The winter solstice brought with it another flurry of snow, scattering across the land like countless shattered jewels.

A great warship of the Daquan Dynasty, the “Deer Carries Ganoderma,” sliced through the frosty air, having ventured far from the northern border. In a few more hours, she would reach the docks of Mount Xiandu.

Upon her deck, an old man cloaked in a worn and heavy fox fur paced. He had been traveling northwards aboard this vessel, and every so often he would emerge from his cabin, lean against the railing, and gaze upon the winding mountains and rivers swallowed by the swirling snow.

*To know a year of plenty, see how the celestial藻藻 flutters!*

No longer was this the desolate land of barren fields and countless bleached bones; the mountains were now home to naught but apes swinging from withered vines and cranes watching over crumbling steles.

Suddenly, beside the warship, a figure in a green robe materialized from the swirling mist, suspended in the snow-laden air.

Clad in a long green gown, a jade hairpin adorning his hair, twin sabers crossed at his waist, he seemed to tread upon the void itself, keeping pace with the great vessel.

This green-robed swordsman, appearing beside the ship without warning, moved with the speed of a falcon even as he seemed to stroll casually through the air.

*Swiftly banning thousand-mile steeds, his气气 an enemy to ten thousand!*

Liu Zong emerged from the ship’s cabin and strode to the bow, where he leaned against the railing and waved with a smile. “Brother Chen!”

The chief protector of the Daquan Yao Clan gestured with a military hand signal, assuring the ship’s guards and soldiers that there was no cause for alarm, as this was one of their own.

Chen Ping’an descended onto the deck of the warship and greeted Liu Zong, “Old Brother Liu.”

The diminutive old man stroked his beard and smiled. He was quite pleased to hear Chen Ping’an’s appellation, as he mused to himself, *Birds of a feather flock together.* He reminisced about his youth when he, too, was such a dashing young man.

Back in his homeJianghu, he had roamed the lands with a bullhorn saber at his waist, not daring to claim invincibility, but coming pretty damn close. He was truly unmatched, rarely encountering a worthy opponent.

*As long as those few stronger than me didn’t stand in my way, I was invincible!*

Countless heroes ofJianghuwould give me the thumbs up. How many dignitaries would want me as their guest of honor, and how many maidens’ hearts would be captured, causing them to repeatedly chant my nickname?

“Little Zhu Lian!”

The Deer Carries Ganoderma stood three decks tall, and Liu Zong led Chen Ping’an up to the top, where General Yao was resting.

Chen Ping’an inquired curiously, “This is a transcontinental warship, isn’t it? Did Daquan build it yourselves?”

Chen Ping’an dared say that he had seen at least forty or fifty transcontinental warships.

However, this warship was only slightly smaller than the Wind Kite Warship, and compared to the warships docked at Upside Down Mountain in the other continents, this was an average vessel.

Liu Zong focused his voice into a line, sharing a secret with Chen Ping’an without hesitation. “It’s a bit of a half-bought, half-built affair. Back then, many strange and gifted individuals gathered in Mirage City. His Majesty managed to retain about half of them, including a few Immortal Masters who had connections with other continents.

“A few years ago, His Majesty enlisted their help to connect some lines and paid a high price to buy some construction blueprints from the Ai Ai Continent. Ever heard of the Wusun Warship? It usually docks at the southernmost Qushan Pier, with Great Swordsman Xu Xie responsible for receiving it. Our warship here follows a similar blueprint, but the exterior has been significantly altered.”

“His Majesty is incredibly ambitious. In addition to this ‘Deer Carries Ganoderma,’ he also wants to build two new transcontinental warships—one for himself and one for sale. After all, he needs to recoup the money spent on those blueprints from some sucker. He has already named them: ‘Emei Moon’ and ‘Thunder Chariot.’ ”

“Previously, the daughter of the Wan Yao Sect’s leader, Han Yushu, mentioned that the Three Mountains Blessed Land was interested in purchasing one, but for some reason, they haven’t made any moves lately. The Golden Peak Temple in the north has also expressed some interest, but their price is significantly lower than what the Wan Yao Sect offered—a full 30% less. However, the Golden Peak Temple’s Baozhen Taoist, Yin Miaofeng, and his disciple, Shao Yuanran, were both first-class retainers of Daquan in the past. Given that relationship, if the Wan Yao Sect continues to stall and doesn’t provide a suitable reason, His Majesty will likely sell the ‘Thunder Chariot’ to the Golden Peak Temple.”

Chen Ping’an deliberately skipped over the Wan Yao Sect, pondered briefly, and nodded. “It’s wise for Daquan to keep two warships for yourselves. One can be used for north-south trade, connecting to the Treasure Bottle Continent and the Northern Majestic Continent. If possible, you could even sail to the northern ice fields of the Ai Ai Continent. Daquan could explore opportunities to partner with the Liu Clan of the Ai Ai Continent to mine the ice field resources. The other warship can travel to the Central Divine Continent or the Floating Continent. The sooner you have private warships, the better. You can finalize alliance agreements with sects and major dynasties along the routes, and the longer the terms, the better.”

Currently, the transcontinental warships owned by sects in the Majestic World have been largely requisitioned by the Central Earth Confucian Temple, essentially being “temporarily nationalized.”

Therefore, there are only a few warships that can cross the land and sail the seas. As such, whoever owns such a warship will find it easier than ever to make money, like the powerful pieces on a chessboard, capable of building momentum and claiming territory.

Liu Zong chuckled. “Great minds think alike! Should I relay your words to His Majesty?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Old Brother Liu, it’s been so many years, and you’re still in the Golden Body Realm? That’s not right. Once we reach Mount Xiandu, shall we lend a hand?”

Liu Zong, knowing that the other party was changing the subject, retorted with a laugh, “Don’t kick a man when he’s down! Where’s yourJianghuethics?”

The new body granted by the old Taoist was too good as a gift for striking the drum on the city wall. Even after Liu Zong had been away from Lotus Root Blessed Land for many years, he was still unable to break through.

Breaking through a Golden Body Realm bottleneck was as difficult as a Qi Refiner ascending from the Nascent Soul Realm to the Upper Five Realms. The problem had caused Liu Zong many nights of drinking alone.

He had heard that the husband of that woman from South Garden, Master Zhong, was already at the bottleneck of the Distant Wandering Realm.

*Why compare myself to Brother Chen in anything? It is as if my juniors have become successful, and I cannot be more delighted.*

Since there was General Yao Zhen and County Prince Yao Xianzhi, who served as the Capital Governor, on board, in addition to the protector Liu Zong and several Earth Immortal Qi Refiners, no one dared to be careless.

As for whether there were any hidden experts, Chen Ping’an deliberately did not investigate, as he was not at that Little Dragon Pool.

Chen Ping’an simply bent his fingers and lightly tapped on the staircase railing, which was crafted from some kind of immortal wood, producing a sonorous sound like metal and stone.

The transcontinental warship of the Hemp Robe Sect on the Bone Beach was a source of wealth for the Fallen Mountain. Almost half of the warship could be said to belong to Chen.

The reason it had not been requisitioned for “escort” duties at sea was that the central sects had already voluntarily handed over a warship to the Confucian Temple.

Therefore, Chen Ping’an had not given it much thought after returning to the Majestic World. However, the last time in the Merit Forest, his teacher had accidentally let it slip in his drunkenness.

If the Hemp Robe Sect was merely a subordinate sect, it could barely keep a transcontinental warship. However, as one of the sects in the Northern Majestic Continent, each continent had a quota in the Majestic World. The Northern Majestic Continent was actually missing one warship in the Confucian Temple, so the Hemp Robe Sect seemed obligated to hand over the warship again. As a result, Mao Xiaodong, who had been promoted to the Director of Studies at the Book of Rites Academy, suggested that the Qionglin Sect, which had already handed over two transcontinental warships, should hand over another. After all, they were wealthy and powerful. Even if they handed over three warships to the Confucian Temple, they would still have one left.

That was a small-scale internal meeting of the Confucian Temple, attended only by the three leaders of the Confucian Temple, the deans and directors of the three academies, a small group of supporting sages, and no headmasters of other academies.

The towering Director of Studies Mao Xiaodong’s statement caused the entire room to fall silent.

The Dean of the Book of Rites Academy had no choice but to second his Director Mao, and then there were no objections. The agenda was implicitly approved.

At that time, the old scholar had not yet restored his divine position in the Confucian Temple, so he was not present.

*The righteous words of the Book of Rites Academy’s Director of Studies have nothing to do with my Literary Sage lineage.*

Just as swordsmen had the custom of questioning swords, the old scholar’s “questioning wine” was also a unique tradition of the Majestic World.

At the staircase landing, the old general smiled. “I originally intended to give you a surprise.”

Yao Xianzhi, with only one arm, held the fox fur, and his grandfather was stubborn, saying that if he got cold from just a few steps, how could he make a long journey? Yao, the county prince, pretended not to notice his grandfather’s subtle attempt to resist old age.

Yao Xianzhi smiled. “This is called a master has a master.”

Previously, an empty sleeve hung by his side, but now the governor had simply tied the sleeve in a knot, seemingly telling others plainly, *I’m missing an arm. Laugh if you want.*

It turned out that the old general had deliberately slowed down the schedule by two days.

Clearly, as soon as Chen Ping’an received the flying sword message from the Yao family, he had immediately emerged from seclusion and set out for Mirage City, intending to personally escort the warship to Mount Xiandu.

Otherwise, he would not have encountered this “Deer Carries Ganoderma” warship halfway.

Chen Ping’an quickly ascended the stairs.

The old general reached out and grabbed his arm, smiling. “Let’s have a few drinks?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “We agreed not to drink too much.”

Liu Zong did not follow. Everyone knew that in the old general’s eyes, Chen Ping’an was half a grandson or even a prospective grandson-in-law of the Yao family.

Inside the room was a large brazier, and Yao Xianzhi was responsible for warming the wine.

Chen Ping’an bent down and sat on a long bench, picked up the fire tongs, and gently poked at the charcoal. “Has Yao Lingzhi’s ‘Famous Spring’ saber still not been found?”

Perhaps knowing the old general’s habits, the warship deliberately kept the decoration of this room as simple and unadorned as possible.

As the governor in charge of this matter, Yao Xianzhi pursed his lips. “It’s difficult. There are no leads. We have uncovered some unsavory things, though.”

The old man smiled. “You finally look like a governor. Losing a saber is nothing.”

Yao Xianzhi muttered, “Grandfather, it’s easy for you to say. The governor’s office has mobilized so much manpower, and there are no results. I just can’t shake it.”

“I’m not standing; I’m sitting.”

The old man said, “Besides, you’re not young anymore, and you’re still single. Is your waist bad? No wonder you were afraid to go to the pleasure houses when you drank with others in the early years.”

Yao Xianzhi habitually reached out to warm himself by the fire, and his face immediately turned red when he heard this. He looked up and complained, “Grandfather, can you not talk about these things in front of Mr. Chen?”

Chen Ping’an suddenly said, “I noticed just now that there’s a female retainer on the warship. She’s not young, but her realm is not low. She was standing on the second floor of the warship earlier. The way she looked at Xianzhi—hmm, there’s a hint of something there. I can’t be wrong.”

The old man raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? Is there such a thing?”

The Daquan cultivators who could serve on this warship must have all been to the battlefield.

Yao Xianzhi said helplessly, “Mr. Chen, there’s nothing going on. Don’t talk nonsense.”

He knew which woman Mr. Chen was talking about. After all, he personally reviewed the files of all the military cultivators in the capital, including their backgrounds, mountain lineages, and battlefield records. Yao Xianzhi, as the governor, knew everything. That girl’s name was Liu Yi, and her nickname was Yuanyang. Her Taoist name was “Yifu.” She was a native of Daquan, born into a local prominent family. She was recognized for her talent at a young age and began practicing on the mountain early. Liu Yi, relying on her own Taoist techniques and two treasured artifacts passed down from her master, achieved battle merits no less than the few Golden Core Earth Immortals in the Jingji Battlefield and Mirage City.

Liu Yi was, of course, an outstanding woman. Yao Xianzhi occasionally took a walk on the warship, and she would never look directly at him.

Why would she like a cripple with a missing arm?

Moreover, Yao Xianzhi really didn’t have any feelings for her.

Chen Ping’an said exasperatedly, “Why would I joke about such things?”

The old man pointed at Yao Xianzhi and laughed. “Wouldn’t you call that willfully blind? What good are you?!”

Chen Ping’an began to exaggerate, smiling. “Some people are single because they have no choice, but some people are single because of their own abilities.”

The old general and Yao Xianzhi asked about Liu Yi’s general situation, and they learned that this female immortal master came from a scholarly family native to Daquan. Good! Her Taoist name was “Yifu,” which sounded auspicious. Very good! She had dared to repeatedly leave the protection of her elders and put herself in dangerous situations, and she had even killed monsters and made contributions, ultimately defending Mirage City. When His Majesty rewarded her for her merits, Liu Yi only asked the imperial court for the status of a third-class retainer—which was not good. His Majesty should have given her the status of a second-class retainer.

As for Liu Yi being over sixty years old now, what was the problem? A mountain woman’s sixty-year life was equivalent to a valley woman’s youth, wasn’t it?

The old man stroked his chin and sighed. “I don’t think Xianzhi is worthy of that girl.”

Chen Ping’an hummed in agreement. “I don’t think so either.”

Yao Xianzhi smiled bitterly.

The old man laughed heartily, raised his hand, and Chen Ping’an lightly slapped it, with perfect understanding.

Taking the bowl of yellow wine from Yao Xianzhi, Chen Ping’an glanced at the old fox fur hanging on the clothes rack, knowing its origin. It was a gift bestowed by the former Emperor Liu Zhen of Daquan to the Yao family at the border in his early years.

Yao Xianzhi might not have thought too much about it, but if the current empress of the Daquan Dynasty saw it, she might not feel too well.

But every family had its own troubles, so Chen Ping’an pretended not to know the subtle twists and turns of people’s hearts.

Chen Ping’an remembered something and took out two red envelopes from his sleeve, each containing a “Minor Heat” coin. Chen Ping’an had specially chosen two with auspicious inscriptions that wished the younger generation well.

Handing the red envelopes to Yao Xianzhi, he smiled. “Help me pass these on to Yao Lingzhi and give them to her children. Consider it my way of making up for the new year’s money I’ve owed them over the years as their Uncle Chen.”

Yao Lingzhi had long been married and now had a pair of children. However, the children were still young.

Like Chen Ping’an, many cultivators liked to collect various “Minor Heat” coins with numerous inscriptions, similar to “lucky coins,” for opening furnaces, warding off evil spirits, welcoming spring, lighting lamps, celebrating birthdays, and offering New Year’s greetings. The inscriptions varied widely. Chen Ping’an had never missed out on this hobby during his years of traveling, and in private, he had already collected six sets of twelve zodiac “Minor Heat lucky coins,” three sets of “Month Deity lucky coins,” and a set of “Thirty-Six Heavenly Generals” Minor Heat coins with the signature of the Jade Mountain. Chen Ping’an had spent a lot of his private money on this. He entrusted the millet coins in his hand to Wei Wenlong, the housekeeper of Fallen Mountain, to help him keep an eye out for those coins with rare inscriptions and acquire them whenever he found them.

In this matter, Liu the God of Wealth of Ai Ai Continent was a master, having collected many unique pieces that were hailed as unparalleled in the world.

Yao Xianzhi accepted the red envelopes and smiled. “Those two kids will probably go crazy when they receive this New Year’s money.”

To those two children, their uncle’s words carried no weight. Since they were both weirdly astute, mischievous, and wild, they’d only be earnest when asking their uncle about some of Mr. Chen’s tales.

*No, this New Year, I must have those two kids kowtow to their uncle several times before handing over the red envelopes.*

Yao Zhen casually asked, “Wu Shu isn’t in the Tung Leaf Continent and has gone to the Majestic World. We only have Huang Yiyun of Pushen Mountain as a Grandmaster. Have you two met?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “I’ve met her before. We first met at the Cloud Cavern Blessed Land. Later, some things happened, and Mountain Lord Ye agreed to serve as a guest elder at Mount Xiandu.”

Yao Xianzhi asked in puzzlement, “Why didn’t you mention this in Mirage City last time?”

*I’m delighted. It looks like the lower sect in Mr. Chen’s lower world will be on par with Huang Yiyun.*

Chen Ping’an said exasperatedly, “Why would I talk about this?”

The old General Yao tsked. “She’s quite a beauty. The Flower God Mountain Rouge List of Cloud Cavern Blessed Land—only Sect Leader Jiang dared not include her on the list. Otherwise, she’d be among the top three without a doubt. It seems this trip wasn’t in vain.”

The old man took a sip of wine and smiled, “Can you control yourself?”

Chen Ping’an was speechless.

Yao Xianzhi finally found an opportunity and teased, “If it were me, facing such a beautiful Immortal Master, especially a female Grandmaster Martial Artist, I’d be unable to restrain myself and lie awake at night.”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Lie awake at night? Toss and turn, right? Be careful not to hurt your waist, or it’ll be like adding frost to snow. You’re a good man, Xianzhi. Are you unwilling to harm a girl, afraid that she’d be a widow if she married you?”

Yao Xianzhi nearly suffered internal injuries and had to take a big gulp of warm yellow wine.

The old man asked with a smile, “Since you’re both Grandmasters, have you sparred?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “I won.”

The old man asked again, “What about against that Wu Shu?”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and still nodded. “I can win.”

But it wouldn’t be an easy win. Wu Shu was a Grandmaster Martial Artist who had spent many years honing his skills in the Original Returning Realm. Besides removing all the talismans on his hands and feet, Chen Ping’an had to have a mindset focused on victory to fully unleash his skills and exchange blows.

These days, when Chen Ping’an exchanged blows with others, there were four general scenarios.

Suppressing the realm, not suppressing the realm, with or without talismans, and the final one: “Revealing his true form, the city wall stance.”

Liu Zong knocked lightly on the door, pushed it open, rubbed his hands, and said with a smile, “What’s this about winning or being able to win?”

Yao Xianzhi poured another bowl of wine for Liu Zong and said, “We were talking about Huang Yiyun and Martial Saint Wu Shu.”

Liu Zong shook his bowl, smelled the aroma of the wine, turned to look at the blue-shirted swordsman who was no longer drinking and was warming himself by the fire, and glanced at the stacked narrow sabers at his waist. “When will your chief disciple reach the Grandmaster Realm?”

Chen Ping’an said with a slight smile, “He already has.”

Liu Zong drank the wine in his bowl in one gulp, his old face wrinkling with worry. After hesitating for a moment, he whispered, “Actually, I’ve always wanted to find an opportunity to exchange blows with Huang Yiyun, but the last time we met at Peach Leaf Crossing, she was there as the Mountain Lord of Pushen to discuss official matters with our Emperor, and it wasn’t appropriate for me to speak up. Now, why bother seeking far and wide? Isn’t that right?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that, Old Brother Liu.”

Liu Zong said with a bitter face, “I’m only in the Golden Body Realm and can’t travel far. It’s not suitable to exchange blows on the ship. Let’s wait until we get to Mount Xiandu, shall we?”

Chen Ping’an said, “There’s no need for so much trouble.”

In an instant, the world changed. Only the brazier remained, and the four of them still sat around it, but besides that, there was nothing else in the world.

The four of them and the brazier seemed to float in a boundless, ancient secret realm.

Yao Xianzhi gently stomped his foot, causing ripples under his feet as if stepping on a calm lake.

Chen Ping’an stood up, took a step, and stood a hundred feet away from the brazier, one hand behind his back, the other extended in a welcoming gesture, and smiled as he invited, “Martial Artist Liu Zong, just throw a punch.”

Liu Zong sat there, his scalp tingling, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Strangely enough, when Chen Ping’an had stumbled into Blessed Land wearing a white robe and carrying a sword, and when he had taken down the invincible old rogue Ding Ying, Liu Zong had heard about all the great deeds he had accomplished over the years since leaving Lotus Root Blessed Land because he was the chief protector of the Daquan Yao Family. Even when they had reunited in Mirage City last time, when Chen Ping’an was already the last hidden official and a well-deserved Upper Five Realms Sword Immortal, Liu Zong hadn’t felt any pressure when standing next to him. But at this moment, Liu Zong instinctively felt that he shouldn’t exchange blows with him and should just drink, chat, and shoot the breeze.

Yao Xianzhi suppressed his laughter and was about to tease the Protector Liu, but he saw his grandfather gently shaking his head, signaling him not to speak.

Liu Zong took a deep breath, suddenly smiled, slowly stood up, moved toward Chen Ping’an, and stopped. Then he took out a bullhorn saber from his sleeve, one that he hadn’t used in many years.

It wasn’t a high-quality magic saber. It was still sharp when fighting enemies in his hometown, but in this Majestic World, it was far from sufficient and didn’t even qualify as a magic treasure.

But this exchange of blows would likely result in the permanent end to his old friend of a lifetime. Lowering his head to look at the bullhorn saber, the old man inevitably felt a bit of pain and sadness.

Liu Zong said frankly, “In this exchange of blows, our realms are vastly different, so I will have a murderous intent, without any constraint. Please bear with me.”

Chen Ping’an nodded and then slid two short sabers out of his sleeves, narrow like daggers. He threw one of the short sabers to Liu Zong. “Use this short saber. It’s more durable, which will allow you to fight without worry and make your strikes more satisfying.”

Liu Zong breathed a sigh of relief. After taking the bullhorn saber back, he spun the dagger-like short saber in a fancy move and then looked at it. The inscription read “Morning Dew.” Liu Zong asked with a smile, “Is there a story behind it?”

Chen Ping’an introduced it. “Its real name is ‘Chasing Deer.’ It’s the Cao Zi dagger recorded in official history.”

The inscription on the short saber in Chen Ping’an’s hand read “Evening Glow.” Like the Cao Zi dagger, the inscription was a disguise. Chen Ping’an had never found any leads to this saber over the years. Since its quality was comparable to the Cao Zi dagger, its origins must be unusual. Since it was obtained from the assassin from the Deer-Slaying Mountain, Chen Ping’an took the opportunity to name it “Slaying Deer.”

Liu Zong looked at it with appreciation and nodded. “A good saber, a good name, and an even better wielder.”

Liu Zong disappeared in a flash, leaving behind a trail of saber light between his original position and the blue-shirted man.

Chen Ping’an remained motionless, raising an arm and pinching the tip of the Slaying Deer saber with two fingers. He slapped down hard on Liu Zong’s face, knocking Liu Zong to the ground on the spot. The dagger fell out of his hand, and Chen Ping’an kicked Liu Zong in the head, instantly sending him sliding dozens of feet away.

Chen Ping’an still stood in place and tossed the dagger back to Liu Zong.

Liu Zong jumped up, caught the dagger, wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand, tilted his head, and spat out a mouthful of blood. He said angrily, “Good kid, aren’t you suppressing your realm at all?”

Chen Ping’an asked in return, “Is there a difference whether I suppress my realm or not? Don’t I still need to restrain myself to prevent accidentally killing you?”

Yao Xianzhi, who was watching from afar, widened his eyes. Listening to Mr. Chen’s words, he suddenly felt a bit strange, as if he had never really known Mr. Chen.

The old General drank his wine and said with a smile, “Do you think he made it through these years easily?”

A thousand people are nourished by a thousand kinds of grains.

The ways of the world and the hearts of the people make survival difficult. The hardships and suffering here cannot be told to outsiders. Perhaps the only words are that all principles for swordsmen are in the sword, and for martial artists, they are in the fist.

At the practice field, Chen Ping’an shook his head. “Just because you have a decent Golden Body Realm foundation and barely don’t have a paper-made body, you think you can be considered half a Distant Wandering Realm? Unfortunately for you, I don’t see it that way.”

“You can ask me to suppress my realm, but I’ll suppress it by three realms and learn from your saber skills at the same realm.”

“The second option is for me to decide whether to suppress my realm or not. I’ll stand still and see if you can make me move a step. If I move half a step, I lose.”

The Bamboo Pavilion lineage of Fallen Mountain.

Has always been like this in teaching and feeding punches.

If you can’t take it, go back to drinking. Then we’ll still be Old Brother Liu and Brother Chen.

Liu Zong didn’t say anything and, of course, chose the second option.

Within an incense stick’s time, Chen Ping’an remained unmoved from beginning to end. If the dagger came close, he would gently push the blade away. But if Liu Zong’s fists and feet came close, Chen Ping’an would either stand there and take the hit with an indifferent expression, and the full force of a Golden Body Realm bottleneck martial artist’s strike would be completely harmless on the blue-shirted man, or he would directly slap down, knocking Liu Zong out of the way.

In this strange location’s strange exchange of blows, Liu Zong was like a mere mortal trying to shake a mountain, overestimating his capabilities. In the end, he would only injure his fists. The harder he punched, the more he would be hurt.

Staggering to his feet and swaying, Liu Zong clenched the dagger in his hand, his head bowed, his face covered in blood dripping onto the ground.

Liu Zong suddenly raised his head. The old martial artist, who had already replaced his pure Qi several times, had blurred vision and could only vaguely see the blue-shirted man not far away opening a simple and profound stance, seemingly about to take the initiative to deliver a punch to him.

It wasn’t seemingly; he was.

The other party was finally going to deliver a punch.

Being able to stand up had already exhausted all of Liu Zong’s strength. But even this simple action was akin to Liu Zong engaging in a life-and-death battle with those contemporary masters at the peak of his divine intent in his hometown. The old man’s body drifted, but only the arm holding the saber remained tense. He closed his eyes, wanting to forcefully summon a breath of pure Qi, but to no avail. It was impossible. The entire world was filled with the other party’s fist intent, giving the old man the feeling that he was an ephemera in heaven and earth, a mustard seed in Mount Sumeru, and how insignificant he was. Moreover, he felt that once the other party delivered this punch, he would inevitably fall from his realm. But in an instant, even these thoughts, fleeting as a white horse flashing past a crack, were completely drowned out by the tidal wave of fist intent that enveloped the world, on the verge of life and death.

Liu Zong suddenly raised his head, his face contorted, gritting his teeth, his arm trembling. He used a swaying motion to spin in place and recklessly delivered a saber strike toward the blue-shirted man.

His body was sluggish, his strike weak, and the Cao Zi dagger in his hand didn’t even produce the slightest saber light.

But with this saber strike, he was Liu Zong, the number one swordsman of the Lotus Root Blessed Land. He had to deliver it!

After a moment, or perhaps a long time, Liu Zong, whose consciousness was blurred, became slightly more conscious. The old man suddenly felt a hand pressing on his shoulder and heard the person say softly with a smile, “Good fist.”

—

At Little Dragon Pool, Dragon Beard Immortal Lord from the upper sect had returned to the Central Earth, while the Mountain Lord Lin Huizhi and the Law Holder Quan Qingqiu had disappeared.

Fortunately, the young female Taoist from the thatched cottage at the Ancestral Mountain As You Wish Peak had also left Little Dragon Pool on her sword. She only asked Linghu Jiaoyu to help her guard the thatched cottage.

Since he had arrived at Mount Xiandu, the Iron Tree Mountain Immortal who was escorting the two children across continents, as expected, rarely made a trip to the Tung Leaf Continent, so he left Secret Snow Peak and went out to travel the mountains and rivers alone.

Zheng Youqian and Tan Yingzhou went to the Treasure Dropping Beach every day to listen to Mr. Xiao Mo teach Taoist techniques, and they also helped him brew wine.

In a mansion on Secret Snow Peak, Huang Yiyun, who had recovered from her injuries, went out to enjoy the snow today. She walked along a path and saw Qiu Du accompanying the girl Hu Chuling, building a snowman near a pavilion.

Ye Yunyun learned from the old woman that her disciple Xue Huai and Pei Qian were having another spar at the Sweeping Flower Terrace, seemingly benefiting greatly.

In the Great Li capital of Treasure Bottle Continent, a scholar visited the Fire God Temple with his page Cui Ci and found Aunt Feng under a flower shed.

Aunt Feng smiled when she saw the Confucian scholar from Li Jewel Cave. “Riding the wind, flowing and good.”

Li Xisheng bowed in response. Aunt Feng instantly disappeared from the stone steps of the flower shed, rejecting the bow, and stood next to the stone table.

After Li Xisheng stood up, Aunt Feng took out two pots of wine and continued, “Although this avoids walking, there is still something to wait for.”

The page Cui Ci didn’t know who this woman was, nor did he know what she was getting at. The boy only knew that these two sentences originated from Lu Chen, the third leader of White Jade Capital.

Li Xisheng smiled slightly. “What does the Great Dao say? A land of yellow leaves.”

In the New Cloud Twilight Dynasty in the southern part of Treasure Bottle Continent, two people stopped at the highest peak of a mountain range and looked around.

A young man in hemp clothing and straw sandals, burly and with a blank expression, was accompanied by an extremely handsome young man wearing a purple jade crown and a white jade belt.

The young man was the sword cultivator Wu Tijing, who had left the Righteous Sun Mountain. He looked at the man crouching down and chewing on licorice and said, “Hu Feng, I think this place is not bad.”

Within a radius of hundreds of miles, the spiritual energy was sparse, but it was still better than the “scenic spots” in the eyes of ordinary mortals. These days, all over the Treasure Bottle Continent, mountain forces were busy fighting for territory, seizing a piece here, and defining a piece there. Otherwise, dynasties and vassals that had succeeded in restoring their countries would send out celestial observation masters to help the immortal residences within their borders find new locations. Several mountaintops that the two had previously selected, even if sparsely populated, still had cultivators who had arrived first. It wasn’t easy to find such a barely passable mountaintop.

The man named Hu Feng chewed on the licorice and nodded. “Let’s choose here.”

Because the two intended to establish a sect, and there were only Hu Feng and Wu Tijing.

But neither of them thought it was a big deal.

The two were traveling independently and became friends quickly after a chance encounter. There was no particular reason.

In fact, their personalities were completely different. One had a big heart and was confident to the point of being arrogant. He, Wu Tijing, was born to be an Upper Five Realms sword cultivator. It was only a matter of time.

One was broad-minded. Hu Feng had a gentle personality and always spoke slowly.

The only similarity was that they were both sword cultivators.

Wu Tijing’s eyebrows danced with confidence, as if he had it from birth. He smiled. “Hu Feng, you can be the sect leader of our sect and manage the money. I’ll just be the disciplinary ancestor. Anyway, we’ll definitely become a sword sect of the sect level. Then you’ll be the sect master, like Chen Ping’an of the Fallen Mountain.”

One was a forty-something, Dragon Gate Realm sword cultivator.

One was a not yet twenty-year-old, Golden Core Realm sword cultivator.

Their ages combined didn’t even reach sixty years, yet they were already starting a sect and thinking about the future of their sect.

If one were to talk about immortal money, the two of them combined didn’t even have a single Millet Coin.

“Disciplinary? Our sect will likely only have the two of us for a long time. Who can you discipline besides me?”

Hu Feng said slowly, “We can’t compare to him.”

Besides, there was nothing to compare. Each took his own path and had his own way of living.

Wu Tijing said, “Hu Feng, change that habit of belittling yourself in the future. Learn from me.”

Hu Feng said, “That’s called conceit. It’s a bad habit too. If you don’t restrain yourself a bit, you’ll suffer a lot in the future.”

The youth Wu Tijing, who indeed gave a sense of arrogance, laughed. That was why he and Hu Feng got along so well.

Unlike at the Righteous Sun Mountain, where every time he went out, there were fawning and flattering gazes all around, or some