Within the Grand Profound Capital Temple, a clear, shallow stream meandered through a peach orchard, its waters so pristine one could see the very bottom.

A tall, aged Daoist priest and a plump young man sat on small stools, their trouser legs rolled up, bare feet dangling in the cool water. One sipped wine, while the other clutched a generous bundle of freshly picked lotus seeds.

The plump lad, Yan, inquired, “Old Sun, why did you lend your sword to Bai Ye back then? A-Liang always says that we swordsmen need a long sword to traverse ten thousand leagues, yet you gave away such a celestial blade. Now, I hear whispers from the Jade White Capital that quite a few Immortal Sovereigns hold you in low regard. They claim your relationship with our Profound Capital Temple is like ‘withered wood propping up an ancient tree’. The nerve! When Dong the Talisman Painter mentioned this, I was so enraged I almost burst a blood vessel! I nearly went with him to the Jade White Capital, determined to regain your honor. Alas, my cultivation is too shallow. I fear that a failed sword challenge would only disgrace the Profound Capital Temple.”

The old temple master, the veritable head of the Daoist sword immortal lineage, possessed swordsmanship as profound as his Daoist arts. Otherwise, he couldn’t have held onto that “Fifth Under Heaven” seat.

Daoist Sun chuckled, “Speak plainly. This poor Daoist has never favored roundabout words.”

Yan Zhuo cautiously probed, “I truly intend to be blunt, Old Sun. But swear you won’t hold a grudge!”

Daoist Sun smiled benevolently, “Shall this poor Daoist make a solemn oath first?”

The Daoists of the Profound Capital Temple, young and old, high and low in rank, feared no one in the Azure Profound Heaven, save for incurring the old temple master’s ire.

Seeing the plump fellow still hesitant, the old Daoist jested, “Does a silent fart smell better when it takes a winding route?”

Yan Zhuo already regretted broaching the subject with the old temple master, but the arrow was nocked, and he had no choice but to let loose, spilling everything Dong the Talisman Painter had said in private, “The deities of the Jade White Capital, great and small, are saying that if you hadn’t lent the celestial sword ‘Great White’ to Bai Ye, you could have certainly ascended to the Fourteenth Realm. But ascending to the Fourteenth Realm means having a showdown with the Second Master of the Jade White Capital, which you would undoubtedly lose.”

“So you deliberately lent the celestial sword ‘Great White’ to Bai Ye, keeping it in the Vast Expanse, displaying the generosity of a senior, winning acclaim, and making Bai Ye owe you a huge favor. This helped the Vast Expanse produce another most proud man, and the Confucian Temple has to consider this favor. And since you remain at the Ascension Realm, you don’t have to fight Dao the Second to the death. Moreover, given that unmatched one’s temperament, as long as you remain at the Ascension Realm, he can hardly bully you, so he can only let things be. In this way, you achieve not just three, but four gains!”

The old Daoist listened to these “external rumors” and burst into hearty laughter, showing no hint of embarrassment or anger.

Yan the plump asked, “Old Sun, are you feigning magnanimity to hide your burning rage? Don’t! We’re family, seniority can be set aside. If you’re truly angry, don’t bottle it up! Even I’m furious listening to this. Didn’t we agree with Dong the Talisman Painter to record the names of all those insolent old gods, and when I ascend to the Ascension Realm one day, I’ll go to the Jade White Capital and challenge them all! If you don’t believe me, I can swear an oath!”

The old Daoist shook his wine gourd, “Enough with that. All your courage is in your business acumen and that layer of fat. Now that you have the Daoist certificate of the Profound Capital Temple, I doubt you’d dare even approach the Jade White Capital. Only little Daoist Chen would be true to his word.”

Yan Zhuo tentatively asked, “So it’s true that you were afraid of losing to that unmatched one?”

The old Daoist nodded, “Not afraid of losing, but afraid of dying.”

Once one ascended to the Fourteenth Realm and engaged in a sword challenge with Yu Dou, it wouldn’t just be about victory and defeat; it would be a matter of life and death.

Yan Zhuo looked astonished.

The old Daoist then smiled and continued, “This fear is not that fear. It’s not that I’m unwilling to die because I cherish my life, but that I’m afraid my death wouldn’t be worthy enough. I fear that I would die without significance, with a thousand years of pent-up resentment in my heart, unable to exhale it even in death. If I only managed to let out half a breath, I would be like a hanging ghost, swaying back and forth, head not touching the sky, feet not touching the ground, not a proper, upright man at all. This poor Daoist would not rest in peace. But at the beginning, this poor Daoist didn’t think so much. Back then, I already had one foot over the threshold, and just as I was about to lift the other foot, someone, neither early nor late, came to the Profound Capital Temple as a guest and chatted with this poor Daoist. After that, I went to the Vast Expanse to relax. As agreed, if I went with a sword and returned with a sword, I would head straight to the Jade White Capital, and he would never stop me from challenging Yu Dou.”

Yan Zhuo asked, “Sect Leader Lu?”

The old Daoist shook his head, “It was Little Lu the Third and Dao the Second’s senior brother, our venerable Grand Master of the Jade White Capital.”

Yan Zhuo gave a thumbs up, “Old Sun still has influence.”

The old Daoist smiled, “What’s that? Back when I founded the Profound Capital Temple, the guests attending the ceremony included the Dao Ancestor himself! It’s just that the Dao Ancestor didn’t want to steal the show and outshine me, so he concealed his identity but stayed until the end of the ceremony. The Dao Ancestor only left after drinking a cup of wine.”

Yan Zhuo was puzzled, “Why isn’t this recorded in our temple’s annals?”

The old Daoist retorted, “The Dao Ancestor participated in the ceremony, so our Profound Capital Temple should make a big fuss about it? Then would there still be the Profound Capital Temple today? Why would the Dao Ancestor have attended the ceremony in the first place?”

Yan Zhuo rolled his eyes, completely lost.

The old Daoist stroked his beard and chuckled, “The Grand Master’s visit to the Profound Capital Temple wasn’t to propose that agreement right away. Instead, he advised this poor Daoist not to take his Second Junior Brother too seriously. If we really fought, it wouldn’t just be a personal grudge. That’s the absolute truth. The incense of the Profound Capital Temple would certainly be extinguished, but the five cities and twelve towers of the Jade White Capital would definitely lose some territory. And once the Jade White Capital was broken into a few pieces by this poor Daoist, it would be incomplete in its Grand Dao, like your Sword Qi Great Wall, broken in two. Suppressing ordinary cultivators wouldn’t be difficult, but in the eyes of that small group of cultivators, the Jade White Capital would be as good as nothing. And the Jade White Capital’s very reason for existence, nearly half of it, is to wait for the coming change in the heavens, to target those ‘small group’ of unruly cultivators. They’ve been holding back for thousands of years, and once they’re free from the restraints of the heavens, who knows what they’ll do? So that the Dao Ancestor, one day when he’s gone, won’t be lawless and reckless.”
Yan Zhuo inquired, “If you hadn’t lent your sword to Bai Ye back then and had immediately fought with Dao the Second upon returning to the Azure Underworld, wouldn’t the Dao Ancestor have intervened? Even taking a step back, the Grand Master, as the Dao Ancestor’s foremost disciple, could have protected White Jade City, couldn’t he?”

The old Daoist Sun chuckled, “The Dao Ancestor has better things to do than meddle in such trivial matters.”

“As for our Grand Master, whose three thousand merits are long since fulfilled, his mastery of Daoist arts is second only to the Dao Ancestor, and that’s no exaggeration. He’s vastly different from that self-proclaimed invincible Dao the Second. However, the Grand Master’s relationship with the Azure Underworld is similar to that of the Sage of Rites with the Vast Expanse; many things that could easily cause too much entanglement are better left untouched. It’s best to remain still and not act rashly, for one move could shake the entire world.”

After listening for a long while, Yan Zhuo softly said, “That’s good. With Old Sun at the Profound Capital Temple, we can cultivate in peace. I don’t want to keep moving.”

After pondering further, Yan Zhuo curiously asked, “The Grand Master proclaimed himself invincible? Impossible, right?”

The old Daoist chuckled, “Just guessing, is that against the law? If Dao the Second is petty and unhappy, he can simply send a letter to our temple. I’ll immediately write a letter in my own hand, announcing it to the world through various gazettes, saying that the nickname ‘Truly Invincible’ was definitely not self-proclaimed by the Grand Master. Anyone who dares to disbelieve and keeps yapping about it can’t blame me for personally paying them a visit to demand an explanation.”

Yan Zhuo laughed, “And then embrace, drink, and become sworn brothers?”

The old Daoist raised his emerald green wine gourd, took a sip of the peach blossom wine brewed at the temple, shook it, and realizing it was empty, tossed the empty gourd into the stream, where it floated away. “These years of cultivation at the Profound Capital Temple haven’t been in vain.”

The old Daoist remarked without any prompting, “My little girl, she’s a perfect match for Bai Ye.”

One of the young hopefuls selected from across the world in years past, one was a female Daoist of the Profound Capital Temple, but she went to the Five-Colored Underworld and is now in the Jade Purity Realm.

Yan Zhuo sadly said, “So, I have no chance?”

The old Daoist teased, “Don’t you have Sister Chunhui already?”

Yan Zhuo waved his hand, “Don’t say things like that carelessly. Sister Chunhui wouldn’t dare say anything to you, Old Sun, but she’d only be at odds with me and wouldn’t want to work with me on business anymore.”

“Do you remember that old Confucian scholar who sat at a table with me and Bai Ye in the autumn this year, eating a vegetarian meal that our temple is famous for?”

“Of course, I remember. He was very tall. If the old gentleman hadn’t been wearing Confucian robes at the time, I would have thought he was a Jianghu wanderer. Who was he? Could it be Yao Qing, the chief advisor of the Azure God Dynasty?”

“Yao Qing? That unfathomable fellow? Coming to the Profound Capital Temple, he wouldn’t be qualified for me and Bai Ye to sit there and eat a vegetarian meal with him. I’d rather have Yao Qing cook a vegetarian meal in the kitchen.”

Yan Zhuo looked doubtful. That was a bit of bragging without drafting. Yao Qing was one of the ten from the Azure Underworld. Although his ranking wasn’t as high as Old Sun’s, anyone who could make the list was like a god in the sky.

Moreover, the rumors outside were rampant, saying that Yao Qing would soon follow Wu Shuangjiang of the Year-End Palace and enter the Fourteenth Realm.

As a result, those three imminent Corpse Dissolution Immortals fled for their lives, one of whom was said to have sought the protection of Grand Master Yu at White Jade City.

“When Yao Qing was young, he was a lazy good-for-nothing, a small gambling scoundrel! If I hadn’t passed by the Five Tombs back then and generously helped him, as well as given him some guidance, he wouldn’t have his current fortune. Otherwise, he would have been reincarnated countless times.”

“So, who exactly was that old Confucian scholar?”

“It’s exhausting to talk to you. Just guess at the biggest possible identity.”

Yan Zhuo suddenly awoke, stamping his feet, “Old Sun, why didn’t you say so sooner?! Otherwise, I would have kowtowed to the old gentleman then, even just bowing three times to gain some literary fortune. Then, passing the countless Daoist examinations of your Azure Underworld would have been a breeze! By the way, the table and stool that old gentleman sat on, I have to move them back to my room and enshrine them properly. I’m willing to pay for them, Old Sun, you name a price…”

Yan Zhuo suddenly said, “Are you kidding me?”

A young man wearing a tiger-head hat walked along the stream.

The old Daoist immediately waved and smiled, “Brother Bai Ye, come and help me testify.”

Bai Ye nodded, “It was indeed the Most Sagely Teacher.”

The old Daoist smiled, “Fatty Yan, remember not to complain about the vegetarian meals at our temple being unappetizing. Even the Most Sagely Teacher gave them a ‘well-deserved’ rating.”

Bai Ye hesitated to speak.

The old Daoist quickly winked, and Bai Ye didn’t say anything.

Before coming to the Azure Underworld, Bai Ye had accompanied the old scholar on Mount Sui, where he had seen the Most Sagely Teacher.

Because he was coming to the Profound Capital Temple to cultivate and practice the sword, the old scholar and the Most Sagely Teacher happened to mention the vegetarian meals here.

The old scholar said that the vegetarian meals at the temple were rumored to be not very good. The Most Sagely Teacher then said, “I’ve heard that they’re indeed just so-so.”

So, when the Most Sagely Teacher ate the vegetarian meal at the temple and said “well-deserved,” it was actually just a polite word for a guest who had come to the door.

The old Daoist asked with a smile, “Have you gone to that round of Radiant Moonlight with Jun Qian?”

Bai Ye nodded.

The old Daoist said enviously, “Watching the moon while lying on the green pine is ultimately not as good as lying on the moon and watching the green pine. One is looking up at the sky, and the other is looking down at the earth. The scenery is quite different.”

Bai Ye said, “It’s not difficult for the Temple Master to go if he wants to.”

The old Daoist waved his hand, “I can’t say that. Truly Invincible is lying there blocking the way. I’m old and my eyesight is failing. If I accidentally step on Dao the Second’s face, it’s an unintentional mistake, and I can just apologize. But if I accidentally step on his crotch, that would be too inappropriate.”

Bai Ye wanted to sit on a rock by the stream and chat with the old Temple Master a little longer, but hearing this, he continued to stroll forward.

Yan Zhuo finished a big bag of lotus seeds and suddenly raised his feet from the stream, asking, “Old Sun, aren’t you actually already…?”

“The world only knows that the Supreme Being is detached, and the Dao is ruthless, but man has feelings. I was born to be sentimental.”

Daoist Sun did not directly give an answer, smiling, “The grievances of the older generation, you younger ones don’t need to think too much about them, anyway, it’s useless to think. Just cultivate well and reach the peak.”

The old Daoist stood up, “As you get older, you start thinking about what happens after you die.”
Indeed, a venerable Confucian scholar from the Southern Bosuo Continent once uttered similar words. However, his audience was but a single soul, a travelling scholar from afar named Liu Xianyang.

However, the Old Temple Master soon burst into laughter, “Yet I speak of the Dao Ancestor! This old one is still young. My daily thoughts are simply focused on eating well and adding to my strength!”

Before departing, the Old Daoist turned to the chubby young man and said, “Ponder this well: why is it that under Heaven, only sword cultivators exist? The day you understand this, you will break through your current realm.”

A Wind Kite ferry had already crossed the sea and arrived on the shores of Tongye Continent. It paused briefly at the Qinghu Palace’s immortal ferry point within the serene Qingjing Mountain, then continued its journey south towards Immortal Capital Mountain.

Sun Chunwang, during a break from her sword practice today, hesitated for a moment. Ultimately, she decided to leave her room and visit Chai Wu for a while. She disliked crowds, but fortunately, Chai Wu was also a quiet soul. Aside from the occasional sound he made while drinking, he generally kept to himself, never forcing conversation. Perfect. However, as Sun Chunwang rounded a corner into a corridor, she saw a motionless sentinel standing outside Chai Wu’s abode. Sun Chunwang understood: Chai Wu was still cultivating and should not be disturbed.

Xiao Mili tiptoed towards Sun Chunwang, arriving at the latter’s side. The Right Guardian raised a hand, calculating with her fingers, and whispered, “The wood and grass still need another half-hour of cultivation. Can you wait?”

Sun Chunwang shook her head. “If I miss it, I must return to my room to refine my sword in two quarters of an hour.”

Xiao Mili’s face was filled with admiration as she exclaimed, “You two are frighteningly diligent in your cultivation!”

Sun Chunwang said, “There’s no need for you to secretly guard my cultivation later.”

Xiao Mili scratched her cheek and made an “oh” sound. Had she been discovered?

Sun Chunwang, rare traces of guilt in her voice, explained, “It’s not that I find it annoying…”

After a pause, the young girl nicknamed “Dead Fish Eyes” by Bai Xuan decided to be honest. “Actually, it is a little annoying. With you standing guard outside, it hinders my cultivation; my heart cannot find peace.”

Counterproductive, wasn’t she? Xiao Mili stamped her foot in frustration and immediately apologized. “I’m sorry! I promise it won’t happen again.”

Sun Chunwang, unusually displaying a smile, thought for a moment before explaining further. “It’s my fault for not speaking clearly. To be precise, it’s not that I find it annoying, it’s just that knowing you’re outside, knowing you’re being kind, I always want to greet you, chat with you a little, or just tell you not to stand guard. But I’m unwilling to interrupt my state of mind mid-cultivation. Back and forth, it delays my sword practice. Just forget what I said; don’t take it to heart.”

“Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.”

Xiao Mili grinned and shook her head vigorously, then patted her stomach. “Good-hearted Mountain Master said that when others are willing to share their thoughts, we must remember them well, not just hear them and forget, because the best heartfelt words in the world are not spoken, they’re seen in the eyes. So, the heartfelt words we hear are often not so pleasant. Over time, if we keep forgetting what people say, even the kindest people will become mutes. At the same time, we must learn not to take things to heart, or else no one will want to share their thoughts with us anymore.”

“Good-hearted Mountain Master even gave an analogy, saying that those sincere words that don’t sound so good are like Mute Lake Wine. At first, they might be hard to swallow, but the more you drink, the more you realize it’s the best wine under Heaven!”

“And those who sulk in silence are like wine that goes bad. They can’t drink it themselves, and when the jar is opened, no one else wants to drink it either. Good-hearted Mountain Master said that the smell of the wine is like a person’s bad mood, which accumulates. It looks like no one notices, but everyone actually knows, but they can only pretend they don’t smell it, don’t know. Over time, it seems like everyone is taking care of each other, but actually everyone is aggrieved and exhausted.”

Sun Chunwang remained silent, listening to the black-clad girl’s rambling.

Xiao Mili glanced at Sun Chunwang, cautiously asking, “Am I being annoying again? Then I won’t talk anymore.”

Sun Chunwang shook her head. This girl, who always seemed to wear a mask of impassivity, suddenly displayed a bright smile. She winked at Xiao Mili.

Xiao Mili was quick-witted and immediately understood. She grinned widely and quickly covered her mouth. She understood, she understood. The heartfelt words were in the eyes!

During that visit to Zhengyang Mountain by the Fallen Phoenix Mountain, the one with the most unfathomable realm was probably this Right Guardian, who only displayed the power of a Cave Realm cultivator.

Sun Chunwang said, “Hidden Official is so good to you.”

Bai Xuan, who was well-informed, had mentioned something: it seemed that Hidden Official was currently writing a travelogue of mountains and rivers, specifically for Xiao Mili. He had apparently asked friends for help before, but wasn’t satisfied, so Hidden Official had decided to write it himself.

Xiao Mili was oblivious and simply smiled, “Good-hearted Mountain Master is good to everyone.”

Elsewhere on the ferry, Bai Xuan knocked on the door of the room where his good brother from five hundred years ago resided. Stealthily, he pulled out a booklet and placed it on the table. It wasn’t thick.

Bai Shou picked up the booklet and looked at the names and faction affiliations recorded within, all of whom he had never heard of. He asked curiously, “What’s this for?”

Bai Xuan lowered his voice. “One day, find an opportunity to gang up on Pei Qian. I’ll lure Pei Qian out, and then wait for my signal—a glass breaking! The heroes from all directions, ambushed long ago, will all rush out at once. Pei Qian will definitely be overwhelmed. At that point, let Pei Qian admit her mistake, and we’ll consider the matter closed. But if Pei Qian doesn’t appreciate our good intentions, then don’t blame me for disregarding our camaraderie. She’ll get a good beating for sure. Bai Shou, do you want to add your name to this and join in the grand event?”

Bai Shou gasped. “Wouldn’t that be bad?”

If this list were to accidentally leak out and be discovered by a certain someone, wouldn’t that be terrible?! Who could escape? One list, one pot to boil.

The more Bai Shou thought about it, the more uneasy he became. His face was full of confusion. “Do you even know what realm she’s at?”

Bai Xuan nodded. “Of course I know! Know yourself, know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. How could I not know Pei Qian’s realm?”

Seeing Bai Shou’s hesitation, which clearly betrayed his cowardly nature, Bai Xuan shook his head and put away the booklet. “Never mind. I didn’t expect that, despite sharing the same surname, our courage and ambition would be so vastly different.”

Bai Shou asked, “Has Xiao Mili seen this booklet?”

Bai Xuan said irritably, “Do you think I’m stupid?”
Who doesn’t know that Xiao Mi Li and Pei Qian are in cahoots? They both come from the legendary bamboo house lineage of the declining Luopo Mountain. The threshold is incredibly high. It’s said that outside of Luopo Mountain, there are only two others, named Li Baoping and Li Huai, who belong to the bamboo house lineage. Bai Xuan only managed to pry this information out after several subtle inquiries with the Right Protector at the mountain gate.

Seeing that Bai Shou seemed tempted, Bai Xuan advised, “We’re not planning to gang up on Pei Qian immediately. Think about it, why is the tenth realm of martial arts also called the ‘Stopping Realm’?”

Bai Shou mistakenly thought that Chen Ping’an had revealed some heavenly secret to Bai Xuan and asked curiously, “Why?”

Bai Xuan was taken aback. Damn it, is this guy really an idiot? Forget it, can’t accept an ally like this, he’ll drag me down.

Bai Shou was displeased, “Don’t stop halfway through your explanation. Tell me, if it makes sense, I’ll write my name on the register and even put my seal on it.”

“The Stopping Realm, of course, is a realm where ‘all martial artists under heaven must halt’,” Bai Xuan patiently explained to Bai Shou. “Pei Qian’s aptitude is so-so, but her martial arts realm is so high, she has to stay put in the Stopping Realm. Isn’t she just waiting for our realms to soar and catch up to her? Doesn’t that make sense? A gentleman takes revenge even after ten years. If we can’t succeed in the short term, we’ll just endure her for a while. If ten years isn’t enough, then twenty or thirty years. With my talent for martial arts, not to mention the Stopping Realm, reaching the Mountain Peak Realm will be a breeze. Rest assured, when that time comes, as the leader of this alliance, I’ll definitely take the lead, the first to exchange blows with Pei Qian. Bai Shou, you’re family, so you’ll be the vice-leader, responsible for encircling and intercepting, preventing Pei Qian from escaping when she sees things going south. What do you say? Give me a definite answer.”

Bai Shou held his forehead in silence for a long time before squeezing out a sentence, “Let me think about it some more.”

Bai Xuan sighed, put the register into his sleeve, picked up the teapot on the table with one hand, put his other hand behind his back, used his foot to close the door, and walked along the corridor, shaking his head, “A fool not worth scheming with.”

In the neighboring room, listening to Bai Xuan’s outlandish plan, Mi Yu struggled to hold back his laughter, gave Liu Jinglong a thumbs up, and said softly, “You’ve taken in a good disciple, no wonder you can call our Lord Hidden Official a brother.”

Liu Jinglong smiled, “Actually, earlier on, Bai Shou even tried to assassinate Chen Ping’an.”

Mi Yu gloated, “So there’s a heroic deed like that, no wonder Pei Qian has her eyes on him.”

“Sect Master Liu, can I ask something?”

“You want to ask why my name on the sect genealogy is Qi Jinglong, but I’m often called Liu Jinglong?”

Mi Yu nodded.

Liu Jinglong smiled, “Before I came to the mountain to cultivate, my surname was indeed Qi. But a few years after I joined the Taiwei Sword Sect, a friend of our Sect Master Han said that I would face a major tribulation at the age of one hundred. For ordinary scholars in the mundane world, that’s nothing. Saying ‘live to be a hundred years old’ is already the best wish, but for cultivators who aspire to longevity, it’s not something to be happy about. That expert suggested to Sect Master Han that if Qi Jinglong wanted to safely overcome this tribulation, it would be best to change his surname, otherwise, he would clash with the fate of the two great rivers, and in the future, when traveling outside, he would encounter disasters if he got near water. Actually, at the time, this was a strange thing to say, because if we’re talking about ‘north and south,’ then of the three continents in the east of Vast Sky, only Northern Ju Continent has a river named Jidu, while Treasure Bottle Continent and Tongye Continent have no great rivers. But that expert spoke with certainty, and these kinds of mountain pronouncements, throughout history, are better believed than disbelieved. Sect Master Han found my master, my master found my parents, and they all felt that changing surnames, although not a small matter, was necessary to ensure my safe cultivation, so they secretly changed my surname on the sect genealogy without telling me, only those in the Taiwei Sword Sect’s ancestral hall knew about this, probably because they were afraid I would become a laughingstock. Moreover, my name was quietly removed from the ancestral hall’s family tree. According to the expert’s suggestion, when ‘Liu Jinglong’ achieved enlightenment in the future, he could change it back and add his name to both places. By the time I found out about this, it was too late to change it. So, in the later Taiwei Sword Sect, Qi Jinglong was like my real name, and Liu Jinglong was like my nickname, which was used more often. People outside the mountain didn’t know why and followed suit. Later, the Treasure Bottle Continent opened a river into the sea, and it was indeed named ‘Qi River.'”

Speaking of this, Liu Jinglong wrote the characters “Qi” and “Liu” on the table and smiled, “Are they a bit similar?”

Mi Yu clicked his tongue in amazement, “Your Vast Sky World has so many rules and regulations, so many things to pay attention to.”

Liu Jinglong said, “As for the expert who helped me change my surname, my master and Sect Master Han never revealed his background. I have two guesses myself: either it’s Zou Zi, or it’s a Knife Borrower.”

Mi Yu asked doubtfully, “Knife Borrower? What do they do?”

Liu Jinglong smiled, “They lend money to people and then come to collect the debt someday.”

Mi Yu said, “Like loan sharks in the mundane world?”

Liu Jinglong nodded, “Strictly speaking, it can’t be considered loan sharking. On the contrary, the item requested by the debt collector will always be less than the principal. This seems to be the principle established by the first Knife Borrower. So, the outside world says that the Knife Borrower lineage comes from a branch of the Mohists. Generally, cultivators are eager to do business with the Knife Borrower, especially those wild cultivators in the mountains who live from day to day, they only hate that the Knife Borrower doesn’t come knocking on their door. Chen Ping’an told me to be careful and cautious when breaking through the realm in the future, and he’s right, no matter how careful, it’s not enough. It’s not that I don’t want to repay the debt, repaying debts is a matter of course, but I’m worried that the way they demand repayment will be something I can’t accept.”

Mi Yu said, “With Sect Master Han’s temperament, since he’s willing to take on this matter for you, I believe he definitely won’t cheat you.”

Liu Jinglong smiled and nodded.

Mi Yu remembered a sword cultivator from Northern Ju Continent and asked, “Do you have contact with Liu Xu of the Mule Horse River?”

Liu Jinglong nodded, “After leaving the Sword Qi Great Wall, Liu Xu and I meet often.”

He’s a good person, you can’t find any fault with him, but his drinking habits are a bit bad.

Mi Yu joked, “I stayed in the Colorful Sparrow Prefecture for quite a while a few years ago, how come I never saw any news about this Young Master Liu in any of the landscape reports?”

Liu Jinglong said, “It’s due to the family style of the Liu clan of Mule Horse River, they are pragmatic in their work, kind and honest, and don’t like to show off.”
The Mule and Horse River in the Northern Ju Continent was a large mountain stronghold, yet not a proper sect. Though the name was unrefined, their business acumen was unmatched, already possessing the foundation of a true sect, yet hesitant to petition the Confucian Temple for the “Sect” designation. The Liu clan of Mule and Horse River had for generations engaged in river and mountain trade, amassing wealth quietly. To put it plainly, the Mule and Horse River was the largest escort agency on the continent, with a reputation far surpassing that of the Jade Forest Sect.

The Northern Ju Continent was renowned for its honest and simple customs. Many cultivators often indulged in the habit of traveling thousands of miles for a duel, perhaps over a fleeting disagreement that escalated into a heated argument. At the slightest provocation, someone would announce a location, and the two parties would engage in battle. The most famous duel in the vast world, bar none, was the intercontinental clash between the Northeastern Ju Continent of old and the then Northern Snowy Continent.

That grand expedition of swordsmen from one continent, vast and mighty, traversing the seas, was a spectacular sight later praised as “Sword light like water, water in the sky.”

Because it was a long voyage across continents, many Ju Continent swordsmen of lower realms traveled on private ferries from the Mule and Horse River. All expenses along the way were covered by the Liu clan, including immortal wine, fruits, vegetables, and medicinal cuisine. The swordsmen weren’t required to spend a single snowflake coin.

Although the duel never materialized, the Ju Continent forcefully seized the “North” title from the Snowy Continent.

From then on, the world only had the Northern Ju Continent and the Snowy Continent.

Liu Xu was the eldest grandson of the current patriarch and one of the few swordsmen among the Liu clan’s descendants. However, from a young age, he showed no hint of arrogance. In the nascent soul realm, he followed other swordsmen south across the Upside-Down Mountain to the Sword Qi Great Wall. Liu Xu slayed many demons there, yet he seemed relatively unremarkable compared to the previous Sect Master Han Huaizi and Law Enforcer Huang Tong of the Supreme Emblem Sword Sect, and the female sword immortal Li Cai of Floating Duckweed Sword Lake.

In his final battle away from home, Liu Xu fought alongside Xie Zhi, a sword immortal from the Azure Ripple Continent with humble origins as a wild cultivator of mountains and marshes.

Two swordsmen, both outsiders to the Sword Qi Great Wall, one lived and the other died. The older, with a higher realm, delivered his final sword strike, both slaying demons and clearing the path for the younger swordsman.

Perhaps Liu Xu’s only “claim to fame” was a nameless plaque above a small tavern. Claiming to be inspired by the moon and overflowing with poetic talent while drinking, he left behind the widely circulated line, “Half the world’s sword immortals are my friends, which maiden under heaven isn’t shy and coy? I wash my sword with fine wine, who wouldn’t say I’m a romantic?”

But in reality, in Mule and Horse River, Liu Xu, along with his father and grandfather (the current patriarch of the Liu clan), were notoriously known as nouveau riche and bumpkins, bearing no resemblance to romantic talent.

As a result, after that Confucian Temple meeting, the entire Northern Ju Continent knew about Liu Xu’s plaque. Over the years, proposals of marriage came to the Liu family in an endless stream, almost breaking down the threshold. Everyone congratulated the Liu family patriarch, saying their ancestral graves must have been emitting green smoke, to have produced such a talented scholar.

The old patriarch didn’t know whether to rejoice secretly or offer some explanation, and just felt rather awkward.

After Liu Xu returned to the Northern Ju Continent, he actively sought out Liu Jinglong twice, both times aiming for a night of heavy drinking. Each time, the tipsy swordsman swayed and flew his sword down the mountain, saying he hadn’t drunk enough and would come again next time.

The gatherings and partings of life are uncertain, like passing wine that seems like you haven’t even started drinking, but you already start thinking about the next round.

Mi Yu had once been curious as to why the Hidden Official had never done business with the Mule and Horse River. After all, Liu Xu was a regular customer of the tavern and the direct descendant of the Liu clan.

And the Dropped Mountain’s business had always stopped in the central Northern Ju Continent, without a single business partner in the north.

Later, he realized it was because he didn’t want to make things difficult for Liu Xu. The Great Sword Immortal Bai Chang held great authority in the north, and the Mule and Horse River was accustomed to navigating the northern mountains and rivers.

Liu Jinglong said for no apparent reason, “When Bai Shou first came to the mountain, he asked me why there were only sword cultivators, not saber cultivators or axe cultivators.”

Mi Yu was stunned for a moment, then chuckled, shook his head, and picked up his wine bowl to take a sip. “I’ve really never thought about that question.”

Liu Jinglong smiled and reached out his hand. “Lend me Brother Mi’s sword.”

Mi Yu’s natal flying sword was named “Sunset Glow Fills the Sky.” These years, he wore a sword-nurturing gourd named “Hao Liang” at his waist, a relic left by his elder brother Mi Hu, which was originally intended as a gift for the Hidden Official. However, the Hidden Official didn’t want it and instead gave it to Mi Yu. And the extremely high-grade sword, with the inscription “Sweeping Across,” was a gift from his elder brother long ago.

Mi Yu handed the sword to Liu Jinglong.

Liu Jinglong held the scabbard and slowly drew the sword. The sword light was as bright as an autumn rainbow, and the room instantly shone like daylight. Liu Jinglong gently stroked the blade with two fingers, then raised his fingers and tapped the blade, and the light flowed like water ripples.

“In ancient times, techniques rained down upon the human world. Upon the earth, all sentient beings, regardless of origin, had their own opportunities. Enlightened individuals sprung up like mushrooms after the rain.”

Liu Jinglong slowly swept the sword horizontally, and a layer of sword light condensed and remained on the table, as if separating heaven and earth.

In the next moment, Mi Yu looked around and found himself as if in an ancient primordial realm. The once-looming and twinkling stars gradually became as small as mustard seeds, and it seemed that he could grab them with a casual reach.

“Thunder techniques, the five elements, seventy-two talismanic arts, the learning of the hundred schools of thought, refining the sun and worshipping the moon, receiving starlight, geomancy…”

As the Liu Jinglong opposite him spoke, embodying the laws of heaven, various techniques and divine abilities grew on the “earth” that the sword light had laid out.

“And the first sword between heaven and earth is itself a manifestation of the Great Dao.”

“It possesses both sharpness and symmetry.”

Liu Jinglong stood up, extended a hand, condensed a point of light from his fingertip, and gently drew it downward, and a beam of sword light fell straight down.

The sword light broke through the earth, going straight into the endless void. Heaven and earth no longer had distinctions of up, down, left, right, front, or back. The earth was completely shattered, and all techniques and divine abilities were completely annihilated. Even the sun, moon, and stars in the sky were torn into a huge vortex formed by the sword light, without a trace of radiance, as if it were some kind of return to the origin of the Great Dao.

Liu Jinglong said calmly, “This is the one sword that breaks all laws.”

Mi Yu stared blankly at the magnificent scene of the birth and destruction of all things in the world, lost in thought.

After a moment, Mi Yu said in a deep voice, “The path is already there, I must enter secluded cultivation.”