Upon the boundless azure, long after the spectacle of sword immortals dragging the moon across the sky, a colossal mountain-carriage drifted serenely. Around it, like vigilant guardians, sailed two Great Li sword-galleons, their blades shimmering in the sun.

Vast and cloud-shadowing, the airborne behemoth passed directly over the verdant isle of Osmanthus, a sight to stir the soul.

Of late, every celestial ferry capable of crossing the intercontinental expanse of the Jade Bottle Continent had been commandeered by the Literary Temple and the Great Li court. Even Osmanthus Isle, domain of the Fan family of Old Dragon City, was not spared.

Yet, swiftly following the Literary Temple’s assembly, the Fu family, also of Old Dragon City, cleverly chartered two newly built ferries from the Azure Peak and Flowing Crimson Continents, ensuring the lifeblood of trade would continue to flow.

Though tinged with the scent of opportunism, the Central Earth Literary Temple, with a knowing wink, permitted it. Thus, those venerable Zong-ranked immortal clans who possessed the secret of crafting these intercontinental vessels reaped a golden harvest.

On Osmanthus Isle, nestled within a secluded haven known as the Gnarled Vein Retreat:

Lady Gui rubbed her temples, a weariness etched upon her face. The Celestial Raft, a fellow of infinite persistence, was the source of her recent disquiet.

Jin Su, her disciple, stifled a giggle, aware of her mistress’s plight.

It was after their reunion in the Central Earth Literary Temple that the Celestial Raft, with honeyed words and earnest pleas, had swayed Lady Gui to soften her stance. She had, in a moment of courteous weakness, granted him leave to “occasionally” visit Osmanthus Isle.

Her motivations had been practical. Fan Junmao, the Lord of the Southern Mountain, had plummeted in cultivation from the Jade Crucible to the Dragon Gate Realm. The Fan family desperately needed a fifth-realm grandmaster as a patron. And the old ferryman, a man who had for years guided the transcontinental vessels safely through the perilous Dragonmaw Trench, was none other than the Celestial Raft’s disciple. Lady Gui hoped the Celestial Raft might impart some celestial wisdom to his student.

But alas, Lady Gui’s interpretation of “occasionally” differed wildly from the Celestial Raft’s.

Earlier, and much to her amusement, a letter of apology penned by the young Hidden Official, had arrived.

At first, Lady Gui had found Chen Ping’an overly cautious. Now, she began to suspect that if Chen Ping’an dared set foot on Osmanthus Isle, she might be tempted to banish him outright!

A knock echoed, precisely three taps against the wooden gate.

Lady Gui frowned slightly. Someone had approached the courtyard, undetected by her senses.

Jin Su moved to open the gate, but Lady Gui stayed her with a gesture. With a flick of her sleeve, the gate swung inward, revealing:

A young Taoist, his face alight with a radiant smile, raised an arm in greeting to the mistress and disciple.

This Fan family ferry, adhering to strict tradition, did not permit passengers to embark mid-voyage. Jin Su, noticing the lotus coronet atop the young Taoist’s head, mistook him for a wandering adept of the Divine Decree Sect.

For upon the Jade Bottle Continent, only Taoists of the Divine Decree Sect adorned their coronets with both fish-tails and lotus blooms.

Yet, by all rights, Osmanthus Isle, returning from the Savage Lands via the Void Reversion Passage, carried no passengers, certainly no Taoists.

Lady Gui remained silent. Instead, she rose gracefully, and offered a measured bow of respect.

Jin Su, obediently mirrored her teacher’s gesture.

The young Taoist returned the courtesy, his voice filled with longing, “A millennium parts us, and then another. Yet, fortune smiles, for Lady Gui’s beauty remains undiminished, a sight to enchant the soul.”

Lady Gui merely smiled, saying nothing.

The young Taoist strode confidently into the courtyard. “And this must be Lady Jin Su. Truly, a match made in heaven awaits her in her union with Sun Jiashu!”

The Cinnamon Tree of the Golden Cinnamon Temple in the Jade Bottle Continent, revered by later generations of mountain cultivators as the true Moon Palace cultivar, owed its existence to this very Taoist. In his youth, he had sailed the seas, and, chancing upon Osmanthus Isle, borrowed a few sprigs of cinnamon. Upon his return, he had passed by the Golden Cinnamon Temple and, with a casual gesture, bestowed upon it a “divine” touch, which he was not shy about advertising.

Truly, he was a man of leisure.

But never would Lady Gui have imagined that Lu Chen, after his sojourn in the Azure Firmament, would return as nothing less than a disciple of the Dao Ancestor, the Third Preceptor of White Jade Citadel!

Indeed, during his travels, Lu Chen had even met the then-patriarch of the Divine Decree Sect and, with a few insightful words, guided a young acolyte.

That young acolyte’s name was Qi Zhen.

Jin Su, of course, did not recognize the young Taoist’s true identity.

Even if he revealed himself, she likely wouldn’t believe him.

Before settling into a seat, the young Taoist scanned the courtyard, a playful glint in his eyes. “A shame! Old Gu is not aboard the ferry?”

For it was Lu Chen, having left the Sword-Qi Great Wall, who had, without haste, sought to fulfill the pact made with the Hidden Official, and undertake a journey to Azure Cloud Mountain of the Jade Bottle Continent.

However, the speed at which the Third Preceptor of White Jade Citadel moved through the heavens was akin to… a tortoise crawl.

Lady Gui sighed. “Must the Lu Preceptor play coy?”

Was it not precisely because of *his* absence that the Third Preceptor of White Jade Citadel dared reveal himself?

Lu Chen, once seated, tapped his finger upon the stone table, a clear and unsubtle demand for wine.

Jin Su, in a hushed voice, sought permission to offer the guest some of their finest Osmanthus brew. Lady Gui, however, demurred, unwilling to entangle Osmanthus Isle further with this Preceptor.

For was it not Lu Chen who had brought Gu Qingsong, that Celestial Raft whose name echoed throughout the Azure Heavens, to Osmanthus Isle in the first place?

“To view mountains from a high tower, to gaze upon snow from a mountain peak, to admire the moon amidst the snow, to behold a beauty beneath the moon, each offers a unique delight,”

Lu Chen continued, rapping his fingers against the table. “The fifteenth moon is the treasure of the heavens, the poems of Willow Seventh are the treasures of letters, and Osmanthus Isle is the treasure of the landscapes.”

Lady Gui interrupted, “Lu Preceptor, speak your business. If not, I shall be forced to bid you farewell.”

Lu Chen laughed heartily. “If the Taoist isn’t poor, who will be? Lady Gui, grant me your forgiveness!”

Jin Su was bewildered. Her mistress addressed the Taoist as “Lu Preceptor”?

In the immortal dwellings of the mountains, there was no such title as “Preceptor.” Even those who founded sects or established lineages were known at most as sect masters, mountain lords, or gatekeepers. For who could, or would dare, proclaim himself a “founder” or an “ancestor”?

Down in the martial sects of the mortal realm, however, the suffix “teachings” was not uncommon, but their leaders were “masters,” not preceptors.

Unless, of course, they spoke of the distant, unattainable, Dao Ancestors of White Jade Citadel, now four in number, and their direct disciples, who alone held the authority to be addressed as “Preceptor.”

Could the rakish young Taoist before her truly be… Lu Chen?

Impossible. She must be mistaken. A Preceptor of White Jade Citadel, high above the mortal coil, would scarcely knock upon a door, enter a courtyard, and sit amicably, brazenly begging for wine!

For Jin Su, the closest she had ever come to Lu Chen was during the Battle of Dragonmaw Trench when Chen Ping’an had unleashed a startling talisman, proclaiming, “All is done, by Lu Chen’s decree!”

Lu Chen gazed skyward, a sigh escaping his lips. “How heavenly, how imperial!”

Words of praise, a profound appreciation of a woman’s beauty.

Lady Gui’s expression grew grave.

Lu Chen stared directly at Lady Gui, and then suddenly laughed. “A jest, nothing more. Pay it no mind.”

Lady Gui retorted coolly, “A jest best left unspoken, if it holds no sincerity.”

Lu Chen nodded eagerly in agreement, chastened by Lady Gui’s rebuke, he turned his attention to the bewildered Jin Su. “A fine name! Jin Su. Where the gold sprouts, and the granary overflows, the city rises and the nation prospers. Old Dragon City is indebted to the Sun family, indeed!”

Jin Su replied carefully, “Lu Revered Immortal, my father’s name is Jin. My teacher bestowed upon me this name, for it is merely another name for the Osmanthus, akin to Sweet Olive, or Moon Goddess.”

Lu Chen, a picture of earnest curiosity, pressed further, “Pray, enlighten me.”

Jin Su explained, “It is simply because the Osmanthus is the color of gold, its blooms small as millet. Thus, the name ‘Golden Millet.'”

Lu Chen clapped his hands in admiration. “I learn something new every day! The pursuit of knowledge knows no end.”

Lady Gui, weary of the Lu Preceptor’s pronouncements, addressed her disciple directly, “This Lu Preceptor is none other than Lu Chen of the Azure Firmament’s White Jade Citadel. Surely he knows ‘Golden Millet’ is another name for the Osmanthus.”

Jin Su, aghast, rose swiftly, offering a deep bow, “Jin Su of Osmanthus Isle, greets Lu Preceptor!”

Lu Chen rolled his eyes.

How tedious.

*To read an unfamiliar book is to encounter a new friend. To revisit a familiar book is to meet an old acquaintance.*

Lady Gui, in her bluntness, had marred the moment. She had, for Jin Su, seized the burgeoning romance and thrust it to the final page, to the trite and predictable “happily ever after.”

Lu Chen raised a hand, wagging a finger playfully, “Lady Jin Su, you must temper your inclination to judge a book by its cover, lest you squander opportunities you might otherwise have seized. Of course, a child’s fault is the parent’s failing, and an undisciplined student the master’s sloth. Lady Gui, in addition to magical instruction, must strive to mold the raw jade of her disciple’s heart.”

“If all the world were to act in such a manner, am I wrong to swim against the tide? Not at all! In my opinion, it is hardly fair to say that Lady Jin Su should just go along with the ways of the world and that’s that!

“That said, who can definitively decide what is right or wrong? Is it not possible that both Lady Jin Su and the world are right, and I alone am mistaken?”

Lu Chen, with a final flurry of words, rose, vanished in a flash, leaving behind only a Daoist text crafted of gold and jade, shimmering with violet-azure energy.

Taking a step, he traversed the sea. Abruptly, he halted, stumbling forward, nearly face-planting. Raising a hand, he adjusted his coronet, then stretched his neck to peer at the landscape below. “Nearly strayed into the wrong doorway!”

For the Literary Temple had granted the Lu Preceptor leave to land on only two continents before escorting him from the mortal realm.

However, upon Lu Chen’s return to the Azure Heavens, these restrictions would cease to exist. After all, he had gifted them the blessed land of Jade Radiance, a deed of merit indeed.

Standing upon the sea of clouds, above the meeting of land and sea, Lu Chen performed a set of Tai Chi moves. His sleeves, snapping and crackling, made a fair attempt at flowing elegance. With a sudden flourish, he struck a crane stance, chanted a string of nonsensical incantations, and in an instant, stood above Old Dragon City of the Jade Bottle Continent. Alas, the sea of clouds he had once conjured had vanished. With an aerial somersault, he landed upon Azure Cloud Mountain, and with a tap upon his coronet, cloaked himself in illusion.

Lu Chen sought neither the current female founder of Azure Cloud Mountain, nor Cai Jinjian of Emerald Cypress Peak, for there was no urgency in their business.

Scanning the picturesque peaks of Azure Cloud, his gaze fell upon the Cultivated Cloud Peak. There, amidst a vast sea of clouds, a peak stood isolated, like an island upon the waves. Upon its white jade balustrade sat an immortal, clad in a timeworn “Phoenix of Colors” robe, drinking in silence, his eyes locked upon a distant vista, unable to tear his gaze away. A bachelor, drowning his sorrows, forever lost in the memory of a woman’s eyes and words.

Marquis Huang Zhong frowned. Another uninvited guest, disregarding all rules?

Did they believe Azure Cloud Mountain was a common thoroughfare, open to any and all?

The last was a blue-clad guest calling himself Chen Ping’an of Fallen Auspice Mountain, now another Taoist of unknown lineage.

In Huang Zhong’s eyes, the young Taoist, his origins veiled, was skirting around the Cultivated Cloud Peak, not in a direct flight, but with exaggerated, swaying steps. His sleeves flapped wildly, as if trying too hard to look like a Daoist adept, but the way his eyes darted about, betrayed an ill intent.

Huang Zhong rose, sheathed his wine jug, and invoked a secret technique unique to Cultivated Cloud Peak, dissolving into the clouds, silently stalking his quarry.

He overheard the young vagrant mumbling to himself about gathering golden elixir and ascending to immortality, about a myriad of smoke and mist. He had ascended the cloud-covered mountain, with its mountain peaks covered in green grass, a very good thing, making his inspiration burst, making his talent appear as if a spring. He continued on and on about how he spoke with an immortal, saying his mountain had ancient, divine land, that it was higher than Mount Sumeru, that his cave was suspended under the sun and moon. He mentioned washing his eyes, and he then mentioned something about how he could walk among the mountains without anyone’s assistance, and then asked his “guests” why it was that he could do what he was doing. Finally, he spoke some nonsense about drums.

Huang Zhong’s head began to throb.

Barely a soul lived or cultivated upon Hairpin Cloud Peak, which was actually a forbidden domain. Even the sect’s direct disciples knew little of its origins, only that it was never to be chosen as an immortal’s seat.

And the source of Azure Cloud Mountain’s current woes lay precisely upon that peak.

Legend held that Azure Cloud Mountain’s founder, before establishing his sect upon the Jade Bottle Continent, had discovered ancient flood-controlling talismans and the elixir of immortality. Within the hidden immortal cave of Hairpin Cloud Peak lay silver chambers, stone rooms, and springs of white jade and violet, the very essence of Azure Cloud Mountain’s spiritual Qi.

Nearing the summit, the Taoist came upon the ruins of an ancient immortal dwelling, protected by layers of mountain and water illusions. Before the entrance stood two circular stones, naturally shaped like drums, which rang when struck, inscribed with the characters “Divine Bell” and “Cloud Root.”

Huang Zhong grew wary, for the Taoist had, by chance or design, arrived at this very place.

Lu Chen gazed upon the stone drums, sighing softly. The inscriptions were fresh, but the legends of gods and immortals, the traces of celestial Qi, had long faded.

As below, there was the Spring Festival, for those in the mountains, there was the passing of the spirit.

Or so he thought.

Lu Chen turned, smiling. “Daoist of Cultivated Cloud Peak, you have been skulking behind me for quite a while. Are you planning to relieve me of my purse in this god-forsaken place?”

Huang Zhong emerged, “Daoist friend, why not accompany me to the ancestral mountain of Azure Cloud and meet my master?”

Wei Li, who maintained order, was Huang Zhong’s mentor.

Lu Chen waved his hand. “No, no. Your Azure Cloud Patriarch is no longer upon the mountain. I have no old friends to visit.”

Huang Zhong was taken aback.

The Azure Cloud Immortal, the very founder of Azure Cloud Mountain, had long since departed. His direct disciples, through their branching lineages, had led to Azure Cloud’s prosperity on the continent of the Jade Bottle.

Azure Cloud Mountain’s affinity for Buddhist practices stemmed from a secret buried deep in history. The founder, it was said, had originated in the Central Earth’s Profound Sky Temple, not as a monk, but as something more…

Lu Chen made as if to grasp a walking stick, and tapped it lightly upon the ground, smiling faintly. “Wooden Seat, is it not?”

Huang Zhong did not know what this Taoist meant, whether it was pretense, or he actually knew something.

Lu Chen tutted. “Your befuddled expression betrays you. It seems my old friend of Azure Cloud was too embarrassed to reveal his true origins to his disciples. There was nothing to be ashamed of! It should have been emblazoned upon your Ancestral Hall’s genealogical records!”

Before leaving the Profound Sky Temple, and before Lu Chen had sailed the seas, he had met with the Abbot Liaoran. Dao and Buddha, each spoke their mind. To Lu Chen’s mind, it was only right that one did not disparage Buddha or downgrade the Tao. A single conversation, two cups of tea, and a pleasant agreement.

And the true form of the Azure Cloud Patriarch was none other than the walking stick held by the Abbot of Profound Sky Temple.

Holding the “Wooden Seat”, Abbot Liaoran had once gently tapped Lu Chen’s shoulder.

Lu Chen had neither dodged nor protested, gifting the “Wooden Seat” with a chance to gain enlightenment.

This would later give rise to the immortal tale, “A single staff drives Lu Chen from the gate” within the Buddhist Order.

Lu Chen raised his hand, miming the act of drinking.

Huang Zhong hesitated, then tossed him a flask of Azure Cloud Mountain’s secret “Spring Slumber” brew.

Lu Chen uncorked the flask, inhaled deeply, and smiled dreamily. “Truly, a fine wine.”

Huang Zhong said, “Having tasted the wine, I must insist you accompany me to the Ancestral Hall.”

The last outsider who had dared trespass upon the mountain had sought out Cai Jinjian of Emerald Cypress Peak, and for that, Huang Zhong was no longer being overly insistent on the matter.

Lu Chen nodded. “A fine idea! I have some business with your Mountain Lord. Having someone lead the way will save me from wandering aimlessly.”

Huang Zhong said, “I trust you will keep your word, lest we mar our newfound amity.”

Lu Chen smiled noncommittally, gesturing to the ruined cave entrance. “Is it not a waste to keep this Feng Shui treasure trove locked away?”

Huang Zhong explained, “The Second Patriarch sealed the entrance himself, and decreed upon his deathbed that no one shall open it until Azure Cloud Mountain produces a cultivator who can break into the fifth realm. No one is permitted to cultivate within.”

This was no secret. The mountain families that bore no good will to Azure Cloud liked to mock, and ask mockingly if there was something guarding the entrance to the ruins. Or they would say that their patriarch was a grand master. All he had to do was come out and beat those who dared to cause trouble.

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen choked on his wine. Wiping his mouth, he laughed. “A master who cursed both teacher and student! His heart was in the right place, but he was also setting a bad example for those in the future. He only wanted you to cultivate, and at the time, thought a golden core needed to be formed! It can be done! That way, the entrance will be open, and it would be as if you got new clothes to wear!”

Huang Zhong said nothing.

Lu Chen pondered for a moment, flask in one hand, fingers woven into a spell in the other. “Since the problem was caused by who locked the entrance, then those who locked it should be the one to open it.”

Huang Zhong shook his head. “After the death of the Patriarch, we sought out his reincarnation, but they had never gained enlightenment. Eventually, they passed away, never to be seen again.”

Lu Chen nodded. “You can’t see them anymore, so why would you bother searching?”

The greatest fear for those who follow the way, is to not find a way. Those who live in this realm, would do well to know where it is that they came from.

It was not hard to see the rationale behind the thoughts and feelings that people had on a day to day basis.

Huang Zhong now believed that the “young” Taoist was someone who knew their ways.

Lu Chen turned to the billowing clouds of Cultivated Cloud Peak, silently drinking. The words of his song and poem became too much, and he had to decide which one to share.

Huang Zhong, however, mistook this gesture for the Taoist’s lament for a past he could no longer revisit.

Lu Chen casually flung the empty flask over the cliff, then, with a wave of his hand. Huang Zhong, still gazing upon Cultivated Cloud Peak, heard the Taoist cough a few times, and only then realized the man was in need of a drink. Huang Zhong had no choice but to toss him another flask. Was he really running into another drunk?

Lu Chen said, “There are those who do not drink because they do not like the drink. There are those who do not drink because they are unable to do so.”

Huang Zhong nodded in agreement.

Because of the war that shook the realm, there were those who did not drink before, now choosing to do so. And there were those who used to drink, now finding themselves unable to do so.

Lu Chen copied the gesture, shaking his flask. Now that was something they could both agree on.

The Hidden Officer was a good judge of character.

It was worth taking the journey.

Huang Zhong considered his words carefully. “Have you come to solve our problem?”

Lu Chen nodded. “One, I have made friends with the folks of Azure Cloud. And it is known that I am good friends with many. Two, there are those who have pleaded with me to come and assist you. Adding those reasons together, and you could say I had no choice.”

Huang Zhong asked, “Then why not speak to our Mountain Lord directly?”

Lu Chen scoffed. “Why would I, a man of great knowledge, act in the way the rest of the world does?”

Huang Zhong, who had initially thought of him as just an immortal, was now wondering if he was just making things up as he went.

Lu Chen felt that it was time, took a swig, and started to speak of the heavens. “This ruin is actually something that is causing you harm.”

Huang Zhong still had his doubts. It was a far cry from what they were doing.

As it was now, the patriarchs were stuck between three options, and were barely able to deal with two.

First, they needed someone in the fifth realm. Their leader was stuck in seclusion, hoping to break the shackles.

Second, Azure Cloud would need to become a sect, to be recognized by the literati.

Finally, they would need something that was at least a quasi-divine weapon.

Together, these three things would allow them to become stable and make progress.

Lu Chen laughed. “That person warned you through one of your own. But they were too blind to take action! And they would be punished because of their inaction!”

Huang Zhong begged him to tell him what was happening.

Lu Chen started. “I’m a bit confused. But from what I’ve gathered, a former student of his wanted a chance to drink with you again.”

The truth was that the man who stood here was ready to help them in any way.

Lu Chen said, “Well, that’s about enough of that. What do you say?”

The two sides started to argue with each other.

But those who have no skill and are in the way should get away. He was the greatest scholar to ever live.

Huang Zhong was in a very deep bow, and refused to move.

Upon hearing the answer, Huang Zhong took a breath. It was something he wanted to do, and it wasn’t like the other guys were going to get in the way.

Lu Chen nodded. It was time.

It was very good for him to be on his own. With great power, there was also great responsibility.

Huang Zhong did not know his name, and he was a bit scared.

The way it worked had to be explained. This had to be very easy.

Those who help will be remembered, and those who don’t will have no place. This was the way it had always been.

Lu Chen gave a smile, and decided to move on with his journey. He was gone from the scene.

Huang Zhong would not be the same. He had a lot of thoughts to think about, but he didn’t think he would ever reach his goals. How would he explain what had happened?

Voices rang through the air. It was the song, but it was the words of a stranger.

Huang Zhong was saddened by this. He couldn’t understand the words of this strange man, and it filled him with dread and fear.

In the territory of the Divine Order, one of the Daoist courts was in the midst of a 10 year ceremony. One was an official, while the other was there to take names.

Lu Chen had no problem with this. It was just a legal way of doing things.

On one of the mountain tops, there was a court that didn’t stand out. The old master was taking a nap, while his students were forced to learn things that were not necessary. This caused Lu Chen to not stand out at all. As such, he shook the trees.

The kids were trying to clean up and study at the same time. This didn’t work out, as they knew they were on a time crunch and could not move on. This was the case for those who lived on the top of a mountain, where the leaves never stop falling. But that wasn’t so, and they were able to pick up everything. He soon found out, however, that someone was shaking the trees, causing everything to come back down. He did not approve.

Lu Chen asked, “Were you there? Did you see it? The time for those things is now.”

The boy said that he knew what was happening, and didn’t have the money for it.

Does someone who sweeps the ground know what’s happening?

Lu Chen sat, his arms folded. “You know, there’s a lot of things you can do in the restroom.”

The child knew, but was unwilling to admit that.

Lu Chen asked, “What’s your name?”

The kid said that the master called him A-You.

Lu Chen asked, “What do you want to do?”

The boy wanted to help fix the temple and add a layer of gold, but he had no money to do so.

Lu Chen took a seat and had an interested look on his face.

He had to do something for this boy.

Lu Chen had just heard a great story about the Tao.

With a few moments, the boy would show his anger, and want to fight. That was the way it seemed.

Lu Chen wanted to know why it was that the folks of that court were so poor.

The boy did not give an answer. But he had plenty of thoughts of his own.

It had to do with the type of things that were being talked about and that had to do with something deep.