The Dragon Riding Lane in Huaihuang County had momentarily transformed into an Ascension Platform.

Atop the platform, the woman still leaned on her sword, while the man sat on the steps beside her. Both possessed eyes of pure, refined gold.

The entire being of the sable-hatted girl, “Xie Gou,” instantly scattered like dust, then coalesced into a slender woman with a new and striking countenance.

Bai Jing, holding her sword aloft, raised her head high, meeting the gaze of the two figures above.

This was Bai Jing’s true form, her true face.

Xiao Mo said, “I advise you to sheathe your sword.”

Bai Jing narrowed her eyes, smiling. “Such a rare opportunity to stretch my limbs. I truly don’t believe they can drag me back to the river of time ten thousand years ago. If they were truly capable of such a feat, things wouldn’t be as they are today!”

To drag a perfected Ascension Realm sword cultivator from ten thousand years into the future, from a world overseen by the three ancestral teachers, back to the old mountains and rivers of ten thousand years past… even a fifteenth realm cultivator could not accomplish that!

Up on the platform, the man, hand propping his chin, smiled gently. “Our Xiao Mo is still partial to Bai Jing. Looks like there’s hope.”

The woman nodded. “Affection is born in adversity, after all.”

Xiao Mo couldn’t hear the words of the two beings above, but looking at the “Young Master” who was both familiar in appearance and yet alien in aura, she felt they weren’t saying anything good.

The “Chen Ping’an” narrowed his eyes, waved goodbye to Xiao Mo, and smiled. “Xiao Mo, take it easy, don’t let it become a fait accompli.”

The strange phenomena vanished, and Xiao Mo and Bai Jing were once again in Dragon Riding Lane.

Xie Gou adjusted her sable hat, scoffing. “Fake, fake. Just putting on a show to scare me.”

Xiao Mo’s expression was awkward, as if she’d been caught in an illicit affair, despite her innocence.

Xie Gou complained. “Xiao Mo, it’s all your fault. That being traced you through your sword dao, lying in wait downstream in the river of time, catching us both red-handed.”

As she spoke, Xie Gou raised a hand to wipe sweat from her brow.

Xiao Mo glanced at her, and Xie Gou immediately explained, “Even if it was fake, it was still terrifying. The world is small, we’re bound to run into each other, no need to narrow our path. Let’s go drink and calm our nerves.”

At the thatched hut tavern, Xiao Mo asked Jiu’er to bring two jars of glutinous rice wine, smiling and saying they didn’t need dishes from the kitchen, they just wanted a place to drink.

Xie Gou sat cross-legged on a bench, drinking a large bowl of the rice wine, sighing. “It’s not easy to earn a living. Xiao Mo, you have no idea how hard I’ve worked to save some money since coming to the Great Domain. Digging for herbs on the mountains, setting up stalls down below, almost getting harassed. It’s been miserable.”

Xiao Mo took a sip of wine. “Only those who truly can’t make money have the right to say they’re working hard.”

Xie Gou huffed. “That’s quite the thing to say, truly human.”

Xiao Mo put down her bowl, asking in a mental voice, “Do you dare to kill an Ascension Realm cultivator?”

Xie Gou blinked. “Are you out of your mind?”

Dare to? Of course, she dared.

The question was whether she could. This wasn’t the Wildlands.

Did you think she wanted to be caught by the Little Master and share prison food with Liu Cha in the Merit Forest? Right, then you wouldn’t have to see me, out of sight, out of mind.

A heartless man’s words were more piercing than a flying sword, Xie Gou sniffled and wiped the corner of her eye. Seeing that Xiao Mo was unmoved, she lost interest and changed her expression, saying lazily, “Alright, who do you want me to kill?”

Xiao Mo said, “Yang Zhi, the former master of the Yiluo River.”

Xie Gou realized. “Ah, her. Not bad at escaping, but not a good fighter, not at all. Just big breasts and a big behind, wasted potential, annoying to look at. If the Wen Temple hadn’t kept her here, she’d be in the Wildlands now. Heh.”

Xie Gou had coveted one of Yang Zhi’s natal divine abilities for many years. It wasn’t naturally suited for Yang Zhi, but Xie Gou’s comprehension of spells and divine abilities was too good, her cultivation was too fast. And this path wasn’t very suitable for Yang Zhi, but if Xie Gou learned it, broke it down, and mixed it up, it would just fill in a certain deficiency in Xie Gou’s great dao. With a bit of luck, she could truly ascend to the fourteenth realm.

In fact, when Xiao Mo was chasing Yang Zhi, Bai Jing had always been following from a distance, silently.

When the Mountain Moving Ancestor Yuan Shou appeared, she revealed herself. Dare to hit my man? Did you ask for my permission, Bai Jing? Two against two, that’s fair.

This pair of immortal lovers, dealing with a pair of paramours, it’s an easy win, how could they lose?

But Xiao Mo didn’t want to join forces with her, and just left.

Xie Gou said, “I have an agreement with the Old Master Bai and the Wen Temple. But…”

“Since you asked, I can consider it. Provided you guarantee I can leave the Great Domain alive.”

Xie Gou held out a palm, raising her eyebrows at Xiao Mo. “What’s the benefit? Clear accounts between brothers, if we were Dao companions, we wouldn’t talk about this, but we’re not.”

Xie Gou wiped her mouth. “I’ve been reading so many books, those stories of talented scholars and beautiful women, the tales of heroes and heroines, it’s always the same: a hero saves a beauty, a great kindness deserves a great reward, and the young woman has no choice but to offer herself in marriage, willing to offer her pillow. The same principle applies to us!”

Xiao Mo was about to speak when Chen Ping’an quietly sat down at the table, smiling. “Xiao Mo, don’t agree to offer yourself!”

Behind Xie Gou, someone reached out and pressed down on the girl’s sable hat. “I didn’t bother with you just now, and you’re still being cheeky?”

Xie Gou shrank her neck, her eyes mournful. “Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo, quickly say something fair for me, I’m timid, so scared.”

For cultivators, spirit traveling ten thousand miles is nothing, these two must have spirit traveled for ten thousand years to arrive?

Celestial Capital Mountain, Azure Shirt Ferry.

Cui Dongshan counted on his fingers, listing the names of several allies. “The Yao family of Daquan, the Cloud Grass Hall of Pushan, Peace Mountain, the Jade Standard Sect, the Liu family of Aiai Continent, the Yu family of the Central Earth Profound Secret Dynasty, six. That’s all for now. Those with money provide money, those with strength provide strength. Each performs their duty, the division of labor is clear, loving each other, working together in the same boat.”

Zhang Zhi nodded. “It’s a very good combination.”

An ordinary Ascension Realm cultivator couldn’t gather such a great force.

This was the potential foundation of a late Hidden Official of the Great Wall of Sword Qi.
Wu Shou’s fleshy eyelids twitched subtly. Especially after hearing about the Liu Clan of皚皚洲 (Ái’ái Zhōu, Snowy Isle), he wanted to retreat immediately. He was currently the third-in-command of the Pouch Pavilion’s Tongye Continent branch, having failed to secure even the second position. This was essentially a demotion to observe his future performance. If he couldn’t achieve something tangible soon, the ancestral hall would hold him accountable after the autumn harvest.

It wasn’t that the Liu Clan of Snowy Isle was ruthless and greedy in business, but rather that they preferred to completely dominate any transaction. Outsiders could only assist from the sidelines, unable to interfere with the flow of key assets.

Within the Pouch Pavilion, many ventures relied on eloquent salesmanship and extravagant boasts. However, according to the ancestral hall’s rules, anyone who fancied a particular business had to contribute half the capital from their own pockets.

If there were losses, they had to make up the shortfall, even if it meant selling their possessions or borrowing from others. If they couldn’t afford it, they had to sign an IOU, ensuring that the Pouch Pavilion’s deficit was prioritized. Taking the money and spending it lavishly, or even embezzling it, was absolutely forbidden. Moreover, the ancestral hall would dispatch an accountant, akin to a battlefield supervisor, making it nigh impossible to circumvent them or manipulate the books.

Wu Shou had a grand-uncle who had spent seven centuries repaying debts to the Pouch Pavilion. Back in his prime, he had been a towering figure in the Flowing Haze Continent. Even the Heavenly Corner Grotto had borrowed a substantial sum from him. The interest alone was enough to live a life of luxury, making being wealthier than a kingdom or even a continent trivial. However, he had grown too greedy and meddled in the internal affairs of upper and lower sects, suffering severe losses and failing to gain anything.

Cui Dongshan glanced at Wu Shou’s subtle change in expression. Focused solely on making money, he seemed to have forgotten the lessons of the past.

Could it be that Zhang Zhi was fishing at Green Garment Crossing, using Wu Shou as bait? Like trying to catch a large fish, which is difficult but easy to lose, Zhang Zhi, being an old fox, could deduce his own teacher’s temperament from a single successful catch. After all, Zhang Zhi certainly wouldn’t dare to think he could single-handedly capture the Hidden Official “Chen Ping’an” and the two newly emerging sects of Fallen Mountain and Azure Ripple Sword Sect. In short, Zhang Zhi’s goal was to deliberately let the big fish escape, all for the long-term benefit of the entire Pouch Pavilion.

Cui Dongshan disliked such elaborate scheming and was too lazy to beat around the bush. He directly asked with a mental voice, “Zhang Zhi, you are so astute, why would you deliberately bring Wu Shou here to invite trouble?”

Zhang Zhi smiled, “I’m still not as astute as Sect Master Cui and your teacher.”

“What do you mean by that? Be careful with your words, lest you follow in the footsteps of Wu Old Ancestor.”

“Why does Sect Master Cui ask a question he already knows the answer to?”

“Zhang Zhi, Zhang Zhi, I have my own skills and confidence when I pretend to be ignorant, but you are truly foolish if you pretend to be ignorant with me. I advise you, I am now the Sect Master of the Azure Ripple Sword Sect, and I can follow my teacher’s example and issue a second expulsion order. I can’t control the Pouch Pavilion’s business in the southern part of Tongye Continent; that’s the territory of the Jade Rule Sect. I’m not familiar with the current Sect Master, Wei Ying, and I’m not very close to the previous Sect Master, Jiang, either. But from today onwards, don’t expect to prosper in the north.”

Back then, the Pouch Pavilion of Treasure Bottle Continent had been expelled by the Embroidered Tiger, Cui Chan, suffering a similar fate to Liu Taozhi of the West Mountain Sword Hermitage. They had parted ways unhappily, forging a lasting feud.

Cui Chan would never allow any external forces to cause even the slightest division or impede progress in the upcoming war.

The Pouch Pavilion had sensed the crisis even before the war began, but only Wu Shou’s branch in the Treasure Bottle Continent had acted too commercially.

Chen Ping’an didn’t need to concern himself with the intricacies of the situation, so his earlier “expulsion order” at the table had made his position clear.

Now that the great war between the Vast Brightness World and the Wilderness World was only halfway through, don’t think about taking all the advantages. Since you have the ability to avoid harm, don’t think about seeking profit. At least not in the Treasure Bottle Continent.

Zhang Zhi deliberately bringing Wu Shou to visit was a form of probing. Zhang Zhi needed to verify three things about this young Hidden Official: first, whether he would serve as the Great Li national preceptor, inheriting the literary mantle of the Embroidered Tiger, Cui Chan; second, whether the Azure Ripple Sword Sect had any ambitions to become the leading immortal mansion in Tongye Continent; and third, how similar Chen Ping’an’s temperament was to the Embroidered Tiger and how different it was from Cui Chan. Only then could Zhang Zhi and the Pouch Pavilion decide how to proceed.

The Pouch Pavilion needed to see the answers to these three questions before making a rough estimate of how much capital to invest here.

Because the “two docks” that the Pouch Pavilion truly cared about were no longer the rapidly recovering Treasure Bottle Continent, but Tongye Continent and Soaring Clouds Continent.

Wherever there were immortal docks, whether overt or covert, throughout the Nine Continents, the Pouch Pavilion had its business.

Cui Dongshan suddenly chuckled and said, “Wu Shou’s Pouch Pavilion didn’t do anything shady back in the Treasure Bottle Continent, did they?”

Zhang Zhi said calmly, “If they had, there would be no need for Sword Immortal Mi to remind Wu Shou to find a place for himself. I would have already chosen one for him. I founded the Pouch Pavilion myself. I’m a workaholic and like to oversee everything personally, so the Pouch Pavilion has always been a one-man show. For example, if I were the Sect Master of the Great Dragon Pool of the Central Earth, I wouldn’t need to go through the ancestral hall to deal with those treacherous wretches of the Little Dragon Pool. I could decide everything myself, just send the Dragon Beard Immortal to the Little Dragon Pool in Tongye Continent and execute them on the spot.”

“Merchants have their own ways of making money, which has been the case since ancient times. But merchants are still people, after all, and they still need to have a bottom line.”

“If a business wants to last, it must follow the trends.”

“But if you do too many wicked things, heaven will punish you.”

Hearing this, Cui Dongshan nodded, “That’s more like a clear and honest statement from an understanding person.”

Zhang Zhi said, “When you expelled the Pouch Pavilion, National Preceptor Cui immediately introduced Fan the Scholar and the Merchant Family to the Treasure Bottle Continent, as if clearing the field for them. The Pouch Pavilion acknowledged this silent loss, accepted our fate, and had no complaints.”

“Then, as Master Chen said, we can discuss the reopening of the Pouch Pavilion in the Treasure Bottle Continent when the world is at peace.”

“As for Tongye Continent, I think we can start with the collaboration on excavating the great rivers to show the Pouch Pavilion’s sincerity and true colors. What does Sect Master Cui think?”

Wu Shou knew that his ancestral master was communicating with the white-robed youth through mental voices. The fatty was regretting it thoroughly. He should have asked that little girl for a bowl of hot tea, rather than sitting here idly.
For some unknown reason, that young Hidden Official walked out of the house again, accompanied by the black-clad little girl carrying the brazier.

Now, when Wu Shou looked at this Cave Heaven Realm little water sprite, a dignified Nascent Soul cultivator, if the esteemed guests present didn’t find it disgraceful, Wu Shou would have knelt down and kowtowed, calling her “Grandma”.

Zhou Mili refilled tea for everyone, and when it was Wu Shou’s turn, he hurriedly lowered his head and repeatedly thanked the little girl, almost bursting into tears.

Cui Dongshan chuckled, “The previous Fatty also went to Immortal Capital Mountain, but he wasn’t as lucky as you.”

Chen Ping’an sat on the long bench, and Zhou Mili sat beside him.

Taking out a folded jade bamboo fan from his sleeve, Chen Ping’an gently placed it on the table and smiled, “Just now, inside the house, I remembered that before, at Mandarin Duck Isle, Mr. Zhang personally opened a ‘Harmony’ Shop, saying ‘Harmony begets wealth’. I and a few friends happened to be there, and after browsing carefully, we were greatly enlightened. I seem to owe Mr. Zhang a favor, two promissory notes. Everything in the world should be kept separate; if a deal falls through, there’s still goodwill.”

It turned out that before, inside the Harmony Shop, Chen Ping’an had taken a fancy to this precious folding fan at first sight, but at the time, he didn’t have much immortal money on him and was short on funds. Unexpectedly, a talisman beauty from the shop quickly arrived and offered to let him take the fan, and he could pay the money later at any Ferry Harmony Shop. Afterward, the Harmony Shop would definitely destroy the IOU. Later, Li Huai took a liking to a bonsai-like “Immortal Mountain,” which housed an old willow tree spirit. The Harmony Shop priced it at ten Millet Rain Coins, and Chen Ping’an took out a promissory note for Li Huai.

Cui Dongshan reached out and took the folding fan, opening it with a snap. The fan’s surface excerpted Su Shi’s Prayer for Rain Postscript, and the other side was a cursive script of “Dragon Hibernation Poem” written by Willow Continent’s banished immortal. The fan itself could be regarded as a significant water-based treasure. Its grade was definitely that of a magical artifact. A sword cultivator with good aptitude and luck could choose a day with thunderstorms and heavy rain, bathe and change clothes, open the fan, and while looking at the cursive script and the weather, might even learn a little bit of the sword intent and immortal aura of the former Sword Immortal Willow Continent.

Cui Dongshan asked in confusion, “Teacher, at that time, the Harmony Shop was opened at Parrot Isle, not Mandarin Duck Isle.”

Chen Ping’an suddenly realized, “Is that so? Then I must have misremembered.”

Wu Shou was about to collapse. Hidden Official, do you really mean what you say?

Zhang Zhi took out two IOUs from his sleeve. The signatory was Chen Ping’an of Fallen Peak. One IOU was for the folding fan, fifty Millet Rain Coins, and the other was for the “Immortal Mountain” bonsai, ten Millet Rain Coins.

Cui Dongshan glanced at them and, with lightning speed, quickly took out sixty Millet Rain Coins, intending to share the burden for his teacher and pay off the debt to retrieve the IOUs. Don’t destroy them! They had to be kept! Cui Dongshan could show them to the tender Daoist later. Ten Millet Rain Coins? You’re kidding! That old willow tree spirit had discussed the Dao with True Yang immortal Lü Dongbin! The two characters “Immortal Mountain” on the fist-sized rock were written with Lü Dongbin’s sword qi. These were genuine cliff carvings!

However, Zhang Zhi pressed down on the two IOUs with his fingers and said with a smile, “If Mr. Chen gives sixty Millet Rain Coins today, that would settle the debt. According to the rules, these two IOUs need to be destroyed immediately, but I want to discuss something with Mr. Chen. Can our Harmony Shop spend seventy Millet Rain Coins, equivalent to buying these two IOUs from Mr. Chen?”

Zhou Mili was stunned. Good man’s writing, two “Chen Ping’an of Fallen Peak”, ten characters, were equal to earning ten Millet Rain Coins? Were they that valuable?!

Chen Ping’an smiled and shook his head, “That’s too irregular. It’s better to have a clear transaction.”

Zhang Zhi smiled, “It’s not a special exception for Mr. Chen. In the history of the Harmony Shop, there have been precedents for this.”

Cui Dongshan sneered, “Seventy Millet Rain Coins? You think we are beggars? Seven hundred!”

Little Mili was shocked again. Big White Goose, no, did her cute and admirable Senior Brother always like to make exorbitant demands when doing business with people? Wasn’t he afraid of getting beaten up?

Unexpectedly, Mr. Zhang immediately took out a large bag from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and quickly retracted the two IOUs into his sleeves. “Then it’s a deal! The transaction is complete!”

The genuine “Chen Ping’an of Fallen Peak” would only become more and more valuable in the future, of course, it would be difficult to become so valuable that ten characters would need to be bought with seven hundred Millet Rain Coins, that would be too exaggerated. Tens of Millet Rain Coins would be a more appropriate and stable price. In the future, the Harmony Shop wouldn’t have to worry about selling them to mountain tycoons who couldn’t buy what they wanted. But these were two IOUs, of extraordinary significance. Especially since they were IOUs established before Chen Ping’an participated in the Zhongtu Wen Temple’s discussions, which meant there was an additional far-reaching, very thought-provoking “historical anecdote”. In that case, seven hundred was really not expensive.

After seeing this scene, Wu Shou was filled with admiration. As expected of the Harmony Shop’s old ancestor, he was decisive enough in doing business, and his attacks were quick and ruthless.

Cui Dongshan cautiously went to pull over that large bag of Millet Rain Coins. Fortunately, this wasn’t the officialdom, otherwise, would this be considered some kind of elegant bribe?

Alas, when luck comes, it can’t be stopped. Another seven hundred Millet Rain Coins fell from the sky. Accountant Zhong Qiu of his own accounting house must be very happy.

Chen Ping’an smiled and looked at Cui Dongshan, who was acting like a thief.

Cui Dongshan had to change his route halfway and pushed the money bag over to Mili, saying earnestly, “Right Guardian, this money belongs to the public, remember to take good care of it. Turn it over to Accountant Wei on the Wind Kite Ferry later, no embezzlement allowed.”

Mili hugged the money bag with both hands and pulled it back to her side. Hey, it was really heavy! The little girl straightened her back, “Understood!”

She suddenly frowned and secretly glanced at the generous Mr. Zhang. The little girl scratched her face, but still didn’t say anything.

She was very poor now. The private money she had accumulated together couldn’t even make up one Millet Rain Coin. If something went wrong and there was one less Millet Rain Coin in the money bag, wouldn’t she have to sell herself to pay off the debt?

Zhang Zhi smiled, “Exactly seven hundred, no more, no less. Little Immortal Master, just rest assured.”

Mili, whose thoughts had been seen through, smiled shyly. Grand Immortal Master Zhang was such an understanding and kind person.

Chen Ping’an touched Mili’s head and smiled at Zhang Zhi.

Zhang Zhi asked with a smile, “Mr. Chen, Sect Leader Cui, may I be so bold as to ask, what was the approximate amount of the first immortal money for digging this grand canal in Tongye Continent?”

Cui Dongshan tsked, “This really isn’t just any kind of boldness.”

They were all old foxes.
If Zhang Zhi were to learn the exact amount of this Valley Rain money, he could roughly estimate the future scale of that grand canal. With Bao Fu Zhai’s meticulous calculations, they could even bypass forces like the Green Plume Sword Sect entirely, and begin plotting well in advance. Studying a detailed topographic map of central Tong Ye Continent, along with the geographical features of each nation, and using the Da Quan Burying River and the Pei River, both flowing into the sea in opposite directions, as starting points for their deductions, Bao Fu Zhai would be confident in calculating the canal’s likely path. Then, they could secretly approach those emperors and tributary rulers already driven mad by poverty, buying up those seemingly worthless hills and lands at low prices, quickly transferring the deeds. They could then wait for the grand canal to “come knocking,” resulting in a steady flow of wealth, immune to droughts and floods.

Therefore, Chen Pingan shook his head directly and said, “I’m afraid I cannot disclose that.”

Zhang Zhi replied, “Bao Fu Zhai does hope to gain both profit and fame from the grand canal project, with the emphasis on fame. We are willing to earn less, even nothing at all. We will not, and should not, try to build a separate operation and bypass the Green Plume Sword Sect. Repeating the same mistake would be more trouble than it’s worth.”

Cui Dongshan crossed his arms. “Bao Fu Zhai’s reputation in the Vast World is indeed quite ordinary, very ordinary. Compared to the Liu family of the Snowy Continent, you are leagues behind, and compared to Master Fan’s business empire, you’re several streets short. Imagine, centuries, millennia later, when Bao Fu Zhai disciples pass through Tong Ye Continent, whether they are busy earning money or leisurely exploring the land, they need only look at the ceaseless flow of the grand canal. Whether they are crossing the water by boat, standing on the shore, or on celestial ferries in the sky, looking down at that winding water dragon traversing Tong Ye Continent from east to west, they can confidently say to their friends, like Old Ancestor Wu bragging, ‘We in Bao Fu Zhai had a hand in this grand canal!'”

Chen Pingan smiled. “A man leaves his name behind; a goose leaves its call.”

Aside from those solely seeking immortality and eternal life, those skilled in swordsmanship, those with strong fists, those with power, and those with wealth must leave something behind for the world.

Wu Shou sighed. Are you two putting on a show here?

Then, Wu Shou saw the white-robed youth with the mole between his eyebrows staring blankly at him again.

Wu Shou instantly tensed up, inwardly bemoaning his fate.

Fortunately, Zhang Zhi helped ease the situation, continuing the previous topic with a smile and a nod. “This kind of benevolent project that benefits the world for generations should indeed not be solely about monetary profit.”

Zhang Zhi continued with a smile, “To be honest, the reason I only brought Wu Shou here this time to be rebuffed is because the couple in charge of Bao Fu Zhai in Tong Ye Continent, along with the bookkeeper from the Bao Fu Zhai Ancestral Hall responsible for the accounts, all admire Hidden Officer Chen too much. They are unlike Wu Shou, who only cares about money. I was even worried that if they came here, they wouldn’t even bargain. Seeing Hidden Officer Chen, they might act impulsively and not treat the deal like a deal at all.”

Chen Pingan chuckled and dismissed the remark. These kinds of polite words in business are to be heard and then forgotten.

Zhang Zhi brought up the old topic again. “Then, how about counting us in? Six thousand Valley Rain coins, with Bao Fu Zhai of Tong Ye Continent covering half, and I will personally make up the other half.”

Cui Dongshan asked, “Who is asking whom?”

Zhang Zhi smiled. “Of course, I am asking you.”

Cui Dongshan turned to his teacher. Of course, the general direction must be decided by his teacher.

Chen Pingan nodded and said, “Master Zhang can make his demands. Dongshan, before that, you should tell Master Zhang about the general situation.”

Only then did Cui Dongshan begin to show some sincerity, explaining the initial funding for the first installment of immortal coins to Bao Fu Zhai. The Green Plume Sword Sect would provide three thousand Valley Rain coins, the Jade Rule Sect would provide five thousand, and the Yao family of Da Quan would borrow one thousand Valley Rain coins each from the Green Plume Sword Sect and the Jade Rule Sect. The Liu family of the Snowy Continent and the Yu family of the Profound Secret Dynasty would each provide ten thousand and two thousand Valley Rain coins, respectively. These would soon be arriving one after another, but this was only the initial investment of the first phase. Excavating a brand-new grand canal was a massive project, involving all aspects. Just the matter of using the opportunity to provide work relief to the displaced victims of natural disasters by the various restored or newly established dynasties along the canal’s path would require mobilizing tens or hundreds of millions of laborers. Each nation could take the opportunity to reorganize their old territories and gather the refugees together, with the central government and local authorities managing them in a centralized manner. At the very least, this would ensure that the nation wouldn’t experience starvation across the land and fields of bones at the first sign of famine. In addition, the Liu family of the Snowy Continent promised to actively provide three hundred rune ships of various sizes to help transport people to the new grand canal’s riverbed. However, the spiritual energy consumption of these Liu family’s private ferries, the deployment of the immortal masters controlling the rune ships, and the immortal coin expenses of the ferries traveling to various places would be the responsibility of the respective nations along the way.

After listening, Zhang Zhi had a rough idea. Just as he was about to speak, Cui Dongshan emphasized his tone and reminded him, “Zhang Zhi, you must know that the Liu family and the Yu family, having put out so much money, will accept the loss if things don’t go well. They won’t have any complaints, and there are no IOUs or promissory notes. Even if it can be profitable in the future, no matter how the grand canal profits, Liu Jvbao and Yu Panshui have already promised in black and white, with signed contracts, that the two families will earn no more than ten percent of the principal. Once they earn this immortal money, the Tong Ye Continent grand canal will be completely unrelated to them.”

As for the specific revenues from the grand canal, and how they would be derived, presumably that was what Zhang Zhi and Bao Fu Zhai were most interested in. But unfortunately, they would have to see real money first to be qualified to know about it; otherwise, they could just guess.

Zhang Zhi said, “When it comes to accounting for money, we can learn from Liu, the God of Wealth, and Yu Panshui, accepting the loss if we fail and earning no more than ten percent of the principal if we succeed. In addition, Bao Fu Zhai’s only extra demand is that all the immortal ferry crossings along the grand canal, whether new or old, must have Bao Fu Zhai built there. The various national governments will not collect land rent; Bao Fu Zhai will pay for the land, making things cleaner, avoiding arguments and wasted effort. Unless there is a dynastic change in the local kingdom, then the ownership will be recalculated; otherwise, the deal is a fixed price. As for the specific prices for building the new Bao Fu Zhai at each ferry crossing, I will have Wu Shou and the others negotiate, which will also give the various national governments an extra income, so that the monarchs and the Ministry of Revenue won’t feel stretched for funds every time they talk about money, which could delay the progress of the grand canal excavation.”

Cui Dongshan laughed in exasperation. Good heavens, this was blatant land grabbing.
Zhang Zhi smiled and explained, “The atmosphere at immortal ferry crossings is vastly different depending on whether they have a Bao Fu Zhai branch or not.”

Wu Shou finally felt an opportunity to redeem himself. He was about to take the initiative and offer a favor, suggesting that, here at Green Shirt Ferry, he could be the first to contribute funds, manpower, and resources from their Tongye Continent Bao Fu Zhai, covering all the various buildings a proper immortal ferry crossing should have…

Zhang Zhi immediately turned his head, pinched his fingers together, and lightly tapped the table. “Wu Shou, behave yourself and drink your tea.”

The Bao Fu Zhai’s ancestral master, rarely angered, was truly incensed, wishing he could slap him to death.

If there were personal motives, why would the Qing Ping Sword Sect expend so much of their mountain’s spiritual fortune, as the initiators of the Great Canal project, to fill this seemingly bottomless pit?

If Wu Shou were to voice his suggestion, it would be tantamount to announcing to an entire continent, no, that the Qing Ping Sword Sect, in fact, harbored selfish intentions.

Cui Dongshan chuckled, “Mr. Zhang, don’t expect all your subordinates to possess your broad vision and grand scheme. Otherwise, Bao Fu Zhai would have long ago replaced the merchant families, established itself as an ancestral power, or been favored by Mr. Fan, who would invite you to be a Third Ancestor of the merchant lineage?”

Zhang Zhi smiled helplessly, “Such words cannot be spread.”

Indeed, as Cui Dongshan said, within a sect, the style of operation and methods of earning money could not all be dictated by one person.

Chen Ping An stood up, clasped his hands in farewell, and said with a smile, “Now that the direction has been agreed upon, all that remains is to refine the details. Let Dongshan discuss the specifics with Mr. Zhang. Argue and scold as needed, no need to be polite. Just consider it a case of ‘good things come with effort’.”

Zhang Zhi stood up and returned the greeting with clasped hands.

Chen Ping An smiled at Wu Shou and said, “Today can be considered our true acquaintance. In the future, don’t boast to outsiders about drinking with me. Drinking tea together, however, is true.”

Wu Shou nodded like a chick pecking rice, earnestly promising, “Understood, understood. Hidden Official’s teachings, engraved in my heart.”

Subsequently, Chen Ping An, accompanied by Xiao Mili and Sword Immortal Mi Da, left Green Shirt Ferry and walked back to Dense Snow Peak.

Zhou Mili asked, “Good person Mountain Master, are we going home together?”

Chen Ping An nodded with a smile, “It’s halfway. Once the Wind Kite Ferry arrives at Old Dragon City, I’ll accompany Senior Song for a short walk before heading back to Fallen Phoenix Mountain alone. I’ll definitely arrive home before you.”

Zhou Mili nodded, “That’s great.”

It’s rare for the good person Mountain Master to wait for her to return home, instead of her waiting for the good person Mountain Master.

Happy, happy, so happy, even more joyful than receiving a red envelope for the New Year.

Mi Yu glanced back at Wu Shou and asked, “Hidden Official, are we just letting it go like this?”

Chen Ping An rubbed Xiao Mili’s head, “Want to beat him up to vent your anger?”

Xiao Mili grinned, “I’m not angry, so why vent? One must be magnanimous when traveling the world!”

Chen Ping An withdrew his hand and nodded with a smile, “Sword Immortal Mi Da, did you hear that? Learn from her.”

Mi Yu wanted to mimic the Hidden Official and rub Xiao Mili’s head, but the little girl reached out and grabbed Mi Yu’s wrist, anxiously saying, “Yu Mi, Yu Mi, what are you doing? If you touch my head again, I really won’t grow taller!”

Mi Yu hesitated for a moment and asked telepathically, “Hidden Official, haven’t you always greatly admired that Bao Fu Zhai ancestral master? Won’t you take this opportunity to chat more?”

Chen Ping An smiled, “Admiration is genuine, but as Mr. Zhang himself said, partnering with someone you admire can easily lead to recklessness. Besides, I find that portly Wu Old Ancestor annoying.”

Back at the table, Cui Dongshan began to complain to Zhang Zhi.

It turned out that for the Great Canal project, a quasi-ancestral hall had been temporarily formed. His Qing Ping Sword Sect would send Zhong Qiu and Mi Yu, demonstrating their commitment. Yu Gui Sect was represented by Wang Ji, Da Quan Dynasty’s Minister of Rites, Li Xiling, plus a Vice Minister of Revenue who had left the capital specifically for this matter, which was considered a rare opportunity for political advancement. Pu Shan Cloud Grass Hall was represented by Xue Huai, and Tai Ping Mountain by its Guardian Offering, Yu Fushan. The Liu Clan of Ai’ai Continent and the Yu Clan of Central Earth would also send one person each, most likely the scheming Liu Youzhou who had been ambushed, and Yu Juanfu, an old friend of Hidden Official and Pei Qian.

Furthermore, the countries along the future Great Canal could also arrange for representatives to participate in the discussions, having a seat in this “ancestral hall”.

Speaking only of the Qing Ping Sword Sect, in addition to deploying Cui Dongshan’s golem workforce of talismans, there were also golems including Jin Shi, Mo Yu’er, and Tiao Shan Gong.

Zhong Qiu would serve as the treasurer, Chief Offering Mi Yu would personally lead the team, Sword Immortal Tao Ran Tao Da would be responsible for protection, as well as He Gu, and Yu Xihui.

In addition to Old Qiuqiudi, they would even dig up Nascent Soul realm aquatic dragon Hongxia from Fallen Phoenix Mountain, as well as Yunzi.

Of course, there were also three great figures most capable of “moving mountains and overturning seas with ease”. Cui Dongshan did not reveal the secrets of heaven to Bao Fu Zhai for the time being.

The East Sea Water Lord, Wang Zhu. The former throne demon, Yang Zhi, and the Savage Land’s Tao Ting, possessor of half a Refine Mountain Manual, now the Tender Daoist.

Everything was ready.

The person adding tea had been replaced by the young girl, Cu Cu.

Cui Dongshan finished the last bowl of tea and sighed, “Zhang Zhi, it’s not me talking, but my teacher originally had great respect and admiration for you. Why did you have to test him? Now look, we almost fell out. Luckily, I worked hard to salvage the situation. Today’s meeting can be considered a good beginning and a good start.”

Zhang Zhi mocked himself, “Meeting in person is not as good as reputation.”

Cui Dongshan sighed, “The events of a thousand autumns and ten thousand ages are always both unexpected and not unexpected, born of deliberation, achieved through diligence, lost through arrogance, gained through truth, returned to serenity, remembered in the heart, died in oblivion, lived in…” Cui Dongshan ran out of words, “Zhang Zhi, fill in the blank.”

Zhang Zhi shook his head and said telepathically, “Zhang is lacking in talent and knowledge, not as insightful as Embroidered Tiger. I dare not add an unnecessary stroke.”

Cui Dongshan was puzzled, “Have you seen me before?”

Zhang Zhi was even more puzzled, “What kind of question is that? Back in Treasure Bottle Continent, didn’t you announce your name and personally tell me to scram?”

Cui Dongshan nodded, “That means I’ve learned one of the essences of my teacher’s knowledge, and accidentally misremembered.”

Until Zhang Zhi left Green Shirt Ferry that day, Pang Chao, the Luoyang Wood Inn keeper on Dense Snow Peak, did not show up to reminisce with this junior from the mountains.

The Wind Kite Ferry began to set sail south. Chen Ping An and Xiao Mili boarded the ship, with Mi Yu accompanying them. After this trip, Sword Immortal Mi Da would need to devote himself entirely to the Great Canal project.
Within the study of the Mishi Peak residence, after bidding farewell to Master and Xiaomili, Cui Dongshan returned and sat in a chair, with the Law Enforcer Cui Wei standing beside him.

Upon the wall hung a scroll of rice paper, inscribed in ancient seal script with the words “Qingping Sword Sect,” beneath which were written the names on wooden plaques, along with annotations, categorized by different cultivation realms.

At the very top, the characters “Fourteenth Realm” were written, the space below remaining blank.

The Ascendant Realm remained vacant as well.

In the Immortal Realm column were Cui Dongshan, a half-sword cultivator, and Mi Yu, a sword cultivator.

Below, in the Jade Purity Realm, was Chai Wu, a half-sword cultivator, with a line of tiny characters inscribed upon the scroll: “At most ten years, strive for five.”

In the Nascent Soul Realm were Cui Wei, a sword cultivator; Sui Youbian, a sword cultivator; and Qiu Du, an old horned dragon.

In the Golden Core Realm were Cao Qinglang, a half-sword cultivator; Tao Ran, a sword cultivator, with a note beside him: “Needs sword replenishment”; Wu Gou, a ghost cultivator; and Xiao Manying, a ghost cultivator.

Cui Dongshan asked, “Cui Wei, are you familiar with the current state of affairs of the orthodox sects in the Grand Azure World?”

Cui Wei nodded, “I am.”

Cui Dongshan said, “Therefore, as the Law Enforcer Ancestor of our Qingping Sword Sect, you must ascend to the Jade Purity Realm earlier than Sui Youbian. It is her business if she does not compete for this, and she is entitled to not rush to break through the Nascent Soul Realm bottleneck, but that is no reason for you not to seize the time.”

Cui Wei said, “Previously, when Mister Xiao Mo was imparting knowledge and teaching at the Luobao Beach Dojo, I repeatedly sought guidance on sword techniques, and I was enlightened, benefiting greatly. Within three years, I will surely reach the Jade Purity Realm.”

Cui Dongshan hummed in agreement, “You said it yourself. If you fail within three years, don’t blame me for turning my back on you.”

In the Grand Azure World, whether a sect is qualified to be called a top-tier sect depends on whether there is a great cultivator in the Ascendant Realm presiding over it.

A first-rate sect must have an Immortal, which serves as a golden signboard. Among them, those whose ancestors were once in the Ascendant Realm are naturally a cut above the rest, and those with two or even more Immortals in their sect look down on those with only one. Second-rate sects may not have Immortals for the time being, but they possess several Jade Purity Realm cultivators, or perhaps Jade Purity ancestors who have been in seclusion for many years and are expected to become Immortals.

The bottom-tier third-rate sects among the title-bearing sects and immortal abodes only have one Jade Purity Realm cultivator, and some declining sects and immortal abodes may not even have an ancestor or sect leader in the Jade Purity Realm anymore.

Of course, a title-bearing sect is still a title-bearing sect, and not something that anyone can take lightly. In the eyes of ordinary cultivators and wild cultivators, it is still an unattainable behemoth.

Cui Dongshan smiled and asked, “Grand Law Enforcer Cui, do you know why I chose this place as the foundation of the Qingping Sword Sect?”

Cui Wei shook his head and said, “I do not know.”

Cui Dongshan leaned back in his chair, twisting his wrist, “One of the reasons is that I wanted to find a reclusive expert who dislikes fighting the most, but is very good at fighting. Back then, he found Fei Fei’s retreat route. However, this elusive wandering immortal’s greatest ability is his mastery of sword forging, but he is not a native of the Grand Azure World, but comes from the Azure Nether World. Since he is a friend of the enemy, then he is a friend.”

Cui Wei asked, “What is his name and Daoist title? What is his realm?”

Cui Dongshan said, “You don’t need to know these things. You only need to know that there is such a person, and we will meet sooner or later.”

The foremost sword-smith in the Azure Nether World, Master Xu.

He was not a woman, but his surname was Xu, and his given name was Furen (meaning madam).

“Clouds and waters leisurely, sharing sorrows with you, the Real Person under the flowers is named Xu, only the idler dreams not of you, buying wine all the way to Yuhang. He claims to love wine and see genuineness, willing to squander his handsome spirit.”

“This cultivation expert, worthy of being called a hermit, whether he appears for the time being or not does not matter, anyway, we will need to borrow the east wind from my Celestial Capital Mountain.”