Chen Pingan and Xiao Mo gradually ascended.

The sentiment of homesickness invariably stems from the people and things of one’s birthplace. Thus, the Old Chef’s table of home-style dishes, capable of satisfying any appetite, tugs at the heartstrings of travelers far from home, a tangible longing.

Upon the mountain path’s steps sat Zhu Lian, with a young girl in a pink dress standing beside him. The Old Chef waved, Chen Nuanshu and the returning Master, along with the mountain-returning Mister Xiao Mo, offered a distant, graceful curtsey.

Behind them, at the mountain gate, the Immortal Constable assisted the crimson-robed acolyte with signing and registering. The incense figurine, hands on hips, stood upon the Daoist’s shoulder, gazing at the Mountain Lord’s retreating figure, silently murmuring, “The Mountain Lord’s demeanor is truly awe-inspiring, like a towering peak. His interactions with others are like a gentle spring breeze…” The crimson-robed acolyte was deeply moved, stomping hard on the Immortal Constable’s shoulder in envy, saying, “Immortal Constable, Immortal Constable, your luck has turned! Never did I imagine such a paragon of heroism and sagehood existed in this world. Chief Helmsman Pei is indeed sincere in his dealings. Immortal Constable, you’re going to prosper!”

Chen Pingan inquired telepathically, “With your and Bai Jing’s cultivation, can you see through Zhu Lian’s true face beneath the disguise?”

Earlier, Chen Pingan had mistakenly believed that the “face” Zhu Lian crafted was merely a worldly skill from the Lotus Root Paradise. Later, after carefully studying the several disguises Zhu Lian gifted him, Chen Pingan realized that Zhu Lian employed a method akin to mountain talismans, supplemented by the unceasing flow of a martial artist’s true Qi, like clouds swirling and gathering upon his face. This allowed him to “obscure the heavens” to a certain extent. Unlike the illusory arts of immortals on Hao Ran, this was a completely different path. One couldn’t say it was more brilliant, but it was more secretive. For example, Chen Pingan, in his previous Jade Purity Realm, was still unable to discern the “truth” beneath Zhu Lian’s two layers of disguise. Thus, he wanted to learn from Zhu Lian this time.

This implied that in the past, in that Lotus Root Paradise, speaking solely of pure martial artists venturing into cultivation, Yu Zhenyi of Lake Mountain Sect in Pine Murmur Kingdom might not have been the first in the truest sense. Zhu Lian, who preceded even Ding Ying and Yu Zhenyi, was the first to establish a martial lineage.

Xiao Mo replied, “If one observes carefully, it should be possible. However, Mister Zhu wishes to conceal his true appearance, presumably due to some unspeakable hardship. Xiao Mo would naturally not dare to pry without permission. As for whether Bai Jing has secretly engaged in face reading or aura observation, thus offending Mister Zhu, Xiao Mo is currently unaware.”

Chen Pingan’s expression was strange. He said, “I reckon Bai Jing barely restrained his curiosity and didn’t investigate.”

Xiao Mo asked doubtfully, “Why does Master say so?”

Chen Pingan said with a complex mood, “Let’s not talk about this, it’s meaningless.”

Without exaggeration, looking at the two continents, the person who could make Chen Pingan involuntarily take a few steps back when “confronting” him seemed to be only Zhu Lian when he revealed his true face.

It should be known that on the Sword Qi Great Wall, even the fourteen barbarian kings, including Great Ancestor Tuoyue Mountain and Wenhai Zhou Mi, had not made Chen Pingan retreat even half a step. Instead, he pushed further, wielding his sword and pointing it at the great demons.

When Chen Pingan and Xiao Mo approached, Zhu Lian stood up and said with a smile, “I’m busy preparing dinner, and Master is already back.”

The young girl in the pink dress asked softly, “Grandpa, didn’t Mi Li come home with you?”

Chen Pingan said with a smile, “She’s riding the Wind Kite with Law Enforcer Changming and the others. I disembarked with Senior Song from Combing Water Country in Old Dragon City and walked a stretch of mountain and water road. Then I parted ways with Senior Song and hurried here. That’s why I arrived earlier. Wait a moment, Xiao Mo, would you trouble yourself to fetch the Right Guardian?”

What motivated Chen Pingan to diligently specialize in a single pursuit was previously the Six Steps of the Earth-Shaking Fist, and now it’s this sword light escape technique, which Ning Yao would immediately learn and master upon seeing it.

The sword light was brilliant, like the setting sun scattering into colorful clouds. In the night sky, the bright moon was like gathered snow, and the moonlight was like scattered snowflakes. Whenever Chen Pingan’s figure occasionally paused in the sea of clouds, the dozen sword lights would re-condense into one, always giving the impression of a perfect analogy: a clumsy bird flying first.

Xiao Mo smiled and nodded, “Okay.”

Whenever Xiao Mi Li was mentioned, the already gentle Xiao Mo became even gentler.

Chen Pingan joked, “Dinner, dinner. We can wait for Xiao Mo and the Right Guardian to return before we eat. Oh right, also greet the Immortal Constable and that Right Guardian from Riding Dragon Lane and invite them to dinner together.”

Xiao Mo hurried on his way, first flying towards the mountain gate to invite the Immortal Constable and the crimson-robed acolyte to dine at Mister Zhu’s residence, about half an hour before coming up the mountain. Then Xiao Mo’s figure transformed into a streak of light and vanished in an instant, disappearing thousands of miles away. If there were a sea of clouds to serve as a ferry, the sword light would be even faster. This kind of wind-riding speed would probably be far inferior to the world-renowned Flowing Glow Boat. Thinking of this, Chen Pingan couldn’t help but covet this immortal ferryboat, known as the fastest in the world. When would Fallen Mountain possess a Flowing Glow Boat? However, Flowing Glow Boats did not seem suitable for long-distance trade ferries, as they consumed too much immortal money. They were mostly used by top sects as displays of prestige, such as when hosting celebrations, specifically to pick up and drop off certain virtuous and highly esteemed mountain-peak cultivators.

Inside Zhu Lian’s residence, Chen Pingan, with nothing to do, sat on a bamboo chair under the eaves, weaving an unfinished bamboo basket. Beside him was a rattan reclining chair. Presumably, when there were no guests, the Old Chef would lie in this rattan chair, enjoying the cool in summer and admiring the snow in winter.

Zhu Lian went to the kitchen, put on an apron, and began to busy himself. It was rare for Master to eat together, so he had to prepare a sumptuous meal. When he left his hometown paradise with Little Black Charcoal, Pei Qian wanted to “ask for a fist” from the four people in the painting. Zhu Lian once said that he was the most capable fighter in the kitchen and the most skilled cook among martial artists, which made Pei Qian laugh so hard that she let Zhu Lian off the hook. Winning would be boring and dishonorable. Later, he heard that Zhu Lian had the reputation of “Zhu Lang, the banished immortal” in the martial world and a nickname of “Noble Young Master”. Pei Qian almost rolled on the ground laughing. How blind must those immortal maidens and heroines in the martial world be, how little of the world must they have seen, and how big must their hearts be to be able to call the homely and unsightly Old Chef of his youth “Zhu Lang” to his face? Old Wei was more honest and sincere. When discussing this matter privately, Old Wei pondered it with Pei Qian and said that Zhu Lian was probably very rich back then, young and wealthy, and also a scholar who had read some books. He liked to spout sour articles and spread money along the way when walking in the martial world. Once a man had money in his pocket and was a talent, his appearance in the eyes of women would become more handsome. Pei Qian thought this was very reasonable. Old Wei didn’t read much, but his knowledge was not low.
Chen Nuan Shu sat beside him, her voice soft and sweet, chatting with the Old Master about the recent happenings on and around the mountain.

In truth, the Ear Reporting Spirit of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, the renowned Right Guardian, could only claim second place in importance.

Leisurely, carefree days always pass quickly. Before one knew it, about half an hour had passed. Xiao Mo returned from the Wind Kite Ferry, bringing Zhou Mi Li. They landed at the mountain gate, and Xiao Mo called out to Immortal Wei Daoren and the Vermilion-Clad Child to ascend the mountain for a meal. Zhou Mi Li hopped up the steps, her face full of joy. Above her sparse, pale yellow eyebrows, it was as if two small benches were placed side by side, filled with tiny people coming out to bask in the sun—relatives, neighbors, all beaming with happiness, joy, delight, pleasure, and excitement…

“I’m home!”

The Vermilion-Clad Child, while traversing the mountain with utmost care, said, “Vice-Captain Zhou, I had a chance to meet and speak with Mountain Master earlier. He noted my diligence and hard work in my duties and agreed to grant me a request. The matter of establishing a Chief Guardian for Riding Dragon Lane is finally coming to fruition. He is willing to recommend me for the position. What is your opinion, Vice-Captain Zhou? If you and Chief Captain Pei feel that I still need a few more years of cultivation in my current position as Right Guardian of Riding Dragon Lane, to accumulate more connections and experience, then I will steel myself and politely decline the offer, even though it means turning down Mountain Master’s good intentions during today’s meal. It’s better to be wrongly perceived as unappreciative than to assume a position I’m not qualified for, act unwisely and cause Mountain Master to be seen as a poor judge of character. My offense would be far greater then.”

The officialdom was complex indeed. It was not as simple as being appointed and immediately securing one’s position. Having a patron was one thing, but one’s own abilities were also essential.

Immortal Wei rolled his eyes.

How did it feel that after years of wandering the pugilistic world, he still ended up as a Left Guardian of Riding Dragon Lane?

Zhou Mi Li slowed her pace, tugged at the strap of her cotton satchel, furrowed her brow, pondered seriously, and then nodded, saying, “Our Benevolent Mountain Master rarely, if ever, personally recommends someone for an important post. Are you confident in your abilities?”

The Vermilion-Clad Child’s face lit up. “Yes, of course! I would go through fire and water for it!”

Let alone being the Chief Guardian of Riding Dragon Lane, overseeing just one Left Guardian; he would even have the confidence to be a small captain of a newly established branch!

For instance, in the Prefecture City, some trustworthy and capable confidants, subordinates in the Chuzhou landscape officialdom whom he had known for years and were familiar with, had been carefully cultivated by the Vermilion-Clad Child. He was just waiting for the branch to be established, like raising a just and righteous banner on the battlefield, so that he could immediately construct an entire set of departments mimicking the Six Ministries. He could confidently guarantee that the seven or eight underlings were all first-rate elite troops and capable officials, each with excellent connections and efficient service. Just in terms of collecting intelligence for the main branch, there would be no room for complaint.

However, this move was still somewhat presumptuous. If Chief Captain Pei and Vice-Captain Zhou found out about it beforehand, it could easily create unnecessary complications and be mistaken for being dissatisfied with his current position. The master’s suspicion was a grave taboo in the bureaucracy. How could the Vermilion-Clad Child dare to bring it out into the open early? Those who achieve great things do not seek counsel from the masses.

For instance, the Vermilion-Clad Child had been secretly included in the landscape lineage of the Bamboo Lodge and recorded in the records. Yet, even Elder Ling Jun, who was a meritorious subject of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, had not yet been included.

Could such a thing be spoken of? Would he not be half-beaten to death by Elder Ling Jun, who was capable of transforming into a Jiao dragon in the Northern Ju Continent?

It was said that Elder Ling Jun’s eligibility for inclusion in the records was still under consideration. The key point was that Vice-Captain Zhou had once recommended him, but it was rejected, with the explanation that it would be discussed again in the future.

At the dining table, Chen Ping An naturally sat in the main seat, with Zhu Lian and Xiao Mo sitting opposite each other.

Immortal Wei proactively invited Xiao Nuan Shu to sit on the same bench. Zhou Mi Li sat next to the Old Chef. The Vermilion-Clad Child was the most special; it couldn’t sit on a bench, so it had to sit at the edge of the table. The little guy carried with him a “wine vat” the size of a fingernail, just to drink some sweet glutinous rice wine.

On Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Immortal Wei Daoren had a good impression of everyone, but he liked Xiao Nuan Shu the most, without exception.

The reason he had previously complained to Chen Ping An was because that muddleheaded Miss Xie had provoked Xiao Nuan Shu.

Otherwise, why would Immortal Wei, an old hand who had roamed the world for many years, do such unnecessary things that could easily be resented?

After Chen Ping An took his seat, he accepted a bowl of rice from Nuan Shu and, seeing that no one had touched their chopsticks yet, smiled and said, “Don’t just stand there. Start eating. Do you still need to be polite here?”

Chen Ping An first picked up a chopstick of stir-fried bamboo shoots and meat for Nuan Shu, and then another chopstick of steamed mandarin fish with apricot blossoms for Xiao Mi Li.

Zhu Lian smiled and said, “Bamboo shoots are fine; we have them ourselves. But this mandarin fish with apricot blossoms is rare—a first-class river delicacy that even ordinary immortals can’t afford. The Young Master personally fished a few from the Jumping Wave River. He couldn’t bear to eat them himself and kept them in the ice tray in the Dimensional Pocket that is specifically for storing ingredients. That’s why we have the chance to enjoy such good fortune. This mandarin fish jumps in the waves and eats apricot blossoms year-round, so its flesh is so delicate. Steaming it is best; braising it would be a waste. You all try it. If it tastes good, it has nothing to do with my cooking. If you think it tastes ordinary, then I’ll have to reflect on my skills.”

Chen Ping An mocked himself, “It’s not entirely that I’m thinking of you and reluctant to enjoy it alone. Those of us who like to fish, after finally catching something good, how can we not walk around the village a couple of times with it?”

When he was young, Liu Xianyang often did such things and would drag Chen Ping An along to walk back and forth between Apricot Blossom Lane and Mud Bottle Lane. Now that he thought about it, it was truly embarrassing.

Xiao Mi Li, who always ate very quickly, immediately pretended to chew carefully, shaking her head and waving her hand at Zhu Lian, “Delicious, delicious! Truly delectable! Old Chef’s skill is indeed the icing on the cake.”

Immortal Wei, who had just picked up a chicken leg, quickly grabbed a large chopstick of mandarin fish with apricot blossoms. He had long heard of this kind of river delicacy. To taste it? He didn’t even dare to dream of it. What was the easiest thing in the world to flaunt? Money, of course.

The Vermilion-Clad Child came from a joss paper figurine, so it wasn’t really interested in whether the food was delicious or not. Anyway, it couldn’t taste the difference. Just because it often came here to freeload meals, Nuan Shu had prepared a special small oil dish for the Vermilion-Clad Child. Just picking a chopstick of food into the dish was equivalent to a large table of food for an ordinary person.
Zhu Lian casually brought up a matter, “Young Master, these days in the prefecture city, quite a few Chen families who moved over from Huaihuang County, it’s as if they agreed beforehand, just after the New Year, they’re all busy re-editing their family genealogies, trying to find some roundabout way to claim kinship with you. These tidbits were all gathered by our Right Protector of Qilong Lane.”

The crimson-clad boy grumbled in a low voice, “This kind of trivial nonsense, is it worth bringing to the dinner table, Old Chef? It demeans our Fallen Mountain, and underestimates me.”

The little fellow wasn’t as formal with the Old Chef, for one thing, Zhu Lian was easy to talk to and didn’t hold any grudges. Moreover, although Zhu Lian was the grand steward of the entire Fallen Mountain, holding a high and weighty position, he couldn’t control his own official promotions in Qilong Lane and the Bamboo Lodge lineage. A local official is better than a magistrate, so there was no need to cozy up to this thigh. Trying to please everyone is like pleasing no one, lest he give Chief Helmsman Pei the impression of being a bootlicker.

The Immortal Guard chuckled, “Could you be Junior Apprentice Brother to Old Daoist Jia?”

Zhu Lian ignored the unappreciative crimson-clad boy and continued to ask, “What should we do about this? Should I inform both the prefecture and county governments to help stop it? Otherwise, those genealogy craftsmen who take money to do things won’t hold back their pens.”

In better times, the genealogy craftsman profession used to be in the shadows. It was mostly impoverished scholars without official status who made a living from it, daring to earn money only secretly. Now it’s different. In the southern countries of Treasure Bottle Continent, they’re everywhere, and many have switched to this craft.

Chen Ping’an shook his head and said, “No need to bother, let them do as they please.”

The crimson-clad boy decided to be a staunch and loyal subject, steeling himself to advise, “Mountain Lord, we can’t ignore this kind of thing. If we’re not careful, uncles and great-uncles will spring up like mushrooms after the rain in the prefecture city. Of course, they wouldn’t dare to act like elders here at Fallen Mountain, but in the prefecture city, there are many gossiping tongues, and the rumors would sound bad. Mountain Lord, if you trust me, after this meal, I’ll go down the mountain and speak with all the county and city隍temples and Earth God temples under Gao Guanggun… Gao City God. I have many good friends in those places, and although they don’t interact with Gao Ping often, they have a good relationship with me. After all, I’ve been personally handling the human relations for the prefecture city隍for many years, not daring to slack off in the slightest. Besides, Fallen Mountain is completely justified in this matter, and it’s not like we’re abusing our power for personal gain. If I speak up, I guarantee I can quell this unreasonable and crooked trend!”

Chen Ping’an smiled and explained, “It’s alright, you don’t need to make such a fuss. Some of those families are indeed distantly related to my ancestors. Even distant relatives who no longer interact are still relatives in name. If you stop them, it’ll be too heavy-handed, and they might not even dare to hire someone to revise their genealogies. We can’t let them deliberately erase the names of my ancestral line, can we? It’s not worth going to the prefecture city specifically to greet the two Chen families. Anyway, our own family genealogy hasn’t been reduced, so whether the other family genealogies have one more Chen lineage is up to them.”

The crimson-clad boy was silent for a moment, then said blankly, “The breadth of mind and magnanimity of a Good Person Mountain Lord must be a hundred times as big as Gao Ping.”

The little fellow, sitting cross-legged, quickly raised his arm and held up two fingers, “I can swear to the heavens, I’m definitely not flattering!”

Chief Helmsman Pei had said that her master was the most upright person ever, and he absolutely disliked flattery. He often taught her, his first disciple, that if you want to be successful in the martial world, to eat well and have friends everywhere, you must be sincere and keep your word!

The crimson-clad boy dared not let this “martial arts secret”, worth its weight in gold, go in one ear and out the other. He remembered it all in his heart.

Chen Ping’an looked at Nuan Shu, his eyes questioning, did Pei Qian teach him that?

The girl in the pink skirt pursed her lips and smiled, neither complaining about the crimson-clad boy to the Master nor wanting to lie.

Chen Ping’an had a habit that as long as he was at Fallen Mountain, drinking wine never interfered with eating. At his own wine shop on the Great Wall of Sword Qi, he often had a bowl of wine and a bowl of Yangchun noodles.

Xiao Mo said, “Young Master, I heard that Bai Shang in Northern Entire Reed Continent has recently officially entered seclusion.”

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “Who’s the protector? Has any news spread?”

Xiao Mo shook her head and said, “Unknown.”

Bai Shang, the number one Sword Immortal of the North, has been stuck at the Immortal realm bottleneck for many years.

Moreover, Bai Shang and Tian Wan of Zhuyu Peak, of Orthodox Yang Mountain, Zou Zi’s junior sister…

If Chen Ping’an and Cui Dongshan hadn’t intervened, Bai Shang’s Ascension realm, although it came by impure means, amounting to scheming against nearly a thousand years of sword dao fortune from Treasure Bottle Continent, at least Bai Shang’s sword dao would have been purer, and his future sword arts achievements would only have been more far-reaching. Ultimately, good and evil are in the hearts of men, but not the will of heaven.

Chen Ping’an casually said, “Either Bai Shang has hired a trusted and capable Immortal to help protect him during seclusion, or this is just false news. In reality, Bai Shang is already in the Ascension realm and is waiting for someone to disrupt his plans.”

Because of his only direct disciple Xu Xuan, Bai Shang’s relationship with He Xiaoliang, the sect leader of Qingliang Sect, was very strained. He even publicly made a very heavy statement, telling He Xiaoliang not to even think about reaching the Ascension realm in this lifetime.

Then, given He Xiaoliang’s temperament and methods, if Bai Shang truly entered seclusion, she would definitely not sit idly by. And this Sect Leader He’s skills are definitely not lacking. She is most adept at assessing the situation. When Chen Ping’an first set foot on the Bone Beach of Northern Entire Reed Continent, the turmoil in Ghost Domain Valley, especially the actions of the Ghost High Cheng of Jingguan City, were the result of He Xiaoliang seemingly doing nothing, but in reality doing everything. Of course, Chen Ping’an didn’t treat her politely for He Xiaoliang’s hospitality. He soon repaid her in kind in Suijia City.

Cultivating in the mountains, if you want some peace, you really shouldn’t get too involved in the mortal world.

“A smokescreen, a bewitchment formation is more likely.”
Zhu Lian chuckled, “If I were that certain someone, I’d fear Bai Chang is truly in secluded cultivation, and this is no mere facade. What’s most troublesome is that Bai Chang is confident in successfully breaking through and emerging swiftly. Sabotaging him would be futile, and you’d be caught like a rabbit waiting by its burrow. Disrupting another’s Great Dao during their cultivation is a grave taboo on the mountain. Even if that person has Heavenly Sovereign Xie Shi as an ally, Xie Shi shouldn’t intervene once Bai Chang draws his sword this time. If things go awry, even if that person escapes the sword-seeking pursuit, their sect’s immovable foundation might be jeopardized.”

Chen Ping’an nodded.

However, intuition told Chen Ping’an that He Xiaoliang would risk anything for such a rare opportunity to delay Bai Chang’s ascension to a flying sword cultivator. Now it depended on who had the superior chess strategy.

The Celestial Guard asked, puzzled, “Who is this ‘certain someone’? Sounds formidable, capable of disrupting a great sword immortal’s secluded cultivation? It’s like antagonizing half a flying realm sword cultivator. What deep-seated grudge fuels such a relentless mutual scheming?”

Zhu Lian chuckled without answering, habitually sitting cross-legged on the bench, he raised his wine bowl and took a sip.

Chen Ping’an, unwilling to dwell on the matter, changed the subject. “How are things progressing at the Lotus Root Blessed Land?”

Zhu Lian set down his white bowl and said, “It’s quite wondrous. Just recently, within the Songlai Kingdom, in a local shrine not sanctioned by the imperial court, a shrine spontaneously built by the common folk, the enshrined statue had long received incense offerings and finally achieved a golden body, able to manifest and display its spirit. Although this water god’s golden body and divine position aren’t high, according to the Great Li Dynasty’s promulgated Golden Jade Register, it’s just entered the lower ranks of the officialdom, transitioning from a petty clerk to a proper official. It can’t compare to the Mountain Lords or Water Gods in terms of rank, but an unsanctioned shrine deity receiving incense offerings and then manifesting a golden body is a first for the Blessed Land.”

Xiao Mo nodded, “Where there’s one, there’ll be two or three. It’s indeed a great thing.”

The Celestial Guard was stunned, “What?! You, Luo Po Mountain, have a private Blessed Land?!”

So, Chen Ping’an, the Great Mountain Lord, can really feign poverty. Even if you’re wealthy, adopting a style of concealed wealth, like a high official riding a lean horse, should have its limits!

Besides, you’re keeping this a secret from me? You think I’m a fake Daoist without a conferred title, treating me like an outsider, huh?

Chen Nuan Shu smiled gently, correcting, “We… we.”

The Celestial Guard chuckled awkwardly, “Right, right, it’s we, we of Luo Po Mountain.”

Without needing a reminder, the crimson-clad boy raised two fingers, “I swear that everything I hear at today’s dinner table will be kept locked inside me. Once I leave the mountain gate, I’ll be tight-lipped!”

The Celestial Guard thought, with his position as a gatekeeper of Luo Po Mountain and his shallow Daoist cultivation, barely enough to play tricks in Treasure Bottle Continent, if he went to that Blessed Land, would he no longer have to pretend to be a Daoist and a deity? That’s what he was, after all.

Chen Ping’an asked, “At the back of the mountain, how are Cao Yin’s cultivation and Cao Yang’s martial arts training progressing? Are they going smoothly?”

Zhu Lian nodded, “Cao Yin has good aptitude. Although he hasn’t broken through, he’s already touching the bottleneck of the Sea Gazing Realm. Cao Yang has strong bones and is willing to endure hardship. He’s learning martial arts quickly and will soon be at the fifth stage of martial arts. Both Cao Yin and Cao Yang are promising talents. If possible, I think Cao Yin can also learn martial arts properly.”

“When Cao Yin reaches the Golden Core of a cultivator or the Golden Body of a martial artist, then we can make a choice. It’ll still be a gain. If he can go a step further, like you, Young Master, with spiritual energy and pure Qi seemingly going separate ways but harmonizing with each other, forming a state where ‘lake water doesn’t interfere with river water,’ it would be a great fortune for Cao Yin.”

For Qi cultivators to also cultivate martial arts and achieve success without going astray, there are two extremely difficult thresholds to overcome. Besides having outstanding aptitude, they must either have a unique family heritage or find a master with clear guidance from a sect, with a complete set of secret inner cultivation methods and Daoist incantations as support. Both are indispensable. In this way, not just in Treasure Bottle Continent, but throughout the vast world, there aren’t many such sects, they’re few and far between.

Even Luo Po Mountain wouldn’t dare say they’ve found a stable path.

How can others learn Young Master’s path of ascension?

For example, Zhong Qiu is now a pure martial artist at the bottleneck of the Far Roaming Realm, a profound Golden Core Earth Immortal, and a Confucian Qi cultivator in the strict sense, this Master Zhong is clearly heading towards the path of sages.

However, Zhong Qiu’s path of cultivation is still difficult for others to imitate because it places too much emphasis on mental state. Back in the Lotus Root Blessed Land, the State Preceptor Zhong Qiu was already known as “Martial Grandmaster, Literary Saint.” Chen Ping’an intentionally placed Cao Qinglang beside Zhong Qiu, which itself is an expectation from the teacher towards his outstanding student, hoping that Cao Qinglang could surpass the teacher, going further on a path that the teacher is destined to not be able to take another step on.

Chen Ping’an slowly said, “At Immortal Capital Mountain’s谪仙Peak, I had a martial arts exchange with Ye Yunyun. She didn’t deliberately hide anything, so I have a rough understanding of the profound boxing methods derived from those immortal paintings in Pu Shan’s Cloud Grass Hall. Moreover, Ye Yunyun’s Cloud Grass Hall has always been widely open, generously imparting boxing methods to martial artists across the continent, except for the ancestral hall’s direct lineage boxing methods which cannot be passed on. Besides, I have some insights that I plan to compile into a book soon, and I may send a copy to Ye Yunyun in the future. Furthermore, our Green Willow Sword Sect is now allied with Pu Shan, and I believe that as long as Pu Shan disciples travel to Treasure Bottle Continent, they will definitely come to visit Luo Po Mountain. With this bridge as a connection, boxing principles are naturally similar, and both sides will be able to hone each other’s martial arts even more. I’m just worried that Cao Yin started learning martial arts late, and the true meaning of this set of boxing methods I’ve figured out is still not perfect. If Cao Yin doesn’t get the right method, like someone entering the ancestral hall from a side door, it’s easy to ‘paint a swan but get a duck’, inadvertently delaying a good seedling.”