Tormented by a sudden fit of nerves, Tao Ran swallowed hard, forcing himself to ask in a whisper only he and the other could hear, “Are you truly… *him*?”

The Sword Immortal Tao dared not speak the name aloud. It felt too outlandish.

Chen Ping’an smiled, replying in kind, “By the banks of the Phosphorous River, I believe I mentioned, barring unforeseen calamities, that it was indeed I. You simply refused to believe me.”

*How could I have believed it?* Tao Ran thought, exasperated.

*Some random youth, with a pair of blades at his waist, clad in simple scholar’s robes, claims to be Chen Ping’an… and I’m just supposed to accept it? It’s like a celestial being descending, or a character stepping out of the pages of a book!*

Across the distance, Cui Dongshan, clad in white and bearing a sword, offered Tao Ran a thumbs-up. Nearby, the Great Sword Immortal Mi Yu winked and waggled his eyebrows at the baffled Tao.

With but half an incense stick’s worth of time remaining before the auspicious moment for the sect’s founding ceremony, Chen Ping’an strode forth, exchanging pleasantries with the gathered guests. In the midst of this chaos, Tao Ran, his mind swimming in confusion, scanned the throng, seeking a place to stand, to find his bearings. Finally, Chen Ping’an, holding the hand of his grand-nephew Zheng Yougan, halted on a small, unassuming rise at the edge of the plaza. These disciples, soon to be recorded on the rolls of Green Reed Peak, part of Immortal Capital Mountain, found themselves clustered together, strangers to each other, and to this place. As the plaza filled, their unease only grew. Few truly knew the identity of this unassuming Sword Immortal.

Chen Ping’an clasped his hands together in greeting, his voice ringing clear, “Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Chen Ping’an, of Dragon Spring County, Jewel Bottle Continent. I am the Master of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, a Confucian scholar of the lineage of the Sage of Letters, who recently regained his place in the Confucian Temple. I am also the teacher of Cui Dongshan, Pei Qian, and Cao Qinglang.”

This was the first time Chen Ping’an had formally declared his position as a sect master, addressing them directly.

He patted the head of the child beside him, smiling, “This is Zheng Yougan, first disciple of my grand-nephew Jun Qian.”

Standing before Chen Ping’an were a motley group. Beside the Golden Core Sword Cultivator Tao Ran, who hailed from the savage wilds of Willow Leaf Continent, were the pair of Earth Immortal Ghost Cultivators, the husband and wife Wu Gou and Xiao Manying, skilled in the arts of arrays. Three exiled cultivators from the fallen Fragrant Chamber of Jade Mushroom Stronghold, Lan Yi, Yu Xinglou, and Fu Zhu, also stood among them.

Then there was Shao Boxian, a Yuan Ying Sword Cultivator, secretly the exiled Prince of the fallen Vermillion Jewel Dynasty of Jewel Bottle Continent, along with his loyal handmaiden Meng Long, now known as Dugu Menglong. She was soon to become the second female sovereign of Willow Leaf Continent. Cui Dongshan had employed illusions woven by Xiao Mo to conceal their identities. Beside the prince and his handmaiden stood Shi Qiu, a female cultivator from Prowling Peak of Northern Reed Continent.

Chen Ping’an turned towards Shi Qiu, who smiled faintly and nodded in acknowledgement.

Chen Ping’an clasped his hands together once more, expressing his gratitude, “The founding of Immortal Capital Mountain, from its location to its construction, culminating in today’s celebration, has been a rushed affair. It is truly a testament to the dedication of all those involved that, in so little time, the mountain has risen to this grandeur, as if a port had been built from nothing. Your efforts are deeply appreciated.”

Aside from Shao Boxian and the other members of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Tao Ran, whom Chen Ping’an had met at the Phosphorous River, and the Ghost Cultivators Wu Gou and Lan Yi of Jade Mushroom Stronghold, had been personally brought to Immortal Capital Mountain by Cui Dongshan. They could be considered the founding members, and they poured their efforts into the construction of the Wind Kite ferries and the docks. The Wind Kite fleet, in its members and martial strength, resembled a small sect in its own right.

On the ferries rode nearly a hundred crafted talismans, conjured by Cui Dongshan, along with gold-armored golems, named Rainworker, Gold Master, Mountain Carrier, and Fish Finder. They were indistinguishable from humans in appearance and mind. They performed daily repairs and charted ferry routes. The latter, in truth, searched the mountains and rivers of Willow Leaf Continent for hidden treasures and opportunities. Cui Dongshan bestowed upon them the temporary title of “Mountain and Water Inspector.” The array masters Wu Gou and Xiao Manying oversaw the daily operations of the Wind Kite ferries.

Chen Ping’an used a spirit voice to speak to Shao Boxian, “I have met with Mountain Lord Jin Qing. We shall discuss your kingdom by the Phosphorous River at length.”

Shao Boxian smiled, offering a nod of thanks.

Chen Ping’an inquired, “When will you break through to the Fifth Realm?”

Shao Boxian wore a troubled expression, “It will be difficult.”

Aside from the peculiar “Mountain and Water Inspectors,” some two hundred talisman soldiers and mechanical golems, of lower quality than the Rainworkers and Fish Finders, served as laborers in the construction of the mountain’s structures and docks. The three cultivators from the Fragrant Chamber of Jade Mushroom Stronghold, each just over a century in age and ranging in skill from Ocean Gazing to Cave Dwelling, had served as the supervisors of the dock construction.

Before Chen Ping’an’s arrival, they had been utterly terrified.

The casual conversations amongst the guests, spoken aloud, revealed their true identities. The young woman with the tied-up hair, often seen at the docks, known as Pei Qian, was the renowned Grandmaster Zheng Qian. The man she respectfully called “Sword Immortal Xu,” spoke of the war on Gold Armor Continent, of Cao Ci and Yu Juanfu. Pei Qian even mentioned encountering an elderly immortal in purple robes, Fu Lu Yu Xuan. The man must be the Great Sword Immortal Xu Xie, also called “Sword Immortal Xu Jun.” This guest of the Liu clan of Frost White Continent had taken residence by the ferry crossing, rumored to be there to prevent the Jade Tablet Sect from interfering with the Liu clan’s ferries. The Jade Tablet Sect had even dispatched their ancestral hall devotee Wang Ji to face him down at the ferry crossing.

By chance, Wang Ji was also present, along with a child of less than ten years, the new Peak Master of the Nine Yi Peak of the Jade Tablet Sect, Qiu Zhi.

Ye Yunyun of Poushan Grass Hut, the only two remaining Threshold martial artists on Willow Leaf Continent, next to Martial Sage Wu Shu, was revered as one of the ten great martial artists in the continent’s history.

The elder was General Yao Zhen, grandfather of the current Empress Yao Jinzhi of the Great Spring Dynasty, the most powerful of the ten dynasties on Willow Leaf Continent. Beside him stood the Minister of Rites and the lame young man was the Prefect of the City of Mirage.

There were even cultivators from the Iron Tree Mountain of Central Earth Divine Continent, and two Taoists from Prowling Peak of Northern Reed Continent, perhaps even disciples of the Fire Dragon True Immortal.

They were all present because Cui Dongshan had promised to preserve their status as Jade Mushroom Stronghold cultivators, while also allowing them to live and work on Immortal Capital Mountain. After their sect was destroyed by the Old Throne demon Qie Yun, who butchered them all, especially the beautiful female cultivators, all natives of Willow Leaf Continent saw them as deserving of their fate.

Lan Yi and the others were content with this arrangement. They were grateful for the chance to live somewhere safe. Even though Cui Dongshan made it clear he was interested in the secret arts of the Fragrant Chamber, they were given a place to live, a way to earn money, and Cui Dongshan did not ask for the secret formula.

Chen Ping’an, speaking aloud, addressed the three, “You may cultivate here in peace on Immortal Capital Mountain. When the time is right, and you feel you are ready, you may leave. I, on behalf of Cui Dongshan, guarantee that Immortal Capital Mountain will not hinder you. Should you wish to rebuild the Fragrant Chamber, or Jade Mushroom Stronghold as a whole, Immortal Capital Mountain will offer its aid. And if you so desire, in time, when you trust the Sect Master Cui and Immortal Capital Mountain, we will forge a formal alliance. Until then, you may seek out the scattered remnants of Jade Mushroom Stronghold. Immortal Capital Mountain will provide a peak to serve as a temporary sanctuary.”

Lan Yi and the others felt as if a great burden had been lifted. A great boon, unexpected and wondrous.

On their own, without even an Earth Immortal to their name, rebuilding the Fragrant Chamber, let alone restoring the ancestral hall of Jade Mushroom Stronghold, was but a distant dream.

Cui Dongshan smiled knowingly. His teacher had spoken for all to hear.

His teacher was offering his own final judgment on the fall of Jade Mushroom Stronghold.

If Jade Mushroom Stronghold was doomed in this chaotic age, then the future era of peace would surely have need of a Jade Mushroom Stronghold.

Regardless of how Willow Leaf Continent viewed Jade Mushroom Stronghold, Fallen Phoenix Mountain and Green Reed Sword Sect were willing to rekindle their legacy.

Cui Dongshan was thrilled.

His teacher was taking more responsibility.

The greatest fear was that his teacher would abandon the sect altogether, becoming a mere figurehead, distant and uninterested. That would tear the heart out of this eager student.

Cui Dongshan nudged Tao Ran with his elbow, whispering, “Sword Immortal Tao, allow me to impart some secrets. Firstly, Jiang Shangzhen is our Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s Chief Warden, though he goes by the alias of Zhou Fei. The Old Sect Master is beloved on Fallen Phoenix Mountain. So what if you end up on the Ancestral Hall, and say a few bad things about him? He can’t argue back. Surprised?”

Tao Ran, still reeling from the revelation that “Chen Ping’an” was indeed the real Chen Ping’an, reasoned that cursing Jiang Shangzhen was a small matter in comparison.

“Secondly, that annoying Yu Mi, is Mi Yu, the Mi Waist-High of Sword Qi Great Wall. Unexpected?”

Tao Ran glanced at the sword immortal Mi Yu from the corner of his eye, his smile strained. He instinctively rubbed his lower back, a shiver running down his spine.

He had already cursed Chen Ping’an, Xiao Mo, and Mi Yu.

Lan Yi, as the senior apprentice of Fragrant Chamber, wept with joy, choking out, “Why is Mr. Chen so generous to such insignificant beings as ourselves?”

Chen Ping’an replied, “I speak not of the right or wrong, or the deeds done, but of the simple truth: if there is no compassion, why open the door?”

Chen Ping’an continued, “The road ahead will be fraught with difficulty, and it is a burden, so prepare yourselves for censure.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Of course, should you abandon this path, finding it too arduous, or finding yourselves unable to succeed, the Green Reed Peak Ancestral Hall will always have a seat prepared for you.”

Lan Yi, Yu Xinglou, and Fu Zhu bowed deeply to Chen Ping’an and Cui Dongshan.

The auspicious hour had arrived.

Cao Qinglang drew forth a key and unlocked the doors to the Green Reed Peak Ancestral Hall.

Chen Ping’an and Cui Dongshan, teacher and student, walked side by side through the doorway, leading the way to the main hall.

Within Green Reed Peak’s ancestral hall hung a single portrait:

The sect’s ancestor, Chen Ping’an, Mountain Master of Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

Clad in simple scholar’s robes and a jade hairpin.

A perfect likeness.

In the end, Cui Dongshan could not follow his teacher’s directions, which were to hang the portraits of Jise Peak’s ancestors in the center and his and Cui Dongshan’s on either end.

Today’s ceremony was simple, like those of Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

To the left and right of the hall were rows of chairs.

The Upper Sect, Fallen Phoenix Mountain, and the Lower Sect, Green Reed Sword Sect of Immortal Capital Mountain.

On one side sat Chen Ping’an, Chang Ming, Wei Wenlong, Pei Qian, Zhou Mili, Xiao Mo, Jia Sheng, and Zhang Jiazhen.

The second row was filled with Nalan Yudie, Bai Xuan, Sun Chunwang, and Chai Wu.

Twelve in all.

On the other side, Cui Dongshan, an Immortal realm cultivator, Mi Yu, an Immortal realm sword cultivator, Cui Wei, a Yuan Ying sword cultivator, Zhong Qiu, a Peak Distant Journey realm martial artist, Sui Youbian, a Yuan Ying sword cultivator, Cao Qinglang, a Golden Core cultivator, and Tao Ran, a Golden Core sword cultivator.

Behind them were Shao Boxian, a Yuan Ying sword cultivator, Menglong, Shi Qiu, Jiang Qu, Yu Xiehui, Cheng Chaolu, He Gu, Wu Gou, Xiao Manying, the pair of Earth Immortal ghost cultivators, Lan Yi, Yu Xinglou, and Fu Zhu.

Nineteen in all.

Combined, the two sects numbered thirty-one members.

Behind them, in the places for guests, were members of Willow Leaf Continent on Cui Dongshan’s side and outsiders on Chen Ping’an’s.

Yao Zhen of the Great Spring Dynasty, Prefect Yao Xianzhi, and Minister of Rites Li Xiling. Yellow Court Mountain Lord Huang Ting and Guardian Yu Fushan. Poushan Grass Hut Mountain Lord Ye Yunyun, Law Administrator Tan Rong, and Xue Huai.

Jade Tablet Sect’s Ancestor Zhang Fenggu, Devotee Wang Ji, Nine Yi Peak Master Qiu Zhi, Wei Gusu, Wei Xianyou, Cloud Grotto Blessed Land Jiang Heng, Qiu Du, Hu Chuling, Zhong Kui, and Yu Jin.

Dragon Tiger Mountain’s Surname-less Grand Celestial Master Liang Shuang and Ma Xuanhui. Prowling Peak’s Yuan Lingdian, Zhang Shanfeng. Great Emblem Sword Sect’s Liu Jinglong and Piaoran Peak’s Bai Shou. Iron Tree Mountain’s Guo Ran and Tan Yingzhou. Zheng Yougan. Great Sword Immortal Xu Xie of Gold Armor Continent. Liu Jubao and Liu Youzhou of Frost White Continent. Yu Panshui of the Profound Dense Dynasty of Central Earth Divine Continent.

Thirty-five guests in total.

The seating arrangements were also interesting, as there were no arrangements at all, everyone simply sat wherever they pleased.

At the ceremony on Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s Jise Peak, Chen Nuanshu and Zhou Mili had offered incense.

This time, on Green Reed Peak, Cao Qinglang and Zhou Mili would be responsible for incense offerings, each holding an incense burner.

At Fallen Phoenix Mountain’s founding ceremony, forty-three members of Jise Peak’s ancestral hall, followed by thirty-six guests, had offered incense.

This time, at the lower sect’s ceremony, Chen Ping’an, as the ancestor of the upper sect, would be exempt from offering incense. He stood on the left side, at the front.

After the others offered their incense, they took their seats.

Zhong Kui could feel Chen Ping’an’s embarrassment.

To be so young and accomplished was not always a good thing.

To stand alone, while the Surname-less Grand Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain, the Liu family god of wealth, and Yu Panshui offered incense to the painting, must have been an awkward experience.

The plump Yu Jin felt unfairly treated. But he remembered Zhong Kui was going to ask Chen Ping’an to return half of his family fortune.

Zhang Shanfeng was holding back his laughter.

Qing Tong found the situation amusing.

Cui Dongshan, accompanied by Cao Qinglang and Fallen Phoenix Mountain Right Protector Zhou Mili, unveiled the plaques for the mountain gate and ancestral hall.

Green Reed Sword Sect.

At the foot of Green Reed Peak, someone had to set up a ladder and hang the couplet gifted by Wu Shuangjiang.

Then they returned to the ancestral hall.

If Immortal Capital Mountain were not intentionally keeping things simple, there would have been a respected cultivator to serve as a crier, loudly reciting congratulations from the sect’s ancestors, the immortal palace lords, and the dynasties. In the mortal world, a lower sect ceremony might take half an hour or longer, as the congratulations could number over a hundred.

Skipping that step, Cui Dongshan began to introduce everyone present, starting with Fallen Phoenix Mountain, then the registered members of Green Reed Sword Sect, and finally, the guests.

Next, Chang Ming, the law protector of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, announced the members of the Green Reed Sword Sect ancestral hall.

Chen Ping’an. First Sect Master Cui Dongshan, Law Master Cui Wei, Chief Guardian Mi Yu, Zhong Qiu, the Treasurer of the sect. Sui Youbian, Cao Qinglang, Tao Ran, Wu Gou, and Xiao Manying.

Then Cui Dongshan, as the sect master, formally invited Huang Ting of Peace Mountain to serve as the Chief Guest Elder. Ye Yunyun of Poushan Grass Hut and Yao Xianzhi of Great Spring would be guest elders in name only.

Qing Tong and Qiu Du were invited to serve as guest guardians, and Cao Jun, who could not attend the ceremony, was named a guardian as well. These three were added to the Green Reed Peak Ancestral Hall’s roster.

The guest portion of the ceremony had reached its conclusion.

Next would be the first ancestral hall meeting of Green Reed Sword Sect.

The members included Chen Ping’an, Chang Ming, Wei Wenlong, Pei Qian, Zhou Mili, Xiao Mo, and Jia Sheng.

Cui Dongshan, Mi Yu, Cui Wei, Zhong Qiu, Sui Youbian, Cao Qinglang, Tao Ran, Wu Gou, Xiao Manying, and Qiu Du.

Along with the five guardian and guest elders who had seats in the ancestral hall: Qing Tong, Qiu Du, Huang Ting, Ye Yunyun, and Yao Xianzhi.

Chen Ping’an personally escorted the guests from the ancestral hall. Except for a few, they all returned to their residences on Snowfall Peak.

Not hurrying back, Chen Ping’an approached Liu Jubao and Yu Panshui, who had remained on the mountaintop, smiling, “I apologize for the neglect.”

Liu Jubao chuckled, “There is no need to go around greeting dozens, maybe even hundreds, of people you know and don’t know. Staying out of the way the entire time. I hope I get to attend more of these ceremonies.”

Yu Panshui glanced at the ferries. “Master Chen, that Wind Kite ferry, is it to your liking?”

Chen Ping’an replied, “It would be even better if there were another.”

Yu Panshui’s eyes widened, complaining, “Why pick the skinniest when you could take the fattest? What kind of business is that?”

Cui Dongshan leapt up and wrapped his arm around Yu Panshui’s neck, pulling the man down. “If not you, fat Yu, then who?”

Liu Jubao cleared his throat. Someone finally looked away from somewhere and greeted Chief Chen with a smile.

Chen Ping’an looked at Liu Youzhou, nodding, “It has been many years since we parted ways on Osmanthus Island. I have missed you.”

They had both been youths back then.

Immortal Capital Mountain’s Green Reed Peak towered in the sky, with cloud seas spreading as far as the eye could see from its peak.

*In a scholar’s robe, above white clouds, all vistas are within these eyes.*

—-

At Mysterious Capital Temple, a portly man who seemed to thrive in any season wore a talisman charm given to him by the Old Watcher himself, and that allowed him to disregard the wondrous restrictions that could befuddle a cultivator of soaring rank. Yan Zhou happily found Master Sun’s dojo, a famed temple within the temple, and knocked gently on the vermillion gates of the great hall. Tentatively, he asked, “Old Watcher, are you in seclusion? Are you busy?”

A voice, impatient, came from within, “State your business. If not, be gone.”

Yan Zhou wrung his hands outside the door. “I met a transcendent being on my way here, who does not wear the robes or headgear of a Taoist, but rather a flower in his hair. Would the Old Watcher care to take a look? If he is of sound character, this could be an endless stream of wealth, a golden goose!”

Yan Zhou had recently left the temple, supposedly for trials, but in truth, he was traveling through the many branches and tributary peaks of Mysterious Capital Temple.

Within Mysterious Capital Temple itself, Yan Zhou felt nothing. Every so often, he would see the Old Watcher in the peach grove, sitting beside the stream with him and sharing a drink. The fact that they were separated by seven or eight generations mattered not to Master Sun, and therefore did not matter to Yan Zhou. Seeing that Master Sun did not take it seriously, the other high officials of the temple treated Yan Zhou with even more courtesy. Plus, Mysterious Capital Temple was a sect of Taoist Sword Immortals. Many wore or carried swords, and that led Yan Zhou to the mistaken belief that he was still back home, still at Sword Qi Great Wall.

Rank and realm mattered not.

But once Yan Zhou left the temple, to the wide lands beyond, he learned that the door talisman of a Mysterious Capital Temple Taoist was of great importance. The many masters and imperial protectors who were Master Sun’s descendants would treat the young man with respect, without Yan Zhou even needing to use the speech he had prepared.

Yan Zhou had misunderstood. Not every Taoist who came from Mysterious Capital Temple received this treatment. Many of the Immortal Taoists were curious about the relationship between the Old Watcher and the portly man. They eyed the unfamiliar Sword Immortal with playful gazes, as if the Old Watcher had found an illegitimate son and brought him home.

After all, there were few Mysterious Capital Temple Taoists who would dare to covet that peach grove.

The Old Watcher held to a certain principle: once he accepted a disciple, he would teach them himself. Why let them go out into the world and let others teach them the ways of life?

Plus, the Old Watcher had certain unique methods. All of Mysterious Capital Temple was unique in all the Azure Sky. They could walk sideways outside of Jade Capitol.

The fact that Yan Zhou came from Sword Qi Great Wall was something that Mysterious Capital Temple had chosen to keep a secret. Since the Old Watcher did not mention it, no one would leak the news.

As of this moment, even within Mysterious Capital Temple, there were no more than ten people, including the doorkeeper Han Zhanran, who knew that Yan Zhou came from Sword Qi Great Wall.

Mysterious Capital Temple had no shortage of stories and tales.

Master Sun chuckled. “Is it that madman who likes to dress as a woman?”

He had heard that the man had stopped just outside of Qi County. It seemed he had a nose for trouble, and came as soon as his senior apprentice came out of seclusion.

But he had some sense, and did not directly enter the lands of Mysterious Capital Temple. After all, his sect did not get along well with Mysterious Capital Temple. He was probably afraid of getting stuffed into a sack.

As for the treasure Yan Zhou spoke of, he was still going to steal from that peach grove.

The smile on Yan Zhou’s face slowly faded.

After a moment, Yan Zhou jumped up, enraged. “Is he a con man? How dare he cheat on Mysterious Capital Temple? I’ll call for Sister Zhanran and have her settle things!”

The man had claimed that he could sell Yan Zhou’s peach branch brushes, peach talisman tags, and peach leaf bookmarks to Eternal County, promising to earn a great profit, with a thirty-seventy split. Yan Xian must nod, and he could start counting the money.

Plus, didn’t Mysterious Capital Temple have peaches every year? The Taoists could not eat them all, and giving them away did no good. Why waste them? There were so many immortal palaces and Taoist abbeys in Eternal County, it was like there was a celebration every day, and celebrations needed bushels of immortal fruits. The peaches of Mysterious Capital Temple were known throughout all of Azure Sky. He had no need to worry about finding a buyer.

Yan Zhou had thought it was feasible. No matter how bold, no matter how powerful his backer, there was no way he would dare cheat Mysterious Capital Temple.

“How did he introduce himself?”

“He called himself Qing Ling. He had no surname, and no Taoist title. He said he had been in the world a long time, and he had many friends who would give him face…”

Hearing that, the Old Watcher chuckled. Was he a gangster? With so many friends?

“I asked him what his realm was. He honestly said he was an immortal, from the top sect in Eternal County, and very respected in his sect. He brought three followers, who seemed to be terrestrial immortals. Probably afraid I would not believe him, Mr. Qing Ling offered to leave his iron flute as a deposit. I did not dare accept it. He gave me an address, and he’s probably waiting for my message now.”

Master Sun smiled, wondering if he should tell his senior apprentice about this man.

This was the Patriarch Hall of Mysterious Capital Temple, the foundation of all Taoist Sword Immortals in the world.

Inside the great hall hung the portraits of the temple’s patriarchs, forty or fifty in all.

Temples outside Jade Capitol hung portraits depending on their heritage. Some portraits were for Golden Core Taoists, who would enjoy incense after they passed on. But a behemoth like Mysterious Capital Temple required one to be an Jade Purity realm cultivator.

As the current Watcher, his Taoist arts were high, and he had lived a long time, taking up too much space, so the patriarchs in the portraits were his seniors.

The portraits in the Patriarch Hall were arranged by generation, from highest to lowest, like a pagoda.

High on the walls were three portraits, left blank. Two were next to each other, for Master Sun and Wang Sun.

Like vacant seats, it was not that strange in Azure Sky. Like commoners who talked of death, preparing a coffin while they were still alive.

The more empty portraits a sect had, the more living patriarchs it had.

The doors to the patriarch hall slowly opened. Master Sun stepped through, stroking his beard. “He is here for my senior apprentice. Coming to you for treasure is just a bonus. He is just using you as a brick to knock on the door.”

When the door had opened, the portly Yan had lowered his head, not looking into the hall. When the doors were closed, Yan Zhou looked up and asked a practical question. “Master, if I work with him, can I really earn a lot of money?”

Master Sun nodded. “You can.”

Hearing that, Yan Zhou sighed in relief. “As long as he is not a con man. Meeting more of these experts is a good thing.”

Master Sun smiled. “That Long Xinpu does not like to cultivate properly in the mountains. He likes to stir things up in the world. Over time, those with shallow eyes call him Teacher Long. Compared to Teacher Lin Jiangxian’s Teacher Lin, the value is a bit far off. Long Xinpu is thick-skinned. If there is someone who is not afraid of death and calls him Dragon Headmaster, he would accept it.”

The old Taoist who had called himself Qing Ling was named Long Xinpu. He was an Old Ancestor of the Disbanded Mountain. If one counted generations, he was the great-grandmaster of the current mountain master.

Disbanded Mountain was one of the top sects in Eternal County. He could claim he was well-respected in his sect and had some face.

But the winds of Disbanded Mountain were strange. The cultivators did not live long, with the saying that there was a tribulation every thousand years. The older one was, the weaker he was.

As the last of the “old men” of Disbanded Mountain, he gained a lot from his seniority. Otherwise, to have the grandmaster of sects like Mysterious Capital Temple and Gathering Mountain would be a shocking thing.

After all, to live five or six thousand years, how low could your realm be?

This Long Xinpu of Disbanded Mountain was a fellow villager of the senior apprentice.

But when it came to realm, talent, and skill, he was far inferior to Master Sun’s senior apprentice.

The reason he was able to travel the world, not starving or getting killed, was his mouth. He had fallen in realm three times because of his unsealed mouth.

Yan Zhou curiously asked, “That senior came for the Watcher’s senior apprentice? Is there something going on?”

Master Sun glared at him. “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask.”

If you spread this around, with the senior apprentice’s temper, she would not care that you are a junior, and she would punish this Watcher.

Back when he was young, it was nothing, but now, he was the Watcher, he had to have some face.

Master Sun led him from the restricted temple within the temple, and casually asked, “What did you learn from this trip?”

Yan Zhou was full of emotion. “Great power. Everywhere I go, I’m popular. It’s good. My insight was good, finding the Old Watcher of Mysterious Capital Temple. I’m better than Black Charcoal.”

This was because of the young Chief’s recommendation. Otherwise, with his pockets full of cash, Yan Zhou, for all his talent, would not have had many opportunities to use it in Jade Capitol.

Lin Jiangxian’s Crow Mountain, in Yu County, with its numbers and the support of the Crimson Gold Dynasty, could walk sideways there.

Mysterious Capital Temple, in Qi County, was the big brother.

Unlike Yin County, which had always had Two Capitals Mountain and Great Tide Sect standing against each other. But that was the past. Now, those two families had become one, even literally. Sects joining in marriage was common, but two sect masters joining as Taoists? This was a first.

Zhu County also had Gathering Mountain and Azure Shrine Temple vying for the top spot.

Even in You County, there was Sentinel Mountain, which could cross swords with Grand Mist Mountain’s Hua Yang Temple.

It was hard to say that one was dominant.

Eternal County had Immortal Cane Sect and Disbanded Mountain competing for the title of top sect.

Of course, Jade Capitol was the master of all of Azure Sky, and Mysterious Capital Temple was far inferior.

One could even say that all sects of Azure Sky were the outer members of Jade Capitol.

Yan Zhou asked, “Old Watcher, can I do business with him?”

Master Sun hummed. “Up to you. Business is just business. There is nothing to be wary of.”

Besides, the old grudges between Mysterious Capital Temple and Disbanded Mountain were not a death knot. It was just that the current mountain master of Disbanded Mountain was dead set on not resolving things.

Master Sun asked, “Do you really like earning money that much?”

Yan Zhou smiled. “I do. I’ve liked it since I was young. Besides cultivating and practicing the sword, you have to do something to distract you.”

Master Sun nodded. “Not bad.”

If there was a chance to ease the relationship through this business, he could recommend Yan Zhou to be the treasurer of Mysterious Capital Temple’s Ancestral Temple, which would give him some excuse.

To avoid being called biased. Mysterious Capital Temple did not need another groundskeeper right now.

Master Sun said, “Go call for Di Yuanfeng and Zhan Qing. We’ll go out for a walk.”

Yan Zhou agreed, going to call for those lucky ones.

Yan Zhou tentatively asked, “Should I send a flying sword to that senior of Disbanded Mountain?”

Master Sun shook his head. “No need.”

The last time Master Sun’s spirit had traveled, he had gone to the mortal realm and taken two disciples in Northern Reed Continent, bringing them back to Mysterious Capital Temple.

They were his disciples in name only. He had given them some Taoist texts, but the true training came from door keeper Han Zhanran.

As Master Sun had said, giving knowledge was a weakness of his. He could teach geniuses, but not fools.

Those two young men from Northern Reed Continent would not dare to complain.

To be connected to one of the top five in the world, even just in name, was lucky enough.

Plus, cultivating in Mysterious Capital Temple was safe. At least you wouldn’t have to worry about being bullied.

Old Watcher Sun Huaizhong was like an ancient tree, protecting everyone, sheltering them as they cultivated.

Yan Zhou found Di Yuanfeng and Zhan Qing, telling them that their master had a decree, for them to go out with him. To be the disciples of the Old Watcher, their rank in Mysterious Capital Temple was unbelievably high. Also, they were allowed to cultivate in the peach grove. Di Yuanfeng did not dare look down on Yan Zhou, and immediately followed him to see his master.

Back in their home, Northern Reed Continent, at a site of an immortal palace, Di Yuanfeng and Zhan Qing had personally seen that man’s “inhuman” style.

No wonder their master called him Taoist Chen.

When they learned that he was the last Chief of Sword Qi Great Wall, they were glad they had survived and were grateful for their peaceful lives.

Yan Zhou smiled, “Next time Chen Ping’an comes to Mysterious Capital Temple, the three of you will be old friends. Won’t you have to share a drink? Should I get you some immortal alcohol? I can help you get some at cost!”

Di Yuanfeng did not reply.

Zhan Qing smiled, saying it would be no problem, but Di Yuanfeng did not want to talk about the greedy “Mr. Chen.”

When they had first met, Chen Ping’an had, after venturing into Lotus Root Blessed Land, gathered his courage and sought out opportunities as a cultivator.

Chen Ping’an gained a lot, but it had also been dangerous. He had also taken on a great debt. In that temple, there was a wooden statue of a Taoist, the junior apprentice of Master Sun. He had died under Zhen Wudi’s sword, when the Second Teacher of Jade Capitol Yu Dou had come to Mysterious Capital Temple.

His disciple, Song Maolu, was said to be even better.

The Fire Dragon True Immortal had said that this Taoist, who was Master Sun’s nephew, had gathered nearly sixty percent of the world’s Taoist sects. That was an exaggeration. The top sects had not allied with Song Maolu. They may have had contracts, but they did not ally on the surface. Even so, it was shocking, like having someone able to fight half the Confucians, standing against the Central Earth Temple.

The wooden statue of Song Maolu’s master, Chen Ping’an’s wood, was the key to his house.

Besides Di Yuanfeng and Zhan Qing, whom the Old Watcher had taken and brought to Azure Sky, the female cultivator Liu Guibao had nearly become the Old Watcher’s disciple.

Yan Zhou curiously asked, “When can we drink and hear the story of how you met Chen Ping’an?”

Because of Chen Ping’an, Yan Zhou was close to them.

As for what they thought, Yan Zhou did not care.

Zhan Qing agreed, saying it would be no problem, but Di Yuanfeng was reluctant. He did not want to talk about the “good man Chen.”

Back when Di Yuanfeng had lost his home, he had a heirloom sword, and learned some swordplay from a family elder who had been a general. He had used the name Qin Juyuan, framing others and stealing blame. Along the way, he had met “Master Sun” and the others, and the group of uncared for cultivators had sought treasure together, gambling their lives. On the other hand, Zhan Qing, as the young lord of North Pavilion Dynasty, was known for his romantic and uncaring nature. He had carried a walking stick with a soft sword hidden within, looking like a noble out for a stroll.

As for why the Old Watcher was willing to take them as disciples, bringing them to Azure Sky, Zhan Qing and Di Yuanfeng were still confused. They had become Taoists and were called senior uncles by the Immortals.

But the relationship between the two was just so-so. They were never on the same path.

At least, that’s how they saw it.

Zhan Qing cautiously asked, “Brother Yan, how did that Chief, as a foreigner, get a foothold in Sword Qi Great Wall?”

Yan Zhou thought, laughing, “Treating people sincerely!”

When the portly Yan had gone to call for the others, Master Sun had found his senior apprentice Wang Sun, asking, “That Long Xinpu of Disbanded Mountain is here. Do you want to see him?”

The maiden Taoist replied, “If he is here to reminisce, then no. I will not see him. If you think he is here to talk business with Mysterious Capital Temple, and it is important, then you are the Watcher. I don’t care.”

Master Sun asked, “What if he is here for both?”

Wang Sun replied, “Then public business is above private business. I don’t mind.”

Master Sun sighed in relief, saying, “Senior apprentice, our teacher was a man blessed in old age.”

As the teacher of Master Sun and Wang Sun,