Within the pavilion, the atmosphere had become much more harmonious.

Upon hearing that the Autumn Dew Temple’s Daoist Lu was actually a distinguished guest who had ascended the mountain with Mountain Lord Chen, a sudden hush fell over everyone.

Disbelief was, of course, expected, but no matter how preposterous it seemed, they had no choice but to believe it; after all, who would dare fabricate such a tale?

The previously languid female cultivators all adopted a serious expression, and the young Daoist now seemed even more handsome.

The young Daoist, resembling a storyteller from the mortal realm, began to reminisce, “Though I and Mountain Lord Chen are not from the same hometown, we met in our humble beginnings and became friends in hardship, kindred spirits at first sight. To put it more elegantly, it was a meeting of two youths. At that time, neither I nor Mountain Lord Chen had achieved any renown. We took a liking to each other and traveled together. Once, we spent the night in a City God Temple and dreamt of wandering into the Bureau of Wealth and Advancement. We saw the official in charge, resembling a judge with a purple robe and jade belt…”

A woman, hearing this, couldn’t help but interrupt, asking with doubt, “Does the City God’s bureaucracy really have a Bureau of Wealth and Advancement?”

Whether it was the grand Capital City God Temple in Dream Liang Kingdom, with its many offices, or the numerous county City God Temples with fewer departments, it seemed none had such a bureau.

The women in the pavilion shook their heads, clearly having never heard of it.

The young Daoist sighed, “Indeed, that’s the strange thing about it. Anyway, I saw many strange and supernatural things. For example, City God’s clerks were escorting a group of criminals. The City God was holding a night trial, and among them was a woman with a rope around her neck, dressed in red, with a sorrowful expression. She habitually looked up, slightly sticking out her tongue. There was also a woman wearing shackles, walking in the corridor as if in water, her black hair floating like seaweed. Then, five young masters resembling noble sons came with a large entourage of beautiful concubines and maids, seeking out the head of a minor bureau in the City God Temple to drink. Late at night, there was a woman in a white dress riding a white horse, claiming to be surnamed Bai, a rogue immortal cultivating under Green City Mountain, who came here for a brief rest… In short, a myriad of strange and peculiar events, dazzling the eyes. It was like seeing a hundred years of human affairs in a single night.”

“After waking up from the dream, I pondered over it and consulted some ancient books, but like you, I couldn’t understand it. I didn’t dare take it seriously. Fortunately, relying on the stone that raised me, I had some relatives. Coincidentally, I had some connection with a relative of the abbot of Autumn Dew Temple of the Divine Decree Sect. The abbot, seeing my exceptional aptitude, was unwilling to accept me directly as a disciple, but instead accepted me as a disciple on behalf of his master. From then on, I officially began my cultivation. As for Mountain Lord Chen, after our separation at the Bureau of Wealth and Advancement in the City God Temple, he had great fortune. He was truly like a dragon fallen into the mud, trapped and unable to move, with mosquitoes covering his scales, confined in a cage. Finally, one day, in the darkness of wind and rain, waiting for a clap of thunder, the mud dragon in the pond would shake off its shackles and soar into the sky!”

“Two flowers bloom, each telling its own story. I won’t go into detail about Mountain Lord Chen’s many heroic deeds after that.”

“Let’s just say that after I cultivated immortal techniques, I lived a secluded life in the mountains. When I was tired of stillness, I began to travel down the mountain, experiencing the mortal world. I vanquished demons and slayed ghosts, enjoying myself immensely. I even won a great reputation in the martial world. As I traveled, I came to a famous historical site, separated by a great river, with two mountains facing each other. Since ancient times, it was said that the tortoise and snake locked the river. But guess what happened? Such a place rich in water luck encountered a drought unseen in centuries. The people suffered. Although I had cultivated immortal arts, I still had a kind heart. I performed a hand seal and used Autumn Dew Temple’s secret Water-Cleaving Technique to part the waters and go to the Water Mansion upstream to demand an explanation. Well, they didn’t take me seriously at all and simply turned me away. I endured it and went downstream to the Lake Lord’s Mansion at the old Dragon Palace site, wanting to borrow water from this Lake Lord to flood the upstream riverbed, but still to no avail. I was so angry that I had to take matters into my own hands. I didn’t sleep for several days, painstakingly researching an immortal talisman. Perhaps my innocent heart moved the heavens and earth, and I mastered this talisman with an extremely high barrier. I bathed, changed clothes, and fasted. I went to a high building by the river, burned the talisman, and mixed it into the wine. Then, I only drank half a cup of wine and threw the cup out of the building. The wine poured out like a waterfall, and a constant stream of water flowed into the dried-up riverbed where not even a single fish remained. From then on, the river surged, and the vegetation flourished…”

The female cultivators in the pavilion exchanged glances.

Should they applaud and cheer, or question him? Daoist Lu, although you are a Middle Fifth Realm cultivator, you are only at the lowest level, the Cave Realm. Saying that the “great talisman” had an “extremely high barrier” seemed a bit exaggerated.

It should be noted that there was a Sea Gazing Realm cultivator and two Cave Realm Qi Practitioners sitting in the pavilion.

Qing Tong began to move away, not intending to continue listening. Sect Leader Lu was becoming more and more unreliable.

Others who boasted did so in a grand manner, exaggerating their own achievements. Lu Chen was different, doing the opposite?

By the time an old man in yellow robes arrived at the pavilion, the ladies had already dispersed. Only a young Daoist with a fish-tail crown was sitting cross-legged on a long chair, yawning. An empty wine pot lay at his feet. He had spent a tankful of saliva helping the fairies with fortune-telling and storytelling, so he needed a little wine to moisten his throat and refresh himself.

Lu Chen saw the young Daoist hesitating outside the pavilion and waved, smiling, “Sit down and chat.”

Only then did the young Daoist dare to step onto the platform.

In the previous illusion, the two sides had not actually chatted. Lu Chen had quickly sent the young Daoist out.

Lu Chen asked, “Senior Peach Pavilion didn’t tell Li Huai about my identity, did he?”

The young Daoist shook his head, “I wouldn’t dare to create unnecessary complications.”

First, there was the young Hidden Official’s almost threatening reminder, and then the White Jade Capital Sect Leader Lu’s warning. At this moment, the young Daoist lacked confidence and was not arrogant.

Lu Chen smiled and said, “Chen Ping’an said those harsh words to you. Didn’t you feel unhappy in your heart?”

The young Daoist twitched his lips, “Chen Ping’an is ultimately doing it for my young master’s good.”

Lu Chen rubbed his chin, “That statement is both right and wrong, but it’s not entirely accurate.”

The young Daoist humbly sought guidance, “I implore Sect Leader Lu to enlighten me.”

Lu Chen said, “Chen Ping’an is from Mud Bottle Alley, you know that, right?”

The young Daoist nodded, “Of course.”
That alleyway, ah, it’s a place where dragons hide and tigers crouch! Chen Ping’an, Great Li Prince Song Mu, the True Dragon King Zhu, White Emperor City’s Gu Can, even the ancestral home of Sword Immortal Cao Xi from South Po娑洲 is located there.

Lu Chen leaned against the railing, languidly saying, “Back then, in that alley, there was a little brat nicknamed ‘Snot Nose’ by Chen Ping’an and Liu Xianyang. Hmm, that would be the youngest disciple of our White Emperor City’s Mister Zheng.”

The young Daoist murmured, “The geomancy is terrifyingly good.”

Lu Chen raised a hand, pointing in a random direction, “One of the five greatest fortunes of the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, placed openly on the table, was a little mud loach. Chen Ping’an personally fished it up from the paddy fields. Gu Can coveted it, but Chen Ping’an always treated him like a half-brother, so naturally he wouldn’t be stingy and gave it to Gu Can. Gu Can raised it in the water tank at home. Later, he encountered Liu Zhimao, the River Interception True Lord of Shujian Lake, and became his disciple. Mother and son followed Liu Zhimao to Qingxia Island. After a parting of ways, the fourteen-year-old straw sandal boy began his journey to Great Sui, to escort Qi Jingchun’s students to Cliff Academy. The youngest in that group was Li Huai.”

Lu Chen flicked his sleeves, “Chen Ping’an doesn’t want to repeat the same mistake.”

The young Daoist said, “I hope Sect Leader Lu can explain the reason in detail.”

Lu Chen sighed. “I’ve already said this much, and you still don’t understand?” He looked helpless, shaking his wine pot. He still lifted his wine bowl and tilted his head back, only to have a few drops of wine enter his mouth. He wiped his mouth. “That little mud loach’s good fortune was personally given to Gu Can by Chen Ping’an. Gu Can was young at the time, so what Daoist heart or lack thereof was there to speak of? What did Chen Ping’an say to you earlier, ‘A man with a sharp blade will naturally have a murderous heart,’ right? In that Shujian Lake, which could be considered a ‘small wilderness world’, owning a Nascent Soul realm water dragon as a bonded beast, for a mere child, was both a life-saving talisman and a…an unmatched firewood knife, like walking into a large field of rapeseed flowers. An unruly child, without restraint, holding a firewood knife, naturally sees only the slender and delicate rapeseed flowers. Acting on impulse, chopping at will, they might not be able to see the snakes and insects hidden in the fields, or the owners of those rapeseed flowers.”

“At the same time, that little mud loach, for the sake of its own Great Dao’s continuous advancement, naturally had to eat its fill. For a dragon, what cultivation path is faster than directly eating Qi Refining cultivators? This is the little mud loach’s nature, and it resonated with Gu Can’s own heart. The master and servant, like a kind of…small harmonization with the Dao, coupled with Liu Zhimao’s cold-eyed observation, naturally resulted in a murderous heart arising and a fierce nature erupting.”

“That’s why Chen Ping’an was almost tormented to the point of complete mental collapse by his senior brother, Cui Chan. If I remember correctly, he once said to Gu Can, ‘I’m sorry, I’m late.'”

“Of course, Li Huai and Gu Can’s character, though they seemed like similar children back then, were fundamentally very different. Two people of the same age, seemingly both timid, Gu Can was timid because he knew he was weak, while Li Huai only dared to be fierce at home. But precisely because he had a warm family, and Li Huai knew the goodness of his family from a young age. Gu Can and Li Huai, like two different lives, one extremely unhappy, wanting to make the future days a little better, the other a poor family, seemingly living a hard life, but actually the family sitting together by lamplight, loving and dear, which is an extremely rare stroke of luck, so the future is about maintaining this hard-won goodness.”

“So, if Li Huai is led astray in his Daoist heart by you, becoming someone that Mr. Qi, whom Chen Ping’an holds in his heart, would be disappointed in, you will die, definitely will.”

“You rely on your cultivation realm and have always looked down on a young Hidden Official with a low cultivation realm, but you don’t know that from the first day Chen Ping’an learned that you had become Li Huai’s retainer, he began to prepare a book for you. When he participated in the Wen Miao discussions, at that Mandarin Duck Isle, you thought you were showing off your power and feeling quite pleased with yourself, but Chen Ping’an was always observing coldly. So today, upon arriving at Lou Mountain, he’s speaking to you frankly, to avoid…in the future, when he beats you to death, Senior Tao Ting still feels wronged.”

Lu Chen sighed, extending a finger and pointing at the old man in yellow, “Earlier, when I squatted on the road and cursed a stone as a stumbling block, did you think I was just full and had nothing better to do than talk nonsense? And that strange saying about ‘humans eat hot rice, dogs eat hot shit’, do you taste the aftertaste now? Alas, Senior Tao Ting, what are you thinking? That expression…you’ve misunderstood me! I’m not saying you can taste the aftertaste of eating hot shit, I’m saying that there’s meaning in my words, an unspoken meaning. A Daoist like me, when speaking and chatting, can’t be too straightforward, I have to add some mysterious meaning to match my status.”

The young Daoist looked embarrassed and could only say against his conscience, “Sect Leader Lu is skilled in profound words, both witty and with a profound meaning.”

Lu Chen chuckled, turning to look at the landscape outside the pavilion, “If we regard every mountain, every river, every person as a single word in an article, then you have missed too much. In my many years of cultivation, I have been diligently pursuing a ‘faultless’ Daoist, and those who can approach faultlessness are few and far between. Chen Ping’an can be considered one, of course, he is still the youngest, and temporarily still the one with the lowest Daoist cultivation.”

The young Daoist cautiously asked, “Why is Sect Leader Lu willing to offer me guidance?”

Lu Chen sighed, “You, a soaring realm grand cultivator, aren’t you also a word? Still such a big word, standing before my eyes, how could I miss it?”

It’s difficult for people to be without faults, and life is full of missed opportunities.

Missed opportunities, missed people, repeated contemplation, all are faults, faults of the past.

Lu Chen looked troubled, repeatedly looking up at the sky, wondering if he should leave without saying goodbye, just slip away.

Even if it’s destined that you can’t avoid the fifteenth, you can’t avoid the first. But as long as you avoid the first, doesn’t that mean you have fourteen more days of peaceful life?

The young emperor of Mengliang Kingdom, the Water God Maiden with the surname Nalan, and the Plum Mountain Lord, were still either sitting or standing, remaining in the pavilion.

Huang Cong hoped that the two of them would be more casual, but the two mountain and water deities were just adhering to the etiquette between a ruler and his subjects. In fact, this is not a common thing in the mountain and water officialdom. The Five Mountain Lords of a country and the highest-ranking Water God within the country don’t need to act like this when meeting the emperor and monarch.
However, Mei Shan-jun, being a heroic spirit of a former dynasty’s military general, recognized this young Emperor from the bottom of his heart. With even Mei Shan-jun unwilling to take a seat, Nalan Yuzhi, whose rank was equivalent, had no choice but to keep him company.

Suddenly, a young Daoist popped up. Nalan Yuzhi subtly performed a hand seal, smiling as she said, “You’ve got a lot of nerve, trespassing on private property.”

The young Daoist immediately began to feign madness, “Ah? Could this humble Daoist have come to the wrong door? Well, fancy that! It seems this little Daoist is destined to be with this beautiful lady.”

Wearing a fish-tail crown, he was clearly an ordained Daoist of the Divine Edict Sect.

In Treasure Bottle Continent, no one dared to disregard the Divine Edict Sect’s golden rules so brazenly as to impersonate one of their Daoists.

Mei Shan-jun glanced at the Daoist and said telepathically, “Your Majesty, this Daoist is indeed from the Divine Edict Sect. He has a lantern hanging behind him with the 秋毫觀 (Qiu Hao Guan) secret inscription. He is one protected by his sect’s ancestors. He appears to be merely a Dragon Gate realm cultivator, but he is actually a Golden Core Earth Immortal, though he probably just formed his core a few years ago. His aura is unstable.”

Nalan Yuzhi frowned, “How did this fellow get in? Why didn’t he cause even a ripple of Qi?”

Mei Shan-jun scoffed coldly, “Who knows?”

Huang Cong signaled them not to be alarmed. Visitors were guests. Among these mountain cultivators who feast on dewdrops and bask in the sunset, most were celestial and virtuous, but there were also quite a few with eccentric temperaments, unorthodox techniques, and a fondness for wandering the mortal realm.

“Since I’ve come to the wrong place, this humble Daoist will just make the best of it.”

The young Daoist scurried up the steps, stopping abruptly with his hands clasped behind his back, looking down at the clearly decided chess game, nodding, “The one playing white is a top-tier master.”

The Water God Maiden raised her hand to her brow. Leaving aside his Daoist arts, he was certainly a terrible chess player.

Huang Cong remained calm and unperturbed, smiling as he asked, “May I ask why the Daoist says so? I think black is sure to win.”

He himself was playing white.

“Playing chess is the most boring thing in the world. Gambling has its losses even for the high rollers, but chess only has losses for the unskilled.”

The young Daoist picked up a white piece in one hand and a black piece in the other, helping to place them on the board, the sounds clear and melodious. While placing the pieces on the board, he smiled and said, “At a gambling table, unless you’re cheating, even the most skilled gambler can have bad luck. Even if they encounter a rookie, if the rookie has good luck, like rolling sixes every time, the expert will still lose money. But in chess, even if a master makes a mistake or a blunder, a novice’s skill is simply not refined enough. Even so, when facing a strong opponent, the difference is only a half or a full piece. It will never happen that all the black pieces are dead and all the white pieces are alive.”

“As for those real chess masters, they have no reason to lose against weaker players. For example, Embroidered Tiger Cui Chan, or Zheng Juzhong, or…”

The young Daoist straightened his back and tugged at his Daoist robe collar, “Like my senior brother…”

He paused slightly before continuing, “…of course.”

The Water God Maiden scoffed, “Is Cui National Preceptor’s name something you can casually call?”

The young Daoist shook his head and smiled, “If you can’t call out a name, what’s the point of having one?”

“Oh, the direction of this game is not quite what I expected.”

As a result, the three people in the pavilion saw the fellow wipe the entire board, scattering the pieces.

“This humble Daoist takes back everything I just said, haha, takes it all back.”

Huang Cong couldn’t help but laugh, “Daoist, you are a fascinating person. May I ask your honorable name?”

“Divine Edict Sect, Autumn Haze Temple, Lu Fu. I have no Daoist title yet. Even Celestial Sovereign Qi rarely sees me.”

Nalan Yuzhi covered her mouth and chuckled, “That makes sense. Daoist Lu rarely sees Celestial Sovereign Qi, so of course, Daoist Lu rarely sees Celestial Sovereign Qi.”

The young Daoist chuckled, “This lovely lady speaks so beautifully. Her voice is crisp, like summer plums and white porcelain soup, the sound of ice colliding against the walls. She’s so insightful, a true beauty with a golden voice, jade-like charm, and a brilliant mind, a flower who understands.”

“Oh, looking at the lady’s attire, it seems to be just like mine. Are you an admirer of Su Shi?”

“What a coincidence! This humble Daoist once had the good fortune to travel with Su Shi for several months, exchanging poems, discussing Dao, and talking about Zen. What could be more delightful?”

Huang Cong coughed a few times, unsure how to advise this Daoist Lu. He was being too familiar.

Nalan Yuzhi teased, “Oh my, wouldn’t you say that’s like a dog coming in through the curtain with its mouth open?”

The young Daoist was not annoyed in the slightest, but instead said something out of the blue, “If only I had let a certain senior follow me here, that would have been just right.”

Mei Shan-jun’s face tightened. Telepathically he said, “Your Majesty, I can’t stand it anymore. Can we issue an expulsion order and throw this fellow out?”

“Don’t be like that. I am also very familiar with the originator of the expulsion order in the mortal realm…”

Mei Shan-jun was shocked. Could this Daoist actually hear his thoughts?

Before Mei Shan-jun could warn the Emperor and Nalan Yuzhi, the Water God Maiden turned to look toward the entrance, telepathically reminding the young Emperor, “Your Majesty, someone has come to visit. It’s… the Fallen Mountain’s Mountain Lord, Chen Ping An!”

The young Daoist was acting suspiciously, as if he was about to slip away.

But Nalan Yuzhi grabbed his arm, “Daoist Lu, where are you going? According to you, you shouldn’t miss it if you pass by.”

The young Daoist shook his arm, as if unable to break free, then gently patted the Water God Maiden’s hand, his eyes sincere as he said, “Where I came from, I shall return. May our paths be long and may we meet again in the future.”

Mei Shan-jun simply stopped speaking telepathically and said directly, “Daoist Lu is a highly accomplished person. Since you can hear Mei’s thoughts, you must be a Nascent Soul deity, right?”

The young Daoist laughed, “Easy to say, easy to say.”

Nalan Yuzhi wanted to let go, shocked to find that she couldn’t, as if she were stuck to a piece of taffy.

Unlike Chen Lingjun’s and Li Huai’s residences, this residence was of course guarded by experts from the Mengliang Kingdom. They soon respectfully led the young Hidden Officer who had announced his name to the pavilion.

Chen Ping An glanced at Lu Chen’s Yin spirit.

Lu Chen immediately shook his arm vigorously, freeing himself from the Water God Maiden’s slender hand. He was in a state of shock, trembling as he said, “This handsome young man looks so familiar! Could he be the Fallen Mountain’s Mountain Lord, the closed-door disciple of the Sage of Literature’s lineage, the last Hidden Official of the Summer Retreat Palace, the Sword Qi Great Wall’s second-in-charge, and my close friend Chen…”
Chen Ping’an, his face darkened, said, “Go cool off somewhere else!”

“Alrighty!”

This Nascent Soul Yin God of Lu Chen, with a hop, skipped away, “See you, see you! This Daoist will be waiting for you at the Millennium Pavilion.”

In a flash, he vanished without a trace.

The three within the pavilion, including the Emperor Huang Cong, seemed utterly dumbfounded.

Huang Cong snapped back to reality, quickly stepping out of the pavilion, but found himself speechless, his expression awkward.

It was originally a simple matter, but with Lu Daoren’s meddling, it became difficult even for the young emperor to address Chen Ping’an.

“Sect Leader Gao is being unkind, claiming he wouldn’t let me pass unless I met with His Majesty,” Chen Ping’an said, taking the initiative to break the ice. He cupped his fist and smiled, “As for that Lu Fu of Autumn Hairs Temple, Your Majesty, please disregard him. He’s not right in the head, can’t tell up from down, and often acts foolishly.”

Huang Cong, in the manner of a Confucian scholar, bowed, “Huang Cong of Dream Ripple Kingdom, greets Mister Chen.”

Mei Mountain Lord’s expression turned solemn as he clasped his fist and said in a deep voice, “Song Mountain’s Mei Yu, greets Hidden Official.”

The Water Goddess gracefully stepped aside and performed a Wanfu curtsy, “Nalan Yuzhi of Hope Moon River Water Mansion, greets Sword Immortal Chen.”

Entering the pavilion alongside the young emperor, Chen Ping’an tugged at his azure robe and gently sat down.

The pillar couplet of the pavilion was a Dragon Gate pair:

*Expand your vision and see, that for centuries old families in the world, nothing is more important than accumulating virtue and doing good deeds, as there are gods three feet above your head.*

*Thus it should be said, that the greatest good deed in the world is to aspire to study, for diligence never fails those who put their hearts into it.*

Chen Ping’an smiled and went straight to the point, “I heard my disciple, Pei Qian, mention Your Majesty, saying that back at the battlefield of Dali’s secondary capital, there was a member of the imperial family who didn’t value his life at all, charging into the fray as a cavalry general on multiple occasions.”

Huang Cong’s face took on a bitter expression, “It’s true that I wasn’t afraid to die, and it’s also true that I almost died.”

Whether Huang Cong was on that battlefield or not, it wouldn’t have made much difference, he was dispensable.

But to say that so many Dream Ripple Kingdom soldiers who had resolutely and bravely sacrificed their lives had died in vain? Absolutely not! Yet to say that he had truly achieved anything of great merit seemed far-fetched.

Anyone who had thrown themselves into the battlefield, as long as they had personally experienced those tragic battles, would have to admit one thing: the elite soldiers of the mortal dynasties, facing those cultivators from the mountains, watching those immortal spells that could move mountains and overturn seas, would feel despair… So much so that these years had passed, the young emperor would still often wake up in a cold sweat, unable to fall asleep, tormented by sleepless nights, with the sounds of clashing metal and war drums seemingly still ringing in his ears.

The young Hidden Official seemed to see through the young emperor’s inner turmoil, shaking his head, “To win that war back then, both those from the mountains and those from below had to be unafraid of death. If those below were afraid to die, then even if the number of cultivators in Treasure Bottle Continent doubled, in the end, they wouldn’t even be able to hold onto that central great river defense line. It would become the second Tongye Continent, swept over by the desolate demon clans all the way to Northern Ju Lu Continent. Treasure Bottle Continent doesn’t need a Dream Ripple Kingdom to fight a war, but if Treasure Bottle Continent didn’t have Dream Ripple Kingdoms, it would lose without a chance. Perhaps all that would be left of the vast world would be the Central Earth Divine Continent.”

Mei Mountain Lord’s eyes shone with brilliance, unable to help but exclaim, “Well said!”

Nalan Yuzhi also gently nodded.

The young Daoist had already returned. Lu Chen’s true body here retracted his Nascent Soul Yin God, lying on the long chair, legs crossed, swaying them back and forth.

The pavilion’s plaque read “Millennium,” and the most unusual thing was that, unlike plaques and couplets elsewhere, where the latter text far exceeded the former, this pavilion in Lou Mountain did the opposite, with a couplet totaling only two words.

On one side, “Dream,” and on the other, “Awake.”

Lu Chen smiled, “Reversal is the movement of the Dao, and the Dao’s movement is reversal.”

The world commonly acknowledges that cultivation is acting against the heavens, everyone recognizes it, but no one wants to talk about it much.

True Men dwelling on land, Immortal Masters moving mountains and overturning seas, raising the sun and moon, possessing immortality, living as long as heaven and earth, and so on.

Isn’t that the greatest “heresy” between heaven and earth? As a result, this group of people has become the cream of the crop, doesn’t that amount to making a mockery of the world?

Chen Ping’an bid farewell to the young emperor and came to this side, entering the pavilion. Without taking off his cloth shoes, he sat cross-legged on the long chair, took out his dry tobacco pipe, the tobacco pouch tied to the bamboo pipe, and began to rub tobacco shreds, mixed with wild ginseng powder and osmanthus. A small wordless jade pendant was attached to the dry tobacco pipe with a red string.

“Tell me, what exactly is Zhou Mi thinking?”

Lu Chen, shrugging his shoulders, his hands in his sleeves, leaned against the pavilion pillar, half-lying on the long chair, looking up at the sky, “Him, ah.”

“Jia Sheng of the vast world, originally named Jia Mo, not suitable to speak, then remain silent, a talent who can manage the world. Once he became the Old Fox of the desolate lands, and was praised as the Sea of Literature under the heavens, he became truly meticulous in his work.”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “Do I need you to tell me these old stories?”

Lu Chen said, “Because this Daoist has never dealt with him, I can only make guesses. Perhaps he believes that it was only when there was ‘us’ that there was a distinction between good and evil, right and wrong.”

“There’s no reasoning with this kind of person. To put it nicely, when the two sides quarrel, it’s like a chicken talking to a duck, or like one saying one thing and another saying another. They argue back and forth, always holding their own opinions, unable to convince each other. Perhaps this is what’s called different paths leading to the same goal. To put it bluntly, the other party is a certain Dao that has already proven itself, can explain itself, and goes its own way. As for the path under Zhou Mi’s feet, whether it can be called a certain great Dao, we can’t tell now, we have to wait for someone to look back in the future. Now, no matter who, of course, my master is an exception, the rest of us, no matter how carefully we deduce and how the great Dao evolves, it may not be the path that Zhou Mi has in mind. And in the current situation, no one wants to be that returning guest, no one wants to be the one who ‘looks back’ in the future. So, at the riverbank meeting before, even that extremely fierce woman from Wu Continent, one who could refine anything in order to reach the fourteenth realm, was actually the first cultivator to propose to get rid of Zhou Mi. Of course, it’s not that she has a feud with Zhou Mi, it’s just that she knows that Zhou Mi’s future is definitely not the future that her Wu Continent wants.”

Chen Ping’an laughed, “This Wu Continent, I will definitely not provoke her proactively.”

The implication being, you Wu Continent also don’t provoke me, let’s keep to ourselves.

Lu Chen hesitated for a moment, raised his hand, and vigorously rolled up his sleeve, revealing hazy landscapes, and the faint figures of two Daoists, sitting and discussing the Dao.
A middle-aged Daoist with a gentle demeanor and a hibiscus crown upon his head stood beside a younger Daoist, his lotus crown framing a face of captivating charm.

Before departing White Jade City, the elder brother had engaged in a profound and soul-consuming deduction of the Great Dao in front of his junior, Lu Chen, ultimately arriving at three possible outcomes.

First, everyone could cultivate, becoming a Daoist cultivator. All sentient beings with the potential for enlightenment and transformation could also cultivate in peace. Would this open up a new era, bringing order to the entire world? Perhaps the myriad races of humanity could cease their petty squabbles and fleeting existences, instead converging into magnificent rivers, embarking on joint expeditions beyond the heavens to conquer new territories, each choosing a star as their Daoist sanctum, establishing flourishing lineages…

Second, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth could be completely consolidated in certain places, plunging the mortal realm into an early era of spiritual scarcity, a situation where even the cleverest cook cannot make rice without the grain. Thus, all sentient beings in the world, save for a few “suspended in the void,” would be unable to cultivate. These few would be forbidden from interfering with the workings of heaven and earth, confined to a “small corner” of the world, living in seclusion, free to roam in their own small domain. Furthermore, they would be bound by secret agreements, only allowed to intervene during major cataclysms to alter the course of destiny.

Third, everything could descend into complete chaos, with disorder becoming the sole order.

In fact, there was a fourth possibility.

However, the elder brother had not allowed Lu Chen to witness the process, for the Dao that can be spoken is not the true Dao.

Yet, Lu Chen had guessed it.

It was “Heaven and Earth as One.”

The very thing that the former scholar of the Great Bright Land, Jia Sheng, and later the wilderness strategist, Zhou Mi, had sought to achieve.

Lu Chen rolled up his sleeves once more, dispelling the vision. He extended a hand, white as jade, palm facing down. “If I were Zhou Mi, I would first become One, a grand amalgamation.”

Flipping his hand over, Lu Chen smiled faintly. “Second, I would transform into countless forms.”

“Then, there would be no more worries about cultivation, enlightenment, attainment of the Dao, or dispersion of the Dao. Such anxieties would be nonexistent.”

Lu Chen continued, “And then…”

Chen Ping’an suddenly frowned slightly.

Lu Chen tapped his head lightly against the pavilion pillar, understandingly smiling. “This ‘transformation’ I speak of, is not merely transforming into sentient beings.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Continue.”

He understood. It wasn’t just the current five continents, but also the extra-terrestrial heavens suppressed by White Jade City, the Buddhist realm suppressed by the Western Paradise.

And all the ancient stars, etc., would be part of the grand amalgamation. Like a cultivator refining a natal treasure.

Consolidate into one, then divide into many.

In such a realm, a sword cleaving the celestial river, or a gentle breath scattering an ancient star, would no longer be considered magical powers.

Even a Fourteenth Realm cultivator, or even a Fifteenth Realm cultivator, would be insignificant before Zhou Mi, who had become one with the Dao, for they would merely be part of his grand design.

Chen Ping’an crossed his legs, holding his pipe, tapping the ashes from the bowl, refilling it with tobacco, and continuing to exhale clouds of smoke.

Lu Chen couldn’t help but sigh. “A thousand years of houses change a hundred masters, each year torn down and rebuilt anew.”

Chen Ping’an flicked his wrist, storing the dry tobacco pipe in his dimensional treasure. “Master Lu, now that we’ve discussed the ephemeral, let’s talk about something concrete.”

Lu Chen’s head immediately felt like a winnowing basket, knowing that the honorific “Master Lu” heralded nothing good.

Chen Ping’an extended his hand. “Six Grain Rain Coins.”

Lu Chen said helplessly, “Visiting guests must bring gifts, that’s the proper etiquette. Besides, Master Ni and Daoist Qing Tong only cost two Grain Rain Coins. It’s mere drizzle to them, what has it to do with the Hidden Official?”

Chen Ping’an said, “Then let’s not talk about them. I have a separate gift prepared for the Yellow Millet Faction, so my two Grain Rain Coins should be converted into twenty Minor Heat Coins. Hand them over.”

Lu Chen understood the underlying meaning. He had no choice but to rummage around, producing a pile of Minor Heat Coins, all rare treasures painstakingly collected by the Master Lu through various schemes and endeavors.

Chen Ping’an selected twenty of them, pocketing them in his sleeves, and stood up. “Before I descend the mountain and you return to White Jade City, I have a painting to show once more to the Daoist Lu who once ran a stall in the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven.”

Lu Chen hesitated.

He wanted to ask, since he’d already seen it, if he could be spared another viewing.

But within the pavilion, strange phenomena had already begun, another dream unfolding.

Throughout Heaven and Earth.

A colossal Dharma Avatar sat upright in the sky above the northernmost reaches of Treasure Bottle Continent.

Tribulation clouds approached, descending slowly, nearing the head of the Avatar.

The scholar looked up, a smile on his face.

A celestial being in the sky spoke loudly, his words becoming law. Lightning magic filled the sea of clouds, bolts of lightning like thousands of dragons weaving through the clouds.

Then a golden palm stirred the sea of clouds, creating a huge hole. This towering celestial being, seated atop the cloud sea, called himself “This Venerable.”

The scholar’s Dharma Avatar, his temples lightly frosted, clenched his hand into a fist, and seemed to grasp a bead in it.

At that very moment, the small town within the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven turned daytime to night in an instant.

The celestial being seated atop the hole in the cloud sea, as if perched on the top of a well, looked down upon the frogs at the bottom of the well with derision, laughing loudly.

One sentence echoed like thunder. “This Venerable will play with you for a while!”

Twelve flying swords pierced through the sea of clouds from the sky, descending to the mortal realm. The golden giant opened his eyes, pure gold, lounging idly, legs crossed, fists resting on his knees. He extended a finger from his right fist, lightly flicking it. A flying sword, as if receiving an edict, pierced through the arm of the scholar’s Dharma Avatar. The golden giant above the cloud sea extended a finger from each hand, and with each lift and twist, the flying swords drew arcs, peppering the scholar’s arm with thousands of holes.

He intended to douse the spring breeze with a rain of flying swords.

Countless golden threads seeped out from the sea of clouds.

Lightning dragons of three colors, brilliantly glowing, wove three vast nets, gradually eroding the scholar’s Dharma Avatar as if carving it with a knife.

At the same time, they formed a grand formation of heaven and earth, frantically drawing upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, isolating the scholar from the Dao of the Vast Bright Land, and preventing his feet from landing on the soil of Treasure Bottle Continent.

Even though the scholar was a learned man of the Vast Bright Land, the two who attacked him were Celestial Immortals from White Jade City who had crossed continents. Neither the right time nor the right place favored the former!
The golden giant’s fists rained down, shattering the raised hands of the snow-white Dharma Image. Pits were smashed into the palms, the hands crumbled, and the arms were pulverized section by section.

Only half an arm remained.

Yet the scholar’s left hand remained clenched, unmoving.

But from the clenched fist to the shoulder, a tapestry of precious proclamations and azure chapters of thunder-based arcane arts had spread. Each character, imbued with the true essence of thunder, was as large as a house.

Above the clouds, two fingers joined to form a sword gesture, and with a single downward slash, the scholar’s Dharma Image’s clenched hand was severed at the shoulder.

The severed arm was then instantly shattered by the characters of the arcane arts.

The scholar, with only half of his right arm remaining, raised it once more, tilting it to shield the bead like an umbrella protects from rain, simultaneously drawing the bead back, protecting it before him.

Above the sea of clouds, the golden giant’s fists hammered down on the scholar’s Dharma Image’s head,

Within the confines of a grand formation, immense ripples of qi energy surged.

With each punch, the scholar’s Dharma Image descended further.

Devoid of arms, only a disembodied fist remained, suspended in the air, no longer connected to the body.

A wretched Dharma Image, clinging desperately to that last remaining fist.

The scholar’s Dharma Image’s lips moved slightly, silently reciting, as if still within the schoolhouse, facing the innocent faces and clear eyes of the children, delivering one last lecture to the students who called him “Teacher Qi.”

The stars follow their courses, the sun and moon pass in succession, the four seasons govern, the yin and yang transform, wind and rain bestow generously, all things attain harmony and are born, all things obtain nourishment and are formed…

In the village schoolhouse, devoid of pupils, the blue-robed scholar with temples frosted with white, was now a figure of snow-white hair, blood streaming from his seven apertures, his flesh blurred.

Finally.

The soul shattered, no longer able to support the body, like a porcelain vase crashing heavily to the ground, but breaking silently, like a spring breeze coming and then fading away.

It seemed as if from beginning to end, the scholar never retaliated, only parried.

Was his mastery of Daoist arts insufficient?

He had already quietly entered the Fourteenth Realm, possessing three Natal Characters at the time.

Was his temper mild?

A direct disciple of the Sage of Literature’s lineage, the one with the gentlest disposition was actually Zuo You, the worst was this man.

He was the one who had once stomped the Mountain-Moving Ape of Zheng Yang Mountain into the ground, the one who jokingly said that sixty years ago he would have flattened Zheng Yang Mountain with a single foot.

Lu Chen, the Third Master of White Jade Capital, subtly shifted his expression, wanting to say something several times, but hesitated, ultimately remaining silent.

Chen Ping An stood in the pavilion, looking into the distance, and said, “There’s no need to feign guilt, I know you, Lu Chen, aren’t afraid of this at all.”

Lu Chen immediately regained his composure, his tone indifferent as he said, “He shouldn’t have acted impulsively, lending out his entire cultivation.”

And the blue-robed guest, no longer a straw-sandaled youth, was equally composed.

Because all emotions had been severed.

There is a Qi Jingchun in the world. How joyous.

But I can only meet one Teacher Qi.

Senior Brother Zuo You once said a phrase.

If reasoning is effective, why do I practice swordsmanship?

Therefore, one must practice swordsmanship!

To be able to boldly tell Zhou You in Suishan, Central Earth, that I, Chen Ping An, will become a Fourteenth Realm pure swordsman.

In this life, I, Chen Ping An, having toiled and traveled so arduously, must not merely seek a livelihood, must not merely seek survival.

Therefore, one must learn fist techniques!

Only then could Chen Ping An ultimately say in that strange place, to that strange existence, the words “My fist is one realm higher than yours.”

Jiang Zhao Mo, the Lord of Violet Qi Tower in White Jade Capital’s Five Cities and Twelve Towers, bearing the Daoist title “Hanging Sign,” was hailed as the one with the highest swordsmanship besides the Second Master Yu Dou, and also cultivated martial arts.

The other old city lord, Pang Ding, proficient in thunder techniques, bearing the Daoist title “Empty Heart,” was extremely old, his Daoist age exceedingly long, hailed as the foremost master of thunder techniques in the Azure Billow Heaven, while also cultivating the Five Elements techniques, all of which were of utmost perfection.

And these two were all of the Yu Dou lineage.

This painting of time, Chen Ping An was originally destined not to see before entering the Fourteenth Realm.

Moreover, the matter of re-examining this painting was initially kept secret from Lu Chen.

So it seems, Chen Ping An began studying the art of the Yin-Yang School very early on.

In fact, this was indeed the case. Chen Ping An had mentioned to the Sword Holder many years ago that he might study some Yin-Yang techniques in the future.

Recalling the past, when he first met a sword-wielding traveler with a bamboo hat and a donkey, the straw-sandaled youth had a conversation.

The youth said that some grudges must be avenged, and if they were not avenged, then even if he lived for a hundred years, he would remember ninety-six of them!

The sword-wielding traveler asked with a smile, “What about the other four years? Did you eat them?”

The youth replied seriously, “Before the age of five, I had parents and didn’t understand things, so they don’t count.”

Chen Ping An looked up at the sky.

If the great is not upright, then the small will not be respectful. Jiang Zhao Mo and Pang Ding, when I, Chen Ping An, arrive in the Azure Billow Heaven, you two better be careful when walking at night, lest you capsize in a ditch and die there, becoming your own coffins.

Therefore, the three empty coffins in that small building at the “Former Site of the Lu Gong Shrine” were actually Chen Ping An telling Lu Chen.

Three coffins, one for Jiang Zhao Mo, one for Pang Ding, one for Yu Dou.

As long as you, Lu Chen, don’t lie down in them yourself, then it has nothing to do with you.

Lu Chen stood up and smiled, “Understood. After this parting, the mountains and rivers are vast, you and I each… how do you say it?”

Chen Ping An said, “Go our own way.”