Chapter 1098: Pride
The Sword Qi Great Wall was once a place where buying wine was easier than drawing water.
Now the boisterous market was like a new book clumsily tacked onto a story that had already ended.
But no matter what, something was better than nothing. It was still better than utter silence, a place that only served as a somber memorial for outsiders visiting this land.
Unlike the Old Deaf Man, who was full of worries and indirect circumspection, Xie Gou directly sensed Chen Ping'an's current abnormality and asked bluntly, "Mountain Lord, how come you're so badly injured? Did you meet some incredible master? Need Xiao Mo and me to go get our revenge? Mountain Lord, rest assured, setting aside sword techniques, Xiao Mo and I are both experts at concealing aura and changing appearances. I also have a unique sword technique that can sever karma. Not bragging, it's not too far behind what Pure Yang Lü Yan showed off outside the heavens. I guarantee that even if the opponent is skilled in divination and deduction, they won't be able to track us back."
If it were an Immortal, if she needed to use two swords, she would be unworthy of being Xiao Mo's Dao companion.
As for ordinary Flying Ascension cultivators, she was quite confident. People like Jing Hao were practically paper figures.
She had long secretly flipped through the first dozen or so pages of Chen Lingjun's Record of Wayfarers.
Unless it was the Great Heavenly Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain or the True Dragon of Fire of Pubudi Peak, those troublesome Fourteen Realm 'Candidates for Dao Integration', she didn't dare be too absolute, so she needed to call Xiao Mo along. That would make it safe.
Chen Ping'an reached behind him, gently patted the sword hilt, and said, "Just had a fight with someone. Barely won, but the cost was not small. The Night Roam in my sheath was cut through. You don't need to reclaim the field for me. It's been cleanly settled."
The Old Deaf Man understood some worldly wisdom. Just from this conversation, he already understood the situation.
Senior Bai Jing really didn't treat herself as an outsider, and the young Hidden Official really didn't treat her as an outsider either.
Xie Gou gave a thumbs up, "Since ancient times, talents have been tempered by heaven. Those who pass the test accumulate Dao strength. After this battle, Mountain Lord's cultivation will surely advance like splitting bamboo, unimpeded, straight to Flying Ascension!"
The Old Deaf Man's Dao heart trembled upon hearing this, and he sucked in a cold breath. Could it be that the Luopo Mountain had the exact same atmosphere as the Summer Pavilion?
He was straightforward by nature and not good at this kind of flattery. If he went to Luopo Mountain, wouldn't he be out of place? Would he end up on the bench over there?
Since he couldn't find the trace of Sword Immortal Gao Yi for the moment, Wei Yudian mustered his courage to follow that group of people. Though he was close, he couldn't hear their conversation.
Chen Ping'an stopped walking, turned around, and asked, "Sword Immortal Wei, is there something else?"
Wei Yudian blushed with shame, "Junior dare not call himself a sword cultivator."
It turned out that his identity as a sword cultivator was rather awkward, because the origin of his lifebound flying sword was improper, and the lifebound divine ability contained in the flying sword was even more of a dud.
Chen Ping'an said, "I'm about to leave this place soon. Please, Daoist Wei, state your business."
Wei Yudian quickly explained, "I dare not hide it. I came here to take refuge, to be precise, to avoid the entanglement of Sword Immortal Gao Yi of Qingwei Sect."
Chen Ping'an said, "I guessed as much. But this is a personal grudge between your two families and sects. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with me? To be honest, according to the records of the Summer Pavilion, it's been nearly two hundred years since the last sword cultivator of Shangsi Sword Sect came to the Sword Qi Great Wall to slay demons for training. As for the other two groups of Qi refiners, they are not sword cultivators and have no record of battle merit. It's impossible that the previous Hidden Official Xiao Xun intentionally omitted the battle merits of your Shangsi Sword Sect."
Wei Yudian said shamefacedly, "The current sect leader of our Shangsi Sword Sect..."
Chen Ping'an cut him off, "I know. Ding Fayi, Daoist name Tongjun, peacetime sword 'Descend True', lifebound flying sword 'Meet the Spirit', stationed at the main mountain of Shangsi Sword Sect, Fanke Mountain. Sect Leader Ding specializes in Exorcism Medicine and Plum Blossom Divination, especially skilled in divination upon hearing sounds. There are many strange tales circulating in the countryside of Liuxia Continent's dynasties. He is a descendant of the ancient shaman lineage, said to be able to curse cultivators of the same realm to death without bloodshed, and can also save people invisibly. Therefore, he is called the Ghost Seer in the mountain realm, and people don't dare to provoke him easily. Besides these surface matters, I am also aware of some inside stories. I guess Sect Leader Ding must have performed a divination for you, telling you to come here and wait for your chance to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune? Or did he foresee that Daoist Longsheng would act chivalrously?"
The Old Deaf Man repeatedly waved his hands, "Dao power insufficient, I dare not take on matters."
Wei Yudian took a brocade pouch from his sleeve, gathered his courage, blushed deeply, and handed it to the young Hidden Official, whose reputation he had long admired and whose presence deeply moved him. He reminded himself internally to speak quickly, "When I left the mountain this time, the sect leader gave me three brocade pouches. The first one told me to choose an auspicious day to open a shop selling wine here. Attached to the Wind and Thunder Paper was a prophecy: 'Stop when you meet a Dragon, be delighted when you meet a Green.' The second pouch instructed my disciple Wang Ke to wander at night on a certain day, and Wang Ke obtained the opportunity to unite the twin swords. This last pouch, the sect leader said I must open it only after meeting the Dragon and the Green. But he repeatedly cautioned me not to read the contents inside, just to hand it directly to either the 'Dragon' or the 'Green' senior."
Chen Ping'an took the brocade pouch, took out a small note, glanced at it, then put it back and handed it back to Wei Yudian. His expression visibly softened. "You can rest assured and do business here from now on. If I travel to Liuxia Continent in the future, I will visit the Shangsi Sword Sect and the Wei Clan of Fenzhou. As for when you can return to Liuxia Continent, wait for Sect Leader Ding's letter."
Xie Gou asked via mental voice, "Mountain Lord, what's going on?"
Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "The founding ancestor of the Shangsi Sword Sect, Hua Furong, who is also Wei Yudian's master, traveled to the Sword Qi Great Wall for the second time and had a good relationship with the Ning Residence. She was a frequent guest."
Xie Gou suddenly understood, "If I had known about this connection earlier, I would have beaten that so-called Sword Immortal, that sect leader, until he shits his pants."
Chen Ping'an asked, "If I may be so bold, how is it that you are not a sword cultivator, Daoist Wei?"
The Wei Clan of Fenxian Shangmiao Village in Liuxia Continent was a long-established Daoist aristocratic family, one of the six great ancestral altars of the Haoran World. That famous Tai Fu Temple was Wei Yudian's family temple. Inside the temple were three hundred and sixty-five suspended color sculptures of the Duty Gods of the Day, unique and unparalleled throughout the continent.
Wei Yudian carefully put away the brocade pouch, visibly relieved. Hearing the question, he replied respectfully, "Junior is not a naturally born Sword Immortal fetus. It is because a certain ancestor of the family went overseas in his early years and obtained the remains and sword technique inheritance of an ancient Sword Immortal, among which was a flying sword passed down generation by generation. I, by a combination of circumstances, obtained the voluntary recognition of this flying sword in my childhood. It entered one of my lifebound acupoints to nurture itself. This flying sword was temporarily named 'Limping Beauty' by the ancestor. When I was lucky enough to successfully smelt it into lifebound form, I spent over a hundred years and only figured out one lifebound divine ability: the ability to imitate the lifebound flying swords of other sword cultivators. But it can only last for the time it takes to burn an incense stick. Once the time is up, it immediately returns to its original state. So, when facing the weak, it is genuinely weak; but when facing the strong, there is no guarantee it will become strong."
Xie Gou grinned. What a fun lifebound flying sword. The ancient Sword Immortal must have been full of energy when refining it before his soldier's dissolution.
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment and asked, "Regarding this hard-earned lifebound flying sword, has Sect Leader Ding given any divination guidance?"
Wei Yudian hesitated, then said, "Every time the sect leader performs a divination, it damages his Dao power and costs him immense energy. Even so, he still performed a divination for me. But the guidance was rather vague, only one sentence: 'Do it once, do it twice, do it thrice.' The sect leader has always followed the ancestral precept that a single matter cannot be divined twice."
Chen Ping'an considered for a while and said, "I have a suggestion. Let your family or the Shangsi Sword Sect help you—whether by spending a lot of money or by using up connections—to find you another flying sword. Try to refine a sword with a sword."
Wei Yudian looked completely puzzled. What did it mean to refine a sword with a sword? What was the reason for this?
Xie Gou nodded vigorously. Our Mountain Lord's mind is really sharp. Even she and Xiao Mo combined couldn't match it.
Chen Ping'an had to patiently explain, "Perhaps this flying sword should not have been named 'Limping Beauty'. A name like 'Cuckoo's Usurpation' might be more appropriate. The 'three' in Sect Leader Ding's guidance might mean that this flying sword can usurp and occupy three flying swords, allowing you to possess the lifebound divine abilities of three flying swords at the same time. This would also explain why that ancient Sword Immortal, who sat in meditation at sea until his death, preferred to use great determination and immense effort to strip this sword from himself rather than fuse it with his own soul to add to his future life's immortal fate. It was because he was very proud of and valued this lifebound flying sword. Once it was melted into nothingness, even if he could be reborn to continue his immortal fate, awaken memories of his past life, and climb the mountain again, the world would never have this particular and extraordinary flying sword again."
Joyful expression overflowed from Wei Yudian's face.
For a moment, he didn't know how to thank the young Hidden Official.
It couldn't be that cliché plot of offering oneself in marriage.
Even if he was willing, he wouldn't be worthy of her.
The Old Deaf Man nodded gently. The truth was probably not far off.
You Yu's expression was calm, his mind without a single ripple.
Whether he was a sword cultivator back then, or what realm he was in now, the Hidden Official was always the Hidden Official.
Chen Ping'an reminded, "Since some matters in the mountain realm are extraordinary, gaining one fateful connection means you must endure one tribulation."
Wei Yudian hurriedly stabilized his Dao heart.
Chen Ping'an said, "As for how the debt is collected and how it appears before you, it depends on your predestined connection with that person. For example..."
After waiting a moment and seeing that the young Hidden Official did not continue, Wei Yudian had to ask, "For example?"
Seeing that he still didn't understand, Chen Ping'an had to settle for the second best and explained for him, "For example, the reincarnation of that ancient Sword Immortal might be Gao Yi, the one who seems to be entangled with you in everything. Or maybe it's not Gao Yi, but someone else. When you refine your first additional flying sword, that person might walk right up to you. What will you do then?"
Wei Yudian's mind was in turmoil.
Chen Ping'an said slowly, "This kind of karmic cycle, collecting and repaying debts, avoidance is useless. It's simply reaping what you sow; it's self-dissolution. Whether in the mountain realm or the mortal world, debts must be paid, and turning evil karma into good karma is cultivation—cultivate within the mountain, practice outside the mountain. Having a path to walk, in the mountain and out, is the Dao. Aligning life and human emotions with heavenly principles is the Dharma. Together, they are cultivation and the Dao."
Wei Yudian stopped walking and solemnly bowed in salute, "I will remember this deeply and follow your teachings."
Xie Gou asked the general guardian again, "Daoist Longsheng, did you understand?"
The Old Deaf Man initially thought, 'Such an easily explained principle, how could anyone not understand?' But due to the deep-seated weight of 'Ancient Bai Jing's' prestige, he changed his words at the last moment, "Not quite understood. The principle seems profound."
Xie Gou patted the Old Deaf Man's shoulder and said with pity in her eyes, "A bit lacking in comprehension. No wonder your realm fell."
Chen Ping'an asked about the cause and effect between him and Gao Yi, got a general idea, and then said, "We'll part here."
Although Wei Yudian wanted to talk more, since Chen Ping'an had already dismissed him, he had to take his leave. Suddenly remembering something, he asked, "What about Gao Yi?"
Chen Ping'an smiled, "Probably scared off by Senior Longsheng."
The Old Deaf Man felt helpless.
Wei Yudian walked to the door of his wine shop and couldn't help but look back.
She suddenly remembered a poem that her master often recited and copied: 'Today's friendship is like a raging torrent, suddenly stirring up dust. Ancient friendship is like true gold, unblemished by a hundred refinements.'
This young Hidden Official truly had the bearing of an ancient chivalrous wanderer and the spirit of a gentleman.
With about half an incense stick's worth of free time left, Chen Ping'an arrived at the base of the city wall and looked at the Land Sword Immortal who was almost falling apart, still showing no signs of waking up. The Sage Companion of the Confucian Temple stationed here also showed no intention of 'mediating'. They just let this young sect master lie there. A Jade Pure realm cultivator whose Dao age was only one hundred and twenty years, and a sword cultivator at that. To establish a sect at such a young age, not just in Liuxia Continent, but across the entire Haoran World, was an extraordinary feat.
Xie Gou asked curiously, "Why not call Wei Yudian over and let him have it out face to face with this Sword Immortal who's snoring on the ground?"
Chen Ping'an said, "Assuming Gao Yi is the one who will collect the debt from Wei Yudian. With us around, Wei Yudian would inevitably rely on having an advantage in his Dao heart. When a cultivator hasn't exhausted his own strength, he shouldn't rely on external forces to escape tribulations. This would hinder his cultivation."
The Old Deaf Man nodded, "This is the principle."
Chen Ping'an smiled with a question, "You hit him that hard?"
Xie Gou laughed heartily, "I was saving his life."
The Old Deaf Man nodded in agreement again. Senior Bai Jing's words were true.
If it had been Qi Tingji in his younger days, and he had overheard those words, this fellow would likely already be dead.
Xie Gou glanced sideways at the Old Deaf Man and began ordering the general guardian in the identity of the second-ranked guardian, "Piss him awake."
On Luopo Mountain, realm was useless. She had finally caught someone who joined Luopo Mountain later than her, and a demon cultivator used to being a punching bag at that. She had to take advantage of him!
The Old Deaf Man wasn't an idiot; how could he do that?
Chen Ping'an said, "Wake him up, I need to talk to him quickly. I'm going back to Baoping Continent right away."
Only then did the Old Deaf Man act. He crouched down, reached out and pressed the fellow's shoulder, shook him a few times, and restored the young Sword Immortal's soul, bones, and aura to their original positions.
When Gao Yi woke up, Chen Ping'an said, "I've heard the general story of your personal grudge with Wei Yudian. The dynasty where the Wei Clan resides did act unjustly in breaking the contract. You came here alone to find Wei Yudian, wanting to take back what's yours with interest. That's perfectly fine. I'm not interested in this kind of love and hate affair. The reason Xie Gou attacked you is because you shouldn't have said... those vulgar words here."
Gao Yi leaned against the wall, stared up at the blue-robed man in the middle, and glanced at the girl in the sable hat out of the corner of his eye. He sneered, "Good technique. I've learned my lesson. Dare you tell me your names?"
Xie Gou really wasn't about to indulge this clueless idiot. She kicked him, the sole of her shoe hitting the young Sword Immortal's forehead. The back of his head slammed into the city wall, causing him to pass out again.
The Old Deaf Man had to crouch down again and wake the young Sword Immortal up.
Gao Yi no longer dared to make harsh words. He just lowered his head and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his finger.
Chen Ping'an continued, "When Wei Yudian is here running his wine shop, don't bother him. But once he returns to Haoran World, whether you ambush him at sea or hunt him for revenge in Liuxia Continent, it's up to your own abilities. You'll bear the consequences."
Gao Yi folded his arms across his chest and said nothing.
He was like that arrogant street thug, losing the fight but not the stance. Even if his head was split open and his mouth full of blood, he still had to speak with his eyes. 'As long as you don't kill me today, I'll kill you sooner or later.'
The Old Deaf Man rubbed his chin. Strange. This guy had already been slapped flying by Senior Bai Jing. Why still didn't he understand the severity? Displaying such anger on his face?
The most famous great cultivators in Liuxia Continent were only Jing Hao of Qingsong Mountain and Shu Nanyuan, the master of Tianyu Cavern Heaven. Only two Flying Ascension cultivators. The so-called peak of a continent wasn't very high.
Compared to the True Dragon of Fire of Beiju Continent or Liu Jubao of Ai Ai Continent, they were far inferior.
Since this guy wasn't the disciple of Jing Hao or Shu Nanyuan, could he be an illegitimate son?
Chen Ping'an said, "You can be unconvinced, you can pretend to be convinced. Whatever you want. I'm just stating a fact."
After saying this, Chen Ping'an shook his head and laughed to himself, "It's time to find an opportunity to visit Zhenwu Mountain."
Chen Ping'an looked at Gao Yi, "In this area north of the Hundred Thousand Mountains and south of the old Mirage City, my word carries more weight than the Confucian Temple's."
Gao Yi heard this, started to speak, but in the end said nothing.
Chen Ping'an turned and left.
Gao Yi grimaced in pain and stood up. He rubbed his ribs, his face contorted in pain. That girl in the sable hat looked slender, but the force was immense. What realm was she?! Could she be a Martial God at the Ultimate Realm who maintained her youthful appearance? Was there such a figure in Haoran World? Zheng Qian? That person was him?
Xie Dog suddenly turned around and raised her hand, startling Gao Yi to lean back against the wall.
Chen Ping'an calculated the time and said, "Go about your business. We'll regroup at Luopo Mountain later. Regarding the details of Immortal realm cultivation, I'll consult with you both properly."
Xie Gous looked unconcerned. Breaking through from Immortal to Flying Ascension was simple. She was just puzzled, "This doesn't quite fit your usual style, Mountain Lord."
Chen Ping'an laughed, "Senior Brother told me to speak a few arrogant words while I'm still young. I tried it, but it doesn't suit me. It feels awkward. I'll avoid it from now on if I can."
Then Chen Ping'an said, "I may need to trouble you to keep an eye on this fellow. At least for ten days to half a month."
Xie Gous understood in her heart. She cracked her knuckles, "Mountain Lord suspects he's an unused piece from the Barren Wilderness?"
Liuxia Continent currently had a bad reputation. Very bad. Overall, it was far worse than Fuyang Continent and Jiajin Continent, only slightly better than Tongye Continent.
Chen Ping'an nodded, "Don't forget, Gao Yi is a sword cultivator. He didn't come here for sightseeing or to broaden his horizons like an ordinary Qi refiner. The Sword Qi Great Wall is extraordinary to Haoran sword cultivators.
For a sword cultivator to say such things here, there are only two possibilities. Either he's young, simultaneously a sect master and sword immortal, full of pride and unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth. Plus, he hates the Shangsi Sword Sect and the Wei Clan to the bone. Feeling that revenge is close after enduring humiliation for nearly a hundred years, he loses himself in joy and momentarily loses his composure, blurting it out.
Or, Gao Yi has long held the Sword Qi Great Wall in contempt. This also has two possibilities. One, he has a secret master, someone who doesn't get along with the Sword Qi Great Wall. For example, Gao Yi's preceptor lost a sword duel here early on, suffered a great loss. The Summer Pavilion has recorded such sword cultivators, quite a few. Two, Gao Yi is a pawn cultivated by the Barren Wilderness World for internal strife in Liuxia Continent. Of course, these two possibilities can be combined, making it even more plausible."
Xie Gous exclaimed in admiration, "Mountain Lord's eyes are like torches, you see the details clearly!"
Chen Ping'an looked at Xie Gous, who nodded.
The Old Deaf Man transmitted his voice to his disciple, "You Yu, when we get to Luopo Mountain, relying on your master won't work. You may need to fend for yourself."
You Yu asked in bewilderment, "Master, why do you say that?"
The Old Deaf Man shook his head with a bitter face, not explaining. The atmosphere of Luopo Mountain and I don't mesh well.
Gao Yi sat back down on the ground and began to circulate his breathing, adjusting his qi.
The slap and kick from the sable-hatted girl had turned his internal qi upside down. Fortunately, it hadn't damaged the foundation of his Dao.
Inside the celestial palace of Gao Yi's mysterious gate, as the Daoists call it, three flowers bloomed, suspended in the air at varying heights. They were still a long way from being unified into one essence of spirit, energy, and essence. But within the highest golden flower, a courtyard resembling a physical object was opened. The gate faced east. In the distance, an endless sea of clouds undulated, water patterns rising and falling. To the east stood a towering divine tree. On the tree coiled a red hornless dragon and a green hornless dragon, the Daoist manifestation of Gao Yi's two lifebound flying swords. The divine tree of the Eastern Sea, branch of Fusang.
Inside the golden flower courtyard, there was a scene like a moonlit night. When Gao Yi separated a wisp of divine thought to come here to the courtyard hall, the person who had been leaning outside disappeared. Only the sound of footsteps could be heard, but no human form was visible. A series of faint sounds of wooden clogs striking the ground came from outside the door.
This grain of divine thought of Gao Yi said, "He is Chen..."
Suddenly, a spring thunder rumbled through heaven and earth, echoing the word "Be careful what you say" repeatedly.
Gao Yi's divine thought shook violently, and in the end, he did not speak the other's name.
Gao Yi, with disheveled hair and bare feet, walked to the doorstep and said, "Separated by two worlds, are you being this cautious? Besides, you said it yourself, your identity is not something that can't see the light. You have merits in the human world, so the Confucian Temple won't restrain you, and the Fengdu City won't arrest you. You just lost your physical body and need to open a mansion in my consciousness to build a Dao field, maintaining a wisp of true spirit undying."
Seeing that the other party still didn't want to see him, Gao Yi continued to ask, "That scholar surnamed Liu, who you can't stop thinking about, who is he? What makes him so hard for you to let go?"
In an instant, Gao Yi lost all consciousness. It was as if he was imprisoned in a cage of stagnant time, pitch black, only his thoughts and consciousness remained.
Gao Yi had no choice but to raise a thought in his heart, regarding it as admitting his mistake to her. Instantly, a great light shone forth, and this grain of divine thought regained its freedom. According to the agreement, he dared not step over the threshold into the land she had turned into a forbidden zone outside. Gao Yi sat cross-legged and muttered to himself, "You said there were still several residual sword technique lineages lingering here, that this was my opportunity. Only here could I have a chance to return to Liuxia Continent and help you seize that huge opportunity you've been waiting a thousand years for. And what's the result? Before I even set foot on the city wall, I suffer this great humiliation. When you and I formed the contract, I saved you from tribulation. They say if the master is disgraced, the retainer should die. Are you just ignoring this?"
Nowadays in the Haoran human world, opportunities were springing up everywhere, even more than when the two worlds of Haoran and Barren Wilderness joined together.
Take Liuxia Continent for example. Recently, an ancient remnant cave heaven appeared in response to fortune. If you weren't at the Jade Pure realm, don't even think about competing. Earth Immortals and below, if they waded into this muddy water, they wouldn't even get a bone to chew on.
It was said that the Grand Guardian of Qingsong Mountain, Jing Hao, traveled to other continents this time precisely to secretly seek powerful assistance, so as to suppress the Tianyu Cavern Heaven.
A continental leader of the mountain realm wouldn't lower himself to connect with peak cultivators of other continents for no reason. Obviously, Jing Hao was determined to get this site.
A cold, clear voice rang out slowly, "Ancient contracts were roughly of three types. Ours is not a master-servant relationship. We are equal guests and hosts. To me, this skin bag of yours is just a temporary dwelling. I helped you, an obscure royal hostage, gain this opportunity, something you dared not even dream of a hundred years ago. As payment for lodging, I have already paid enough. Gao Yi, you shouldn't be insatiable and ask for more."
Gao Yi's fists rested on his knees, his eyes blazing. Suddenly, he began to curse loudly, calling her a slut and a bitch, saying he would sleep with her one day...
But she was as unperturbed as ever, treating his loud, filthy curses as nothing more than the chirping of village cicadas.
Gao Yi said, "You achieved Daoists, do you really have no trace of the seven emotions and six desires? If proving Dao and ascending to immortality requires this as a price, then what is the meaning of eternal life?"
Perhaps this sentence touched the other's desire to speak. Outside the door, a woman in white with a blurred, ethereal figure carrying a sword on her back appeared. Her appearance was extremely cold and beautiful. She was the female ghost Gao Yi met in his youth while traveling in Huangmao Mountain...
In the emptiness of space, a manifestation of a sixteen-foot golden body, with the appearance of a celestial being.
The form she took was flawless, pure, all true gold color.
They only knew her surname was Zheng. Her specific realm was unclear, but her sword technique was extremely high. Several times Gao Yi fell into danger or even near-death situations, she secretly helped.
When Gao Yi first started cultivating, he mistook her for an Earth Immortal female ghost. After he became an Earth Immortal, he guessed she might be a legendary Jade Pure Immortal Ghost. Now that Gao Yi himself was a Jade Pure realm, he guessed she was at least at the Immortal realm. He didn't know if, when he himself broke through to Immortal, she would still be at a higher realm.
She looked into the void in a certain direction, her expression obscure and unclear. "Among the four in their group, two Sword Immortals are in the same realm as me. But if it came to a fight, I'm afraid I could only defeat the young Golden Core sword cultivator."
Gao Yi fell back and lay down, "I don't know why, but just locking eyes with him exhausted all my energy and spirit. I've never encountered anything this strange in my life."
She smiled slightly, "Your life? How many years is that?"
Gao Yi remained silent.
She leaned against the door, facing away from Gao Yi inside the house, "Now do you know why he wanted to meddle, and why I avoided them?"
Gao Yi said, "You said you stopped at Daoxuan Mountain..."
She showed a pained expression and murmured, "Don't bring up the past anymore."
After the Three Teachings founders scattered their teachings, strange immortals, ghosts, and ancient beings emerged like mushrooms after rain.
Some escaped tribulations, some broke out of tribulations, biding their time. Finally, after the rain, they could see the sun again.
The ghost sword immortal surnamed Zheng, hidden in Gao Yi's consciousness, was just one of them.
She once had an agreement with an old acquaintance. It didn't need any oath, just a gentleman's agreement.
But he broke the agreement.
To be precise, she broke it first.
Back then, when they parted at Daoxuan Mountain, he had indeed warned her not to attempt Dao fusion. She had endured for many years, but in the end, she couldn't help herself. Priding herself on 'believing in the Dao, not believing in heresy', she failed in her fusion, losing her physical body in one fell swoop.
That was probably unavoidable tribulation. The change of heaven and earth is called the Great Tribulation. During this tribulation, everyone has their own.
Gao Yi said, "What now?"
She sighed faintly, "If you can gain the recognition of a certain sword vein here, I will help you fight for a sliver of hope on the path. People like Jing Hao of Liuxia Continent, holding positions without doing anything, it's time for them to step down."
Gao Yi asked, "And you?"
She replied, "When you have accumulated enough external merits and ascend to heaven with your family in broad daylight, we will part ways."
Regarding that Cavern Heaven site which could serve as the foundation for achieving Dao, as long as Chen Qingliu didn't intervene, she actually had a good chance of winning.
But there was no need to tell Gao Yi this, lest he become arrogant and overconfident, ruining everything.
Just then.
A single sword instantly slashed through the restrictions of the two worlds.
This sword light did not slash from outside in, but rather seemed to open a door from the inside out.
From within that door walked a blue-robed man carrying a sword on his back. He said wryly, "I'm no longer the Hidden Official, yet I have to do the work of an Executioner."
Chen Ping'an finally understood why Li Sheng wanted him to come here.
Was it to help the Confucian Temple remind her to not overstep her bounds in the future?
The white-robed woman with a sword on her back frowned slightly.
Gao Yi was shocked and hurried to his feet.
Beside Chen Ping'an appeared someone who had long been lurking here unnoticed and unknowingly. It was a tall, stunningly beautiful woman. Her appearance was no less than that of the white-robed woman.
Bai Jing's terrifying talent wasn't just in sword forging; it was in every aspect... freakish and unreasonable. According to Old Blindman, if not for some kind of heavenly jealousy, she would have achieved Dao integration long ago.
In ancient times, under the Fourteen Realms, sword cultivator Bai Jing was indeed more invincible than Xiao Mo.
Bai Jing said with a smile, "Miss, do you have a Daoist name? Let's hear it."
The white-robed woman remained cold and silent, not saying a word.
Chen Ping'an explained, "If I'm not mistaken, the senior in front of us is called Zheng Dan, with no Daoist name. It is said she studied the sword under Yue Nu. Yue Nu's sword technique was once as famous as the Dragon Slayer's. Zheng Dan was sincere in learning the Dao and obtained its essence. She deeply understands the art of hand-to-hand combat, with both long and short techniques. Internally, she embodies the spirit; externally, she spreads the atmosphere. Her sword aura can cut through clouds and rainbows."
Zheng Dan was slightly surprised and nodded, "You flatter me, Mr. Chen."
Chen Ping'an said, "Li Sheng hopes that in the future, Senior will act within the bounds of propriety."
Zheng Dan nodded, "As long as Li Sheng is here, the rules are here."
Chen Ping'an didn't say much more. He had already delivered the message.
Bai Jing grinned, "From the tone of your voice, you mean you'd rebel once Little Master is gone?"
Zheng Dan smiled faintly, "Senior is free to think whatever he wishes."
If it weren't just a wisp of divine thought here, without a physical form, Gao Yi would probably be sweating profusely.
Chen Ping'an teased, "Sword Immortal Gao, nervous?"
Gao Yi's face darkened.
Before the wave could settle, another wave rose.
Someone stepped into this forbidden area, again as if entering an empty land. "Zheng Dan, White Emperor City lacks a gatekeeper. Are you interested?"
Zheng Dan bowed to the newcomer and said without hesitation, "I am willing to follow Mr. Zheng in cultivating the Great Dao."
Zheng Juzhong nodded, "When the matter in Liuxia Continent is finished, and debts with Gao Yi are settled, go and guard the gate of White Emperor City."
Gao Yi's emotions were extremely complicated. He looked again at that blue-robed figure. 'Chen, are you nervous or not?'
Zheng Juzhong smiled and asked, "Mr. Chen, would you like to visit White Emperor City? Otherwise, if you pass by Zhongtu Divine Continent later, White Emperor City might have already closed its doors. No one can say when it will open again."
Chen Ping'an shook his head, "I need to return to Baoping Continent."
Zheng Juzhong nodded, "Then we'll meet again."
Before leaving, Zheng Juzhong smiled and looked at Bai Jing, "Daoist friend Bai Jing, if you are willing to sever the strange, you can escape tribulation and achieve Dao integration."
Chen Ping'an's face was expressionless.
Bai Jing grinned, "I already thought of that when I was in seclusion at Old Blindman's place. But this path to Dao integration is somewhat lower-class. Not interesting."
Zheng Juzhong said, "What a pity. Since you can even sever a destined Dao partner, there is nothing in the human world that cannot be severed. Cut all swords until every sword in the world is broken. Cut until there are no sword cultivators left in the world. Then Bai Jing would have a chance to break through to the Fifteenth Realm."
Bai Jing pursed her lips.
Zheng Juzhong smiled, "A lower-class path? Why deceive yourself. Presenting yourself in the appearance of a sable-hatted girl is itself first cutting your own mind, then cutting the strange demon of the heart. First the Fourteenth Realm, then the path of using a sword to cut swords, sword to cut the world, seeking the Fifteenth. Why, when it comes to the moment, do you regret it instead?"
Bai Jing wrinkled her face, looking extremely wronged. She clasped her hands behind her head, lifted it high, and looked into the distance, "This body originally knew no sorrow..."
The most fearful is encountering tenderness by chance. Once you've seen it, you can't bear to let it go.
Zheng Juzhong nodded, "This is the Bai Jing. No wonder she was the first female cultivator to enter the Heavenly Gate in the war to ascend to heaven."
Chen Ping'an was stunned by these words and turned to look at Bai Jing.
The first woman to ascend through the gate?
He had never heard of this before.
He had only heard that in that war to ascend to heaven, the first person to open the way was a human Daoist, and the first male cultivator to enter the gate was the sword Dao leader, one of the ancient ten heroes.
Bai Jing said calmly, "From the first day I started cultivating the sword and the Dao, I made a vow to myself: as a non-divine being, I would look down at the earth from heaven."
Zheng Juzhong smiled and took his leave.
No wonder Zhu Lian once said to Xiao Mo on the mountain, "Have you ever seen a girl prouder than Xie Gous?"
Chen Ping'an was silent for a moment, then said via mental voice, "Xie Gous, does Xiao Mo know all this?"
Bai Jing had already returned to her normal self and laughed heartily, "Of course he does. We tell each other everything."
Chen Ping'an held back for a long time before cursing, "Damn it. Xiao Mo is such a fool."
Bai Jing grumbled, "You can't call Xiao Mo that."
Chen Ping'an was speechless. The next moment, he had already returned to Baoping Continent, in Yongjia County, the capital of Yuxuan Kingdom.
Perhaps pride is the high city wall, and the person you love walks on top of that wall, with pride beneath his feet.