The Sage of Rituals finished his bowl of wine at the tavern and inquired, “What say you?”

The old Scholar, his face a crinkled map of mirth, chuckled, “A rare respite! Indulge an old man a bit longer. Even emperors don’t starve their soldiers, eh?”

Truth be told, the old Scholar was the steward of the Literary Temple and the Garden of Merit, overseeing affairs both grand and trifling. “A rare respite” was hardly an overstatement.

The Sage of Rituals hesitated, then cautioned, “Remember, tread carefully. The Literary Temple may be lenient, but I’ll fetch Chen Ping’an if you overstep.”

Few could elicit such a “reminder” from the Sage of Rituals. His principles were usually easily understood.

The old Scholar grumbled, “That was unnecessary! Show some respect with others present.”

The Sage of Rituals declared, “Then grant me your word, Scholar-Sage. I do not wish Chen Ping’an’s first plea to the Literary Temple to be for leniency on behalf of his own teacher.”

Jing Sheng Xi Ping had summoned him out of concern that the old Scholar, in a moment of rashness, would become uncontrollable.

The old Scholar straightened his robes. “Do you doubt my understanding? It is the duty of the student to shield the master, not the other way around.”

The Sage of Rituals said, “Then enjoy your wine.”

The old Scholar thumped his chest, promising, “Good wine deserves to be savored!”

With the Sage of Rituals gone, the old Scholar crossed his legs, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to imbibe.

A mere youth of forty could sit at the same table as a demon of the desolate Wilds, a ten-thousand-year-old king of beasts, bartering and settling old scores.

Dressed in a blue robe and bamboo hat, the youth was relaxed, his words flowing easily.

No matter what he said, Yang Zhi listened intently, pondering and re-pondering, hoping to glean some hidden meaning.

For the old Scholar, with such a companion, any table in the world became a source of fine vintage.

He raised his bowl, sipped the wine, and his eyes narrowed, his shoulders hunching as he shuddered with delight, a smile blossoming across his face.

Was wine truly so wonderful? On its own, no. It was the company, the events unfolding around the table.

Noticing the timid river spirit girl of Chaoqiu, who repeatedly hesitated to speak, the old Scholar chuckled, “Something to ask? Speak freely. Here, we are all equals.”

The old Mountain God started signaling for Gan Zhou to be quiet.

Gan Zhou had never been one to hold her tongue. “Scholar-Sage, why do you look nothing like the portrait in the Literary Temple?”

Having heard of the Scholar-Sage’s return to his godhood, she had once snuck into a nearby town. The Scholar-Sage in the painting was a venerable old man, dignified and imposing. He bore no resemblance to the frail, wizened figure before her.

The old Scholar laughed heartily. “Blame old Wu’s poor artistry!”

The young girl leaned on the table, curiosity burning in her eyes. “Why did Embroidered Tiger Cui Chan betray your lineage? He was once so promising.”

The old Mountain God began to intently study his own hands.

Even Yang Zhi coughed, warning the girl to restrain herself.

The old Scholar, however, was not offended. Gazing at the endless mountains outside the tavern, a landscape of varying heights and overlapping peaks, he was silent for a moment. Then, he smiled gently and said, “A student, wounded to the core by his teacher. Too clever to deceive himself, yet unwilling to speak harshly, he departed without a word.”

What is regret? That which cannot be regained, that which cannot be encountered again.

The old Scholar stroked his beard, sighing, then raised his bowl and drank deeply, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Our words can build mountains and rivers of obfuscation, or pave paths and bring forth enlightenment. Therefore, with those close to us, we must never speak in anger, never speak in reverse, and never fail to speak at all.”

Gong Xin Zhou exclaimed in sincere admiration, “Wise words, Scholar-Sage! Unshakeable truth!”

The old Scholar chuckled. “Those are the musings of my last disciple. I merely borrow them.”

Gong Xin Zhou quickly changed his tune. “No wonder Chen Ping’an could become your final student!”

The old Scholar waved his hand. “Chen Ping’an was difficult to acquire. He is a discerning judge of teachers.”

The old Mountain God thought the statement was wonderful, worthy of the Scholar-Sage.

Gan Zhou asked, “Is it true that emperors favor their youngest children? Are you the same, Scholar-Sage?”

The young river spirit was thinking of the stranger she had met earlier. He didn’t seem like a scholar, more like a rogue, adept at double-crossing. With a single gesture, he had cowed Mei Furen.

The old Scholar smiled gently. “I have so few students. I have favorites, though I do not show particular preference to one over another.”

His students, his close disciples, including Mao Xiaodong and others, were all naturally excellent scholars.

Zuo Dai Zi once asked about swordsmanship. Jun Qian sought knowledge of fist fighting. Cui Chan once set up a trap for a grand scheme. Qi Jingchun broke apart a grand scheme.

Chen Ping’an, the last student and adopted apprentice of Xiao Qi, could be said to be a collective of each of his older brothers’ strengths. Maybe he did not have that greatness yet, but his future was still something to look forward to.

Who would meet Chen Ping’an today and ask, “are you really so-and-so’s brother?” or “are you the Scholar-Sage’s last disciple?”

His students were so excellent and talented, that, other than feeling pleased, their teacher was also a little bit embarassed.

Gan Zhou thought the Scholar-Sage’s answer was insincere, and as such, she gave a pouting drink out of annoyance.

The old Scholar twirled his beard and gazed at the desolate landscape outside the tavern. The same scene, yet two different moods, created two different aesthetics. This was the heart and cultivation; even an ancient god would never think this, never feel this. To be cold and unfeeling, involuntary even, was such a pity.

The Nine Continent world placed importance on life, even in death, with the many earthen burials. And that great starry sky was perhaps a great water burial ground.

The old Scholar gathered his thoughts and smiled. “Old Gong, might I take a look at that *Bi Jian Xian* Seal Compendium?”

Gong Xin Zhou immediately produced the Compendium from his sleeves and gave it to the Scholar-Sage. He spoke shakily, “I could not accept such a title.”

The old Scholar said, “Why not? I also frequently hear such titles.”

Gong Xin Zhou nodded continuously, and his face had turned very red, at the point that he could barely speak. “I am honored to have him at my place, I am honored to have him at my place.”

The old Scholar drank wine while he flipped through the pages, until he reached the final page, where Chen Ping’an’s seal had been recorded. He smiled and handed the seal over to Gong Xin Zhou. “Look after it well. Perhaps one day, old Gong, you will be able to open up a cave somewhere on a mountain like Mei He, and take some items from the local academy. If you were to ask me, those books from the literary temple are all just items. Why go further to seek?”

Gong Xin Zhou said seriously, “I will look after them, to protect my mountain.”

The old Scholar contemplated for a while, and after drinking two bowls of wine, the thoughts flooded his mind. He then looked at Gong Xin Zhou’s temple on the mountainside, and slowly sang two lines.

“What fine mountain is this that I may be neighbour to, drawing in the dusk sun, that the flying birds flock together to return. The strange peaks before my eyes, are a sight to be seen, as I ask you to enjoy the fine scenery with me.”

“The sheer cliff is thousands of feet high, the peaks are a pivot for the sun and moon, it is pretty in the clear sky, able to raise your hand to reach the sun and moon. To support heaven and earth for all to see, I must be the one who will open this sky gate.”

The mountain deity statue in the temple was quickly covered in a golden sheen, while Gong Xin Zhou stood up in the tavern, and bowed to the scholar, taking this as an imperial edict.

This was the effect of a sage that was one with the Literary Temple, who gave life to his words.

In the lands where that scholar-sage was in harmony, he could raise the god rank of the mountains or waters, and immediately lift the levels of the gold and jade rank.

The old Scholar quickly gestured to the other to be polite. “A small matter. I did not raise Old Gong’s divine statue, I just gave some nice words. A cheap and harmless act.”

After all, he was in the Central Earth Continent, where the Asia Sage had found harmony, and so the old Scholar was not meant to trespass.

The old Scholar looked to the river spirit of Chao Qiu, happy only for the old Mountain God, with no feelings of envy or jealously. The old Scholar then gave a glance to Yang Zhi.

Yang Zhi then knew to say, in his mind, “I would like to take Gan Zhou as a non-registered disciple, so that I may teach her some water arts.”

The old Scholar laughed. “To be trapped in the remains of the alchemic furnace of the Taoism founder, yet there is a river deity that has the snake mirror, as well as the chance to live next to Yang Zhi, if this is not fate, then what is it? Chen Ping’an reminded you about it earlier, but you thought he was just asking for too much. Have you not heard, ‘All things have their roots and branches; all events have their endings and beginnings?’ Have you not wondered why Rituals put you here, yet did not limit your freedom. What was the intent?

The old Scholar drew a circle on the table. “Yin and yang goes around in a cycle. Your past few years, you have been blaming everyone, and your Dao heart has gone dim. But Rituals are being gentle, in the hopes that here, you can create something new, and that on the path of the Dao heart, you can find a greater path. Only then will there be a greater chance to break through and reach the 14th realm, instead of just relying on taking someone else’s objects, because their breakthrough path. You’ve never thought, why your people, the kings of beasts, can so easily reach the ascended realm, due to your long lifespans, but is so hard to reach the 14th. Where lies the problem?”

The old Scholar chuckled. “Firstly, it’s because you need to pay back debts. Secondly, because although you have become humans, you are not really human. Liu Cha is doing much better. You all think it’s because he is a swordsman that has luck on his side, but that is not true. It’s only because Liu Cha’s Dao heart is just like a human’s.”

Yang Zhi sighed softly, and stood up to give the old Scholar blessings. She was truly thankful for the other’s advice.

That ancient beast was also relieved, and no longer needed to worry that it might be refined away by someone in this alchemic furnace remains.

The old Scholar shook his head. “I just told you where the path is. It will still not be easy to cultivate. As a reward for the wine, I will give you one more sentence. Effort is only in the stubbornness of your original nature, and the perseverance of your Dao heart.”

Yang Zhi felt like he had taken a pill.

The old Scholar was being so polite, that perhaps one day, when he was at the literary temple, would he have a lifeline?

Yang Zhi had been selling wine here like a man in a drought, waiting for the sky to rain down, and it had been an unpleasant feeling.

This was also why Yang Zhi was so happy to do business with Chen Ping’an. To be related to that man was equal to have ties with the Scholar-Sage.

All around the worlds knew of the Scholar-Sage’s protection of his own. Especially the love of the old Scholar to his last disciple, which was unbridled.

Furthermore, Chen Ping’an was the last disciple, and that meant he was the youngest brother to those “monsters”.

Because Yang Zhi was very clear about his situation, among all those at the temple, including the three leaders, there were different opinions on his being here. If not for Rituals speaking out, then the vice leader that had worked together with Liu Qi on the seas would definitely had killed him.

However, the old Scholar smiled and said, “It is that if you do good, you are rewarded, and if you do wrong, you are punished. Good and bad, you need to pay back what you owe. Just say that it might be harder to fix your mistakes, than reaching the 14th. So I am telling you now, so that you don’t blame me when I have led you astray. I am a person, that when scolded, I can just take it in, but cannot bear to see those powerful people trample on the good deeds and good will of the people. If I see this, I will be angry, and you will have to take responsibility for my anger. Even if Rituals ask for your forgiveness, it will not work.”

Anyways, Rituals was not around, and the old man was missing. What wrong could he be doing, by saying a few drunk words?

Yang Zhi, after hearing such frank threats, did not get angry, because no matter what, the Scholar-Sage was a great cultivator of the 14th realm, who had brought about order again in the temple.

She proactively stood up, and refilled a bowl of wine for the old Scholar. The old Scholar gave thanks, and smiled. “Other than drinking wine and flipping through old books, you should still read the proper books, so that you don’t end up like a fallen flat stick.”

What could Yang Zhi do, other than nod his head.

Qing Tong had given him many books so that he could pass the time.

The river deity of Chao Qiu was dazed. Was the Scholar-Sage speaking to her?

Since she was young, she had thought that reading books was annoying. Such was her nature. Was it her fault?

Gong Xin Zhou saw Gan Zhou’s face, and, worried that she would misunderstand the scholar, immediately said, “A pretty lady is sought by gentlemen. A good heart is pretty, good looks is pretty, and so, it is the books that will add colour to a beautiful lady. So you must read the books of the sages. To be as white jade that is cold even when heated, and that the writing will grow with each strike. So the Scholar-Sage’s words in ‘On Etiquette’ are deafening and insightful! Rituals’ words of ‘the music in the hall must be sparse’ are like an echo from above! The poets of today can never match that. It’s too bad.”

Yang Zhi creased his brow. It was said that one could read for ten years from one good conversation, but as he listened to Gong say all this useless fluff, one’s book learning would be all for naught.

The old Scholar then changed his way of speaking and laughed. “If you want to jump outside of the three realms, or exist outside of the five elements, then read. If you want to go even higher, and to have no three realms or five elements, then you just need to finish the book and have no hindrance from words.”

The girl was confused, the old mountain god was thinking of how to compliment him, but Yang Zhi was shaken.

The old Scholar planned to finish three bowls of wine, before he would return to the Literary Temple. As such, he drank the final bowl slowly.

All meetings and farewells are hard to come by; each time we meet, we grow older.

History is like a brazier, holding warm ashes.

All the ashes are those that have passed. The sparks are the marks those people have left on earth.

Like the words engraved on the Sword Qi Great Wall, the books of the Sages, the songs of Bai Ye and Su Zi, the portraits of founders on mountains, the carvings on famous places. The ancestors that descendants visit every year. The old tales that people remember and speak of.

Yang Zhi suddenly said, “Scholar-Sage, you have a good student.”

“Such useless words…”

The old Scholar paused, before drinking the wine in the bowl. “I’ll hear those ten thousand times.”

The affairs of life do not last, and friends scatter like water.

Today, we have a guest who can summon lightning and move mountains with ease.

The old days may still be found, the mountain wind howls and comes in great speed.

It is like wearing green, carrying a sword among white clouds, and looking down at the mountains.

—-

In the center of the Tong Ye continent, under the Wutong tree of the town demon tower.

Chen Ping’an closed his eyes and sat cross legged, as if with his mind. He had travelled a thousand miles in his dream.

Qing Tong, with his original body and spirit, had followed the hidden official into the dream to travel the world. Only the sturdy old man that was his Yang spirit was there, on tenterhooks.

It was because Xiao Mo had once again turned to his peak form, turning a wispy form into something more than ten feet in height. Dressed in white, with white hair and bare feet, and holding a sword, he stared at Qing Tong’s Yang Spirit, and occasionally looked at the ancient tree.

It was obvious that he did not trust Qing Tong. If there was anything off, the great swordsman would chop down the Wutong tree.

The sturdy old man spoke unhappily, “We are already allies. Is it not just being careful?”

Xiao Mo put the sword to his chest, and with two fingers moved along the sword, asked with a smile. “Where is Peimin?”

Qing Tong shook his head. “After that sword fight in the rain, Peimin has disappeared.”

For some reason, Xiao Mo thought there was something wrong with the monster suppression tower.

But he had already been to every corner of the large building, and could not find any mark.

Xiao Mo asked, “The twelve paintings you set up, were they set up by Zou Zi, and were you just moving the pieces around?”

Qing Tong kept silent.

Xiao Mo then asked, “How will Zou Zi reclaim those twelve ‘answers’?”

Qing Tong was still silent.

Xiao Mo was cold. “If I ask you something, then answer it. Do I have to fight you before you speak?”

Qing Tong had to speak. He said, “How would I know what Zou Zi thinks and does? He is Zou Zi! He is not some common cultivator in the 14th realm!”

Qing Tong was praising Zou Zi highly.

There were few cultivators in the 14th realm to begin with, and what was “common” in the first place? It was that Zou Zi, who had taken half of yin and yang, was too strange.

Qing Tong then muttered, “Perhaps, just by mentioning Zou Zi’s name, we can hear it. It has reached Zou Zi’s ears, no matter the distance.”

To avoid someone, in some dynasties, you could not mention the name of the emperor in the books. But in the mountain, only some of the greatest would have such a condition. If a cultivator was to do so, then, like with a loud voice, the other would sense it.

Just then, Chen Ping’an, who was in the dream, still did not open his eyes, but smiled and said, “I have purposely made it easier for Zou Zi to take back the answers. Xiao Mo, do you remember what Qing Tong said when we came here?”

Xiao Mo understood.

Before Qing Tong had set up the paintings, he had asked Chen Ping’an “Have you ever heard of Zou Zi’s prophesies.”

Perhaps, that was the moment that the world opened.

Like an examination, Qing Tong was just the grader, and Zou Zi was the proctor.

The examination was Zou Zi’s prophesy.

So Chen Ping’an’s response to the question, was written on the paintings from the start.

It was using Zheng Jizhong’s words, “What is not true is not true.”

This meant that Zou Zi could choose whether he believed or not.

Following that, in each of the twelve worlds, Chen Ping’an’s actions and Dao heart, and whether they were from Chen Ping’an or fake, was like Chen Ping’an asking Zou Zi a question.

Since his master had long known, Xiao Mo would not bother anymore.

Furthermore, Qing Tong had brought up the name, which was enough to count as revealing fate.

Xiao Mo looked at Qing Tong like he was an idiot.

Qing Tong was speechless. OK, I am an idiot.

But were you much better than me?

Xiao Mo smiled.

Unfortunately, I am a swordsman.

Thinking and solving is not my expertise, but if you want me to fight, I’m your man.

And on a corridor on top of the monster suppression tower.

The Teacher and the pure Yang Taoist were at the rails. But they had the eyes and minds of those long ago, so Xiao Mo could not find them.

The Taoist that Chen Ping’an addressed as Grandfather, with his duster and sword on his back, praised, “This friend is very sharp.”

The Teacher nodded. “Those peak ascending swordsmen are not easy.”

When the pure Yang Taoist heard what Chen Ping’an had said, he was surprised and said. “Like a regular man trapped in the mountains, who is too careful and slips, and falls to his death. To be scheming against Zou Zi is too risky.”

The Teacher smiled. “It is what Kou Ming said, ‘That which is safe is safe. That which is comfortable is free’, as well as the old Scholar’s ‘Those who know themselves don’t blame others, those who know fate don’t blame the heavens’. To be clear, it is just like drying clothes under the sun, or taking your clothes in on a rainy day. If you forget, you forget.”

The pure Yang Taoist wanted to expand on the words to ask for advice from the Teacher, but

The Teacher seemed not to want to speak more and changed the topic. “You travelled around the clear sky, did you not steal a listen to Kou Ming?”

In his sight, he could see much earlier, when a Taoist was drinking alone under the tree. The sun was setting, and his friends were not here. He stood to his end.

The Taoist looked to have great humour and beauty.

The pure Yang Taoist laughed. “I have eavesdropped three times, but had the company of Patriarch Lu.”

The Teacher said, “Because Lu Chen had long expected what would happen in the future. He was worried that you would take too much Qi from the clear skies and the White Jade tower when you returned to the great world.”

The pure Yang Taoist said, “If Lu Chen had not left, then the great world would have had another half of the dragon and tiger mountain.”

The Teacher smiled. “That which I have is fortune, and that which I lose is fate. Flowers bloom even outside the wall.”

The pure Yang Taoist sighed, “It is hard to predict Lu Chen, but he will always view that sect elder as a model.”

By Lu Chen’s way of things, his master was one with the Dao. The higher the Dao, the better he could fight.

But Lu Chen had always admired his master. He never hid that he had left the great world to talk Dao with the chief elder of the White Jade Tower. Even before seeing Kou Ming, Lu Chen would praise him to the skies.

Lu Chen even wanted to write the biography of his master.

In Lu Chen’s eyes, his master Kou Ming held the idea of the “True Human”.

So after Lu Chen had become the Third Elder, he only called Kou Ming his “Elder Brother”, but Yu Dou was his “Elder Yu”.

As well, Lu Chen would say other strange things that nobody understood, like the root of heaven, changing into seven, changing into nine, and returning to one, the fake man…

When the pure Yang Taoist first travelled to the White Jade Tower, Lu Chen had become the Founder’s disciple.

At the time, Lu Chen was younger, and was not the same about the Dao in the world.

By the second time the pure Yang Taoist had visited the White Jade Tower, Lu Chen had already broken through to the 14th, and had the “Five Dreams Seven Hearts”.

In fact, the Taoist with the pure Yang Taoist at the time was Lu Chen’s form.

The pure Yang Taoist thought that Lu Chen’s way, such as the seven hearts, might be from the first elder’s “One is the start of change, one turns to seven.”

Such matters did exist, just that there were not many. Like someone had said something nonsensical, yet someone could make it real.

The Teacher knocked on the rail and said, “If Kou Ming was born earlier, I don’t dare say he would be one of the greatest ten of the world, but he would have a chance.”

At the time, there were two schools on how the man with “no realm” was made. One was from the west, stemming from the idea of “nothing”, and the other was from Kou Ming’s “To walk above all things, to step on nothing, to sleep in nothing.”

It was also why people from the pure skies thought that the first elder’s Dao was “similar to the teachings of Buddha”, and “similar to that of the Confucian”.

But they did not say it out of respect for the first elder, and would only speak of it to friends.

There was a monster tale in the pure sky, called “The Tale of Different Things”, saying that long ago, there was a Taoist that traveled the world, with the world changing with him.

The great old man turned to ask. “Do you think that if there was another greatest ten, out of those that were chosen by Zou Zi, how many could make it in?”

The pure Yang Taoist thought for a while and said, “In my eyes, at most, two in ten could be chosen. And before that, they will need luck to come, and a thousand years before things were set. Other than the coloured sky’s Ning Yao, and the king of the wilderness, Fei Ran, who have already won, nobody can say they will win.”

In other words, maybe four of five could become the top of the world.

With those words, the pure Yang Taoist had spoken of the fact that the cultivators in the world would fail.

With that, there was a chance that an ascending being would reach even higher, and take even more spots.

The Teacher joked, “How can we not have pure Yang Lyu Yan?”

The pure Yang Taoist shook his head. “I am a traveller. I would not be among them.”

The Teacher did not look shocked and asked, “Because the Dao can not be asked for? You want to cut your ties? Have you chosen a Dao site?”

The pure Yang Taoist nodded. “I have, but I fear that I may not leave. I may need the Teacher to help me pick someone to guard me, and say some out of context words.”

The Teacher smiled. “By chance, does it mean the answer is right here?”

Lyu Yan was helpless.

It was not that he did not like the man, but that he would need to take something out. It was not that he treasured the object, but to Lv Yan, there would be problems no matter if the ties were good or bad.

Lyu Yan said, “Can I look again?”

The Teacher said, “What are you saying? It’s not like I am forcing you. It needs to be what you want. If you agree, I still need to ask Chen Ping’an. If he does not agree, can I force it?”

—–

The rain was great, and one was wearing a bamboo hat and coat, and walking on the river. The land was mountainous, and with a step, they had walked up to the top.

This was the Qian Tang river, and in the past it was called the Zhe River. Chen Ping’an was at the mouth of Qi Li Long, where General Cao Yong used to live, who was now the duke of Baoping. His Dao site was nearby, and was a ruined relic. It was said that it had dragon qi, and where many ancient dragons were buried. But the site had been hidden so that normal cultivators were unable to enter.

Chen Ping’an hid his qi and stopped his fist intent, while letting the rain beat on him. He looked to the nearby city that was busy. The shores had many stores and halls. There were many ships as well. By local records, there were nine people that lived on the water, that were lowly and were not able to take the exams, or walk on the shore.

The old dragon’s site was not like those in the mountains or the rivers. Its doors were nearby the city, between the north-west corner of the tower and the temple.

Qing Tong lifted his hat and took a glance. “It is said that the dragon is cruel.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “The rivers are different, just like people.

Cao Yong was cruel, and would kill many.

Sensing the change, an old man wearing robes walked out of the temple, and looked to the mountains.

He was the Marquis Cao Yong, and he was a great spirit. He could see what others could not. He could see the man in green, and a woman by his side.

Cao Yong said, “Since you are already here, why hide?”

Before he was done, he had summoned the water to become a hundred-foot long dragon, that went to the two.

Chen Ping’an had just used an illusion here?

The next moment, Cao Yong was wary. The man in green just raised a sleeve, and ate the dragon. Then, he turned it out, and had it pour into the river.

Qing Tong was happy, as here, Chen Ping’an was God. What could a jade cultivator do?

Chen Ping’an stepped out, and used a power to be at Cao Yong’s side, before taking off his hat. “I am Chen Ping’an. It is nice to meet you.”

“Younger?”

Cao Yong was shocked. He did not expect to be called that.

He did not know him, so why would he act like that?

Cao Yong suppressed his questions and returned a blessing. “I am Cao Yong. Greetings, Official Chen.”

Cao Yong stepped aside and put out his hand. “Please come in.”

There was a small gate, and the words “Another World” in gold. There was a line as well.

“In a cave, one can see the cave. Outside the world, one can create another.”

Qing Tong peeked past his hat and looked to the lines and said, “In a cave, one can see the cave. Outside the world, one can create another.”

Qing Tong quickly changed what he said. “In a cave, one, can see the cave. Outside the world, one, can create another?”

Cao Yong asked, “Can I ask, are you Ning?”

Chen Ping’an was speechless.

Qing Tong rolled his eyes. What eyes did this old man have?

No wonder he was only half a jade.

Cao Yong knew he had spoken wrong, and acted like he had not said anything. He led them into the site.

Inside, there were blue jade stairs and beds made from coral, and lamps made of crystal. It had every treasure in the world.

What was bad was that there was nobody here. It was lifeless.

After learning what the hidden official was here for, Cao Yong asked, “Why would you look for me?”

Chen Ping’an said, “I have an elder. My disciple and I learnt fist from him. He is an old friend of Old Man Cao.”

Cao Yong thought for a while and asked, “Is it Cui Cheng?”

It was not hard. What master of fist could there be other than Song Changjing or Cui Cheng? If Cui Chen’s grandson, Xiu Hu Cui Chan, had not been a disciple, the answer would be Song Changjing. Chen Ping’an had also said that he was his friend, so it could only be Cui Chen.

And Chen Ping’an smiled.

In the past, Cao Yong was to have reached Jade in the past, but there was a drought. Cao Yong could only use his original form to draw the sea into the river. This was going against his Dao. Now he had no manager, or else he would be skinned and have his head removed.

Before that, Cui Chen did not like him much, and had come to his door to ask about fist.

After that, Cui Chen was more impressed, and started to visit and ask about wine.

However, Cui Chen never spoke of the past, as if nothing had happened.

It was said that he would speak of it to the younger ones, like Nuan and Xiao Mi Li.

Nuan would listen well, but Mi would shake her head.

Chen Ping’an introduced Qing Tong as someone from Tongye.

Cao Yong had not heard of it, and treated him as an elder that did not show his face much.

Qing Tong’s first words had Cao Yong impressed.

“Marquis, you have some karma with the pure Yang Taoist.”

Cao Yong did not think much of it and said, “I was fortunate to hear a man calling himself a pure Yang, speak of the Flame Scripture. By which I managed to break through. It’s a shame I am not able to repay him.”

When the stranger had come and spoken, the Dao appeared, and it had rained fire.

After that, it was easy to go up. It was like passing the exam and taking the test again.

Cao Yong, after learning of Chen Ping’an and Cui Cheng, agreed to burn incense.

Cao Yong then asked, “There are guests. Friends of mine. Do you want to meet them?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “It’s up to you.”

In fact, Chen Ping’an had noticed them earlier.

On a boat, there were three cultivators and two water gods.

Seeing that Chen Ping’an was so polite to the dragon, Qing Tong wondered why the hidden official was not so courteous to him.

Cao Yong did not know this and brought Chen Ping’an to welcome the boat.

The boat had five people who were all drinking and laughing. They were cultivators.

What they talked about was cultivation, with each of them having their own thoughts on the most important realm.

Someone said it was the staying realm, and that Liu Qi had created a way to get a cultivator to the heavens.

Then there were those who said it was the cave realm. The reason was that cultivation had many ways, but it was only about opening and closing. By closing the door, one could be in the mountains, and by opening the door, one could be in the busy world.

There were those that said the looking at the sea was the most important. A cultivator here was looking at the sea, but had the greatest aura. Someone had said that the world was like a snake holding a mirror. While the others were higher, they could not compare.

Cao Yong then took them to the boat.

It was a dark day, and they did not need to use any illusions.

The people on the boat saw the three and were happy. A woman floated out, and was shy looking at the man in the hat. She fixed her hair and said softly, “My place is too secluded, and I am so sorry.”

Qing Tong clicked his tongue.

Chen Ping’an bowed. “Nice to meet you, the river of Green.”

The river god Wang, was long, but had a mask. He greeted Chen Ping’an. “It is so good to see you.”

Wang was a weak scholar who had married a dragon. The dragon had then stepped down and given Wang the throne. To control the monsters, the dragon had given Wang a ghost mask that would show a beast.

Chen Ping’an gave thanks and said, “It is good to meet you.”

The girl with the gun and the dull man just nodded, and Chen Ping’an nodded back.

The old man with the nose, Chen, laughed and said, “Are we cousins?”

Chen Ping’an said, “We can be, just.”

The old man said. “No wonder Ruan did not like to speak of you.”

Chen Ping’an smiled.

The old man then asked, “Earlier, we were speaking of which of the twelve realms was the most important, what do you think?”

Chen Ping’an looked seriously. “All are important.”

The old man froze, and then gave a thumbs up. “Wise!”

Afterwards, Cao Yong had them go in first, as he wanted to show Chen Ping’an along the way.

Before Chen Ping’an left, he had asked the man about an event.

The old dragon held his belt and said, “Those who walk the Dao, deserve to walk the Dao.”

After the