Here is the corrected translation with all Chinese characters replaced by their English translations or pinyin transliterations.
Chapter 1078: A Painting in the Mountains
Chen Ping'an left Yu Xuan behind, departing the mountaintop alone. He went to the bamboo tower and changed into his everyday mountain dwelling attire, donning his cotton robe and cloth shoes once more. The scene was lush and verdant.
Xie Gou sat at the table by the cliff edge, saying that she had fulfilled her mission and delivered the message to that flamboyant Liu. Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, telling her to inform Guo Zhujiu that they would have dinner together.
Whenever Guo Zhujiu stayed in the mountain for a meal, Chen Ping'an would personally cook a few of his signature dishes. Not to compare with Zhu Lian's culinary skills, but he could honestly say the food was quite appetizing.
Yu Xuan felt rather helpless. Just now, Fellow Daoist Chen had said, "If your aptitude is insufficient, make up for it with ideas," a self-evaluation that left the old true man speechless once again. Daoist friend, why are you cursing people again? Old scholar, you need to discipline him.
One mountain, five sects—a unique situation in the Haoran world. Yu Xuan recalled that his own sect had a few immortal sprouts, quite exceptional in aptitude. Their progress in cultivating the path was like splitting bamboo, but each one had an excessively high spirit. He remembered one young Golden Core sword cultivator, registered in the Jingwei Temple's lineage of Daoist sword immortals. This fellow would look down his nose even at the founding patriarch, complaining to his face that the sect's founder wasn't a sword immortal—a blemish on perfection. Would it be a good idea to let them come to Luoposhan for some tempering? Weren't they all so proud of their unmatched intelligence and effortless breakthroughs? Then let them come and see Chen Ping'an, who shattered his Golden Core again and again before reaching the Nascent Soul stage, and went into seclusion three times before finally returning to the Jade Perfection realm! But I wonder if Fellow Daoist Chen has the time or inclination to instruct them. Probably not.
Would he really have to spend five hundred gold essence copper coins to buy the name "Daoist Temple" or "Viewing the Dao" at such a sky-high price, then open his mouth to ask Fellow Daoist Chen for a "bonus"?
The chaotic mountains rose and fell in Chuzhou.
Don't blame this region for having the most ancient customs; this land was once the backbone of the world.
The short old true man, wearing a purple Daoist robe, calculated with his fingers. He focused his gaze toward the east gate of the town, where Yu Xuan could vaguely see a Daoist riding an ox through the pass, purple qi coming from the east.
He dared not look too long at that old scene. Yu Xuan stood by the railing, let out a soft exclamation, and suddenly widened his eyes. He saw a surge of purple air in the heavens and earth, splitting into two lines, vast and mighty like surging river water. In an instant, it crashed into his two sleeves, like water finding fish. Yu Xuan couldn't stop it even if he wanted to. He shook his sleeves. Good heavens! This should have been ethereal and weightless Daoist qi, yet it felt heavy, forcing even this old true man, already at the Fourteen Realms, to bend slightly. If I were in the celestial star river dojo, this unworthy Daoist Yu Xuan would definitely not have to bend!
Yu Xuan collected himself, shook his sleeves, and made a bow to the heavens, thanking the Dao Ancestor.
Liu Shiliu and Bai Ye lived next to each other, making it convenient for visits. Zheng Youqian finally met the most carefree man in the world. This little spirit from Tongye Prefecture even gathered the courage to chat with him a few words.
It seemed I had wronged my teacher after all. So my teacher hadn't been boasting without basis; he really did know Bai Ye.
Zheng Youqian wasn't particularly afraid of Bai Ye, since Bai Ye only killed the great monsters of the Barren Throne.
But the little junior uncle of the Hidden Officer Bureau was different. When he encountered demons, it was kill one, kill two, kill all three—mass slaughter without even blinking.
Of course, besides being the last Hidden Officer of the Sword Qi Great Wall and a demon-killing machine, he was also the junior uncle of our literary tradition. Last year when we first met on the mountain path, the junior uncle was on my side, and he had a very good temper. He chatted with me casually, and he didn't even speak loudly.
Because their elder brother Bai Deng had been designated by the Great Li court to fill the vacancy as the Water God of Iron Talisman River, he was only temporarily awaiting the completion of that divine path and the enfeoffment ceremony. Bai Deng was a dragon offspring, naturally robust in physique, and also a Jade Perfection realm sword immortal. He wasn't too afraid of that kind of body-withering torture. And under the watchful eyes of Luoposhan, there shouldn't be any mishaps. So the ghost creature Silver Deer, who had changed his name to Zeng Cuo, acting as the second brother, privately discussed with the third brother, Gao Geng of Blazing Cloud Continent's Qinggong Mountain. They planned not only to help their elder brother guard the ceremony and participate in the court's enfeoffment event, but at least to show some support for their brother. Additionally, there was a grand ceremony at North Sacred Mount Piyun, where the Confucian Temple would bestow a divine title. They both wanted to witness the famous Night Parade Banquet. But they weren't familiar with Mountain Lord Wei, so they would need Luoposhan's help to ask for three seats from the Mountain Lord Manor. However, Silver Deer dared not pretend to have a good relationship with Hidden Officer Chen, lest he get hit with a brick. So it had to be Gao Geng, the guest of Luoposhan, who would brazenly ask the young Hidden Officer. Although Gao Geng was the youngest and the third brother, he had a sense of responsibility. He said he would go through fire and water, so he would just say it and find Chen the Mountain Lord. Three invitations from Mountain Lord Wei were nothing. The three of them weren't going to show up empty-handed. The North Sacred Mount Night Parade Banquet in Bottle Gourd Prefecture—everyone knew the rules!
Therefore, when they learned that the Mountain Lord Chen was taking a walk to the mountaintop with an old Daoist in purple, Gao Geng feigned nonchalance. Under the encouraging gazes of his elder and second brothers, he strode out of the house. But once outside, his expression changed, and he walked with a grim face, like a man going to his death. Gao Geng dared not disturb the Mountain Lord while he was chatting with his mountain friends, so he paced back and forth at the intersection of the mountain path and the sacred way. He waited patiently until Chen Ping'an descended the mountain alone, then hurried forward. Steeling himself, he broached the matter of the invitations. Chen Ping'an was not at all difficult about it. He smiled and said on the spot, "Such a small matter. Immortal Master Gao only needs to mention it to Chen Lingjun during a drinking session, and then let him inform me. When you're a guest in the mountain, if something similar happens again, don't go to so much trouble. That's too formal."
Gao Geng was overjoyed. He never expected to have so much face in the eyes of Mountain Lord Chen!
Mountain Lord Chen even personally escorted Gao Geng to the entrance of his residence, chatting freely and casually along the way. Gao Geng stood there until the departing Mountain Lord's figure gradually disappeared, then turned around and went to report the good news to his two brothers. He had to think that his master, Jing Hao, had stayed in the mountain for so long, yet this young Hidden Officer, whose accomplishments surpassed the heavens, hadn't even given him the face to share a drink!
Ning Ji was visiting Luoposhan for the first time. Everything he saw was a novelty, but he didn't dare go out alone. His teacher was busy, so Ning Ji mostly followed Senior Brother Zhao, like a little sidekick.
The pink-skirted little girl named Nuanshu had said that since he was the student of the Mountain Lord, he was entitled to a house on the mountain. There were currently several vacant ones for Ning Ji to choose from. The boy, who had grown up impoverished, didn't dare to occupy a house by himself. To be honest, Ning Ji, who was used to a wandering life, wasn't accustomed to the days of enjoying leisure and wealth. So he said he would be fine living in the same house as Senior Brother Zhao.
Zhao Shuxia had always believed in diligence compensating for lack of talent when it came to learning fist techniques. At this moment, he was practicing his stance continuously in the courtyard.
Ning Ji sat on the steps watching quietly. The boy was peaceful and serene. He didn't find watching boxing practice boring.
Cen Yuanji was practicing her stances on the mountain path. The Daoist Xianwei at the gate had originally been a very serious person. Every time Cen Yuanji stopped to catch her breath at the mountain gate, the Daoist only said polite things like "the weather is nice today." But now, whenever Zheng Dafeng looked up, the Daoist would also look up. Zheng Dafeng stared at her, and the Daoist followed suit. The two heads tilted at the same angle.
Ha, birds of a feather flock together. It was said that these gatekeepers were personally selected by the Mountain Lord.
For some inexplicable reason, Chen Lingjun insisted on leaving the mountain. He got scolded. Nuanshu brought Xiao Mili to find him and asked if he had a screw loose. It was fine living on the mountain, so why did he want to move to Qilong Lane? Who was he trying to give a cold shoulder to? Chen Lingjun felt wronged, but after watching the pink-skirted girl scold him and then go off to busy herself with other things, he thought for a moment and said nothing. A true man of honor didn't need to argue with a silly girl who didn't know the dangers of the world. The blue-clad boy just sat on the steps, holding his head, sighing deeply. Xiao Mili sat beside him, tugged at Jingqing's sleeve, and handed him a handful of melon seeds. Chen Lingjun cracked the seeds as he ate, and as he cracked them, he found his courage. He started chatting with Xiao Mili. Xiao Mili said, "Don't be afraid. Good Mountain Lord said that Old Immortal Yu heard about your 'River-Displacing' exploits in Northern Luzhou from his teacher. On this trip, besides his main business, he also wants to get to know you." Chen Lingjun beamed with joy and laughed heartily. Nuanshu, standing quietly outside the wall, saw that Xiao Mili had told it exactly as instructed. The pink-skirted girl relaxed and tiptoed away.
Xiao Mili, while leaking heavenly secrets to Jingqing, secretly extended a thumb toward the wall. Chen Lingjun nodded to show he understood. They exchanged a glance and both grinned.
Cao Qinglang was carving a seal in the study. When he traveled with Teacher Zhong along the Sword Qi Great Wall back then, the carving knife was a gift from his teacher. Cao Qinglang was carving a gourd-shaped book seal with the inscription "Like a New Book," intending to give it to his teacher as a birthday gift this year.
Hanging inside the room was a plaque for the study. The calligraphy was first written by his teacher on paper, then "traced and carved" into wood by Mr. Zhu. The inscription read: "Willing to Hear My Faults Studio."
Pei Qian accompanied Li Baoping to visit Zhaodugang, where Li Huai lived. But they no longer felt the urge to have a "literary duel" like they did when they were children. When they met, the woman with a bun hairstyle, a Martial Artist at the End Realm, and the young man in Confucian robes, a worthy of the academy, had lost the spirit of bickering.
Hearing that Li Baoping had arrived, Lin Shouyi and Dong Shuijing, along with Shi Jiachun who was temporarily staying in Taoye Alley, took a talisman boat to Zhaodugang. It was a rare reunion of former classmates.
Cui Dongshan acted on his own, causing Liu Xianyang to dream-travel and challenge with swords. He was too afraid to see his teacher. So he called on Chief Zhou and they fled together, heading straight for the Lotus Root Paradise. There were some things that needed to be wrapped up.
The mink-hatted girl lay in the sea of clouds, her legs crossed, waiting for Xiao Mo to come home. Gentle Xiao Mo might return today, or maybe tomorrow. Ha, the day after tomorrow would be the wedding night.
Beside her sat a white-haired boy in utter despair, looking like life was meaningless. He had only just learned that he had been disowned and expelled from the alliance by Alliance Leader Guo. He was such a pitiful soul, drowning in an endless sea of suffering. What kind of sin had he committed?
Sensing the purple qi anomaly at the mountaintop, Xie Gou sat up, clenched her fists, and rested them on her knees, her aura transforming abruptly. Ashamed, I carry my short sword, only to come and see the mountains.
Xie Gou bit her lip. Alliance Leader Guo was right. She couldn't slack off in cultivation just because of her good aptitude. Even someone like Yu Xuan, a junior who was thousands of years younger than her, had already reached the Fourteen Realms.
In the kitchen of the small courtyard, Chen Ping'an was wearing an apron, busy cooking. Liu Xianyang sat on the threshold, while Gu Can squatted on a stool inside, holding a blowpipe, puffing out his cheeks to fan the flames.
Chen Ping'an asked casually, "Was it a substitution talisman?"
Liu Xianyang chuckled. "That bastard really used a substitute to save his life. As slippery as an eel. I destroyed the substitute without any effort. His true body isn't at a high realm."
Chen Ping'an said, "This kind of trump card, it's best not to use it unless absolutely necessary before reaching the Ascension Realm."
Liu Xianyang sneered, "Teaching me how to do things? If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll let Gu Can loose."
Gu Can couldn't be bothered to respond. He just lifted his neck, glanced at the few condiment dishes on the chopping board, and reminded, "Fry me some green pepper with ham, and make it spicy."
Chen Ping'an nodded and said, "Liu Chicheng has arrived in the state city. He's staying at Dong Shuijing's inn. I estimate he'll come to Luoposhan for a drink either tomorrow or the day after."
Gu Can said, "He annoys me. I don't want to see him."
Chen Ping'an took out more chili peppers and cut the ham with fine knife work. "After all, he's of the senior uncle generation. Encountering a senior like Han Qiaose is your blessing. Having someone like Liu Chicheng, who at least doesn't hinder you, is also luck. You don't need to be overly warm, but you should at least maintain a decent front."
Gu Can was silent for a moment, then said, "With someone like Liu Chicheng, if you deliberately avoid interacting with him, he'll be smart enough to figure it out. Otherwise, he won't use his brain unless he has to."
Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded. "That's true."
Gu Can said, "I'm very idle. Do you need me to make a trip to Tongye Prefecture?"
When it came to patience, Gu Can had never lost to anyone in his life.
Chen Ping'an said, "Idle? How idle? Already at the bottleneck of the Jade Perfection realm, touching the threshold of the Immortal realm? Establishing a sect is no joke."
Gu Can was silent.
Liu Xianyang let out a long "aiyowei" and laughed, "You, a mere Nascent Soul, dare to lecture Sect Leader Gu? When we eat later, you squat and hold your bowl. You have no right to sit at the table."
Gu Can couldn't easily argue with Chen Ping'an, but taking it out on Liu Xianyang was second nature. Liu Xianyang had anticipated this and, before Gu Can could start cursing, he voluntarily conceded, "Fine, fine. Chen Ping'an squats, and I'll eat sitting on the floor. Is that okay?"
Yu Lu and Xie Xie also returned to Niujiao Ferry on the wind-overcrossing ship. But they didn't go to Luoposhan. Instead, they went directly to Erlang Lane. The house had been vacant for many years. Xie Xie surprisingly still had the key. She opened the door. Yu Lu moved a stool beside the courtyard and sat down, looking up at the sky. Xie Xie had once been a maid here. Revisiting the old place, everything had changed. She fetched water and began to wipe down the tables and stools. She found an old broom and was gentle everywhere else. Only when she passed by Yu Lu did she raise a cloud of dust, forcing Yu Lu to wave his hands repeatedly to dispel it.
Old Immortal Jia returned to Qilong Lane. He met the current shopkeeper, the Daoist Lin Feijing. That was the esteemed disciple of Daoist Xianwei. Being overly polite and respectful would have been distant. The old immortal first bought some braised meat, pickled vegetables, and a roast goose from a few other shops in the town. Then he exchanged a few pleasantries with Shopkeeper Shi at the Yansui Store. Striding into the Caotou Store, he shouted that the wine worms were rebelling and ordered his two disciples, Tian Jiuer and Zhao Denggao, to quickly bring out the wine. He placed the food on the table. The old Daoist made a hand gesture of greeting to Lin Feijing and announced his name. Lin Feijing hurriedly came around the counter and, with utmost seriousness, returned the greeting to this highly respected and well-regarded old immortal master in the town.
Afterward, the old immortal pulled him to the table, saying it would be just a few cups. A person drinks wine, not the other way around, so no one would overdo it. The old immortal was restrained in offering toasts and didn't force anyone. He was a connoisseur of fine liquor, but he just drank a few big bowls by himself. The old man, flushed with drink, his temples frosty—what did it matter? Meeting in the world, if there's wine, drink it; if there's meat, eat it. After getting on and off the table, they were friends. Lin Feijing enjoyed the drinking session immensely, feeling he had encountered an old senior with a warm and generous heart.
Zhu Lian wasn't there, but his dining table was lively. Chen Ping'an didn't deliberately summon anyone. Those temporarily on other peaks had to fend for themselves. Right now, the table was still packed full.
The blue-clad boy started to get cocky. Earlier, he had wandered into the courtyard with his hands behind his back, but didn't see the purple-robed old Daoist. Instead, he asked, "Where's Old Immortal Yu? Why didn't he come? Doesn't he give face?"
At the dinner table, Chen Ping'an told Cao Qinglang to bring those two friends to Luoposhan as guests sometime. Cao Qinglang smiled and agreed. He hesitated for a moment but still didn't complain to his teacher. It turned out that at the Dadi River in Tongye Prefecture, besides his little senior brother, there were actually two young sword cultivators from the Sword Qi Great Wall acting as bait. But they had all volunteered to "fish" with Sect Leader Cui. On the wind-overcrossing ship during the journey, his little senior brother repeatedly urged him not to leak this matter to their teacher, afraid that he would be punished for multiple offenses and his position as sect leader would be replaced. He swore solemnly that Cao, Junior Brother, you can rest assured. The next sect leader will be you sooner or later. Don't rush. Let your little senior brother at least warm the top seat... The reason Cao Qinglang chose to help keep the secret wasn't out of sect brotherly affection, but because he believed that sword cultivators were sword cultivators, with their own way of doing things. He had to respect the choices of Xie Huixie and He Gu.
Chen Ping'an reminded Cao Qinglang through mind transmission, saying that later, when returning to Tongye Prefecture, the situation would be quite complex, involving the overall rise and fall of the upper and lower sects' qi. In the middle of it, anything could happen. So he shouldn't go see Xu Zhen and Yu Li alone. He should bring Cui Dongshan along. Cao Qinglang didn't ask further and raised no objections. Chen Ping'an wanted to explain a bit more, but Cao Qinglang smiled and told his teacher not to worry, just handle his own affairs. His student understood well.
Accompanied by the mountains and waters, a full meal of meat and wine.
Because the notoriously proud Mountain Lord Chen had rarely taken the initiative to ask for invitations—such a rare occurrence—Wei Bo personally made a trip to Luoposhan, bringing three invitations for the Night Parade Banquet. Bypassing the Mountain Lord Manor's Ritual Department, Wei Bo wrote down the names and Dao titles of Bai Deng and the others himself.
The sword immortal Bai Deng and the ghost Silver Deer, one having stayed secluded in a mountain for too long and the other being a Barren wasteland demon, didn't quite understand the weight of the protocol here. But Gao Geng, who was constantly attending drinking parties on Blazing Cloud Continent, knew full well. So he personally cooked a few dishes to go with the wine and forcibly detained Wei Bo, who could be considered a Flying Ascension realm great cultivator, to stop for a drink. No matter what, their elder brother was about to become the rightful Water God of Iron Talisman River. His temple was so close to Piyun Mountain, like a county attached to the capital. They were next-door neighbors in the water and mountain officialdom. Getting a good relationship with the immediate superior, Mountain Lord Wei, or perhaps Divine Lord Wei, early on would be beneficial. Having someone in court makes officialdom easy. The county magistrate is not as good as the direct supervisor. All of it was good.
Wei Bo hadn't expected Gao Geng to pull this stunt. A smiling face doesn't get hit. After all, he was a direct disciple of a Flying Ascension realm cultivator and a guest who could stay at Luoposhan. So Wei Bo had to swallow his temper and sit down to drink. At the table, the sword immortal Bai Deng spoke little—his naturally cold temperament dictated it. But Gao Geng and "Zeng Cuo," on behalf of their brother who wasn't good with words, said a cartload of good things to Wei Bo, who was about to be promoted to Divine Lord.
Seats were limited. They couldn't really let someone squat and eat. So for dinner, they didn't call Zheng Dafeng and Daoist Xianwei. Chen Ping'an, Liu Xianyang, and Gu Can walked down the mountain together. After a few casual words, they headed back to the northern capital region. Chen Ping'an entered the house at the mountain gate. He found the two gatekeepers sitting face to face under the eaves of the side chamber, holding their rice bowls and eating a pot of cabbage stewed with tofu that even immortals would envy. It was steaming hot, and they were chatting and laughing happily.
Daoist Xianwei even asked the Mountain Lord if he had eaten. If not, it would be no trouble to add a pair of chopsticks and a bowl. Chen Ping'an smiled and said he had eaten, that he had cooked himself, and that there were too many people, so he hadn't called them.
Daoist Xianwei smiled and said it was fine, but his expression, along with that of Brother Dafeng, said, "Luckily, you didn't call us."
This made the Mountain Lord, who had been feeling a bit guilty, suddenly annoyed. He went familiarly to the kitchen, fetched a small stool, bowl, and chopsticks, sat down, and started eating.
Chen Ping'an said, "Next time, we'll have tofu stewed with fish. A thousand rolls for tofu, ten thousand rolls for fish. I'm very good at it. If I stew it in the morning and eat it by noon, I'll still be thinking about the taste by evening." Xianwei looked at Brother Dafeng, and Zheng Dafeng looked at Daoist Xianwei. Both signaled with their eyes for the other to decline. After all, he was the Mountain Lord, and it was the Mountain Lord's kind offer. Mountain Lord Chen ignored their silent exchange and just said, "It's settled then. Don't stand on ceremony with me."
They ate and chatted. Chen Ping'an said that Pei Qian had secretly bought a nearby mountain called Fuyao Ridge. The transaction was fair, and it came with mountain and water property deeds.
The mountains adjacent to Luoposhan, besides the grey-domed mountain to the north and including Heavenly Capital Peak, also included Fish Jumping Mountain and Fuyao Ridge, both close neighbors of Luoposhan.
And Cui Dongshan had also secretly acquired Fish Jumping Mountain.
Xianwei listened absentmindedly. He picked up a piece of tender, hot tofu with his chopsticks, blew on it a few times, and just thought about what kind of fish the Mountain Lord would stew next time. These were household affairs of the mountain gate. He was just a gatekeeper. He had no say and nothing to say. It wasn't about his words being light or his position low. Luoposhan didn't follow such rules of hierarchy and realm. It was purely that Daoist Xianwei himself wasn't interested.
Chen Ping'an said, "Last time at the Clear Mist Peak Ancestral Hall meeting, we briefly touched on the rules for establishing new peaks and dividing the mountain territories. I was thinking that in the next meeting, we should finalize the ownership of the peaks. Leaving them vacant and ownerless for so long isn't right."
Zheng Dafeng nodded. "Only when there's a proper name can words be justified. Actually, this isn't a small matter. Once a mountain has an owner, someone has to live there to help gather human energy. Just having heavenly and earthly spiritual energy won't work. An empty house that's been unoccupied for a long time will age very quickly."
The main mountain was Luoposhan. Gradually, tributary peaks had been added, becoming mountains with the surname "Chen." At the last meeting, the total was fourteen.
Treasure Register Mountain, Colorful Cloud Peak, Immortal Herb Mountain. Turtle Fish Back, True Pearl Mountain, Ox Horn Mountain, Yellow Lake Mountain.
Grey Dome Mountain, Cinnabar Mountain, Weixia Peak, Sword Worship Platform, Fragrant Mountain, Far Curtain Peak, Zhaodugang.
Now, with Fuyao Ridge and Fish Jumping Mountain, that made sixteen. In the entire western mountain range of the old Li Zhu Cave Heaven, there were only forty-two peaks. Longchi Sword Sect, under Liu Xianyang, had recently moved away a few. Calculating this way, Luoposhan was already occupying nearly half of the peaks.
Zheng Dafeng laughed. "After returning to Luoposhan, Chief Zhou has been secretly running around tirelessly, determined to buy a few more peaks for Luoposhan. Currently, he's working on Xiandu Peak, which is said to be very tight-lipped. Chief Zhou seems to have made contact with a dozen of the immigrant immortal sects. He's also been secretly intercepting some flying sword messages sent to the upper mountain, reading the confidential content before 'releasing' them. So during these days, Chief Zhou has been rather emotional, sometimes sighing deeply, sometimes beaming with a brilliant smile. It seems that with Xiao Mo coming to the mountain, Chief Zhou is under quite a bit of pressure."
Speaking of this, Zheng Dafeng couldn't help but laugh heartily. "A fickle and romantic heart, always seeking novelty, fears most the retribution of being forgotten in favor of the new."
Chen Ping'an hesitated for a moment. "When you get back, tell Jiang Shangzhen to stop buying peaks for now."
Zheng Dafeng asked, "To keep the number of peaks from exceeding half?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Leave some room for now. We'll talk about it once the situation becomes clearer."
Zheng Dafeng grunted in acknowledgment. "That's more prudent. Haste makes waste, and you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry."
Turtle Fish Back was leased to Liu Zhongrun and the Pearl Hairpin Island. Ox Horn Mountain was home to the immortal ferry and the baggage monks. True Pearl Mountain, closest to the town, was too small to be suitable for building a residence or undertaking major construction.
Yellow Lake Mountain had once been the water mansion of the water flood dragon Hong Xia. Hong Xia had intended to give the mountain and the underwater palace to Yunzi, but Yunzi was not a water spirit. Instead, he chose to stay and cultivate in seclusion on Grey Dome Mountain. Chen Lingjun said that Yunzi might look dumb, but he was actually very clever. Grey Dome Mountain was a top-tier, large mountain.
Privately, Chen Ping'an had given the Far Curtain Peak, which was adjacent to Yellow Lake Mountain, to Li Baopeng. Its natural scenery was already stunning, and now its cultural heritage could not be underestimated. Pure Yang Lu Dongbin had once left a Daoist poem there.
Zhaodugang had been allocated to literati like Lin Shouyi and Li Huai.
The Sword Worship Platform was naturally reserved for sword cultivators. Fortunately, Guo Zhujiu had come in time to "fill the vacancy" and settle there, which convinced the two girls, Nalan Yudie and Yao Xiaoyan, to stay on the Sword Worship Platform. Otherwise, isolated as it was at the westernmost edge of the mountain range, far from Luoposhan and its affiliated peaks, it would have been inappropriate for the two girls to live there. The Sword Worship Platform had once been very lively. Even Sui Youbian had once built a thatched hut there to cultivate. If the liveliness was just a flash in the pan before scattering to the four winds, Chen Ping'an would make sure Cui Dongshan couldn't handle it.
Chen Ping'an had brought back nine sword cultivation seedlings from the Sword Qi Great Wall. Yu Qingzhang, He Xiangting, and Yu Yue had taken masters and changed their registries, which meant they were no longer connected to Luoposhan.
Although Bai Xuan and Sun Chunwang were still registered cultivators of Luoposhan, they stayed on Mise Snow Peak, in the cave heaven dojo, to forge their swords.
The remaining several children had all been poached by the Green Duckweed Sword Sect. They followed their masters' registries and transferred to the lower sect, where they would practice swordsmanship in Tongye Prefecture.
Nalan Yudie's master was the law overseer of Luoposhan, the ancestral elder Changming. Yao Xiaoyan took as her master the compiler of Luoposhan's registry, "Konghou." At first glance, it seemed like a poor match, neither master being a sword cultivator. But in truth, Changming had spent a long time with the prison warden Hao Su in the prison of the Sword Qi Great Wall. And as a celestial demon incarnated as a white-haired boy, she herself was a "martial library." Apart from those rare trump cards, anything Wu Shuangjiang of Suichu Palace knew, she knew too.
According to Chen Ping'an's original plan, Nuanshu could choose Fragrant Mountain or Immortal Herb Mountain. But the pink-skirted girl didn't want to leave Luoposhan.
As for the talisman cultivator Jiang Qu, if he hadn't already become Cui Dongshan's personal disciple, he could have occupied Treasure Register Mountain. As soon as he formed his Golden Core, they could hold the peak-opening ceremony.
Zheng Dafeng asked, "Seems a bit urgent?"
Chen Ping'an said, "After the meeting, I'm going into seclusion to forge my sword, to upgrade its grade, striving to reach the well's mouth from the well's bottom. After that, once personal matters are settled, I'll be traveling far again."
Daoist Xianwei always let such conversational content go in one ear and out the other. He didn't pay attention.
Chen Ping'an asked with a smile, "Daoist Xianwei, is there a peak you fancy?"
Daoist Xianwei was startled. He shook his head repeatedly. "I dare not. I dare not."
He said "dare not," not "there isn't." That was the seasoned Daoist's experience from many years on the road: leaving a margin in speech.
Zheng Dafeng laughed. "I took Daoist Xianwei on a tour of all the affiliated peaks. They're all good here and wonderful there. But he had the most affinity for Fragrant Mountain. He was quite taken with it."
Chen Ping'an smiled, a hint of surprise in his tone. "Oh? Is it because you fell in love with the landscape of Fragrant Mountain at first sight after climbing it?"
Daoist Xianwei felt a bit embarrassed. He could only explain quietly, "I felt that place was like a cold and neglected temple. No one had offered incense for too long, leaving only some ash. Seeing the scene saddened me. My heart was just moved. I wasn't thinking of taking it for myself."
Chen Ping'an picked up a piece of cabbage with his chopsticks, pondered for a moment, and said, "Now that Daoist Xianwei has a disciple, Lin Feijing is a proper Daoist. The teacher and disciple really should have a suitable dojo."
Xianwei's eyes sparkled with light. Picking up a cheap disciple had such benefits? Could it be that he should take a few more? Someday, he could try to open a private talisman platform?
The young Daoist with a wooden hairpin was doing mental arithmetic, but his mouth said, "This minor Daoist isn't even a registered cultivator of Luoposhan. Occupying a peak seems to go against the rules? At the next ancestral hall meeting, if the Mountain Lord brings this up, wouldn't the opposition be too loud? If that happens, since this minor Daoist isn't inside the Clear Mist Peak Ancestral Hall during the discussion, I won't mention the embarrassing situation of being tongue-tied. But if a motion is made and not passed, it will ultimately damage the Mountain Lord's authority. This minor Daoist has a flaw that's hardest to correct: a thin face and a soft heart. Then I would be uneasy in my conscience. How could I have the face to continue guarding the gate here?"
In a few words from Daoist Xianwei, there were hidden meanings. Between the lines, there were schemes.
Veto a motion by the Mountain Lord at the Clear Mist Peak Ancestral Hall?
As if.
If we let Daoist Xianwei speak his true mind, it was that as soon as the meeting was over, he would set off firecrackers on the square in front of the gate to celebrate.
Zheng Dafeng coughed a few times and tapped the edge of the pot with his chopsticks. "Heat. Control the heat."
Going too far is as bad as not going far enough. One must observe propriety. Be careful that the Mountain Lord doesn't seize the opportunity to let you off the hook. If Daoist Xianwei doesn't want to put the Mountain Lord in a difficult position, the Mountain Lord might just not trouble himself.
Daoist Xianwei caught on immediately. He said tentatively, "If the Mountain Lord is willing to show such favor, how could this minor Daoist be so obtuse as to disappoint the Mountain Lord's kindness? In the future, I will certainly exert my utmost to the point of exhaustion, without the slightest negligence, continuing to devote all my energy to keeping a good watch over the mountain gate."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Then let's tentatively assign Fragrant Mountain to Daoist Xianwei and his disciple Lin Feijing. Of course, this matter still needs to pass the meeting. I assume there won't be a problem."
Daoist Xianwei said solemnly, "Who doesn't know that in the Clear Mist Peak Ancestral Hall meetings, the Mountain Lord is the most open-minded, never practicing monocracy."
Zheng Dafeng grunted, "We all know."
Chen Ping'an let out a rare sigh. He wondered if he should have Zhu Lian find Yuan Huang and get him to Luoposhan as soon as possible.
Daoist Xianwei rubbed his hands in embarrassment. "Mountain Lord, to be honest, I haven't done anything to deserve this. I've already steeled myself to be teased by Fellow Daoist Jingqing."
Owning a peak in name, establishing a dojo! This was the fake Daoist Nian Jing's idea of a beautiful dream. In his earlier days of swindling and deceiving on the road, he wouldn't even dare to dream such a dream.
What kind of sleeping posture would produce such a fantastic dream?!
Besides, Luoposhan wasn't some minor sect where any Middle Five Realm Immortal could occupy a peak and start a school. It wasn't like any random Qi refiner on the path could arbitrarily take a mountain.
He had heard Xiao Mili say that in their lower sect, the rules were extraordinarily strict, and the threshold was incredibly high. Sect Leader Cui said that in the future, without a Nascent Soul, there was no way to hold a peak-opening ceremony.
In ordinary grand immortal residences across the nine continents of the Great Luo, it was a customary rule: without a Golden Core, no peak could be opened.
As for the top sects of the world, their ancestral courts probably had vast territories and many peaks, but still not enough for all the Earth Immortals. That's why they had the orthodox ancestral court, the upper sect, and the lower sect.
Besides, setting aside exceptions, most sects and founding patriarchs started from small sects and small cultivators. The ancestral courts were often modest in scale at first, not particularly imposing. They grew into great atmospheres over many years, like swallows carrying mud. Luoposhan was among them.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "We're family. There's no need to speak with two tongues. Daoist Xianwei only needs to accept it with an easy conscience."
"Piyun Mountain will soon hold the enfeoffment ceremony. Do you two want to come with me to drink there?"
Zheng Dafeng shook his head. "I'm too familiar with Wei Bo. I won't go to join the excitement."
Xianwei nodded in agreement. The truth was, he didn't have much savings, and his purse was light. He was ashamed to freeload. Even if he sold everything he had, he couldn't scrape together a decent congratulatory gift. He couldn't let Luoposhan lose face.
He had heard Xiao Mili talk about many inside stories of the North Sacred Mount Night Parade Banquet. Every time they attended, the various mountain and river gods and Qi refiners were all extremely generous and spent lavishly.
Because the ritual department female officials at the foot of Piyun Mountain, after recording names and receiving gifts, would loudly "announce the names" — who it was, from which mountain, what gifts were presented, all stated clearly.
At the time, Xiao Mili had laughed heartily. Inspired, she had made a very vivid analogy: it sounded like reading a menu.
Xianwei could easily imagine the "generous guests" lining up behind, yet to present their gifts, hearing the repeated announcements from the front, calculating in their minds the equivalent value in immortal money. They would grit their teeth and steel themselves, silently increasing the value of their gifts and the amount of immortal money. Would they already be drunk before even drinking at the Night Parade Banquet?
Even with this grand ceremony of conferring divine titles presided over by Confucian Temple sages, Piyun Mountain still failed to invite Bai Ye and Mr. Jun Qian.
Nevertheless, a Night Parade Banquet could still be described as dazzling, a gathering of stars.
The appearance of Yu Xuan of Talisman Mountain from the Central Earth left the entire Northern Sacred Mount region greatly astonished.
This made the first person of Blazing Cloud Continent, the Flying Ascension realm Jing Hao, whose Dao title was Qinggong Grand Protector, seem less conspicuous today.
Just considering Luoposhan's side, two sect leaders appeared simultaneously: Chen Ping'an and his student Cui Dongshan.
Also present were Luoposhan's law overseer Changming, chief offering master Zhou Fei. Chen Ping'an also brought his first disciple Pei Qian, mountain guardian offering master Zhou Mili, the blue-clad boy and pink-skirted girl, and a mink-hatted girl who was announced at the mountain gate as the second seat offering master of Luoposhan, Xie Gou.
The Great Li court sent the Minister of Rites to Piyun Mountain to offer congratulations. Although the Emperor didn't appear in person, he sent a handwritten congratulatory memorial. Many of the Pillar State surnames had representatives there.
From Longchi Sword Sect, Xie Ling, who had just emerged from seclusion and broken into the Jade Perfection realm, delivered congratulatory gifts on behalf of Master Ruan Qiong and Sect Leader Liu Xianyang. She also brought a gift from Xie Shi, the Heavenly Lord of Northern Luzhou, which he had asked his descendant Xie Ling to pass on.
But this wasn't what unsettled people's Dao hearts the most. It was that Xie Ling, pulling out one gift after another, saved her last trump card gift for last: it was from Lu Chen, the leader of the White Jade Capital!
Next, a scholar named Xin Ji'an, while traveling with a friend to the Autumn Wind Temple, brought a gift on the latter's behalf. When the name was announced, it was Chen Qingliu!
Dragon among Poets Xin Ji'an, Dragon Slayer Chen Qingliu. Two names of profound significance. If they had appeared separately, alone, others might have speculated and doubted their authenticity.
But when the names Xin Ji'an and Chen Qingliu were placed together, and the chief of the Ritual Department, a goddess, announced them in a trembling voice, even handing her brush to the scholar, saying the Mountain Lord had ordered her to boldly request Mr. Xin to personally write those two names, leaving his true calligraphy... Then even a fool would know that they... were them!
On this day, the five sacred mountains of Bottle Gourd Prefecture were all holding the enfeoffment ceremony presided over by the Central Earth Confucian Temple, which granted them "Divine Titles." All took place at the same hour on the same day.
So the excitement was not limited to Piyun Mountain. The mountain lord manors of all five sacred mountains were teeming with guests, bustling with noise, jointly celebrating this grand event.
Central Sacred Mount, Chezi Mountain. The mountain lord, Jin Qing, received the divine title "Bright Candle" from the Confucian Temple.
Eastern Sacred Mount, Qi Mountain. Meng Rong received the divine title "Heroic Spirit." The significance was beyond imagination!
Northern Sacred Mount, Piyun Mountain. Wei Bo received the divine title "Night Parade." It wasn't surprising at all. If it hadn't been, that would have been strange.
Western Sacred Mount, Ganzhou Mountain. Tong Wenchang received the divine title "Great Banner." Southern Sacred Mount, Zitong Mountain. The female mountain lord, Fan Junmao, received the divine title "Emerald Blue," which was an alternate name for a mountain!
Among the Ten Philosophers of the Confucian Temple, the Great Master Daolin presided over the Northern Sacred Mount ceremony.
The great cultivators who personally visited Piyun Mountain today included Yu Xuan, Xin Ji'an, and Jing Hao. Those who had others deliver their congratulations included Lu Chen, Chen Qingliu, and Xie Shi...
Thus, in terms of momentum, among the five sacred mountains of a single continent, Piyun Mountain was unquestionably the foremost.
Dressed in a snow-white robe with a golden earring in one ear, Wei Bo respectfully received the scroll with the divine title written by Ritual Saint's own hand from the Great Master.
Wei Bo made a bow of thanks. Then he turned around and unrolled the scroll. The two words "Night Parade" transformed into a brilliant golden light. The Dao was manifested at the summit of Piyun Mountain, merging seamlessly with the qi of the Northern Sacred Mount's mountains and waters.
In fact, this enfeoffment ceremony was without any tedious formalities. It was extremely simple. The Great Master, dressed in a blue cotton robe with a gourd hanging at his waist, read a passage from a sage's book, then gave a brief account of the historical changes of the Northern Sacred Mount of Bottle Gourd Prefecture, bestowed the divine title upon Wei Bo of Northern Sacred Mount, and finally urged Wei Bo to "speak beautifully" a few auspicious words. With that, the ceremony was complete.
The Great Master and the other four Confucian Temple sages, direct disciples of the Ultimate Sage Master, did not stay long. As soon as the enfeoffment ceremony was over, they almost simultaneously took their leave, but they did not return to the Central Earth Confucian Temple.
Instead, they went to the bank of a river in an ancient place called Shaozhou. The river was named Pan River. The ancient music "Shao," Confucius said, was both supremely beautiful and supremely good.
A tall old man stood by the river, flanked by the gentle-mannered Ritual Saint and the solemn-faced Second Sage, and the sorrowful old scholar.
Many Confucian Temple sages accompanying the sacrifices, their forms ethereal, only a yin spirit remaining, waited by the water. They were waiting for the Great Master and the others to complete the enfeoffment.
Some of these sages had long since died, their Dao extinguished, vanishing one after another into the river of history. Whether their achievements and fame were decayed or undying was left for later generations to judge.
The Ultimate Sage Master smiled. "It's been a long time since we've gathered like this."
The masters and teachers by the riverside, without prior arrangement, simply bowed silently in salute to the Ultimate Sage Master.
The Ultimate Sage Master, standing at the very front, turned sideways and bowed in return.
After straightening up, the Ultimate Sage Master tilted his head as if listening. He seemed to hear the beautiful ancient music "Shao," and also the clear sound of human reading. Although "Shao" music was supremely beautiful and good, it seemed the latter was even more pleasant to hear.
The old man was the first to sit down cross-legged by the Pan River, laughing heartily. "This is the last time I impart knowledge and dispel doubts. Questions and answers, or answering with counter-questions. We will all speak without reservation and exhaust what we have to say."
In the Buddhist Kingdom of the West, under the Bodhi tree, a middle-aged monk sat cross-legged and began to expound the Dharma.
In the Azure Underworld, a young Daoist came to the gate of a small Daoist temple outside the ancient battlefield of Zhuolu. To the receptionist Daoist who asked his identity, the young Daoist said his surname was Li, from Kuxian County in the State of Chen.
At the mountain gate of Luoposhan, before falling asleep the previous night, the Daoist Xianwei, full of self-reproach, had made up his mind: Tomorrow, he absolutely would not read any more "miscellaneous books." He had to read a proper Daoist scripture.
Today, under the warm sunlight, Nian Jing was reading another miscellaneous book with great relish. He licked his finger, turned a page lightly. The content was so compelling that he flipped back and read it again.
The respectable Daoist scripture tucked into the other sleeve of his Daoist robe seemed to be patiently waiting for the arrival of the next tomorrow.
It was like spring planting leading to autumn harvest, a year of good scenery when the oranges are yellow and the tangerines are green. The Daoist who considered this mountain his home thought that wherever his heart settled was home.
In the western mountains, there was a Sword Return Lake, which had appeared after a mountain had been moved away. The wind blew across the lake's surface, creating ripples, as if murmuring: mountains and waters will meet again.
On Luoposhan, Cui Cheng had left behind a book box for Nuanshu to keep. They had an agreement. The old man told Nuanshu not to tell anyone, including the Mountain Lord Chen Ping'an.
Another day arrived. On the square outside the Clear Mist Peak Ancestral Hall.
The meeting was not called in haste.
The old scholar, travel-worn, hurried to Bottle Gourd Prefecture. They were all waiting for the old man to take his seat.
The white-haired boy who served as the registry compiler of Luoposhan had another chance to showcase his skills. He resumed his female form, set up the table, ink, and brush. The female crown "Natural," her eyes smiling, was eager to try.
In the Great Luo, the Wen Sheng lineage.
The old scholar.
His personal disciples: Jun Qian, Chen Ping'an.
Second-generation disciples: Wu Yuan, Zheng Youqian, Li Baopeng, Lin Shouyi, Li Huai, Xie Xie, Yu Lu, Dong Shuijing, Shi Jiachun, Zhao Yao. Cui Dongshan, Cao Qinglang, Ning Ji.
Logically, they were the ones who could take their seats.
Because, in fact, disciples of Chen Ping'an like Pei Qian, Guo Zhujiu, and Zhao Shuxia, as well as Pei Qian's disciple, the boy nicknamed "Little Mute" Zhou Junchen, while they were Chen Ping'an's personal and second-generation disciples, they were not strictly part of the Wen Sheng lineage.
The same applied to Zhao Luan, Jiang Qu, Cui Huasheng, and Hu Chuling, as personal disciples of Cui Dongshan.
Everyone sat upright, hands clenched into fists, resting lightly on their knees.
The old scholar unclenched his fists, still looking straight ahead. He raised a hand and gently patted the arm of his youngest disciple, whispering, "You've worked hard."
Chen Ping'an also kept his gaze fixed forward, smiling. "Teacher, it's not hard."
The old scholar was grinning from ear to ear. Sitting in the middle seat, he turned to discuss with his youngest disciple Chen Ping'an, "Why don't we all sit down for a commemorative portrait?"
Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded. "I'll do whatever Teacher says." So he asked Nuanshu, Xiao Mili, and a few others to help by bringing out a few more chairs from the ancestral hall.
But it was strange. The numbers didn't match. How did three extra chairs appear?
And Chen Ping'an had also changed his seat, leaving two empty chairs beside the Wen Sheng?
Jun Qian also stood up and changed his chair. In this way, no one was sitting next to the old scholar.
Chen Ping'an sat upright and said softly, "Dongshan."
Cui Dongshan smiled brilliantly and responded with an "en." In an instant, three figures appeared on those three empty chairs.
The eldest disciple of Wen Sheng, Cui Chan, "sat" between the old scholar and Junior Brother Jun Qian. On the other side sat Left and Right, along with Qi Jingchun.
The youngest child, named Zhou Junchen, the "Little Mute," absolutely refused to sit beside his master Pei Qian. The child only wanted to sit in the inconspicuous spot at the very edge.
Cui Dongshan said softly, "Master's master, Teacher, why don't I, together with Baopeng and the others, stand? Just stand behind you all?"
Chen Ping'an turned his head and asked, "Teacher, what do you think? I think it's feasible."
The old scholar looked left and right and asked with a smile, "Does anyone have any objections?"
Li Baopeng and the others all smiled, stood up, moved their chairs away, and then lined up behind the first row of "senior uncles and aunts."
The old scholar suddenly stroked his beard and laughed, "Ping'an, swap places with Left and Right. Don't worry, he won't mind."
Chen Ping'an hesitated for a moment, then had to follow his teacher's arrangement.
Just as the registry compiler of Luoposhan was about to put brush to paper to paint a portrait, Chen Ping'an also turned around smiling, raised his hand, and waved, calling, "Junchen, come here."
The child, his face flushed crimson, was bewildered. He didn't move at first. Then, gently pushed, he stumbled in a daze over to his master's teacher.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Just stand here."
Perhaps it was the affection that skips a generation.
The child instinctively straightened his back, clenched his fists, and pressed his lips tightly together.
Chen Ping'an's smile was gentle. He reached out and gently encircled the child's shoulders.
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