The moon hung faint, lending an unsettling clarity to the towering mountains.

Shaqing, ears twitching, abruptly turned his gaze towards the distant horizon, a somber pronouncement escaping his lips, “Master, the Embroidered Tiger comes.”

Li Yehou merely hummed in acknowledgment, his thoughts reaching out to his attendants like whispers on the wind, “Remember your decorum. Whatever words are exchanged between Master Cui and myself, let them wash over you, unheeded and unremembered.”

Huang Juan, a handmaiden attending to the tuning of her zither, followed Shaqing’s gaze. In the far distance, a fleeting patch of white danced on the horizon, as if riding the very wind. The figure rose higher and higher, Huang Juan’s eyes following in its ascent. Against the backdrop of the moon, the figure became a mere speck, a mote of dust silhouetted against the silver orb. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, it plummeted towards the mountain peak, a celestial being cast down from the heavens.

Huang Juan carefully returned the ancient zither to its case, joining Shaqing behind their master.

A ruby-red mark graced the youth’s brow, framed by flowing white robes, billowing like sails in the ethereal breeze. He hovered just beyond the precipice.

Even Huang Juan, a devotee known for her unwavering spirit, had to concede that the young man radiated a luminous aura, dimming the very moonlight, a divine figure whose majesty rivaled that of her master.

It so happened that on Master Cui’s previous two visits to Jade Moon Lake, Huang Juan had been absent from the water palace, either visiting a childhood friend in Inkstone Mountain or frolicking in the Hundred Flowers Grotto.

To receive a friend from afar, is there anything more delightful?

Li Yehou’s eyes shone with anticipation. The reunion he had so long awaited had finally arrived. He laid aside his weathered fan, and removed the mask from his face revealing himself as a handsome man, and bowed, “Yehou greets Master Cui.”

Cui Dongshan replied with a nonchalant air, “Congratulations on your elevation to Lord of the Southern Sea. You may call me Dongshan.”

Li Yehou, along with the three former Lords of the Five Lakes, had become Lords of the Four Seas by the grace of the Wen Temple’s Golden Jade Edict, consecrating mountain and river deities. Though their rank was unchanged, their power and dominion now stretched far beyond their former territories.

At the same time, the Lords of Mirage Marsh and two other great lakes were elevated to fill the vacancies in the “Five Lakes,” a true and rightful promotion.

Li Yehou nodded with a smile.

Among those who openly championed the cause of the virtuous scholar Jia Sheng of Haoran was Li Yehou, Lord of Jade Moon Lake.

Thus, even with Jade Moon Lake being the closest of the Haoran Five Lakes to the Wen Temple, Li Yehou remained aloof from its influence and distant from its enshrined sages.

He and the Embroidered Tiger, Cui Chan, were old acquaintances.

Of course, their ages differed greatly, for Li Yehou was of the same generation as Bai Ye, even hailing from the same kingdom. Li Yehou was of noble birth, a high-ranking court official, while Bai Ye was an “unsullied” recluse. Their paths had only briefly crossed in the capital before Bai Ye sailed away, never to be seen again.

In contrast, Cui Chan, along with his two junior brothers, Zuo You and Jun Qian, had once visited Jade Moon Lake, engaging in eight uninterrupted games of Go, each granting the other ample time to contemplate their moves.

Li Yehou had nearly wagered his “Book Depository” and half of Jade Moon Lake on those games.

In the eight games played, Li Yehou lost seven and won one. Another loss would have cost him his position as Lord of the Lake.

It was only a near loss because his opponent had voluntarily forsworn his winnings after claiming victory.

Afterward, Li Yehou compiled those eight games into a book, “Autumn Waters,” and upon relentless review, he discovered the hidden machinations within. The difference in their skill was far greater than he had imagined. But the Embroidered Tiger, save for the initial trap in the first game, had feigned weakness in the others, deceiving Li Yehou into thinking that each loss was only by a hair’s breadth.

Later, when Cui Chan rebelled against the teachings of the Sage of Culture, he secretly returned to Jade Moon Lake.

Cui Chan asked if he would join him on a journey to help the world in a way that was “within their power”, to which Li Yehou declined.

Cui Chan did not seem disappointed. Before departing, he glanced at the Go manuscript on the table and casually suggested that it be renamed “Herding the Ox.”

Li Yehou, of Taoist origin, was rendered speechless, silently seeing the Embroidered Tiger off.

It was not fear of trouble or a reluctance to relinquish his lordship. Rather, Li Yehou had become increasingly apathetic after becoming a deity, as if all his lofty ambitions had been left behind with his former selves: the gifted child, the young Taoist devoted to the mountains but concerned with the state of the nation, the young minister who turned the tide in the kingdom, the middle-aged and elderly man who rebuilt the nation, saved its people from misery, and finally, the one who retreated into divinity, ceasing to meddle in mortal affairs, content to buy, collect, read, and revise books.

Cui Dongshan turned, his countenance now changed, and joked, “Brother Shaoqing, why is it that after a century, your cultivation has not improved, but you’ve grown taller? Do you have some secret technique you could share?”

The short man flushed and mumbled, “That’s not true, Master Cui. You’re mistaken.”

There was no shame in conceding to the Embroidered Tiger, Cui Chan.

As for why Cui Chan had transformed into a youth, only the heavens knew. Was it not expected that an odd person would do odd things?

Before their arrival, their master had warned them that if they were to see a youth named Cui Dongshan, they should treat him as if he were the Embroidered Tiger.

Huang Juan realized at that moment that the man beside her had indeed grown taller, not by an inch, but by a full two!

Suddenly understanding, she scolded, “Shaqing, are you daft? Must you copy everything that Ah Liang does?!”

It turned out that Shaoqing had learned from that cursed man, hiding a trick within his boots.

Previously, a man had visited Jade Moon Lake with a young scholar and a yellow-robed elder with a venerable air.

There, on the steps, the fellow had taken off his shoes and immediately put them back on.

The young scholar was well-behaved and polite from beginning to end. But the yellow-robed elder was a surprise. He had been quiet in the water palace, but it turned out he had amazing powers. Soon after, he rose to fame in Mandarin Duck Isle, calling himself the Tender Taoist, beating the senior cultivator Nan Guangzhao.

Li Yehou cut to the chase. “Master Cui knows what brings me here. Name your price.”

Cui Dongshan smiled. “What could be better than an old friend reuniting? Why not play a game of Go while we discuss matters?”

Li Yehou said, “If there is no wager, Yehou can delay his departure from Tongye Island and play a game of Go with Master Cui.”

Cui Dongshan urged, “A small wager makes things interesting. If you were to accidentally play the ‘Moonlight Game,’ it would be a fine tale for the game community. I’ll even give you a head start.”

When Li Yehou remained unmoved, Cui Dongshan stroked his chin with one hand and held up two fingers with the other. “If giving you a head start isn’t enough, how about I give you two? What do you say?”

The Lord of the Lake ignored him. Cui Dongshan stamped his foot, flicked his sleeves, and complained, “Yehou, you’re too modest. Do I have to pretend I’m a beginner and give you nine stones?”

In the various kingdoms, chess academies had a custom of playing with nine stones to give the other a head start. If a chess player wanted to improve and gain a rank, they had to get through the court chess player’s nine-stone challenge.

Li Yehou, seemingly determined not to play with Cui Dongshan, smiled. “Master Cui, let us talk about serious matters. I am not here for leisure. I must return to the Southern Sea to escort a ship. I don’t want to waste Master Cui’s valuable time since there’s so much work to be done on Immortal Capital Mountain.”

Since Li Yehou refused to take the bait, there was nothing Cui Dongshan could do. He must have been scared of being bullied by that old turtle, after all. He couldn’t force Li Yehou to play chess, so he had no choice but to talk about business. “My master will sell you up to 10% of the water transport.”

Li Yehou asked immediately, “Is it 10% of what Master Chen currently possesses of the Dragontooth River water transport, or 10% of the original Dragontooth River water transport?”

Cui Dongshan smiled. “How we get that 10% depends on your sincerity, Master Yehou.”

Li Yehou thought for a moment. “No matter what kind of ‘10% of the water transport’ it is, I will offer my expected sincerity.”

The Sage of Culture was fusing his Tao in the shattered lands of the three continents, including Southern Poso, and Li Yehou, as the Lord of the Southern Sea responsible for the flow of water transport, was able to adjust the flow without breaking the rules or being questioned by the Wen Temple. This wasn’t abusing his power. Li Yehou had no intention of matching wits with the Embroidered Tiger. He wouldn’t change how much it cost. He would go if he could. He wouldn’t if he couldn’t.

Cui Dongshan began to jump around and curse, his sleeves whistling as he waved them around. “Are you taking advantage of my master being an honest man who isn’t good at business so you can be such a bastard? Huh?!”

In the Haoran world today, there were a few senior cultivators with nothing better to do than to collect all kinds of comments on the young Hidden Official.

Li Yehou wanted to buy 10% of the Dragontooth River in the Wildlands. Of course, it would be best if Chen Pingan was willing to give him 15%. The more the merrier.

Li Yehou took out a book from his sleeve. “This is our detailed deployment for 300,000 of the Southern Sea Water Manor in the next hundred years for 10% of the Dragontooth River water transport. The Wen Temple won’t be able to find fault, and I can guarantee that Southern Poso will have favorable weather for the next century, surpassing the old years and bringing a golden age that hasn’t been seen in three thousand years.”

Cui Dongshan took the book, flipped to the first page, rolled his eyes, tossed it to the ground, stepped on it, and waved his sleeve. “You can get out of here.”

Huang Juan was indignant. She wanted to say something, but she had been warned.

How dare he be so disrespectful to her master? Who did he think he was, even if he was half of the Embroidered Tiger, Cui Chan?!

Shaqing tugged on her sleeve.

Cui Dongshan glanced at the handmaiden carrying the zither case and sneered, “What, are you going to play that act of a loyal servant dying for their master? Are you threatening me or scaring me? I’m easily scared. If I die, I won’t have to pay with my life, but I’ll have to pay money! A lot of money, an astronomical number! Be careful you don’t get Yehou to sell everything he has to help you clean up your mess…”

Huang Juan’s face flushed with anger.

Li Yehou remained calm. He reached out and caught the book in his hand, gently dusting off the cover. “I would leave if it was just the Embroidered Tiger.”

Li Yehou reached out again and handed the book to the boy, as if talking to himself. “But the person who has the Dragontooth River water transport is the closed-door disciple of the Sage of Culture, a young Sword Immortal who is establishing a subsect in Tongye Island.”

Cui Dongshan crossed his arms and looked blank.

Huang Juan was livid, but Shaoqing grabbed her arm this time.

Li Yehou didn’t mind. He turned to look at the night view, but he still didn’t put the book in his sleeve.

“A man of extraordinary talent acts in ways that are shocking to the world, but a man of rules has order to his every action. They both advance and retreat within the rules.”

“I admire the former and respect the latter.”

“As Master Cui said, I am trying to deceive someone with my integrity, but I have my difficulties. In my position, I must be responsible, and not only act on my preferences. If I was still the Lord of Jade Moon Lake, and not responsible, this book would be twice as thick. As a deity, I must give the world a kindness. But every act changes the fate of a region, and impacts mountains and rivers. I must take care of the danger.”

Cui Dongshan squatted down, took out some dried fish from his sleeve, and threw them in his mouth.

A child with a hazy knowledge of the sky could reach out and touch the stars, but after becoming a deity, he would realize how unreachable the sky was.

Li Yehou also squatted down and handed the book over for the third time.

Cui Dongshan snorted. “Don’t bother me. I’m angry.”

Li Yehou placed the book lightly on Cui Dongshan’s arm and smiled. “There are two difficult things in the world: to become an immortal and to ask someone for help.”

Cui Dongshan chuckled, finished his dried fish, shook his arm, and caught the book with his hand as it bounced up. He waved it like a fan and said, “There are two miseries on earth: bitterness and being penniless.”

Huang Juan stood behind the boy and slyly raised her foot, pretending to kick him.

The white-clothed youth suddenly crashed to the ground, landing face-first and turning to scowl. “Were you trying to trick me?! Pay me!”

Huang Juan was stunned.

Shaqing was also baffled.

The Embroidered Tiger was once unparalleled.

During his first visit to Jade Moon Lake, Cui Chan had already been famous. Even Shaoqing, who disliked going out, had heard a certain evaluation of Cui Chan from the Wen Temple.

“He has the warmth of the sun on a mountain, fit to be a ceremonial vessel in the ancestral temple.”

It wasn’t known who had said it. Some guessed that it was the master of the Wen Temple, while others claimed it was the Sage of Rites, or even Confucius himself!

Under the eaves of the pavilion, they sat on the ground and played Go. During one of the games, the rain poured down, lightning flashed, and Cui Chan moved a white piece, oblivious to the lightning, never taking his eyes off the game.

Li Yehou smiled and took out a fan made of a mysterious material. “This is both an apology and a gift. It is well-suited for Sword Immortal Chen.”

Huang Juan felt a pang of heartache.

This was an invaluable treasure from the Moon Palace, one that her master treasured most. The fan, named “Summer’s Refuge,” had a beautiful meaning. “The cool moon creates a treasured fan.” Legend had it that it was personally crafted by the Lord of the Moon.

However, after being passed down for so long, its rank had dropped, and it was now just a heavy mountain treasure. However, the fan could be refined into an offensive weapon or used to suppress mountains and rivers to gather energy. It was especially good at absorbing moonlight.

Cui Dongshan put the book and fan into his sleeve, not thanking him, but suddenly laughing. He reached out and helped Li Yehou up. “Before I came, my master told me one thing.”

Tonight’s events were as he expected! They were almost perfectly accurate!

Angry? Why would Cui Dongshan be angry at a loser? Ridiculous.

Li Yehou got up and smiled. “I am all ears.”

Cui Dongshan said seriously, “My master said that the market can’t crash, but we still have to put on a show for outsiders.”

Li Yehou understood and held back his laughter, lest he be misunderstood as gloating. He nodded. “I understand. I will use a subtle method to let the other two water lords know the ‘real price’ of this deal between the Southern Sea Water Manor and Fallen Phoenix Mountain.”

Li Yehou bowed and bid farewell, smiling as he got up. “When the world is truly at peace, I will invite Master Cui to the Southern Sea to play the ‘Nine Moonlight Games,’ so that there will be another Autumn Water chess manual.”

Cui Dongshan bowed in return and said with a grin, “Sure, sure. I’ll play a game of Go with you in the Southern Sea. I’ll even go to the moon with you. That way, even if the chess manual isn’t as good as Rainbow Cloud, our chess location will be much higher than White Emperor City. Next time we meet, don’t call me Master Cui. It sounds weird. Call me Dongshan or ‘Same Age.'”

Cui Dongshan had given himself a new Taoist name, “Same Age.”

Li Yehou nodded, preparing to leave Tongye Island.

Cui Dongshan asked tentatively, “Are you sure you don’t want to sit down on my Immortal Capital Mountain?”

Li Yehou shook his head. “No, there are too many things to do in the Water Manor. I can’t stay on the shore for too long.”

Huang Juan asked softly, “How did Chen Mountain Master become your master?”

Cui Dongshan couldn’t stand this ignorant woman. He rolled his eyes and said, “He is a master because of his high scholarship and he is a model of good behavior. Why can’t my master be my master? It’s more like I can’t be my master’s student.”

Li Yehou smoothed things over. “Actually, Huang Juan admires the Hidden Official very much.”

Huang Juan nodded emphatically. That was true.

Last time in Merit Forest, the young Hidden Official stood next to the Sage of Culture, helping his master treat others with warmth and respect.

The white-clothed youth frowned. “Sister Huang Juan, I was wrong. If there was anything I did wrong tonight, please forgive me.”

Huang Juan was uncomfortable with the youth’s strange aura. Was he a genius? Had she offended him? She grew worried, so she forced a smile, as if agreeing.

Li Yehou led them away from the mountaintop.

Shaqing turned to look behind him, only to see the white-clothed youth standing there, alone, a lonely crane in the world, his Taoist aura pure and high.

Li Yehou seemed to know what his attendant was thinking and smiled in his mind. “You’re wrong. He’s a phoenix in an old tong tree, a young phoenix with a clearer voice than the old one.”

Huang Juan said, “Master, I didn’t feel anything when I was next to Cui Dongshan, but for some reason, I’m a little scared now.”

Li Yehou sighed and looked complicated. “I am as well.”

Huang Juan sighed. “It’s easier to get along with the Hidden Official.”

Li Yehou hesitated, but he didn’t say anything.

He wanted to say that it was because the old Sage of Culture was there, and that the Sword of the Great Wall was in the Merit Forest.

If you were to be his enemy, how would it be?

————

Small Dragon Pool, Ancestral Dragon Sleeping Mountain, was not far from the Ancestral Hall at Mind’s Peak. There was a sealed immortal cave with the words “Another World” engraved on one side of the stone wall.

The Mountain Master, Lin Huizhi, was cultivating in seclusion there.

There were two beautiful and elegant women at the entrance of the cave, like twin lotus flowers.

The sisters looked exactly alike. They were responsible for protecting their master. When they saw two figures in the distance, one of them frowned and warned, “Master Quan, Chief Zhang, our master is in seclusion.”

Quan Qingqiu had come there with the Chief Guest Minister. He had a miniature fishing rod hanging at his waist, like a sword, wrapped in silver thread, like moonlight.

The treasure passed down from his ancestors, could be considered half of the Dragon King’s Basket. It could use the moon as bait to catch dragons and other rare aquatic creatures, but it couldn’t keep them.

A mountain with two nascent soul cultivators was a top mountain in Tongye Island. Golden Peak Temple and Azure Tiger Palace in the north didn’t have that luck.

Quan Qingqiu ignored the two mediocre women and said, “Master, our Ancestor Master has been in our downstream mountain for a long time. As the Mountain Master, it’s not right to not see him at all.”

The senior sect’s old ancestor was named Situ Mengjing and his Taoist name was “Dragon Beard.”

He was a famous immortal in the Central Continent. His family was one of the top aristocratic families, like the Xie clan of Aiai Island or the Jiang clan of Cloud Forest of Treasure Bottle Continent. The Situ family spread throughout the continents. Besides the main temple in the Central Continent, there were branches everywhere. In addition to Situ Mengjing, the Situ family was full of talent.

There were two upper realm Sword Immortals. One had gone to the Sword of the Great Wall to refine his sword and kill demons for many years, returning alive to the Haoran world. However, he had no plans to establish a sect.

However, the sword immortal who was from the Liuxia Island branch had nothing to do with Great Dragon Pool. He might be a distant relative of Situ Mengjing. He was known for his bad temper. He often fought with Pu He, another sword immortal with an even worse temper. He had many sword fights with him. They never drank together, even when they had both gone to the Sword of the Great Wall.

There was no movement in the cave.

Quan Qingqiu sighed and said earnestly, “Logically, you should give up your position to me, and concentrate on healing.

“I can promise you this today: in sixty years, no matter if you have left seclusion or not, and no matter if you have broken through to the nascent soul realm, I will give up my position as Mountain Master. Only the capable should hold the position.”

Zhang Liuzhu was shaken. Was he forcing her to abdicate?

This Quan was unscrupulous. He hadn’t even told him about it.

He thought Quan Qingqiu had only come to ask Lin Huizhi to come out and see the Ancestor Master.

Lin Huizhi was just waiting to die in seclusion.

As the Chief Guest Minister of Small Dragon Pool, he was just a symbol, like a plaque on the wall.

Small Dragon Pool was turbulent. He turned a blind eye to it. It didn’t matter who became the Mountain Master. He would still get his payment. Sect guest ministers were like palace servants, so he could get paid for doing nothing.

So Zhang Liuzhu didn’t want to get involved in Small Dragon Pool’s internal conflict, especially since it could offend Great Dragon Pool.

The door to the cave slowly opened, and a middle-aged woman walked out with a refined air. It was Lin Huizhi, the Master of Clear Frost.

She had a green gourd hanging at her waist, which was the treasure of Small Dragon Pool, the Semi-Immortal Valley Rain Gourd.

Lin Huizhi, as the current Mountain Master of Small Dragon Pool, could refine it. Otherwise, it would be difficult to inherit it.

Unlike Quan Qingqiu, who had a “mountain dao companion, son, and immortal material,” Lin Huizhi was a native nascent soul cultivator. When she was young, she was chosen by the last Mountain Master to cultivate.

Her junior brother Quan Qingqiu was also a nascent soul cultivator. He had built the Wild Garden where foreign immortals could tour, earning him a good reputation.

However, he was from an upstream sect. When he was young, he had come from Great Dragon Pool to cultivate, becoming an apprentice of the last Mountain Master under his parents’ orders.

Lin Huizhi looked coldly at Zhang Liuzhu next to her junior brother.

The old nascent soul cultivator with the title “Water Immortal” bowed. “Greetings, Mountain Master.”

Lin Huizhi said, “I will visit Huang Ting and then the Ancestor Master.”

Quan Qingqiu smiled. “Then I will find the Ancestor Master and wait for you under the pines.”

In the thatched hut on Mind’s Peak, Huang Ting and a girl were eating taro.

Huang Ting looked at Linghu Jiaoyu, who was blowing on a taro.

In Huang Ting’s eyes, Small Dragon Pool was rotten.

If she was the sect leader of Great Dragon Pool, she would be embarrassed to say that there was a “downstream mountain” called Small Dragon Pool in Tongye Island.

Besides Small Dragon Pool, the Wan Yao Sect and the Yu Dynasty were interested in Peaceful Mountain.

The respectable Quan Qingqiu was a doormat for Golden Peak Temple.

When Huang Ting asked for the sword at Small Dragon Pool, it wasn’t wrong of her to attack Lin Huizhi.

Without the Mountain Master’s permission, how could Quan Qingqiu have let a Chief Guest Minister stay at Peaceful Mountain, calling his friends to look at mirages?

After Chen Pingan visited Mind’s Peak, Huang Ting was going to leave and go to the capital of the Yu Dynasty, before returning to Peaceful Mountain.

If not for Linghu Jiaoyu, even if it was her or Quan Qingqiu, they wouldn’t be able to repair the Ancestral Hall within a century.

Every time she repaired the Ancestral Hall, it was like she was asking for a sword.

And Huang Ting had a natural feeling that Quan Qingqiu was colluding with the Wildlands demon race. But she had no evidence.

The Central Continent immortal with the title “Dragon Beard” had come to downstream Small Dragon Pool.

He seemed to favor Quan Qingqiu, and he wasn’t satisfied with Lin Huizhi.

He had always stayed in his residence after he had come to Small Dragon Pool. He hadn’t shown himself, even when Chen Pingan had entered the mountain.

But his presence put great pressure on all Small Dragon Pool cultivators who favored the Mountain Master or chose to remain neutral.

If money was like rain, then power was like snow. Seeing the snow outside the door, those inside were afraid because it could kill them.

If not for a decree from Great Dragon Pool, Quan Qingqiu wouldn’t have dared to be so “insubordinate.”

Like father, like son.

Under the old pines was a chess board with an unfinished game.

A middle-aged man with a sorrowful look on his face was sitting at the table, looking at the unfinished game. He picked up a phantom chess piece, and a new chess piece appeared on the board in its original position, while the chess piece in the man’s hand disappeared. The ancient chess game remained the same.

Bathing in the moon and refining energy, guided by the stars, it was undoubtedly the work of an immortal.

Therefore, the table was a chess game, a chess manual, and a formation.

There were only eighty-one chess pieces on the table. If there were one hundred and eight pieces, it would be a complete formation that took advantage of the heavens and the earth.

It was like the antique business. If it was incomplete, it was worth a lot less. For example, if there were eleven of the Twelve Flower Cup set from Hundred Flowers Paradise, even if there was only one missing, the price could be twice as high.

The man’s visit to Small Dragon Pool was a return to the past.

His master had once played chess here with a young immortal, the sect leader of Wan Yao Sect, Han Jiangshu.

He had wanted to create a downstream sect, but he had been delaying it for some reason.

Logically, with the wealth of resources from the Three Mountains Paradise, the long history of Wan Yao Sect, and Han Jiangshu’s cultivation, establishing a downstream sect was natural.

When he followed his master to the continents, it was to see Lin Huizhi’s teacher.

Great Dragon Pool had wanted her to establish a “dragon rise land” in Tongye Island, and establish a sect once she became a upper realm.

According to the rules established by the Wen Temple, the branches of the mountain were more strict than the clans of the world. For example, to establish a sect in another continent, the sect’s founder had to be a nascent soul there, and establish a sect, instead of sending an Jade Purity cultivator to establish a sect.

It was frowned upon for outsiders to establish sects.

After all, an outsider would take a share of the pie, swallowing the surrounding spiritual energy and natural luck, like the Hemp Robe Sect of the North, which had a hard time and suffered heavy losses in Bone Beach before finally stabilizing, only to be next to the Ghost Domain Valley. The Central Continent sect saw this as a money-losing business.

For example, Jade Tablet Sect had successfully created True Realm Sect in Treasure Bottle Continent, with Jiang Shangzhen and Wei Ying as the sect masters, who later became the lords of the upstream sect.

Jiang Shangzhen was unruly, and Wei Ying was talented, but in Mirror Lake, they deferred to the Great Li Song Dynasty.

It was not easy to create and establish a foothold for a sect.

Therefore, most of the Central Continent sects that wanted to create a downstream sect in another continent would fail, and those that succeeded would not last a thousand years. It was like a government official who had been removed from the capital and was often rebuffed. In the end, only a few could achieve what their fathers had.

Quan Qingqiu walked over with Zhang Liuzhu. “I greet Ancestor Master.”

Zhang Liuzhu addressed him as Immortal Lord Dragon Beard as he bowed.

Situ Mengjing said, “You can leave, Water Immortal.”

The old nascent soul was flattered and excused himself.

Situ Mengjing said, “Sit.”

Quan Qingqiu sat down.

Quan Qingqiu’s parents were dao companions, and the immortal was their master.

Because of this, the Small Dragon Pool cultivators thought Situ Mengjing had come to support Quan Qingqiu.

Lin Huizhi and Quan Qingqiu’s master had had an easy time establishing the sect and they became involved with something and failed to break through, and his master was possessed by a demon, died in seclusion, and died.

The master was betrayed by someone.

Situ Mengjing asked, “Quan Qingqiu, did you collude with the Wildlands demon race?”

Quan Qingqiu was calm and said, “Ancestor, no.”

Quan Qingqiu said with regret, “Lin is unlucky. Every breakthrough she had failed. Now, she has no confidence and think she is dying, and with that sword, she is even more afraid of this.”

Lin Huizhi was coming, so why not help her out?

Nascent soul Earth Immortals lived for eight hundred years.

And those with ways to extend their lives could live a thousand years.

Some immortals would say: “To obtain enlightenment and achieve immortality is to be as eternal as the heavens and earth.”

But this was only possible for the fourteenth realm cultivators.

The Master still wasn’t speaking, so Quan Qingqiu carefully said, “If you really want to keep the position of Mountain Master, you can just say so. You don’t need to defame me. It’s fine if you’re defaming me. But if you get the Wen Temple involved, that’s serious. It’s okay if the news stays on the mountain, but if it gets spread throughout the mountain, it would be bad.

“I don’t know why Lin Huizhi would use such underhanded methods to keep her position, defaming me.

“Lin Huizhi is crazy.”

The immortal remained calm, looking at the chess game.

His son had better speaking skills.

Situ Mengjing grabbed a handful of pine needles, rubbed them between his hands, and opened his palm. The debris scattered, and there were specks of light mixed in, which was unusual.

Quan Qingqiu didn’t dare to say anything, lest he annoy the Master.

Situ Mengjing finally spoke. “When you leave, tell Lin Huizhi to continue her cultivation.”

Quan Qingqiu was happy and left. It was over. It must have been that Lin Huizhi’s seclusion had annoyed the Master.

After Quan Qingqiu left, Situ Mengjing stood up. The tree was ancient, so it was difficult to see the traces of the boy.

The immortal put his hand on the pine tree and looked at the thatched hut. “Huang Ting, can you come here?”

Huang Ting walked out of the thatched hut with a handful of taro in her sleeves, and shrank the distance between them, arriving under the pine tree and sitting on the stone stool. She peeled a few taros and put them in her mouth. “Tell me, where are we fighting? I’ll pick a place. I can negotiate.”

Situ Mengjing sat opposite the stone table. “Quan Qingqiu coveted Peaceful Mountain. I have to apologize for the Dragon Pool. If you weren’t here, I would have come personally.”

Huang Ting sneered. “Place?”

The immortal said, “My mistake. I apologize again.”

Huang Ting said, “Leaving Quan Qingqiu is a disaster. Some things can’t be covered up.”

Situ Mengjing said, “I am looking for evidence, but it’s not working.”

He had arrived a year ago and had entered the area as if it was his home. He didn’t stop Huang Ting when she asked for a sword.

If not for Lin Huizhi’s master, his master would have been here to find clues.

But to use a ruthless method to extract memories was difficult. He couldn’t ensure it wouldn’t damage the core, and it might make his master and even the Dragon Pool resent him. The elders thought they might leave the matter as is because Small Dragon Pool hadn’t harmed Tongye Island. They said that there were no filial sons and that there were no perfect people.

Situ Mengjing and his master wanted to get to the bottom of it.

Huang Ting asked, “What if you find evidence?”

Situ Mengjing said calmly, “I will clear the sect and report to the Wen Temple to be recorded.”

Huang Ting was surprised.

Situ Mengjing said, “I’m afraid Lin Huizhi will be just as confused.”

If Quan Qingqiu had colluded with the Wildlands military, death wouldn’t be enough.

But if Lin Huizhi was… Situ Mengjing would be saddened.

Huang Ting was surprised. She didn’t think Lin Huizhi could be colluding with the Wildlands military. This Dragon Ancestor was unusual.

She had a better impression of the Great Dragon Pool.

Logically, the Dragon Pool should be money-grubbing.

Situ Mengjing smiled and looked at the young Taoist. “There is a difference between being a cultivator and being a sect master.”

That was why he had refused to succeed the Dragon Pool.

Huang Ting would soon be the sect master of Peaceful Mountain.

“Even if Sword Immortal Chen came to our Dragon Pool, he would be an honored guest.”

Situ Mengjing’s expression was strange.

An ethereal soul traveled the mountain and returned to the immortal’s body.

The pine needles had contained a magical artifact.

Huang Ting squatted down and found a magical artifact from under the table. What a righteous gentleman.

Why didn’t he put a magical artifact on Situ Mengjing’s head?

Even an immortal was irritated because he hadn’t detected it.

Situ Mengjing looked around and said loudly, “Chen, is this how you act as a disciple of the Saint?!”

————

After Chen Pingan left Immortal Capital Mountain with Xiao Mo, they headed north, to Small Dragon Pool.

Xiao Mo said he had found an immortal nearby who was guiding two young spirits as they traveled. However, they were walking instead of riding a boat.

Chen Pingan was curious. Immortals weren’t common in Tongye Island. The Great Dragon Pool ancestor was like a crocodile.

He had Xiao Mo use his powers. He was delighted at what he saw.

It wasn’t that he knew the immortal, but his sect had received an unexpected guest.

Zheng Yougan was Master Junqian’s only disciple.

Chen Pingan went and found the children in the mountains.

Zheng Yougan had a beautiful girl with him.

They must have traveled over land after reaching Tongye Island, so Zheng Yougan could only walk.

Chen Pingan had Xiao Mo entertain the immortal while he stood on the mountain path and said with a smile, “Yougan.”

The spirits bowed. “Zheng Yougan greets Hidden Officer Junior Master!”

Zheng Yougan had seen Chen Junior Master before, in Merit Forest.

Chen Pingan laughed warmly. “Yougan,