Suddenly, Yang Zhi asked via a mental transmission, “Could you allow me to chat with that fellow Daoist for a moment?”

Chen Ping’an halted, adjusting his bamboo hat, as if in consultation with someone.

A moment later, the distant sound of camel bells jingled. On the ancient desert road, the bells echoed, and a figure wearing a veiled hat and a turquoise robe approached, leading a white camel.

The sun blazed, scorching the earth, the light shimmering with distortion. The drinkers at the gambling table inside the inn all turned their gazes, whispering amongst themselves. Seeing the white, lotus-root-like wrist exposed from the camel-leading figure’s sleeve, they began to speculate about the woman’s age, wondering about her appearance, whether she was a relative of the innkeeper, how old she was, and if she was married…

However, this was soon overshadowed by an even more peculiar sight. In the distance, vehicles sped across the mountaintops, hurtling towards the inn. The procession was grand, with civil and military officials, and celestial maidens, numbering about twenty, an entourage resembling the imperial envoys from those court case novels, holding ceremonial weapons, clearing the path with gongs. The only difference was that one was on the ground, and the other in the sky.

Chen Ping’an nodded to Qing Tong, who had arrived beside him. Then, he lifted his gaze, looking up to see a young man in a yellow-curtained, green-oiled carriage. He possessed a refined appearance, a face like jade, and a pair of light-golden eyes, which were looking down towards the inn. He merely glanced at the two passersby before losing interest, using an aura-observing technique. One was a fifth-realm martial artist, the other a Cave Realm female cultivator. Such a pair of Daoist companions from the mountains were more than enough to become guests of the mountain god Gong Xinzhou, but truly didn’t catch his eye.

The large table of monstrous mountain spirits gambling in the inn stopped their shouting and quickly got up to put on clothes, becoming flustered. They grabbed whatever garment was nearest, resulting in the comical scene of thin people wearing wide clothes and fat people squeezed into tight outfits. But time was short, and they couldn’t change, immediately feeling dread. Who didn’t know that the Prefecture Lord was most particular about superficial etiquette? They could only pray that they wouldn’t be unfairly targeted because of this trivial matter.

The local mountain god and the river goddess had already left the table and were outside the inn, welcoming their superior’s carriage.

The two groups passed each other, just brushing past the green-robed, hat-wearing man and the veiled “woman.”

Qing Tong walked to the table, not removing her veiled hat, but lifting a corner of it, looking at Yang Zhi. Her voice was clear as she said, “Fellow Daoist Yang Zhi, you may call me Qing Tong.”

The small concealment technique used by Yang Zhi was ineffective against Qing Tong. In Tongye Continent, Qing Tong had often seen Yang Zhi. It was impossible not to feel envy. Back then, Yang Zhi, as the former master of Yieluo River, one of the Fourteen Thrones Demon Lords, commanding two barbarian armies, held a position even above Fei Fei. He truly held great power and had a promising future.

“Please, sit.”

Yang Zhi pointed to the bench beside the table with the palm-leaf fan from his book, and smiled: “As a prisoner, I can’t be too particular about the etiquette of hospitality.”

After Chen Ping’an sat down again, Yang Zhi asked, “Did someone forget to pay for the wine?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and replied, “He hasn’t left yet. We’ll settle the old and new accounts together.”

Yang Zhi pretended not to understand the implicit meaning, turned to look at Qing Tong, and gently waved his fan, “They all say on the Sword Qi Great Wall that doing business with the Hidden Official will definitely bring a steady profit. Fellow Daoist Qing Tong has a good eye.”

Qing Tong sighed softly and frankly said: “It’s just a last resort. First, I had to exchange blows with the Hidden Official, and then take on Xiao Mo’s sword challenge. If I didn’t know what’s good for me, the Hidden Official would have moved half of the Sword Qi Great Wall to Tongye Continent. What could I have done?”

Yang Zhi smiled, “A sword challenge? Xiao Mo?”

The mention of the figure who had once recovered to his peak in the Demon Suppression Tower caused a subtle change in Qing Tong’s expression, making her even more helpless. “You already guessed his identity. Now he follows the Hidden Official and strangely considers himself a devoted retainer. He even became a guest elder of the Fallen Mountain. At the Confucian Temple, he uses the pseudonym Mo Sheng, with the Daoist title ‘Xi Zhu,’ and usually refers to himself as Xiao Mo.”

Yang Zhi stopped fanning, and asked with curiosity, “Compared to ten thousand years ago, how much has his swordsmanship improved?”

Qing Tong bitterly smiled, “I don’t know what his swordsmanship was like back then.”

Yang Zhi nodded. In the mortal realm, besides that small group of top sword cultivators, probably only she, Yang Zhi, was most qualified to say a thing or two about the level of Xiao Mo’s swordsmanship.

If these ancient great demons who had been dormant for ten thousand years could have awakened a few years earlier, and then each taken a seat in the Hall of Heroes? Would they have been able to fight alongside him and the other Fourteen Former Throne holders?

Then, in the previous battle, the great barbarian armies only needed to push forward relentlessly. He wouldn’t dare say they would have definitely taken the deep-rooted Central Divine Continent, but first of all, Southern Suvasa Continent would not have been difficult to capture, and the accomplished scholar Chen Chun’an might have even earned a good reputation? Secondly, the Liuxia Continent to the north of Jinjia Continent would have been taken by storm, and the opportunists of Aiai Continent would have only followed the wind. Especially the Treasure Bottle Continent, no matter who rules the Haoran world now, Yang Zhi could be certain of one thing, that by the end of the war, the mountains and rivers of that continent would have been shattered, resulting in the mortal realm no longer having a Treasure Bottle Continent. Su Ziliuqi’s return to Haoran would be futile, and perhaps, in addition to Bai Ye, the talismans Yu Xuan would also perish in Fuyue Continent…

Thinking of himself, he wouldn’t have had his retreat blocked, imprisoned here, having to sell wine and read books to pass the time every day.

Qing Tong looked around, saying, “It seems that the Confucian Temple hasn’t set up any landscape restrictions here?”

Yang Zhi hummed in agreement, “There was a gentleman’s agreement with the Little Master. Within a radius of a thousand li, I can roam freely. As long as I don’t commit indiscriminate killings, there are no restrictions. Moreover, I don’t need to do anything for the Confucian Temple. I suppose there aren’t many prisoners like me.”

Qing Tong sincerely praised, “The Little Master is still magnanimous.”

When discussing the Sage of Rites, they still were used to calling him the Little Master.

Yang Zhi laughed and said, “Even though our Lord Bai Ze is all-around great, compared to the Little Master, I always feel that he is still a little lacking.”

Qing Tong tentatively asked, “Is it because Lord Bai Ze is not ruthless enough?”

Yang Zhi thought for a moment, “It’s hard to say.”

It sounded like two old women from the market complaining, talking about trivial household matters.
Chen Ping’an focused his attention on the approaching carriage, treating the surrounding chatter as mere background noise. It wasn’t unfamiliar, just the subject matter was grander, unlike the gossiping of neighborhood women by the iron well back home.

Yang Zhi glanced at the young Hidden Officer, who had his hands tucked into his sleeves, and joked with Qing Tong, “Wouldn’t you say you’re inherently incompatible with sword cultivators?”

Qing Tong sighed woefully, “Who’s to say? I’ll just have to endure it.”

Yang Zhi chuckled, “Better than some, not as good as others, certainly better than me.”

If Chen Ping’an hadn’t summoned Qing Tong to chat about these trivial matters, her Dao heart might have remained still as stagnant water. But once they started talking, Yang Zhi couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration, growing more discontent the more she thought about it.

The Sword Qi Great Wall had once been infiltrated by numerous spies and assassins from the Savage Desolate World. Therefore, the Jiazi Account knew many inside stories. Furthermore, due to Ning Yao’s connection, they paid extra attention to a young outsider who wasn’t even a sword cultivator originally. Back then, even Lie Ji, a Jade Purity Realm native sword cultivator of the Sword Qi Great Wall, had secretly defected to the Savage Desolate World. Truthfully, if Lie Ji hadn’t failed on the city wall and had instead killed Chen Ping’an, who had only recently become the Hidden Officer, things might have been very different.

Perhaps the balance of power between the two worlds would have shifted immeasurably.

Alas, Lie Ji’s natal sword, “Burning Flower,” was first blocked by Mi Yu’s sword strike, then imprisoned for a moment by Chen Ping’an’s Sword-Locking Talisman, despite Chen Ping’an wearing two layers of magical robes. In the end, Lie Ji detonated his natal sword, managing only to heavily wound Chen Ping’an. Alas, things were just short; a miss is as good as a mile.

However, Mi Yu, who had begun to coast along after reaching the Upper Five Realms, was truly capable. He deserved his nickname “Waist-Chopping Mi” from his Earth Immortal days. He didn’t hesitate to draw his sword on the city wall, buying the new Hidden Officer precious time with his “Sunset Glow,” then swiftly striking down his former comrade Lie Ji, splitting him in two from shoulder to hip.

Sword cultivators from the Great World of the Azure Billow, even those of higher cultivation than Mi Yu, would have hesitated. They couldn’t match Mi Yu’s… mindless killing stroke.

Yang Zhi was present in the Jiazi Account during the incident on the city wall, watching the entire process with Grand Ancestor Tuoyue and Zhou Mi.

Zhou Mi had even remarked with a smile that it was a pity Mi Yu had stagnated for so long. Otherwise, if he had successfully broken through and reached the Ascension Realm, the Sword Qi Great Wall might have gained another Dong Sangeng.

Grand Ancestor Tuoyue had specifically asked if they could recruit Mi Yu. Sword Immortal Shouchen answered, saying that only without his brother, Mi Hu, would they have a chance to sway Mi Yu to the Savage Desolate World.

Seeing a hint of amusement in Chen Ping’an’s smile, Yang Zhi immediately sensed something was amiss. She was suddenly alarmed and said sternly, “Can you read minds?”

Chen Ping’an smiled slightly, “Don’t forget where you are right now. Do you really think this is your territory? The slightest tremor in an Ascension Realm cultivator’s heartstrings is like thunder. Even if I covered my ears, I would still hear it. What am I supposed to do?”

Yang Zhi glared at Qing Tong, who looked utterly wronged. “Sister Yang Zhi, we may be close, but don’t forget that I’m on the Hidden Officer’s side.”

Chen Ping’an suppressed his discomfort. Fortunately, this wasn’t the first time. When he traveled through Tongye Continent with Lu Tai, he had often gotten goosebumps. He would get used to it.

Yang Zhi said irritably, “Take your wine and serve yourselves.”

Chen Ping’an got up and went to the wine vat covered with wooden planks. He lifted the lid, took a bamboo ladle hanging on the edge of the vat, scooped two bowls of wine for himself and Qing Tong, and returned to the table. He asked with a smile, “Who is he? Why is he putting on such a show like a Five Peaks Mountain Lord, but only has the plaque of a Mountain God Shrine?”

Yang Zhi said, “He’s called Mei He. He used to be a Mountain Lord of a small kingdom. Due to the changing times, the kingdom changed its surname. During the transition, he made the wrong bet and was resented by the new emperor. The emperor found a way to revoke his title as Mountain Lord and demote him to a local Mountain God. Anyway, no one here cares about such formalities. Mei He is now in charge of this area of ten thousand miles of mountains and rivers. However, his cultivation is shallow; he’s just a Gold Core. The Confucian Temple obviously didn’t notify Mei He, so he doesn’t know I’m being held here, nor does he know the true origins of this place. He just treats this volcanic area as a chicken-rib location with thin spiritual energy and considers me a Dragon Gate Realm cultivator playing in the mortal world. Probably because he cultivates fire-based techniques, he rooted here and formed a Gold Core, probably wanting to collect some toll and settling-in fee from me. He’s hinted at it twice over the years, but I just pretended not to understand. I guess he’s here to give me a final ultimatum.”

Yang Zhi was too lazy to even look at Mei He. “According to the customers’ whispers, this guy was apparently an official in his previous life, and a fairly high-ranking one at that, some kind of Scholar, Minister, or Director. Adding those posthumous titles, he had a whole bunch of them. I still can’t figure out the details. He speaks so pedantically, it’s exhausting talking to him.”

Chen Ping’an took a sip of wine and nodded, “Half-baked scholars never want to speak plainly.”

Yang Zhi looked strange. Did he enjoy scolding himself so much?

The touring carriage, surrounded by clouds and mist, slowed down deliberately as it approached the Mountain God Shrine and the River Granny Temple near the wine shop, as if intentionally letting the idle drinkers prepare to receive them.

The old Mountain God was called Gong Xinzhou. According to the Golden Jade Register issued by the Confucian Temple, his official rank was now Seventh Grade.

The River Granny, a young maiden, was named Ganzhou. She managed the river near the wine shop, called Chao Qiu. Like the River Deity and the Earth God, she was at the bottom of the official hierarchy in the water and land registers, even inferior to the City God of a county.

The maiden muttered, “They’re showing off again. How annoying.”

The old Mountain God quickly reminded her, “Officials of higher ranks can crush you. Figure out how many levels higher he is than us. When you meet Mountain Lord Mei later, don’t give him that sour face like last time. The manager from Mountain Lord Mei’s mansion drank with me last time and has some friendship with me. He secretly told me that the Inspection Department of the Azure Billow Prefecture already has complaints about you. You’ll probably be at the bottom of the water and land assessment again next year.”
The young woman grumbled, “So what if I’m the worst? I’m not trying to climb the ladder or get rich. I’m just a lowly River Sprite, can’t even be demoted further. It’s a thankless job with no perks. My purse is so empty, I can’t even scrape together a Copper Summer Coin. Everyone knows my fortunes, even the City God of the county must be laughing his head off. Even if this Mei guy fires me on the spot, would those delicate Divine Maidens from the Azure Cloud Prefecture be willing to come and suffer? If anyone is willing to take this job, I swear I’m done! Let whoever wants to be a River Sprite be one! At worst, I’ll just follow old Gong here.”

The Old Mountain God nearly rolled his eyes. Follow old Gong? You’re broke! How much money have I saved up from my hard work to support your big appetite for drinking and feasting? And if you want to get married someday, you’ll have to pay for your own dowry! Gong Xinzhou could only continue to patiently persuade her, “Believe me, it’s always good to put on a smile for people. Even if the Stream is small, it’s still our own domain. We won’t be bullied behind closed doors.”

The demons, having finally taken the opportunity to change their clothes, huddled behind the Mountain God and River Sprite, frantically shaking their garments to try and dissipate the heavy smell of alcohol.

Even a skinny camel is bigger than a horse. Even though Mei He is no longer a Mountain Lord, he’s still a Mountain God with his own mansion. The Mountain God Shrine built on Horse Race Ridge is incredibly grand.

Whenever the Mountain Lord made his rounds, it was like the earth was shaking. And look at old Gong here, wringing his hands in front. He’s also a Mountain God, but his dilapidated house isn’t even fit to carry shoes or clean chamber pots for Master Mei.

Besides, there are rumors, with substantial details, that at Master Mei’s Azure Cloud Prefecture’s every sixty-year Lord’s birthday banquet, several terrifying sword lights could be seen every time.

Yang Zhi glanced at Mei He, who looked like a young man, and asked, “What’s the meaning of that jade pendant on his waist with the four words ‘Heaven’s End Breeze’? Is there any significance to it?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “It’s not a big deal, just a self-pitying complaint. It probably means he’s been exiled to the ends of the earth, far from the court, stuck in the mundane world, where the heavens are high and the emperor is far away, unable to realize his ambitions. You could call him a self-important, wealthy idler.”

Yang Zhi clicked his tongue in amazement and said, “You scholars are so insightful when judging others.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Hasn’t he ever suspected that you might be a hidden expert with a concealed cultivation?”

Yang Zhi retorted, “If you were in your hometown and met a wine seller on the street, would you think he was an Earth Immortal?”

Chen Ping’an laughed and said, “Of course I would. Definitely.”

In my hometown, what’s an Earth Immortal?

Even if Yang Zhi’s so-called Earth Immortal was an Earth Immortal from the ancient times, they still wouldn’t be much in the Rosy Pearl Grotto-Heaven.

In fact, the higher one’s cultivation, regardless of their background, the more cautious they need to be.

Yang Zhi was momentarily speechless.

He remembered that the young Hidden Official’s hometown was the Rosy Pearl Grotto-Heaven.

He was so used to thinking of this person as a native sword cultivator of the Great Wall of Sword Qi.

As for the Rosy Pearl Grotto-Heaven, since Zhou Mi considered it a place to ascend to heaven, it must be full of wonders and oddities.

The luxurious carriage slowly stopped on the ground. Gong Xinzhou tugged at the young woman’s sleeve and hurried forward, bowing and saying, “Little God Gong Xinzhou of Sweet Bayberry Mountain, and Gan Zhou, River Sprite of the Morning Stream, pay our respects to Lord Mei.”

The demons behind him imitated his actions, bowing to Lord Mei, creating a noisy scene.

“You all wait outside.”

Mei He issued an order to the officials of the Mountain God’s mansion, stepped out of the black oil carriage, landed on the ground, and waved his sleeve, “You may rise.”

Seeing that the wine-selling woman’s table had three people, two of whom were unfamiliar faces, still drinking and not getting up to greet him, Lord Governor was displeased, but he didn’t show it on his face. These mountain and swamp cultivators were probably unrefined and had never read many books. It was only natural that they didn’t understand etiquette, so why bother getting angry?

Mei He entered the tavern, raised his hand to cover his nose, and frowned slightly. The Old Mountain God wiped the table with his sleeve. Gan Zhou was about to sit down first, but Gong Xinzhou quickly stepped on the girl’s foot. The girl felt a pain and had to continue standing.

Mei He didn’t even look directly at the demons under his jurisdiction, and said calmly, “Let’s go drink somewhere else.”

The three wine tables in the tavern were finally full of customers for the first time, but the drunkards were pardoned and quickly fled the tavern.

Mei He exchanged some polite official words with Gong Xinzhou and Gan Zhou, then turned to look at the wine-selling woman and asked with a smile, “Daoist Jing Xing, have you ever considered finding a place with slightly better spiritual energy here to establish a residence?”

Half of the famous mountains and rivers of the world, places with abundant spiritual energy, were occupied by sects and immortal residences, two-tenths were occupied by temples and Taoist temples, and another two-tenths were occupied by mountain and water deities. This was the origin of the saying that a small grotto-heaven was worth more than a thousand pieces of gold. It was extremely difficult for unestablished loose cultivators to find a good place to call a dojo.

In Mei He’s eyes, this woman of unknown origin was a wild cultivator hoping to form her Golden Core here. If she had this intention, Mei He, on this tour, had brought with him a map, and would help her circle out a few places for her to choose. He was already giving her a lot of face. An initial stage Dragon Gate Qi cultivator, while he was a noble Lord Governor, the equivalent of a Golden Core Earth Immortal, seated over mountains and rivers! She better understand her place! Unless she was a Sword Cultivator, even a dragon would have to coil!

Seeing that the woman smiled but did not speak, Mei He took out a porcelain bottle, unscrewed the lid, and a floral fragrance wafted out. He sniffed it and asked with a smile, “Who are these two?”

Yang Zhi then said, “These are two mountain friends of mine. One is named Chen, and the other has the Daoist name Qing Tong. Neither are locals.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head with a smile and said, “Not friends, here to collect debts.”

Yang Zhi’s expression remained unchanged, but he regretted not casually crushing this guy to death with a finger when he stood alone on the battlefield with his sword pointed at them, the former thrones, after he had slaughtered Li Zhen.

At this moment, Yang Zhi had intentionally concealed his state of mind, so Chen Ping’an could no longer hear the so-called “heartstrings vibrating like thunder”.

“This Jing Xing, don’t let her simple clothes fool you, she’s actually quite wealthy, very rich. If Lord Mei is willing…”

Chen Ping’an raised a palm and waved it near his neck, “If it works out, we can split the profits fifty-fifty.”
The maiden river spirit of Hebo gaped.

This outlander, how could he be so fierce?

Could such dealings of robbery and murder be spoken of so openly?

The Old Mountain God was like a clay statue, silently lamenting, “I won’t be silenced, will I?”

Mei He glanced at the blue-robed guest who spoke so rashly, smiled, and for the sake of the title “Lord of Meishan,” he wouldn’t lower himself to argue.

Mei He was also too lazy to continue circling around with the woman, cutting straight to the chase, not giving her a chance to play dumb. “Daoist Jingxing, if I remember correctly, attaining the Golden Core requires the consumption of a region’s landscape vitality.”

Yang Zhi said, “Attaining the Golden Core? Are there two Golden Core Immortals under Heaven?”

Unexpectedly, Chen Ping’an immediately followed with a remark that was extremely likely to be disruptive, “There actually are.”

Yang Zhi didn’t mind Chen Ping’an’s words, but curiously asked, “Who is it?”

This was even rarer than a sword cultivator possessing three or four natal flying swords simultaneously.

From the Confucian sages’ natal characters in the Confucian Temple, to the protection of immortals and Daoists in the White Jade City, and a Buddhist Arhat’s Vajra indestructible body…

But Yang Zhi had never heard of a Qi Refinement cultivator being able to possess two Golden Cores.

Qing Tong hesitated, unwilling to reveal heavenly secrets, and vaguely said, “Indeed, there are.”

Mei He’s expression turned displeased. This woman was so unappreciative; she couldn’t blame him for teaching her how to be a guest after returning to the Mountain God’s Mansion.

But to leave just like that would inevitably damage his reputation, so Mei He asked Gong Xinzhou, “Earlier, I saw you in the tavern, looking at a book.”

This Lord Protector was clearly accustomed to only saying half of what he meant, leaving the rest to be guessed.

Gong Xinzhou quickly pulled out a newly printed album from his sleeve, still fragrant with ink, and handed it to Mei He with a flattering smile, “It’s a newly engraved album. This humble god was just flipping through it for leisure.”

The main reason he didn’t directly state the name of the album was because he couldn’t pronounce a certain character, revealing the shortcomings of the Old Mountain God who came from a military background.

Mei He took it and glanced at the preface before randomly flipping through a few pages. “This ‘Bi Sword Immortal Album,’ along with the previous ‘Hundred Sword Immortal Album,’ is just a hodgepodge. In the eyes of true scholars, it’s a laughingstock. These two albums, along with those seals, only sell well at the Sword Qi Great Wall. If they were here, heh, if we disregard the special status of the engraver, sales would be worrying.”

The maiden river spirit looked at the Old Mountain God. “The pronunciation of the character ‘Bi’ seems different from what you said.”

As for the content of the album itself, Ganzhou wasn’t interested. The work of scholars was tiring for the mind, even if it wasn’t tiring for the eyes.

The Old Mountain God explained to her in his heart, “Actually, it’s a polyphonic character. I didn’t mispronounce it.”

Mei He flipped through a few more pages. “Take this seal, for example, the characters ‘Mountain’ and ‘River,’ how could they be engraved so disjointedly? And this one, the phrase ‘Heroes,’ commits the error of being too delicate and soft. It’s obvious that this Hidden Officer has spent his effort on martial arts and sword practice. He hasn’t spent much effort on calligraphy. But it’s understandable, since he’s a Sword Immortal.”

In the preface of this album, there was a highly praised line: “The Hundred and Bi Albums spread like vines, consigned to the high shelf like solitary monks.”

Mei He shook his head and tossed the album on the table, lowering his head to sniff the fragrance of the flowers in the vase.

“Just a layman in the art of epigraphy.”

“Heh, young and undeservedly famous.”

Yang Zhi looked at the Mei Protector, who spoke with such an arrogant tone, and then at Chen Ping’an, who was smiling, and found it extremely amusing. “He’d never guess that the person in question is sitting right here.”

It was like a talisman maker pointing out flaws in Yu Xuan’s talisman skills in front of Yu Xuan himself, saying, “This is wrong, that won’t do.”

Or a cultivator practicing fire techniques saying to Fire Dragon True Man, “Your thunder techniques are passable, but your fire techniques are lacking.”

“These twenty-odd seal impressions in the rouge volume are truly of low quality. From this, it can be seen that this young Hidden Officer, even if he has some vision, his depth is extremely limited.”

“What ‘hair like clouds, teeth like pearls,’ what ‘green sideburns and slender waists,’ it’s truly vulgar and unbearable to read. It’s a pity that this Hidden Officer could bring himself to wield the knife like this. To put it bluntly, the Hidden Officer’s learning ability is very average.”

Yang Zhi was clearly gloating. She hadn’t found the Mei Protector so pleasing or his words so agreeable before.

Chen Ping’an raised his wine bowl, glanced at the pages of the album, and said, “The ‘Bi Sword Immortal Album’ shouldn’t have these seal impressions specifically describing women’s appearances.”

Gong Xinzhou immediately became unhappy. “How do you know that?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “At least the first edition of the album certainly doesn’t have these contents. If I remember correctly, there doesn’t seem to be any fancy layouts like a ‘Rouge Volume’ or a ‘Drinking Volume’.”

Gong Xinzhou sneered. “The first edition of this album is so rare. Have you actually seen it? When young people brag, they should at least prepare a draft.”

While the Old Mountain God spoke impolitely, he secretly winked at the blue-robed guest, signaling, “When you’re away from home, don’t engage in impulsive disputes.”

“Why are you so clueless, you outlander? Don’t you know how to read people’s faces? Can’t you see that the Mei Protector’s expression has already changed?”

Yang Zhi waved her fan and said with a smile, “Mei Protector, about buying the Daoist temple, I’ll personally visit the Azure Cloud Mansion to discuss it with you later. Let’s leave it for today. We have a guest.”

She was worried that Mei He would be killed if they disagreed.

Although Mei He was surprised that she had changed her mind, he didn’t think much of it. He got up to leave, boarded the green oil carriage, and headed back to his mansion as if riding on clouds.

Gong Xinzhou and the maiden river spirit saw him off. When the carriage was out of sight, they returned to the tavern to continue drinking. The wine bowls on the table were empty, so they each took a white bowl and headed towards the wine vat. The blue-robed man was already standing there. The outlander, who didn’t understand social customs, was now enlightened. Instead of just filling his own bowl, he actually took the initiative to help scoop the wine. The Old Mountain God sighed in his heart, “Why didn’t you do this earlier? Why did you have to argue with the Mei Protector over those insignificant rights and wrongs?”

Chen Ping’an sat back in his seat and chuckled, “My seals are all over the world, and there are many counterfeiters.”
Yang Zhi casually inquired, “Do you harbor any resentment towards that Lie Ji?”

Perhaps it was Lie Ji’s strike that ultimately led to Chen Ping’an’s clandestine departure from the Summer Palace, his journey into the prison, his encounter with the Seamstress, his bearing of a demon clan’s True Name, and his eventual integration with half of the Sword Qi Great Wall…

It’s truly unfathomable how many chance occurrences intertwine to create a seemingly inevitable event.

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “Resent him for what? It’s a matter without reasonable justification.”

Back then, among the native sword cultivators of the Sword Qi Great Wall, such as Xiao Xun, Luo Shan, and the Bamboo Hermitage Sword Immortal, whether they were defectors or, like Lie Ji, died defending the Great Wall, or like Zhang Lu, who chose to remain a bystander throughout…

It wasn’t necessarily the allure of benefits from the Wilderness that tempted them. Perhaps they simply found the Radiant World distasteful, unwilling to see its enduring peace for another ten thousand years.

Those sword cultivators respected Chen Qingdu, who had guarded the city walls for ten thousand years, but deep down, they didn’t approve of the Old Sword Immortal’s choices, finding them too meek and stifling.

And that Lie Ji, in fact, was one of the first Upper Fifth Realm sword cultivators to spend money buying wine at the small tavern.

Back then, atop the city walls, Chen Ping’an received a jar of Bamboo Sea Grotto-Heaven wine he had brewed himself from Lie Ji’s hands.

Little did he know that receiving that wine flask would lead to a life-or-death sword inheritance.

Chen Ping’an raised his wine bowl, lifting it slightly towards a certain direction, then drained it in one gulp.

It wouldn’t prevent them from engaging in life-and-death struggles on certain battlefields, but it didn’t preclude Lie Ji and the like from remaining pure sword cultivators in Chen Ping’an’s eyes.

Yang Zhi recalled something. “Mi Yu drew his sword on the Old Dragon City battlefield. It’s said that he left the Sword Qi Great Wall and joined your Fallen Mountain?”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

Yang Zhi asked, “He hasn’t broken through yet?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled. “Soon, perhaps.”

Yang Zhi scoffed. “What’s the point of breaking through and becoming a Grand Sword Immortal of the Radiant World? If you ask me, someone with Mi Yu’s pure sword heart should have followed Xiao Xun to the Wilderness. Staying here, especially with a registered identity, only restricts him. It’s like working in a government office, needing to report for duty even when taking a trip. What’s the point?”

“No need to judge others by your own standards.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head. “Since you’re not a sword cultivator, refrain from instructing them.”

Unwilling to dwell on the matter, Chen Ping’an glanced at the young River Granny and asked, “Selling wine here every day, you’re idle anyway. Have you ever considered taking someone from Ganzhou as an unregistered disciple and teaching her one or two water techniques?”

This River Granny of the Rising Autumn River seemed to possess a natal artifact called the Serpent-Coiled Mirror, its name derived from a grand, anonymous ancient saying.

“I observe the boundless ocean, vast and deep, with the Nine Provinces at its center, like a serpent coiled around a mirror.”

Legend has it that the origin of the Qi Refiner’s Sea-Gazing realm also stems from this.

Although the young girl’s mirror was of low grade, merely a spiritual artifact, it still represented a connection, a potential affinity, with Yang Zhi, according to the strict rules of the mountains.

Yang Zhi glanced at the River Granny, whom she found not unpleasant, and smiled. “I hadn’t considered it before. Since you’ve brought it up today, I’ll see how I feel later.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Have you two finished your chat?”

Qing Tong nodded. “If I have the opportunity to visit the Central Earth Divine Continent in the future, I’ll seek out Fellow Daoist Yang Zhi again.”

Yang Zhi smiled. “Qing Tong, do you have any miscellaneous books on you? Give me a few.”

Aside from priceless secret manuals and valuable, rare ancient books from the Abandoned Luo River’s collection, she only had a few miscellaneous books, which she had read countless times over the years. It was difficult for Yang Zhi to ask the Confucian Temple for such a small matter, and even if she had the nerve, the result would probably be a pile of Confucian classics, which would be self-defeating.

Qing Tong nodded and smiled. “A small matter. What type of books do you like to read? Are you interested in the Three Teachings’ scriptures, unofficial histories, or tales of the strange and bizarre, romances, or martial arts novels?”

Yang Zhi didn’t stand on ceremony with Qing Tong and said, “A few of each type would be good.”

Qing Tong turned to look at Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an guessed her thoughts and chuckled. “If you two can pull off something shady under the Sage of Rites’ nose, that’s your skill. Why would I stop you?”

Thus, Qing Tong felt at ease and quietly cast a spell, gifting Yang Zhi hundreds of books.

Yang Zhi gave her thanks.

Then, Yang Zhi hesitated for a moment and stared directly at Chen Ping’an, saying, “That deal I proposed earlier, do you really have no interest in it?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “It’s not entirely impossible to discuss, but you need to pay two deposits in advance. If you agree, I’ll travel to the Central Earth Divine Continent in the future and come here to drink again, and I’ll definitely give you a definitive answer then.”

Yang Zhi said, “Deposits? Tell me about them.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Your robe. Use a spell to send me a poor imitation of it. You can preemptively strip away thirty or forty percent of the most crucial Daoist meridians.”

Yang Zhi asked, “What’s the second thing?”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “Return the South Pond Lake water.”

Yang Zhi was puzzled. “The second deposit is just this?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Lord Mei should really hear this. What does it mean to be wealthy? This is it.”

Yang Zhi said, “The black dragon robe I wear is called ‘Following the Water,’ also known as ‘Fire Refinement.'”

“The robe has two extraordinary wonders. It allows seven or eight aquatic descendants of the dragon lineage to successfully follow the water, because those waterways are all under my control. The effect is no different from a grand river’s water-following. For example, that green loach that was captured and sent to the Sword Qi Great Wall prison was able to advance from the nascent soul realm to the jade purity realm by taking this shortcut. Moreover, the original meaning of ‘following the water’ is something you scholars know best.”

“Both things, I can agree to.”

Seeing that Chen Ping’an had clearly stated his conditions and she had readily agreed, the guy hesitated again. Yang Zhi couldn’t help but laugh in amusement, worthy of someone who had emerged from the Summer Palace.

Yang Zhi asked, “I’m curious about something. After you fought that battle with Li Zhen, where did you get the nerve to provoke us on the battlefield?”

If he were a fearless simpleton, it would be possible that he was truly unafraid. But the problem was that, in terms of shrewdness, the guy in front of her wasn’t lacking.

Chen Ping’an said, “It can be seen as a kind of fist-asking.”
Qing Tong explained, “That was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity, to use a foreign stone to polish jade, to sharpen a martial artist’s unwavering heart.”

Although Yang Zhi wasn’t a pure martial artist, the principles of cultivation were universal. Hearing Qing Tong’s explanation, he understood.

Chen Pingan stood up, readjusted his bamboo hat, and smiled, “Next time, we’ll split the bill.”

“Better if there isn’t a next time.”

Yang Zhi waved his cattail leaf fan, lifted his chin, and gestured towards the white bowl on the table in front of Chen Pingan.

Chen Pingan lowered his head and saw that the white bowl contained an extra layer of “wine,” and on the surface of the “water” in the bowl, there seemed to be a floating, ink-colored leaf.

He placed the wine bowl into his sleeve, clasped his hands in a fist salute to the old mountain deity and the river hag, then left the tavern with Qing Tong, their figures fading into the distance.

Gong Xinzhou and the other man waved goodbye and continued to peruse the seal manual that had been dismissed as worthless by Mei Fujun. It didn’t seem that bad. Suddenly, his shoulder tilted, and the seal manual fell onto the table. When he tried to pick it up again, he couldn’t lift the seemingly weightless manual. It felt as if it weighed ten thousand jun. The old mountain deity grunted, circulated his divine power, and barely managed to pick up the seal manual. He turned to look at the old woman and tentatively asked, “Did you do this?”

Yang Zhi pointed the cattail leaf fan in the direction the two had departed and said lazily, “It was that outsider surnamed Chen. Consider it a gift for paying respects to your mountain. Keep it safe, and be careful not to let the news leak, or Mei Fujun will snatch it away.”

The old mountain deity’s heart stirred. He quickly opened the book and found a brand new, previously nonexistent seal imprint had appeared on the last page.

“A mountain is not defined by height, but by the spirit dwelling within it.”

The young river hag stretched her neck to take a look but didn’t take it seriously. However, she noticed that the proprietress suddenly stood up, as if a true honored guest had arrived. Following the wine-selling woman’s gaze, she saw a middle-aged scholar with a scholarly air. He looked somewhat familiar. The scholar was accompanied by a impoverished old scholar, who was completely unfamiliar. The two scholars walked towards them. The Chao Qiu River Hag blinked, and the impoverished old scholar seemed to have used a spatial displacement technique, appearing next to the wine table. He patted the old mountain deity’s shoulder and laughed, “Old Mountain Deity, isn’t the seal script in the book beautiful?!”

Yang Zhi was extremely curious and asked through mental transmission, “Why has the Sage of Rites come?”

The Sage of Rites smiled and said, “I couldn’t withstand a certain person’s unusual behavior. He unexpectedly didn’t throw a tantrum or act like a spoiled child; he just silently drank alone. Even Xi Ping was afraid of him and had to notify me to put a certain someone’s mind at ease.”

Each generation has its unattainable figures.

Bai Ye, the most triumphant man in the human realm, the culmination of talisman techniques. Yu Xuan. Su Zi’s heroic spirit, Liu Qi’s amorousness.

The previous Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master, Ai’ai Continent Wei She, Crawling Peak Fire Dragon Real Person, the swordmaster Pei Min, the Dragon Slayer, Central Earth Zhou Shenzhi, Huai Yin…

White Emperor City Zheng Juzhong, Iron Tree Mountain Guo Outing. Pei Bei, Cao Ci…

But even the most triumphant figures of the Great Bright World, like Bai Ye, the unruly nature of the Dragon Slayer, the unpredictable Zheng Juzhong, would probably respectfully observe the etiquette of juniors before the seemingly ordinary middle-aged scholar.

Chao Qiu River Hag carefully asked, “Lord Sage of Rites?”

The Sage of Rites nodded with a smile.

The old scholar straightened his robes, coughed, and then coughed a few more times. The young woman was puzzled. Who are you? Even if you’re an official from the Confucian Temple, I wouldn’t recognize you. How am I supposed to flatter you?

The old scholar had no choice but to announce his name, “I am the teacher of the azure-robed swordsman from earlier.”