As the morning light dawned, Chen Ping’an grasped the Hidden Official jade pendant within his sleeve, employing the art of shrinking the mountains and rivers, and in a single stride, arrived at the steps before the Summer Abode Palace. Unlike its past seclusion, the palace now bore a semblance of a government office.

Different from those affiliated cities, this place had no gatekeeper cultivators. One could visit without hindrance, yet loitering was discouraged. Matters should be stated concisely, discussed, and concluded swiftly.

To expect the sword cultivators of the Hidden Official lineage to offer wine and hospitality was futile.

In the early years, besides the Eldest Sword Immortal, neither Chen Xi nor Qi Tingji could step across the palace gates.

Before Ning Yao descended upon Ascension City and temporarily assumed the mantle of Hidden Official, she had never set foot within the Summer Abode Palace.

Early in the morning, Fan Dache was sweeping the courtyard when a gentle pat landed on his shoulder, accompanied by a familiar, laughing voice: “Dache.”

Upon hearing that familiar address, Fan Dache nearly burst into tears. Turning around, he exclaimed, “Hidden Official!”

Chen Ping’an gently patted Fan Dache’s arm and said, “Let’s talk as we walk.”

In truth, Ning Yao had already briefed him on the general state of the Hidden Official lineage. However, Fan Dache’s account was evidently more detailed, so Chen Ping’an listened patiently.

The first batch of five young sword cultivators to enter the Summer Abode Palace were all exceptional sword immortal prodigies. Even though they were not yet Golden Core sword cultivators, they each possessed a seat within the Ancestral Hall of Ascension City before becoming sword cultivators of the Hidden Official lineage. Within a few years, these young men and women successively became official members of the Hidden Official lineage.

Now, the Golden Jade Registers of Ascension City, besides the individual lineages of cultivators, could be divided into direct descendants of the Ancestral Hall, the three branches of cultivators including the Execution Official, and the twelve affiliated forces of the four cities and eight mountains outside Ascension City. For instance, the chief honorary elder, Deng Liang, occupied Purple Mansion Mountain. This Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator was essentially qualified to establish a peak and found his own lineage. Of course, a cultivator could hold multiple identities.

After those five talented sword cultivators, the Summer Abode Palace admitted another batch of members, still comprised of promising young men and women.

However, they were currently considered probationary members, requiring three to five years of assessment, according to a rule jointly established by Lin Junbi and Song Gaoyuan. Similar to the newly appointed scholars of the secular world, they would “walk” in various government offices as training before official appointments. Yet, not all probationary members could become true sword cultivators of the Hidden Official lineage. Those who ultimately failed to become formal members, lest the fertile waters flow to outsiders, would go to Summer Abode City and serve under Dong Bude and Xu Ning.

Chen Ping’an nodded and said, “In this matter, the Hidden Official lineage does indeed have a tendency to pick the best.”

Fan Dache smiled and said, “Hidden Official, no one in Ascension City dares compete with us. Besides, for those younger sword cultivators, becoming a sword cultivator of our Hidden Official lineage is undoubtedly the first choice. If it weren’t for our high threshold, the number of sword cultivators in the Summer Abode Palace would at least double today!”

Chen Ping’an asked a series of questions, “Are there no rumors outside? Does anyone criticize the Hidden Official lineage’s style of conduct? Has the Summer Abode Palace opened a separate ledger for those who speak fairly?”

Fan Dache smiled sheepishly. “There are some whispers, but not many, and we haven’t paid much attention to them.”

Chen Ping’an patted Fan Dache’s shoulder. “Dache, you are still too honest.”

Currently, the sword cultivators of the Hidden Official lineage are primarily responsible for three things: surveillance, intelligence gathering, and training deathsworn. They also have full authority over the affairs of Summer Abode City.

Today, less than half of the sword cultivators are actually staying in the Summer Abode Palace.

Luo Zhenyi and Fan Dache have been responsible for the daily affairs of the Summer Abode Palace in recent years.

Wang Xinshui and Chang Taiqing are responsible for the collection, screening, and verification of various intelligence reports. Dong Bude is now the city lord of Summer Abode City, and Xu Ning is the deputy city lord, requiring daily attendance. The matter of training spies and deathsworn also falls upon Summer Abode City.

Gu Jianlong is still traveling abroad, serving as a protector of the Hidden Official lineage, training alongside the sword cultivators of the Execution Official lineage, each leading a group of young sword cultivators in a remote flying land where a monument has been erected.

Those five direct descendant sword cultivators of the Ascension City Ancestral Hall are also scattered in all directions, each performing their duties and gaining experience abroad.

Outside the main hall of the Summer Abode Palace hung a couplet, written in a rare Dragon Gate style, with archaic, solemn stele-calligraphy:

“Through countless ages, the winds and currents, blessed by the creation of mountains, rivers, and sacred peaks, the sword energy is long and deep. Only my sword light resembles a rainbow, causing the desolate lands to bow their heads for ten thousand years.”

“Alone, this city stands high, reaching the grand spectacle of heaven, earth, sun, moon, and universe. The sky is wide, the earth vast, the wine flavor abundant. The sword cultivators of my homeland are like clouds, differing from the two kinds of sword cultivators in the Boundless Continent.”

Fan Dache smiled knowingly.

This couplet was naturally the Hidden Official’s own handiwork.

It was said that during a year-end amidst battles, the Sorrowful Sprout Sword Immortal invited the Hidden Official to write a couplet. The Hidden Official refused, saying that his calligraphy was not good. As a result, even Guo Zhujiu, leading the four Dharma Protectors, defected. The Hidden Official would only dictate the content, allowing Sorrowful Sprout and Lin Junbi to write the upper and lower lines respectively, but it still didn’t work out. Ultimately, this couplet, which later became well-known to both young and old in Ascension City, was created.

Even those local sword cultivators who had a negative view of the Hidden Official could not find fault with this couplet, and had to grit their teeth and say, “That damned fellow doesn’t even have such a warm jacket, no wonder the Eldest Sword Immortal would let this guy be the Hidden Official.”

Chen Ping’an stepped over the threshold of the main hall, entering the familiar hall. The seats were almost unchanged, still a small desk and a prayer mat, at most the master had changed. On the desk were the Four Treasures of the Study, books, and official documents, arranged according to the owner’s preferences.

Chen Ping’an did not sit in the main seat, but chose the seat that once belonged to Lin Junbi.

Looking at the arrangement on the desk, it should be Gu Jianlong’s position, with two sword manuals, several seals, and a literary curio obtained from the palace treasury with battle merits.

Upon hearing the news, Luo Zhenyi, Wang Xinshui, and Chang Taiqing, three young people from the Summer Abode Palace in their early years, were now considered “old timers” of the Hidden Official lineage.

Seeing that figure in azure robes, Luo Zhenyi was stunned for a moment. She quickly regained her composure, smiled, clasped her fists and said, “Greetings, Hidden Official.”

Wang Xinshui and Chang Taiqing also smiled, clasped their fists, and naturally called out “Hidden Official.”

Even if Ning Yao were present, it would probably be the same.

Chen Ping’an waved his hand with a smile and said, “Just a wanderer.”
Especially Wang Xinshui, one of the former Four Hounds, was brimming with tears. He stumbled and sat down next to Lord Hidden Officer, beginning to shower him with concern. However, Chen Ping’an slapped him on the forehead, and Wang Xinshui sheepishly returned to his seat.

Chang Taiqing asked, “Lord Hidden Officer, should we call Dong Bude and the others over from Bìshǔ City?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and shook his head, “No need.”

Luo Zhenyi and the others took their seats. On her desk, there was a pot of wintersweet, trimmed perfectly, next to a pot of sweet flag, verdant and lush.

The sword cultivators currently staying in the Bìshǔ Palace were almost all teenagers, still bearing some childishness on their faces.

At this moment, they were crowded at the doorway, eyes wide, carefully scrutinizing the legendary Lord Hidden Officer.

When Chen Ping’an was the second-in-charge of the wine shop, they were still young, mostly sword cultivators below the fifth realm. Of course, they wouldn’t have gone to the wine shop for a drink.

After becoming the Hidden Officer, Chen Ping’an, apart from going to the battlefield, stayed in the Bìshǔ Palace and never showed his face.

Moreover, the young Hidden Officer always used various disguises when going to the battlefield, so who could recognize him?

If Lu Zhi hadn’t let it slip, who would have believed that the “mysterious woman” that many single men yearned for was actually the second-in-charge of the wine shop?!

Therefore, a well-known saying has spread among the cultivators of the Quánfǔ lineage because of this incident: “There’s no reason to give up picking up scraps or earning money just for the sake of saving face.”

However, two of the teenagers had once seen the second-in-charge sparring with a foreign female martial artist from afar, always showing some tender and caring for the weaker. They couldn’t see any deeper secrets, since they weren’t pure martial artists. However, the cheers on the street were deafening at the time, especially when the second-in-charge was knocked down with one punch. Everyone watching and betting went wild, whistling and cheering, especially Guo Zhujiu, who had been banging a gong on the wall all the way.

Luo Zhenyi glanced at the doorway, “Go back to your work.”

It could be seen that Luo Zhenyi, as the sword cultivator in the Bìshǔ Palace with the second-highest realm after Ning Yao, and in charge of daily affairs, had quite a bit of authority. The teenagers immediately dispersed, returning to their official rooms to handle matters. However, the young sword cultivators were cheerful and discussing animatedly along the way. The current Bìshǔ Palace, though small, has all the necessary departments, including the Supervisory Department, the Land Survey Department, the Registry, the Archives, the Penal Treasury, etc. However, each “office” usually only has one room. Except for the Supervisory and Land Survey Departments, which are the largest, there is currently only one person in each of the other official rooms.

One of the young sword cultivators who returned to his official room, because of his attention to detail and his upbringing on Yùhù Street where he learned to read and write from a young age, was now in charge of the archives. Inside the room, bookshelves lined three walls, books and registers stacked layer upon layer to the ceiling, with thousands of notes and memos clipped inside, all in the same handwriting.

If the couplet in the main hall of the Bìshǔ Palace was written like the handwriting of a tipsy drunkard, seemingly unrefined but actually full of sharpness and high spirits, then the small regular script on these memos was written like someone who never drank and was always sober, meticulous and never making mistakes.

Therefore, the young sword cultivator, who could have entered the Land Survey Department, took the initiative to work here, dealing with secret records and archives all day long, becoming a scribe who had little opportunity to go out and gain experience or exchange swords with anyone.

Back in the main hall, Chen Ping’an wiped the desk with his sleeve and said casually, “The eight mountain peaks outside the city, including Zǐfǔ Mountain, have been divided up by the judicial officer and the Five Springs Palace, three each. We should occupy at least two positions, even if we are criticized for squatting in the latrine without pooping, it doesn’t matter.”

“During the Ancestral Hall meeting, we could have directly asked for three at the beginning. Ning Yao certainly wouldn’t have said that, but you guys, for example, have Fan Dache take the lead, Wang Xinshui follow up, and then have Gu Jianlong say a few fair words. Taking down two of them wouldn’t be a problem. The four-two-two pattern was the bottom line in Qi Shou and Gao Yěhóu’s minds at the time.”

“Those eight mountain peaks are different from vassal cities like Bìshǔ, Tuōyuè, and Wǔkuí. To operate the latter properly without any mistakes, you need to deploy a considerable number of sword cultivators to distract them with administrative affairs. But a geomantically advantageous place like Zǐfǔ Mountain, besides constructing a second city-protecting array, is more like a place for cultivation, it won’t spread the manpower of the Hidden Officer lineage too thinly. Moreover, when there are more sword cultivators in the Bìshǔ Palace in the future, there will be two more training grounds, and the sword refining and cultivation of the two nascent soul sword cultivators will have a place to settle.”

Luo Zhenyi couldn’t help but say, “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Chen Ping’an folded his hands in his sleeves and said with a smile, “Do you think I’m a fortune teller who can predict the future, or that I smashed open the multicolored world with my head, and then shouted to greet you?”

Luo Zhenyi was at a loss for words.

Chang Taiqing held back his laughter.

Chen Ping’an stretched out a hand and tapped lightly on the desk, slowly saying, “I have a suggestion, listen to it. The Hidden Officer lineage can independently develop a city. We can pay for it ourselves, without asking the Quánfǔ lineage. Of course, if they are willing to give it to us voluntarily, don’t be polite.

The larger the scale of this city, the better. It can be built in the northeast of Bìshǔ City, eight hundred miles away, in the Great and Small Dragon Colt Ravine. Except for the sword cultivators in a few key positions, everyone in the Bìshǔ Palace may need to put aside their work for the time being. Of course, it’s best if they can do both, go… and snatch people.”

Chang Taiqing immediately perked up, saying, “How many people do we need to snatch?”

Chen Ping’an continued, “Strive to snatch 600,000 to 1 million people from Fúyáo Continent and Tóngyè Continent within thirty to fifty years. Whether there are cultivators among them or not doesn’t matter. As for building a new city, with the experience of the previous Bìshǔ City, we probably won’t need outsiders to help. But attracting people, from both the north and south, without the escort and guidance of a hundred sword cultivators, it’s difficult to ensure that there won’t be any accidents. During this period, we will need to use a large number of immortal ferry ships, as well as two stable routes, formulate detailed and accurate geomantic route maps, and set up a series of roadside stations. We will definitely need the cooperation of the judicial officer and Quánfǔ lineages, but remember one thing, they are only cooperating with us, and…”

Wang Xinshui chuckled and interjected, “There’s no reward!”

Luo Zhenyi raised an eyebrow, “What reward are we talking about? This concerns the great cause of the Ascension City, we should cooperate sincerely.”
“Regarding the matter of acquiring talent, we don’t need to treat every Qi Refinement cultivator like a precious treasure. If they happen to be good, great, but it’s not essential. The priority is snatching up those agrarian cultivators. I know they are highly sought after these days, with various factions treating them as honored guests. They might not be willing to embark on a long journey and leave their homes just after settling down. Therefore, ambushes and kidnappings are perfectly acceptable. Since diplomatic approaches have failed, resorting to force first and then diplomacy is necessary. Our Hidden Official lineage can offer these cultivators the promise of stipends and guest elder status. We need at least twenty or thirty of these agrarian Qi Refinement cultivators, the more the merrier.”

“We must reach agreements with them as soon as possible. First, besides guaranteeing their personal benefits, we can allow them to bring their families or disciples along to the new city. Give them something akin to a Refuge City household registration. Even if they later relinquish this registration and return to their hometowns, it can be regarded as a special writ, ‘hereditary’ for three generations. This means their descendants can freely enter and exit Refuge City and all its affiliated territories for approximately a century using this document.”

Wang Xinshui nodded, “We need to make everyone in the Five Colors World feel that obtaining Refuge City’s household registration and issued writ is an honor. This alone can attract outsiders to settle here.”

“Second, within sixty years, Refuge City cultivators must give them sufficient respect within the established framework. When the sixty-year term is up, if they still want to leave, we will not force them to stay. Give them the money they are due without hesitation, treating it as a pleasant farewell, leaving both sides with a lasting connection.”

“Therefore, if they want to establish their own sects after leaving Refuge City, or seek official positions in various new dynasties and affiliated states, we can offer assistance. For example, sword cultivators from the Refuge Palace lineage can even serve as stipendiaries or guest elders for a certain period. Remember to specify the duration, or it will seem too cheap. This way, these agrarian cultivators will have no worries. Their sixty-year stint in Refuge City can become a valuable asset, turning what was originally a forced deal into something increasingly beneficial.”

Hearing this, Luo Zhenyi tentatively asked, “If we secretly approach the mountain forces to which these agrarian cultivators belong and negotiate, would we not even need to snatch people? Perhaps many forces would be willing to actively seek cooperation with us. According to the intelligence gathered by Refuge Palace, agrarian cultivators or Qi Refinement practitioners in both the north and south are lowering their standards, either voluntarily or under instruction, and are recruiting disciples on a large scale. Moreover, the threshold for becoming an agrarian cultivator is not high. Previously, in the Barren Lands and the Great World, no one wanted to become agrarian disciples due to their low status and small gains. Now, times have changed, and higher status brings more benefits. Therefore, the Hidden Official’s mention of thirty people is actually not many. Perhaps we can find two or three sects and have enough.”

Even an idiot would now know what Refuge City represents in this Five Colors World, which is why people are racking their brains to guess whether it will become the Central Plains Literary Temple of the Great World or the Jade Capital of the Azure Heavens.

Chen Pingan hesitated for a moment, seemingly with some concerns, but ultimately nodded, “This is feasible. You guys quickly formulate a general plan.”

Luo Zhenyi thought for a moment and promised, “I can produce a draft proposal within a day.”

It’s a pity that Lin Junbi and the others are not here, otherwise Luo Zhenyi would be more confident.

Scholarly air, literary arrogance, always feeling capable of handling the world’s affairs, but in reality, they can’t even handle a few tasks at hand.

Back then, Lin Junbi, Cao Gun, and those other Great World sword cultivators, although young, were extremely proficient in economic matters.

Chang Taiqing immediately recognized a potential hidden danger and asked, “If it’s just ambushing and snatching people, that’s not a big problem. But if we get too involved with those mountain dynasties and mountain forces, wouldn’t our Refuge Palace inevitably become entangled in too many disputes, potentially affecting the Hidden Official lineage’s transcendent status in Refuge City?”

Although Chang Taiqing and Luo Zhenyi were from the same faction, given the importance of the matter, Chang Taiqing would never hold back due to personal friendship.

Moreover, Refuge Palace already had a tacit understanding: focus on the matter, not the person. Since no one is immune to making mistakes, anyone can help others identify and rectify shortcomings.

Chen Pingan nodded, “Of course it will. If we can’t control the balance, we will suffer more losses than gains. If, one day, Refuge City and all its affiliated forces shift from questioning the Hidden Official lineage’s sword cultivators’ severity of rewards and punishments, which may have some issues, to habitually questioning whether the Hidden Official lineage should take action against someone, it means that Refuge Palace has a major problem.”

Luo Zhenyi felt somewhat ashamed, realizing he had thought too simply.

Was that why someone had hesitated earlier, having foreseen this hidden danger stemming from following this thread?

Chen Pingan smiled at them, as if saying, what are you guys here for if not to solve problems?

Chang Taiqing tentatively said, “How about letting the Penal Official lineage handle this, and we’ll just allocate a portion of the benefits appropriately? Ostensibly, let Penal Official lineage cultivators manage relations with those external forces. After all, they have a larger number of people. We will only be responsible for secretly planting spies and assassins, which will help coordinate with the Penal Official lineage cultivators. This way, our sword cultivators won’t be isolated and helpless when faced with unexpected situations, potentially suffering losses. Hidden Official, what do you think?”

Refuge Palace also has an unwritten rule: whoever raises a question and negates others should ideally have a solution of their own, although it’s not strictly required.

Sword Immortal Chou Miao once chatted privately with Luo Zhenyi and several friends, highly praising this, saying that if Refuge Palace develops this awareness and ultimately forms a good inertia resembling customs, traditions, and rules, the Hidden Official will deserve immense credit.

Still very Sword Qi Great Wall-esque.

Otherwise, only engaging in empty talk would be too much like the Vast Expanse.

“Very good, it can even be considered a win-win-win situation.”
Chen Ping’an cast an approving glance, nodding. “But we can’t reveal everything. The Hidden Official lineage still needs to ‘skim the cream,’ strategically retaining a few private domains. They don’t need to be numerous, but they must possess deep foundations and great potential. Furthermore, we need to ensure that any sword cultivator prodigies within our allies’ territories, if they desire to study advanced swordsmanship or travel for experience, will immediately think of the Summer Retreat Palace, not the Punisher Official faction.”

Luo Zhenyi felt a weight lifted. “I’ll formulate the detailed plans based on this general direction.”

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked, “The Golden Core sword cultivator who was thrown out of the Ancestral Hall during the Jia Chun seventh year conference by Ning Yao?”

Luo Zhenyi replied, “Gu Jianlong has been secretly monitoring him all these years. Being expelled from the register was a great humiliation to him, but he hasn’t uttered a single complaint externally. He’s mostly been in seclusion, diligently practicing his swordplay, likely aiming to reach the Nascent Soul realm as soon as possible to return to the Ancestral Hall.”

Chen Ping’an inquired, “What about the two people who recommended and vouched for him?”

Luo Zhenyi shook his head.

Chen Ping’an said, “We didn’t allow you to settle personal scores.”

Luo Zhenyi nodded, understanding.

Chen Ping’an squinted. “Understand this principle: the love and hate of pure sword cultivators are very straightforward. For the sword cultivators of the Great Wall of Sword Intent, there’s nothing that can’t be resolved with a sword duel. So, the worry is when there’s something that a sword duel can’t fix, and a lifetime of hard cultivation is also useless. What then? If the rage cannot be quenched, and the resentment cannot be settled, must they come to my shop for a drink?”

In the past, they could simply go to the battlefield and compete with their swords, seeing who had the greater war merits and killed more demons, whose voice was louder and who was more justified.

All private grievances were usually limited to murmuring a few words in private, or at most a few curses at the dining table.

Back in the Great Wall of Sword Intent, after a trip to the city wall, they’d call friends and meet at the dinner table, and no one would die?

Now, when sword cultivators from the Great Wall of Sword Intent go out to train, they gradually interact with various forces, and when they return home, someone dies?

Chen Ping’an suggested, “In fact, the Summer Retreat Palace can have high requirements, but it needs to have a grand facade. Regarding the matter of planting spies and training assassins, whether they are sword cultivators, their aptitude, or their cultivation level, is not the most important thing. The cultivators must be meticulous and ruthless.”

Chang Taiqing said, “I’ll discuss this in detail with Dong Bu’de and Xu Ning later.”

From beginning to end, Fan Dache couldn’t get a word in.

Nowadays, there’s a saying in Ascension City: “You can’t even see the gate of the Summer Retreat Palace.”

Previously, a young sword cultivator who failed to fill a vacancy went to Ascension City to take up a post as usual.

He joked about it with someone at the dinner table.

After leaving the Summer Retreat Palace, he gradually realized he was just an ordinary person.

But before that, he always felt like a useless piece of trash.

Chen Ping’an’s expression turned solemn. “Be careful of various infiltrations into Ascension City. All the outsiders in the four vassal cities have separate archives now. According to Dache, there are currently over sixteen hundred people on record. To put it bluntly, it’s their duty, the Punisher Official and Netherworld Official factions, to win them over. But we at the Summer Retreat Palace must regard them as potential enemies.”

“The current Colorful World is a mixed bag. There are all kinds of strange Qi refiners. Just in the Verdant World, there are Lone Riders of the South Sea, Wanderers, Plague Gods, Corpse Beauties, Executioners, and Mirror Sellers. And in the Azure Vault World, there are Rice Thieves, Corpse Immortals, Red Sleeves Rolling Curtains, Porters, Coffin Bearers, Mountain Patrol Envoys, Dressing Chamber Ladies, Ghost Writers, One-Word Teachers, and Heledaren (a derogatory term for Han Chinese). All kinds of unbelievable spells and supernatural powers, with a myriad of methods, are difficult to guard against. For example, the seemingly unheralded outbreaks of plague might be a ‘Plague God’ who has long been lurking in a vassal city. Especially those ‘natural disasters’ specifically targeting non-Qi refiners on a large scale, we must prepare early. Similarly, all the peaks and estates within Purple Mansion Mountain will definitely collect a certain number of maids and servants. Should the eight peaks be wary of the Mountain Patrol Envoys infiltrating? Do the Hidden Official lineage sword cultivators need to regularly patrol the water sources in various places?”

“This matter, besides the Summer Retreat Palace secretly and strictly investigating, there must be no slackening. In terms of specific affairs, the Punisher Official faction and the Netherworld Official faction must join hands to prepare early, just in case.”

“Moreover, this matter must be the top priority of the entire Ancestral Hall’s discussions.”

“Furthermore, you few should be clear about one thing: back then, our Summer Retreat Palace failed to find all the Wild Desolate’s hidden pawns.”

Chen Ping’an raised a finger, pointing to the sky. “Suppose there’s a rainstorm that has been tampered with, how can a mortal scholar shield against it? If someone has manipulated the water in the rain, what should we do? In the four vassal cities, does someone need to specifically monitor it?”

Chen Ping’an then flicked his sleeves. “To manipulate the rain, there must be dark clouds, giving at least a premonition. What about the wind? Or in the future, when the city expands and the streets are planted with various ornamental plants and flowers, what about certain floral fragrances at that time?”

Chen Ping’an then casually flipped open a booklet, twirling his fingers, and said in a low voice, “Don’t forget the elementary textbooks in those few academies.”

Chen Ping’an seemed to be talking to himself, “In the future, if the assassins and spies we train suddenly start doing business on both sides, how should the Summer Retreat Punisher Official faction prevent and identify them?”

Luo Zhenyi and the others felt their scalps tingle.

Chen Ping’an came back to his senses and said, “Outsiders see clearly, so we need to have some young sword cultivators of the Summer Retreat Palace put themselves in the shoes of the enemies of Ascension City, and conduct offensive and defensive drills with you, the commanders of the battlefield.”

“The enemies of the Ascension City sword cultivators are no longer just face-to-face battles on the battlefield. These complicated plots and schemes will become more and more frequent.”

“What can truly shield Ascension City from wind and rain are not those unmoving protective formations, but here, it’s you. It’s us, the sword cultivators of the Summer Retreat Palace and the Hidden Official lineage.”

“But ultimately, to truly solve the problem, it’s still the sword duel. In the Colorful World, there’s nothing that one Ascension City sword duel can’t solve. If there is, then two, and if that’s not enough, then three, until the entire world is terrified and no one dares to easily reach out to Ascension City.”
“For instance, if you uncover some mastermind pulling strings behind the scenes, Fei Sheng City must make an example of them swiftly and decisively. The Sword Inquiry must be swift, accurate, and ruthless, a grand display of power. Whether it’s a mountain sect or a secular dynasty, cut them down at the roots, sever their legacy, and extinguish their reign. While ensuring minimal innocent casualties, truly achieve complete eradication.”

Fan Dache finally found an opportunity to speak, asking softly, “Wouldn’t it be better for the Hidden Official to discuss this during an Ancestral Hall deliberation?”

Chen Ping’an replied helplessly, “I won’t be staying long this time. In a few days, Tongye Continent will hold a celebration for the establishment of Fallen Mountain’s affiliated sect, and I must return. The next time I come back here might be twenty or thirty years from now. Moreover, due to certain reasons, it’s currently not suitable for me to appear in the Ancestral Hall.”

Chen Ping’an rubbed his brow, “Our Chief Patron will definitely establish his own sect in the Five Colors World in the future, and Deng Liang will most likely personally serve as the first Sect Master of the Nine Capital Mountain’s affiliated sect.”

Luo Zhenyi frowned slightly and asked, “Are you worried that Deng Liang’s affiliated sect will be a sword dao sect in name only?”

Similar to the Great Profound Capital Temple in the Azure Abyss World, as the leader of the Daoist Sword Immortal lineage, the monks in the temple are naturally registered as Daoists. However, a significant portion of the direct disciples are essentially pure sword cultivators with the title of Daoist. All their cultivation and study of the Great Profound Capital Temple’s ancestral Daoist arts and immortal techniques are to assist their swordsmanship.

Chang Taiqing said, “Given Chief Deng’s character, even if he leaves Fei Sheng City in the future, I believe he would voluntarily choose to leave with nothing, taking only a small group of direct disciples and not more sword cultivators.”

Chang Taiqing was hesitant to speak too bluntly. Even though Deng Liang is the Chief Patron, would he dare to think and act in such a way?

In essence, even in the depths of Chang Taiqing’s heart, Deng Liang is still somewhat of an outsider, at most half a hometown sword cultivator.

If Chang Taiqing feels this way, let alone the ordinary local sword cultivators.

Chen Ping’an shook his head and said, “Even if Deng Liang takes away a group of local sword cultivators who have turned to the Violet Mansion Mountain, it’s not a big deal. I’m not concerned about that. Even if that sect has more sword cultivators, occupying a portion of the Five Colors World and taking away some of Fei Sheng City’s sword dao fortune, it’s still not a problem. These are what Deng Liang and his future sect deserve. Moreover, the Five Colors World is so vast that even having another sword dao sect is a good thing for both Fei Sheng City and Deng Liang.”

“I’m just worried that the successor Sect Master after Deng Liang, as well as the members of the Ancestral Hall, will have no familial ties with Fei Sheng City, yet they will believe that Fei Sheng City should make concessions for their sect again and again.”

In addition to his identity as a sword cultivator, Deng Liang is also the peak master of Su Ran Peak on Nine Capital Mountain, and a hidden, registered official of the Green Register, bearing a portion of Nine Capital Mountain’s fortune.

Therefore, Deng Liang’s existence itself is an invisible bridge connecting Nine Capital Mountain and the Five Colors World.

With Deng Liang, especially when the Five Colors World opens its doors next time and the Nine Capital Mountain Qi cultivators flood in, a large group of Yin spirit ghost cultivators can be cultivated within a few years. Perhaps in just three to five hundred years, the vast Nine Capital Mountain of the Azure Abyss World can take the leap to become a “proper sect” that simultaneously possesses an upper and lower sect.

With Deng Liang’s cultivation aptitude and his close relationship with the three sword cultivators of Shezhou, he will definitely be able to learn the inherited supernatural abilities of the Winnowing Basket lineage.

Chen Ping’an will turn a blind eye to this matter, just like Chang Taiqing said, trusting in Deng Liang’s character.

Chen Ping’an is only worried that his former Hidden Official sword cultivator colleague, now the Chief Patron of Fei Sheng City, and future Sect Master of Nine Capital Mountain’s affiliated sect, will find himself in an increasingly difficult situation due to his shifting identity, unable to part ways with Fei Sheng City on good terms, failing to achieve a good beginning and a good end.

If divided like the yamens of a secular dynasty, the Prison Official lineage is roughly equivalent to holding the Ministry of Appointments and the Ministry of War.

The Spring Residence lineage is in charge of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works. The Summer Palace is equivalent to the Ministry of Justice.

As for the remaining Ministry of Rites, it will likely depend on the academy that is about to be built.

If there are no surprises, Deng Liang and Fei Sheng City’s “Six Ministries” will have excellent relationships.

The best case scenario is that the alliance between the two sides is long-lasting and stable.

The worst outcome is that they are at odds with each other and become enemies.

Strive for the former and avoid the latter.

What if Deng Liang chooses to pursue quiet cultivation in the future, such as pursuing the Ascension Realm, while the conflict between Nine Capital Mountain’s affiliated sect and Fei Sheng City intensifies, becomes uncontrollable, and ultimately turns to forces like the White Jade Capital?

Wang Xinshui was somewhat puzzled. Such a thing would occur hundreds of years later in the worst-case scenario. Although there is a saying “one who does not plan for the future will have trouble at his doorstep,” it still seems abrupt amidst the Hidden Official’s series of words today.

Chen Ping’an quickly provided the reason.

“Fei Sheng City does not need submissive pawns. Fei Sheng City needs a large group of true allies.”

“The entire Five Colors World is watching every move of Fei Sheng City.”

“To give an example, Fei Sheng City is like a great river. If the water is turbulent and unpredictable, fewer will build cities along the river. If the water is calm, ensuring harvests regardless of drought or flood, more will build cities along the river.”

“The matter of snatching people that I mentioned earlier, in addition to seeking tangible benefits for Fei Sheng City and the Summer Palace, and the necessity of doing so, is also incidentally putting on a show for the Five Colors World to see. Those farmer Qi cultivators, after the expiration of the Jiazi agreement, receive Fei Sheng City’s support and their respective forces thrive. This is… at the low end.”

Chen Ping’an extended a palm, placed it on the table, and then lifted it. “Then, Deng Liang’s sect establishment is at the high end.”

“With both high and low ends present, and Fei Sheng City handling everything appropriately and maintaining harmonious relationships, people’s hearts will be stable. In the future, the entire Five Colors World will view Sword Qi Great Wall with different eyes and attitudes.”

“This is the entire Fei Sheng City.”

Chen Ping’an twisted his wrist, drawing a large circle, and then drawing a smaller circle. “This is the Hidden Official lineage sword cultivators of the Summer Palace.”

Then, he joined two fingers and gently tapped the center of the circle. “Ourselves, personal self-interest.”

Finally, Chen Ping’an drew the largest circle. “If possible, when considering problems in the future, you should also think about the entire Five Colors World.”

“If the four, large and small, do not conflict, this is the Great Dao.”
“Sun rises and moon sets, stars shift and turn, the swordsman passes on his blade, the Great Dao progresses.”

Chang Taiching nodded slightly.

Luo Zhenyi was lost in thought, staring blankly.

Wang Xinshui, after a moment of silence, slapped the table and exclaimed, “Such a lofty and far-reaching vision, such a grand and magnanimous spirit, yet the principles are explained with such simplicity and depth! Only our Hidden Official could achieve this, no one else comes close!”

The Hidden Official maintained a solemn expression, saying nothing.

With Alliance Leader Guo from a certain small mountain absent, and the other three lackeys also missing, Wang Xinshui felt a bit awkward. Fan Dache was truly lacking in the art of flattery.

Chen Pingan smiled and said, “If I didn’t say something, the silence would last at least half an hour.”

Wang Xinshui chuckled.

He turned his head to look at the gentle sunlight outside the hall, which felt particularly warm and comforting today.

Chen Pingan smiled, “To be honest, it’s not just our Summer Palace, the other two branches, the Punishing Official and the Spring Mansion, are also doing very well.”

“Take Qi Shou’s Punishing Official branch for example, it’s difficult for me to find fault with him, even if I wanted to.”

Chen Pingan noticed that after he said this, Fan Dache and the others were looking at him strangely.

Chen Pingan had to clarify, “There’s no hidden meaning in my words.”

Wang Xinshui immediately said, “What the Hidden Official says goes!”

Take the martial artists of the Frost Avoidance Palace for instance. Even though Qi Shou knew that Nian Xin was closely aligned with the Hidden Official’s branch, he spared no effort in cultivating those martial artists, specially arranging for two Golden Core realm swordsmen, as well as several military strategists who had joined the Punishing Official branch, to regularly go to the Frost Avoidance Palace to “feed swords” and “spar,” helping the young martial artists, who had limited opportunities to fight, to gain practical combat experience.

Chen Pingan took out a spatial artifact from his sleeve and tossed it to Wang Xinshui, saying, “Inside are various official histories and local gazetteers regarding the old lands of Tongye Continent. I didn’t have time to sort through them all, so I temporarily wrote two catalogs and a small booklet specifically recording important notes. The Summer Palace can keep all of this, but the Punishing Official branch can make a copy. If that’s too much trouble, they’ll just have to travel more often to borrow books from us later. This will make it easier for the four affiliated cities of Flying Ascention City to verify the identities, origins, and sect affiliations of foreign cultivators. Oh, and remember to return the spatial artifact to me.”