The young Taoist, lotus crown atop his head, strolled along the railing at the highest point of the Jade Capital. His hands were clasped within his sleeves, palms together, as he slowly traversed, casting his gaze down upon the five cities and twelve towers.

It seemed there were some new faces among them.

Lu Chen lifted his head to gaze at the heavens, the moonlight radiant and pure.

‘The Immortals hone a mirror to fly to the sky, two moons hanging side by side resembling the character “朋”.’

He withdrew his gaze from the newly risen moon, halted his steps, and turned back, continuing his leisurely stroll along the railing.

Lu Zhangjiao’s abrupt appearance at the Jade Capital was noticed by the cultivators atop the mountains of the Azure Sky, who sensed a subtle unease.

This fellow, Lu Chen, had always been eccentric in his actions for thousands of years, yet he never flaunted them. Whenever he traveled to and from the Jade Capital, he always did so silently and without fanfare.

Could it be that he was caught red-handed while engaging in petty theft in the Vast Expanse, then was soundly thrashed by the Sage of Rites, forcing him to break through the Heavenly Restrictions and slink back to the Jade Capital in disgrace?

Yu Dou appeared in the corridor, his brow furrowed as he asked, “What’s going on?”

Lu Chen, who had never bothered with formalities even when addressing his Senior Brother Yu, remained perched atop the white jade railing, laughing, “I’ll take a trip to the Radiant Moon first. Senior Brother, please wait a moment. You can gather a few people here. Consider it a welcoming banquet for me.”

Yu Dou inquired, “Whom should I summon?”

Lu Chen chuckled, “For instance, Jiang Yunsheng of Azure Verdant City, Pang Ding of Spirit Treasure City, Jiang Zhaomo of Purple Qi Tower. And allow each of them to bring one companion.”

Before the Literary Temple discovered, developed, and stabilized the Vast Expanse, the timing of the other four realms was peculiar, neatly divided into spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

In the eyes of a select few atop the mountains, this was like a magnificent and all-encompassing grand formation that combined the celestial, terrestrial, and human elements.

The Jade Capital of the Azure Sky realm consisted of five cities and twelve towers. The five cities were Azure Verdant City, Spirit Treasure City, Southern Bloom City, Divine Firmament City, and Jade Pivot City.

Azure Verdant City, also known as Jade Emperor City, was the former Grand Sect Leader Kou Ming’s cultivation site. Spirit Treasure City was the place where the truly invincible Yu Dou attained enlightenment. However, both sect leaders had long relinquished their positions as city lords.

Only Southern Bloom City was still under the jurisdiction of the Third Sect Leader Lu Chen. The First Deputy City Lord was a female Taoist priest at the peak of the Ascension Realm. The other two Deputy City Lords were both Immortals.

The appointment of city and tower deputies had never been fixed in the Jade Capital. Had it not been for Senior Brother Yu’s intervention, Lu Chen would have added a mountain of Deputy City Lords to Southern Bloom City. Every meeting would be filled with Deputy City Lords, a unique sight in the Jade Capital.

Azure Verdant City, along with the Lofty Gems Tower and Cloud Water Tower among the twelve towers, maintained the worldly custom of celebrating the New Year year after year.

The Rising Sun and Purple Qi Arrival of Purple Qi Tower, the former sites of Hangu and Mianchi within Azure Verdant City, the Thousand Mile Peach Blossom Forest and immortal brews of Divine Firmament City, the Cloud Birthplace is a Land of Immortals of Cloud Water Tower, the Celestial Wind Distantly Sends Pure Chimes of Spirit Treasure City, the Grandiose Five Thunders of Jade Pivot City being smelted into water by immortals, and the ordinary Taoist officials’ dreamlike journey to Southern Bloom City, were all extremely famous in the Azure Sky realm.

The suspended positions of the five cities and twelve towers were not fixed, and their heights were subject to ascent or descent.

This depended on merit. And the height of the cities and towers was linked to the thickness of their fortune and the abundance of their spiritual energy.

This record, which only the three sect leaders could peruse and record in, was jokingly referred to by Lu Chen as the “Worry-Easing Book” and the “Musical Notation”.

The positions of Azure Verdant City and Divine Firmament City, for instance, had been declining in recent years due to the long-term vacancy of their city lords and the infrequent travels of their Taoist officials.

Even the fact that Azure Verdant City was the former cultivation site of the Jade Capital’s Grand Sect Leader was no exception.

Lu Chen’s gaze lingered most on the city of “Jade Capital Twelve Towers, Towering Against Azure Verdant.”

His Senior Brother had once imparted Taoism in Azure Verdant City, without regard to status or threshold, truly achieving education for all.

Not only Taoist officials from the Jade Capital and the fourteen provinces could come to Azure Verdant City to attend classes, but even those who were not recognized as orthodox by the Jade Capital, even unorthodox and heretical sects, could enter Azure Verdant City to audit.

Among them, Mr. Three Mountains and Nine Marquis had secretly entered Azure Verdant City to audit for three days and two nights.

Grand Sect Leader Kou Ming saw through his identity, treated him with the respect due to a junior, and humbly sought guidance from this senior who was among the four candidates for the “Ten Heroes of the World” in the way of talismans.

In the end, Kou Ming created several grand talismans, including the “Three Mountains Talisman”.

The White Bone Immortal, one of Lu Chen’s five dreams, had once traveled to Azure Verdant City with Lu Yan, whose Taoist name was Pure Yang.

And Lu Yan traveled from the Vast Expanse to the Azure Sky realm, apart from the Pure Yang Immortal’s natural love of mountains and rivers, also to cultivate Taoism.

Because the Azure Sky realm was the opposite of the Vast Expanse, which was rich in water element, the Azure Sky’s fourteen provinces were abundant in mountain element. However, each province had a great river, probably because of the rarity, the dukes of the great rivers were of extraordinary status, incomparably revered, even surpassing the Mountain Lords of the Five Peaks.

Just as Yu Dou was about to ask another question, Lu Chen cupped his hands and laughed, “Many thanks, many thanks, this junior brother will be right back.”

As he spoke, his figure transformed into a rainbow, soaring into the sky, heading towards the moon that had been moved by the sword cultivators.

Within the moon, two new cultivation sites had been opened up. One of them was a luminous and clear white jade palace, requested by a highly respected Celestial Immortal from the Jade Capital’s Jade Pivot City, and permitted by the Second Sect Leader Yu Dou, to “build a thatched hut” here for cultivation, hoping to rely on the pure moonlight and ancient Taoist Qi of this place to make further progress, break through the bottleneck of the Immortal Realm in one fell swoop, and take the path of “ascension” to prove the Tao and ascend to immortality.

The other cultivation site appeared relatively simple, just a small house, with the main room being the alchemy room and the east and west side rooms for living.

Under the eaves stood a tall old Taoist, with a gaunt appearance and a long, flowing beard.

Lu Chen gracefully landed, flicked his sleeves, and upon seeing the old Taoist, immediately performed a Taoist obeisance, his face full of smiles as he said, “Lu Chen greets Uncle Master Bi Xiao.”

The former Master of Bi Xiao Cave in Falling Treasure Beach, the Abbot of the East Sea Viewing Tao Hall, according to Lu Chen’s way of addressing him, his master was the Tao Ancestor, and the old Taoist was the Tao Ancestor’s peer junior brother.

The old Abbot scoffed, “Uncle Master? Is that a title you’ve bestowed upon yourself, brat?”

Flattering and ingratiating.

Lu Chen laughed heartily, “Under the heavens, who wouldn’t want to find an uncle master who is powerful, willing to protect their own, and can be relied upon?”

From the west wing room, the prison warden, Hao Su, walked out. On the alchemy room side, there was also a stoker Taoist child with a large gourd slung across his back, sitting on a small stool, watching the fire of the bronze furnace. Although he knew that the Old Third Lu, who never hit back or cursed back, had arrived, the little Taoist still did not dare to leave his post without authorization, but pricked up his ears, hoping that the small talk with the master would not use telepathy.

Lu Chen cupped his fists and asked with a smile, “When will Warden Hao depart for Divine Firmament City?”
Anyone with half a brain knew that if Hao Su were to go to Jade Capital, he would only stay in Divine Firmament City, just like Dong’s talisman-drawing group of young sword cultivators.

Hao Su said, “Anytime is fine. Headmaster Lu, could you help me choose an auspicious day?”

Lu Chen chuckled. “There’s no time like the present. Sooner or later you’ll go. This poor Daoist thinks today is excellent.”

Hao Su nodded. “Then I’ll follow Headmaster Lu to Jade Capital. At Divine Firmament City, I can serve as a guest elder, with only one request: I want to drink that peach nectar without having to report to the treasury.”

Lu Chen rubbed his chin. “Just a guest elder? Wouldn’t that make our Jade Capital seem too stingy? Although it’s difficult to directly become the head of Divine Firmament City, it would be a piece of cake for Excellency Hao to condescend to be a vice city lord. This poor Daoist can guarantee, even if I throw a tantrum and disregard my reputation, I will definitely get you a vice city lord position. Besides, the position of Divine Firmament City Lord has been vacant for a long time, and the two vice city lords are both reclusive old immortals who don’t like to manage mundane affairs. Excellency Hao, as the nominal second-in-command, would actually be the real leader.”

Hao Su shook his head. “Your Jade Capital is different from the Sword Qi Great Wall. If my status is too high, even if I’ve only been the city lord of Divine Firmament City for a while, how will I draw my sword in the future?”

The old Daoist Priest carefully sized up Lu Chen, gloating. “Extremely dangerous.”

Lu Chen sighed. “Indeed, it’s not just ‘extremely dangerous,’ it’s utterly perilous. I almost, just almost, couldn’t come here to reminisce with my Uncle-Master Bixiao.”

The old Daoist Priest clicked his tongue in wonder. “You managed to escape that? Did you burn incense to the heavens at the last minute?”

Lu Chen’s journey was a matter of life and death, not an exaggeration.

Hao Su was bewildered.

The old Daoist Priest laughed, “Earlier, after you finished your trip to the Barren Lands, Cui Chan, the Embroidered Tiger, laid an ambush for Lu Chen. The person responsible for closing the net was his junior brother, Chen Pingan, who was one of his chess pieces.”

Hao Su glanced at Lu Chen. He can still laugh after all of this?

Could it be as Sun Daochang of the Mysterious Capital Temple said: ordinary reclusive experts smile and say nothing when things happen, indicating unfathomable depths and profound meaning, but as for Lu the Third, that’s just a silly grin of a fool.

Hao Su thought for a moment and shook his head. “Although I used to have a general opinion of Chen Pingan, I believe Chen Pingan wouldn’t do such a thing.”

Hao Su then said, “But if the Hidden Official had spoken at that time, I would definitely have joined forces with them and drawn my sword without hesitation.”

*Once*, *Chen Pingan*, *Hidden Official*.

These are all very suggestive terms.

The old Daoist Priest nodded.

Hao Su is a straightforward person, a true sword cultivator.

It is said that ice and coal cannot be in the same stove, but this obscure last-generation Punisher is someone who has a heart of ice and snow, a passionate heart.

If he wasn’t to his liking, Hao Su wouldn’t even think about stopping here.

If Hao Su had been born ten thousand years ago, his achievements in the Dao of the Sword would probably be even greater.

But then again, with Hao Su’s nature, he would have been doomed to fall in the battle for ascension.

The old Daoist Priest stretched out a hand and calculated with his fingers. In an instant, purple energy swirled around his fingertips, the stars shifted, and the rainbow light of sword energy flickered on and off like silk threads, truly a master of yin and yang creation in the palm of his hand.

Because these were some established events, just a review. In addition, Lu Chen returned hastily from the Grand Azure World and did not deliberately erase any traces. The old Daoist Priest himself was proficient in the study of meridians, so he quickly deduced a rough outline and narrated it slowly, “During the movement of the bright moon, during the chaos of the celestial phenomena, Ning Yao, in addition to being an Ascension Realm sword cultivator, is also a Lord of the World. The abundance of luck she carries cannot be calculated by common sense. This is an unreasonable move. Lu Zhi has never been stingy with fighting to the death. Her natal flying sword, ‘Big Dipper,’ is a key move, as is Qi Tingji’s flying sword, ‘Military Solution’. Add in Hao Su’s two natal flying swords, and you practically occupy the advantage of terrain for nothing. If you could drop swords from the moon into the human world, directly targeting Lu Chen, the power would be even greater than delivering swords on a regular battlefield.”

“In this way, it’s almost equivalent to four Ascension Realm sword cultivators besieging a fourteenth realm cultivator.”

“Earlier, in the battle of Floating Cloud Continent, Bai Ye’s killing power was, of course, unreasonably high, but in this siege, Bai Ye was wielding the Four Immortal Execution Swords, capable of taking on eight kings of the Barren Lands alone.”

“But to truly leave Lu Chen behind, to completely damage his Dao foundation, it seems you’re still lacking a cultivator proficient in formations to help isolate the world and block the path. This person’s identity would be similar to that of Wen Hai’s Zhou Mi in the Floating Cloud Continent battle and White Jade Capital’s Pang Ding in the Carp Pearl Cave battle.”

Hearing this, Hao Su couldn’t help but ask, “With just us sword cultivators, we can’t kill Lu Chen?”

The Dao of Formations…Qi Tingji doesn’t seem unfamiliar with it. Moreover, there’s also Chen Pingan’s natal flying sword, “Caged Bird.”

Assuming it is combined with Ning Yao’s Sword that Splits the Sky, directly changing the battlefield to the Five-Colored World? In this way, their five sword cultivators can be said to have occupied all the advantages of the heavens, the earth, and the people.

Speaking of this, Hao Su laughed, “Just discussing the matter, Headmaster Lu, don’t mind.”

Lu Chen waved his hand, smiling mischievously, “Don’t mind, don’t mind.”

The old Daoist Priest nodded and smiled, “It’s difficult. This is the trouble with fourteenth realm cultivators. Each has their own method of Harmonizing with the Dao. Moreover, our Headmaster Lu is famous for having many incarnations, Five Dreams Seven Hearts, aside from the butterfly dream and heart-mind, it’s equal to at least eleven clones. The advantage is that he’s extremely difficult to kill. The disadvantage is that before untangling the dreams and gathering the heart-minds, his killing power is slightly weaker.”

Lu Chen looked aggrieved. “This poor Daoist’s killing power isn’t high only when compared to you mountain peak predecessors. Actually, it’s not weak.”

The old Daoist Priest pointed to the fire-starting boy by the alchemy furnace and sneered, “Compared to him, you’re high up in the sky. Are you happy?”

Lu Chen smiled. “Uncle-Master, please help me calculate. Was there someone else beside Mr. Zheng at that time?”

Wu Shuangjiang of the Year-End Palace once appeared briefly at the Sword Qi Great Wall and did not deliberately conceal her whereabouts.

On the Inked-Mark Ferry side, there was the Great End Dynasty female martial deity, Pei Bei, Huai Yin, Guo Outing of Iron Tree Mountain, Liu Tui, the sect leader of Heaven’s Ballad Township on Floating Cloud Continent, and Cong Qian of Flowing Glow Continent.

However, the true backbone of this ferry was, of course, Zheng Juzhong, the city lord of White Emperor City. He and Pei Bei, one presided over the specific deployment of the mountain immortals, and the other was responsible for the deployment and dispatch of troops below the mountain.

The old Daoist Priest calculated non-stop, his expression gradually becoming solemn as he looked at Lu Chen.
Was it Zheng Juzhong who secretly sent his junior sister, Han Qiaose, back to the Divine Continent of the Central Earth through the Sunken Ruin? Was she the one constantly poring over military texts in that White Emperor City?!

This Zheng Juzhong truly possesses boundless audacity, attempting to join forces with Wu Shuangjiang to meddle with the Art of War? Does he seek to once more jointly execute the progenitor of the Military School?

Lu Chen squatted beneath the eaves, sighing in lament. As expected, Cui Chan had struck a significant bargain with Zheng Juzhong. No wonder he could persuade Zheng Juzhong to target him.

The Old Abbot glanced at the fellow squatting on the ground, scratching his head, and chuckled, “Should have known better. Isn’t this retribution?”

Cultivators atop mountains across several realms knew that the Third Patriarch of Jade Capital was both profound and elusive, exceedingly difficult to fathom, to the point of weaving a cocoon that even Lu Chen himself couldn’t unravel.

However, such self-inflicted cocoon-weaving was, of course, for the sake of breaking through to become a butterfly.

Lu Chen’s Five Dreams and Seven Heart Aspects each held Great Dao manifestations, each possessing innate divine abilities.

Therefore, with each dream Lu Chen resolved, each Heart Aspect he gathered, his Daoist cultivation would increase proportionally, especially his Dao Heart, not merely approaching perfection but becoming increasingly complete.

“Debt Collection” Dream Resolution, and before gathering the Heart Aspects, the Third Patriarch of Jade Capital, who seemed to have “disassembled” himself before all that, belonged to self-destruction of cultivation, self-diminishment of power.

This was the root cause of Xuan Capital Temple’s Sun Huaizhong’s assessment of “unable to defeat him.”

Ordinary cultivators think long and hard before separating even a single mustard seed of their spirit, fearing being captured by powerful cultivators, especially if refined but not killed, leading to incomplete souls, flaws in their Dao Hearts, and lifelong hopelessness on the Great Path.

Lu Chen clearly had a backup plan. Since it involved Dreams and Heart Aspects, his ability to escape was probably unmatched by ordinary escape techniques, only because historically, Lu Chen had never faced such perilous circumstances, so the truth remained to be verified. But according to common sense, even if Lu Chen were to fight a Fourteenth Realm great cultivator, at worst, a Dream or Heart Aspect would shatter like fragile glass, and Lu Chen would, of course, expend a great deal of cultivation, often hundreds or even thousands of years. But since they were Dreams and Heart Aspects, not merely parts of his spirit, they could be reassembled. And the Fourteenth Realm cultivator who killed one of Lu Chen’s avatars would have to face a “serious” Lu Chen.

Therefore, for thousands of years, no Fourteenth Realm cultivator had been willing to openly feud with Lu Chen. Daoist Sun’s description of him as sticky toffee, dog shit that stuck to your shoe and couldn’t be shaken off, was crude but accurate.

The Old Abbot laughed, “You’ve become accustomed to comfort, thinking that now that Cui Chan is dead, you can leisurely wait for Chen Ping’an to grow up and continue watching the show in the meantime.”

It was no wonder, who could imagine that a living Grand Tutor of Great Li would merely set an ambush without taking action, while a dead Embroidered Tiger could instead begin to act through others.

Before Lu Chen went to Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, he retrieved “Two Dreams” and one Heart Aspect, namely “Dream of the Oak Tree Living” and “Dream of the Spirit Turtle Dying.”

Coupled with the Oriole of the Seven Heart Aspects, whose Great Dao implied “Heaven and Earth Cage.”

Since he held a Jade Capital in his hand, capable of crossing realms at any time and crashing down on Treasure Bottle Continent, its destructive power was sufficient.

Lu Chen had not retrieved the White Bone Immortal, who had been constantly trying to “rebel” and “usurp.”

Because at that time, Lu Chen was merely ensuring that Lu Daoren, who set up a stall in the small town, could transcend life and death. When going out, one must always be cautious, safeguarding one’s life, after all.

The oriole that seemingly pecked at copper coins, testing the fortune of literati, was actually one of Lu Chen’s Great Dao Heart Aspects, similar to the two innate divine abilities granted to a sword cultivator’s flying sword.

At critical moments, it could ignore the Great Dao suppression of the Vast World, helping Lu Chen “turn the tables,” restoring his Fourteenth Realm peak cultivation within Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven.

However, while his cultivation returned to its peak, his Dao Heart might not have truly become complete. And Lu Chen, from the very first day of his cultivation, had never cared about realm, truly adhering to the principle of only seeking the Great Dao.

Upon arriving in the Vast World, before entering Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, Lu Chen, being cautious, didn’t pay too much attention to Qi Jingchun and Cui Chan. Primarily concerned about the Little Master of the Confucian Temple, Lu Chen temporarily changed his mind and detoured to retrieve a Heart Aspect, once known as the Golden and Purple Dignitary of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master’s Mansion, traveling the world – the “Phoenix.”

Thus, he had gathered two Dreams and two Heart Aspects.

Because on the Night Voyage Ship, Wu Shuangjiang and a former friend who had once engaged in a “Hao Liang Debate” with Lu Chen took action and spoke, Lu Chen went with the flow and gathered a Heart Aspect.

Afterward, Lu Chen’s Dao Heart stirred slightly, and in one of the Lotus Root Blessed Lands of the Five-Colored World, he found “Wooden Rooster” Yu Zhenyi through Zheng Huan, a Confucian scholar who had secretly infiltrated long ago, and once again gathered a Dream and a Heart Aspect.

Lu Chen’s actions were a minor loophole in the Confucian Temple’s system, because the Confucian scholar Zheng Huan was a genuine No-Realm person, or rather, a “puppet.”

When Ning Yao ascended to the Vast World with her sword, Zheng Huan, bearing the Wooden Rooster Heart Aspect, quietly followed. And Lu Chen later rushed to Sword Qi Great Wall to meet with Zheng Huan.

Wu Shuangjiang had long known that Zheng Huan was hiding in the Five-Colored World.

Once he succeeded, the “puppet” Zheng Huan and the Heart Aspect “Yu Zhenyi” would likely suffer greatly.

Lu Chen said with a bitter face, “Could it be that the Old Abbot leaked secrets to Palace Master Wu?”

The Old Abbot chuckled, too lazy to answer such a stupid question.

The Old Abbot said, “How your Dreams and Heart Aspects are confined is of utmost importance.”

Lu Chen said helplessly, “Embroidered Tiger and Mr. Three Mountains Nine Marquis have met. With Cui Chan’s cultivation talent, it’s not surprising that he learned one or two ancient ‘Mountain Sealing’ techniques. Coupled with Embroidered Tiger’s own research into the Soul Stripping Art, he is still very confident in trapping me.”

The Old Abbot shook his head, “Even with that eighty or ninety percent certainty, it’s enough to deal with anyone, but dealing with you, Lu Chen, it seems not reliable enough.”

Lu Chen looked aggrieved and muttered, “Who I fear most, others can’t calculate, but Qi Jingchun certainly can.”

The Buddha.

And Qi Jingchun was someone who almost had the hope of merging the foundations of the Three Teachings, establishing a religion and becoming an ancestor.

Moreover, if nothing unexpected happened, Cui Chan and Qi Jingchun, this pair of siblings, must have each painstakingly studied the divine powers of the “Imaginer,” one of the Twelve High-Ranking Gods.

After they chose to join forces, they would definitely encourage each other, learn from each other’s strengths, and improve this method.
Lu Chen clutched the back of his head, smiling genially, “Besides the lingering fear, the palpitations of a heart still racing, there’s also a sense of… reflected glory.”

To be targeted so intensely by the world of cultivators, it seems it’s not just the esteemed Bai Ye of Haoran, but also Lu Chen of White Jade Capital.

“Four months.”

The Old Temple Master said, “To take a step back, even if they cannot completely obliterate you, imprisoning you for just four months would be enough to change the face of the Azure Billow Heaven.”

For instance, just a single spring would be enough to turn everything upside down. In this Azure Billow Heaven, it would be like a wildfire that cannot be extinguished, a spring breeze that brings forth new life.

“The world has suffered the White Jade Capital for too long.”

Ultimately, one must use a more accurate way of putting it.

“The world has suffered the Second of Dao for too long.”

Lu Chen lowered his voice, asking, “Is Embroidered Tiger involved with Aunt-Master Bixiao?”

Have you two been secretly colluding for some time now?

The Old Temple Master looked at this junior nephew he seemed to have picked up off the road, his eyes full of pity, “Jokes aside, you must be more mindful of yourself. Don’t start falling apart before anything even happens. What you fear may very well come to pass.”

In the past, you were the Unmoored Boat, drifting carefree. Once suspicion takes root, the ship becomes a battleground within itself.

Sun Huaizhong, Wu Shuangjiang, and also the “together” Midnight Vigil keeper of the Lunar New Year Palace, Little White, and Yao Qing, the elegant minister of the Azure God Dynasty. The female Daoist of Taiyin, Wu Zhou, and the court official of Fukan, Chaoge…

Those with whom Lu Chen once jested and joked now seemed to have transformed into latent enemies, laden with murderous intent.

Even Bai Ye of the Mysterious Capital Temple.

Lu Chen said in annoyance, “How should Aunt-Master Bixiao’s deliberate revelation of this matter be calculated?”

Isn’t that just adding fuel to the fire?

Is that how a junior martial uncle should behave? Look at the former Qi Jingchun, the present Chen Ping’an?

The Old Temple Master laughed, “In this matter, others might find it thorny and stretched thin, perhaps needing to rob Peter to pay Paul, but Lu Chen, surely, will have no problems whatsoever.”

Lu Chen’s only problem lies in the very foundation of the Great Dao, which may not necessarily reside in the hands of this current Sect Leader Lu of White Jade Capital. Perhaps even Zhu Lian is a mere smokescreen.

It’s not that you can’t reclaim all your dreams and mental images, but once you do, forcibly dispelling the dream or, say, waking up prematurely, abandoning it halfway, and falling short of success, Lu Chen might find it difficult to maintain his existing Daoist heart.

However, this possibility is merely the Old Temple Master’s personal conjecture.

Lu Chen does indeed hold genuine respect for this smelly-nosed old Daoist.

Of all things that are born, what is meant by “born?” One explanation is that it is the ox tilling the land.

The Lotus Flower Blessed Land and the Lotus Flower Small Grotto-Heaven are interconnected, and this Cave Master of the Bixiao Grotto has been competing with your master for ten thousand years.

Lu Chen’s works are filled with fantastical imagination, encompassing all schools of thought, and containing everything under the heavens. He once imagined numerous fictitious characters in his books.

But many readers of later generations have not realized one thing. The person whom Lu Chen mentioned most often was actually the Sage Teacher.

Lu Chen thought of Little Mo, whom he’d hit it off with at first sight above the city walls, and smiled, “That Daoist friend who brewed wine with my Martial Aunt at Fallen Treasure Beach is now, with the sanction of some existence, staying by Chen Ping’an’s side, serving as a deathsworn, helping to protect his Dao. His name is Mo Sheng, likes to call himself Little Mo, and his Daoist name is ‘Happy Candle’.”

The Old Temple Master smiled. “Mo Sheng? Little Mo? It works, I suppose.”

As if mentioning this extremely kindred Daoist friend, the Old Temple Master’s smile became more sincere. Stroking his beard, he laughed, “He and that Bai Jing, one uses moonlight to wash his Daoist robes, the other uses sunlight to refine his sword edge, and they’re both sword cultivators. How very well-matched and harmonious.”

The Penal Official Hao Su asked, puzzled, “Bai Jing?”

It was a name he’d never heard. Judging from the Old Temple Master’s tone, was he a demon sword cultivator of great background?

Lu Chen smiled and explained, “Bai Jing is a generation younger than Aunt-Master Bixiao, but she’s a senior practitioner with roughly the same years of cultivation as Little Mo. This female sword cultivator, whether in offense or defense, may be slightly better than Little Mo?”

The Old Temple Master nodded, saying, “That woman has a violent temper and is extremely capable in battle. Back then, Little Mo really couldn’t beat her. He lost all three times when he received her sword.”

The Old Temple Master suddenly laughed loudly, “So, back then, when we were hiding and brewing wine at Fallen Treasure Beach, I advised him, hiding from Bai Jing like this is not a good look. Rather than being forced into bed by Bai Jing one day, it’s better to take the initiative and give in. If it really doesn’t work, just get himself drunk, and it’ll be over with the blink of an eye. Then, rightfully form a Daoist couple, and you can roam the world unhindered.”

From this, it can be seen that the Old Temple Master and that Little Mo have a truly good relationship.

The Old Temple Master asked, “Lu Chen, will you not go to the bright moon next door to check on the progress of the Jade Pivot City Celestial’s closed-door cultivation?”

Lu Chen shook his head, saying, “Forget it, forget it. What if that Daoist friend asks me to help protect his Dao? If I agree, I’ll be inviting trouble. If I refuse, I’ll be damaging our relationship.”

In the ancient years, there were heavenly gods and earthly deities. Later, sword lights and spells rained down on the world, and on the earth, there came to be cultivators. Superior scholars heard the Dao, and Celestials did not touch mortal karma. Inferior scholars heard the Dao, and Earthly Immortals did not eat the smoke of the mortal world.

There came to be Daoists, scholars, craftsmen, and the hundred schools of thought, with cultivators of Qi refining each forming their own lineage.

It can be said that it’s a hundred flowers blooming in a garden, or that it’s a field overrun with weeds.

In that long and arduous period of cultivation, speaking only of the human race, the rise was the fastest, with the fewest internal conflicts, with almost no sectarianism, with almost everyone being a preacher of the Dao and a protector of the Dao.

The Old Temple Master suddenly said, “That Wang Yuanlu, your White Jade Capital, don’t touch him. I plan to take him as my disciple.”

Previously, when witnessing the Bright Moon’s relocation, Wang Yuanlu stood near Sun Huaizhong of the Mysterious Capital Temple. He looked like a thin Daoist with a face full of suffering. Only in his thirties, he looked rather old, wearing an old felt hat and cotton shoes, and a worn-out, faded blue cotton Daoist robe, radiating an aura of poverty. Even though he was one of the young candidates for the top ten, he didn’t even have a decent Daoist robe.

But this timid and cowardly, impoverished Daoist did not falter on the path of cultivation. Even just the Daoist officials with proper credentials, not to mention the bodyguards and attendants of those Daoist officials, had been killed by Wang Yuanlu by nearly a hundred people.

Lu Chen wore a troubled expression.

Aunt-Master Bixiao, you can do these things quietly, but please don’t tell your junior nephew about it.

That young Daoist from the “Rice Thief” lineage is indeed a remarkable person.
Between Shan Qing and Wang Yuanlu, Lu Chen had actually hesitated over whom to take as a disciple on behalf of his master. It was only because, according to the rules of the mountain, Daoist Sun was considered Wang Yuanlu’s half-transmitter of the Dao that Lu Chen abandoned the idea. Otherwise, the closed disciple of the Dao Ancestor would likely be the ill-fated Wang Yuanlu.

It is said that at the beginning of his cultivation, Wang Yuanlu once stood in front of a small mill in a bustling market, staring blankly at the grind marks on the wall inside the mill while gnawing on a baked nang, and suddenly burst into tears.

Lu Chen conveyed something to the old Guan Master in his heart.

The young Hidden Official had once confided in Lu Chen, saying that when he reached the first level of the Ascendant Realm, he had seen a mystical person on a strange mountain peak.

Lu Chen immediately guessed the identity of that being: the culprit who almost split the human race in the past, the ancestor of the Military School, who had been in charge of the flow of martial fortune in several realms for ten thousand years.

Merit and demerit cannot offset each other, and the ten-thousand-year deadline is fast approaching.

The “unity of the three religions” in several realms and the “hundred schools of thought” in the Radiant Land have always been calculated separately.

The Military School, only one step away from establishing a religion and becoming an ancestor.

There was once a breathtaking “joint beheading.”

The old Guan Master said, “If you only regard Wu Shuangjiang’s sword challenge as a pure sword challenge, then your White Jade Capital is underestimating this person.”

That was all he would say, a hint was enough. Saying more would only create unnecessary complications; too much talk leads to mistakes.

Lu Chen nodded, remained silent for a long time, and then said seemingly out of nowhere, “No one from ancient times has never erred.”

The old Guan Master said calmly, “Only gods can.”

Lu Chen sighed, “No wonder Martial Uncle was so optimistic about Chen Ping’an so early on; it’s not without reason. The two of you are indeed kindred spirits.”

Chen Ping’an’s praise of Daoist Sun of the Mysterious Capital Temple was a heartfelt “Daoist, Daoist.”

Sun Huaizhong truly relied on the long sword to reach the fourteenth realm.

Previously, in the Lotus Root Blessed Land, there was a saying: “Senior is indeed proficient in the Dao.”

Perhaps ten thousand good words could not compare to the essence of the word “proficient.”

Could this be considered unintentionally hitting the mark, inadvertently fulfilling a prophecy?

Inside the house, the fire-tending Daoist boy timidly asked his master in his heart and received a decree allowing him to take a moment of leisure. The little Daoist boy immediately stood up, haughty and arrogant, stepped over the threshold, and said impolitely, “Old Man Lu, are you here to freeload again?”

This is called “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Anyway, everyone in the Azure Vault Realm calls Lu Chen “Old Man Lu.” This is still a polite term; Daoist Sun even likes to call Lu Chen “Little Third.”

Lu Chen glanced at the large gourd on the little Daoist boy’s back, one of the sword-nurturing gourds “fruited” from the gourd vine that his master planted, named “Measure.”

Presumably, this gourd contained a lot of East Sea water taken from the Radiant Land, with abundant and immeasurable water energy.

Once the old Guan Master allowed this fire-tending little Daoist boy to pour all the seawater into a certain place, it would be a great fortune and merit for the “mountainous and water-scarce” Azure Vault Realm.

However, the old Guan Master certainly didn’t lack this, and it was mostly reserved for the little Daoist boy who didn’t know he was blessed.

Lu Chen smiled and said, “Meeting at the peak after arduous cultivation, don’t ask about worldly affairs.”

The little Daoist boy, carrying a gourd as tall as himself, said unhappily, “Don’t spout those pretentious words at me; this little Daoist hates that kind of thing the most.”

Lu Chen straightened his face and said, “Old Scholar personally instructed this Daoist to beat you with a tree branch if you still don’t behave, talk nonsense, and lack respect.”

The little Daoist boy glared and said, “Bah! Old Scholar and I are kindred spirits, good brothers. He’s not familiar with you at all, Lu Chen. Stop talking nonsense here.”

Lu Chen chuckled and said, “Your face says ‘ashamed into anger, outwardly strong but inwardly weak.'”

The little Daoist boy was stunned. Isn’t that eight words? Could it be that Old Man Lu’s words had a hidden meaning?

Lu Chen gave a thumbs up and praised, “Good arithmetic!”

The old Guan Master said, “I won’t see you off.”

Lu Chen smiled, made a Daoist salute, and bid farewell to Martial Uncle Bixiao.

Criminal Official Hao Su had no possessions to pack, all alone.

Their figures transformed into rainbows, and with a flash of sword light, they flew straight to White Jade Capital together.

The fire-tending little Daoist boy asked cautiously, “Master, are you really going to take in a disciple?”

The old Guan Master ignored him.

The little Daoist boy said pitifully, “Master, can I call him Senior Brother?”

He said it a bit indirectly, but what he meant was, “Master, can you take me as a nominal disciple too? It’s okay to be Senior Brother Wang Yuanlu’s junior.”

Although this fire-tending little Daoist boy verbally calls the old Guan Master “Master,” there is no real master-disciple relationship between them.

The old Guan Master remained noncommittal and only said, “Go back and watch the fire for the alchemy furnace.”

The little Daoist boy said “Oh” and obediently returned to the house.

The old Daoist walked out of the house and looked down at the human world from the bright moon.

Living beings have no roots, drifting like dust on the road.

Recluses walk alone, unbearably cold at high places.

The truth comes out, heroes rise together, eyeing each other covetously, ready to strike.

Waiting only for the three Daoist Ancestors to relinquish their Dao, the world will change, and the next rain will fall.

After that, there will be a chaotic yet vibrant scramble.

Using cultivators of the Ascension Realm as a dividing line.

Those above in the fourteenth realm are like those who block the ferry, the roadblocks on the narrow bridge. What they are blocking may not be the fellow travelers behind them in the competition for the Great Dao.

Below the fourteenth realm, including the Ascension Realm, opportunities arise everywhere, countless in number, as if paths leading to the summit have appeared out of thin air.

Then all those Ascension Realm cultivators on the mountain peaks who hope to merge with the Dao see those great cultivators in the fourteenth realm as potential enemies of the Great Dao.

Fourteenth realm cultivators naturally find certain Ascension Realm cultivators even more displeasing.

The old Guan Master sighed softly.

Old friends on the Dao are gradually thinning, and I have been drifting for a long time.