Chapter 1103: The Strange Mountain Summit, Deities, and Anomalies

Chapter 1103: The Strange Mountain Summit, Deities, and Anomalies

Chen Ping'an rarely found himself with such complete leisure of body and mind. He slept soundly until he naturally woke up, having truly slept his fill. From darkness to daylight was merely a single night; who knew how many flowers had bloomed and fallen in the mortal world.

When he awoke and sensed that outside the room, in the corridor, someone had their face pressed against the door, and Gu Can was standing against the wall, Chen Ping'an was amused despite himself. "You two are standing guard for me? It's not like I'm in secluded meditation."

Chen Ping'an suddenly opened the door. Liu Xianyang stumbled into the room. Gu Can's expression was strange. Chen Ping'an said with a smile, "How many assassinations could there possibly be? Do you think my Return to Truth layer of the Zenith Realm is just for show?"

Gu Can's expression became even stranger. Liu Xianyang stood up and dusted off his sleeves. "A cautious man sails for ten thousand years. Chen Ping'an, your experience in the martial world still isn't seasoned enough. Let's go, let's go."

Gu Can finally couldn't help but speak a fair word. "After you fell asleep, Ning Yao came to the Flowing Rainbow Boat. She appeared suddenly, and neither of us noticed even the slightest movement. She had to take the initiative to greet us before we knew she'd arrived. But when she left, we're not sure."

Liu Xianyang quickly walked toward the door, but Chen Ping'an reached out and grabbed his shoulder, sending him flying out into the corridor as if riding clouds. Gu Can also tried to slip away after setting Liu Xianyang up, but Chen Ping'an caught him by the shoulder. "Why is everyone running? Since you're both so confident, without a shred of guilt, aren't you afraid I might misunderstand?"

He wrapped an arm around both their necks as they walked down the corridor together, saying with a grin, "Truly, your loyalty touches the heavens. You've moved me deeply."

Gu Can said, "I only arrived not long ago. Sword Immortal Liu probably listened at the wall the entire night."

Liu Xianyang cursed loudly, "Bullshit! I arrived one step before you. If I hadn't come, would you have dared? Because I came, could you bear not to?"

Gu Can laughed good-naturedly. "Makes sense, makes sense. Everything you say is right."

They walked through the corridor to the bow of the ship. Gu Lingyan stood timidly on the deck, the heavenly wind blowing her clothes to one side, revealing her graceful figure and curves.

Gu Can frowned and asked, "Not steering the Flowing Rainbow Boat, so you came here to drink the northwest wind?"

Gu Lingyan felt terribly wronged. She quickly communicated with them via heart voice. "Last night, Ning Yao found me. She asked about some secret matters concerning the Heavenly Stem cultivators of the Barren Wastes. Finally, she asked me to pass two messages to the Hidden Official Chen. The first was to follow the planned route and take a look at Fuyao Continent. The second message was just four words from Ning Yao: 'Already slain the ghost thing.'"

Since Chen Ping'an had been mentally exhausted earlier and hadn't debriefed the two about the attack at Chongyang Temple, hearing these four words relayed by Gu Lingyan left them both confused.

Chen Ping'an had to explain the general situation. "Earlier inside Chongyang Temple, there was a Flying Ascension perfected, fourteen-realm candidate ghost thing. Since it had been blocked at the threshold of Dao Integration for too long, it wanted to take a shortcut—accumulating external merits and using accumulated virtue to complete the Dao Integration and break through its realm. Using the body and dharma robe of a cherry-clothing, green-robed ghost thing inside the temple, it did the opposite of the conventional path, using this as a crossing point between the dark and bright realms. It made a grand vow, proclaiming to the underworld that it would seek justice for all the Barren Wastes ghost things that died at the Sword Qi Great Wall and in the Haoran World. It wanted to kill Chen Ping'an. I did fail to dodge, but I withstood it. So its plan came to nothing, and it even revealed its trail. The Middle Earth Zhou City God immediately rushed to the underworld. As for how Ning Yao went to the Netherworld and how she killed the ghost thing, I'm not clear about that."

Liu Xianyang reached out and patted Chen Ping'an's stomach. "How strange. I remember you had a good stomach since you were a kid—rarely got an upset stomach. How come once you left home, you just can't handle simple food anymore and only eat the fine stuff?"

Gu Lingyan gained a new level of respect for this Sect Leader Liu, who dared to openly imply that Chen Ping'an was living off his wife.

Gu Can asked solemnly, "In the underworld, killing a fourteen-realm candidate ghost thing? How exactly did Ning Yao manage that?"

Liu Xianyang laughed. "That question is very uncharming of you, Gu Can. Besides becoming a fourteen-realm existence as a pure sword cultivator, can you find a second reason?"

Gu Can stared straight at Chen Ping'an. Guessing was one thing, but the truth still needed Chen Ping'an to confirm. Chen Ping'an nodded.

Gu Can sighed. No matter who it was, compared with Ning Yao in terms of cultivation talent, it seemed there were no geniuses left in the world.

When Gu Lingyan learned the truth, she felt lingering fear. It wasn't feigned—because her face, capable of a thousand transformations, had just taken on the appearance of "Ning Yao" in her mind. She struggled to stabilize her Dao heart, rubbed her face vigorously, and only then returned to her Ziwu Dream visage. During this visit to Haoran, Gu Lingyan wasn't too afraid of the Hidden Official Chen Ping'an, because Gu Can was there. Besides, she hadn't participated in the battle to attack the Sword Qi Great Wall, hadn't even set foot in the Haoran World. Chen Ping'an couldn't very well cut her down with a single sword stroke just because she was a Barren Wastes demon.

But Ning Yao? A fourteen-realm sword cultivator, the number one under the Five-Colors World—killing a Jade Perfected realm cultivator with Barren Wastes roots would be like child's play to her.

Liu Xianyang rubbed Chen Ping'an's head, making a series of clicking sounds. "Doesn't even let a grudge last overnight—your wife has already avenged you."

Gu Can didn't want an outsider to know more inside details, so he told her to return to the ship's control center and continue steering. Gu Lingyan was more than happy to comply, preferring not to be startled and disrupt her Dao heart.

Chen Ping'an smiled. "When I returned to the Return to Truth layer for the second time, I didn't receive the martial destiny gift I expected."

Liu Xianyang looked puzzled. "Lost something that should have been easily obtained, feeling deeply disappointed, but you have to force a smile in front of your brothers? No need—cry a little for us to see, let your brothers have some fun."

Gu Can asked, "That shouldn't be the case. In this Majestic Qi layer of the Zenith Realm, you have the most justification to contend for the strongest. It's the one realm where Cao Ci has no advantage."

Cao Ci's martial arts talent was certainly better than Chen Ping'an's, but the Majestic Qi layer of the Zenith Realm required "many things." Because Cao Ci's talent was too good, he might easily breeze through and miss them.

The facts proved this to be true.

Chen Ping'an grinned from ear to ear and said slowly, "So when I came out of seclusion, I was also puzzled. I mistakenly thought it was due to the times—strange people and strange events appearing frequently. Someone had obtained some incredible opportunity, like being taken by a master for a walk along the River of Time, seeing a thousand years of time and ten thousand mountain scenes, so they could refine their foundation in this layer better than I could. So I didn't think much of it. I only learned the answer last night from Cui Dongshan. It was Pei Qian."

Liu Xianyang slapped Chen Ping'an's head. "Show-off!"

Chen Ping'an dodged, laughing heartily.

It was only because Pei Qian had only recently reached the Zenith Realm, and because she was his first formal disciple, that Chen Ping'an had overlooked the obvious.

Deducing the cause from the effect wasn't hard to understand. How deep was Pei Qian's foundation in the Majestic Qi layer? How magnificent was its aura?

During the years Chen Ping'an served as Hidden Official, Pei Qian first went with Li Huai to Northern Ju Lu Continent, then traveled alone through Ai'ai Continent, Middle Earth Shen Continent, Golden Armor Continent...

Pei Qian had even visited more of the Haoran Nine Continents than Chen Ping'an, having traveled nearly all of them. And Pei Qian's memory was far superior to Chen Ping'an's, whose own memory was not bad.

Chen Ping'an had noticed this long ago. Later, Lu Chen had also specifically reminded him of this at the Joyous Mountain boundary.

This was also the main reason Chen Ping'an had been hesitating about whether to bring Pei Qian along on his travels through Haoran.

Traveling alone, with a sufficiently high realm, she could be more casual. Following by Chen Ping'an's side, she would be very focused and serious.

Don't forget—she could also glimpse into people's hearts. If Pei Qian wanted to see, unless it was a mountain summit cultivator, the landscape of others' heart-mind heavens would be laid bare before her.

So the profound mystery of the martial artist's Majestic Qi layer gateway was practically tailor-made for Pei Qian. Her breadth of vision was wide, and her memory was deep.

As her master, Chen Ping'an naturally hoped she would see more of the great mountains and rivers and the myriad things in people's hearts, to solidify the foundation of the Majestic Qi layer, striving to break through to an even higher realm than himself in the future—the student surpassing the master.

Yet he also worried that Pei Qian would concentrate too intently, focus too single-mindedly, see too much for too long, exhaust too much energy, leaving hidden troubles on her path to the martial summit. So Chen Ping'an would reconsider, thinking that being the "strongest" in the Majestic Qi layer wasn't really worth that much—what kind of thing was it anyway... Was this a typical old father's mentality?

No wonder the old chef, Zheng Dafeng, Wei Bo, and the others, when chatting privately, all said that when it came to Pei Qian, Nuan Shu, and Xiao Mili, their mountain lord spoiled them rotten, doting on them as if they were beloved daughters. Poor that one green-robed boy was like a rebellious son who deserved to be beaten and scolded.

Chen Ping'an said, "Pu Liu and the others, staying by your side—what positions and identities they'll have in the sect in the future, you can appoint them as you see fit."

Gu Can nodded. "I have a clear idea."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Huang Lie served as national preceptor in the Jade Declaration Kingdom for many years, so he's inevitably picked up some officialdom habits. You need to be generous, patient, and more tolerant. Besides giving him one or two rare Daoist texts to point the way, you also need to help him shed the secular atmosphere and return to being an uncarved jade. Don't say things like 'earth immortals aren't worth much,' 'Jade Perfumed isn't anything,' 'immortals are so-so,' 'Flying Ascension is just passable,' just because we three are at considerable realms now, each with our own vision and experience, dealing with matters at the mountain summit. Speaking of remembering bitterness to appreciate sweetness—that Shen Ke on this boat, who seems the least capable right now—if he had gone to the recently shattered Li Zhu Cave Heaven back then, the three of us standing in a row probably couldn't have withstood half a punch from Old Grandmaster Shen."

Gu Can said, "Noted."

Liu Xianyang fanned the flames from the side. "Blathering on and on, nagging like an old woman. Annoying or not? Are you a village schoolteacher lecturing kids in split-crotch pants, or a father at home scolding his son?"

As a result, he got an elbow to the shoulder and his instep stepped on by Gu Can, who then twisted his foot heavily.

Liu Xianyang grunted, striking a pose with his dantian sinking. "Try it again! If this Sword Immortal Liu makes a sound or complains, I'll be your grandfather."

Chen Ping'an put his hands in his sleeves, turned around, and said, "You two continue your family reunion. I'm going back to my room for a nice nap. Call me when we reach Chu Province."

Liu Xianyang laughed. "Good heavens, you really think you're the boss now, ordering Sword Immortal Liu and Sect Leader Gu around like that."

Gu Can said via heart voice, "You deliberately set the wedding banquet on his birthday, the fifth of May. I told him."

In their hometown, the fifth of May was seen as the Day of Five Poisons. A child born on this day was considered a born jinx, a plague god.

But Liu Xianyang insisted on holding his wedding on this day, believing it to be an excellent day.

Liu Xianyang leaned on the railing, lazily asking, "Did this kid cry like a waterfall?"

Gu Can said calmly, "Not really."

Liu Xianyang asked, "Why not give the Flowing Rainbow Boat to Chen Ping'an? To be honest, my sect and the Dragon Spring Sword Sect don't really need it. He's a money-grubber now, doing big business, and this would be the perfect addition."

His own sect only had a few people anyway, and Blacksmith Ruan didn't like putting on airs.

Gu Can said, "Why bother kissing up to someone who'll just turn a cold shoulder? He wouldn't accept it anyway, so why should I insist on giving it?"

Liu Xianyang was silent for a moment, then sighed. "I really envy you for having such a good big brother."

Gu Can, for once, didn't undercut him. "I hope that in the next hundred or thousand years, every time we meet again, we won't have to think about what to say, won't be left with nothing to talk about but polite pleasantries."

Liu Xianyang said something that spoiled the mood. "I've always been curious—what does booger taste like? Salty? Bland?"

Gu Can said, "Remember one morning, when I gave you a meat bun from Aunt Mao's shop? You've actually eaten my boogers before."

Liu Xianyang suddenly realized. "So that's how it was! Must have added quite a bit. No wonder, no wonder. I was wondering why that meat bun tasted especially good that day."

Gu Can smiled. "Our hometown has simple folk customs."

Liu Xianyang nodded. "I'm not quite up to par. You and Chen Ping'an are the ones who did the real work."

Old Patriarch Lu Yong of the Green Tiger Temple had rarely gone out since arriving at the Fallen Mountain. He helped his disciple Zhao Zhu seek a guest elder position, like an old man making arrangements for his descendants. Lu Yong was a bit embarrassed about it.

Zheng Qingjia was the exact opposite. This female immortal, whose Dao name was Yuan Hu, took every opportunity to go for walks. There was no helping it—every time she returned to her residence, she would shake a proud disciple out of her sleeve, Zhai Guangyun, whose Dao name was "Smoke and Cloud." He would pester his master with endless questions, mainly the same refrain: "Master, on this trip, did you see the Hidden Official Chen? Hasn't the Hidden Official Lord returned to the mountain yet?"

Zheng Qingjia didn't dare let this personally transmitted disciple show his face. She didn't even dare let him out of her sleeve, keeping this little flower-crazed one confined, afraid he would speak without restraint and sour relations with Fallen Mountain.

Although she had defected to White Emperor City, Zheng Qingjia still felt that the Qi Practitioners of the Barren Wastes World were more clear-cut in their loves and hates than those of the Haoran World. On the Barren Wastes Mountains now, there were countless women who admired the red-robed Hidden Official atop the city wall.

Zheng Qingjia often went on mountain patrols with Zhou Mili, who was honored as the mountain's protective patron. As time went on, Zheng Qingjia gradually began to understand—the strangely dressed black-clothed little girl, on the surface, had no taboos in her casual conversation, but in reality, truly useful information about Fallen Mountain's "secrets" was scarce, countable on one hand. Instead, the black-clothed little girl had asked Zheng Qingjia many inside stories about Golden Kingfisher City and the Barren Wastes Mountains. Could it be that this seemingly innocent "Cave Dwelling realm" Mute Lake Great Water Monster was testing her?

At first, Zheng Qingjia was half-doubtful about this. But then, during one mountain patrol, Zhou Mili seemed to speak casually, mentioning that Jing Qing had a wide circle of friends, drinking and arm-wrestling with "Chen Zhaoliu" and "Mei Qin Xiansheng." Hearing this, Zheng Qingjia's Dao heart trembled. That person surnamed Xin, wielding a long sword and carrying three thousand "Po Zhen Zi," had previously caused quite a stir in the Barren Wastes World along with a certain scholar wearing a tall hat and iron sword—outsiders might not know, but Zheng Qingjia had heard of it.

Then she heard the innocent, carefree little girl say again that Jing Qing was always muttering about how, when he next saw that "Nephew Zheng," who liked to wear white clothes and looked like a wealthy man, he'd need to give him a meeting gift, fulfilling his duty and intentions as an elder... The Yuan Lake Female Immortal nearly had her Dao heart shattered on the spot!

After that, Zheng Qingjia never went for walks again.

She was absolutely certain—that Patron Zhou, in every word she spoke, hidden meanings, every sentence with purpose, was testing her, "Zheng" Qingjia!

On two occasions, when Zheng Qingjia secretly passed by her residence, the door was closed. The black-clothed little girl with the slanted cloth bag scratched her face. That was it—Qingjia sister probably thought mountain patrols weren't fun, couldn't say it openly, so she used this method to politely decline. Got it, got it. Ha, Qingjia sister was hinting at her. This little brain of mine—sharp!

A Great Li military transport ship docked at Niujiao Ferry.

On the ship appeared several Ministry of Justice patrons wearing "no trouble" medallions and a group of Great Li armored, sword-bearing accompanying army cultivators.

Clearly, although this ship wasn't large, the mission's specifications were quite high.

Some observant people at the dock could tell at a glance that there must be important Great Li officials on board.

The person in charge was a handsome man with a cinnabar red wine gourd at his waist, Great Li Capital Ministry of Personnel Vice Minister Cao Gengxin, revisiting an old haunt with much emotion.

There were also two Great Li Earth Branch members—Yuan Huajing, a scion of the Pillar State Yuan family and an Infant Projection realm sword cultivator, and Zhou Haijing, a mountain summit realm female grandmaster who had filled a vacancy in the Earth Branch.

Their trip south to Chu Province was to escort sixteen people into Fallen Mountain for cultivation. These cultivation seeds and martial arts prodigies, ranging in age from nine to eighteen, came from various backgrounds.

On the Fallen Mountain side, the only ones responsible for receiving them here were a stern-faced green-robed boy and a man squatting by the cliff railing, picking his nose and flicking the boogers away.

Since they had no sword tokens, according to protocol, these outsiders would need to walk to Tiaoyu Mountain—no short journey.

Cao Gengxin, who had served as kiln supervisor for many years, was clearly not a stranger to the shifty-eyed man. They strode toward each other, clapped hands firmly, then grasped each other tightly. "The capital has good soil and water, Supervisor Cao is becoming more manly by the day." "Old Wind Brother's style remains as sharp-eyed as ever."

Zhou Haijing felt that the man with the disheveled aura and unseemly appearance had rather improper eyes, but she was used to such things and didn't feel uncomfortable.

Zheng Dafeng whispered secretly, "This sister is quite pretty. Not your wife, is she?"

Cao Gengxin sighed. It was all his own fault for having a loose tongue, ending up like a mute eating bitter herbs. The result was that before his uncle Cao Ping led the troops to the Barren Wastes World, he directly issued a military order—Cao Gengxin must marry Zhou Haijing.

Zheng Dafeng understood immediately. It must be that kind of ambiguous relationship—had hooked up but hadn't gotten anything yet. A friend's wife must not be taken advantage of. Zheng Dafeng restrained his gaze and patted Cao Gengxin's shoulder. "Wolfberry tea, snake-gall wine—I've got them all at my place, plenty. Nourishes the kidneys and strengthens yang—the effects are amazing, truly effective. Don't be shy. Don't stand on ceremony with me. When it comes to the art of the bedchamber, you can't afford to be polite. You mustn't find yourself with the heart to kill the enemy but no strength to do so. Don't let it be that when you take off your pants and then pull them back up, the woman looks at you with confusion and asks, 'Is it over already?'"

Cao Gengxin's scalp went numb. He quickly grabbed Zheng Dafeng's arm to interrupt the man's fierce words. "Let's not talk about that. Let's discuss official business first. My visit to Fallen Mountain this time comes with responsibilities—it's no small matter."

Zheng Dafeng grinned. "No small matter? When two armies face off, sending out troops only to hastily retreat, beating the drums to withdraw—that's one thing, and there are medicinal wines and such to help. But if the woman asks you, 'Did it go in?' then it's truly heaven's will, and no human effort can save you."

Cao Gengxin couldn't handle it. Luckily, Zheng Dafeng hadn't forgotten to use sound-condensation techniques; otherwise, if Zhou Haijing overheard, he'd be in deep trouble. Cao Gengxin quickly took out a booklet and secretly handed it to Zheng Dafeng. "I haven't been idle on this trip. I might even be suspected of siding with outsiders. I've been thinking only of Old Wind Brother and Fallen Mountain. I've written down some trivial matters about these sixteen people in the booklet, to supplement the official court archives."

Zheng Dafeng smoothly pocketed it, smiling. "Very thoughtful. We're brothers, so no thanks needed. We'll show our true feelings over drinks later."

The green-robed boy coughed a few times, shook his sleeves, and raised his fists in salute. "My name is Chen Lingjun, Dao name Jing Qing. I am a patron of the Jise Peak Ancestral Hall. I won't discuss my realm. Greetings to Lord Cao and all the distinguished guests from the capital."

Cao Gengxin nodded and smiled. "Ancestor Jing Qing, renowned far and wide."

Chen Lingjun immediately revealed his true form, grinning smugly with his hands on his hips.

Supervisor Cao has good judgment! He can sit at the table and drink! He won't have to share a table with the Left Protector of Qilong Lane.

As for the group of young men and women, Chen Lingjun didn't take them seriously at all. Not looking down on you, but now that I, Lord Chen, have achieved Dao successfully with boundless dharma power, with just one casual punch—just to scare you a little—wouldn't you be terrified, your faces drained of blood? Wouldn't you be crying like pear blossoms in the rain? Could you withstand my second punch?

Zhou Haijing smiled and asked, "May I ask this Immortal Master Jing Qing, Pei Qian—Master Chen's first disciple—is she currently on the mountain?"

She and Pei Qian were both listed among the Four Great Grandmasters of the Treasure Bottle Continent martial arts ranking.

Previously, during the competition at the Great Li Capital, Zhou Haijing had already sparred with Yu Hong. She had lost the match, but she believed she could kill that old man within a few years.

Chen Lingjun laughed heartily. "Pei Qian? She's a grown woman now. Very busy. She comes and goes. For the excavation of the great river on Tongye Continent, she needs to contribute. The capable are always busy."

If the mountain lord hadn't stopped him, then the masterless Ancestral Hall in Yunnan Kingdom country—that child Cao Qinglang or Master Zhong—would have had to give him a seat.

Zhou Haijing momentarily couldn't gauge the status of this green-robed boy at Fallen Mountain. From his tone alone, he seemed to treat Zenith Realm Pei Qian as nothing special? As if she were a junior.

In the Imperial River Water Mansion of Great Li's vassal Huangting Kingdom, he was on brotherly terms with the Water God, ordering people around as he pleased. He was the first to follow Chen Ping'an up the mountain, a true Fallen Mountain founding member. Later, he successfully completed the water passage at the Jidu River in Northern Ju Lu Continent as an Infant Projection realm water dragon... She was clear about all of this.

Nearby, there was dead silence.

These sixteen people came from different backgrounds, family traditions, and teacher transmissions. Each harbored their own thoughts, carrying the hopes of their families and sects, or their own expectations for themselves.

But they were all equally curious, hopeful, nervous, anxious, and drawn with their hearts and minds.

Because they would soon see Fallen Mountain with their own eyes, and meet the legendary Chen Ping'an up close.

The founding patriarch of Fallen Mountain in Great Li's Chu Province, the suzerain sect master of the Green Lotus Sword Sect on Tongye Continent. The last Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall, the closed-door disciple of the Wen Sheng lineage, the junior brother of the Great Li National Prestige Embroidered Tiger Cui Chan, Ning Yao's Dao partner, the slayer of the Barren Wastes Grand Elder's first disciple, the man who carved words on the city wall challenging Tuo Yue Mountain, the Zenith Realm martial artist who competed in the Azure and White contention with Cao Ci, the one who, together with Liu Xianyang, challenged Zhengyang Mountain with swords... not to mention the protagonist "Chen Ping'an" in a certain travelogue, and so on.

So many identities and titles, so many heroic deeds—one could count them on both hands.

Zhou Haijing smiled charmingly, voicing a key question on behalf of many children. "Could it be that Mountain Lord Chen is too important to remember common folk? Can't he spare some time from his busy schedule to come see us?"

Zheng Dafeng said casually, "Never mind seeing our Mountain Lord Chen. These sixteen people, for years to come, probably won't even be able to go up Fallen Mountain once."

Zhou Haijing, who was always unrestrained in her speech, pretended to be surprised. "Wow, I see. Is this what they call a big shop bullying its customers?"

Zheng Dafeng glanced at Cao Gengxin. Your wife talks with hidden thorns like this, and you don't control her? Another henpecked husband?

Cao Gengxin smiled, playing dumb.

Zheng Dafeng's look was like throwing a chamber pot at Cao Gengxin. Absolutely refuse to accept it.

Yuan Huajing reminded via heart voice, "Zhou Haijing, please be mindful of your status."

First, the twelve Great Li Earth Branch cultivators were nominally under Cao Gengxin's command, but everyone knew the reality.

Simply put, Cao Gengxin was at most a manager. Chen Ping'an, however, could manage people, or both people and affairs—it only depended on whether Chen Ping'an was willing to manage.

Moreover, didn't you know that Chen Ping'an was now the Great Li National Prestige? If Chen Ping'an and the Emperor hadn't deliberately kept it quiet, the whole continent would have known by now.

Then Zheng Dafeng led the way, guiding this group of distinguished guests from the capital in a grand procession on foot toward Fallen Mountain.

Chen Lingjun, who truly saw himself as "Ancestor Jing Qing," was immensely proud. He formed a hand seal to perform a rain-summoning and cloud-controlling technique, mounting a white cloud and floating slowly through the air.

The sixteen people had varied reactions to this immortal spectacle.

They didn't know much about this "Old Immortal at the Infant Projection realm," who shared the surname Chen with the young Hidden Official. They only knew that Ancestor Jing Qing, who had regained his youthful appearance, preferred solitude and disliked going out. He was most likely that kind of pure Daoist who avoided worldly affairs, preferring to live in seclusion in the mountains, cultivating the Dao with a single-minded determination to attain eternal life. The only time he had appeared in the outside world was during that "Ceremony at Zhengyang Mountain." However, they had heard that this Ancestor Jing Qing had a very close relationship with the Night Travel God Lord of Piyun Mountain.

For others, going up the mountain meant ascending to cultivate the Dao. For this green-robed boy, going up the mountain really just meant going up the mountain.

Walking along the path at Niujiao Ferry, Zhou Haijing suddenly asked a question about Zheng Dafeng. "Someone clearly with unique insights and a transcendent disposition—why deliberately act like a petty person, inviting dislike? What's the point?"

She had seen more than a few "mountain immortals" high in the void who pretended to be profound, Qi Practitioners who liked to act mysterious, approachable martial grandmasters who pretended to be informal while being scheming, and the names of those in the martial world. But someone like Zheng Dafeng, who seemed almost afraid of being considered a lofty person, was still rare.

Cao Gengxin thought for a moment and answered seriously, "Someone who knows themselves too well is like duckweed without roots, drifting with the current. Before entering the sea, they want to have a few more words with the riverbank—afraid of being remembered too much, yet also afraid of being forgotten too quickly."

Zhou Haijing asked casually, "Why doesn't the Great Li court increase the proportion of Qi Practitioners among officials?"

Outside the Great Li Song clan, every country in the continent desired more Qi Practitioners in the court, whether as civil officials, military officers, patrons, or guest elders. It was not that they didn't want to—they simply couldn't.

Cao Gengxin said casually, "Decadence is like a steamer, easily driving away vibrant vitality."

Zhou Haijing took a long look at this man universally acknowledged as squatting in the latrine without shitting, yet who had a smooth ride in his official career and prosperous luck. Oh, quite insightful.

Zheng Dafeng deliberately didn't look at the affectionate glances between the interested parties. Disgusting! And also somewhat sad. When would his bitter days end? The drought was dying of thirst while the flood was drowning.

A hunched old man in a green long gown and cloth shoes had been waiting early at the mountain gate of the vassal Tiaoyu Mountain.

There was also a white-haired child standing there, his face full of joy. Pen in one hand, booklet in the other, raring to go.

Rich! Rich!

Sixteen people all at once! All Qi Practitioners below the Earth Immortal level and martial artists below the third Refining Spirit realm.

Blessings come every year, but today they're especially abundant!

Beside the old chef stood Cen Yuanji, who very much didn't want to be there.

Cen Yuanji said awkwardly, "Mr. Zhu, can I really teach others martial arts?"

Zhu Lian laughed. "You are one of the two officially appointed martial arts instructors, the primary and the deputy, handpicked by the mountain lord. You shouldn't doubt the mountain lord's judgment."

From the very first glance, Cen Yuanji had never doubted Mountain Lord Chen's "judgment," and she firmly believed in it. It was only much later that Cen Yuanji gradually changed her view.

Was Mr. Zhu speaking with double meaning? Both saying that Mountain Lord Chen hadn't misjudged her, and hinting that she hadn't misjudged Mountain Lord Chen?

Zhu Lian couldn't help but smile, not saying anything more. Reason fears the word "but," matters fear the word "if," and the world fears misunderstanding.

But that Cen Yuanji had misunderstood Mountain Lord Chen—Zhu Lian didn't think there was anything wrong with it. Instead, it was a unique beauty of Fallen Mountain.

The dignified mountain lord of Fallen Mountain, strolling along the mountain path in his own territory, passed by that female martial artist who was practicing her horse stance endlessly. One thought the other deliberately didn't look at her, surely that was a case of "no silver buried here"; the other thought that taking a few glances at a fellow martial artist was only natural, but it might give the impression of being a flirt, while not looking at all would seem guilty. Looking or not looking—both were wrong. Unjust?

Cen Yuanji asked curiously, "Even if the mountain lord is too busy with affairs and can't get away, wouldn't it be better to have Pei Qian teach martial arts? Is it because she's indispensable for excavating the great river on Tongye Continent?"

Zhu Lian shook his head. "Pei Qian is only suitable for learning martial arts, not for teaching them."

"Why?"

"Pei Qian is self-centered."

Cen Yuanji was completely confused.

Zhu Lian explained patiently. "Pei Qian's martial arts are her own. Because her techniques, theories, meanings, and methods are unique to her. Even if she's willing to teach everything, wanting to lend her martial arts for others to see, for repeated observation, the other person still couldn't receive it or learn it. The spirit and meaning of Pei Qian's martial arts all draw inward. Our mountain lord—the reason he is Pei Qian's master—lies in his ability to both draw inward and project outward. So as long as the mountain lord himself is willing, he can make it clear, organized, vivid, and easy to understand for observers and learners."

Cen Yuanji was somewhat sad. "All the hardship and effort of learning martial arts seems to be no match for 'talent.'"

Zhu Lian smiled. "Don't compare yourself to Pei Qian in terms of talent. That would be quite meaningless. On this point, across several worlds, aside from Lin Jiangxian, Pei Bei, Cao Ci, and a few others, even our mountain lord wouldn't dare casually challenge Pei Qian in a same-realm martial arts match. Do you think that when Pei Qian was a child and went to the Sword Qi Great Wall, using the lame excuse of 'sleepwalking' would fool the mountain lord? To tell you the truth, back then, in the second floor of the bamboo tower, the mountain lord once tried to teach Pei Qian martial arts at the same realm. The result? About the same as you—knocked down with one blow."

Cen Yuanji suppressed a laugh. This was the first time she'd heard such a thing. She asked cautiously, "Why didn't Mountain Lord Chen have Mr. Zhu teach martial arts?"

Zhu Lian smiled. "The timing wasn't right. I've already arranged a match with the mountain lord. We'll fight in the capital of Nanyuan Kingdom this year during the heavy snowfall season. Before that, I need to think carefully about how to lose with dignity."

A figure in pure white robes, with a slender build, smiled at everyone he met.

It was Zhang Lü, the Lawkeeper. She was half a head taller than Cen Yuanji.

Some found this Fallen Mountain Lawkeeper very gentle and moving, while others found her eerie and terrifying, very creepy.

No one knew who had selected Fallen Mountain's Four Great Pillars: Butler Zhu Lian, Lawkeeper Zhang Lü, Spring Treasury Wei Wenlong, and Chief Patron Zhou Fei.

From the time she came up the mountain, Zhang Lü had never had a cross word with anyone.

Zhang Lü smiled. "The mountain lord didn't show himself this time. Do you think the children might have some thoughts about it?"

Zhu Lian smiled. "Not likely. Now in the Great Li Dynasty, countless people are eager to get into Fallen Mountain. The Ministry of Justice has been very careful and meticulous in selecting people. They wouldn't be foolish enough to send a few narrow-minded children here. Although half of them are connected—from Great Li wealthy families and mountain immortal mansions—what does that status amount to? So when the Ministry of Justice selected them, besides requiring exceptional talent and aptitude for cultivation and martial arts, their character couldn't be poor either. Otherwise, one rotten apple could spoil the whole barrel, turning a good thing into a bad one, making the Great Li court disgust Fallen Mountain. Hah, at that point, not only would the Minister of Justice reprimand and severely punish the officials responsible for selection, but they'd also have to go after the families and immortal mansions behind them. Even the Emperor would probably have to personally inquire about the matter. So these sixteen people—each one knows their place. If they dare to be 'difficult' after arriving at Fallen Mountain, they might not even get the chance to be 'difficult' later on."

Fallen Mountain was willing to place expectations on them, to carefully cultivate them, but that didn't give these children the right to think they could see Mountain Lord Chen whenever they wanted.

Wei Bo, wearing a golden ring earring, the Night Travel God Lord, appeared out of thin air at the foot of the mountain.

Zhu Lian smiled. "Why has the Night Travel God Lord also come to join the fun? Aren't you afraid that the grandeur might scare the fledgling children?"

Wei Bo couldn't be bothered to respond.

This new title was shouted most enthusiastically by the green-robed boy within Fallen Mountain. If anyone dared to be disrespectful and call him "Wei Shanjun" or "Brother Wei," he would get anxious and insist on correcting them.

Once Chen Ping'an returned to Fallen Mountain and had someone to back him up, Chen Lingjun became something else entirely in Wei Bo's presence. Wei Bo had been wanting to deal with Chen Lingjun for quite some time.

Wei Bo remembered something. "The Old Deaf Man from the Sword Qi Great Wall, Dao name Long Sheng, alias Gan Tang, lost his realm on the Sword Qi Great Wall battlefield. He took a trip to the Barren Wastes Dao grounds and then rose again to his peak. Now Old Deaf Man is still at the Flying Ascension realm and will soon come to Fallen Mountain as a nominal patron."

The white-haired child muttered to himself, "What bad luck. Another Flying Ascension realm patron coming."

Couldn't they learn from Jing Hao, the Green Palace Supreme Protector of Flowing Xia Continent, who came for a drink and then obediently left?

Zhang Lü asked, "What do you all think of Guo Zhujiu?"

Wei Bo asked strangely, "Why does Lawkeeper Zhang ask about this?"

Zhu Lian, however, understood perfectly. "Lawkeeper Zhang has only been in office for a few years, and you're already thinking of stepping down? That's not appropriate, is it?"

Wei Bo then understood.

Zhang Lü smiled. "Of course, I'm not resigning the lawkeeper position immediately. I just feel that if this matter is truly feasible, I should start preparing early."

As for the next candidate for Fallen Mountain Lawkeeper, Zhang Lü indeed had someone in mind—the mountain lord's personally transmitted disciple, Guo Zhujiu, who came from the Sword Qi Great Wall and had entered the Summer Retreat Palace.

Previously, when they had accompanied the mountain lord on a trip to that Da Mu Guan matter in the Lotus Root Blessed Land, Zhang Lü had gained a new respect for Guo Zhujiu, admiring him greatly and being satisfied in every way.

Guo Zhujiu was the "nemesis" of fellow disciple Pei Qian. The white-haired child and the mink-hatted girl both revered Guo Zhujiu as their alliance leader... These matters seemed like playful antics, but if looked into more deeply, they weren't so simple.

A Flowing Rainbow Boat neared the Chu Province boundary. Chen Ping'an called in Pu Liu, Guan Kui, and Shen Ke. As they took their seats in the room, he said bluntly, "You'll soon be following Gu Can to Fuyao Continent to establish a sect and become the first generation patriarchs of a brand-new sect. In the long run, being revered both inside and outside the mountain won't be easy. Don't get too used to it as time goes on. Since parting is imminent, I'll speak plainly: I can send you in, and I can drag you out. When that time comes, even Gu Can won't be able to stop me. And he probably won't even try."

The two and the ghost were terrified. The Infant Projection realm old woman, whose true name was Xu Fu, tremblingly summoned the courage to break the silence. "We humbly obey Mr. Chen's teachings."

They were all extremely sharp. They knew what kind of relationship Gu Can had with Chen Ping'an. There was no need for any explanation. They had seen and heard it with their own eyes.

If Chen Ping'an really wanted to deal with them, he wouldn't even need to speak. He could just give Gu Can a look, and Gu Can would kill them without a second thought.

A sect master cleaning house on his own territory didn't need to report to the Middle Earth Confucian Temple.

Shen Ke had suffered the most at the hands of Sword Immortal Chen. Those "bleak years" of ghost-like confinement were far more than just "miserable beyond words." Since the old woman Pu Liu had taken the initiative, the old grandmaster immediately stood up, clasped his fists, and said solemnly, "Sword Immortal Chen, Shen Ke has now seen the light and thoroughly reformed his ways. If not for being blessed by Sword Immortal Chen's kindness and having the fortune to follow Sect Leader Gu, receiving a registry identity, I dare say this from my conscience: from the first step I took out of that world, I made up my mind. For however many years or decades I have left to live, from now on I will strive to be a good person and do good deeds. Your dharma is boundless, Sword Immortal Chen. You will know that every word I speak now is my sincere, heartfelt truth. Not a single word is false pretentiousness."

Since Shen Ke had stood up and declared himself, the old woman Xu Fu and the ghost Guan Kui had no choice but to stand up and show their sincerity as well.

Chen Ping'an folded his hands in his sleeves, nodded, and smiled. "The words are sincerely true, no doubt. But whether they match reality will need to wait and see. I'll tell you in advance: if you manage to make me believe you today and then deceive me in some matter tomorrow, your crime will be doubled."

Shen Ke became even more impassioned as he spoke. He just kept his mind clear and pure, throwing caution to the wind, and said loudly, "I will never give Sword Immortal Chen the chance to misjudge me!"

Chen Ping'an reached out and pressed down a couple of times, indicating for them to sit and talk, there was no need to be so formal. "I'll have Gu Can light a Life-Extending Lantern for you in the Ancestral Hall. I won't give you, Shen Ke, the chance to fear death and thus not dare to be a good person or do good deeds."

Shen Ke's butt had just touched the chair surface when he quickly stood up again to thank Sword Immortal Chen. The old grandmaster was overjoyed. Such a good thing really existed?!

Xu Fu and Guan Kui exchanged glances. Lighting a Life-Extending Lantern in the Ancestral Hall truly meant gaining an extra life.

Chen Ping'an didn't want to simply oppress them with force, leaving them to have nightmares at the mere thought of his name. He said slowly, "Someone might ask, what is a true noble person? It is merely a thought of sincerity and right intention, maintained over time, persistently held to the end. Naturally, one will treat small matters as serious challenges, and sitting in a closed room as if in a busy thoroughfare. Day and night without rest, examining oneself three times daily, year after year, steadfast in this mind, walking the Dao. Naturally, one will face great challenges as if nothing is amiss, and place oneself in a crowded market as if connecting with heaven and earth. Ask the world: who can deceive me in matters of profit? Who can insult me in matters of reputation? Across a hundred years, a thousand autumns, ten thousand ages, who can truly confine a 'me'?"

It was like being in a "closed room" inside. The three of them savored these words carefully. No one dared to break the silence first. Each had their own admiration in their hearts.

Shen Ke felt that Mountain Lord Chen truly deserved to be a Zenith Realm martial artist with divine martial arts. His calm words were like powerful punches, making others want to kneel and prostrate themselves in worship.

The ghost Guan Kui, who had also been a teacher, felt that Chen Ping'an was worthy of being the closed-door disciple of Wen Sheng. The old woman Xu Fu felt that Sword Immortal Chen and Ning Yao were a match made in heaven.

Chen Ping'an was actually quite embarrassed. He could only make a joke to break the tension. "Don't be stunned and spaced out. Quickly take out paper and brush and write down these golden words and fine phrases."

The heavy atmosphere suddenly relaxed a bit. Chen Ping'an said, "Since parting is imminent, how about we both remember each other's good points?"

Shen Ke had already found some mysterious feeling. Without waiting for the other two to speak, he said, "Shen Ke is convinced and willing to obey!"

Somehow, although he had been terrified of Fallen Mountain before, at this moment, Shen Ke felt he could even ascend the mountain without fear.

Since Shen Ke had spoken first, Xu Fu and Guan Kui had no choice but to follow suit.

Chen Ping'an stood up and walked to the window, smiling. "There's an old saying in our hometown: a person shouldn't have 'poor eyes.' Having no money in the pocket might be temporary, but having poor eyes means being poor for a lifetime."

Xu Fu and Guan Kui both looked at Shen Ke. The old grandmaster was puzzled, instead looking back at them with questioning eyes—Aren't you both flatterers? I gave you the chance, and you didn't take it.

Liu Xianyang marveled. "Don't you think the atmosphere at Fallen Mountain is strange?"

Gu Can nodded with a smile. "Like being in a basket of orchids—stay long enough, and you'll naturally smell of flowers?"

Huang Lie had no choice but to formulate some words to chime in. "Mountain Lord Chen's merit is truly immense."

At Niujiao Ferry, close to Fallen Mountain.

Nothing happened today. Even without earning money, it was very valuable.

Another day of being a carefree little immortal.

When the sixteen people ascended Tiaoyu Mountain instead of Fallen Mountain, their disappointment lessened somewhat because they had seen the Lawkeeper Ancestor named Zhang Lü at the foot of the mountain.

Even if the main figure still hadn't appeared, Fallen Mountain hadn't treated them as dispensable, as beings that could be completely ignored.

But they didn't know that Chen Ping'an had been sitting at the top of the steps on the Tiaoyu Mountain path. Not only that, but Sword Immortal Liu and the unbridled Gu Can were also there.

They had just used an illusion technique so that the group couldn't see them.

Liu Xianyang wanted to sit in the middle, but Gu Can wouldn't allow it. Liu Xianyang moved his position, but Gu Can followed and moved his. Liu Xianyang was angry—let the big brother have a little limelight, what was the problem?

Unable to succeed, Liu Xianyang said indignantly, "Little snot-nose, you're about to become a sect master, and you still act so childish?!"

Gu Can laughed. "I'm childish, and you're not childish."

When Liu Xianyang learned that Chen Ping'an wouldn't show himself today, he didn't care anymore. He immediately stood up, brushed off his pants, and left. "If this place doesn't keep me, there'll be another place for me." Sect Leader Liu went to the Dragon Whisker River near the ironworks shop, familiar with the way. He tucked a duck under each arm and returned to his own mountain peak to make a bamboo shoot and duck stew. Unfortunately, it couldn't really be called an old duck stew—it was a bit short in years.

Chen Ping'an and Gu Can returned to Jiling Peak. The young Hidden Official was very polite, but Zheng Qingjia was even more polite, to the point that Chen Ping'an couldn't figure it out.

Gu Can was meeting this Golden Kingfisher City female immortal with the Dao name Yuan Hu for the first time. Settling her in was simple: Liu Youzhou would be the deputy sect master, and Zheng Qingjia would be a figurehead "God of Wealth."

Pei Qian had to use the Three Mountains Talisman again, leaving the Yulin Ferry on Tongye Continent and arriving at the Lotus Root Blessed Land. Pei Qian first went to the Heart-Phase Temple in the capital of Nanyuan Kingdom.

Martial destiny surged toward her, but Pei Qian scattered it with her fists. Martial destiny fell like rain, sprinkling down upon the blessed land.

At a strange mountain summit, Pei Qian subsequently replaced Chen Ping'an's "highest" position.

Not counting the first martial realm, which was like taking the first step into the martial path, from the second realm to the mountain summit realm, there were eight realms in total, and thus eight positions on the summit.

Plus the three layers of the Zenith Realm—Majestic Qi, Return to Truth, Spirit Arrival. Thus, there were eleven positions in total.

For ten thousand years, every talented martial artist who competed with contemporaries and ascended to the next realm as the "strongest" of their era would receive a martial destiny gift from the world. But in the entire ten thousand years, though martial artists were countless, those who had advanced to the next realm as the "strongest" were not few. However, those who could come here and stand for a while, and especially those who didn't give up their position, were without exception geniuses among geniuses in the martial path.

But in less than two hundred years, most of the old faces on the mountain summit had been replaced.

In the Azure Underworld, Lin Jiangxian, the Mountain Master of Crow Mountain, was now indisputably the number one martial artist in the world.

This Sword Qi Great Wall Sacrificial Officer, whose true name was Yan Guo, had come here once from Return to Truth to Spirit Arrival.

The female Martial God of the Great Duan Dynasty, Pei Bei, the number one martial artist in the Haoran World, had a seat on the summit.

As Pei Bei's personally transmitted disciple, Cao Ci, in pure white robes, occupied four positions alone.

Chen Ping'an had also been here before, but he hadn't stood for a few days before being pushed out of his position by his own first disciple.

So now, at this time and place, there were two Pei Qians of different ages.

First, there was a strange, clever little black charcoal girl.

Then, a young woman with her hair in a topknot.

Pei Qian couldn't see "Master" here. She didn't say a word, standing still at the summit for a long time, waiting. Finding that her mind still hadn't returned to its original place, she silently walked down the mountain, not even bothering to exchange a word with that existence.

That strange existence, breaking its own rules again for Pei Qian, walked beside her and said with a smile, "Not bad. Faster than I expected for you to appear."

Pei Qian was already in a bad mood. She remembered her master taking half a punch. She held back, held back, and finally barely managed not to say "none of your business."

The First Ancestor of the Military Strategist family, who had opened a martial path for the human world with his fists ten thousand years ago, laughed. "You're not still holding a grudge about that light half-punch, are you?"

Pei Qian held back as long as she could, but finally couldn't help it. Still, she remembered to say "Senior" first, then added, "Why are you so foul-mouthed?"

You thought that when I ascended and descended the mountain last time, my words and actions were lacking in etiquette? If you have the guts, come at me directly! Settling accounts with my master—what kind of hero is that?

The First Ancestor of the Military Strategist family laughed heartily. "That kid Chen Ping'an—his ability to learn martial arts is passable, mediocre at best, far behind Cao Ci. But his ability to take disciples is quite good."

Pei Qian had learned from past experience. Worried that this fellow had no sense of martial world honor, she just walked down the mountain in silence, saying nothing more.

In the past, with her little black charcoal temper, she would have shown him what a firecracker was, what ancestral grave smoke meant.

The First Ancestor of the Military Strategist family escorted Pei Qian all the way to the foot of the mountain. He smiled and said, "Go back and tell Chen Ping'an that he can come to the foot of the mountain for a chat."

Just the foot of the mountain?

Pei Qian said curtly, "Senior has such great ability, why don't you invite my master yourself?"

The tall, blurry figure reached out a hand, as if wanting to rub Pei Qian's head. "Who does this temper take after?"

Pei Qian turned her head to dodge, glaring at him.

The next moment, just as Pei Qian was about to turn her head to look at the summit, her mind was thrown out of this vast world.

A man in a pure white robe with eyes of pure gold stood with his hands in his sleeves at the summit, looking down from his height at the burly man who turned to meet his gaze. He smiled with narrowed eyes. "An uninvited guest—like a reunion of old acquaintances. If you're not convinced, then... have a fight?"

The First Ancestor of the Military Strategist family stared at the figure, scoffing. "Just half of a one, and you dare to act like a big shot, trying to scare me?"

Unexpectedly, a tall woman appeared beside "that person," planting her sword on the ground. "Scaring you?"