As the first light of dawn kissed the horizon, Chen Pingan reached within his sleeve, his fingers closing around the smooth, cool surface of the Hidden Official Jade Token. With a subtle shift of will, he performed the ‘Shrinking Mountains and Rivers’ technique, a single stride carrying him across vast distances to the steps before the Summer Palace. Unlike the days when its gates remained stubbornly shut, the palace now held an air of officialdom, not unlike that of a governmental bureau.

Here, unlike the vassal cities, no monastic gatekeepers barred the way. Visitors were welcome to approach with purpose, so long as they refrained from idle wandering. Business was to be conducted swiftly and efficiently. One did not expect to find the Hidden Official’s sword cultivators offering wine and hospitality.

In the past, only the Old Sword Immortal himself, alongside Chen Xi and Qi Tingji, had the authority to cross its threshold. Even Ning Yao, before her ascension to the heavens and her temporary stewardship of the Hidden Official’s office, had never set foot within.

This morning, Fan Dache was already at work, sweeping the courtyard. A gentle tap on his shoulder startled him, and a familiar voice called out, “Dache.”

The sound was so dear to him, he nearly wept. He turned, his voice thick with emotion, “Hidden Official!”

Chen Pingan chuckled softly, patting Fan Dache’s arm. “Let’s walk and talk.”

He had already heard much of the Hidden Official’s current affairs from Ning Yao, but Fan Dache’s account was richer in detail. Chen Pingan listened with quiet patience.

The first five young swordsmen to enter the Summer Palace were all promising sword-immortal seedlings. Though not yet Golden Core cultivators, each held a seat in the Ancestral Hall of Ascension City before joining the Hidden Official’s lineage. Within a few short years, these youths had formally become sword cultivators of the Hidden Official’s Order.

The Golden Jade Records of Ascension City, beyond individual lineage affiliations, were divided into the Ancestral Hall’s direct disciples, the three veins within the Executioner’s Office, and the twelve vassal strongholds of the four cities and eight mountains beyond Ascension City. Deng Liang, for example, the Chief Offering, held Purple Mansion Mountain, a Jade Purity realm swordsman with the right to establish his own peak and pass down his teachings. Of course, one cultivator could bear multiple titles.

Following those five talented swordsmen, another group of promising young aspirants was accepted into the Summer Palace.

These, however, were initially considered candidates, requiring a three- to five-year period of observation, a rule established by Lin Junbi and Song Gaoyuan. Similar to newly appointed scholars in the mortal realm, they would ‘walk’ among the various departments, a trial before receiving a formal post. Not all candidates became true Hidden Official swordsmen. Those who fell short were assigned to work under Dong Bude and Xu Ning in Summer Refuge City, lest good talent go to waste.

Chen Pingan nodded thoughtfully. “In this matter, the Hidden Official’s Order is indeed accused of claiming the best.”

Fan Dache grinned. “Hidden Official, none in Ascension City would dare contest our right! Besides, for the younger sword cultivators, becoming a Hidden Official sword cultivator is undoubtedly their first choice. If it weren’t for our high standards, the number of swordsmen in the Summer Palace today would be at least double!”

Chen Pingan unleashed a barrage of questions, “Are there no rumors circulating? Does no one presume to dictate the Hidden Official’s style? Does the Summer Palace keep a separate ledger for those who voice righteous complaints?”

Fan Dache smiled sheepishly. “There are whispers, but few. We pay them little mind.”

Chen Pingan clapped Fan Dache on the shoulder. “Dache, you are too honest.”

The Hidden Official sword cultivators primarily oversaw three matters: monitoring, gathering intelligence, and training deathsworn, while being responsible for the daily affairs of Summer Refuge City.

Barely half the order’s swordsmen were present in the Summer Palace today.

Luo Zhenyi and Fan Dache had been overseeing the day-to-day administration of the Summer Palace for years.

Wang Xinshui and Chang Taiqing were responsible for collecting, filtering, and verifying intelligence. Dong Bude, as the current City Lord of Summer Refuge City, and Xu Ning, his deputy, maintained their daily posts, with the training of spies and deathsworn also falling under their purview.

Gu Jianlong was still traveling, serving as a protector of the Hidden Official Order, training alongside the Executioner’s Office cultivators in a distant, marked flying land.

The five direct descendants of the Ascension City Ancestral Hall were scattered to the winds, each fulfilling their duties and gaining experience.

Outside the Summer Palace’s grand hall, hung a rare ‘Dragon Gate’ couplet, penned in the archaic, profound style of stone monument calligraphy.

*Timeless Elegance, Drawing on Mountains, Rivers, Peaks, and Gorges, Clear Energy and Creation’s Vitality, Mountains High, Waters Deep, Sword Qi Enduring, Our Sword Light Resembling a Rainbow, The Wild Lands Will Bow One Myriad Years.*

*A City Uniquely Elevated, Exalting Heaven, Earth, Sun, Moon, and Cosmic Grandeur, Heaven Wide, Earth Vast, Wine’s Savor Abundant, Our Village’s Sword Cultivators Like Clouds, Distinguishing Two Kinds of Sword Cultivators from Hao Ran’s Nine Provinces.*

Fan Dache smiled knowingly.

“The Hidden Official’s own hand, of course.”

It was said that during a lull in the wars, near the end of one year, Sorrowful Sprout Sword Immortal had invited the Hidden Official to pen a couplet. The Hidden Official demurred, claiming his calligraphy was poor, but even Guo Zhujiu and the Four Guardians betrayed him. Ultimately, the Hidden Official relented, dictating the content, while Sorrowful Sprout and Lin Junbi wrote the upper and lower lines. Even then, it was unsatisfactory. Thus, the verses were created that all of Ascension City knew.

Even those local sword cultivators who harbored ill will toward the Hidden Official could find no fault with the couplet, begrudgingly admitting, “That dog has so little warmth; no wonder the Old Sword Immortal made him Hidden Official!”

Chen Pingan crossed the threshold of the grand hall, entering the familiar space. Little had changed. A small desk, a prayer cushion, only the master was new. Atop the desk rested writing implements, books, and official documents, arranged according to the owner’s preference.

Chen Pingan did not take the seat of honor, choosing instead Lin Junbi’s former place.

Judging by the arrangement on the desk, it was Gu Jianlong’s: two sword manuals, several seals, and a scholarly furnishing acquired from the Palace’s treasury through battle merits.

Luo Zhenyi, Wang Xinshui, and Chang Taiqing, the three Summer Palace youths of yesteryear, hastened to arrive. They had become the ‘old guard’ of the Hidden Official’s order.

Luo Zhenyi was startled by the sight of the azure robe, but swiftly recovered, smiling and clasping her hands, “Greetings, Hidden Official.”

Wang Xinshui and Chang Taiqing, equally smiling, followed suit, calling out naturally, “Hidden Official.”

Even if Ning Yao were present, they would likely have done the same.

Chen Pingan smiled, waving his hand. “I’m just a loafer.”

Wang Xinshui, one of the former Four Lackeys, his eyes brimming with tears, stumbled forward and sat next to the Hidden Official, peppering him with questions of comfort and care, only to be met with a palm to the forehead. Wang Xinshui sheepishly returned to his seat.

Chang Taiqing asked, “Hidden Official, should we summon Dong Bude and the others from Summer Refuge City?”

Chen Pingan smiled, shaking his head. “No need.”

Luo Zhenyi and the others settled into their seats. A pot of winter sweet blossoms adorned her desk, neatly trimmed, beside a verdant clump of sweet flag.

The swordsmen presently remaining in the Summer Palace were mostly youths in their teens, still bearing a hint of childishness.

They crowded in the doorway, eyes wide, scrutinizing the legendary Hidden Official.

When Chen Pingan had been the Second Shopkeeper, they had been mere lower-level cultivators, unlikely to frequent the wine shop.

After becoming the Hidden Official, Chen Pingan had remained out of sight, save for his battlefield appearances.

Moreover, the Hidden Official’s battlefield guises were so varied, who could recognize him?

Had Lu Zhi not let it slip, who would have believed that the ‘unfamiliar woman’ desired by so many bachelors was none other than the Second Shopkeeper?

Thus, a well-worn saying now circulated among the Spring’s Residence vein, truly there was no reason to lose face, nor money.

However, two of the youths had seen the Second Shopkeeper from afar, matching fists with a foreign female warrior, a mere punch before falling with a gentle heart.

They were not purely martial artists and could see no hidden secrets. But on the street, cheers had resounded to the heavens, especially as the Second Shopkeeper was knocked down, the spectators and gamblers going wild, whistling, and with Guo Zhujiu running along the wall with a gong and drum.

Luo Zhenyi glanced at the door. “Back to work, all of you.”

As the sword cultivator with the highest cultivation in the Summer Palace, second only to Ning Yao, Luo Zhenyi’s management of daily affairs carried considerable weight. The youths dispersed immediately, returning to their respective departments to handle their duties. The Summer Palace, though small, possessed all vital organs, establishing numerous offices, including the Monitoring Bureau, Surveying Bureau, Records Department, Secret Archives, and Confiscations Treasury. However, each ‘office’ often occupied a single room, and beyond the largest Monitoring and Surveying Bureaus, only one person was present in each.

One such young sword cultivator, a meticulous worker of noble birth, now managed the Archives. Within the room, shelves lined three walls, books stacked high, almost touching the roof. Thousands of slips of paper and notes were tucked within the books, all bearing the same handwriting.

If the couplet in the Summer Palace’s grand hall resembled the work of a tipsy drunkard, seemingly simple, but bursting with spirit, the small calligraphy upon these slips of paper appeared to come from one who never drank, never erred.

Thus, the young swordsman who could have joined the Surveying Bureau had requested this post, spending his days among the records and never venturing out for combat or adventure.

In the grand hall, Chen Pingan wiped the desk with his sleeve, smiling casually. “The eight peaks outside the city, including Purple Mansion Mountain, have been divided, with five for the Executioner and three for the Spring’s Residence. We should occupy at least two. Even if we’re condemned as occupying the latrine and not dropping the treasure, it wouldn’t matter.”

“During Ancestral Hall deliberations, you could initially ask for three. Ning Yao would find it awkward to ask. Let Fan Dache lead the charge, Wang Xinshui follow, have Gu Jianlong speak of righteousness, and you should get two peaks in the end. The two houses can each put up one, so it should be fine. The internal baseline of Qi Shou and Gao Yihou at that time was about that.

“These eight peaks are different from the vassal cities like Summer Refuge, Tugging Moon, or Martial Champion. The latter, if you want things to go well, you need a lot of swordsmen to oversee the trivial matters. But Purple Mansion Mountain and the rest are better. Besides building the second city protection array, they’re training grounds. They won’t drain the manpower of the Hidden Official. Besides, when there’s more swordsmen in the Summer Palace, there’ll be two training sites where two nascent soul swordsmen can cultivate.”

Luo Zhenyi could not help but blurt out, “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Chen Pingan folded his sleeves, smiling. “Do you take me for a fortune-telling seer, or did I use my head to open the Five Colored World, and shout the announcement?”

Luo Zhenyi was silenced.

Chang Taiqing suppressed a laugh.

Chen Pingan tapped the desk, saying, “I have a suggestion. The Hidden Official Order can carve out a city of our own, paying for it ourselves. We don’t need to ask the Spring’s Residence. Unless they give it voluntarily, and even then, don’t be polite.

“The city should be as large as possible. Build it at the Big and Little Dragon Colt Valley, 800 miles northeast of Summer Refuge City. Most Hidden Official cultivators, except for key figures, may need to put aside their duties. The key is to… snatch people.”

Chang Taiqing was instantly energized, asking, “How many?”

Chen Pingan continued, “Strive to seize 600,000 to 1,000,000 people from Fluttering Canopy and Tong Leaves Continents within 30 to 50 years. It’s fine if there’s no Qi Refiners. As for building the city, with Summer Refuge City’s experience, it should not be too difficult, But luring people over in the north and south… If you don’t have a hundred sword cultivators to escort and open the path, it will be difficult to guarantee that there won’t be accidents. This period will require the use of a large number of immortal ships, and two stable air routes. There must be detailed and accurate topography maps, a series of rest areas, and co-operation from the Executioner and Spring’s Residence. But remember that they’re just co-operating with us, and also…”

Wang Xinshui grinned, picking up the thread. “No payment!”

Luo Zhenyi raised an eyebrow. “What payment? This involves Ascension City’s millennia-long plan. They should cooperate sincerely.”

“For snatching people, do not prize qi refiners. It’s great if they’re there. Otherwise, it’s fine. Only snatch those farmer cultivators. All powers treat them like honored guests, so they might not be willing to leave their homes. So it’s fine to kidnap them. Since being polite first can’t be done, we can only capture first, then ask nicely. The Hidden Official order should promise these cultivators the position of offering and guest, at least 20-30 of them.”

“You should promise them this. Besides guaranteeing their personal benefits, you must allow them to bring their families and disciples with them. You should give them a household registration identity. Even if they leave, you’ll give them a special permit that can be passed down for three generations. Their children and descendants can enter and leave Ascension City and its surrounding areas.

Wang Xinshui nodded. “You must let everyone in the Five Colored World see Ascension City permits as a privilege. This will attract outsiders.”

“Next, Ascension City cultivators will respect them within reason for 60 years. When the 60 years are up, we won’t force them to stay. We will give them money. Treat it as a good parting and maintain good will.

“Then if they want to start a sect or find a government position, you should help them. For example, swordsmen of the Summer Palace lineage can be offerings and guests for a few years. This can let them be free of worry. This 60 years will be valuable to them. The capture will seem more and more sweet.”

Luo Zhenyi carefully asked, “If you secretly find the powers that have these farmer cultivators and discuss with them, can you not capture them? Perhaps many powers will want to cooperate with you. According to intelligence, the powers of the north and south are lowering their requirements for disciples. Besides, it’s not hard to be a farmer cultivator. In the Wild World, they were low status. But now they are high status. So the number of 30 that you mentioned isn’t much. Perhaps finding 2-3 sects is all you need.”

Even an idiot knew the meaning of Ascension City in the Five Colored World. Otherwise, people wouldn’t be blindly guessing if they were the Central Earth Confucian Temple or Green Sky’s Jade White Capital.

Chen Pingan hesitated before nodding. “You may do so. Come up with a rough outline.”

Luo Zhenyi promised, “I can come up with a draft in one day.”

It was a pity that Lin Junbi wasn’t there. Otherwise, Luo Zhenyi would be more confident.

Scholars were too lofty. They only talked. They couldn’t do anything.

Lin Junbi and Cao Gun, the Hao Ran cultivators, knew economics well.

Chang Taiqing realized a danger, asking, “If it’s just kidnapping, it will be fine. But if you’re involved with the dynasties and powers, you will be too involved. Will this affect the detached position of the Hidden Official in Ascension City?”

Although Chang Taiqing was on Luo Zhenyi’s side, in important matters, he didn’t hold back.

Besides, they had a silent agreement. There’s no one who doesn’t make mistakes. People should point out mistakes for others.

Chen Pingan nodded. “Of course. If you can’t control it, it’ll be for nothing. If the people in Ascension City and its surrounding area start doubting the fairness of the Hidden Official and not whether the punishment is too light, it means that there is a problem.”

Luo Zhenyi felt guilty. She was too simple.

Did he know that it would happen and deliberately hesitate?

Chen Pingan looked at them, as if saying that it was their job to solve problems.

Chang Taiqing tentatively said, “How about letting the Executioner’s Office do it? We will give them some benefit. Have their cultivators talk with the outside powers. They have more people. We can send spies and form an alliance with them. That way, they will protect the Hidden Official. What do you think?”

The Summer Palace had a hidden rule. If you object to an idea, you should also give an alternative.

Sorrowful Sprout had told Luo Zhenyi that if the Summer Palace has this and it becomes a rule, then the Hidden Official would be great.

“That’s very great,” Chen Pingan said, “You can get three things done at once.”

Chen Pingan nodded. “But you can’t be too honest. The Hidden Official has to keep the best parts. You need to retain some private locations. There might not be many, but they have deep roots and potential. Furthermore, you must ensure that if the sword buds in the outside world want to learn good swordsmanship or travel and train, they must think of the Summer Palace and not the Executioner’s Office.”

Luo Zhenyi sighed. “I will plan according to this.”

Chen Pingan asked, “What about the nascent soul swordsman who was removed from the Ancestral Hall during the Year 7 delberations?”

Luo Zhenyi said, “Gu Jianlong has been following him. He was humiliated. He hasn’t complained, but he has been cultivating in seclusion, wanting to become a nascent soul soon so that he can return to the Ancestral Hall.”

Chen Pingan asked, “What about the people who recommended and guaranteed him?”

Luo Zhenyi shook his head.

Chen Pingan said, “You didn’t let them take revenge.”

Luo Zhenyi nodded.

Chen Pingan narrowed his eyes. “Understand that pure sword cultivators have pure love and hate. The sword cultivators of the Great Wall of Swords can solve any problem through a duel. But what happens when there is a problem that a duel cannot solve and training can’t solve it? What do you do? You can’t take the anger out. Are you going to drink in the tavern?”

In the past, you could just go to the battlefield to duel and see who had more credit and killed more demons.

Personal grudges would just be said quietly or at the table.

There were no deaths when sword cultivators went to the top of the wall and then drank.

Now, when sword cultivators go out, they make contact with many powers and then they die?

Chen Pingan suggested, “The Summer Palace can have high requirements but a large surface. Even if it’s just sending spies and training spies, their qualifications and levels aren’t important. The cultivators must be careful.”

Chang Taiqing said, “I will tell Dong Bude and Xu Ning.”

Fan Dache couldn’t say anything this whole time.

There was a saying in Ascension City: ‘You can’t even see the gate to the Summer Palace.’

There was a young sword cultivator who failed to get a post and was assigned to Summer Refuge City.

He joked about it at the table.

After leaving the Summer Palace, he realized that he was normal.

Before then, he had thought that he was useless.

Chen Pingan sternly said, “Be careful for infiltrations into Ascension City. The foreigners of the four surrounding cities have their own files. There are over 1600 registered ones. The Executioner and the Spring’s Residence have their own ways of handling things, but we must treat them as potential enemies.

“The Five Colored World is chaotic. There are strange qi refiners. There are those from Hao Ran like the Lone Rider of the South, the Passerby, the Plague God, the Corpse, the Executioner, and the Mirror Seller. There are those from the Green Sky like the Rice Thief, the Corpse Immortal, the Rolling Red Sleeve, the Porter, the Coffin Carrier, the Mountain Patrol Envoy, the Make Up Lady, the Ghostwriter, the Lone Teacher, and He Han. All of them have strange methods. For example, if there is an unexpected plague, the Plague God is already in one of the surrounding cities. You must prepare ahead of time for all of these things. In Purple Mansion Mountain and the rest, you must recruit maids. How do you prevent those Mountain Patrol Envoys from infiltrating? Do the Hidden Official swordsmen need to patrol the water sources?

“The Summer Palace must keep this secret. You must work with the Executioner and Spring’s Residence.”

“This must be the most important matter of the Ancestral Hall.

“You must realize something. The Summer Palace never found all the spies of the Wild World.”

Chen Pingan pointed up. “If there is a manipulated rain, what will the mortals do? What if they tamper with the rain? Do the surrounding four cities have people watching for this?”

Chen Pingan shook his sleeves. “To tamper with the rain, you need clouds. But what about the wind? Or when the city expands and there are planted trees, what about the flower scents?”

Chen Pingan picked up a book and frowned. “Don’t forget about the textbooks.”

Chen Pingan was speaking to himself. “What if the spies you train start double dealing? How will you differentiate them?”

Luo Zhenyi and the rest were scared.

Chen Pingan recovered. “Let some Summer Palace swordsmen pretend to be enemies of Ascension City and simulate war games with you.”

“The enemies of Ascension City are no longer people that you can face on the battlefield. There will be more tricks and conspiracies.

“What will truly protect Ascension City is not the city protection arrays but you. You in the Hidden Official.

“In the end, the only way to solve the problem is to duel. There is nothing that a duel can’t solve. If there is, there will be two, then three, until the world is afraid of Ascension City and doesn’t try anything.

“If you find some backer, Ascension City must punish. There can’t be any hesitation. The duel must be swift and destroy the power. You must ensure that you do not kill innocents.”

Fan Dache asked, “Isn’t it better if the Hidden Official said this in a deliberation of the Ancestral Hall?”

Chen Pingan said, “I won’t stay for long. In a few days, the Soaring Canopy sect will have an event, and I need to return. The next time I return may be 20-30 years later. Also, for some reason, it isn’t good for me to show up at the Ancestral Hall.

Chen Pingan rubbed his brow. “The Chief Offering will start a sect in the Five Colored World. Deng Liang will be the first leader of the Nine Capital Mountain sub sect.”

Luo Zhenyi frowned. “Are you worried that Deng Liang’s sub sect will be one in name?”

Similar to the Black Sky Capital, they are Taoists on the surface but are all sword cultivators. All of their training is for the sword.

Chang Taiqing said, “Given Deng’s character, if he leaves Ascension City, he will do it cleanly. Besides a small number of direct disciples, he won’t take anyone.”

Chang Taiqing didn’t want to be too direct. Even if Deng Liang was the Chief Offering, could he do this?

He can only be considered a half native.

Chen Pingan shook his head. “Even if Deng Liang leaves with the local swordsmen and the sword cultivation of Ascension City is split, these aren’t important. Deng and the Nine Capital Mountain earned that. Besides, there’s more sword cultivators. Deng and Nine Capital will be great to Ascension City.”

“I’m worried about the next leader and members. There’s no bond and yet, they will want favors.”

Outside of a sword cultivator, Deng Liang was also the head of Nine Capital Mountain.

His existence was an invisible bridge that connected Nine Capital Mountain with the Five Colored World.

Under Deng Liang, there will be countless qi refiners from Nine Capital Mountain flooding in. Over a few hundred years, Nine Capital Mountain can possess both an upper and sub sect.

Chen Pingan would allow it, trusting Deng’s character.

Chen Pingan was worried that Deng, due to the transition, would be in a dilemma, unable to have a good parting with Ascension City.

If you divide the authorities like an imperial court, the Executioner’s Office will handle the Ministry of Official Personnel and Ministry of War.

The Spring’s Residence would handle the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Works. The Summer Palace was the Ministry of Justice.

As for the Ministry of Ritual, you’ll have to wait until the academy.

Deng Liang and the rest of the departments would have a good relationship.

It’s best if the alliance can be stable.

At worst, there will be disagreement.

Chen Pingan wants the former and avoids the latter.

What if Deng Liang seeks seclusion and Nine Capital Mountain turns against Ascension City? What if they join Jade White Capital?

Wang Xinshui was confused. These things are centuries away.

Chen Pingan quickly gave the reason.

“Ascension City doesn’t need yes men. It needs allies.”

“The entire Five Colored World is watching Ascension City.

“Ascension City is like a water system. If it’s dangerous, fewer people will build near it. If it’s safe, more people will build near it.

“What I said about seizing people is for our own benefit, but it is also a show for the Five Colored World. If the farmer qi refiners and the sects are all thriving, then it is done in the low.”

Chen Pingan raised his hand. “The establishment of Deng Liang’s sect is done at the high.”

“We are handling both of these things well. Thus, the heart is stable. The world will think differently of the Great Wall of Swords.”

“This is the entire Ascension City,” Chen Pingan made a large circle, then a small circle. “This is the Hidden Official.”

He pointed in the center. “These are our personal desires.”

Finally, Chen Pingan made the largest circle. “If possible, think of the entire Five Colored World.”

“If these four things don’t clash, this is the great path.

“The sun and moon rise and set. The stars move. This is the sword cultivator dueling. It is the great path.”

Chang Taiqing nodded.

Luo Zhenyi was in a daze.

Wang Xinshui remained silent, then exclaimed, “The vision and spirit of the Hidden Official is great. There is no other like him!”

The Hidden Official didn’t say anything.

With Guo gone, Wang Xinshui was embarrassed.

Chen Pingan smiled. “If I don’t speak, it will be silent for half an hour.”

Wang Xinshui grinned.

Chen Pingan looked at the sun. “The others did well too.

“If I wanted to nitpick Qi Shou, it would be hard.”

Chen Pingan noticed that the others were looking at him strangely.

Chen Pingan had to clarify, “There is nothing behind my words.”

Wang Xinshui said, “The Hidden Official is right!”

The Executioner’s Office was training the martial artists even though the Woven Wick was close to the Hidden Official. They arranged two nascent soul cultivators to train them.

Chen Pingan took out something small and gave it to Wang Xinshui. “There are various government books, local gazetteers, and other historical books of Soaring Canopy. I didn’t have time to plan them all out, but I wrote two guides and a book that mentions warnings. If you don’t want to copy them, then you’ll have to come to me. The thing must be returned.”

Wang Xinshui saw the books and was shocked. “So many books?!”

Chen Pingan grinned. “My Qi must think small of me.”

When Chen Pingan got up, the three swordsmen also got up.

Chen Pingan stood on top of the steps, looking at the sun. “If they are scheming and you find a ‘what if’, they need to be careful.

“If it’s Jade White Capital and you find evidence, then you won’t allow Daoist disciples to enter the Five Colored World.”

“The next time the door opens, I will block it.”

When the door opens again, he will have his peak strength.

He went down the stairs, and Chen Pingan walked with Fan Dache, browsing the Summer Palace’s offices.

Chen Pingan entered the archives but only looked in the other places.

The office was run by Huai Chongzhi, 14, who was an ocean view sword cultivator.

He asked him why he chose the archives and Huai said that he liked reading.

Chen Pingan picked out a book that mentioned Jade White Capital.

Chen Pingan saw a sticky note. “Chongzhi, is this your view?”

Huai nodded.

Chen Pingan smiled. “If they aren’t urgent, you can collect a few of them and give them to Luo Zhenyi and Fan Dache. You need a routine so that if more people come, they can adapt.”

Huai remembered this.

“Chongzhi, you need to know that the head needs to open the way for others.”

Huai still nodded.

“Chongzhi, do you know that the head of the office, besides working hard, must also be careful and clear with the other offices.”

“You should understand the uselessness of too many offices. You should read more about the history of the secular empires so that you don’t become bloated. The more offices there are, the less efficient the system becomes.

The archives had meaning to Chen Pingan. He had brought all the books here. That’s why Chen Pingan was closer to it.

Huai nodded. “Got it!”

After Chen Pingan left, Wang Xinshui hit Huai. “You idiot! You finally met the Hidden Official. Why didn’t you talk to him?!”

Wang twisted the ear. “Didn’t the Hidden Official just enter your office? If you mix with me, you’ll have to talk to me!”

The Hidden Official said that you must hit people early.

Huai shook his head. “He’s better as the Hidden Official.”

The woman should be the leader.

Wang knew it would be bad and covered Huai’s mouth.

Sure enough, Chen Pingan appeared.

Huai was stunned.

Fortunately, the Hidden Official said, “It’s good that the youth is blunt. Wang knows how to manage.”

Wang Xinshui said, “I am also a youth!”

Luo Zhenyi and Chang Taiqing returned to their offices.

“Were you worried that the Hidden Official would cross the river and burn the bridge with Deng Liang, using him and then discarding him?”

Chang Taiqing asked with heart voices.

“When you saw that the Hidden Official wanted you to support Deng Liang, did you relax?”

Luo Zhenyi didn’t speak.

Chang Taiqing smiled. “If that’s the case, you shouldn’t be disappointed in the Hidden Official. He is working for Ascension City. It can’t always be ideal.”

Luo Zhenyi nodded and didn’t speak.

Chang Taiqing swallowed the words that he wanted to say.

You shouldn’t judge the Hidden Official, but it is okay to be disappointed in Chen Pingan.

Luckily, Chang Taiqing stopped himself. Otherwise, he would be hated.

Chen Pingan sat in Wang Xinshui’s place and left with Fan Dache.

Fan Dache said, “Hidden Official, if you came later, I may have left the Summer Palace. I feel like I am not helping.”

“Did I say that?”

“Yes. I remember it. Chen Sanqiu and Dong Were there.”

“Dache, if you say things like this, people will say that you got in through a back door.”

Fan Dache smiled.

“Dache, believe me. The Summer Palace needs smart people, but it also needs silent people. With time, people will see it. You will do it.”

Chen Pingan quietly said, “True power isn’t just things that shock others. It is also diligent.”

Chen Pingan didn’t say these words out loud.

———

Tugging Moon was run by Executioner’s House and the new governor was Pu Yu and the second in charge was Ren Yi. They were golden core cultivators and geniuses of the great wall of swords and members of the Ancestral Hall of Ascension City.

They had blocked Chen Pingan, but the person in charge of the first block was Long Gate level and Ren Yi was in the golden core, while the governor was damaged and would find it difficult to get past the golden core. That was one reason that they appointed him.

In the old days, they had both been saved by a sword cultivator.

He had saved them and fought in a perilous battle, saying, “Lucky win.”

Pu Yu had guessed his identity, the young Hidden Official.

Today, they and the other members, Qi Shou and Shui Yu were reading.

Shui Yu shook her head. “What a strange name.”

Pu Yu smiled. “It means to govern and stabilize. Put it together and you get peace in the world.”

Qi Shou remained silent. That guy was going to make trouble for him.

In year 7, they held the 2nd Ancestral Hall Deliberation.

That Deliberation established the divisions of Ascension City.

There had been 41 chairs. Recently, there were 6 more. But the two chairs remained empty.

The two old nascent soul sword cultivators came from the Chen and Nalan families.

They were teaching the youths swordsmanship.

There was a Search Mountain Office and Exorcising Yard in Ascension City and Tugging Moon. The old cultivators were in charge of each one and would patrol the area, protecting the lower level cultivators. During these trips, there were dangerous areas, so the upper levels had fallen in battle.

The next generation was slower to grow and weaker.

However, Ning Yao was an exception.

Great Wall of Swords didn’t have weak sword cultivators.

There was a key to the Sword Asking Tower.

The sword cultivators all learned sword Qi 18.

The Sword Asking Tower had sword manuals.

For example, there were those from Tao Wen, Wu Chengpei, Song Caiyun, and Gao Kui.

There was the two who left the Hidden Official, Luo Shan and Zhu An.

The younger sword cultivators could learn all of these.

If you learned the swordsmanship, then you must not be quiet about it. You must mention where it came from.

The Summer Palace had a booklet that described the sword arts.

You needed a compatible weapon and enough war merit before you could ask the Executioner and Hidden Official to see the manuals.

The old nascent soul wondered if Chen Pingan had marked the city wall during his trip.

Qi Shou sighed. “Does it matter if I ask? She doesn’t want to say anything.”

Shui Yu also thought that it was strange. “Why not announce such great matters?”

Pu Yu said, “If you don’t know, then it’s right. You can’t enter the Summer Palace.”

The Green Sky brothers had wanted to enter the Summer Palace, but Ning Yao hadn’t allowed it.

Currently, there were four upper level cultivators.

The rest were in the nascent soul.

There were 4 – the executioner’s old cultivators, She Zhou, and Luo Zhenyi.

Also, there were Chen Ji and Chen Hui. The two were master and servant and were Nascent soul and Jade Purity.

However, only Ning Yao knew that.

Qi Shou said, “If Chen Pingan wanted two mountains from us, would you give it to him?”

The old nascent soul cultivator asked, “Why?”

Qi Shou said, “What if Chen Pingan was the one who marked it?”

The old nascent soul cultivator said, “Then give it to him!”

Qi Shou nodded. “It should be that way.”

Shui Yu was happy. “What if Chen Pingan doesn’t leave? What will you do