“The paths of martial arts and spiritual cultivation are not so distinct as we imagine,” mused a sage, his voice echoing with ancient wisdom.

“I dare even to conjecture, though unproven, that every talisman scribe dwelling upon a mountain possesses the innate constitution of a golden-bodied warrior.”

He turned to a young aspirant, Zhao Shuxia, his eyes twinkling like distant stars. “To master the fist, you must first understand yourself. Let us begin with the breath, as if perched high above, a celestial being beholding the mountains and rivers.”

Chen Ping’an, instead of immediately imparting stances or techniques, left behind seven anatomical charts within the bamboo dwelling. Each depicted a stage of his own martial journey, from the third to the ninth realm, mirroring the microcosm of the human body. Yet, the charts were purposefully devoid of flesh and bone, revealing only the luminous network of acupoints and meridians. Each chart, as tall as a man, presented over a thousand qi reservoirs and pathways, a far greater number than known to most cultivators, dwarfing even the anatomical mannequins found in apothecaries. These seven maps, with their shimmering, multi-hued points scattered like constellations, illuminated the bamboo dwelling like celestial maps hung within the void.

With each breath taken by the figure on the charts, the seven cosmologies of meridians and acupoints displayed wonders: cascading galactic streams, arcs of brilliant light, constellations swirling in harmonious dance.

Each chart resembled a vibrant astral array. When “Chen Ping’an’s” realm was lower, his breath was faster and shallower, causing the star map to shift more dramatically, as if the very heavens expanded and contracted with his every inhale and exhale, an endless cycle of creation. The higher the realm, the more stable the star map became, yet closer scrutiny revealed the opposite was true.

Chen Ping’an clasped his hands behind his back. “Of these acupoints, those documented in medical texts and esteemed Daoist scriptures, considering only those with differing names but identical locations, number approximately seven hundred, give or take. Over the years, I have gathered and collated this knowledge with care, minimizing error. Adding to this, the secret lore of various sects and the ‘hidden realms’ discovered by chance, coupled with the records of the Summer Palace and the Merit Forest of the Wen Temple, yields nearly a hundred more forgotten points. Some were indeed deemed useless after repeated testing by cultivators and were discarded. However, many were simply too difficult for cultivators to ‘open,’ leading to their neglect and eventual loss. Furthermore, a temporary loan of fourteenth-realm Daoist power revealed even more. Look at the seventh chart, with its one thousand and fifty acupoints. Hence, the pure true qi of a martial artist traverses a longer path, stirring a greater abundance of elemental energies within the body, melding it into fist-intent, lending greater force to the strike.”

Long ago, in Mud Bottle Alley, Chen Ping’an, having just acquired the Shaking Mountain Fist Manual, received a string of keys tossed to him by Song Jixin and the handmaiden Zhigui, who were departing the Lishui Grotto-Heaven. He discovered a cleaved wooden mannequin in the kitchen of the adjacent house, covered with acupoints and meridians. For Chen Ping’an at the dawn of his martial journey, the manual was the path to survival, while the reassembled wooden man became his axe, his splitting maul.

Chen Ping’an knew even then that Zhigui had orchestrated it, knowing that a perfect mannequin would be dismissed, whereas a broken one would appeal to his frugality and meticulous nature. He would carry it back to his ancestral home and, alongside the tattered manual, meticulously study its secrets.

This event, known only to the former handmaiden of Mud Bottle Alley, Zhu, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, remained unspoken in their encounters. Perhaps she had forgotten, or perhaps she simply chose not to mention it.

But Chen Ping’an remembered.

“How much do you remember?” he asked.

Zhao Shuxia closed his eyes and then opened them. “I can roughly recall the locations of seven hundred acupoints.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. Suddenly, with a flash of speed, his hand gently touched Zhao Shuxia’s neck and, with a flick, propelled the youth in a circle around the bamboo dwelling. As Zhao Shuxia returned to his starting point, he was astonished to see dozens of astral projections of himself arrayed along the circle. Chen Ping’an, studying these “copies” of Zhao Shuxia’s human landscape and the flow of his qi, nodded with newfound confidence. “This is how the fist should be taught. Now, I have greater faith.”

Teaching a disciple like Zhao Shuxia brought a true sense of accomplishment.

Chen Ping’an, with two fingers, pointed rapidly at one of the astral projections, marking three or four hundred acupoints: the critical passes and dwelling places of Zhao Shuxia’s true qi, a “fire dragon coursing through water.” It was like sketching a precise map of the terrain. He instructed Zhao Shuxia to hold his breath and attempt a six-step stance. Then, Chen Ping’an sketched another map, overlaid the two, and said, “Observe the differences. Study them for an incense stick’s worth of time, then attempt the six-step stance again. If there is no noticeable improvement, I will ask the old cook to prepare herbs and a water bucket.”

An incense stick later, Zhao Shuxia lay unconscious on the floor. Chen Ping’an called, “Zhu Lian, begin!”

The hunched old man replied, “Coming, coming! I have been prepared since long ago.”

Zhu Lian entered the upper floor and, seeing Zhao Shuxia neither bloodied nor convulsing, sighed. “The young master is still merciful.”

Chen Ping’an carried Zhao Shuxia down the stairs towards the disciple’s residence. “Shuxia is holding himself too tightly. Today is not the day for further instruction. Slowly, slowly… Whose fault is it, I wonder?”

Who had revealed the true meaning of “closed door” to Zhao Shuxia so early?

Zhu Lian immediately confessed, “It must be my fault for prematurely revealing the heavenly secrets.”

Chen Ping’an was speechless.

Zhu Lian chuckled softly. “Today, perhaps. But what of tomorrow? True training is rarely without near-death experiences.”

He mused that if it were Cui Cheng teaching Zhao Shuxia, the youth would not leave the bamboo dwelling without experiencing seven or eight cycles of near-death, fainting and awakening, awakening and fainting.

Yet, Zhu Lian also considered that if Zhao Shuxia, as Chen Ping’an’s disciple, were to study with Cui Cheng, who was effectively two generations removed, the outcome might not be so grim. There was no accounting for intergenerational affection.

Chen Ping’an nodded. “I cannot bring myself to be harsh…yet. I must adjust my mindset.”

Zhu Lian sighed. Only Nuanshu and Chen Lingjun knew the details of Chen Ping’an’s training. When Pei Qian learned, Zhu Lian witnessed it all. He recalled how the little soot sprite would eat with her head bowed, only to raise her head with blood seeping from her eyes and ears, oblivious to her condition, smiling and declaring, “What are you looking at? Mind your own business!”

If the young master had witnessed those scenes, it would not merely be heartache he felt, but devastation. He would surely confront Cui Cheng in the bamboo dwelling.

Chen Ping’an abruptly asked, “When do you plan to seek instruction from me? Name the time, the place.”

Zhu Lian rubbed his hands, smiling. “I hesitate to mention it unless the young master offers.”

Chen Ping’an chuckled. “Spare me the courtesies. I will show none in our exchange.”

He implied that he would not hold back, despite Zhu Lian being but a hair’s breadth from the apex of the Martial Path.

Zhu Lian pondered for a moment. “Let us choose this winter, during a heavy snowfall. The location: the capital of the Southern Garden Kingdom in the Lotus Root Blessed Land?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Agreed.”

—

By chance, a flying sword message arrived, announcing that both the Black Ink Dragon Boat and the Wind Kite Ferry would arrive at Ox Horn Crossing within the day, albeit an hour apart.

Besides Xiao Mili, Chen Ping’an invited Hongxia, Yunzi, and Cui Huasheng from Riding Dragon Lane. They would travel to the Northern Ju-lu Continent aboard the Wind Kite Ferry, first crossing to the Skeleton Beach of the Hemp Robe Sect, then along the southeastern coast, stopping at Spring Dew Garden before following the River Ji to the wharf beneath the Cloudsoar Palace of the Sublimated Mystery Bureau. From there, they would journey south to Cloudtop City… Though it was merely a ferry journey, it would allow them to see a small portion of the Northern Ju-lu Continent. Hongxia was indifferent, but Yunzi and young Cui Huasheng were delighted, particularly the latter, who rejoiced at the prospect of reuniting with her long-lost brother, now the leader of a sect. She had been smiling in her sleep of late.

With some time before the arrival of the Dragon Boat and Ferry, Chen Ping’an’s party strolled among their shops. Xiao Mili was well-acquainted with the female cultivators from the Prawn Back Isle, exchanging warm greetings.

The Baggage Repository had erected numerous buildings at Ox Horn Mountain, spending significant amounts of fairy jade and timber. Wu Shou, the steward of the Baggage Repository in Jewel Bottle Continent, had intended to establish a major base of operations at Great Li’s Ox Horn Crossing, but abandoned the project halfway through. No wonder Ancestor Zhang Zhi had taken him to Immortal Capital Mountain for a cup of tea at Green Shirt Crossing. It would take sixty to a hundred years of self-cultivation for Wu Shou to recover his Daoist heart.

Only a third of the shops were currently open for business, selling everything from mountain flora cultivated in Spring Dew Garden, to rare orchids from the Orchid Chamber Kingdom. The old cook had even compiled a “Compendium of Orchids,” which reportedly sold even better than the flowers themselves.

There were also antiques, calligraphy, and miscellaneous artifacts, all priced dearly. However, the shops guaranteed authenticity, including a trove of treasures meticulously collected by Ma Duyi, a veritable miser who had poured her savings into the venture. She had stumbled upon some bargains, and had been swindled a few times, but had made a considerable profit overall.

The female cultivators of Prawn Back Isle – Liuxia, Guan Qing, and Baique – all disciples of Liu Chongrun, had volunteered to help sell goods in the shops. Zhao Luan and Tian Jiu’er also frequented the place to lend a hand. Nalan Yudie, a talented accountant in the family tradition, yearned to manage an entire building, having observed that many shops stood empty. Before opening, she would sign a contract with the Steadfast Mountain, guaranteeing a minimum profit, bearing the losses and sharing the profits.

Every time Chen Ping’an passed through Ox Horn Crossing, he was reminded of Old Hong Yangbo of Green Coin Quarter, the immortal dock of Earth Dragon Mountain.

The last time he visited Green Coin Quarter, Chen Ping’an purchased a copy of the “Alas, Leaking Sword Qi” calligraphy, remarkably close to the original, for five Lesser Heat coins.

The inscription began with the words: “Alas, leaking sword qi.”

For a child, growing up meant eating whatever they desired, regardless of parental consent.

For an adult, wealth meant buying whatever they desired, regardless of the price.

Arriving at Ox Horn Crossing, Chen Ping’an glanced at the conspicuously placed wooden sign at the roadside and nodded in approval. Zhou Junchen was indeed diligent and prompt.

Currently, the Steadfast Mountain possessed three ferries: the Black Ink Dragon Boat, the Wind Kite Ferry, and the “Paulownia Shade,” presented by Liu Jubao and Yu Panxi when observing the Azure Duckweed Sword Sect. The Paulownia Shade was of similar quality to the Dragon Boat. While not capable of intercontinental voyages, it could traverse half a continent, and its cargo capacity exceeded that of the Dragon Boat, which was primarily a pleasure barge.

Had he not feared accusations of repaying a favor, Chen Ping’an would have considered purchasing the “Thunder Chariot” ferry from the Yao Clan of Great Spring, or even ordering a fourth vessel from the Great Spring court.

He yearned to extend his business to the Floating Clouds Continent.

It was a path with inherent advantages for the Steadfast Mountain, passing by Reed Catkin Isle and the Rain Dragon Sect on the way to Floating Clouds Continent. Chen Ping’an had his eyes on a particular matter there.

Meanwhile, Liu Shen, the owner of the “Rainbow Skirt” ferry, had sent an invitation, stating that her sect’s master had successfully emerged from seclusion and attained the Jade Pure Realm. She inquired whether the young Hidden Official would have time to attend the celebration. Of course, the invitation was merely a formality. Liu Shen would be content with a polite refusal. She knew that Chen Yin would never travel across the sea to attend her sect’s ceremony. Liu Shen’s sect was located on an island in the southwestern sea of the Grand Bright World. They had evacuated during the large-scale invasion by the savage demons, and had since returned, rebuilding their ancestral hall on a nearby island.

In the Spring Pennant Temple discussion hall, the female shipmaster Liu Shen had been a young and inexperienced Golden Core cultivator. Among the many shipmasters and stewards, she was the lowest in rank, and her seat was placed near Shao Yunyan at the door. However, Liu Shen had a younger sister, a true genius of cultivation who reached the Golden Core Immortal stage in her twenties. The new Hidden Official had threatened to offer her two hundred Millet Rain coins, or the equivalent in alchemical goods, in exchange for taking her sister to take over the “Rainbow Skirt” ferry. However, that tense meeting ultimately did not lead to bloodshed. Liu Shen and Liu Yu had even been assigned to keep the accounts within the hall.

The Black Ink Dragon Boat slowly docked. A green-robed boy swaggered down the deck, flailing his sleeves, followed by a girl with a bamboo staff.

It was Chen Lingjun and Guo Zhujiu, who had attended the Yellow Millet Sect’s mountain-opening ceremony and journeyed to the capital of the Dream Millet Kingdom.

Upon meeting, Chen Ping’an smiled. “Glad to have you back.”

Guo Zhujiu smiled brightly and asked, “Did First Senior Sister not return with Master?”

Chen Ping’an explained, “She is helping your little senior brother. A new river is being dug in the Tung Leaf Continent. Pei Qian is busy and won’t return to the Steadfast Mountain for a while. You can visit her in the Tung Leaf Continent if you miss her.”

Chen Lingjun hesitated, then asked, “Master, you invited Hongxia and Yunzi to run errands, but did White Goose invite me to the Azure Duckweed Sword Sect to celebrate this great event?!”

A decree from the Emperor, either an official or private one, the former is for show, while the latter has real power.

Chen Lingjun had planned a three-invite, three-refuse play, as there is such a custom in politics.

It is my business whether I agree or not, but it would be too much if Cui Dongshan did not invite him.

Chen Ping’an said, “He didn’t mention you.”

Did he have the nerve to steal even Chen Lingjun? Cui Dongshan did not have the courage to do so.

Chen Lingjun did not know the inside story of this “love-hate” relationship between teacher and student.

Chen Lingjun tentatively asked, “Did White Goose know that I will be the royal worship in the Dream Millet Kingdom? Did he think he couldn’t invite me? Was he afraid that I was too busy to leave? That must be it!”

Chen Ping’an said, “I didn’t talk to Cui Dongshan about this. I only said that you and Zhujiu attended the ceremony at the Yellow Millet Sect.”

Chen Lingjun stood there speechless for a long time. How could I be worse than Hongxia and Yunzi, the same kind of person? Back then, Yunzi was just my henchman.

The green-robed boy immediately beat his chest. “What a white goose, he has been arrogant since he became the sect master, and he looks down on old friends who have gone through hardships together. I’m so angry!”

Chen Ping’an said angrily, “It’s okay if you really want to go. I’ll say hello to Cui Dongshan, and you can take the Wind Kite Ferry with Hongxia and Yunzi later.”

Chen Lingjun said angrily, “Go to hell, the white goose doesn’t have the slightest sincerity. The next time I go to the Steadfast Mountain, I have to have a good talk with him. There’s no way he can be a brother.”

He would not be afraid of anyone, but if he saw the situation was wrong, he would be more coward than anyone else, and he would always soften up and pretend to sleepwalk to get away with it. If that didn’t work, he would quickly admit his mistake. If that didn’t work, what was it to kowtow a few times, a real man can be flexible, and the face lost on the ground doesn’t count as face.

Guo Zhujiu smiled and said, “Master, on the way to the capital of the Dream Millet Kingdom, we met a wandering Taoist expert, a middle-aged man with a sword, whisk, and wine pot, who was very immortal, calling himself Chunyang, with the surname Lu and the name Yan.”

Chen Lingjun raised his head and picked his nose. A Taoist name and name that even I haven’t heard of is not very impressive.

If Bai Xuan was busy compiling a list of heroes in the roadside pavilion and insisted on asking Pei Qian for a Jianghu justice.

Then Chen Lingjun was not idle these years, inquiring about news everywhere, collecting intelligence through Mountain and Water Di Reports, Mirror Flower Water Moon and various secret news, bringing together all the Ascended Realm and Immortal Realm cultivators in the whole Grand Bright World, and finally compiling a thin booklet, which Chen Lingjun named “Passersby Collection.”

It was used to warn himself that when he saw these old gods in the future, he would just be a passerby who brushed past them, without saying a word or climbing up.

Chen Ping’an smiled and nodded, “He is a senior I met in the Tung Leaf Continent. He is from our Jewel Bottle Continent. The Taoist temple where this real person formed his core is in the Dream Millet Kingdom, so he revisited his old place. Senior Lu also came to our Steadfast Mountain as a guest some time ago. If you had come earlier, you might have been able to persuade him to have a meal and drink with you?”

Chen Lingjun immediately stopped what he was doing, shook his hands, wiped his clothes, and winked at Guo Zhujiu, hinting that she should not say anything more. It was just a chance encounter, drinking a little wine, chatting about this and that, there was no need to show off this wine party to the Master.

Guo Zhujiu smiled and said, “We drank it early. Chen Lingjun and Real Person Chunyang got along very well. They drank wine together on the ferry. The only downside was that the other party would not play finger-guessing games. Chen Lingjun is still wondering if Brother Lu doesn’t know how to play or doesn’t want to play. At that time, Chen Lingjun felt that the atmosphere was good, so he asked the other party if he was a fourteenth level Great Cultivator. Real Person Chunyang smiled dumbly and just shook his head. Chen Lingjun immediately asked if he was an Ascended Realm. The Taoist’s face was quite helpless. Before he could speak, Chen Lingjun asked if he was an Immortal. The Taoist shook his head again, and Chen Lingjun did not ask any more questions. In the end, he wanted to call him brother, but Real Person Chunyang did not agree.”

Chen Ping’an turned to look at Chen Lingjun with a playful smile.

What a “before he could speak”, he can always avoid the key things, is this a talent?

Chen Lingjun raised a palm high, his face tense, and said in a deep voice, “Master, don’t say anything, I understand! I remember, I guarantee there won’t be an example!”

He kicked an iron plate again, he knew this well.

“No more examples?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and stroked the dog’s head of the green-robed boy. “Master Lingjun, do you regret it? Otherwise, the seniority on the mountain would have increased again. After all, I have to call Real Person Chunyang senior.”

The green-robed boy shrank his neck and laughed dryly, and hurriedly held the Master’s hand in both hands, shaking the Master’s arms to stretch his muscles and bones.

While reporting, Guo Zhujiu explained the reason for this wine in her heart to her master. It turned out that Chen Lingjun felt that the Taoist was looking at her with “wrong eyes”, sneaky, as if he had ulterior motives. Chen Lingjun was still very polite at the wine table, and did not say a few kind words to his master.

In addition, when the Chunyang Taoist said goodbye to her and Chen Lingjun, he reminded her in his heart not to show her brand-new natal flying sword easily.

Chen Ping’an said in surprise in his heart, “You have a second natal flying sword?”

Guo Zhujiu grinned and said, “I was traveling in the Five Color World once, and it was purely accidental.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Don’t be arrogant, keep up the good work.”

Guo Zhujiu shook her head, “That’s not okay, I can’t live up to my master if I don’t raise my tail to the sky.”

“Don’t learn to speak from Chen Lingjun.”

“It’s not about who learns from who, it’s about making progress together.”

“Master, is the strength on your hands okay?”

Chen Lingjun could not hear the conversation between the master and the disciple, but he felt very aggrieved, and continued to drag the Master’s hand, so he needed to walk sideways like a crab, muttering, “I’m not used to being careful, I’m good at seeing six directions and listening to all directions when I walk in the Jianghu. I found that Senior Chunyang looked at Guo Zhujiu a few more times on the ferry. In the words of the book, it is a sentence ‘Admiration’. I was worried that he was a hypocritical guy. When I met a villain with ill intentions, I wanted to help him find out the truth. Guo Zhujiu, you are complaining to the Master. It’s so hurtful. Master, you are so indiscriminate, I feel so uncomfortable in my heart.”

Chen Ping’an smiled.

Ruan Qiong, Wei Bo, Cui Cheng, Lu Chen, Cui Chan, Chen Qingliu, Lord of Bixiao Cave, Taoist Ancestor, Supreme Master, Zheng Juzhong…

Picking any three names from this list to “provoke” would be a difficult problem that could drive anyone to despair.

Letting an Ascended Realm Great Cultivator choose with his eyes closed would also shake his Dao Heart.

Luck? Even with the best of luck, choosing the military sage Ruan Qiong and the Northern Mountain King Wei Bo, he would still have to choose one more. What should he do?

Not to mention that Chen Lingjun is only a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator now. No wonder his greatest ambition for many years is to be punched without being killed.

When he first arrived in the small town with Chen Ping’an, he scolded Ruan Qiong as an old fool in the blacksmith shop, saying that he was so old and still dared to snatch him from his Master. I will beat you half to death…

Later, he patted a young Taoist on the shoulder, more than once. Chen Lingjun concluded afterwards that I didn’t know that the other party was a fourteenth level. I couldn’t be blamed for that.

At Wei Bo’s place, he was Lord Wei when his Master was not around, and Brother Wei when his Master was around. He once ate behind closed doors at Piyun Mountain and was heartbroken. He spat on the ground every time he mentioned Wei Bo, who was not loyal, and twisted it with his toes, then squatted down and asked Brother Wei, what’s wrong with you, why are you lying on the ground…

When he saw the national master Cui Chan, he did not recognize his identity. Chen Lingjun once said harshly that if you want to see my Master, you have to kill me first and step over me.

His new friends he met in the Northern Ju-lu Continent, Bai Mang and Chen Zhuoliu, were actually the same person. As a result, Bai Mang, who had eaten a solid meal with him in prison, thought his good brother was drunk and talking nonsense when they said goodbye. A river water snake who was only in the Golden Core back then jumped up and slapped the head of the man who killed the dragon.

A young Taoist boy riding an ox entered the town from the east. Chen Lingjun happened to see him, so he pressed down on the cloud head, patted the ox’s horn, and said, “There is a lot of grass on my mountain”, “He has enlightenment when he hears about eating.”

Finally, the green-robed boy kindly suggested that “Taoist Ancestor” should change his name…

He heard that the scholar in white claimed to be a disciple of a friend, so he recognized him as a nephew… Well, this cheap nephew, who was one generation lower, was Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City.

Chen Lingjun’s Jianghu resume can still be so active. As Zhu Lian said, he has seen many people with great lives, but he has never seen anyone with such a great life. Chen Lingjun must have done so many good deeds in his previous life to accumulate so much virtue in this life.

Zhu Lian rarely had things he could not understand. When it came to Chen Lingjun, he thought about it and thought it was really a lucky person, so he could only explain it this way, otherwise there would be no solution.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Actually, Cui Dongshan invited you to the Azure Duckweed Sword Sect, but I refused. When I boarded the ship, Cui Dongshan was still reluctant and wanted to bargain, hoping to change my mind and let you go to Immortal Capital Mountain. I scolded him.”

Chen Lingjun exclaimed, put his hands on his hips, and laughed. He said that White Goose could not forget Chen Daeye no matter who he forgot.

Guo Zhujiu certainly knew the truth, the Master was lying, and one person really believed it, so although the matter was false, the happiness was real, and fools have foolish blessings.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “Zhujiu, I made you a bamboo box, try it on later to see if it is suitable to carry.”

Guo Zhujiu’s eyes lit up and she said with a cheerful expression, “Okay, very good, very good, the little bamboo box that has been running around with me finally has a home to settle down!”

It seemed that she did not plan to return the little bamboo box to Senior Sister Pei for the time being.

Chen Lingjun glanced at Guo Zhujiu, sighed, he couldn’t grow up, he was a fool.

Chen Ping’an turned his head and smiled, “Hongxia, Yunzi, let’s talk about something, let’s talk as we walk.”

Water Jiao Hongxia, dressed in yellow, was graceful and elegant, and had the demeanor of a recluse who had been cultivating in the mountains for many years.

Both her and Yunzi’s Taoist names were given by Cui Dongshan.

In Chen Ping’an’s opinion, Hongxia’s appearance and temperament were not much worse than Huang Yi Yun.

Chen Ping’an was upright, but he was not a fool who could not tell the difference between the beauty of women.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “This trip to Tung Leaf Continent will not be able to return to Steadfast Mountain in three or two years. I estimate that it will take seven or eight years at the shortest, and ten or twenty years at the longest, but don’t worry, you will definitely not be working in vain. For example, for Hongxia, the Azure Duckweed Sword Sect will help you exchange the quota for the future flood passage with merit. Even if the merit is not enough, Cui Dongshan can help you make up for it. As for Yunzi, Cui Dongshan will also arrange for you in the future.”

Hongxia said softly, “Mountain Master, I actually saved some money.”

She had been cultivating in Huanghu Mountain for a long time, and she was almost one of the five biggest opportunities in the Lishui Grotto-Heaven in the past. Then, it was obvious how Hongxia’s cultivation talent was.

According to Cui Dongshan, as long as Hongxia was willing to cultivate honestly and not cause trouble, it would not be difficult to get an Immortal Realm.

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “First, the flood passage, whether it is the Qi Ferry of Jewel Bottle Continent or the new flood passage of Tung Leaf Continent, cannot be done with money alone. Second, this is official business, and there is no reason for you to pay out of your own pocket. What’s more, after you reach the top five realms, there will be a lot of places where you need to spend money if you want to open a sect, there are only places you can’t think of, and there is no time when you have enough money, so it’s always a good thing to save more.”

Monster essences go into the water, turn into Jiao in the river, especially if they want to pass the flood successfully, the pass has never been only the danger in the process of passing the water, but also outside the flood.

For example, the Ji River in the Northern Ju-lu Continent has a long history and has three water officials, but after the Dragon Slaying Battle, before Chen Lingjun successfully turned into a Jiao and reached the Nascent Soul Realm, there had not been a single example of a river descendant successfully passing the river in the history of the continent. The root cause lies in the fact that no dynasty or immortal mountain range along the flood, including the Chongxuan Bureau Cloudsoar Palace and Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, dares to say that they can guarantee the smooth passage of a water tribe, because it is difficult not to be deliberately made difficult by other forces. The water transport of the entire flood is divided into sections. The most important thing is that the water tribe passing the river, especially the Jiao passing the flood, will take away a considerable part of the water transport and turn it into their own, and then return the flood water transport to the sea.

What’s more, those who walk in the water, no matter what their origin, it is their nature to control the clouds and make rain, and it is easy to cause wind and waves, floods, and water disasters. If the dynasties and countries along the way are unable to stop them and do nothing, then the floods on both sides of the river are a “natural disaster”, but if there are early arrangements, the cultivators responsible for cleaning up the mess will have to spend a lot of their own spiritual energy, and the heaven and earth spiritual energy accumulated by cultivators, in the final analysis, is not the money of immortals? What’s more, this kind of loss is not only a large sum of immortal money, but also involves the national destiny and the number of mountains and rivers.

In fact, the flood in the nine continents of the Grand Bright World are almost the same, which makes it extremely difficult for water tribes, especially water Jiao, to improve their realm by walking in the water. But now there is an exception, that is, the Qi Ferry in Jewel Bottle Continent, which is completely controlled by the Great Li Dynasty. So it is said that now the Jiao dragon descendants and water immortals of a continent are lining up, running around and trying to get a relationship, waiting bitterly for the Great Li Ministry of Rites to issue the priceless “pass”, in addition to this, the Great Li Jingcheng court and the second capital are already starting to create nine Taoist temples and water houses, which can be used for Golden Core Immortals who cultivate water magic to retreat, and there is hope to have nine brand-new Nascent Soul Realm.

Therefore, the cultivators in Tung Leaf Continent who most hope that a brand-new flood will appear out of thin air are of course the river water spirits who are expected to improve their realm by walking in the river.

Just like Kou Xuanqu, the “East Sea Woman” near Pushan, went to the Buried River Biyou Palace because she was “borrowing water routes” from the water god Liu Rou.

Now, people, gods, ghosts, and immortals are in the world, and there is a Jianghu everywhere.

Just saying that one of the letters in the basket came from Cao Yong, the Marquis of Linli of the Great Flood, who had been a Qian Tang for a long time, asking Chen Ping’an if he could help the water house to ask the Great Li court for an extra flood passage quota. Cao Yong spoke directly, saying that the Marquis of Linli’s mansion had a fixed quota, but it had already been sent out, but they still needed one. It seemed that Yanghua, the Marquis of Changchun, did not plan to use that quota, so he wondered if Mountain Master Chen could help him to get in touch with Yanghua, which was equivalent to the Marquis of Changchun’s mansion transferring the quota to the Marquis of Linli’s mansion. He believed that the Great Li court would not stop it, as long as Mountain Master Chen was willing to connect the dots, there would be a great reward after the matter was done.

Hongxia likes to live in seclusion in a Taoist temple to nurture her true nature, but she does not suspect at all that the Mountain Master is testing people’s hearts. But if Cui Dongshan asked, she would already be frightened and racking her brains to show her mind.

So Hongxia just said calmly, “Mountain Master, I have never had the idea of opening a sect. I know my own weight. I am only suitable for cultivating alone in this life, relying on the slow and steady method of water grinding to increase my cultivation bit by bit. I am not suitable to be the founding ancestor of anything, let alone a small mountain with only dozens of people. I am destined to not be a good founding ancestor, so staying in the Steadfast Mountain for a long time, being able to do something for the sect when this kind of thing happens, and then returning to the Taoist temple to continue cultivating is the most suitable choice for me.”

Chen Ping’an hesitated for a moment, “The Steadfast Mountain already has Xiao Mili as the Right Guardian. You may have guessed that I plan to let Chen Lingjun be the Left Guardian. In this way, there will be no more mountain-guarding offerings, so even if you reach the Jade Pure Realm in the Steadfast Mountain, or even higher achievements in the future… Just in terms of identity, the Steadfast Mountain really cannot give you more.”

Hongxia smiled and said, “I guess only Immortal Master Jingqing himself did not see it.”

Hongxia is not so reserved at the Mountain Master’s place.

But she could not help but be nervous at the Ancestral Hall of Jise Peak, or at the Spirit Gathering Peak of Ancestral Mountain. She could not be blamed, because in the Steadfast Mountain, they were either Sword Immortals or Martial Arts Masters, so what was a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator?

In the words of Pei Xiang, who is now a close friend, the two of them are the most embarrassed in the entire Steadfast Mountain. They are both Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, and they are not as relaxed and comfortable as Xiao Mili’s Cave Mansion Realm. This Earth Immortal Realm is neither high nor low, and is just a realm to be laughed at.

Chen Ping’an could not help but laugh, “So if you are willing, I can give Cui Dongshan a suggestion and let you and Offering Qiu be the mountain-guarding offerings of the Azure Duckweed Sword Sect together.”

I took the initiative to send offerings to the Azure Duckweed Sword Sect, and Cui Dongshan, as a student, was poaching people, which are two different things.

Hongxia’s face changed slightly, and she shook her head quickly, “I would rather stay in Huanghu Mountain than dare to work under Sect Master Cui.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “It seems that Sect Master Cui’s reputation is worrying.”

Hongxia smiled knowingly and remained silent, neither agreeing nor denying.

The Mountain Master would not gossip, and today’s conversation would not reach Sect Master Cui.

Chen Ping’an waved to Chen Lingjun.

The green-robed boy immediately waved his sleeves and strode over.

Chen Lingjun finally caught a great opportunity to preach to others, and moistened his throat, “Yunzi, it’s not the same as here, with me protecting you. When you arrive at the Azure Duckweed Sword Sect, your realm is not high, and you are in a new place, and you need to deal with outsiders often. If you are unfamiliar with the place, remember to restrain your temper. Be kind to others and make more friends when you are away from home. Don’t bully others just because you have power. Don’t grin at people when you encounter a little friction. Be generous. If you damage the reputation of our Steadfast Mountain, the Master will not punish