Beyond the heavens, there are greater heavens; beyond humanity, there are superior beings.

Fallen plum blossoms piled beneath the eaves resembled heaps of snow.

Upon hearing these words, Gao Jun did not perceive them as mere alarmist tactics or deliberate deception. Instead, she could only sigh softly.

Over these years, she had diligently and devotedly cultivated immortal arts. Yet, facing this banished immortal who had returned to this blessed land, she reckoned her chances of victory were a mere ten percent.

Since he dared to come to Lake Mountain Sect alone, he must have some backing, be it his own formidable strength or hidden allies in the shadows. Moreover, in the siege of the Southern Garden Kingdom’s capital, where various factions converged, this sword immortal of youthful appearance found himself surrounded, yet ultimately emerged triumphant, ascending the city walls to slay Ding Ying and holding the capital, preventing Patriarch Yu from stepping foot within. This feat earned him fame throughout the land.

Gao Jun commanded in her mind, “Withdraw the formation.”

Before Patriarch Yu ascended, he left the Lake Mountain Sect a personally drawn immortal array diagram. However, Patriarch Yu had explicitly instructed Gao Jun that this mountain-protecting array could only be a concept for the time being. It had to await the opportune moment of a divine rain, an auspicious omen, before it could be put into practice. Gao Jun, always respectful of her master’s teachings, heeded his decree. After a period of seclusion, she ventured out, traveling for years, exploring the Five Great Mountains, and seeking immortals in solitude, hoping to find like-minded individuals. At the same time, combining Yu Zhenyi’s remaining array diagram, she ascended the Five Great Mountains. On the Central Mountain, Gao Jun climbed high, where the terrain was treacherous, and a ridge appeared in the clouds. Only then did she realize that this mountain was the most revered. On the summit, seemingly suspended in a sea of clouds, Gao Jun discovered the remnants of an immortal’s hermitage. It could only be considered a remnant, not an ancient relic, because the various objects within the hut were exquisite but not old. The brazier contained remnants of pine and cypress. Gao Jun could easily imagine a predecessor “immortal” burning cypress and chanting Daoist verses. On the Northern Mountain, the mountain flowers were different from those in the human world. While the world outside was sweltering in the summer heat, the mountain was still covered in deep snow. Gao Jun observed the celestial phenomena at night and, at dawn, saw a feathered immortal riding a white deer, claiming to be the spirit of this mountain, with an aloof expression, regarding Gao Jun as a “person from a lower realm.” However, the other party probably sensed that Gao Jun’s Taoist arts were not shallow. Although he disliked her trespassing on the mountain gate, he did not speak harshly, merely reminding Gao Jun that she was in this mountain and should not rely on force to take treasures. On the peak of the Eastern Mountain, where the sea could be seen on clear days, purple clouds were born from the stone cracks, and the sea light reflected the red sun. Suddenly, thunder and lightning struck, and the wind and rain rose sharply, the daytime becoming as dark as night. She personally witnessed a malevolent poisonous dragon leaping out of the deep pool on the mountainside, its azure essence gathering, its vast power shaking the earth’s veins. Its body was hundreds of feet long, winding up the mountain, crushing countless rocks. In the blink of an eye, the poisonous dragon circling the peak directly created a new stone path resembling a serpentine eighteen bends in the mountains, only to be stopped by a tall man with golden eyes, holding a white jade seal with ancient bird-script characters. He not only successfully stopped the poisonous dragon from reaching the summit but also smashed the suddenly mountain-sized seal on the dragon’s forehead, sending it back into the dragon pool. Afterwards, a passage of arcane Daoist incantations appeared on the water’s surface, thousands of golden characters, like a decree and immortal array, suppressing it at the bottom of the pool. The golden-armored god, holding the seal, proclaimed the heavenly edict, punishing it to cultivate its spirit in the deep pool for three hundred years before it could see the light of day again. On the Western Mountain, where the peaks were as dangerous as crowns, Gao Jun saw a young-looking scholar, filled with ethereal Taoist aura, warmly inviting Gao Jun, dressed in an apricot-yellow Daoist robe, to be a guest in his cave dwelling. Gao Jun remained calm, secretly preparing a talisman in her sleeve, and followed the young scholar. The mansion was magnificent, standing in a pile of red and yellow clouds, like an imperial palace built in the sky. The old doorkeeper seemed to be a mountain spirit. The vermillion gate opened, and the palace maids, all non-living, walked among them. A gentle breeze brushed her face, carrying the fragrance of orchids. The scholar smiled and said that this was a southern breeze, rare in the world, unique to his mountain, which could benefit the cultivation of Taoist roots by entering the seven orifices, and also nourish the beauty of mortal women. In the main hall, a portrait of a goddess was hanging. Immediately, a maid brought a fragrance tube, and the scholar first offered three sticks of incense for Gao Jun, saying that worldly incense was divided into mountains and rivers. Then he led Gao Jun to burn incense and pray to the spirit of the mountain, bowing respectfully to the profound. After they sat down, the scholar asked Gao Jun if she was married and if she would like to become Daoist partners…

After exploring the famous mountains and rivers of the world, Gao Jun finally perfected the immortal diagram left by Patriarch Yu, set up the array hub, and, following the instructions in the Daoist book on refining objects, carefully selected several treasures that could naturally nurture the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, closely connected with the mountain roots and water veins of the Lake Mountain Sect, and, with the immortal sword left by Patriarch Yu as the main element, finally created a mountain-protecting array that combined offense and defense.

If Yu Zhenyi was the first to attain enlightenment, ultimately only benefiting himself, then Gao Jun was the true founder of the Lake Mountain Sect in the true sense, personally establishing the array, teaching Daoist books and immortal formulas, and guiding the disciples in their cultivation, both teaching the Tao and protecting the Tao, thus branching out and flourishing. Before Chen Ping An appeared, he had made a rough exploration of the mountains and rivers, and it could be seen that, after these years of proper management by the Lake Mountain Sect, if Gao Jun could one day achieve the Nascent Soul realm, firmly secure the position of the first person in the world, and find a suitable successor who could also achieve the Golden Core, then, in the next three to five hundred years, the disciples in the sect would be talented, both martial arts and immortal cultivation, and the position of the first immortal mansion on Lake Mountain Sect would be extremely difficult to shake.

Gao Jun asked, “May I ask about the age of Chen Sword Immortal’s Daoist practice on the mountain?”

Chen Ping An smiled and shook his head, saying euphemistically, “A mountain guest does not speak of age.”

Gao Jun asked again, “In that vast world, are there many enlightened people in the Profound realm like Chen Sword Immortal?”

Chen Ping An had to nod and say, “Many. But it’s not yet possible to talk about ‘Profound’ and ‘Enlightenment’.”

Indeed, there were many Nascent Soul cultivators.

Gao Jun couldn’t help but feel a bit sad and looked up at the sky, “How difficult is it to cultivate in the mountains, after all, it’s just a frog at the bottom of a well.”

If she didn’t know the magnificent scenery outside, the high winds in the sky, then it would be fine. It was precisely because Gao Jun, as a mountain-top cultivator who understood the affairs of the outside world, was worried and dared not slack off in the slightest.
Over the years, Gao Jun had always harbored a worst-case scenario: that one day, celestial exiles like Chen Ping’an, their eyes gleaming with covetousness for the treasures of this blessed land, would gather due to shared interests and descend like rain upon the mortal realm. How could she, Gao Jun, possibly resist such a formidable onslaught? Yet, to begin scheming in secret, forging alliances and uniting with cultivators and grandmasters from various nations, and even establishing covenants with the mountain and river spirits, felt beyond Gao Jun’s capabilities. Her fear was that even if she could fend off one or two waves of exiled celestials, Chen Ping’an and his celestial brethren would eventually band together, plunging the entire mortal world into a cataclysm of untold suffering. The battles between immortals, each displaying their divine powers, would be unlike the skirmishes between grandmasters of the past, which at most only affected a single city. With a large number of cultivators unleashing their boundless powers and employing countless offensive magic treasures, the aftermath could easily leave hundreds of miles littered with bones.

Therefore, deep within Gao Jun’s heart, a daring and audacious idea began to take root.

She was beginning to understand Ding Ying’s actions, though she didn’t necessarily condone them, she could at least comprehend the underlying motivations.

Gao Jun desired to meet the “Old Heaven,” the one who orchestrated the Great Dao behind the scenes, with the sun and moon as their dojo and the mountains and rivers as their courtyard.

Gao Jun wanted to personally ask this being if they could protect this realm and how to prevent it from becoming a training ground for these exiled celestials.

Chen Ping’an said, “Sect Leader Gao shouldn’t underestimate herself. Throughout history, all cultivators who have broken through the constraints of blessed lands have invariably proven to be exceptional talents in the vast world.”

The Criminal Officer, Hao Su, was the perfect example.

Just look at his own Fallen Peak. The four individuals in the painting, plus Master Zhong, after leaving the blessed land for thirty years, Zhu Lian had already reached the pinnacle of the martial arts realm, while Sui Youbian was already a Nascent Soul realm sword cultivator.

Gao Jun tentatively asked, “Sword Immortal Chen, would you allow me to show you around?”

Chen Ping’an smiled and nodded, “I would be honored.”

The lake shimmered, adorned with ten thousand lotus blossoms. The gentle breeze mirrored the water, and the banks were a riot of peach and willow blossoms, reflecting the mountain scenery in the water’s surface.

As they walked along a long bridge spanning the lake, Gao Jun couldn’t help but ask, “May I ask, Sword Immortal Chen, how is Ancestor Yu doing these days? Where is he now?”

As she said this, Gao Jun chuckled to herself, realizing that she had been constantly asking questions since meeting this Sword Immortal Chen.

After Ancestor Yu departed, many significant events occurred in this world. For example, a strange figure emerged out of nowhere, the new leader of the Demonic Sect, Lu Tai. He easily gathered the remnants of Ding Ying’s former forces but had no interest in further expansion. Instead, he focused his attention on Lake Mountain Sect. After Ancestor Yu became a terrestrial immortal, he secluded himself three times. On two of those occasions, Lu Tai seized the opportunity to forcibly break into the mountain gate, interrupting his seclusion. Two life-and-death battles ensued, but neither resulted in a clear victory, delaying Ancestor Yu’s progress for many years.

Their aerial combat and exchange of blows allowed the martial artists across the land, watching from afar, to truly witness what it meant for immortals to fight. It caused the sun and moon to lose their brilliance and the mountains and rivers to tremble.

After this demonic behemoth disappeared without reason, Lu Tai trained a young genius who, despite not cultivating immortal techniques, possessed extraordinary swordsmanship and also enjoyed opposing Lake Mountain Sect.

This nameless young man, having trained in swordsmanship in the mountains for only a few years, had already attained a divine level of skill. When he descended the mountain, Ancestor Yu had just ascended to immortality. The novice swordsman’s first battle was a solo challenge against Lake Mountain Sect. The one who accepted the challenge was none other than the current sect leader, Gao Jun. She narrowly defeated him, and they agreed to a rematch in ten years. However, when the ten-year deadline arrived, the young swordsman failed to appear, vanishing without a trace. Gao Jun had sought him out during her visits to immortals.

Chen Ping’an said, “He is already in another realm, and his cultivation has advanced further.”

Gao Jun felt a sense of relief, as if a heavy stone had been lifted from her heart. Because Lu Tai, the insidious and unpredictable leader of the Demonic Sect, had once sneaked into Lake Mountain Sect and, after finding Gao Jun, made an extremely unsettling analogy, saying that the foremost person here would be at the bottom of the hierarchy after ascending to immortality. So, regardless of how majestic your Ancestor Yu is here, he will just be a small child sweeping the courtyard in the immortal palace up there. If he’s unlucky, he’ll just be a fertilizer hauler watering the vegetable garden. So, you should quickly advise Yu Zhenyi to be the head of a chicken rather than the tail of a phoenix.

“Yu Zhenyi has a significant background. There’s a prophecy that says, ‘Residing in the mortal realm for a thousand years, forever with the countenance of a child.’ The one who uttered this prophecy is… Well, their mastery of Dao is beyond comprehension.”

Chen Ping’an said, “Sect Leader Gao will have the opportunity to reunite with your Ancestor Yu in the future if you leave this place and travel far.”

In Chen Ping’an’s view, judging solely on merits, his opinion differed greatly from the world’s perception of Lake Mountain Sect. Yu Zhenyi was the founding ancestor of Lake Mountain Sect, while Gao Jun could be regarded as the restorer who turned the tide and revived the sect. If Gao Jun hadn’t inherited Yu Zhenyi’s mantle and become the foremost person in Lotus Root Blessed Land, then Lake Mountain Sect would have fallen behind step by step, eventually losing its initial advantage and being left behind by cultivators such as Wei Liang from South Yuan Kingdom.

Because the “mask” crafted by Zhu Lian clearly possessed the true essence of talismans, Chen Ping’an was now curious about one thing: since Zhu Lian had clearly touched the threshold of cultivating immortal arts, why did he only dabble in it? Although the spiritual energy in Lotus Flower Blessed Land was still scarce at that time, the higher the threshold for cultivating and ascending to immortality, the easier it would be for someone to seize the opportune moment and monopolize the celestial timing.

While both were discussing matters beyond this world, Gao Jun naturally preferred to believe Chen Ping’an, the Sword Immortal. That Lu Tai, who intentionally disrupted people’s Dao hearts with his words, was utterly detestable!

Chen Ping’an slowly said, “The path of cultivation lies in breaking through realms and ascending to higher levels, but also in cultivating the mind and nurturing one’s nature. The two are indispensable. Birds soar through the narrow blue sky, daring to reach the summit. When there is no path in the mountains, I shall become the peak. Or, where the water ends, watch the clouds rise. If the barrier of Zen suddenly shatters, one will hear thunder rising from the ground.”

Gao Jun pondered for a moment and nodded, “Sword Immortal Chen, your words are profound, like the speech of a divine being from the clouds.”

Chen Ping’an chuckled softly.
Grandmaster Gao, by her own admission, was not one skilled in the intricacies of mundane affairs or worldly wisdom. Her ascendancy to the position of Sect Leader of the Lake Mountain Sect was not solely due to the Ancestral Master Yu bestowing a decree, but also the unseen hand that cleared all obstacles in her path. More importantly, she possessed a natural aptitude for cultivating immortal arts, allowing her to break through realms with unparalleled speed. To Gao Jun, it was as if the heavens had unexpectedly opened a celestial gate. In the past, those who aspired to stand above kings and lords could only practice martial arts, striving to become grandmasters. But now, a new path had emerged. The land-dwelling immortals, deities, and mythical creatures of lore were no longer distant and unattainable, but had become tangible figures within her reach.

She was the Lake Mountain Sect’s most fortunate prodigy.

Otherwise, during her time following the Ancestral Master to the capital of the Southern Garden Kingdom, Yu Zhenyi had once concluded that if Gao Jun were to solely pursue the path of martial arts, she would, at best, become a martial arts expert akin to National Preceptor Zhong Qiu or Empress Zhu Shuzhen.

Gao Jun wore a look of slight contrition. “Immortal Master Chen has answered all questions candidly and comprehensively. Gao Jun sincerely expresses her gratitude.”

Chen Pingan jested, “Sect Leader Gao, please feel free to ask. I will never tire of it. I’ve always been said to have a proclivity for teaching; it’s a habit hard to break.”

Gao Jun, indeed, did not stand on ceremony and continued, “Earlier, Immortal Master Chen mentioned that cultivation is like ascending stairs, with each layer being higher than the last. Are there specific divisions and names for the realms that we cultivators strive for?”

Chen Pingan nodded. “The Middle Five Realms: Grotto Heaven, symbolizing the connection between the human body and the external world, like building a bridge or opening a gateway, allowing one to absorb the spiritual energy of天地. Sea Gazing, taking its meaning from ‘I ascend the tower to gaze upon the hundred rivers, entering the sea is entering my embrace,’ ascending a high tower to view the vast sea, understanding the greatness of天地. Once a cultivator possesses a certain number of Grotto Heavens, they continuously absorb spiritual energy, retaining it, nourishing the body and soul, like a ceaseless river, constantly expanding the riverbed and waterways, broadening the meridians, as if laying down official roads. Dragon Gate, the spiritual energy scattered throughout the Qi Repository of a Qi Refiner, seems to condense into a water dragon, flowing against the current, as if traversing a waterfall. Whether one can leap over the Dragon Gate in one fell swoop is a tremendous threshold. Success allows one to find a ‘Dan Chamber’, mysteriously opening a new world. Hence, there is the saying on the mountains, ‘Only those who form the Golden Core are truly one of us.’ Failure, and the spiritual energy will attempt to break through in reverse three times, causing the DanTian Qi Sea to dry up completely, potentially halting progress at the Grotto Heaven Realm for life. And when a Qi Refiner condenses a Golden Core, its grade is like the imperial examination in the mortal world, with distinct levels of superiority and inferiority. The degree of condensation of a Golden Core, the size of a Dan Chamber, and whether the formation of the Core brings about celestial resonance, all have significance. The Great Dao is unpredictable, and the will of heaven is difficult to fathom. Whether one can be called a true cultivation genius, whether one is truly blessed by heaven, is determined by this. After this is the Nascent Soul, capable of allowing the Yin Spirit to leave the body for distant travels, aided by the Yang Spirit avatar guarding a small world, as the books say, grandmasters can freely ride the wind, roaming the天地.”

“Generally, the Golden Core and Nascent Soul are collectively referred to as Earth Immortals. A Qi Refiner traveling alone through the vast lands of the world, even establishing a sect and serving as its founder, would still face no problems.”

“I surmise your Ancestral Master Yu initially formed a First Grade Golden Core, while Sect Leader Gao’s Golden Core is roughly of the Second Grade, remarkably extraordinary. Even in the vast world, possessing a Second Grade Golden Core is a fortuitous encounter sought after but unattainable by many Earth Immortals.”

It sounded simple and easy to understand.

Seemingly just casual conversation, Chen Pingan was only discussing some cultivation “common sense” that wasn’t particularly profound in the world. Even the Earth Immortals of Cloud Glow Mountain could likely recite it off the cuff.

However, for Gao Jun, who currently needed to experience and comprehend all matters of cultivation on her own, each word was a precious gem, equivalent to parting the clouds to see the sun. The preciousness of these words was no less than the Dao book left behind by Ancestral Master Yu.

Chen Pingan was merely speaking off the cuff, sharing some unintentional words with Gao Jun, unrelated to any matter of interest. Ultimately, he simply regarded her as a fellow Daoist on the path of future cultivation, and with a normal heart, spoke a few normal words.

As a result, when the words settled, Chen Pingan unexpectedly felt a slight stirring within him. He couldn’t help but look around. In the depths of his being, there seemed to be some ineffable celestial resonance, as if he had received a kind of appreciation and recognition from this world…

As if a great weight had been lifted, he no longer felt the kind of stagnation he had felt while walking through the Lake Mountain Sect.

At that moment, Chen Pingan felt a deeper understanding of a certain phrase spoken by the old abbot of the Heart Image Monastery in the Southern Garden Kingdom, as well as a certain principle he had witnessed during the night trial at the City God Temple years ago.

At the same time, it also verified Zhu Lian’s conjecture that this Lotus Root Blessed Land most likely had the embryonic form of a “Little Old Heaven,” only waiting to “awaken” and then “refine its form.” In fact, the appearance of the woman formed from the Blessed Land’s literary luck, and her subsequent discovery by Chang Ming, could be seen as a natural sign of things falling into place. And then, today, Chen Pingan returned to the Blessed Land after many years and quickly obtained a certain degree of resonance with天地. Could it be that Old Chef’s words were truly blessed?

Gao Jun, however, was unable to perceive this celestial phenomenon. She was simply immersed in the curiosity, asking, “What are the realms above the Middle Five and Earth Immortals?”

“The first realm of the Upper Five is called Jade Uncut.”

“Jade Uncut? Does that mean returning to simplicity, flawless jade?”

Chen Pingan nodded with a smile, “Returning to simplicity ensures lifelong honor, like sculpting an unblemished body, erecting a flawless pagoda, capable of being untouched by the mortal world. For a cultivator to reach this realm is like a frog in a well jumping to the well’s mouth. Although still far from the heavens, one can view天地 with a perspective closer to the whole picture and the truth.”

In the history of the Lotus Root Blessed Land, Yu Zhenyi could only be considered to have initiated the beginning of cultivation. Naturally, there were no specific realm divisions.

Even Yu Zhenyi made many cautious attempts regarding the matter of the Yin Spirit leaving the body for distant travels, extremely cautious. She did not leave behind a single word in the Lake Mountain Sect’s written records, only personally imparting the secret to Gao Jun.

This directly led to Gao Jun still not daring to easily send her Yin Spirit on distant travels. She only dared to choose auspicious days with clear skies, during the bright, clear nights, only attempting to “leave the body” within a radius of a thousand Li around the Lake Mountain Sect.
Back then, the azure-robed Sword Immortal beside her fought a life-or-death battle with Ding Ying. Ding Ying, blessed with the sole dominance of martial fortune, employed some unknown secret art to allow his Yin spirit to leave his body, transforming into a towering Dharma form as high as Guniu Mountain. Even now, Gao Jun felt lingering fear mixed with yearning. Alas, she was not yet a cultivator at the time, merely an outsider watching the spectacle. Otherwise, it would have been a rare opportunity for enlightenment, granting immeasurable benefits.

Having crossed the bridge to the lake’s opposite shore, a low mountain stood nearby, atop which was built the Lake Mountain Sect’s Ancestral Hall. It currently housed only one ancestral spirit.

This hall only came into being after Yu Zhenyi’s “ascension.” Its design followed records of certain secret texts, markedly different from the ancestral halls of common Jianghu sects.

Gao Jun suddenly posed a question about “literary truth” versus “actual truth,” a pivotal tenet within the Confucian Dao. Chen Ping’an smiled knowingly, understanding the profound meaning behind her question. Nevertheless, he answered truthfully and comprehensively, gaining a new appreciation for Gao Jun. It seemed she had spent her years of secluded cultivation immersed in books. While Chen Ping’an lacked the confidence to forge novel insights beyond the wisdom of sages, he could readily reiterate existing knowledge. With his remarkable memory and organizational skills, he could debate with even the Grand Sacrificant of the Confucian Temple or the Headmaster of a renowned academy for hours without flinching, let alone Gao Jun.

Gao Jun’s question was not merely for the sake of the Lake Mountain Sect but for all cultivators under the heavens, an inescapable hurdle.

The Lake Mountain Sect currently possessed over a dozen Qi Refiners, but apart from Gao Jun and her two senior masters, who had ascended to the Middle Five Realms, the rest remained in the Lower Five.

Within the Lake Mountain Sect, known throughout the world for its strict hierarchy and intricate rules, the sight of their Sect Leader, Gao Jun, accompanied by an unfamiliar azure-robed man stirred up a storm within their hearts. Yet, none dared to betray the slightest hint of surprise, halting respectfully at a distance, offering silent salutations before swiftly departing.

When a realm allowed sentient beings to ascend mountains and cultivate, giving rise to countless unbelievable mystical creatures, the division between the ethereal and the mundane, the separation of humanity from the ghostly realm, became tangible realities beyond the written word. Especially the distinction between immortals above the mountains and mortals below, was now visible to the naked eye. The Lake Mountain Sect was now undeniably the foremost sect in the world, a true celestial abode.

Sect Leader Gao Jun, through the practice of immortal techniques, had attained Dao, thus preserving her youth. Over the past two decades, her appearance had hardly aged at all. Instead, she was like gold refined by sand, raw jade sculpted, her skin and bones constantly purging impurities and flaws, already displaying the “golden branches and jade leaves” aura of an Earth Immortal. Like Yu Zhenyi in the past, who, together with Zhong Qiu, had slain a banished immortal, obtaining a celestial sword and a celestial book, her appearance had transformed from an old white-haired man to middle-aged, then young and vigorous, until finally, when he emerged, Yu Zhenyi appeared in the Nan Yuan Kingdom as a sword-riding, wind-borne child.

Harmony between Heaven and Man, returning to one’s youth.

Such a thing was indeed a pipe dream for martial artists.

When a realm where everyone was originally destined for a fixed lifespan began to produce Qi Refiners, the world’s appearance and inner essence would undergo earth-shattering changes.

Most fundamentally, a hidden struggle for “orthodoxy” arose, touching upon the issue of “literary truth” versus “actual truth” that Gao Jun sought to understand, and further involving the Lake Mountain Sect’s ability to assert its legitimacy.

The sea of books was vast and boundless. The teachings of the Three Schools, along with the Hundred Schools of Thought, numbered not just thousands, but countless volumes.

Chen Ping’an spoke eloquently, and Gao Jun listened intently.

A rustic pavilion stood along the mountain path, bearing the inscription “Pine Whispers.” Ancient trees, each requiring several arm spans to encircle, surrounded the pavilion. Their shade was lush and verdant, stirred by the wind, the pavilion seeming to float on an autumn lake.

Beside it, a stream gurgled and flowed, clear currents winding around. An old pine tree, hunched over, stood with unusually lush foliage at its peak. Green leaves fell like miniature verdant canopies, the sound of the water originating from above and below the pine needles, akin to celestial music.

Travelers ascending the mountain would pause here for a moment of rest, gazing at the distant lake scenery, their vision broadened, their hearts refreshed, and their eyes filled with light.

Gao Jun invited Chen Ping’an to stop and admire the view.

Back then, the group of “banished immortals” including Chen Ping’an, Zhou Fei of Spring Tide Palace, Lu Fang of Bird’s Eye Peak, the wandering knight Feng Qingbai, Tong Qingqing of Mirror Heart Hall, and Fan Wan’er – more precisely, the latter two were actually from the Yellow Court of Mount Taiping.

Logically speaking, aside from Chen Ping’an’s accidental entry into the blessed land, those like Lu Fang and the Yellow Court should have thrived in this realm. Yet, they found themselves in awkward circumstances, their advancement possibly even slower than in the Vast Radiance World. At least, they had not surpassed native individuals like Ding Ying and Yu Zhenyi. Perhaps this was the decree of fate.

“Heaven” seemed to dislike those who appeared to possess innate advantages. Perhaps this was a form of “human nature” in the heavens?

On the border between the Northern Jin Kingdom and the Pine Whispers Kingdom stood an ancient city, historically a land of fish and rice. South of the city was a water gate called Feng Gate. Outside the city were many ponds, reeds, and lotus marshes, so delicacies like water bamboo shoots, wild rice, and water chestnuts entered the city through this gate. Within the city, young men and women, and the offspring of wealthy nobles, would venture out for spring outings or when the lotuses were in full bloom, the entire city pouring out to gather in the lotus marsh area by boat. All manner of painted barges and small boats were rented out, the multi-storied vessels forming the warp and the painted barges forming the weft, densely covering the water. The women on the boats were all meticulously adorned, vying for beauty. The pleasure-seeking youths spent lavishly on boat banquets. Along the banks, scholars and artists gathered. Those from middle-class families, unable to afford renting painted barges to cruise the lake, would stroll along the shore, admiring the flowers. Thus, during this season, poor young boys would specialize in collecting embroidered shoes lost by the beauties in the water or on the shore as their livelihood.

Less than half a mile from the lotus marsh, there was a rustic soy milk workshop. The threshing ground was covered with drying white soy milk cakes. By the river was a makeshift fish market, selling aquatic goods like fish, shrimp, turtles, and crabs. Compared to the bustling scene of boats gathered in the lake, this place seemed particularly secluded and humble. However, a man and a woman, completely out of place in such surroundings, drew the frequent gazes of the soy milk workshop workers. A hunched old man in an azure gown led a horse. This was not particularly unusual, but what was unusual was the stunning woman who sat upon the horse, as if stepping out of a painting.

She wore a crimson robe with wide sleeves, cinched at the waist with a jade belt, beneath which was a skirt embroidered with hundreds of flowers, the hem and tassels embroidered with clouds and phoenixes.

The woman wore a pair of ink-green silk shoes, and with the horse’s swaying gait, a glimpse of her white silk socks could occasionally be seen.

Such attire, with its color scheme, could easily overwhelm the wearer, yet she wore it beautifully.
Beneath a towering tree, a burly and youthful man sat cross-legged, resting. He gazed at the aged man tending the horse, who appeared to be no more than a servant.

He didn’t carry the famed “Refiner” sword, so it was likely not Tang Tieyi, the usurper-Emperor.

The old man smiled, “You must be Zhong Qian, you’ve been quite the elusive one.”

Zhong Qian sighed, “You came specifically for me? What is His Majesty thinking? I made it clear in my message, I will neither become enemies with Northern Jin, nor pledge allegiance to the Pine Whisper Kingdom.”

It was truly an unwelcome spirit haunting him, chasing him to the border of Northern Jin and the Pine Whisper Kingdom.

The hunched old man released the horse’s reins, clasped his hands behind his back, and smiled, “Tang Tieyi is but a blade of grass, he couldn’t possibly command me.”

Zhong Qian chuckled, “Old fellow, quite the boast, daring to speak of His Imperial Majesty in such a manner within Northern Jin’s borders.”

The former Dragon Martial General, Tang Tieyi, once journeyed to the Southern Garden Kingdom. Upon his return, the Emperor of Northern Jin swiftly abdicated in his favor. Tang Tieyi then transformed, ascending the Dragon Throne. It was said there were many twists and turns in this tale, for in the Southern Garden Kingdom’s capital, Tang Tieyi had intended to betray Northern Jin. However, the old Emperor Wei Liang abdicated, Wei Yan ascended, and Princess Wei Zhen refused to marry Tang Tieyi. In short, he met with a closed door in the Southern Garden Kingdom. Returning to Northern Jin, Tang Tieyi, enraged, raised an army on the border, marching north and leading his troops to besiege the capital. Thus, Northern Jin’s dynasty was changed.

Zhong Qian inquired, “Are you human, ghost, god, or immortal?”

The world had become strange of late, with all sorts of oddities emerging at once. It seemed the turning point was that Contest of Ten. In just a few years, the fantastical stories in books had become reality. In his travels across the land, the man had encountered no shortage of bizarre happenings. Accurately speaking, strange, but not ancient.

The woman remained seated on horseback, her eyes narrowed with a smile.

Zhong Qian detested this the most, and coldly said, “Vixen spirit.”

Pei Xiang covered her mouth, giggling incessantly.

Those who came to meet Zhong Qian were none other than the Fox Kingdom’s ruler and Zhu Lian.

Zhu Lian said, “Young man, no need to be so hot-tempered. As someone who’s been around the block, let me give you two pieces of advice: better to provoke a man than a woman, better to provoke a busy man than an idle one.”

Zhong Qian testily replied, “Stop beating around the bush. What exactly are you? And what do you want from me?”

When it came to a one-on-one fight, he truly feared no Tang Tieyi. Cheng Yuanshan, the Arm Saint, and other established masters of the Jianghu, along with Liu Zong, the Knife Sharpener, had either vanished or retreated into seclusion. The once-every-sixty-year Contest of Ten had rendered the old guards of the Jianghu useless. With Ding Ying’s death, Yu Zhenyi and Lu Tai seized all the glory. But when these two, the foremost figures of the White and Black Paths, one said to have ascended and the other disappeared without a trace, the Jianghu was left leaderless. Instead, a wave of sorcerers emerged, along with inexplicable mountain gods, water immortals, and malevolent spirits.

Like the woman on horseback, who looked like a seductive ghost. How could a mortal woman be so beautiful?

The old man smiled, “When venturing out, one should treat others with sincerity. Let me first introduce ourselves. My name is Zhu Lian. As for the lady on horseback, her name is Pei Xiang. As for you calling her a vixen spirit, we’ll take it as a compliment, praising her beauty.”

Zhong Qian frowned, “Which Zhu Lian?”

Zhu Lian chuckled, “The one you’d least expect.”

The brawny man crossed his arms, turned his head, spat a wad of phlegm on the ground, and sneered, “If you’re Zhu Lian, then I’m Ding Ying.”

The only similarity between this old codger and Zhu Lian was that he was accompanied by a great beauty, whose looks were as they described in books as devastatingly beautiful?

Zhu Lian was well aware that Tang Tieyi, Zhou Shuzhen of Reverence Pavilion, and the likes of Cheng Yuanshan, old timers of the Jianghu, were unable to break through their limits despite the surging fortune of the Blessed Lands. This was because “the mountains and rivers had lost their color”, becoming a pale sketch. With few exceptions, all living beings in the Blessed Lands were left with incomplete souls, yet those caught in the situation were completely unaware. Furthermore, Tang Tieyi had secretly turned to cultivating sorcery, but his foundation in martial arts was too strong. The higher his level, the more it became a burden. He wasn’t as adaptable as Gao Jun of Lakeside Mountain Sect, whose boat was smaller and easier to steer. Otherwise, how could the first Golden Body Realm martial artist in the Blessed Lands not be the elder Tang Tieyi?

Zhong Qian waved his hand. “Don’t go courting death. It’s not worth risking your life for a little reward money.”

The number of people who could confidently say they could defeat him could be counted on one hand, including Gao Jun, the Sect Master of Lakeside Mountain.

As for those who could fight him to a draw before determining the victor, add another hand.

This seemingly ordinary old man, even if he was a hidden master of martial arts, Zhong Qian, even after examining the elder a few more times, could still positively state that he was not on the list of the Ten.

But Zhong Qian saw that the old man still seemed eager to try, slowly stepping forward, carefully shifting his feet, and rubbing his hands together, saying, “We martial artists value integrity. How can we know the outcome if we don’t spar? That’s inappropriate.”

First, he shuffled his feet, then stopped, the gaunt old man put one hand behind his back, extended the other palm, and smiled, “Come, come, let me see the weight of the fists and feet of the Northern Jin’s foremost grandmaster.”