At the tail end of the first month, another snow fell in Chuzhou, though it was light, mixed with rain. After the snow, the sky cleared, and the mountains were all green, save for Cloud-Draped Peak, which was half-green, half-white.

It resembled a secluded beauty draped in fox fur over a cyan dress, or a learned scholar in the snow, aloof from the mundane world.

That night, deep within the Lotus Root Blessed Land, in the twilight of the Grand World, Golden Core cultivator Gao Jun and Golden Body realm martial artist Zhong Qian were guests at Fallen Peak. However, they were arranged in separate residences, and had yet to meet.

In the stillness of the night, Gao Jun was unwilling to simply breathe and circulate qi, drawing spiritual energy from the mountain; it felt like thievery to take without asking. Unable to focus on cultivation, she went out alone, ascending the steps to the summit of Spirit-Gathering Peak. There, she saw a fellow cultivator enjoying the moonlight, sitting on the railing, holding a wine cup, with a jade spring wine bottle of glistening emerald glaze beside him, and a packet of spiced meat spread out, drinking and savoring alone.

Gao Jun didn’t recognize the man, but he recognized the Lake Mountain Sect Leader at once. The woman wore an apricot-yellow Daoist robe, her beauty like an autumn pool, a hibiscus flower standing tall.

The robust man was quite surprised and asked, “Sect Leader Gao, what brings you here as well?”

Gao Jun was puzzled. “And you are?”

Hearing a familiar accent was like drinking warm wine.

The burly man blushed and said, “My name is Zhong Qian, a nobody from the Northern Jin Kingdom. It would be strange if Sect Leader Gao knew me.”

He hadn’t visited Lake Mountain Sect, but he had seen a portrait of Gao Jun in the study of a noble young master in Northern Jin. The real person was even more beautiful.

Gao Jun realized who he was and made a Daoist salute. “Greetings, Grandmaster Zhong.”

Zhong Qian quickly put down his wine cup and returned the greeting with clasped hands. “A pleasure.”

As they were not well acquainted, it was their first meeting, and neither was particularly talkative, a silence fell between them.

In the mountain breeze and moonlight, the fellow countrymen, meeting in a foreign land, were each lost in their own thoughts, their minds filled with endless concerns.

Gao Jun had followed Chen Ping’an out of the Lotus Root Blessed Land, newly arrived, stepping onto Fallen Peak for the first time. The real Fallen Peak was very different from the “celestial mansion” she had imagined, a place of jade towers and phoenix song. Arriving at Jise Peak, besides feeling the much richer spiritual energy than Lake Mountain Sect, the scenery was neither divine nor strange, seeming much like Lake Mountain Sect.

Zhong Qian broke the silence first. “I was brought here by an eccentric old man and a woman named Pei Xiang. Who brought Sect Leader Gao here?”

Gao Jun said, “The owner of this mountain, Sword Immortal Chen Ping’an.”

Zhong Qian chuckled self-deprecatingly. “Indeed, Sect Leader Gao has greater esteem.”

The old man, who claimed to have an irreconcilable feud with Zhu Lian, called himself the steward of Fallen Peak. As for the foxy woman named Pei Xiang, she seemed to be a retainer.

Zhong Qian said, “I heard there’s going to be an ancestral hall meeting at Jise Peak tomorrow morning.”

Gao Jun nodded. “Sword Immortal Chen invited me to attend as an observer.”

She had initially wanted to decline, but considering her current position, which was not just as the Lake Mountain Sect Leader, she agreed.

Gao Jun had actively requested to leave the Blessed Land, with the intention of learning more about the people and affairs “beyond the heavens.” What better and more direct way to understand Fallen Peak and the Grand World than to attend an ancestral hall meeting?

Zhong Qian smiled. “I’ll be attending as well, as I’ve agreed to serve as a nominal guest elder of Fallen Peak.”

Gao Jun hesitated before asking, “Grandmaster Zhong, are you not planning to return home?”

Zhong Qian nodded. “I’m not going back. I’m not like Sect Leader Gao; one place is as good as another if there’s wine to drink. As for home, I’ve never had much of a feeling for it. I heard there are hundreds, even thousands, of kinds of immortal wine brewed here, though they’re a bit pricey, requiring those mountain god coins, which I haven’t even seen yet. As a nominal guest elder, I’ll receive a monthly stipend. Besides, I heard that there are martial arts to learn here at Fallen Peak. For example, State Preceptor Zhong Qiu of Nanyuan Kingdom is now a member of Fallen Peak. I plan to seek his guidance in martial arts in the future. If I could become his disciple and learn even a fraction of his true skills, that would be the best.”

A man’s reputation casts its shadow. In the past, among the experts gathered in the capital of Nanyuan Kingdom, the Grand Tutor of the Demonic Sect, Ding Ying, was unpredictable and no one dared to approach him. Yu Zhenyi of Lake Mountain Sect, ethereal and aloof, was beyond reach. As for Liu Zong the Knife Sharpener and Tang Tieyi, though each had the style of a grandmaster, they were both controversial figures. Therefore, in the minds of the younger generation of martial artists, they were not as respected and admired as the scholar Zhong Qiu, who was known as “Sage in literature, Master in martial arts”.

In a courtyard halfway up the mountain, Pei Xiang was using her divine power of Palm-Gazing at the Rivers and Mountains, carefully observing the words and actions of the two outsiders on the summit.

Zhu Lian lay on a rattan chair, his hands folded on his abdomen, resting with his eyes closed, not hindering Pei Xiang’s actions, which lacked martial arts ethics.

The conversation between the two on the summit was clear in his ears.

Pei Xiang asked, “Yan Fang, do you think Gao Jun is pretty?”

When there were no outsiders present, she still habitually called Zhu Lian by the alias he used when secretly poaching talents in Qingfeng City.

Zhu Lian smiled. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In the eyes of the Lake Mountain Sect disciples, Gao Jun is naturally the most captivating woman in the world. To be able to share a kiss with her would be worth dying for.”

Pei Xiang scoffed. “She’s not that good-looking. Her looks aren’t even comparable to Hongxia.”

Zhu Lian glanced at Pei Xiang’s hand, seeing Zhong Qian using spiced meat to accompany his wine. He smiled; the flavors of home were all in the taste.

In Zhu Lian’s opinion, Zhong Qian, who was now declaring he had no attachments to his hometown, would surely miss it often in the future. On the other hand, Gao Jun, if she ever decided to leave the Lotus Root Blessed Land, would do so resolutely and rarely feel sentimental about it in her future cultivation.

Pei Xiang asked, “In the future, there will only be more and more ‘Golden Cores’ in the Blessed Land, right?”

Zhu Lian nodded. “That’s a pointless question. The real thing to worry about is how many Earth Immortal cultivators and Spirit Refinement realm martial artists will appear in each sixty-year cycle.”

The old chef rubbed his hands and breathed on them. “As the accumulated snow melts and the spring wind thaws, the big and small fish burst out of the ice.”

Pei Xiang softly asked, “Yan Fang, this time returning to our hometown…”

Zhu Lian laughed. “Besides being a coachman for you, what else could I possibly feel?”

The Grand World, the Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands, were essentially the same, just a matter of the rich eating the poor, and the officials eating the rich. The poor eat dirt, and the immortals eat the mortals. In the end, all that was eaten turned into a handful of dust.

Whether awake or dreaming, it all turns to emptiness.

Pei Xiang asked, “What do you think of Gao Jun and Zhong Qian’s different choices?”
Zhu Lian drawled lazily, “Little birds don’t appreciate the vast mountains and fields, they just flutter about in a small courtyard.”

Pei Xiang pondered for a moment, then frowned. “Stop being cryptic! Are you saying that Gao Jun is unwilling to leave this blessed land, preferring to be a chicken’s head rather than a phoenix’s tail? Is her vision too narrow, her choice a mistake? Or are you saying that Zhong Qian settling in Luopo Mountain is like stepping from the wilderness into a courtyard, going from potentially becoming the number one grandmaster in the world to just a mediocre martial artist in this Vast World?”

Zhu Lian opened his eyes and gently shook his head. “I told you, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Different choices made by the same person, the same choices made by different people… two flowers bloom, each representing a branch.”

Pei Xiang rolled her eyes at him with a charming glare. “You always have the most twisted logic.”

Zhu Lian chuckled. “Alas, a nascent soul that doesn’t read books.”

Pei Xiang raised an eyebrow. “The fox kingdom’s erotic illustrations have always sold extremely well, once being Qingfeng City’s second-largest source of income after talisman beauties. Now, they’re practically piling up in the fox kingdom’s secret vaults. Isn’t that throwing money away?”

Zhu Lian rubbed his temples and sighed. “Luopo Mountain wouldn’t dare touch that kind of moneymaking scheme. There’s a meeting at Jise Peak tomorrow. If you have the guts, you can bring it up with the Young Master yourself. I’d rather die than do that.”

Pei Xiang suggested, “Now that we have a subordinate sect, Chief Zhou has a Cloud Grotto blessed land at the Tongye Sect. We could sell the Rouge Rankings of Flower God Mountain there at a discount as a package deal to Chief Zhou. This income could be considered my private savings. You can help me contact the Cloud Grotto blessed land, negotiate the price, and help me sell it. Afterward, we’ll split the profits. Wouldn’t that be like having another steady stream of income?”

Zhu Lian didn’t comment on whether it was feasible or not, but instead asked, “Do you have any disciples or grand-disciples in the fox kingdom who might be able to form their golden core?”

Pei Xiang nodded. “That’s why the need for money is increasing. Although I’ve saved up some wealth in the past, my annual expenses exceed my income. It’s not sustainable.”

Zhu Lian laughed. “To be honest, if we don’t consider the long-term, the fastest way to make money is still through illicit means.”

The old chef clearly understood the hidden meaning in the fox kingdom’s ruler’s words. She was indirectly complaining. Pei Xiang mentioning reselling the erotic illustrations was just a starting point.

Since moving from the Xu Clan’s Qingfeng City to the Lotus Root blessed land, the fox kingdom was like a closed-off country. It lost contact with the outside world, especially the cultivators who saw the fox kingdom as a place of sightseeing and gentle delights. Many of the fox demons in the middle five realms who held real power lost their side hustles. Although Pei Xiang and a group of her close confidants were holding down the fort in the fox kingdom, things hadn’t reached a point of widespread resentment, but over time, people’s hearts and Dao hearts would fluctuate. The undercurrents of the past would turn into an unstoppable flood. Furthermore, fox demons were different from cultivators, and even different from the mountain spirits who had opened their minds and taken form. They were long accustomed to the bustling world of red lanterns and green wine. Suddenly shutting the door and cultivating in solitude turned the fox kingdom into a slightly larger Daoist temple. Although Luopo Mountain and the fox kingdom had a written agreement regarding fox demon enlightenment, fox cultivators who had a chance of reaching the Cave Mansion realm could travel to the four blessed land kingdoms to experience the mortal world and engage in romantic relationships.

Pei Xiang cautiously said, “Since the fox kingdom took root in the blessed land, the spiritual energy has almost doubled. If converted to Immortal Money, Luopo Mountain is already treating the fox kingdom very generously.”

Zhu Lian crossed his hands and tapped his thumbs together, smiling. “There’s no need to be concerned about such routine matters, otherwise it would be too formal.”

Pei Xiang suddenly became nervous.

Zhu Lian slowly said, “The fox tribe is naturally fond of liveliness, but Luopo Mountain is a place of tranquility. This contradiction is temporarily irreconcilable, and it naturally involves the relationship between the fox kingdom and the blessed land. If it were any other mountain, owning a treasure trove like the fox kingdom that can generate wealth with minimal effort, they would never ask the fox kingdom to close its doors. After all, don’t mess with money. Just allocate a piece of land to you in the blessed land, a thousand miles in radius. When the fox kingdom’s gates open, regardless of how you make money, we at Luopo Mountain will just collect taxes from every fox cultivator, lying down and making money. You’re happy, we’re happy, what’s not to love?”

“So the Young Master has discussed this with me more than once, how to find a compromise that doesn’t interfere with the normal development of the four blessed land kingdoms, but also allows the sentient beings of the fox kingdom to not feel that life is too simple, eh, the Young Master used the word ‘simple.’ I laughed at the time and said that with no worries about food and clothing, cultivation is faster, and there’s no need to be treated as madams and courtesans by those cultivators who come to the door just to take off their pants. What’s so hard about that? At most it’s ‘quiet,’ but the Young Master said that ‘simple’ is more appropriate. Life suddenly turning from bustling to deserted is also a hardship, the same mentality as old people who have retired from officialdom. Even if they still live in luxury, they can leisurely enjoy the forests, but going from busy streets to deserted doors has a special kind of bitterness.”

“Because it was a private chat with no outsiders present, I didn’t hold back when mentioning this matter to the Young Master, saying that once you try to make everything perfect, it becomes as difficult as ascending to heaven, restricting your actions and causing trouble everywhere. But if you don’t think too much, things will become simpler, like allowing the fox kingdom to open its doors earlier. Luopo Mountain can then learn from the national preceptor Cui Chan’s establishment of steles in the mountains, throw some ironclad rules at you, deliberately observe with a cold eye for a few years or decades, then Luopo Mountain can conduct a post-autumn accounting with evidence and legal basis. The fox kingdom beings who violate the rules should be killed or imprisoned. To put it bluntly, with just such actions, the source of fox fur talismans will be secured. What’s the price of a fox fur talisman on the Treasure Bottle Continent these days? Isn’t it more profitable than Pei Xiang selling a few erotic illustrations?”

“But the Young Master said to wait a little longer. He wants to wait for the people of the four blessed land kingdoms to gradually adapt to the fact that Immortals who ride the clouds and mist and monsters who roam the human world are common occurrences. Then, when you appear, even if there are more of you, they will be used to it. The mortal scholars are used to the strange affairs of immortals and monsters, and then transition from the separation of the living and the dead to humans and ghosts coexisting. There will be a rudimentary understanding of adapting to local customs. At the same time, you are shaped like a closed mountain, Luopo Mountain forces the fox kingdom to cultivate for three to five decades, and in the future when you go out, the realm of cultivation will be higher, from the early stages of traveling in groups of two or three, to the future of traveling alone, there will be fewer accidents during this period.”
Ultimately, it’s because Master treats all of you fox spirits as living beings, not just tools. Otherwise, do you think Master didn’t realize my proposal had more benefits than drawbacks? It’s just that, in Master’s eyes, that ‘drawback’ could mean the lives of several or dozens of foxes. He believes a ‘wait and see’ approach, even with a smaller short-term gain, is worth it to try and save them.”

“In short, Master cares more about your fox kingdom than you, its own sovereign, do.”

Pei Xiang sighed softly, “Mountain Lord is truly compassionate.”

Zhu Lian said calmly, “Kindness is best offered subtly, growing stronger. If it starts strong and fades, it breeds resentment. Punishment should start strict and become lenient, for excessive leniency followed by severity causes bitterness.”

“Therefore, Lower Sect was established in Tongye Continent, with Cui Dongshan as its first Sect Master instead of Cao Qinglang. If Master then returns to Solitary Peak to cultivate, I will be the happiest of all, without equal.”

Zhu Lian paused, then looked up at the night sky, smiling faintly. “The more hope we have for this world, the more kindness we offer, the more we will care whether the world returns that kindness, or repays it with malice. The more we are burdened.”

“If one feels it makes no difference either way, perhaps that is a form of cultivation.”

Zhu Lian raised a hand, clenched it into a fist. “There are only two kinds of powerful individuals in this world.”

“Those who seize something from this world. Either with valiant ambition and imposing spirit, taking what is rightfully earned, leaving a name in the annals of history. Or those who cunningly plunder, fiercely grasping for wealth and fame, forcing their will upon others: ‘If I am not difficult, who dares to cause trouble?'”

Zhu Lian raised his other hand and waved it gently outward.

“Those who give something to this world. In poverty, they cultivate themselves, their virtue unseen but their hearts enduring, studying diligently by lamplight. In prosperity, they benefit all under heaven, striving for world-shaking achievements, willingly enduring hardship, carefully treading across thin ice.”

Finally, Zhu Lian stared blankly at the sky and uttered a strange phrase.

“Young Master, Old Master, Master… Lending is like giving; collecting is like begging.”

The ancestral hall meeting on Azureglow Peak was scheduled for the hour of Si (9-11 AM).

Today, at the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the plaza was indeed quieter than before, thanks to Cui Dongshan.

Only Mountain Lord Chen Pingan, Chief Steward Zhu Lian, Law Enforcer Chang Ming, and Springs Bureau Wei Wenlong were present.

Along with Right Guardians Zhou Mili, Chen Nuanshu, Chen Lingjun, Xiao Mo, Guo Zhujiu, and Pei Xiang.

Also, Mountain Lord Wei Bo, who was universally acknowledged to be in league with Solitary Peak.

The uninvited Xie Gou and the white-haired boy disguised as Konghou were also present, standing next to Guo Zhujiu, who was yawning.

In addition, those not called to the meeting today included the gatekeeper Xian Wei, though Taoist Xian Wei had never actually been formally entered into the Solitary Peak records. As for Zhao Shuxia, he was still practicing his fist techniques in the bamboo building.

Also, Zhao Luan, Cen Yuanji, Zhang Jiazhen, Chang Ming’s direct disciple Nalan Yudie, Konghou’s disciple Yao Xiaoyan, Shi Rou from the Lucky Charm Shop on Riding Dragon Lane, Zhou Juchen, and Zhao Denggao and Tian Jiuer from the Herb Shop.

Chen Pingan first introduced Gao Jun and Zhong Qian, then introduced the members of Solitary Peak to them in turn.

Gao Jun and Zhong Qian both seemed somewhat apprehensive, as it was their first time witnessing these so-called “immortals” of the Heavenly Pantheon, figures from folklore and tales of the strange.

The Law Enforcement Ancestor of Solitary Peak was actually a woman, Chang Ming, though it was unclear whether it was her name or her Daoist title. She was extremely tall, slender, and habitually smiled with her eyes narrowed.

The divine being in snow-white robes with a golden hoop earring, Mountain Lord Wei Bo of the Northern Peak, invited Gao Jun and Zhong Qian to visit Cloudveil Mountain as guests.

The black-clad little girl with sparse, light-yellow eyebrows and a cotton cloth bag slung across her shoulder was Solitary Peak’s protective guardian. The little girl in a pink dress with gentle eyes gave the two guests a respectful bow.

The green-robed little boy who liked to flip his sleeves when he walked, named Chen Lingjun, Daoist title Jingqing, hesitated, but finally nodded stiffly without asking about their cultivation levels.

The young man in a yellow hat and blue shoes, with a gentle expression and a slight smile, was described by Mountain Lord Chen as a “sword cultivator” named Xiao Mo. Beside him was a sable-hatted girl with rosy cheeks.

A white-haired boy holding a booklet, though just a peripheral disciple, claimed to be Solitary Peak’s registrar, so he was allowed to attend the meeting to record the proceedings.

The last person introduced was the girl with a writing slate hanging from her waist, named Guo Zhujiu, Chen Pingan’s direct disciple.

After that, the appointed auspicious hour arrived, and under Chen Pingan’s lead, everyone entered the ancestral hall of Azureglow Peak in single file. Gao Jun keenly noticed that there seemed to be no particular order, and everyone was very casual. For example, Law Enforcer Chang Ming and Mountain Lord Wei Bo walked at the very back, while the peripheral disciple, the white-haired boy, followed close behind Chen Pingan. The sable-hatted girl with the rather… casual name, simply stopped at the door, waved goodbye to Xiao Mo, and said she would wait obediently outside. However, Chen Pingan said she could listen in today. Xie Gou immediately reached out and adjusted the sable hat, straightening his clothes. Gao Jun only felt a sense of ritualistic atmosphere from this girl, perhaps because Xie Gou’s cultivation level was low and his seniority was shallow?

However, the seating arrangement inside the ancestral hall was still orderly, which gave Gao Jun something to ponder.

Chen Nuanshu brought over incense holders. After Chen Pingan led the group in offering incense, everyone took their seats. Since Gao Jun and Zhong Qian were temporarily outsiders, they did not need to offer incense to the three hanging portraits.

Gao Jun noticed that his seat was near Wei Bo, across from Xie Gou, who had been allowed to attend against protocol. He sat upright, looking solemn.

Zhong Qian sat next to Zhu Lian and Pei Xiang.

The little black-clad girl looked expectantly at Law Enforcer Chang Ming, who smiled gently and nodded.

Then, Zhou Mili started opening her cloth bag and passing out melon seeds. Chen Lingjun helped Nuanshu serve tea, proactively handing a teacup to Wei Bo, smiling brightly and calling him “Brother Wei,” thanking him for his hard work.

One’s reliance was not on Mountain Lord Wei, but on “Brother Wei” at home.

The first matter was to complete Guo Zhujiu’s apprenticeship ceremony and registration in the records.

According to Chen Pingan, drinking a cup of apprenticeship tea would be sufficient. However, after Guo Zhujiu offered the apprenticeship tea, she knelt down and kowtowed without saying a word, her head hitting the floor with resounding thuds.

Nuanshu and Zhou Mili had already brought over tables and chairs, and prepared brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Chen Pingan personally wrote Guo Zhujiu’s name and hometown in the records.

The second matter was to announce Zhong Qian’s appointment as a registered guest elder of Solitary Peak. This time, Law Enforcer Chang Ming sat at the table, responsible for recording the name.

Next, Chen Pingan proposed that Konghou be appointed as a cultivator to compile the annals of Solitary Peak. This meant that, according to mountain rules, Konghou would automatically be assigned to Law Enforcer Chang Ming’s lineage.
Therefore, Chen Ping’an added a sentence, inquiring whether Konghou was willing.

The white-haired boy was as if struck by a dull blow, his face filled with reluctance. If he agreed to this in a muddle, it would be equivalent to working under Changming’s command. Stepping out of the Ancestral Hall, what face would he have to meet his disciple, Yao Xiaoyan?

Changming smiled, her eyes narrowed.

Chen Ping’an turned his head and asked with a smile, “Sect Master Wei, what do you think?”

“Whether we follow the old customs of the mountain or make an exception for Konghou Taoist friend at Luopo Mountain, I have no objections.”

Wei Wenlong’s face was also full of helplessness. Ever since his Shifu came to Luopo Mountain, the Hidden Official Master always “respectfully addressed” him as Sect Master Wei every time they met.

Chen Ping’an looked at Changming, the Regulator of Laws, who smiled and said, “It’s best if Konghou Taoist friend is happy. Whether he becomes a cultivator of the Regulator of Laws lineage or not is all the same to me.”

The white-haired boy muttered to himself. Not joining the Regulator of Laws lineage would make him happy, but he was also worried.

Most people didn’t know, even Pei Qian had said that the most untouchable person in Luopo Mountain was this smiling Regulator of Laws who seemed to smile all day.

“Since no one has any additional thoughts, Konghou doesn’t need to join the Regulator of Laws lineage.”

Chen Ping’an did not continue to make things difficult for Konghou. He had already sent a boxing manual; it was not too much to exchange it for a compilation officer.

The third matter was that Luopo Mountain was preparing to purchase new surrounding mountain peaks.

The Dragon Spring Sword Sect had completely withdrawn from Chuzhou territory, and several mountain peaks had been moved away by Mountain Lord Wei Bo using his natal divine ability, leaving behind a huge, as-yet unnamed lake.

Inside the council hall, clouds and mist rose, and a landscape painting of the western mountains appeared on the ground.

Zhong Qian only felt her eyes were opened, could things be done like this?

Gao Jun’s eyes lit up, and he quickly pondered. Could his Lake Mountain Sect and the Songlai Kingdom court, which already had several Qi Refining cultivators, also copy this method?

Chen Lingjun was munching on melon seeds while staring at Mount Pīyún, grinning to himself. If only he had enough money in his pockets, he would simply buy Wei Bo’s mountain peaks together.

Wei Bo held his teacup, smiling as he looked at the grinning Chen Dàyé.

Chen Lingjun noticed Mountain Lord Wei’s gaze and immediately stopped munching on melon seeds, his gaze wandering, no longer staring at Mount Pīyún.

Wei Wenlong glanced at the Hidden Official Master, and Chen Ping’an nodded slightly. Wei Wenlong then stood up and walked into the clouds and mist, introducing the history, spiritual energy, and various mountain treasures of nearly sixty mountain peaks one by one. Each mountain peak, except for a very few special mountain peaks like Dragon Ridge Mountain that had absolutely no possibility of being purchased, had a rough valuation. The purchasing method was also not complicated. One way was for Luopo Mountain to directly purchase them with divine immortal coins, as long as the other party was willing to sell, the price could be negotiated. The second way was to exchange goods for land; if there was a difference between the prices and the other party’s expectations, Luopo Mountain would use various heavenly materials, earthly treasures, and spiritual artifacts to make up the difference. The last way was to let the other party set their own price, and Luopo Mountain would weigh the pros and cons and consider whether to acquire it or not. The sole principle of these three methods was to maintain goodwill even if the transaction failed. There was no compulsion, no mountain peak that Luopo Mountain was determined to acquire. After this, Wei Wenlong began to report the assets of the treasury. This was also the reason why this Sect Master had previously asked the Hidden Official Master in his heart; it involved secrets, and Gao Jun of the Lake Mountain Sect was ultimately an outsider who could not be easily divulged to.

Currently, Luopo Mountain’s sources of income mainly came from three trade routes. The first path created by Chen Ping’an himself for Luopo Mountain mainly lay in the Northern Ju Continent, including the Bone Beach, Pima Sect, Spring Dew Garden, Color Finch Prefecture, and Cloud City, encompassing the southeastern region of the entire Northern Ju Continent, like an arc, plus a group of maritime immortal mansions and islands. Among them, the robes woven by Color Finch Prefecture were the most considerable stable income, with the Great Li Dynasty court of the Treasure Bottle Continent and the various mountain and water deities of the Northern Ju Continent being the main purchasers. The second horizontal trade route mainly ran along the Ji River, with Floating Duckweed Sword Lake, Dragon Palace Cave Heaven, and later the addition of Spirit Source Duke Shen Lin and Dragon Pavilion Marquis Li Yuan, as well as the Cloud Firmament Palace of the Chongxuan Department of a Great Yuan Dynasty. In addition, there were the Red Candle Town Three Rivers waters, Dong Shui Jing, the Fan family of Old Dragon City, and Sun Jiashu’s third route. Besides, there was the commission from the docking of various immortal family ferries at the Ox Horn Mountain Ferry. As for the income from the baggage shop and the Riding Dragon Lane shop at the ferry, it could be temporarily ignored. There was also a lotus root blessed land that was on the verge of advancing to the upper-grade, which also possessed a fox kingdom that was once the most important source of wealth for the Xu family of Qingfeng City. The treasures that Luopo Mountain picked from the lotus root blessed land, which were born in response to the times and rose with the trend, were currently small in number.

After acquiring the Green Plume Sword Sect as a lower sect, according to the old rules of the Vast World, the Green Plume Sword Sect was required to hand over at least 20 to 30 percent of its income to Luopo Mountain regularly.

For example, the inkstone mountain in the cloud cave blessed land of the Jiang family, the Green Plume Sword Sect and the Jiang family split the profits fifty-fifty. Although Luopo Mountain and the Green Plume Sword Sect were in an upper and lower sect relationship, they still had to settle accounts clearly.

Without these “wealth routes” that made money generate more money, Emperor Song He would not be so sincere in actively inviting Chen Ping’an to serve as the Great Li Imperial Preceptor.

The height of cultivation realm, the size of reputation, the number of identities, fundamentally, lay in the word “兑现” (duìxiàn), which roughly translates to “realization” or “being able to deliver”.

The depth of a country’s strength, iron cavalry, education, civil governance and military achievements, ultimately rested on the word “钱” (qián), which means “money”.

Zhong Qian was particularly uninterested in these matters, but Gao Jun memorized the names of those immortal mansions one by one in his heart.

While everyone was discussing the purchase of mountain peaks, Changming suddenly smiled and said, “Allow me to say something unrelated. Mountain Lord, can the matter of misappropriating six hundred gold essence copper coins from the Quanfu treasury be brought up on the agenda at this opportunity?”

Chen Ping’an smiled wryly.

“The matter is very simple: the Mountain Lord has a use for these gold essence copper coins in the Quanfu treasury.”

Changming continued, “If the Mountain Lord still feels that there is a suspicion of using public funds for private gain and feels uneasy, then let’s discuss it openly with everyone today. Let’s listen to everyone’s thoughts. If everyone except the Mountain Lord has no objections, then the Mountain Lord can only use his authority to overrule everyone’s opinions, and we will ‘discuss it in detail’ at the next Ancestral Hall meeting.”
Earlier, on the wind-powered ferry to Tongye Continent, Chen Ping’an, having just returned to Haoran from the Five Colors World with Xiao Mo, proactively mentioned this to Chang Ming. Because of the matter of forging his natal flying sword “Moon in the Well,” he wanted to create an orderly river of time. According to Chen Ping’an’s estimation at the time, with the gold essence coins given by Ning Yao in the Five Colors World, building a rudimentary river of time wouldn’t be a problem. The problem was that Chen Ping’an’s “sword forging” was a bottomless pit that could never be filled, even with mountains of gold and silver. Moreover, the three types of immortal coins were useless; only gold essence coins would do. Chang Ming persuaded Chen Ping’an at the time, but Chen Ping’an said he wouldn’t stand on ceremony with her, and they would discuss the matter in detail after returning to Xiandu Mountain. However, when the Green Willow Sword Sect was established, at the first ancestral hall meeting, Chen Ping’an didn’t bring it up at all. Furthermore, because it was a lower sect, it wasn’t appropriate for Chang Ming, as the law enforcer of the upper sect, to raise this issue in the ancestral hall of a lower sect, so she had to wait patiently.

Chen Lingjun was slightly surprised. Daoist Chang Ming wasn’t even calling his old master “Young Master” anymore? Why “Mountain Lord”? It felt like…there was murderous intent!

Zhu Lian immediately lowered his head to drink tea, minding his own business and staying out of trouble. He was determined not to get involved. What everyone said was right, and what everyone said was wrong was wrong. He was just a butler and cook, his voice held no weight, and they could just pretend he didn’t exist.

Wei Bo shook his robes, crossed his legs, and cracked melon seeds. Daoist Chang Ming’s words were very intriguing, more refreshing than drinking tea.

Chang Ming smiled faintly, “Of course, according to the rule that Mountain Lord himself established early on, anyone who wants to use money or treasures that have entered the treasury, regardless of who they are, needs to be approved by the council hall. Even the Mountain Lord is no exception.”

Chen Lingjun looked thoughtful, puzzled. “Is there such a rule? I don’t remember it.”

Xiao Mo chuckled, “I haven’t heard of it anyway.”

Xie Gou hurriedly echoed, “Xiao Mo is right!”

The books said a very reasonable thing: when a woman is out, she must support her man.

She had suffered a great loss in the past because she didn’t understand this matter. Otherwise, she and Xiao Mo would have been not only Daoist partners, but would have had a pile of children by now.

Chen Ping’an glared, “Xiao Mo, Xie Gou, when did you two join the mountain? What do you know?”

Xiao Mo didn’t dare to argue with the Young Master, so she smiled and looked at Xiao Mili. Xiao Mili immediately understood and, with a flash of inspiration, coughed a few times, “Newly appointed recorder, do you remember this matter?”

The white-haired child immediately pretended to take out the booklet from his sleeve, “Allow me to examine it carefully. Please wait a moment, everyone. Ironclad evidence, black and white are the most truthful.”

Chen Ping’an said unhappily, “Alright, alright, I never intended to be polite with Chang Ming about this matter in the first place. I will use at least half of the six hundred gold essence coins in the spring treasury.”

Chang Ming immediately corrected him, “Mountain Lord, how can you say you’re being polite with me? We’re barely related, I wouldn’t dare take that responsibility.”

Wei Wenlong smiled, “Those two sums of gold essence coins were earned directly and indirectly by the Mountain Lord, so I have no objection to their use.”

Zhu Lian nodded slightly and said softly, “No objection.”

Wei Bo helped to seal the deal, “So someone is just being unnecessarily modest.”

Gao Jun and Zhong Qian looked at each other. Were the registered cultivators of Luopo Mountain so bold? Could this be considered a siege on the Mountain Lord Chen Ping’an? Although everyone was on the side of Mountain Lord Chen, were they all speaking so freely and without restraint?

In fact, this was because Gao Jun and Zhong Qian hadn’t yet adapted to the local customs. Otherwise, if Chief Zhou, Pei Qian, Cui Dongshan, Zheng Dafeng, Great Sword Immortal Mi, Old Immortal Jia…all these loyal and capable lieutenants were present, the scene would be, hehe.

Hearing Wei Bo’s evaluation, Xie Gou immediately looked at this Northern Mountain Lord with admiration. Good, very good, responsible, with integrity, daring to speak the truth, a true hero!

Guo Zhujiu was eager to try and asked, “Master, do you need me to take them all on alone? I think it’s quite difficult, but not a big problem!”

The mink-hat girl and the white-haired child quietly exchanged glances and nodded. If Alliance Master Guo spoke, they would have no choice but to follow.

Chen Ping’an rubbed his brow, telling himself not to bring the atmosphere of the Summer Palace to Luopo Mountain. He waved his hand towards Guo Zhujiu, took a sip of tea, and gently put down the teacup, “Then it’s settled. I’ll take out three hundred gold essence coins today, and the Spring Treasury will reserve the remaining half for me.”

Chang Ming said with a mental message, “Young Master, it’s unavoidable, please forgive me, please forgive me. Please ask Young Master and Xiao Mili to let Pei Qian know nothing about today’s events.”

Chen Lingjun’s mental message was straightforward, “Old Master, should I join forces with Guo Zhujiu to repel the enemy? But seriously, Chang Ming and the others are really well-intentioned, except for this Mountain Lord Wei, who’s the most outrageous. If Old Master doesn’t stop me, I’ll disregard our brotherly relationship and start scolding him directly?”

Zhu Lian gathered his voice into a line, “Young Master, this trend cannot continue. If it goes on like this, everyone will rebel. Where’s the decorum? Daoist Chang Ming’s actions today were not proper. Especially Mountain Lord Wei, a stranger, making sarcastic remarks, I don’t know who taught him those bad habits, it’s too outrageous.”

Chen Ping’an ignored them, allowing Lord Wei to continue the previous topic.

However, in an instant, Chen Ping’an and Wei Bo, Xie Gou and Xiao Mo, almost simultaneously turned to look in the western direction.

A message-bearing flying sword came from west to east, swiftly entering the territory of Chu Prefecture, about to fly into the sword room on Jise Peak.

Chen Ping’an reached out and summoned the flying sword into his hand. After reading the confidential letter from the Rites Academy, he felt both joy and relief.

The confidential letter was essentially an invitation from his senior brother Mao Xiaodong, who was serving as the director of the academy. The first half of the letter was an official document from Senior Brother Mao on behalf of the Rites Academy to Luopo Mountain, inviting Chen Ping’an to observe the Three Teachings Debate. The second half of the letter was more like a “family letter” between brothers. The letter stated that the candidates for the Three Teachings Debate had already been decided and would not be changed. There were nine Buddhist disciples from the Western Buddhist Kingdom and nine Daoist seeds from the Azure Firmament World. Among them, there were two more peculiar individuals. One was Zhang Fenghai, who should have been imprisoned in the Yuxu City Yanhai Cave of the White Jade Capital. However, according to the White Jade Capital, Zhang Fenghai was not only no longer a Daoist official of Yuxu City, but he had not even retained his registered status in the White Jade Capital. The other was Zhou Li, the recorder of the Azure Profound Sect, the upper sect of the Divine Edict Sect of Treasure Bottle Continent.
At the Wen Temple, nine individuals were also dispatched to participate in the debates. Upon seeing three specific names, Chen Ping’an felt a surge of joy and relief. The first was Yuan Pang, the young Mountain Chief of Hengqu Academy. The other two were the Confucian scholar Li Xisheng and the gentleman Li Baoping from the Cliff Academy of the Great Sui Dynasty.

茅 Xiaodong also mentioned that, according to the Sage of Rites, the Wen Temple would allow you, junior brother, to bring one additional person to observe the Three Teachings Debate.

At the end of the letter, 茅 Xiaodong wrote that the invitation shouldn’t be taken too seriously. Since it wasn’t to participate in the debates but merely to observe, it was essentially optional.

茅 Xiaodong’s wording in the letter was subtle but carried a clear inclination. Chen Ping’an understood his senior brother’s good intentions. Historically, the Three Teachings Debates were extremely dangerous for participants. Even observers, if their cultivation was insufficient and their realm was lacking, yet they became too engrossed, could easily find themselves drawn into the fray, affecting their Dao hearts. It was, in a sense, a form of “Dao Scattering.”

Chen Ping’an wasn’t overly concerned about Li Baoping for several reasons. Firstly, her elder brother, Li Xisheng, would be participating in the debates, which in itself was a form of Dao protection. Furthermore, Chen Ping’an had personally witnessed Li Baoping’s academic prowess during the Wen Temple discussions. Most importantly, his own teacher, as well as senior brother Cui Chan and Zuo You, had always had great faith in little Baoping, after all she was a little girl in a red coat, who copied books creating a veritable mountain of them, all to skip school.

At the Wen Temple, an old scholar stood with his hands behind his back, accompanied by a tall Academic Director from the Imperial Academy. The old scholar chuckled and asked, “Little Dong, what did the letter say?”

Although 茅 Xiaodong had changed his Dao lineage, he remained truthful with his mentor. He recounted the letter’s contents word for word. The old scholar grew increasingly agitated as he listened, his brow furrowing. Unable to contain himself, he checked that no one was around, then leaped up and delivered a slap. “What ‘optional’? Do you have so little faith in your junior brother?!”

茅 Xiaodong could only explain, “Junior brother, like the teacher, is too eager to learn and prone to getting bogged down in details. The Three Teachings Debates each possess profound and subtle meanings. I fear that junior brother might expend too much mental energy, which would not be beneficial.”

The old scholar grunted in agreement. “That’s a reasonable point. Little Dong, you’re still quite experienced in these matters. Your teacher wronged you; you don’t feel wronged, do you?”

茅 Xiaodong sincerely replied, “The teacher’s instruction is excellent. Even if I can only grasp a little, it will benefit me for life. So why would I feel wronged? It’s better if the teacher doesn’t feel wronged.”

The old scholar stroked his beard and smiled. This was where the senior brother fell short of the junior brother. It wasn’t meant to be flattery, but it came across as such.

(Speaking truthfully, I’ve been using Mimi Reading to read and follow updates recently. It supports source switching and has multiple reading voices. It’s available on both Android and Apple.)

茅 Xiaodong murmured, “True grievances are those that leave one unsure whether to weep.”

The old scholar extended his arm and gently patted 茅 Xiaodong’s shoulder.

At Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Chen Ping’an walked to the mountain gate, standing behind a bamboo chair. The immortal gatekeeper Wei Zheng was engrossed in a book, occasionally wetting his finger to turn the pages, thoroughly absorbed. He even flipped back occasionally.

Chen Ping’an cleared his throat. The immortal Daoist started, and with lightning speed hid the book.

“Brother Dafeng, I never imagined you were this kind of person, possessing such a book!”

A hunched man appeared out of thin air within the residence, just in time to witness this scene. He roared, exclaiming that the old cook was committing a sin, placing such a book in someone else’s home.

(A ten-year-old book friend recommended Mimi Reading to me! It’s really easy to use. I use it to listen to books while driving or before bed to pass the time. You can download it here.)

Chen Ping’an’s face lit up with surprise, and he asked with a smile, “You’re back?”

Zheng Dafeng smiled and said, “I missed home.”