As the hour of Mao approached, dawn painted the sky with a faint light. A thick mist blanketed the mountains, lending the air a refreshing quality. Dewdrops, round and full, clung to the petals and leaves, swaying gently, like shy maidens hesitant to speak.

Chen Ping An, a bundle of cloth tucked under his arm, chose a small path leading to the back of the mountain, walking alone with a peaceful heart.

He stopped, turning his head. A moment later, he saw a hunched old man approaching with quick steps, a sprig of flowering branch dangling from his hand. Such an act, performed by the Sword Immortal Mi, would be deemed charming and romantic. But when done by this old cook, it carried a slight hint of shamelessness.

Zhu Lian, one hand formed into a fist against his abdomen, held the flowering branch behind him as if it were a sword. He opened his throat and laughed, “It’s better to be early than just on time! Fancy running into you here, young master.”

The young master’s actions were always like a gentle spring rain, powerful yet imperceptible.

Just yesterday, he’d spoken of teaching Cao Yin and Cao Ang the martial arts. And here he was, early this morning.

The world often mistakenly believed that traveling the world was merely a matter of walking, a wanderer leaving their homeland, crossing countless mountains and rivers.

But in truth, every thought turned into action, every goal achieved, was a journey of the heart.

Chen Ping An stood by the roadside, sleeves gathered in his hands, waiting for Zhu Lian to catch up. As they walked side-by-side, he asked, “Are Shu Xia and Deng Gao no longer stopping those outside visitors at the tree and the high ground?”

Both were named Zhao – one being Chen Ping An’s direct disciple in martial arts, the other the eldest disciple of the blind Daoist Jia Sheng. Perhaps due to their shared temperament and similar backgrounds, Zhao Shu Xia and Zhao Deng Gao got along well. They, along with Zhou Juchen, Tian Jiu’er, and Cui Huasheng from the shops in Qilong Lane, formed a small faction. However, compared to the bamboo building lineage of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, they attracted less attention.

Zhu Lian nodded. “The government has secretly spread the word, forbidding outsiders from approaching Fallen Phoenix Mountain casually. The inspection of official documents is already strict in our Chu Prefecture. This has helped to deter many wandering Daoists and martial artists seeking guidance, without causing any resentment. After years of adjustment, the rules of the Great Li Dynasty have truly taken root. After all, steles stand atop the ancestral mountains of every immortal sect, and that’s no joke.”

Chen Ping An smiled. “Indeed, the government’s words carry more weight.”

Zhu Lian said, “I suspect this isn’t the intention of Governor Wu Yuan, nor the prefects of Baoxi and Longquan. Officialdom is filled with considerations, and they would worry about being overly zealous. Perhaps it’s…”

Zhu Lian paused, raising the flowering branch to point at the sky.

It was an order from the Great Li Emperor.

Chen Ping An nodded. “Most likely, it’s a decree from Song He to Wu Yuan.”

Zhu Lian chuckled. “Thoughtful of him.”

Then, Zhu Lian asked curiously, “Since His Majesty is so sincere, even personally attending the wedding and inviting you to serve, why haven’t you agreed to become a National Preceptor for the Great Li Song clan? Is there some concern?”

Publicly and privately, rationally and emotionally, it was the expectation of all that their young master replace Cui Chan as National Preceptor. It would be mutually beneficial, without a doubt. Of course, doing so would require their young master to devote more energy to worldly matters. After all, the Great Li Dynasty was no small nation, occupying half of the treasure bottle continent. Zhu Lian knew his young master’s personality and temperament well. If he truly agreed to “serve upon coming out of the mountains,” he would spend at least sixty years devoting his mind and energy to the Great Li capital and the auxiliary capital of Luo Jing. At the same time, the greatest beneficiary would naturally be the Great Li Song Emperor, because once the young master agreed to serve as National Preceptor, it would be equivalent to saying that unless the Emperor actively abdicated the throne and passed the throne from brother to brother, Prince Luo, Song Mu, would have absolutely no way to go any further.

Chen Ping An nodded. “There are many concerns.”

Zhu Lian didn’t inquire further. “Then we’ll wait and see.”

Glancing at the bundle under the young master’s arm, Zhu Lian asked with a smile, “Is that a gift for the Twin Jade?”

Chen Ping An explained, “It’s a gift of some rare books for Cao Yin. Qing Tong of the Demon Suppression Tower is now a guest appointee of the Green Plume Sword Sect. She previously gifted Immortal Capital Mountain many valuable and rare books, so I selected some unique editions that have been classified as dispersed and lost.”

Zhu Lian asked with a smile, “What percentage of the unique books did you leave for Immortal Capital Mountain?”

Chen Ping An patted the old cook’s shoulder. “One must be generous in character and bold in action. Hmm, that’s how I advised my prized student. Dongshan listened and even asked if he should take more of the remaining, more numerous rare books back to Fallen Phoenix Mountain. Since the student was being courteous to the teacher, why should the teacher be courteous to the student?”

Zhu Lian suppressed a laugh. “Sect Leader Cui is still very respectful towards you as a teacher.”

Chen Ping An said, “I have a general framework for Nuan Shu’s ‘Walking the Water’ matter. I talked to Nuan Shu about it last night, but she still hasn’t agreed. She doesn’t want me to divert my attention to these matters. Nuan Shu is too sensible. How could I bear to say a single harsh word to her? Heh, if it were Chen Lingjun, I would have already slammed Chen Lingjun’s head into the ground.”

Zhu Lian burst into laughter. Was this the difference between raising a daughter and raising a son?

Zhu Lian finally managed to control his laughter and nodded solemnly. “To be fair, Nuan Shu’s breakthrough is indeed much more difficult than Chen Lingjun’s. The matter of ethereal literary luck is something that one cannot simply seek. Little Nuan Shu fears troubling others the most. How could she possibly agree to such a thing?”

Chen Nuan Shu was once the embodiment of literary luck of the book building as a Fire Serpent, and now she is in the Dragon Gate Realm. Therefore, the usual significance of a water-born being walking the river and transforming into a Flood Dragon is meaningless to Nuan Shu.

The pink-skirted girl and the blue-clothed boy who followed the young master earliest were actually the complete opposite in character: one was outwardly gentle but inwardly strong, while the other was outwardly strong but inwardly gentle. Chen Lingjun might not even be considered gentle; he was just cowardly.

Chen Ping An said, “So, besides my arrangements, I also need some external objects. I plan to buy a pot of three-thousand-year-old literary luck calamus from Mount Jiu Yi. Coincidentally, the Mountain God of Mount Jiu Yi has invited Madam Tuo Yan to be a guest there, and Sword Immortal Shao will definitely travel with Madam Tuo Yan. There are only a few pots of calamus of this age, and they are the Mountain God of Mount Jiu Yi’s precious treasures. It’s normal that he is unwilling to sell. It’s quite difficult. But regardless, I’m determined to get it. Everything is negotiable, but since it concerns Nuan Shu’s Great Dao, it has to be handled differently.

If Shao Yunyan can’t reach an agreement with Mount Jiu Yi, Liu Jinglong and I will definitely make a trip to Mount Jiu Yi when we travel the Central Divine Continent.”

Saying this, Chen Ping An twisted his wrist and said with a smile, “Don’t force me to steal it casually, leaving the money and running.”
Currently, Wei Wenlong, the God of Wealth who manages the treasury of the declining Fallen Mountain Spring Mansion, is still only a Golden Core cultivator.

Wei Wenlong is the direct disciple of the Sword Immortal Shao Yunyan. Since their parting at the Spring Banner Studio of Upside-Down Mountain, the master and disciple have never reunited.

Chen Ping’an wondered if he should invite Sword Immortal Shao to Fallen Mountain first.

Zhu Lian suddenly said, “Since we’re going to be peacemakers for Aunt Feng and the Hundred Flowers Blessed Land, we’ll have to send out that colorful knot. I’d like to trouble you, Young Master, to verify something for me when you next travel to the blessed land. The books of strange tales say that the Si Fanwei of the Flower God Temple truly manage the flower heraldry and fragrance. I’d also like to know if these blessed land officials are all women, or if there are male immortals as well. Please keep it in mind…”

Chen Ping’an smiled and agreed.

Zhu Lian said, “Sect Master Cui previously gifted Cao Yin three volumes of Daoist secrets, corresponding to Cao Yin’s Sea Gazing, Dragon Gate, and how to break through the Dragon Gate bottleneck to form the Golden Core. Cui Zongzhu’s personal annotations alone amounted to over six thousand words, which shows that Cui Zongzhu is a true master builder, a divine craftsman. He can use Cao Yin’s small world as a foundation, build on a grand scale, and tailor everything to him.”

“Pei Qian and Sui Youbian also taught the young Cao Yang some boxing techniques during their time cultivating at the Sword Worship Platform.”

The young Cao Yin, styled Fengsheng, is a sword cultivator at the Sea Gazing bottleneck. The young Cao Yang, nicknamed Wutong, is at the peak of the Fourth Realm martial artist.

When the Zheng Yang Mountain held its sect celebration, Cao Ping chose to leave early as the most important guest of honor. This patrolling envoy was releasing a signal to the guest, not an implication, but a direct indication that the relationship between Zheng Yang Mountain and the Great Li Dynasty was only so-so.

Therefore, if the Great Li Dynasty had to choose between Fallen Mountain and Zheng Yang Mountain, Patrol Envoy Cao had already given the answer.

Through Guan Yiran’s matchmaking, Chen Ping’an and the Upper Pillar Kingdom Cao Clan secretly reached an alliance lasting three hundred years. Cao Clan’s disciples with aptitude for cultivation and martial arts could be sent to Fallen Mountain for training. Even if the Cao Clan requested, Chen Ping’an could help introduce them to sects in other continents. At that time, Cao Clan disciples only needed to bring a letter of recommendation from Chen Ping’an, such as to the Taiwei Sword Sect in Northern Juiluzhou, or the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect in Southern Posuozhou. Now, there are several more options, including the Pushan Cloud Herb Hall in Tongyezhou, the Chongxuan Shuyun Xiaogong of the Great Yuan Dynasty in Northern Juiluzhou, and even Qing Tong’s Demon Suppression Tower. Therefore, Chen Ping’an intended to discuss this with Cao Yin and the Cao Clan Head, Cao Ping.

Cao Ping must have left Cao Yin a way to contact him. It’s not that Cao Ping necessarily valued this Cao Clan collateral disciple. Even if Cao Yin was a sword cultivator seedling, it was nothing to Cao Ping, who had reached the pinnacle of martial officials in the Great Li court. However, since Cao Yin was chosen to cultivate in Fallen Mountain, it meant that as long as Cao Yin achieved something in Fallen Mountain, the status of this branch of the Cao Clan would rise accordingly in the Upper Pillar Kingdom Cao Clan, unstoppable.

For a towering tree, some originally thick branches may decay and fall off in the wind and rain, while some slender branches may gradually grow into thick trunks, grow and extend more branches, lush with green leaves, providing shade for future generations, which is the ancestral blessing.

Chen Ping’an and Zhu Lian arrived at the rear mountain residence. The gate was already open, and the courtyard was flashing with the glint of blades.

Cao Yang was practicing a set of Cao Clan’s ancestral Rolling Blade Technique, derived from battlefield combat skills, in the courtyard that had been cleared as a training ground. Sweat matted strands of the young girl’s hair to her forehead.

Stopping at the entrance, Zhu Lian smiled softly, “The little girl is too ambitious. No matter what stance she learns, what weapon she uses, she’s always practicing the blade. It’s like facing an enemy, she’s always aiming to kill.”

Chen Ping’an said, “If there’s no desire to win, what’s the point of learning martial arts?”

According to Zhu Lian, the biggest difference between martial arts and immortal cultivation is that the same genius can enjoy blessings all the way in cultivation, breaking through realms smoothly. A few inspirations are all it takes to soar upwards. Realms rise rapidly. Martial artists are different. They don’t have such good fortune. The more talented they are, the more they have to suffer. Otherwise, breaking through realms too quickly, running up the mountain in leaps and bounds, without spending much time at each level, will result in an unstable foundation. The realm is truly true, but so is the embroidered pillow.

Cao Yang saw the two figures at the entrance, and she immediately stopped her blade.

The young girl’s expression was flustered and at a loss.

Old Mister Zhu was a frequent visitor to the residence and was kind and amiable, so she wasn’t unfamiliar with him and felt close to him.

However, that green robe made Cao Yang extremely nervous. First, she had only met Chen Ping’an once since arriving at Fallen Mountain. Second, any Golden Core cultivator could be called a Sword Immortal, but the number of peak martial artists in the world was very few. In the Aura Deprived Aiaizhou, there was only Pei Axiang of the Thunder God Temple.

Moreover, the young mountain master in front of her, who seemed so amiable and gentle, had personally taught a Grand Disciple who was also a Grandmaster of the Peak Realm.

He had also gone to the Sword Qi Great Wall and served as the last Hidden Official in that place filled with Sword Cultivators, guarding the city head for many years before returning home…

Each and every one of these things was a distant matter done by a distant figure to Cao Yang.

Therefore, when it came to reverence, Cao Yang definitely had more than her master, Cao Yin, towards Chen Ping’an, who had countless identities.

The young girl’s state of mind at this time was like that of a young student loudly reciting a text, suddenly discovering a Confucian sage standing at the door, a scholar of unsurpassed learning.

A martial artist who has not yet entered the hall will naturally regard a Grandmaster of the Peak Realm, who has already reached the mountain peak and is now ascending to the sky, as a deity.

Zhu Lian wasn’t surprised by the young girl’s nervousness and restraint, it was normal.

Chen Ping’an had also looked at others that way before.

Now, others are looking at him that way.

It seems that the mountains and rivers on the road of life are a landscape to each other, both me and those not me.
Chen Ping’an stepped over the threshold, smiling as he reminded, “Cao Yang, just now when you sheathed your blade, the gathering of pure Qi within your body seemed to have quite a few flaws. Starting from the Hegu point, to the Pianli, Quchi, and then to…, the speed was too slow. Furthermore, when the Qi reached the Tianfu point, you should pause slightly to nourish the flesh, blood, and tendons more fully, like a stream winding around a mountain. After that, from the Lingfu to the Lingxu, then to the Futu, Liangqiu, and Xiajuxu, you need to gather momentum in one breath, transforming into a waterfall cascading straight down. The Qi circulation should be as fast as possible, creating an image of a dragon plunging into a deep pool, splashing a thousand layers of water. When it lands on the Dazhong acupoint, it should resonate like thunder, directly penetrating the Yongquan point. Therefore, you were only focused on firmly planting your feet, deliberately constricting the Qi into a thin thread, abandoning the true meaning of the fist technique. Naturally, that is incorrect. It may seem like the stance is stable, but the intent is lost, seeking stability within stability, too rigid. If you can follow my suggestion, letting the Qi gather into the Yongquan point, like using a fist to strike a drum, causing the Qi and blood in the Yongquan to surge, like a stone falling into a lake, creating vast, surging waves. Don’t be afraid of this ‘chaos’. You must understand that this is the meaning of a martial artist tempering the body, which also aligns with your Cao family’s martial arts principles. Then, borrowing this seemingly scattered Qi, the vaporous aura generated by the surging waves, gather your spirit and quickly raise a pure breath of Qi, from release to收敛, like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, ascending layer by layer. When it reaches the Guanyuan point, transfer it to the Sibian along the back, letting the Qi pause slightly, like a dragon coiling. Integrate the swordplay into the Cao family’s mental cultivation method, controlling the Qi like a dragon rolling on a wall, like charging on a battlefield, gathering momentum, ready to strike. Then, the iron cavalry bursts forth from the gate. At this point, you need to skillfully apply the sword manual’s principles, imagining shifting high and low, forward and back. Visualize a person wielding a blade as ten thousand riders forging through an array on a flat plain, charging towards Yang, along the Shendao, passing the Fengfu like knocking on a door, ascending as if walking on level ground, and finally, the Qi returns to the Shenting.”

Cao Yang was dumbfounded, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, as if this was even more tiring than practicing with the blade.

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “Didn’t remember it? Then I’ll say it again.”

Chen Ping’an repeated it, and Cao Yang held her breath, remembering every word without missing a single detail.

Chen Ping’an stood in place, smiling, “I’ll demonstrate it again, I’ll slow down the speed of the Qi circulation. Your realm isn’t high enough yet, you definitely can’t explore my Qi circulation, just get a feel for it. It’s like how we laymen look at authentic calligraphy and paintings, it’s difficult to explain exactly why, but you can feel the good and bad. In the future, when you go down the mountain to train, you’ll definitely see others throwing punches, and it will be the same. First see the intent, then think about it.”

As Chen Ping’an spoke, he stretched out a hand as if gripping a blade, then took a step, exactly the same as Cao Yang’s previous sheathing of the blade, every detail flawless.

Cao Yin had also come out of the house, standing under the eaves of the corridor, not daring to interrupt Mountain Lord Chen’s “teaching”.

Zhu Lian quietly came to Cao Yin’s side, squatting on the steps, and said with a light smile, “Don’t blindly imitate this, kid. This is a route our Mountain Lord specifically set up for Cao Yang. A martial artist’s Qi circulation is like a person walking, the direction of the road and the pace are very important. Cao Yang can immediately take it and use it, learning as she goes. But if you just try to copy it blindly, you’ll only get Qi deviations everywhere, and you might accidentally damage your internal organs and suffer harm.”

Cao Yin smiled sheepishly, no wonder he felt a stuffiness in his chest when he tried to circulate his Qi according to Mountain Lord Chen’s “guidance technique”.

Zhu Lian smiled, “If you really want to learn boxing, you can ask the Mountain Lord yourself.”

“If you can grasp the fundamentals, don’t worry about the details. Demons can’t confuse the truth. My Mountain Lord teaching boxing is a rare opportunity, worth more than a thousand pieces of gold. Cao Yin, you can try it, being close to the water, you get the moonlight first.”

Cao Yin shook his head, “It’s hard to chew more than you can swallow, it’s difficult to cultivate Qi and practice martial arts at the same time. I wouldn’t dare to make such an unreasonable request, wasting Mountain Lord Chen’s valuable time.”

Looking at the calm and composed demeanor of the man in green, then at Cao Yang’s delighted expression, as if she had understood something, and finally at Mountain Lord Chen gently nodding, as if acknowledging Cao Yang’s performance.

The young man thought that this was probably the legendary demeanor of a grandmaster.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Just talking and listening isn’t very useful. Quietly practicing stances and boxing, putting in a lot of hard work to temper your body and master the moves, is like an old scholar giving empty lectures in his study. You won’t see real skill. Without a lot of sparring and real combat, even if you’ve learned hundreds of brilliant boxing moves, they’re just flowery fists and fancy footwork. You’ll easily be knocked down in a few punches when you meet martial artists of the same realm who may not know many moves but can integrate two or three boxing principles into a true intent. Cao Yang, how about you and I exchange a few blows?”

Cao Yang’s face flushed red.

She really didn’t dare.

Zhu Lian lightly teased, “After all, she’s a shy little girl. If it were Bai Xuan, he would have already charged towards the Mountain Lord, full of vigor and making a ruckus.”

Cao Yin said in a whisper, “Cao Yang respects Mountain Lord Chen the most. Whenever she talks about the Mountain Lord with me, she’s like a different person.”

Zhu Lian gathered his voice into a line, whispering to the young man, “Don’t worry, Cao Yang only reveres our Mountain Lord, it doesn’t involve romantic love. The person she likes this year is still the same as last year.”

Cao Yin hadn’t even thought about that, but after the old cook said that, the young man’s face also turned red in an instant.

Chen Ping’an gently tossed the bundle under his arm to Zhu Lian, then reached out and grabbed a wooden spear from the weapons rack in the training ground.

His five fingertips slightly moved, the wooden spear rotating in his palm several times, like a dragon rolling on a wall, then he suddenly gripped it tightly, the tip of the spear humming like a dragon’s roar.

Dressed in a green long gown and cloth shoes, Chen Ping’an held the wooden spear, standing in the center of the courtyard, and said, “I’ll take this opportunity to see what the foundation of your Cao family’s martial arts lies.”

Chen Ping’an’s implied meaning was very clear, it’s okay if Cao Yang loses the exchange, just don’t lose the Cao family’s blade techniques.

“Sparring in the same realm.”

Chen Ping’an said, “When martial artists ask each other questions, there is no distinction of status, only the difference in boxing techniques, no difference in age, only the difference in intent. Cao Yang, if you’re worried about hurting me, you can certainly hold back. I will, of course, reciprocate with gratitude for your kind heart during this sparring.”

The girl was speechless.

Cao Yin, watching from under the eaves, felt that the man in green was very different from the Mountain Lord Chen who had chatted with them so amiably outside the bamboo building last time, like two different people.

Zhu Lian smiled knowingly.

Martial artists who come out of the bamboo building to teach and guide others speak like this. A few words are often more powerful than fists.

Chen Ping’an narrowed his eyes, as if he was about to move forward with the wooden spear.
In an instant, Cao Yang retreated a step, lowering her head and bending her back, her eyes fixed on the man whose aura had completely changed, now resembling a towering green mountain.

Intuition told her that the man only needed to make a single move to kill her, and in such a frustrating way that she wouldn’t even know how she died.

Chen Pingan, however, remained standing in place. “Retreat? Where can you retreat to? Why not stand with your back against the wall? Or simply crash through the wall, turning retreat into escape, wildly swinging your blade a few times along the way, so you can at least claim you exchanged blows with me, and earn some reputation.”

While Chen Pingan spoke these words, Cao Yang’s initial retreat was not without merit. It showed that her spiritual sense was extremely sharp. This was the kind of instinct that a martial artist developed when imbued with the essence of martial intent, allowing a pure martial artist to unconsciously seek advantage and avoid harm. But it was not enough. In Chen Pingan’s eyes, it still prioritized the trivial over the essential.

Chen Pingan’s words were actually quite restrained.

Otherwise, if it were Senior Cui from the Bamboo Lodge, he would have said that retreating upon encountering an enemy, daring to retreat both physically and mentally, meant that she shouldn’t even bother learning martial arts if she preferred to pick up sesame seeds and discard watermelons. She should just starve to death. What was the point of learning martial arts? She should just go begging for food, holding a broken bowl and kowtowing to everyone she met. What did it matter if she recognized a few more adopted ancestors? It wasn’t shameful at all! She could even boast about it when offering sacrifices at the ancestral graves, saying that she had helped them recognize more relatives and be more filial…

Cao Yang gritted her teeth and took a step forward. Instead of rushing straight ahead with her blade, she moved horizontally like a light swallow, skimming the surface of the water. The pure Qi within her body circulated rapidly, instantly increasing her momentum. She arrived at Chen Pingan’s side, and the stance she adopted was the “Great Snow Drags the Spear,” a famous technique from the Cao Clan’s blade style. The Cao Clan’s blade style originated from the battlefield, incorporating the strengths of many schools. It wasn’t confined to the blade style itself. Cao Yang twisted her wrist, and the blade light flashed like snow, chopping towards the man from the side.

“What use is ruthlessness without skill? Wasting energy for show.”

Before anyone could see how Chen Pingan moved, the wooden spear had already struck Cao Yang’s forehead. The young woman’s head jolted violently, and a red swelling appeared on her forehead at a visible rate. Cao Yang slapped the ground with her palm, spinning her body, and then stabbed the ground several times with the tip of her blade, sending sparks flying across the training ground. She forcibly corrected her posture, circling the figure in green robes in a wide arc, and once again delivered an upward-slashing blow. Before the tip of the blade could reach the green robes, the wooden spear passed by the blade even faster, colliding with Cao Yang’s shoulder with a loud bang, causing her shoulder to twist. She spun in place, and by the time she regained her senses, the tip of the stationary wooden spear was already pressed against her neck.

“When facing a strong opponent, instability of mind and reckless reliance on brute force can only make one court death. Did you concede defeat before even attacking, single-mindedly seeking a swift death?”

Chen Pingan withdrew the wooden spear. “Again.”

After that, no matter how Cao Yang launched her attacks, she could not get within close range of the figure in green robes. The distance between them was always precisely the length of the wooden spear.

During this time, Chen Pingan swept the wooden spear horizontally, striking the young woman’s waist with a heavy blow. Cao Yang was lifted into the air, her body bending like a bow, and then struck in the chest by the wooden shaft of the spear, slamming into the wall. Her figure turned gracefully in mid-air, like a nimble cat, and she bent her knees, stepping on the wall. Using the force, she charged back towards the approaching figure in green robes, who seemed too lazy to even use the spear to defend himself. He simply raised a hand, pinched two fingers together, and “gently” pushed aside the tip of the blade. Then came an elbow strike that left Cao Yang covered in blood, collapsing to the ground. He stabbed the ground with the spear and then slanted it upward, but this time Cao Yang was unable to gather her pure Qi. She spun several times in the air, crashing heavily into the weapon rack, causing it to rattle. Cao Yang coughed up blood, supported herself with one hand, and staggered to her feet, her eyes firm. But the arm holding the blade trembled uncontrollably. At the same time, she began to move, always facing the man who was slowly walking towards her.

Chen Pingan nodded almost imperceptibly. The old chef was right. The young woman could indeed endure hardship, and she learned quickly. Like now, Cao Yang probably didn’t even realize that she was already using the Qi circulation route that Chen Pingan had taught her earlier.

This was talent. The master opened the door, but the cultivation was up to the individual. With perseverance, over time, the disciple might surpass the master.

Chen Pingan’s pace was unhurried as he said, “It’s hardest to muster your spirit, and easiest to lose it. The ultimate pursuit in martial arts lies in being a person.”

“What kind of person can develop what kind of martial arts techniques, and comprehend what kind of principles to forge into their martial arts? Cao Yang, besides practicing martial arts, have you ever thought about why you want to learn martial arts, what kind of martial arts you want to learn, and what kind of person you are?”

Cao Yang was stunned.

But then she heard Chen Pingan laugh, “Facing a formidable enemy, and you dare to be distracted?”

With a loud bang, the young woman crashed into the wall, slumping to the ground, using her blade as a crutch. She tried to get up several times, but to no avail. She pushed hard with her toes, leaned against the wall, and slowly stood up.

Cao Yang’s vision blurred, and she instinctively turned her head, hearing the sound of the wall breaking. If she hadn’t dodged, she probably would have been pierced through the head by the wooden spear on the spot.

Zhu Lian smiled and comforted the young boy beside him, “Don’t worry. Each time the Young Master takes action, he’s extremely measured, and he’s pondering Cao Yang’s situation. If teaching martial arts only focuses on techniques and principles, then the Young Master would be wasting his time. You, as an outsider, don’t understand. Cao Yang’s true torment at this moment lies in the fact that her intuition has already been intentionally guided by the Young Master. She’s certain that if she’s not careful, she’ll suffer a fundamental injury and have her martial arts path casually cut off.”

“Only then does it count as sparring. Otherwise, it’s just lightly feeding her techniques. Such teaching, as the Young Master said, has too little meaning, simply because, deep down in Cao Yang’s heart, there will be a belief that she stands on invincible ground. But in reality, what outsiders perceive as a foregone conclusion in terms of victory and defeat is a matter of life and death for Cao Yang, the person in the midst of it.”

“The path of a martial artist is like our life’s journey. Every step is taken with solid footing, never falling short. If you want to reap rewards after enduring hardship, you can only endure more hardship. Qi circulation routes and other such minor details can be taught and learned. But if one wants to pursue purity in both mind and martial intent, they can only endure hardship upon hardship. In every moment, you can’t even have the thought of rewards coming after hardship.”

Zhu Lian chuckled and said, “I reckon the Young Master will add another log to the fire.”
As expected, Chen Ping’an did not pull out the wooden spear embedded in the wall. He said, “Cao Yang, rest for a moment. I reckon you might feel unconvinced, thinking that I only speak grandly because I started practicing earlier and have a higher realm. It seems condescending and annoying, using principle to suppress technique. So, I’ll suppress my own realm and spar with you as a third-realm martial artist, using only the basic moves of the Mountain-Shaking Fist. Let’s see how many moves you can withstand.”

As long as he wasn’t teaching Pei Qian, even if he was at谪仙峰, ceaselessly feeding Ye Yunyun with punches, and by some fortunate chance, helped her reach the first layer of the Supreme Realm, Chen Ping’an wouldn’t find it difficult.

Truly… he had taken in a good disciple, to the point that teaching the disciple was harder than practicing himself.

Afterward, Chen Ping’an, as a third-realm martial artist, once again beat Cao Yang into a state of utter helplessness.

Finally, the maiden knelt on one knee, using her blade as a crutch. Cao Yang shook her head, still dizzy, her vision blurred. Her face was covered in blood, dripping onto the ground.

Cao Yin conveyed in a mind-voice, “Mr. Zhu, will Cao Yang be alright?”

In truth, this question was inappropriate, as it questioned Chen Mountain Master’s teaching methods. If taken to the extreme, it would be doubting Chen Mountain Master’s intentions.

But the youth couldn’t help himself.

Zhu Lian rubbed his hands and smiled, “Mountain Master’s strikes are not light, but not heavy either. Anyway, it’s all within Cao Yang’s ability to bear.”

Cao Ping, as the current head of the Cao Clan, an Upper Pillar Kingdom Family, had some discernment and knew to send Cao Yin and Cao Yang to the Fallen Mountain.

From this day on, these two young people, whose hearts had not been tainted by the world, could be considered to have truly entered their young master’s sight. Hehe, the young master will definitely come here often in the future.

To be honest, if the young master had returned to Fallen Mountain any later, Zhu Lian would have gone to Immortal Capital Mountain to snatch him back, fearing that the big white goose would act dishonestly and deliberately bind the young master with worldly concerns.

If Cui Dongshan, the master schemer, were to succeed, that would be terrible. Would the young master be the Mountain Master of Fallen Mountain or the Mountain Master of Immortal Capital Mountain?

When Cao Yang shakily stood up, Chen Ping’an said, “Watch closely. I’ll only demonstrate once. Learn as much as you can. This set of fist techniques comes from the Ye Clan’s Cloud Grass Hall of Tongye Continent, originating from six ancestral Immortal Paintings, named Watching Waterfalls, Conducting Rituals, Pounding Silk, Carving a Zither, a Scholar Wandering, and Scooping the Moon with a Bamboo Basket. Cloud Grass Hall’s martial arts all come from the paintings. Passed down to the current Mountain Master Ye Yunyun, it has evolved into more than sixty stances and moves. Since ancient times, there has been a saying, ‘Stances come from the paintings, punches return to the paintings.’ Among them, over forty stances and moves can be shown to outsiders, and there are no taboos for outsiders to learn.”

Cao Yang nodded, raised her hand to wipe her face, and widened her eyes, afraid to miss any punch.

Afterward, Chen Ping’an deliberately slowed down, demonstrating the forty-plus stances and moves for Cao Yang. At the same time, he gave detailed guidance to the maiden on the true qi routes for different stance combinations.

The threshold for practicing martial arts is not as high as becoming a Qi Refiner or ascending a mountain for cultivation, but it is not something that can be learned by simply throwing a few manuals around. The key lies in whether one can become a true, pure martial artist, not just a showy martial artist. Whether one can condense a pure breath of true qi makes all the difference in the world. Whether one can truly fuse this breath with the punches, complementing each other, is as different as clouds and mud.

Chen Ping’an stopped at the final stance and asked with a smile, “Have you remembered it all?”

Cao Yang took a deep breath. “I’ve remembered it all!”

Zhu Lian had just gotten up, but suddenly squatted down again.

Because he saw that his young master did not intend to stop there. Instead, he rolled up his sleeves and said with a solemn expression, “I’ll teach you another set of fist techniques, with no names for stances or moves. It comes from the Great Wall of Sword Qi. She is a female grandmaster, and also my senior.”

There may be many mountain cultivators whom his young master calls seniors, after all, it’s a matter of etiquette when traveling abroad.

But there are few people whom his young master sincerely regards as seniors.

After Chen Ping’an finished the entire set of fist techniques, as if afraid that Cao Yang would not remember it, he demonstrated it again, and again slowed down the pace.

The posture and footwork were extremely restrained, but the punches were extremely fast and without any affectation. Cao Yang could see that this set of fist techniques was most suitable for female martial artists to practice.

After Chen Ping’an finished his punches, he smiled and said, “You should have two mindsets about the previous two spars. It’s inevitable that you lost today, don’t think too much. You may win in the future, so think more.”

“Cao Yang, I won’t interfere with other martial artists, everyone has their own destiny and karma. But since you have come to Fallen Mountain to practice martial arts, I must remind you that you must first have the intention to save your own life when learning fist techniques, and then you are qualified to strike and kill others.”

Cao Yang clasped her fists with both hands, her voice hoarse, “This junior will remember your teachings!”

In general, Chen Mountain Master’s two teachings today were treatments only for direct disciples.

Face-to-face instruction and secret transmission of the heart-mind are called personal instruction!

Chen Ping’an smiled slightly, “Quickly wipe off the blood on your face, it’s a bit scary even in broad daylight.”

Cao Yang immediately took her leave and went to her residence in the backyard of the house.

Cao Yin sighed inwardly. As expected, the Chen Mountain Master who no longer taught people was the familiar Chen Mountain Master again.

Zhu Lian had already run to tidy up the wooden spear and re-erect the weapon rack.

Cao Yang soon returned here, and then the group drank tea and chatted idly in the side hall of the main room. There was no need for Cao Yang, the maid, to be busy, as Zhu Lian took care of everything himself. Moreover, the tea leaves were all roasted by himself.

Chen Ping’an seemed to be addicted to teaching martial arts, as if he had found some confidence in being a teacher from Cao Yang. After drinking half of his tea, he took out a scroll from his sleeve, spread it out on the desk, and called the young man and woman to admire this authentic work by the head of the Zhao Family of Tianshui. The genuine long scroll was far longer than the desk, reaching a full three zhang, so that Chen Ping’an and Zhu Lian needed to stand on both sides to hold the jade shafts. Even so, Cao Yin and Cao Yang still could not see the full picture of the calligraphy.

Each word and line was extremely large. The opening sentence was, “In the sixth year of Yuanjia, the water disaster in the bitter cold land was slightly calmed, and I saw a figure in blue clothes paddling a solitary boat gracefully across the river.” The closing eight characters were, “Smiling across the river, returning home with a candle at night.”

The characters were like long spears and halberds, with a majestic momentum, simply an overwhelming aggressiveness.
Chen Ping’an explained, “Cao Yang, the essence of boxing doesn’t just come from daily, year-after-year practice of stances. The truly great boxing in this world inevitably comes from beyond the boxing manuals. The former teaches us to build a solid foundation in martial arts, while the latter teaches us to stand alone, a cut above the rest on the path of martial arts. Just like this calligraphy, it possesses both form and spirit. Literary scholars and great calligraphers may appreciate its brushstrokes and, at most, simply imitate it. But for us martial artists, we can see even more meaning, even create our own boxing techniques. In a while, I’ll teach you this punch, and you’ll know I speak the truth.”

Zhu Lian helped put away the scroll, and Chen Ping’an said with a straight face, “Besides the philosophy, it’s also a way to show off my collection to you.”

The young boy and girl looked at each other.

Zhu Lian tied the scroll’s rope and gently handed it to Chen Ping’an. “A rich collection isn’t anything special, just requires some money. But to have a collection so exquisite and beautiful that it surpasses all others, leaving them in the dust, that truly tests the collector’s discerning eye.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and put it back into his storage treasure. The old chef’s kind words were indeed the truth.

You must know that when Pei Qian was little, she had privately complained to Lao Wei, her little face full of worry, sincerely lamenting that she could never learn the old chef’s sycophancy.

Lao Wei nodded, saying that some people’s skills were innate, not acquired.

Finally, Wei Xian didn’t forget to add, “Like your ability to read faces and my capacity for alcohol.”

Each sat down again, and Chen Ping’an planned to leave after finishing a cup of tea, asking, “Cao Yin, have you encountered any difficulties in your cultivation?”

“Not yet,” Cao Yin shook his head. With the three secret manuals given by the Immortal Master Cui to pave the way, even the most uninspired Qi refiner could progress steadily.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “If you have any problems in the future that you can’t figure out on your own, consult Cui Dongshan. Although I’m also a sword cultivator, my ability to impart knowledge and resolve doubts in this area is far inferior to Cui Dongshan. You can go directly to the Sword Chamber on Jise Peak and send a flying sword message to Xiandu Mountain in Tongye Continent. Don’t worry about bothering Cui Dongshan; I’ll talk to him beforehand. So if you don’t ask, it’s as good as wasting the opportunity.”

Cao Yin stood up and bowed in thanks, and Cao Yang followed suit, clasping her hands in a fist salute.

Chen Ping’an smiled and nodded in response, about to get up and leave, when Cao Yin took the initiative to ask, “Mountain Lord Chen, can I talk about my cultivation insights and ask you for some guidance?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Of course.”

Zhu Lian had already refilled the tea for everyone.

Cao Yin said, “Mountain Lord Chen, I think the cultivation of Qi refiners, and even the practice of boxing for martial artists, is a series of mathematical calculations and problem-solving.”

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “How so? Dao is like an empty house, and principle is like a pillar. Why don’t you give me an example?”

Cao Yin gave a specific example of breaking down a martial artist’s physical training into skin, flesh, tendons, and bones. From this, it was evident that Cao Yin, as an embryonic sword immortal, wasn’t worried about his own cultivation, but was very concerned about Cao Yang’s path in martial arts.

Zhu Lian smiled without saying a word.

Childhood sweethearts can easily become strangers in the future.

Simply because the boy flips through books too quickly,

While the girl likes to dog-ear the pages.

Chen Ping’an listened carefully and nodded in appreciation, “That’s a very good example.”

Cao Yin was a little shy, saying, “Maybe only those with poor aptitude would break it down like that.”

Chen Ping’an was about to praise the young man again, saying that his idea coincided with his own.

But Cao Yin’s statement immediately made Mountain Lord Chen swallow the words back into his stomach.

In fact, Cao Yin’s insight was not wrong at all; it could even be said to be a very insightful cultivation realization.

In fact, Cao Yin was of course a genius. At such a young age, he was already a Qi refiner at the bottleneck of the Sea Gazing Realm, and a sword cultivator at that.

But the problem was that there were indeed a small number of geniuses among geniuses, like Ning Yao, Cao Ci, Pei Qian, and Chai Wu, who all belonged to this category.

Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “Do you know anything about Buddhist scriptures?”

Cao Yin replied, “I’ve read some, but not much.”

Chen Ping’an then asked a question, “How do you view the difference between the gradual and sudden enlightenment of the Northern and Southern Schools of Zen Buddhism?”

Cao Yin was a little apprehensive. He dared not speak rashly about such a major issue involving a major split in Buddhism, especially since the young man had never pondered it deeply.

Chen Ping’an asked again, “Then let me ask you, is it really possible to attain Buddhahood instantly? After sudden enlightenment, how does one remain firm in that realm of enlightenment?”

Cao Yin seemed to have understood something, but it seemed that the words in his mind had become the great enemy of expressing his true feelings.

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Take your time to think about it.”

Chen Ping’an took a sip of tea, “What was the question you wanted to ask earlier?”

Cao Yin regained his senses and mustered the courage to say, “Mountain Lord Chen, what is your specific daily schedule like? Can you explain it in detail? I want to copy it and learn as much of the true meaning as possible.”

Looking at other people’s lives is like looking at a map; the mountains and rivers that are marked are famous, but they always seem to have nothing to do with oneself.

But if there is an opportunity to get closer to those “famous mountains and great rivers,” the scenery is different. Like on a clear day, looking at a Loach Mountain from a distance, one doesn’t feel its height.

The closer one gets to the mountain, the higher it seems. When one reaches the foot of the mountain, one realizes how towering it is into the clouds.

But once one enters the mountain, being in the Loach Mountain, the scenery seems to be completely different.

Zhu Lian was startled and coughed quickly to remind the young man that the question was inappropriate.

Chen Ping’an shook his head and smiled, “Of course, I can tell you, but you can’t learn it. There are too many things to consider in the path of cultivation. It varies from person to person, from time to time, and from place to place. Different sects and lineages have different Daoist inheritances. The techniques of breathing and exhaling are vastly different. The different natal treasures, the changes in the hours of day and night, the Qi refiners who cultivate fire and water will have completely different schedules and dojo choices.”

Therefore, on the mountain, it is so difficult to find a clear master who can help guide you when you encounter obstacles and problems. That is why there is a saying that taking a master is like being reborn.

One can avoid many detours and many unnecessary hardships. It is generally accepted that wild cultivators have a tenacious mindset. Do you think they really want to be that way?

Although he frankly told the young man that he couldn’t learn it and didn’t need to learn it, Chen Ping’an still thought about it seriously. The opening remarks alone made Zhu Lian feel that the trip today was worthwhile.
“When I was young, I left my hometown and was mostly rushing on the road. At that time, practicing stances and boxing non-stop was to preserve my life. I would punch while walking, striving to adjust my breathing with each step. Whenever I stopped to rest, I would also practice the Sword Furnace Stance of the Mountain-Shaking Fist, and before going to sleep, I would practice the Thousand Autumns Sleeping Stance, striving to let the intent of the fist enter my body, the more the better, ten thousand fists, tens of thousands of fists, hundreds of thousands of fists, millions of fists. I only knew that when the intent of the fist entered my body, I could be possessed by the gods. I had to believe it at the time, even if I didn’t want to, just like in calligraphy, where there are ghosts and gods helping under the wrist, a wild idea. Whenever I had free time, I would read some books, make excerpts, firmly believing that a bad pen is better than a good memory. The second time I went to the Sword Qi Great Wall, in that summer palace, there weren’t many opportunities to calm down and cultivate. The only time that truly conformed to the routine of a cultivator was probably not long ago, in a dojo on Immortal Capital Mountain in Tongye Continent. That’s why I said you can’t learn my cultivation routine, but then again, if you break down cultivation into extremely small parts, breathing, walking, sleeping, I think there’s no problem at all, so in the end, it’s all about having no fixed method, yet all methods are within one.”

Cao Yin smiled brightly, “Understood!”

Cultivation, at certain stages, Qi Refiners will have nothing to do.

Now the young man feels that he has many things to do.

Cao Yang, being a woman, was meticulous and had some doubts. Isn’t Mountain Master Chen a great Sword Immortal who has already attained enlightenment? Why does he seem to have some white hair?

Zhu Lian sat quietly on the side, watching the young Mountain Master who was patiently explaining things to the young man. What kind of woman wouldn’t be moved by such a young master?

Chen Ping’an smiled and said, “In the future, if you have similar questions, ask more. Even if I don’t come here, you should take the initiative to find me.”

Zhu Lian sighed softly, “So Buddhist principles are just ordinary words.”

Chen Ping’an turned a deaf ear, stood up, and finally said three sentences to the young man.

“Confucius said, at fifteen, one should be determined to learn.”

“Enjoying music without extravagance, a good man should rest.”

“How can a young man not drink alcohol?”

From the first sentence, Cao Yin heard Mountain Master Chen’s expectations for him. The second sentence was also advising him not to be too obsessed with breaking through, and was also a very reasonable and valuable piece of advice.

But the third sentence left the young man a little confused, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

Together they walked out of the house, Cao Yin’s face full of longing and expectation. He mustered up his courage and asked, “Mountain Master Chen, have you met the Sage Confucius?”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “I have.”

Cao Yin was speechless for a moment, watching the back of the azure-robed Sword Immortal, the young man’s mood could not calm down for a long time.

Zhu Lian moved a step later, patted the young man’s shoulder, and said with a chuckle, “Many years later, someone will ask, ‘Sword Immortal Cao, have you met Mister Chen?'”

Cao Yin smiled suddenly, and the girl beside him also smiled brightly.

“Next time, we have to drink!”

Zhu Lian put his hands behind his back, his figure hunched, and quickly caught up with his young master.

Cao Yang said softly, “Mister Zhu must have had many Jianghu adventures before coming to the mountain, right?”

Cao Yin nodded vigorously, “Definitely.”

Chen Ping’an slowed down, waiting for Zhu Lian to catch up.

“Young Master, there’s something I don’t know if I should say.”

“Don’t say it.”

“I admired Young Master’s teaching of boxing just now, it was like flowing clouds and flowing water, and I had some ideas.”

“Your hands are itchy? Come, let’s spar.”

The young Mountain Master of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, and the old cook of Fallen Phoenix Mountain.

On the mountain path, their punches were astonishingly fast, in short, you jump, I dodge…

A dissolute youth becomes an old man of the Jianghu, in fact, the wine glass has never been empty, because after drinking the wine in the glass, they continue with stories.