Chen’s shoulder.

Back in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, when he set up his fortune-telling stall, business was slow and he was truly bored, so Lu Chen used this oriole to examine the abundance of literary fortune.

Zhao Yao, Song Jixin, Liu Xianyang, Chen Pingan… almost all the young people in the town had their literary fortune tested by the truly bored Headmaster Lu.

As for why Lu Chen misjudged Chen Pingan alone, he had long accepted it. It’s not like he’s short of one or two such errors.

Chen Pingan smiled and asked, “Headmaster Lu’s magnanimity is unparalleled in this world. Surely, you don’t hold a grudge against Liu Xianyang, do you?”

Lu Chen chuckled, “Since you’ve said so, how could this poor Daoist hold onto such a trivial, old matter? That would be unbecoming.”

Back in their hometown, Liu Xianyang overturned Lu Chen’s fortune-telling stall, acting aggressively and even wanting to hit people.

Chen Pingan wasn’t worried that this action would cause Lu Chen to harbor resentment, but rather concerned about why Liu Xianyang would take such action, and whether Lu Chen would follow some unknown thread, make a layout, lay a thousand-mile ambush, and wait for the future Liu Xianyang.

For example, Liu Xianyang’s ancestors were dragon keepers appointed by the Confucian Temple,

And Lu Chen had myriad connections with the True Dragons of the world, especially with that noble Dragon Maiden.

Chen Pingan rarely acted so unyielding and almost weak in front of Lu Chen.

Whether in words or transactions, they were mostly tit-for-tat, calculating clearly.

Chen Pingan composed himself, saying, “I didn’t mean to joke with Headmaster Lu.”

Lu Chen smiled knowingly, “Understood. Rest assured, when this poor Daoist returns home in the future, you can host, and it’ll just be a matter of drinking a few bowls of wine.”

Chen Pingan turned his head to look at the city walls.

Lu Chen sighed, “Actually, things didn’t have to be this way.”

Lu Chen immediately added, “If ‘if’ were a person, they would definitely deserve a beating.”

This desolate realm, although the land is barren, is rich in minerals, especially gold and silver, with reserves surpassing those of several other realms.

Gold and silver, as earthly currency, are circulated in several realms in later generations. Clearly, this is also the good intention of the founders of the Three Teachings, hoping that this desolate realm, which sits on mountains of gold and silver, can use this to trade with other realms. If the demonic cultivators of the desolate realm were not so incorrigible, still fond of killing after transforming, extremely advocating individual strength, and excessively and unrestrainedly seizing from the heavens and earth outside themselves, then how difficult would it be to change customs and geography, turning barren land into fertile fields?

Consider the cultivators of the Agricultural School, who can use spells and divine powers to summon wind and rain, thaw the frozen ground in spring, enrich the earth’s essence, make plants grow, and crops flourish, without the worry of floods or droughts. With only a few decades of management, perhaps there would be a harvest year with fertile land for thousands of miles.

The problem is that Agricultural School cultivators in the desolate realm are the rarest among all cultivators. Moreover, only those demon cultivators with relatively poor aptitude would reluctantly go to learn this craft. As soon as they have money and their realm increases, they will immediately switch careers, viewing Agricultural School cultivators as a lowly profession, even lower in status than merchants’ sons in the Vast Expanse.
Only after Wenhai Zhoumi appeared did this situation improve, cultivating a large number of Farmer cultivators, assigning them to those great dynasties. As long as they were Farmer cultivators recorded by Tuoyue Mountain, they could receive a salary every year, and they would be issued a death-exemption token bestowed by Tuoyue Mountain. The assessment every ten years also had a very low threshold. Even so, Zhoumi’s actions were still of little effect, like a drop in the bucket compared to a whole world.

The reason was simple: a mountain sect or a dynasty could be destroyed at any moment. The ancestral hall’s incense in the mountains and the nation’s destiny were easily severed. Moreover, the great demons of the desolate world had always liked to eliminate roots when they made a move, leaving no survivors. Easily, a radius of thousands of miles would become scorched earth, with sects collapsing and cities full of life becoming extinct.

Even if a handful of Farmer cultivators could luckily escape this calamity and save their lives, the fertile fields and the Qi Refiners’ centuries of hard work would be reduced to nothing in an instant. Who could bear this? In the end, very few demon Qi Refiners were truly willing to become Farmer cultivators.

A hundred people planting trees for a hundred years might not be able to match one person cutting them down for a year.

In the final analysis, it was all about human nature, inevitably leading to actions that drained the pond to catch fish or burned the forest to hunt.

Lu Chen said, “If Zhoumi were determined to be the national advisor of that entire world, with his wisdom and methods, he would still have a chance to fundamentally change the customs of the desolate world.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “Zhoumi’s great talent and bold strategy are beyond doubt. He probably still feels that the chessboard is too small, not enough for him to maneuver and unleash the ambition of a Jia Sheng from Haoran.”

In these words, Chen Ping’an had no intention of belittling or despising Zhoumi. He even used the word “ambition,” not some petty desire.

The reason was simple: to look down on Wenhai Zhoumi would be to disrespect the desperate defense of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Chen Ping’an raised his head and looked at the gate, “Will that True Invincible make a move?”

Lu Tai shook his head, “It’s unlikely. Senior Brother Yu doesn’t like taking advantage of others’ situations, let alone joining forces with others.”

Chen Ping’an casually asked, “How are the pure martial artists over in the Qingming World at fighting?”

Lu Tai rubbed his chin, “If each world took out ten people and then fought ten matches in order of ranking, Qingming World would be slightly better. But if you took out a hundred people, Qingming World would win for sure.”

Senior Brother Yu Dou was particularly generous to pure martial artists.

During the hundred years that this Second Master of the White Jade Capital was in charge, he showed no mercy to those cultivators who violated the rules, always choosing to kill those who were borderline cases.

But he was surprisingly easy to talk to when it came to martial artists.

Lu Chen continued, “Of course, if you delay it for ten or twenty years, and then have another life-or-death battle between ten people, Haoran World would have a better chance of winning.”

This was thanks to two pairs of masters and disciples.

Pei Bei and Cao Ci of the Great Duan Dynasty in the Central Earth.

Chen Ping’an and Pei Qian of Luopo Mountain in Treasure Bottle Continent.

The pure martial artists of Haoran World, aside from the Central Earth Divine Continent, were spread out across the remaining eight continents, averaging about two to three pinnacle martial artists per continent.

For example, Tongye Continent’s martial luck was average, currently having Wu Shu and Ye Yunyun, while the sparse martial luck of Aiai Continent only had Pei Axiang for the time being.

As for Treasure Bottle Continent, it was not playing by the rules. Its martial luck in the next hundred years would startle several other worlds.

“Currently, the top three martial artists in Qingming World with the highest martial arts achievements is a man named Lin Jiangxian. This guy is very capable of fighting, not just generally capable of fighting, and has been in the lead for nearly three hundred years.”

“There’s also a female martial artist named Bai Ou. Don’t let her cute name fool you; she’s the most brutal when she hits people.”

“But it still comes down to that Xinku who sits alone on the Leap Month Peak. He’s the youngest and has the best aptitude. For some reason, according to Old Master Sun’s saying, this guy just likes to be alone, casting scornful glances at the sky.”

Lu Chen tutted, “Xinku, strange name, strange temper, this guy is indeed a… monster.”

“To give you an example, if he hadn’t started practicing martial arts and had instead gone up the mountain to cultivate, he would definitely have been able to reach the Fourteenth Realm. To put it another way, if he were willing to give up martial arts now and switch to cultivating as an immortal, he would undoubtedly be a Fourteenth Realm Great Cultivator.”

“Bai Ou is already considered someone who fears neither heaven nor earth, and she has sparred with Lin Jiangxian twice. But she has always deliberately avoided Xinku, not having any intention of exchanging blows.”

Chen Ping’an silently remembered.

Especially that Xinku, a pure martial artist who Lu Chen regarded so highly.

This was the top three martial artists in the entire world, not just a martial arts ranking list of one continent.

Just like in that Immortal Abode ruins in the Northern Ju Lu Continent back then, Daoist Sun, who traveled far to Haoran, left his true body in the Great Mystery Capital Temple, but when the old Daoist talked about Huaiyin, one of the ten people in the Central Earth Divine Continent,

he did not hide his mockery, saying that with small arms and legs, he was afraid that he would accidentally break them if he didn’t control his strength.

Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but ask, “How can there possibly be a cultivator who, at the beginning of their cultivation journey, would dare to say that they could definitely reach the Fourteenth Realm?”

Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City might be an exception.

Even Wu Shuangjiang of the Sui Chu Palace could only be considered half an exception in a strict sense.

Lu Chen sighed, “Who says it isn’t? But that’s just how strange things are.”

Holding up three fingers, Lu Chen said helplessly, “This poor Daoist has secretly gone to Leap Month Peak three times and looked at that Xinku from all angles, but I just can’t see that he has the aptitude for the Fourteenth Realm. No matter how I deduce and analyze it, that Xinku should only be at most a Ascension Realm cultivator. But there’s nothing I can do about it; my master said it himself.”

Chen Ping’an nodded, “There are strange people and extraordinary individuals everywhere.”

Lu Chen placed his palms together, covering them in the wide sleeves of his Daoist robe, and walked slowly, “If the biggest impression that the White Jade Capital gives people is that it’s relatively deserted, with everyone going their own way, busy with cultivation, and single-minded.”

“It’s as if everyone has a path to heaven under their feet, with clear steps and a steady pace. Every time you step on a step, you can see the higher steps. The so-called ascent is just a matter of lifting your foot.”

Lu Chen suddenly turned his head and suggested with a smile, “After you go to Qingming World in the future, since you won’t be in a hurry to visit the White Jade Capital, you must stop in a certain state for a few years. For example, find a Ten Directions Forest and become a Supervisor, managing the Three Capital Five Masters and Eighteen Heads under you. The palace doesn’t have to be too big; it’s still very interesting.”
I once spent three hundred years wandering, finally gathering those positions from nearly forty Daoist temples, big and small. The Chief Steward’s duties were truly cumbersome, requiring management of everything. As for the Registrar, Scribe, and Night Patrol, they were quite interesting. Being a Latrine Cleaner was a bit miserable, but such lowly jobs were lucrative, with no competition and plenty of freedom. But all things considered, being a Receptionist was the most interesting, welcoming guests and judging them accordingly.

Chen Pingan remained noncommittal.

Lu Chen suddenly asked, “Chen Pingan, how do you think one can achieve true detachment?”

Chen Pingan shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it.”

Lu Chen said, “After all desires are satisfied, before finding the next one?”

Chen Pingan thought for a moment, then said, “Sounds reasonable.”

Lu Chen pondered, then said, “How about you return your cultivation realm after you return to the Azure Ocean Continent?”

Chen Pingan shook his head. “No need.”

Lu Chen hesitated.

Chen Pingan smiled. “Really, there’s no need to be so polite.”

Lu Chen didn’t insist.

In an instant, a ripple appeared beside them, unnoticed even by “both” of the Fourteenth Realm cultivators. A woman in white robes stepped out.

Behind the white-robed woman followed a young, hunched-over swordsman.

Chen Pingan never expected him to appear here.

It was the Ancient Demon of the Ascendant Realm swordsman!

She smiled. “I’m definitely going to lose a realm, so Fallen Phoenix Mountain might need a slightly capable expendable in the near future.”

Lu Chen covered his face.

Slightly…expendable…

She smiled. “Remember to refine your sword in the heavens as soon as possible. I’ll return first.”

With those words, she transformed into a sword light and soared into the heavens.

Chen Pingan could only look up and nod slightly.

The Ancient Demon maintained a stiff smile.

Chen Pingan also struggled for a while before saying, “Actually, I was embarrassed too, so we’re even.”

The Ancient Demon, who had finally awakened from a long slumber, breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He turned to the young Daoist and asked in a very pure and elegant Confucian manner, “Who are you?”

Lu Chen grinned. “Just a nobody, a follower of Lord Hermit, not worth mentioning.”

The great moon in the sky was about to approach the gate.

Lu Tai looked up and murmured, “Eternal sky, fleeting moonlight.”

Chen Pingan gazed towards the sky.

May the long night be peaceful and beneficial. May our actions, words, and thoughts be utterly pure.

When I finally have time, this Night Wanderer Sword will be hung in the Patriarch Hall of Azure Canopy Peak as the token of the next Lord of Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

Chen Pingan took off the lotus crown from his head and handed it to Lu Chen, saying, “Sect Master Lu, you can take back your cultivation realm.”

Unexpectedly, Lu Chen’s expression was solemn, and he was about to decline when Chen Pingan smiled and tossed it to him.

The Three Sages, who had met in the small town earlier…

The Most Sage Teacher arrived in the Western Buddhist Kingdom, chatting happily with a small temple abbot.

The Buddha arrived in Azure Clarity Heaven and looked up to see a plaque: The Number One Ancestral Court in the World.

The Dao Ancestor also left the Grand Bright World, not returning to the Jade Capital, but going to the Outer Heavens.

In the Great Li capital, the old cultivator Liu Jia took the initiative to drink with his apprentice, Zhao Duanming.

The old man and the young man talked about a past event, saying that Counselor Cui once asked him to guard this alley and what reward he wanted.

At the time, Liu Jia only said that he had never seen any impressive figures in his life.

Cui Chan, who had just become the Great Li National Counselor, smiled and said to Liu Jia that he would see them.

Earlier, Chen Pingan appeared in Dragon Riding Lane, went to the entrance of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, ate melon seeds with Little Rice Grain, and finally returned to Dragon Riding Lane instead of going to Yang’s Shop.

Shi Rou smiled and helped Little Mute take credit, saying that Chen Lingjun had encountered a group of mountain immortals, and Zhou Junchen was worried about Chen Lingjun’s safety, so he went to help.

Chen Pingan picked up a piece of apricot blossom cake and chewed it slowly, smiling and looking at the child after hearing this, nodding lightly.

Little Mute stood on a stool behind the counter, reading a novel about the martial world.

The child pouted, it was nothing worth mentioning.

Zhou Junchen remembered something and asked, “Lord Mountain Master, do you pay for the cakes, or do you put them on credit?”

As Pei Qian’s direct disciple, he never liked to call Chen Pingan Ancestral Master. When Chen Pingan was not around, he would at most say his master’s master. If he was face to face, he would call him Lord Mountain Master. Shi Rou had advised him several times, but the child didn’t listen and was very stubborn.

Shi Rou smiled and said, “Why keep an account for Lord Mountain Master eating his own cakes?”

Seeing that the Lord Mountain Master was about to pick up another piece of cake, the child deliberately turned a page of the book heavily and muttered, “No wonder the shop is doing so well. There are more people who owe money than customers.”

Chen Pingan took a few more pieces of cake, making the child’s face turn red. This Ancestral Grandfather, who had never taught him any martial arts, was really bullying him!

The white-haired boy ran out of the backyard quickly, about to raise his arms and shout, but was silenced by a glare from the Hermit Ancestor.

He still raised his arms high, but his lips moved without making a sound.

He probably felt that it was boring without any noise, and lowered his arms in frustration, feeling uncomfortable.

The white-haired boy said quietly, “Hermit Ancestor, I’ve changed my name to Konghou now, what do you think?”

“Far inferior to ‘Natural’. Moreover, since ancient times, konghou music has often been sad. The meaning of this name is not good. You must have read the Confucian ‘Records of Suburban Sacrifices’, so don’t take it lightly. It’s best to change it again. Just have Nuan Shu take another trip to the county office household registry. But don’t forget to thank Nuan Shu.”

Chen Pingan clapped his hands and went to the neighboring herbal shop.

The girl Cui Huasheng and the legendary young Lord Mountain Master, who was rarely seen, bowed timidly.

Chen Pingan smiled and nodded, looking up at a couplet hanging in the shop, written by the blind old Daoist. It was said to be his masterpiece after a drunken spree.

Steps climbing through cloud deep, ancient books to the left and right.

Sky high, sea vast, bright moon in the center.

In addition to the inscription, there was also a private seal: Where minds meet, distance is no object.

Chen Pingan had seen it last time he returned home to check the accounts in Dragon Riding Lane.

Immortal Jia “saw” the young Lord Mountain Master and was about to say a few words, but the other party had already smiled and said goodbye.
Instantly, Chen Pingan, still possessing the cultivation of the Fourteenth Realm, once again employed the technique of Spatial Subjugation, returning directly to the Great Li capital. Once the Chen Pingan from Sword Qi Great Wall relinquished his cultivation, returning to the capital wouldn’t be a matter of a few steps.

The ancestral masters of the Three Teachings had already departed the Vast Expanse.

Chen Pingan of the Vast Expanse arrived near that small alley.

The Chen Pingan from Sword Qi Great Wall, having gained a Flying Ascent Realm deathsworn seemingly felt the overall situation was settled. He also appeared confident about the matter of supporting the moon at the Celestial Curtain. Therefore, he returned his Fourteenth Realm cultivation to Lu Chen.

As expected, a drop in cultivation followed.

A drop of one layer in Martial Dao, and two Realms for a cultivator.

Lu Chen, however, wasn’t concerned about these grand matters, anxiously voicing his thoughts, “What’s going on?! Twice, twice now! I’ve been reminding you not to return the cultivation too early, because I’ve calculated that some unexpected event will occur. But I can’t reveal the heavenly secrets to you, otherwise the Grand Dao will shift at the slightest touch. Perhaps the new accident will only be bigger. Although I can’t calculate where the accident will come from, but…”

Chen Pingan’s expression was calm as he said, “Because I knew that the accident would definitely come from Zhou Mi. He’s waiting for the ancestral masters of the Three Teachings to leave the Vast Expanse, waiting for the Sage of Rites to fight Bai Xiansheng, waiting for her to return beyond the heavens, and waiting for me to cleave Mount Tuoyue with my sword and achieve great success. He’s waiting for me to finish engraving the characters. Then Zhou Mi will make his move. He knows better than anyone what I care about, so he doesn’t need to target me personally. He only needs to make a dilapidated Falling Cloud Mountain disappear, and make it disappear right before my eyes.”

Lu Chen remained speechless in stunned silence, “I understand. Then what?!”

Chen Pingan’s expression remained indifferent as he replied, “When I first arrived at the city wall, I hadn’t yet borrowed your cultivation. In fact, I had already begun to greet someone. Ordinary people might not understand, but the other party isn’t an ordinary person.”

Moreover, there was a backup plan.

Within the ruins of the ancient Heavenly Court, Zhou Mi plucked a chess piece from his sleeve and gently cast it out.

The chess piece instantly pierced through the Celestial Curtain of the Vast Expanse, like a star hurtling towards the entire Dragon Province region.

The location where the chess piece landed on the board was none other than Falling Cloud Mountain.

It was too fast. Even the imitation Jade Capital in the Great Li secondary capital couldn’t draw their swords in time to block it, and even the Old Scholar in the Great Li capital couldn’t arrive in time to provide aid.

But at that very moment, from that thatched shop in Riding Dragon Lane, from within that couplet, walked out the White Emperor City Lord, who shared a silent understanding with the young Hidden Official.