Li Er, accompanied by his wife and daughter, followed his son-in-law, Han Chengjiang, on a journey to the northern reaches of Beiju Luzhou, to the Huangling Dynasty. This marked their first proper visit as in-laws after the marriage.

The woman, ever since stepping down from the carriage onto the lane called Qiaozi, wider than most streets, and laying eyes upon her son-in-law’s residence, grew increasingly uneasy. Before even crossing the high threshold, she felt lost, unsure of where to place her hands.

Her son-in-law had explained the origin of Qiaozi Lane – the tall Qiao wood reaching upwards, the descending Zi wood – along with other reasoning she couldn’t quite grasp, so she hadn’t paid it much mind. But when she learned that the entire lane belonged to the Han family and, according to ancestral teachings, could not be divided, she clicked her tongue in astonishment. Her son-in-law’s family was far too wealthy. An entire lane, all named Han? The annual food expenses alone must be astronomical!

Just the massive golden plaque at the entrance and the two white jade lions, crouching but still taller than a person, were enough to give the woman a serious shock. Once inside the mansion, with its winding paths that made her head spin, she dared not even spit on the ground, lest she make a misstep. She pinched her husband’s waist hard. The man turned to grin, reaching for her hand, but the woman quickly slapped it away. Old married couple behaving inappropriately! What if the scholars here saw them and looked down on their son, Huai?

The woman had to settle for pinching her own arm lightly. It hurt. Not a dream.

When she had taken her daughter and son-in-law back to her hometown, she had dared to criticize the cooking skills of her sister-in-law. Now, in her son-in-law’s home, she hardly dared to breathe.

The woman had always known that her son-in-law came from a good family, a so-called great household, a family of scholars. But she could never have imagined the height of her son-in-law’s family’s threshold. Things she would never dare dream of.

Her daughter, now married, remained the same, quiet and withdrawn. Li Liu had always been this way, lacking spirit. She inherited her temperament from her father. Thankfully, her looks and figure came from her mother, or she would likely have become an unmarriageable old maid.

Her own husband, on the other hand, usually so quiet, unexpectedly held his own. He showed no fear, nodding silently, far more composed than herself. This gave the woman some comfort, but she couldn’t help but softly remind him, “Li Er, just like that. Say little. Don’t embarrass Huai. Or I’ll be furious and you’ll sleep on the floor tonight.”

Li Er grinned and nodded.

The woman glared at him. “Bumpkin.”

Han Chengjiang quickly interjected with a smile, “Mother-in-law, please don’t be so reserved. Just make yourself at home.”

Actually, while his mother-in-law was nervous, Han Chengjiang was even more so, though he didn’t show it. He feared the family’s elaborate rituals would make his wife’s family uncomfortable.

So, on the journey back, Han Chengjiang had sent two letters back to Qiaozi Lane in Jiang County, reminding the family not to skimp on courtesies while trying not to make a big show of it. If it weren’t for his grandfather’s personal reply assuring him to set his heart at ease, Han Chengjiang would have sent another letter.

The woman spoke in a soft, almost inaudible voice, “Chengjiang, I hear you’re the eldest grandson, with a big family and many affairs. There must be many rules. Our family is different, small and poor. Liu is a quiet one, so I’m afraid she’ll embarrass you.”

In their hometown of Huaihuang County and the small town at the foot of Lion Peak, even slightly larger families would fight for resources. How could this high-class Han family not be at each other’s throats?

After spending a few days in the Han manor, the woman kept highlighting the fact that her son, Li Huai, was a scholar at the Great Sui Cliff Academy, which was her proudest achievement.

But once here, she learned that her son-in-law’s family had numerous deputy deans and virtuous scholars, more than she could count on two hands.

The woman couldn’t stand it, uncomfortable and fearing she’d make a fool of herself. At the family banquet, she didn’t even know which dishes to take.

Fortunately, Han Chengjiang’s grandfather, the Old Master Han, was very amiable. He had previously been an official in the capital, but had retired due to his age. At the banquet, he displayed no airs of an official, giving the woman the illusion that the Han family of Qiaozi Lane owed their family money.

She heard that Han Chengjiang’s parents were on their way to Jiang County, as Han Chengjiang’s father was also a court official and needed to request leave from the imperial court.

Han Chengjiang’s father was none other than the Grand Secretary of the Huangling Dynasty.

And the Old Master Han just happened to be the previous Grand Secretary, having served as the prime minister for nearly forty years, the undisputed leader of the court officials.

The Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War of the Huangling Dynasty had historically been dominated by either the Han family or disciples loyal to them.

The woman was already planning to meet her in-laws and then head back to their shop at the foot of Lion Peak. She felt more at ease there, where she could hear the roosters crow and dogs bark, and raise her voice without anyone minding.

Unlike here, where the maids and servants walked without a sound, and even the little children bowed like Confucian scholars, which was probably what they called being knowledgeable and polite.

In a study warmed by a heated floor, the nearly century-old Old Master Han, still full of vigor, looked at his grandson and granddaughter-in-law with a benevolent and gratified smile.

Han Chengjiang was actually a cultivator in the lower five realms, having stumbled onto the path of cultivation by chance. His heart wasn’t in it, and he had no interest in the so-called path to immortality.

Old Master Han looked kindly at the seemingly gentle woman and asked with a smile, “Are you finding it comfortable here?”

Li Liu smiled and said, “I’m fine, it’s just that my mother isn’t used to it.”

Old Master Han nodded and chuckled, “No matter. The Han family has a mountain villa outside the county town. Let Chengjiang take you there to live sometime. It’s just like the countryside.”

Li Liu thanked him.

As the head of the Han family, Old Master Han was well-informed. Moreover, Li Er and Lion Peak hadn’t been particularly secretive. He had a good understanding of the family.

Li Er of Lion Peak was a martial artist at the peak of mortal cultivation. He wasn’t actually native to Beiju Luzhou, but came from the Lizhu Grotto Heaven of Bao Ping Continent. However, few of the mountain immortals of Beiju Luzhou knew about this yet.
Rumor has it that old codger Wang Fushuo once visited the foot of Lion Peak, only to be given a sound thrashing by Li Er. Later, at the Mandarin Duck Isle debate within the Wen Miao (Confucian Temple), where experts at the Pinnacle and Nascent Soul Realm gathered to leisurely fish, Wang Fushuo was overheard saying that Li Er’s fist techniques were nothing special, lacking in power.

The Flower Plume Dynasty of Northern Ju Lu Continent is akin to the Great Source Lu Clan Dynasty of the Central Continent, a rare and powerful nation. Its strength is at its zenith, and it is one of the few dynasties whose court can oversee the immortal realms. This is especially noteworthy in Northern Ju Lu Continent. The Wu Ju Han Clan, with its ancestral hall located in Jiang County, Quwo Prefecture, has long been known as the “Grand Emperor Behind the Throne” in the Flower Plume Dynasty. Throughout history, over a hundred members have received the posthumous title of “Literary” or “Martial,” and a considerable number of Han Clan ancestors are enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

However, Han Chengjiang, the eldest grandson of the Han Clan, is already past forty and remains unremarkable in the court. He only achieved the rank of a Secretary in the Ministry of Rites before dedicating himself to scholarship for five or six years, ultimately resigning from his official post.

Previously, when the Flower Plume Dynasty undertook the compilation of a massive compendium, the Hanlin Academy Lecturer, serving as the Chief Editor, recommended Han Chengjiang, then a Secretary in the Ministry of Rites, as the Chief Compiler.

The Old Master Han asked, “What are you doing now?”

In recent years, Han Chengjiang has been traveling extensively, and the number of times the grandfather and grandson have met can be counted on one hand.

Sitting upright, Han Chengjiang respectfully replied, “I am currently compiling two books, tentatively titled *Miscellaneous Excerpts from Various Schools* and *A Collection of Admonitory Maxims*.”

Han Chengjiang’s reading is broad and diverse. He categorizes and transcribes prefaces, edicts, biographies, memorial essays, and other materials encountered in his reading. Whenever he comes across exemplary words of wisdom from past sages, regardless of the era, he records them immediately. Furthermore, Han Chengjiang extracts these sayings and divides them into ten categories, such as learning, self-cultivation, conduct, and literary embellishments, meticulously compiling them into a volume.

The Old Master Han nodded with a smile, “So, they are similar to the *Guan Zhi of Ancient Prose* selected by the Two Wu and the *Drunken Ancient Hall Sword Sweeping* by Lu Xiangke.”

Han Chengjiang said, “They are merely imitations of others’ efforts.”

The Old Master Han waved his hand, “If the two books are well-done, they will serve as precious rafts for benefiting oneself and others, and as ladders for aspiring to be sages and worthies. Bring me the drafts later so I can review them. If they are ever published, remember to use a pseudonym.”

Han Chengjiang agreed.

The old man suddenly smiled and said, “Li Liu, Chengjiang has excellent calligraphy. What about the Spring Festival couplets at the ancestral home in Huaihuang County?”

His grandson Han Chengjiang’s calligraphy is indeed exceptionally skilled, favored by the current Emperor. Therefore, whenever the Flower Plume Dynasty has imperial steles, Han Chengjiang is always asked to write them. Before becoming the Chief Compiler, even the name of the Emperor’s study was written by Han Chengjiang.

Han Chengjiang is recognized as a child prodigy. At the age of twenty, he passed the imperial examination with high honors. Legend has it that Chief Minister Han requested that the Emperor lower his eldest son Han Chengjiang’s ranking in the palace examination, reasoning that “the son of an official should not take precedence over talented commoners.” Therefore, when Chief Minister Han returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors and meet with his in-laws, the Emperor bestowed upon him a jade ruyi, symbolizing “smooth sailing in all matters during this trip.” Furthermore, he gifted over a hundred rare books from the Imperial Library, specifically for Han Chengjiang.

Li Liu laughed, “The Spring Festival couplets and the character ‘Fu’ (福, good fortune) were written by my younger brother.”

Her words were frank and unrestrained.

The Old Master Han was speechless upon hearing this.

Han Chengjiang saw this rare expression on his grandfather’s face and suppressed a smile.

Li Liu glanced at the plaque in the study, “Hall of Contrition.”

It was taken from the saying of Mencius, the Second Sage, “Looking up, I have no reason to feel ashamed before Heaven; looking down, I have no reason to feel ashamed before men.” It resonated with the Qiao Zi Lane at the entrance.

Hanging on the wall was a pair of couplets, with strokes like iron and silver:

*When wind rises, the sea stands firm; within the scabbard lies a dragon’s aura.*

*When clouds embrace, mountains move; beyond the wine cup, all else is but dust.*

Han Chengjiang softly laughed, “Grandfather doesn’t actually enjoy drinking; he simply admires these couplets.”

In his youth, Grandfather once served on the battlefield for over a decade, making him a renowned Confucian general.

Therefore, Old Chief Minister Han later had a peculiar saying in the officialdom:

*My friends are mostly young people you don’t know.*

The old man sighed, “Lion Peak is a good place for cultivation. I only visited it once in my youth. These famous mountains and Taoist temples are not only auspicious places for cultivators, but they can also broaden the minds of scholars and inspire them to aspire to be sages and worthies, benefiting themselves and others.”

The Mountain Lord of Lion Peak, a well-known Old Nascent Soul cultivator, is also a close friend of Zhou Mi, the former Dean of the Fish Gourd Academy.

The old man suddenly asked a question that others might find incredibly strange: “May I ask, what did you see in Chengjiang?”

Li Liu bluntly said, “It’s a matter of the immortal realm, involving both past grudges and destined fate, which must be resolved cleanly in this lifetime.”

Her marriage to Han Chengjiang only involved a wedding feast in the small town at the foot of Lion Peak, with no one from the Han family showing their faces.

Han Chengjiang and the Wu Ju Han Clan are considered easy to talk to.

In his two previous lives in the Central Earth Divine Continent and the Flowing Haze Continent, Han Chengjiang had significant interactions with Li Liu, who was reborn repeatedly and knew everything from her past lives.

Back then, Old Man Yang asked Li Er’s family to leave the town and move to Northern Ju Lu Continent. Han Chengjiang, who was traveling at the time, happened to meet Li Liu, and they went to Lion Peak together.

It seemed like a predestined fate.

Li Liu knew very well that it was Yang Old Man who entrusted Cai Daohuang to open the marriage registry and write names, tying the red thread.

In exchange, Yang Old Man gave Hu Feng an opportunity, allowing him to ascend the mountain and cultivate.

However, the golden cicada shell, which contained a paradise, was just something her younger brother Li Huai casually created.

The Old Master Han was speechless. After hesitating for a moment, he still asked, “Li Liu, your current realm?”

Li Liu said, “Immortal Realm.”

The Old Master Han looked at Han Chengjiang, who seemed to be hearing about this for the first time, but he had a carefree expression. A broad mind brings much happiness, indeed.

Previously, when Han Chengjiang accompanied Li Liu back to her hometown in Huaihuang County, he did chores such as fetching water and chopping firewood, and he ate simple meals. He was just terrified by his friend Liu Xianyang, who deliberately portrayed Lin Shouyi and Dong Shuijing as mischievous devils who enjoyed ambushing people with sacks and clubs since childhood.

He attended the founding ceremony of the Fallen Mountain Sect and even drank with the Mountain Lord Chen, who had taken the initiative to descend the mountain and visit him. However, Chen’s alcohol tolerance was too high, and he couldn’t outdrink him.

The Old Master Han was silent for a long time before extending his hand from his sleeve, raised it slightly, and softly asked, “Is there any hope of reaching a higher level?”
Li Liu nodded, “At most a century. It’s inevitable.”

Grandfather Han fell silent again.

“Currently, in our Northern Club芦洲, there seems to be only one cultivator in the Ascension Realm, right?”

“The Fire Dragon True Man of Crouching Peak.”

The old man smiled, “Few can establish unparalleled merit, maintain their integrity until the end, and leave behind a good reputation. Li Liu, I entrust Chengjiang to you in the future.”

The issue of one’s merit overshadowing the ruler has always been a dangerous obstacle that ancient people could not avoid on the path to becoming a marquis or prime minister.

Li Liu nodded, “No problem.”

The old man asked curiously, “I heard that Chen Yínguān also came from Lízhū Grotto-Heaven. He seems quite young. How old is he exactly?”

Li Liu said, “A little over forty.”

The old man hesitated for a moment and asked, “May I ask about Chen Yínguān’s realm?”

According to previous accounts, Chen Shíyī of the Sword Qi Great Wall, one of the ten most promising young individuals in several continents, is a Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator and a Peak Realm martial artist.

Li Liu thought for a while and shook his head, “Hard to say.”

In the Red Candle Town, within a small alleyway’s bookstore.

A short, stocky, and taciturn man arrived, looking at the black-clad youth lazily reclining in a rattan chair, and said, “Here to buy a book.”

Li Jǐn, the River God of Flushing Waters, immediately sat up and smiled, “Rare guest, rare guest indeed.”

Back then, this fellow had made an exorbitant demand, directly asking the Great Lí for the position of a Prefecture City God. If he was only given the title of a County City God, he would remain at the Steamed Bun Mountain Land Shrine, refusing to budge.

Promotions in the bureaucracy of mountains and waters are even more difficult than filling vacancies in the imperial court, with a strict hierarchy. However, the Great Lí court actually agreed to the matter.

Once upon a time, a young man in his twenties helped the founding emperor of the Divine Water Kingdom and, in less than ten years, conquered a vast territory covering nearly half of the country.

He almost unified the ancient Shǔ region in history. At that time, the Divine Water Kingdom had a vast territory encompassing the current Great Suí Dynasty and the Yellow Court Kingdom. Even the Lú Dynasty, the suzerain state of the Great Lí Sòng clan located at the northernmost tip of the Treasure Bottle Continent, had some of its territory belonging to the border prefectures and counties of the Divine Water Kingdom.

A renowned general, a founding meritorious official.

He seemed to have retired with success before he even reached forty.

However, his name was quite common: Zhāng Píng.

There are several people named Zhāng Píng in Red Candle Town today.

The first Night Parade Feast of the Northern Mountain Pīyún Mountain of Great Lí saw the absence of the only mountain and water deity within its jurisdiction. This was the minor Land God of Steamed Bun Mountain.

Outsiders speculated that his rank was too low to be invited, but in fact, the first batch of invitations from the Mountain Lord’s Mansion, handwritten by Wèi Bó himself, was for Zhāng Píng.

Wèi Bó had once been the Mountain Lord of Great Yoke in the Divine Water Kingdom. However, the Divine Water Kingdom at that time was constantly losing territory, and its borders were shrinking severely.

After the establishment of the Great Lí Sòng clan, Wèi Bó, as a remnant of the fallen kingdom, was demoted again and again, ultimately falling from a Five Mountains Lord of a great dynasty to a Land God of Qídūn Mountain.

His circumstances were completely different from those of Jìn Qīng, the Mountain Lord of the former Zhū Yíng Dynasty, so it was no wonder that the two Great Mountain Lords were known for disliking each other.

The Prefecture City God asked, “Do you have any books on military strategy?”

Li Jǐn pointed to a bookshelf, “They’re all over there.”

Zhāng Píng walked to the bookshelf, glanced at it, and pulled out a well-printed Twenty-Seven Histories of a Hundred Generals, which told the stories of famous generals from past dynasties in Central Earth Divine Continent. The man casually flipped through a few pages and put it back, taking out another book, seemingly finding the biography of a famous general he wanted to read. He put the book into his sleeve and turned to ask, “How much?”

Li Jǐn smiled, “I’ll make an exception and give it to you for free.”

Zhāng Píng didn’t bother with pleasantries and turned to leave.

Li Jǐn waved his hand, “Chat for a while longer. If I remember correctly, this is your first time at the bookstore, isn’t it?”

Zhāng Píng stopped and asked, “What’s going on?”

Previously, the bookstore in Red Candle Town had created quite a stir in the realm of mountains and rivers, even the City God Temple of the Prefecture had noticed the unusual phenomenon here.

Li Jǐn smiled, “The housekeeper of Falling Mountain sent me two paintings. Mountain Lord Chen came here a while ago and helped gild them and stamp his private seal.”

Zhāng Píng nodded, “Congratulations.”

“To retire with success is the way of Heaven.”

Li Jǐn shook his head and smiled, “You’re a military strategist, but you act like a Taoist Qi cultivator.”

Like the famous generals biographies, one of them was a bloodthirsty figure that Zhāng Píng greatly admired, whose surname was Bái.

Martial Temples are built throughout the Great Vast World, following the etiquette system of Confucian Temples.

At the county and prefecture levels, only portraits of the Ten Sages of the Martial Temple are hung. At the prefecture level, if there is insufficient funds, only portraits are hung; if there is sufficient funds, statues are sculpted for the ten people in the Martial Temple.

The capitals and secondary capitals of various countries are divided into the Ten Sages in the main hall and the Sixty-Two worthy figures in the two side halls, all enjoying the incense offerings of the mortal realm.

It is rumored that the Carmine Asura Saint’s Mansion in Central Earth, with its red-edged black lacquered gate inlaid with suanni beasts, has an screen wall beyond the spirit screen, is the second gate, with two life-size painted door gods on each side, totaling four worthy figures of the Martial Temple, precisely the four among the “Flawless Military Prowess” Ten Sages of the Martial Temple.

Li Jǐn smiled, “The one you admire is too bloodthirsty and his methods are too cruel.”

Zhāng Píng said calmly, “I’m not worthy to even lead his horse. As for you, you shouldn’t make wild comments.”

The Seventy-Two Generals of the Martial Temple, ten in the main hall and sixty-two in the two side halls, are different from the Confucian Temple, which rarely changes. The Martial Temple often has changes in the spirit tablets, which is quite frequent. However, in general, there is not much controversy in the Great Vast World about replacing portraits, statues, and spirit tablets for worthy figures. Only one person is an exception. He has been enshrined in the temple for a very long time, starting as one of the ten secondary sages of the Martial Temple, but his status has declined again and again in later generations. He was first removed from the main hall and moved to one of the side halls, and then his ranking became lower and lower, almost losing the qualification to be enshrined in the two side halls. Now, in the Martial Temple, he is only ranked among the fourth-class famous generals.

The Treasure Bottle Continent is a small place, and only one general in history has been selected for the Martial Temple, but his enshrined period was extremely short, and he was soon removed because his position was replaced by a famous general from another continent.

As a result, later generations in the Treasure Bottle Continent have no idea that there is such a page in the old almanac of military strategists.

And this person is Zhāng Píng of the Divine Water Kingdom.

Li Jǐn asked with a smile, “What about the little fellow who is inseparable from you?”

Zhāng Píng glanced towards the Steamed Bun Mountain Land Shrine and said unhappily, “That little brat has gone there to report again.”

Li Jǐn couldn’t help but laugh, “That’s also a significant good karma.”
About two hundred *li* west of Red Candle Town, in the vast, calm waters of the river’s heart, stood a solitary hillock, known colloquially as Mantou (Steamed Bun) Hill. Upon it perched a modest, yet enduring, Earth God Shrine.

Now that Zhang Ping had risen to prominence, this venerable temple hadn’t fallen into disrepair. Although the main deity’s golden effigy had been moved to the state capital’s City God Temple, this place, seen as a sort of “descent” of the deity, had a caretaker and refurbished guest rooms. After the persistent urging of a tiny incense spirit, Zhang Ping grudgingly spent some money to repaint and gild the clay deities, finally giving them a semblance of dignity.

A palm-sized incense spirit, clad in scarlet robes and a white jade belt, was cursing under its breath. “Zhang Ping, that scoundrel! He brought me here, then left without even offering a ride!”

No matter what, they had endured hardship and emerged victorious. Finally, they were prosperous and generous.

The scarlet-clad child stamped its foot in frustration, suddenly remembering something. A look of stunned silence washed over its face. “What to do, what to do? It’s roll call today! Will I make it?”

It immediately cast a minor spell, issuing a barely-there “edict.” Moments later, a three-foot-long azure carp swam over, like a ferry docking at the shore.

The scarlet-clad child nimbly leaped onto the carp’s back, grasping its whiskers as if holding reins. Slicing through the waves, it arrived at Red Candle Town, hastily jumping ashore. Skirting the perfumed riverbank, where many merchants from the Great Li were spending the New Year in their respective state guilds, the little fellow dashed towards Chess Mound Hill. The incense spirit chanted incantations and stamped its feet, quickly conjuring an Earth God. The current Mountain God of Chess Mound Hill was that “Song Golden Head,” just like its City God, a stone from a stinky latrine. However, this Earth God under Song Mountain God’s command was an old acquaintance of the second-in-command of the State City God Temple. Upon seeing the incense spirit, it immediately adopted a flattering expression. Without even asking, it summoned a water-bucket-thick white-spotted snake. The scarlet-clad child thanked it, leaped onto the snake’s back, and grasped two of its scales, hurtling like lightning towards Fallen Phoenix Mountain, muttering all the while, “I’ll make it, I’ll make it for sure. I absolutely can’t fail this time! I’m almost at a hundred consecutive roll calls…”

Reaching the border of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, it released the white-spotted snake. The scarlet-clad child plunged into a mad dash, its pathetic little legs swinging wildly like cartwheels.

The little fellow rushed to the mountain gate, but it was late at night and the gatekeeper Immortal Guardian was nowhere to be seen.

The gatekeepers of Fallen Phoenix Mountain had been, in the beginning, the witty Da Feng brothers, then Cao Qinglang and Yuan Bao, who only read serious books. After that, it was Right Protector, who was discerning and had a great eye for talent, and valued the little spirit. But now, it was replaced by that young Daoist.

It looked around, gritted its teeth, and lay down on the ground, squeezing through the crack under the front door. Reaching the doorway, the scarlet-clad child jumped up and began banging on the door, yelling at the top of its lungs, “Immortal Guardian, Immortal Guardian! Sleeping so early? What are you sleeping for? It’s New Year’s Eve! Don’t you know the rules?”

After knocking for a long time, the little fellow, weak and miserable, pleaded, “Immortal Guardian Daoist, open the door, please! I know you’re not asleep, there’s firelight in the house! Please, I’m begging you, from the bottom of my heart!”

Attempting to lie down and squeeze through the crack under the door, unlike the main gate, it was too tight, causing a painful headache. The little fellow stood up, eyes glazed, beating its chest and stomping its feet, collapsing to the ground in a wail. “My life is so hard!”

“If all else fails, I’ll go up the mountain to find Warm Tree. She’ll definitely be guarding the night tonight, and she’ll be on the first floor of the bamboo building.”

The only problem was whether its skinny legs would be fast enough to make it in time.

With a creak, the Immortal Guardian, holding a book, opened the door and squatted down, smiling. “You finally know how to call me Immortal Guardian Daoist, huh? Tell me, why are you sneaking up here in the middle of the night?”

The little fellow straightened its back, put its hands on its hips, and raised its head, angrily saying, “What else could it be? I’m here to report for roll call!”

“Damn it, a bunch of my official colleagues from the City God Temple came over to my place to ask for a late-night snack. You know, Zhang Ping is just an unreliable guy, a useless thing who doesn’t understand social etiquette. I had to help entertain them, and I accidentally got drunk. After that, I went to Mantou Hill. It was such a long run, almost killing me.”

The Immortal Guardian then remembered that this incense spirit did indeed need to come to Fallen Phoenix Mountain for roll call today.

“He really treats Fallen Phoenix Mountain like a government office, huh?”

But the little fellow’s sincerity was genuine.

The Immortal Guardian turned and went inside. The little fellow dashed to the edge of the stove, squatting to warm itself. To the scarlet-clad child, the brazier was like a small volcano.

The little fellow complained, “Where are the *zongzi* (sticky rice dumplings)? Where are the taro strips? There’s nothing! Immortal Guardian, I’m just saying, how can you be so poor? Is the old chef skimming your pay?”

The Immortal Guardian ignored it, taking out a small booklet from the desk drawer. It was left by Little Rice Grain, palm-sized, with each page marked with a date, for the incense spirit to circle each time it reported for duty.

The scarlet-clad child issued commands, “Hurry up, what are you standing there for? Get me ink! With your comprehension and perception, you’d be eating shit if you were in the government.”

The Immortal Guardian rolled its eyes at the little fellow, bent down, picked up a piece of charcoal from the brazier, and casually tossed it on the side. The little fellow could only pick out a tiny piece of charcoal as a pen. With a serious expression, it circled the date in the booklet, finally feeling relieved.

The Immortal Guardian threw the booklet back on the desk, only to be scolded again. It was getting used to it.

The Immortal Guardian sat on a small bamboo chair, curiously asking, “I’ve always wondered, why do you bother to report for roll call so punctually every half month? What’s the point?”

The little fellow was from the State City God Temple. The City God there had a very high official rank in the mountain and water bureaucracy. Zhang Ping, as the head of the City Gods of a state, managed all the City God Temples in the counties and districts, as well as all the Earth Gods and Earth Godesses. This scarlet-clad child…

The incense spirit looked at the young Daoist with an idiot’s gaze, “As long as I have enough roll calls, I can rise through the ranks step by step! A true man must not remain under the control of others forever!”
Due to some karmic mishap, or perhaps the destined time was not yet right, I have yet to meet the esteemed Mountain Master Chen. According to Helmsman Pei, if I make my presence known at the mountain gate a hundred times, I can greet the Mountain Master when I finally see him.

The Immortal Guard chuckled, “Promoted? To what kind of position?”

The lad paused, scratched his face, and his voice immediately softened, “Well, Helmsman Pei and Protector Zhou certainly have it planned, but I don’t know. I never ask about these things, it seems insincere.”

That year, Zhu Yi replaced Zhou Mili as the Right Protector of Dragon-Riding Lane.

“And privately, Protector Zhou hinted that Pei Qian might establish the position of Chief Protector of Dragon-Riding Lane in the future, an unavoidable responsibility. Such a heavy burden, I’ll take it!”

Over the years, their secret little mountain stronghold has only held one “Hall of Ancestors” meeting.

This martial arts assembly was grand and extremely solemn. It was held in the plaza outside the Hall of Ancestors of the Fallen Phoenix Mountain, with a table, four benches, and the table filled with fruits and snacks.

The Dragon Spring County Headquarters has expanded its power to a terrifying extent, already overseeing two branch strongholds: the East Flower Mountain Branch and the Dragon-Riding Lane Branch.

The Alliance Leader token of the Headquarters was handed over to Pei Qian by the previous Martial Arts Alliance Leader and Headquarters Leader, Li Baoping.

Pei Qian is now the Helmsman of the East Flower Mountain Branch and concurrently the Helmsman of the Dragon-Riding Lane Branch, holding two positions, with high authority and a prominent status.

After Zhou Mili stepped down as Right Protector of Dragon-Riding Lane, she was promoted to Deputy Helmsman of the Dragon-Riding Lane Branch, a high-ranking official.

As for the Branch Stronghold Patrons, there are Chen Nuanshu and Chen Lingjun.

The East Flower Mountain Branch also has a small sub-stronghold in a certain academy, with Li Huai as the Little Helmsman, overseeing two underlings: Liu Guan and Ma Lian, who were classmates with Li Huai at the Cliffside Academy.

In that martial arts assembly of shared glory, the Incense Little Man from the City God Temple, who had no merit but had worked hard, was exceptionally permitted to sit at the table for discussions by Branch Helmsman Pei Qian due to his promotion to Right Protector of Dragon-Riding Lane.

That time, Headquarters Leader Li Baoping and Honorary Helmsman of the Dragon-Riding Lane Branch, the Great White Goose Cui Dongshan, both missed the meeting.

As a result, the Great White Goose was given a major demerit on the spot by the decisive and merciless Helmsman Pei.

As for the Left Protector of Dragon-Riding Lane, he’s doing poorly, only able to lie under the bench beside the table.

Zhu Yi said, “Bring some melon seeds to crack.”

The Immortal Guard cracked open a melon seed and placed it on the edge of the brazier.

Zhu Yi nodded in appreciation, “Immortal Guard, let me speak from the bottom of my heart, if I get promoted someday, I will wholeheartedly recommend you to Helmsman Pei and Protector Zhou. The vacant position of Right Protector of Dragon-Riding Lane will definitely be yours.”

The Immortal Guard smiled and said, “Should I thank you or thank you?”

Mountain Lord Jin Qing secretly left the Mountain Lord’s mansion and took a trip to the Huangshan Sword Sect, finding the sword cultivator Yuan Bai.

Yuan Bai joked, “Wouldn’t that make me a slave with three surnames?”

Jin Qing said, “I think you should consider it carefully.”

Yuan Bai hesitated for a moment, but still shook his head, “Regardless of who the first Mountain Lord of the Huangzhu Sword Sect is, and regardless of whether it can become a sect in the future, I still hope to stay here.”

“The subordinate sect of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, the Azure Float Sword Sect of Immortal Capital Mountain, will be the first Sword Dao sect in Tongye Continent.”

Jin Qing continued to persuade, “Chen Pingan values you, not for your Sword Dao realm, nor for your identity, but simply for the mutual appreciation between sword cultivators.”

Seeing Yuan Bai smiling and not speaking, Jin Qing said, “Don’t misunderstand, it’s just that he feels you can help someone over there. I just think that going there would be more comfortable than staying in this chaotic Huangshan Sword Sect.”

In fact, according to the agreement with the Young Hidden Official, Jin Qing should have first confirmed the restoration of the Dugu Clan by the Lin River in central Tongye Continent before coming here to persuade Yuan Bai to poach someone from the Zheng Yang Mountain.

Yuan Bai still shook his head and said, “Forget it, I won’t go to Tongye Continent.”

Jin Qing nodded and asked, “Then should I send a flying sword message to Fallen Phoenix Mountain?”

Yuan Bai smiled and said, “Thank you, Mountain Lord Jin.”

Southern Pond Lake, Treasure Bottle Continent.

Lake Lord Qin held a white bowl in her hand, with a drop of water inside.

A small drop of water, but it contained eighty percent of the water from the old Southern Pond Lake.

If Sword Immortal Shao Yunyan hadn’t reminded her that it was inappropriate, she would have secretly built a “Family Temple” and erected a commemorative tablet to offer incense to every day.

As a Lake Lord, according to the current rules of the Dali Dynasty and the Central Earth Confucian Temple, she is permitted to establish a manor, similar to the establishment of a peak by a Golden Core Earth Immortal on the mountain. This female Lake Lord intends to request a Confucian Temple sacrificial instrument from both the Lake-Viewing Academy and the Cliffside Academy, and to also request a book of works by a sage of the Confucian Temple.

Previously, she voluntarily gave up the merit reward from the Young Hidden Official, because it was not a matter of trade.

Northern Ju Continent, Grand Canal Duke’s Mansion, Duke Lingyuan Shen Lin worked overnight to create a plaque, hanging it high, even higher than the plaque of the Lingyuan Duke’s Mansion.

Virtue Leisure Palace.

In the night, Shen Lin stood outside the gate of his mansion, looking up at the plaque personally inscribed by the Young Hidden Official, and smiled with squinted eyes.

Taken from the saying “Virtuous people roam the heavens.”

With a smile, Shen Lin murmured, “Virtuous people roam the heavens, autumn moon cold river. The sun asks, the moon learns, travelers think of home.”

Central Earth Divine Continent, rumored to be the volcanic cluster where the Dao Ancestor’s alchemy furnace is located.

In a small wine shop, the wine-selling woman smiled and said, “Ganzhou, do you want to recognize me as your master and learn immortal methods?”

The girl asked directly, “What are the benefits?”

Yang Zhi said, “I can teach you a few water techniques.”

The girl frowned, “I may not look favorably upon the techniques of you Qi cultivators, and even if I do, I may not be able to cultivate them.”

This is the difference between gods and humans, and the different paths of the Great Dao.

The woman smiled and said, “You can definitely cultivate, maybe one day you will transform from turbid to pure and become a righteous river god, and you can continue to cultivate.”

Old Mountain God Gong Xinzhou, according to the current golden jade register of the Confucian Temple, his rank is from the seventh rank, a pure official position in the mountain and water bureaucracy.

The current Xiao Qiu river hag, like the River God and the Earth God, belongs to the bottom-level turbid petty officials, even inferior to the county city gods who at least have a pure origin.

There’s no other way, the Young Hidden Official reminded him, and the Old Scholar hinted at it.

If he doesn’t understand the situation, Yang Zhi would worry about being targeted.

Moreover, Chen Pingan was accompanied by an “attendant” Qing Tong at the time, and it is said that Xiao Mo is now the Young Hidden Official’s bodyguard.
The old scholar, now restored to his identity as a Sage of Letters, had arrived with the Sage of Rites himself.

Little River Granny asked, “For the apprentice ceremony, do we need to kowtow and offer tea?”

Yang Zhi fanned his cattail leaf fan and shook his head with a smile, “For disciples taken without formal registration, it’s not necessary.”

Little River Granny said straightforwardly, “Why not register? Let’s do it properly in one go.”

Yang Zhi smiled, pondered for a moment, and nodded, “Alright, I suppose.”

After which, they both drank a bowl of wine, and the master-disciple relationship was established, simple and easy, which suited Yang Zhi’s taste.

Previously, Yang Zhi had inquired with Chen Ping An about communicating with the Literary Temple, probing to see if they could allow him the same freedom as Tao Ting of the Wild Desolation or Xiao Mo, to come and go freely within the Vast Sky. He could make a vow to the Literary Temple, like Bai Ze, nominally imprisoned in a corner, to save face, and would not travel in a high-profile manner each time he went out.

Unfortunately, Chen Ping An did not give a clear answer at the time.

Although the Sage of Rites arrived later, Yang Zhi did not dare to bring it up, as it seemed like pressing one’s luck.

Fei Fei and the other juniors from the Wild Desolation had only heard of the Little Master’s temperament, but Yang Zhi had witnessed it firsthand.

It must be known that the earliest batch of “scholars” in the world were not easy to deal with, and this Little Master, as one of the four candidates for the ancient “Ten Heroes of the World,” was even more… unspeakable. Anyway, when the mountain-top cultivators of the Wild Desolation demon race saw this Little Master, they had only one thought, not even to quickly detour and avoid him, but… I shouldn’t have gone out.

After Little River Granny left the wine shop, a gentleman from the academy, wearing a jade pendant at his waist, arrived, not concealing his movements, and landed at the wine shop.

Gong Xinzhou, the old mountain god of Fragrant Torreya Mountain, noticed the movement and glanced at the figure, a handsome young man rarely seen in the hundreds of miles around.

The academy gentleman went straight to the point, “Within a thousand years, without the permission of the Literary Temple, you are not allowed to go to South Poso Continent and Floating Clouds Continent. The other seven continents, especially, cannot approach the three Ruins of Return. Violation will result in immediate execution.”

“But there is a prerequisite. You must immediately take a trip to Tongye Continent.”

“Mountain Lord Chen of Fallen Phoenix Mountain will reserve some of the drifting river water transport for you, but you need to use it for digging a large canal in Tongye Continent, as the price for exchanging your one thousand years of freedom.”

Yang Zhi asked, “Is that all?”

The gentleman nodded, “If you agree, I can immediately send a message to the Literary Temple to report and record this matter.”

Yang Zhi hesitated, “Is it reliable?”

The academy gentleman chuckled, “This is a decision made by the Literary Temple, not a joke.”

At Great Yue Juxu Mountain, an old Taoist priest left the Yellow Dream Wine Shop, riding a green ox, and rose into the clouds, heading to his own dojo.

Taoist Priest Feng Jun of the Green Ox made a decision. That mountain lord Huai Lian was ignorant, but he couldn’t be impolite. Anyway, it was just an incense stick’s worth, adding flowers to the brocade, why not?

It would also be good to say hello to that fellow Taoist Chen and remind him that he was now cultivating at Juxu Mountain, and was welcome to visit.

After the old Taoist left the Night Sailing Ship, he returned to Bird Raising Mountain, the secondary peak of Juxu Mountain, to establish his dojo, which was once the residence of this True Man.

Back then, the mountain lords and water gods of the Five Great Mountains and Rivers of the world were all his subordinate officials. In simple terms, several thousand years ago, the current mountain lord Huai Lian was nominally under his control.

Now, it’s reversed.

Tongye Continent, Demon Suppression Tower.

A group of people arrived at the top floor.

The Most Holy Teacher leaned against the railing and looked into the distance, and smiled, “In central Tongye Continent, the excavation of the great canal requires the earth-shattering power of great cultivators. Now that we have Yang Zhi and the Tender Taoist, plus Fellow Taoist Qing Tong lending a hand, it will be twice the result with half the effort.”

Chen Ping An came back to his senses and nodded, “We may also need to discuss it with the Water Lord of the East Sea.”

Just now, Chen Ping An had separated a wisp of his mind to collect books and texts.

Previously, Mountain Lord Jin Qing presented a collection of rubbings, summarizing all the cliff carvings, inscriptions, and stone inscriptions from the middle peak of the old Zhu Ying Dynasty, totaling more than two thousand pieces.

In Ziyang Prefecture of Huang Ting Kingdom, the sword box given by Wu Yi, in addition to containing an extremely rare sword pellet “Mud Pill,” the sword box itself contained more than sixty precious talismanic incantations, which were also extremely valuable.

In the Qililong waters of the Qiantang River, Chen Ping An borrowed poems from men of letters and poets of past dynasties, totaling 300,000 words, winning by quantity.

The Most Holy Teacher looked into the distance, “A long river of time, like two words.”

Chen Ping An said, “Now.”

The Most Holy Teacher sighed softly, “Even in haste, it is here; even in distress, it is here.”

Chen Ping An slowly said, “If others can do it once, I will do it a hundred times; if others can do it ten times, I will do it a thousand times. It is only so.”

“If the strong think a little more, the weak can think a lot less.”

The Most Holy Teacher nodded, remained silent for a moment, and asked with a smile, “Earlier, I asked you about your reading, whether there were any sentences you particularly liked or disliked. Do you have any particularly memorable sentence?”

“Yes, I do.”

Chen Ping An hummed and said softly, “My family was poor and had no way to obtain books to read.”

The Most Holy Teacher smiled knowingly, “This thought is very good, because it was also the biggest feeling of us ‘scholars’ back then.”

Regarding that “one” within Chen Ping An, currently, across several continents, if we exclude the ancient heavenly court ruins outside the sky, there are no more than ten people who know about it.

Then don’t forget, even if Chen Ping An is that new and old “one,” “one” is still “one.”

Even if it is only half of that supreme existence of yesteryear, it’s about evenly split with Zhou Mi, who ascended to heaven.

The Most Holy Teacher said, “Chen Ping An, you must guard your mind, at least until you become a fourteenth-realm sword cultivator. It’s best not to let him out, and pay special attention. Never let him take the dominant position.”

Chen Ping An said in a deep voice, “I will strive for it!”

To say it is half of a fifteenth-realm cultivator’s “one,” there is nothing to fear.

But what if it is half of a sixteenth-realm “one”?

The Most Holy Teacher stroked his beard and smiled, “Don’t mention the Landslide, even I am afraid.”

For example, back then in Mud Bottle Alley, there must have been such a person who made the Dao Ancestor yield.