Chapter 1108: The Unattainable Grand Romance
Walking in the mountains, the wind rises among the pines like the sound of swords and halberds. Birds fly above birds beyond the cliff, clouds rise from within clouds.
The little girl in black patrolled the mountain all the way to the cliffside, followed by two burdens—Chief Zhou and Sword Immortal Mi.
They sat down, and Little Mi Li began distributing sunflower seeds. Even without speaking, no one felt the atmosphere awkward.
Chen Ping'an cracked seeds and suddenly asked a strange question, "Would the Jiang Shangzhen of the past, becoming today's Chief Zhou, have great regrets?"
The master of Nine Peaks Peak in Jade Gui Sect, the Jiang bandit from Northern Ju Lu Continent, Zhou Fei of Spring Tide Palace in Lotus Flower Blessed Land, the Jiang clan head who massacred in Cloud Cavern Blessed Land, the Jiang Sect Master in Brush Mirror Lake's True Realm Sect who made even the rogue cultivator Liu Laocheng dare not show any disloyalty, the Jiang Shangzhen whose chair was thrown in Spirit Seal Peak's Patriarch Hall.
For Jiang Shangzhen to adapt and integrate into Fallen Mountain meant making concessions for Fallen Mountain, meant that Jiang Shangzhen would no longer be the Jiang Shangzhen he once was. The most troublesome part was that on Fallen Mountain, there were not a few clever people. If Jiang Shangzhen only pretended, and his inside and outside were two different people, then their relationship was bound to be superficial and not lasting. So Jiang Shangzhen, who "cultivates and lives as he pleases, never forced to choose", seemed to have to make a choice between two.
Jiang Shangzhen smiled broadly, "Previously, when I reunited with Sect Master Cui in Tongye Continent, he also asked me a similar question. Sure enough, master and student share similar thoughts."
Chen Ping'an asked, "What was your answer then?"
Jiang Shangzhen grinned, "Forgot."
Chen Ping'an didn't press further and changed the subject, "Not in a hurry to return to Tongye Continent?"
Jiang Shangzhen nodded, "I am the chief of the upper sect after all."
Little Mi Li looked at Mi Yu, covered her mouth with her hand, and lowered her voice, "Yu Mi, Yu Mi, Chief Zhou is calling you out."
Mi Yu, who had wanted to play dumb, had no choice but to say helplessly, "Hidden Official, since Old Deafie has arrived, can you let him be the chief guest elder of Green Ping Sword Sect? I'm willing to yield!"
Chen Ping'an laughed, "No way. If I give Old Deafie another burden, he might pack up and run away."
Mi Yu didn't give up, "Should I go and persuade him?"
Chen Ping'an said grumpily, "Just be a decent person."
Mi Yu had to drop it.
Jiang Shangzhen asked with a smile, "Mountain Master, have you decided on the farewell gifts?"
Chen Ping'an nodded, "I happen to have a small fortune, one talisman per person."
Mi Yu coughed.
Chen Ping'an came to his senses, having miscalculated.
Cui Dongshan once said a very Cui Dongshan-esque thing, roughly meaning that he, the student, was only good at destroying people's hearts, while Chen Ping'an, the teacher, was good at mending them.
Chen Ping'an didn't delve into how sincere that praise was.
But Chen Ping'an kept that sentence close to heart, treating it as a very weighty reminder, even a warning.
So Chen Ping'an kept asking himself, whether his words and actions as a teacher were worthy of his student's evaluation.
This was very Chen Ping'an.
Perhaps this was one of the reasons why Chen Ping'an was Chen Ping'an?
Jiang Shangzhen asked, "I heard the Mountain Master is in urgent need of gold essence copper coins?"
Chen Ping'an smiled, "Temporarily sufficient. Don't squander the little reputation Old Sect Master Jiang has managed to accumulate. What we lack now can't be bought with money; it's quite difficult."
Jiang Shangzhen understood immediately, referring to the sword-whetstones made from Dragon-Slaying Platform material. For sword cultivators, one can never have too many of these. Even non-sword cultivators would love to collect them, typical priceless and marketless treasures.
The number of flying swords a sword cultivator has doesn't absolutely correlate with killing power or future achievement. On the Great Wall of Swords, there have been many over the millennia who punched through the barbarian formation with just one natal flying sword. But no sword cultivator in the world would complain about having an extra flying sword.
The number of sword cultivators with two natal flying swords is small compared to those with one, dropping off a cliff.
As for those with three flying swords, in the ten-thousand-year history of the Great Wall of Swords, they are not exactly few enough to count on one hand, but if you gave the Summer Retreat a sheet of paper, it would hardly fill the page.
The youngest Nine Peaks Peak master in Jade Gui Sect's history, the youth Qiu Zhi, had three natal flying swords.
Among the nine children, the seemingly most inconspicuous Yao Xiaoyan also had three.
One of the three great talents of the Hao Ran, sword master Pei Min, had four.
Pei Min was the sword cultivator with the most flying swords that Chen Ping'an knew of.
Jiang Shangzhen said, "Only when sword cultivators talk about this do they feel that having just one natal flying sword still has some benefits."
Mi Yu sent a heartfelt message, "Hidden Official, shall Chief Zhou and I return to Tongye Continent in a grand manner, then sneak a trip to Dragon Ridge Mountain?"
The Sword Immortal Mi's subtext was that they could secretly cut off a few pieces to solve the immediate need.
Chen Ping'an laughed in anger, "I'm now the Great Li State Preceptor; you try sneaking around on me?!"
Mi Yu glanced at Jiang Shangzhen. Doing something like guarding the treasure and stealing it—Chief Zhou had done that seamlessly.
Jiang Shangzhen said, "Every time a sword cultivator uses a sword-whetstone, the world loses a piece of Dragon-Slaying Platform. That is indeed hard to handle."
Yu Xuan was rich, had realm, status, merit, reputation—everything a qi refiner should have, enviable qualities, and he had more than others.
Even so, when he talked business about Dragon-Slaying Platform with Chen Ping'an, the old true man was very troubled, couldn't make any promises, only said he could mention it to old friends and act as a bridge. Whether they would sell and at what price, it all depended on fate.
The Great Li Ministry of Revenue's secret record of Sixth Mountain, commonly known as Dragon Ridge Mountain in the town. Four forces had reclaimed that mountain: the Great Li Song clan, Ruan Qiong, the two military ancestral courts Snow Wind Temple and True Martial Mountain.
The mountain had been sealed for nearly thirty years, with layers of checkpoints and formations, heavily guarded. Anyone entering without permission would be summarily executed.
Now that Chen Ping'an had the identity of Great Li State Preceptor, he could come and go freely.
But the Great Li court only helped with opening the mountain to expose the Dragon-Slaying Platform; they did not participate in dividing up the purest sword-whetstones.
The Dragon-Slaying Platform that originally belonged to Snow Wind Temple and Dragon Spring Sword Sect was already an empty shell.
Great effort had been rewarded handsomely. For example, the Snow Wind Temple founder secretly obtained an ancient sword technique, which allowed him to reach Celestial Immortal. Moreover, this sword lineage could lead sword cultivators straight to Jade Pellet, and help them overcome the three major cultivation bottlenecks of opening a residence, forming a golden core, and breaking through from Nascent Soul to Jade Pellet—like divine help, building a long bridge to reduce many obstacles. Thus, "straight to" was truly as described.
Ruan Qiong, after seeing the "old sword strip", also obtained an incredible sword-forging technique. Of all the Dragon-Slaying Platform mined before, Ruan Qiong, as the Great Li Song clan's chief royal elder, kept only a small part as family assets—after all, Dragon Spring Sword Sect was a sword sect—and gave the rest to the Great Li court. The Great Li Emperor then passed them to the Mo clan to pay off debts for building sword boats and mountain ferry ships. The most important base material for the city the Mo clan leader was building on the Barbarian Continent was Dragon-Slaying Platform.
Thus, the only one that hadn't squandered its ancestral property was True Martial Mountain.
The ancient Heavenly Court had two execution platforms, one of which was called the Dragon-Slaying Platform. It was shattered during the battle to ascend to heaven and fell to the mortal world. The two largest pieces were Dragon Ridge Mountain in Li Pearl Cave Heaven and the "small hill" on the Ning Manor mountaintop in the Great Wall of Swords where a pavilion was built.
According to Pure Yang Lu Yan, Dragon Ridge Mountain had many ancient names, such as True Hidden, Heavenly Nose, Windmill, Watchtower Lamp, etc. There was once a cave heaven called Kuo Cang Cave, the most important feng shui treasure land in the ancient Shu region.
Ning Yao had once entrusted Zhang Lu, the gatekeeper of Hanging Mountain, to give Chen Ping'an, staying at Stork Inn, a Dragon-Slaying Platform shaped like a long inkstone, on one side inscribed with "Innocence of Heaven".
It was probably intended to take one character each from "Heavenly Nose" and "True Hidden".
After Chen Ping'an heard Lu Yan reveal the celestial secret, he went to ask Ning Yao. Ning Yao said that sending that item was the old Sword Immortal's intention.
But Chen Qingdu's evaluation of Chen Ping'an at that time in front of Ning Yao was not pleasant.
The old Sword Immortal said that poor sour scholar, dark-skinned and really not handsome. Though his eyes were bright, it made him look even darker. Ugly as he was, no matter, as a young martial artist, he had traveled thousands of miles across the sea, nearly lost his life at Dragon Trench, crossed Hanging Mountain just to bring a sword for you, Ning girl. Met you, drank some small wine, dared to say he likes you. He had the essence of pursuing a woman without shame. Besides, he had a tenacity, not bad. Since he likes you and you don't hate him, you should show something. I think that Dragon-Slaying Stone is good. He has that thing in his hometown, and the money-grubber already knows its value. He's not yet a qi refiner, let alone a sword cultivator. If on the way home, say in that smelly bull-nosed Daoist's Lotus Flower Blessed Land, the kid manages to rebuild the Longevity Bridge, and one day when short of money and for breaking through, he would sell it at a high price or secretly pawn it—that would show he has shallow eyes and an unsettled heart, definitely not a good match. Especially if he later becomes a sword cultivator and is tempted by realms and sword forging, secretly using up this Dragon-Slaying Platform, Ning girl shouldn't be fooled by his sweet talk. Such a man is still unacceptable…
Ning Yao frowned as she listened, but after Chen Qingdu finished, she gave her own thoughts and answer.
I am unwilling to test him like this, and he doesn't need to be tested like this.
If it weren't the old Sword Immortal speaking, Ning Yao would have put it more directly.
This would be an insult to Chen Ping'an and a degradation of herself.
Chen Qingdu laughed heartily then, sighed with feeling, "The character 'love' is invincible; Ning Yao is no exception."
The mutual affection of a young boy and girl—truly beautiful.
After that, the old Sword Immortal gave a reason that Ning Yao would accept: saying that this item concealed a not-small fortune that would help Chen Ping'an's future cultivation. That kid is quite clever; maybe one day he'll catch on and figure out its secret, but you can't remind him. If you do, it will go off track.
A fortune? Old Sword Immortal, even if you had called it a "literary connection", I might have thought more about it.
Otherwise, this token of love from Ning Yao, I wouldn't have given it a second thought. Fortune? Being with Ning Yao is the greatest fortune.
Every time I remember or see "Innocence of Heaven" and "Ning Yao", I simply miss her. What else would I think? What else could I think?
Perhaps this is what is meant by "conditions not yet ripe". Not only is it unattainable no matter how you seek, you don't even know how to seek, or even that you need to seek.
Even after reconstructing the events with Ning Yao, Chen Ping'an roughly determined that the fortune the old Sword Immortal referred to was that Kuo Cang Cave Heaven and that half of the Dragon-Slaying Platform. Even if he missed it, it didn't matter.
He had never missed her.
Thinking back to those days on the Great Wall of Swords, you think just because I drank a bit with friends at the tavern, Ning Yao wouldn't let me in?
Of course not, completely wrong! Which bastard dares to misunderstand me, I'll make them know what a scholar is, and what the simple folk of my hometown are like.
It was I who didn't want to go in! It was cool outside, tipsy and lying down to nap, quite pleasant. Chatting with Grandpa Nalan at the gate about old times—very interesting!
True Martial Mountain, it seemed he would have to make a trip within the year.
First, to discuss that piece of Dragon-Slaying Platform, see if there is any room for negotiation.
More importantly, Chen Ping'an wanted to meet Ma Kuxuan's guardian.
This person was naturally no villain; he differed greatly from many mountain cultivators. Of course, in Li Pearl Cave Heaven, he never made things difficult for Chen Ping'an or schemed against him.
But the other party had once laid down a certain truth in front of the straw-shoe-wearing youth. Now that Chen Ping'an was the mountain master and Sword Immortal, he would take that truth to go see him. Simple matter.
After the last Patriarch Hall meeting ended, Chen Ping'an went to the pressure workshop to settle accounts with Shopkeeper Shi as usual. That grand-disciple Zhou Junchen, who liked to be a little mute, now would take the initiative to call Chen Ping'an "Teacher Grandfather", though still without much of a smile.
Chen Ping'an would only nod and hum. But inside, he was overjoyed.
Shi Rou privately told the little mute that Mountain Master Chen was very happy that you could take the initiative to call him Teacher Grandfather.
The little mute pouted and said that his teacher grandfather was a busy man with big affairs; his mood wouldn't fluctuate over such a trivial matter.
But though the child said that, he was happy. When he stood on the stool to read, his whole demeanor was relaxed. The child was no longer huddled in a corner, cautiously watching the world.
Chen Ping'an casually asked about Yuan Huang. Jiang Shangzhen said the kid was genuinely good, excellent aptitude and temperament, very suitable to settle on Fallen Mountain. His future martial arts achievements might not be lower than Zhong Qian and Cao Ni.
Actually, Chen Ping'an wanted to use Yuan Huang as evidence for the opposite. The current atmosphere on Fallen Mountain has nothing to do with me as the mountain master, not even half a copper coin's worth.
This guy was already very good at talking before coming up the mountain. Since Yuan Huang was like this, then Chief Zhou, Old Immortal Jia, you are also like this. Thus it proves, what does the atmosphere of my mountain have to do with me? Perhaps you influenced me instead!
Jiang Shangzhen had no idea about the twists and turns.
Earlier in the capital, the Vice Minister of Personnel Cao Gengxin made a move of seeking wealth in danger, successfully becoming the leader of the Great Li Earth Branch lineage, finally gaining more room to display his ambitions.
This former kiln supervisor thought he was making a life-and-death gamble, but his choice was already anticipated by Cui Chan.
Because Yuan Huajing had proven this. State Preceptor Cui Chan indeed had a message for Chen Ping'an, saying that Cao Gengxin was a suitable candidate. If he dared to gamble, let him be the public leader of the Earth Branch cultivators, to avoid distractions from numerous trivial affairs. But remember to have Prince Song Xu and Cao Gengxin check and balance each other, both openly and covertly, not too harmonious; if there are no disagreements, that is a path of gradual decay.
But before revealing this truth, Yuan Huajing first asked Chen Ping'an two questions: First, how do you view the once-in-a-decade landscape inspection? Second, how would you handle the suppressed mountain and water spirits in the countries south of the Great River, outside the Great Li dynasty?
Chen Ping'an gave his answers: Change the landscape evaluation within the Great Li court from ten years to thirty years. Select some mountain and water spirits from the southern countries of Bottle Gourd Continent, give them a chance to atone for their faults, to ease the north-south relations between the southern half-continent and the northern kingdom.
This was like an exam, with the examiner being Cui Chan, Yuan Huajing only the grader. If Chen Ping'an answered correctly, there would be praise; if wrong, criticism.
If Chen Ping'an, as the successor to the Great Li State Preceptor, didn't change any of Cui Chan's established policies, Yuan Huajing could pretend not to know anything.
Chen Ping'an smiled and asked whether every Earth Branch cultivator had hidden tasks, waiting for his decisions before "by order" reminding him.
Yuan Huajing shook his head, said he didn't know, and that State Preceptor Chen could ask for answers himself, no need to probe him.
Seeing such sincerity from Sword Immortal Yuan, Mountain Master Chen was very relieved, so he returned the favor by personally promising that if Sword Immortal Yuan failed in his secluded cultivation at Sword Worship Platform, all consumed spiritual energy would not cost a single Snowflake Coin from Fallen Mountain.
Yuan Huajing's face darkened on the spot.
Fortunately, at Sword Worship Platform, he frequently asked for advice from Elder Gan Tang on swordsmanship and gained a lot. Especially during that time, Xie Gou, for some unknown reason, took the initiative to enlighten Yuan Huajing with a few words, which cleared his mind. He said that her few words were worth more than ten years of hard cultivation—no exaggeration. Yuan Huajing's resolve to break through in seclusion here grew even stronger. Even if Fallen Mountain wanted to kick him out, he wouldn't leave.
At that time, Xie Gou didn't feel Yuan Huajing's aptitude was worth her guidance or anything. No, that wasn't it. She just couldn't stand a fool doing foolish things, making simple cultivation and sword practice overly complicated—it made her anxious watching.
It was like a schoolboy doing the simplest arithmetic—one plus nine, two plus eight, three plus seven… all equal ten! And this little Nascent Soul cultivator insisted on adding one, two, three, and then carelessly adding another one, two, three, and even subtracting or multiplying and dividing. This sword path of yours is pretty flashy…
Xie Gou wished she could press Yuan Huajing's head down and say "It's ten!" She could see it's ten at a glance. No matter how poor your aptitude, no matter how stupid, you shouldn't mess with yourself like this.
At first, Xie Gou worried whether she was misunderstanding this Sword Immortal Yuan, whether he was deliberately complicating simple things. After watching for a while, she realized it wasn't that; it was really a problem with the young man's mind.
Also a sword cultivator, also a "genius", even if calculated by "hundred years of Dao age".
Yuan Huajing thought this problem was not simple—in fact, it was really hard.
Xie Gou initially thought this problem was not hard—in fact, it was even simpler.
As for Ning Yao… she might not see any problem at all.
As for our Mountain Master Chen? He is probably extremely patient, willing to try any addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division, deliberately taking the long way, because he will always arrive at the correct answer.
Regardless, after arriving at Fallen Mountain and then Sword Worship Platform, Yuan Huajing no longer considered himself any kind of genius. Indeed, sword practice requires diligence.
Chen Lingjun wandered over alone, saw a group sitting there eating seeds, and complained, why didn't they bring him along.
Jiang Shangzhen said, "Mountain Master needs to go into seclusion for a while. Why don't I substitute for a few days teaching at the village school?"
Chen Ping'an glanced at him and said nothing.
Mi Yu shook his head. This was even more sheltered than the Summer Retreat. Chief Zhou, in trying to recover a bit of face in front of Xiao Mo, was a bit desperate and unscrupulous.
Chen Lingjun patted Chief Zhou's arm, "Don't overestimate yourself; you're not cut out for it."
I am not a fickle person. Xiao Mo is good, but Chief Zhou, you are also very good.
Jiang Shangzhen, however, rarely looked serious and smiled, "You probably don't know, but when I was young, I had a dream I was never embarrassed to mention: to run a bookshop in some countryside or market where nobody knew who Jiang Shangzhen was, with a school next to it, and I would be the teacher."
"This dream of mine, though I am no longer a youth, is still young."
"Mountain Master, if you're worried I might teach better than you, then pretend I didn't say it."
Over at the Mountain Master's personal residence where he closed the door to entertain guests, the atmosphere was not as harmonious as at the cliffside table.
A disagreement and then bullying with power? What a big family and big business Mountain Master Chen, what a suddenly famous Hidden Official Chen!
As the high disciple of the Sudden Arrival Sect, Tian Gong encountered a strange phenomenon and remained calm. First, he used a talisman array to protect himself, then sacrificed several spiritual treasures to illuminate the surroundings for a hundred zhang, dispelling the fog. He asked, "What does Mountain Master Chen intend to do?"
That guy still played tricks, unwilling to reveal his true form, and countered, "How about changing to a more meaningful question?"
Tian Gong, while stabilizing his heart, formed a hand seal with one hand. From his sleeve shot out a hundred-zhang long fire-talisman dragon, sweeping away the fog as it roamed. He could faintly see that he was standing on water. Upon closer inspection, every water pattern seemed to be an ancient talisman? Tian Gong was shocked inside. Was this a ready-made talisman array on Fallen Mountain? Did Chen Ping'an use it directly, or had he subtly set up a temporary array?
Tian Gong was silent for a moment. The chair was still behind him. He finally realized it and sneered, "Mountain Master Chen, did you arrange for us to stay in this mansion just for this moment of showing off your talisman skills?"
"Just wanted to know how far the founder talisman of the Sudden Arrival Sect, the Fire Flood Dragon Crossing River Talisman, can fly in one breath, and how wide a surface it can cross."
Chen Ping'an's voice came from behind, as if he was standing right by the chair. Tian Gong drove the talisman fire dragon with a swift and thunderous motion, crashing backward.
Tian Gong turned around dazedly, and saw the figure in blue robes indeed standing behind the chair, hands resting on the top of the chair, smiling at him.
The talisman fire dragon that rushed straight at the blue figure inexplicably grew smaller and smaller. The closer it got to Chen Ping'an, the smaller it became. Though it seemed only a foot away from Chen Ping'an's forehead, the fierce fire dragon never stopped. But Chen Ping'an acted as if it didn't exist, as if he was certain the talisman could never touch him. Logically, the talisman should have flown tens of miles in an instant. But within this talisman array's small world, there seemed to be another layer of "realm", standing between the two like an unbridgeable gap.
Chen Ping'an stood motionless, leaning on the chair languidly, "If a talisman could speak, then my talisman here would make your talisman complain ceaselessly, feeling the frustration of being seemingly close yet worlds apart, disheartening."
Tian Gong remained silent.
Chen Ping'an smiled, "I have a talisman that can let the Fire Flood Dragon Crossing River Talisman take a step further, like a mountain dragon walking on water to become a fire dragon."
Tian Gong rebuked, "Heretical nonsense!"
Chen Ping'an asked with a smile, "Since the Fire Flood Dragon is destined to have difficulty crossing the river and succeeding, we're idle anyway—why not guess what my talisman is called?"
Tian Gong reluctantly gave his guess, "The Foot-Ruler Talisman."
High people have high words, great men have great sayings. An ancient saying goes: A foot-long rod, take half each day, never exhausted in ten thousand generations.
As a Daoist from the Sudden Arrival Sect who was most obsessed with cultivation, Tian Gong still had this much insight and knowledge.
Chen Ping'an nodded, "Correct. Then guess what material the talisman paper is made of?"
Tian Gong slowly said, "Refining the river of time into talisman paper gives it a special function—it can refine talismans with talismans, like walking on water. This kind of talisman technique is the essence of the Flying Immortal Palace's serial talisman path."
Chen Ping'an asked with a smile, "A single Dao tree blooms five flowers. The Sudden Arrival Sect and the Flying Immortal Palace, though different lineages, share the same origin, worshipping the same founder. Knowing the great use of serial talismans, why haven't you mutually studied them?"
Tian Gong wanted to speak but still had no words to reply.
The cold-faced young incense boy, praised by Yang Xuanbao of Crane Back Peak as "the cultivation genius with talisman skill closest to Xuan", was suppressed under a golden palm as huge as a mountain, sitting cross-legged, using several natal items to barely hold up that… Mountain Character Talisman.
A figure in blue robes crouched not far away, smoking. When he occasionally tapped the ground with his pipe, the incense boy would blush even more, struggling more.
Chen Ping'an smiled and asked, "Child incense or incense boy, both are geniuses. Since you're a genius, surely you can learn a few things by watching. I heard that Tao Fu Mountain often holds Daoist meetings where disciples of the five sects practice talisman techniques and exchange Dao methods, learning from each other. Why haven't you mastered a few of the Sudden Arrival Sect's founding talismans? Could it be that you have never attended even once? You think you are the only genius among the five sects' disciples? Able to become the second Yu Xuan? Who gave you that confidence? Your master Yang Xuanbao? Or because she took you to the Yun Meng Cave Heaven a few times beyond the usual protocol?"
The incense boy's face was ashen. The young man rarely went out, so he racked his brains and finally managed to scold a few words he thought were insults.
Chen Ping'an laughed, "Scold some more."
"Living in the mountain, you don't know the mountain. You neither know what Crane Back Peak is nor what Tao Fu Mountain is. Yang Xuanbao is a master in talisman cultivation herself, but when it comes to passing on the Dao to disciples, she is small-minded."
"She has protected you too well, favoring your growth. In the future, when the incense boy passes away under duress, or when you go down the mountain for training and die, looking back at the path of life, the one who killed you with praise is Yang Xuanbao."
"Child, you must live up to your master Yang Xuanbao's pampering and hopes. Don't let her kill all the joy with a moment of sadness, making her regret it."
The incense boy's arms grew numb, his neck sore. The mountain above pressed lower and lower, forcing the youth to bow his head more and more.
The most hateful thing was that the fellow named Chen deliberately added another mountain each time he spoke, forcing him to nod as if in agreement again and again.
Relying on Dao arts and realm, how dare he humiliate people like this!
The incense boy's eyes suddenly lit up as a familiar female Daoist forcefully broke the array, broke through the restrictions, and stepped out of the gate. She said calmly to the man in blue, "Mountain Master Chen, please stop. How to pass on the Dao, you as an outsider, need not interfere with—"
Before Yang Xuanbao of Crane Back Peak could finish the word, in an instant, a sword light flashed. The female Daoist's head rolled to the ground, and her eyes met the incense boy's at that moment.
The incense boy was horrified. Even though he knew in his heart that the master was fake and this wasn't real, his Dao heart collapsed instantly. The great mountain crashed down on top of him, as if his real body was crushed into mud and his soul turned to ash.
The next moment, "Come, child. Temporarily without realm, without status, purely as a mortal with ordinary eyes and body, let me show you a few glances of the mortal world, broaden your experience. Use the ancient mountains and rivers to expand our hearts, and use countless trivial matters to polish our Dao hearts. Teach an incense boy without a master how to get by in this world, and see if he can find a foothold on this path just by himself."
On Zou Jia Mountain, Lu Biyu looked up at the top of the mountain where a group of throne-level great demons surged with intimidating aura. He guarded his Dao heart, telling himself that what he saw was all illusion. Then the great demon Zhu Yan swung a staff down, carrying endless Dao intent and killing intent. Lu Biyu's eyes widened, retreating again and again. The long staff pressed against Lu Biyu's forehead. The throne-level great demon laughed heartily, shaking his head, full of contempt. The immortals of the Hao Ran, their Dao hearts indeed fragile. How hard could it be to kill a few of Yu Xuan's disciple-generation with a single staff strike?
"Zhu Zishou, as an onlooker, I have a word of advice: you don't need to regard Xue Zhisui as a god, especially don't revere him like the Heavenly Dao. That overestimates him and underestimates yourself."
"Xue Zhisui, as a Heavenly Lord, a master of a palace, should you self-reflect? Not to mention Heavenly Lords of other Dao lineages. As Yu Xuan's direct disciple, 'learn from him to live, imitate him to die' is no problem. But if the disciple is not at all like the master, in form or spirit—what, is Heavenly Lord Xue planning to betray the master and take his place?"
The female Daoist Bai Feng, with exceptional talent—able to eat talismans to improve her cultivation and break through realms—had already consumed countless rare talismans she had never seen or heard of in a boundless void prison. The more she ate, the higher her realm surged, straight toward Jade Pellet, Celestial, Flying Ascension… But the thinner she became, haggard, skin and bones. She felt she had even reached the legendary fourteenth realm. The myriad talismans she had eaten could be spat out at will. She could toss one out, as small as a mustard seed, to casually shatter ancient stars or cut them in half, stir up brilliant river of stars, rearrange celestial phenomena…
She really wanted to vomit.
Daoist Ding looked at the scene in the room—corpses everywhere, a horrifying sight—but his Dao heart only rippled slightly before calming down.
It was fake. So it was. Even if it were real, Daoist Ding was even more so.
For cultivators, why bother with good and evil? With good and evil comes right and wrong. With right and wrong, living in the mountains as a hermit, you'd be rolling in the mundane world, and your Dao heart would probably become impure.
He came from Tai Geng Blessed Land. Before going up the mountain to cultivate, he had witnessed and experienced the suffering of the mortal world many times.
Daoist Ding sat still, still with his neck hunched and back against the chair in a lazy posture, hands in sleeves. He asked, "Mountain Master Chen, these deceptive techniques that blur reality might work on others. But for little Daoist me, it's like casting pearls before swine."
The man holding a tobacco pipe and crossing his legs smiled, "Daoist Ding, on the great Dao, many divergent paths lead to the loss of the sheep; scholars, due to many methods, lose their life."
Daoist Ding shifted his sitting position to a more comfortable one. He was not about to get drowsy, and said seriously, "Mountain Master Chen, if you want to convince me with reason, it might not work either. Perhaps you should try another method, like convincing me with force? At least that could make little Daoist unwillingly accept, unlike now, where you waste time and celestial spiritual energy, and little Daoist feels you are wasting mine. Like that Wen Xia, earlier she showed off her connections with the Literary Temple and Master Xi Ping, and she was very dismissive of you, feeling that your state of mind didn't match your many titles, that you were just someone at the table who likes to say they know this or that person. The only difference is that people off the mountain say they know a certain rich man or high official, while people on the mountain say they know Yu Xuan. Little Daoist is the same. Different matters, same principle. It's just unnecessary, making little Daoist look down on Mountain Master Chen."
Daoist Ding didn't expect the man to nod and then say, "Then let's change the method. As you wish, convince with force."
Moments later, a bruised and swollen Daoist Ding lay on the ground. He wiped his nose with his hand, and it came back covered in blood.
Daoist Ding still smiled, "Sword Immortal Chen, is this all you've got?"
Chen Ping'an, standing nearby, smiled, "What you rely on is indeed not external things, but your own cleverness and firmness of the seeking Dao heart. Otherwise, how could you have found a shortcut to bypass the mind demon and smoothly reach Jade Pellet? You don't believe it's a deviant path?"
Daoist Ding blinked, and in an instant, went from lying to standing, hovering in the air overlooking the mountains and rivers below. He saw a river as a boundary, two mountain ranges "cut off" by the water showing two scenes. One mountain range, on one side of the river, had a hundred peaks stretching, while on the other side only a few tall peaks, each higher than the last, but the road was clear. The other mountain range had a long bridge connecting the two parts; one side had few peaks, while the opposite side had myriad mountains, one mountain releasing, another blocking, but the road was rugged without tall peaks standing.
The next moment, Daoist Ding stood on that long bridge. Chen Ping'an stood aside with hands in sleeves, "Sealing memories with talismans, bypassing mind demons with shortcuts, luckily building a bridge to pass. It's not useless, it's very useful. But it cannot be used on the breakthrough from Nascent Soul to Jade Pellet. Have you never thought why, after reaching Jade Pellet, there is still the 'seeking truth' to return to simplicity and reach Celestial? It's to guard against the smartest of Dao learners like you. Daoist Ding, I don't need to scare you. Just wait. When you hit the bottleneck of Jade Pellet, you'll have to repay the debt. Cultivating in the mountains, not knowing the seasons outside, you will still see the cold moon and hot sun frying life away. It will bring you endless suffering."
Daoist Ding sighed lightly, "It's really that every family has its own hard-to- recite scriptures, no solution but to take the last resort. Mountain Master Chen, you don't know, I didn't deliberately show off my cleverness; I was forced to take this low road."
"Feather Mountain has many outstanding people with deep insight. Did no one stop you, advise you?"
"They never expected I could come up with such a shortcut. By the time they realized, it was already a done deal. As elders of the sect, they couldn't just knock me down a level and make me go through Nascent Soul again."
"Heaven never seals off all exits. Why not seek founder Yu Xuan?"
"What do you think? Can you see founder Yu anytime? Ask him about the Dao? Do you know how many grand-disciples Yu Xuan has? One mountain, four sects, how many ordained Daoists? Even if founder occasionally appears at his Dao field Tian Jin Peak, how many letters does he need to reply to? How many Daoists does he receive daily? How many affairs must he personally review…"
"There is opportunity; why not seek?"
"That's Talisman Yu Xuan, whose Dao unifies the river of stars at fourteen realms! You think just one flying sword letter, or running to Tian Jin Peak…"
"Why not seek?"
"…"
"I'll help you ask Daoist Yu next time on your behalf. Just this once, no more exceptions."
"…"
"In cultivation, fear not an impure Dao heart. The Dao heart should not fear impurity. This principle doesn't work for others, but you, Daoist Ding, must remember it always."
The Daoist turned sideways, sincerely performed a Daoist salute, "Junior Daoist Ding, humbly receiving your teaching, engraved in my heart!"
Chen Ping'an accepted it calmly and asked with a smile, "Daoist Ding is certainly not your original name. Was the original name unpleasant? Tell me?"
Daoist Ding looked at the "future" scene and asked, "Mr. Chen, if not for your guidance, would my future path be inevitably rough?"
Chen Ping'an smiled, "I scared you. You actually believed it? The 'seeking truth' trial won't stop you."
Daoist Ding was first stunned, then laughed freely. Sky-high price, ground-level negotiation?
He asked, "Mr. Chen, why did you intentionally speak and act that way as an opening, making Little Daoist, Wen Xia, and all of us look down on you a bit?"
Chen Ping'an countered, "If I don't know where your 'disdain' lies, how can I know where your 'esteem' lies?"
"I need to know both the commonality and the particularity of you registered cultivators."
"Daoist Ding, your cultivation path is not vulgar, but your path of passing on the Dao still falls far short. Have you taken any disciples yet?"
Daoist Ding smiled, "Not yet. Also, Mr. Chen, don't call me 'Daoist friend'; I am not worthy yet as a junior."
One by one, the Daoists in the room returned to the real state, each feeling as if they had lived another life.
Daoist Ding had already sat up straight with proper posture. Some Daoists looked dazed or were drenched in sweat, others had to form hand seals and meditate to stabilize the waves in their heart lake.
He had long been sincerely convinced by Mr. Chen. Not was this trip wasted; it was immensely beneficial.
Tian Gong changed his mind, deciding to first go study and ask questions at the other one mountain and three sects, then visit the Spiritual Treasure Sect in South Po Suo Continent to seek Dao teachings. Steal knowledge? Mountain Master Chen said it's called "mutual learning"!
People like us learning Dao from others—can you call it stealing?
Liang Chaoguan passed with a scare but still had lingering fears, thinking that if Chen Ping'an ever visited Tao Fu Mountain and passed by Yi Hou Peak, he would pretend to be in seclusion to stay far away from him.
Zhu Zishou was actually one of the least troubled Daoists, unaware that those unreachable cultivation geniuses in her mind looked like they had seen a ghost and a god at the same time.
The young incense boy was the last Daoist to open his eyes. He clenched his teeth, "Chen, no matter how many tricks you have, I still won't be convinced!"
The three Daoists of Tao Fu Mountain's "Three Hou" Peaks had met different people on different peaks, each with their own gains. Now they knew that talisman art is not only about the big talismans at the high end.
Bai Feng sighed faintly. Talismans—in that illusory realm, she had nearly eaten and vomited them. Now she just wanted to return to her Daoist temple and learn how to draw talismans properly.
The Chen Ping'an who was smoking with his legs crossed smiled, "A few small tricks, laughable."
Daoist Ding's heart sank—trouble!
That sounded like a closing remark, like slapping the gavel and saying "hear next time", but it wasn't.
Across from Chen Ping'an, Heavenly Lord Xue Zhisui sat with his eyes closed, silent and thoughtful, as if in contemplation.
Entering the mountain, only then did you know the beauty of the clouds; holding an umbrella, slowly walking in the rain.
Li Muzhou was the only Daoist who didn't have to suffer.
It rained in the mountain. Li Muzhou took out an oil-paper umbrella and walked to the foot of the mountain. The Daoist gatekeeper Xian Wei had already gone into the mansion to take shelter, leaving the door open.
Li Muzhou knocked on the door ring. The young Daoist came out, stood in the corridor, and smiled, waving, "Daoist Li, come inside and sit."
Having heard Chen Lingjun's detailed introduction of the greatness of Tao Fu Mountain in the Central Earth Divine Continent, and that the green-clad boy had boasted of sitting next to Talisman Yu Xuan and chatting with him arm in arm.
Li Muzhou was entering the study of Daoist Xian Wei for the first time. The first thing he saw was the plaque above the desk, "Xuan Xu"—a big meaning!
On the desk sat a pair of simple bronze paperweights, inscribed with common exhortations for learning, but relatively rare because the seven characters were identical.
Both say: "Everything is lowly, only studying is high; love to study, but it's hard to study."
Both say: "An inch of time is an inch of gold; love to study, but it's hard to study."
Li Muzhou was a learned scholar. After a moment of chewing, he quickly understood the crux.
Indeed, common people off the mountain are often most able to study when young, but are unwilling to study diligently. When their hair turns white and they want to read, their eyesight fails and their spirit declines, making it difficult to study.
Daoist Xian Wei was truly refined.
Having taken the Dao name "Xuan Xu" Xian Wei, he didn't intend to be deliberately mysterious. He smiled, "This pair of bronze paperweights was made by the old cook, our Fallen Mountain's great steward, and given to me as a desk ornament. That Mr. Zhu is truly erudite and eloquent. He said that having books but not reading is wasting talent. He also said that the wisdom we have in this life comes from reading in past lives, and the wisdom in the next life comes from reading in this life. Mr. Zhu also said that reading happens both inside and outside books, but you don't have to stare at the words on the page. Watching people and events, thinking more and asking more, that is also reading."
Li Muzhou agreed deeply, "Indeed. Mr. Zhu's few words contain great Buddhist and Daoist meanings."
No wonder when he passed by that house that never seemed to close its door, he saw that old gentleman painting in the main hall, a water-ink lotus. He spread an extremely long but very narrow piece of paper on the table, then had the green-clad boy with the Dao name Jing Qing drag the paper. One ink lotus stem over one zhang long—a single brush stroke to the end!
Spirit full and strong, smooth and unrestrained.
Li Muzhou was himself a skilled painter and calligrapher, and he had to admire this scene.
Xian Wei was well-traveled in the martial world—a fake Daoist, a true wanderer. He smiled, "A Daoist Li's evaluation shows you are not far off either."
Li Muzhou asked, "What about the books here?"
Xian Wei brought a chair and said, "Feel free to look and read. Treat this like your own study."
After all, some more frequently leafed-through serious books were already hidden in the drawer.
Li Muzhou thanked him, sat down, and picked up a Dao book published off the mountain. He read a few books and noticed a detail: Daoist Xian Wei seemed to only read the prefaces and postscripts?
Obviously, the content in the main text—those long passages—the owner didn't need to read much. He flipped through, scanning and knew the gist. Occasionally, there was a folded page corner, probably the key part of the book.
No doubt, this was a high-level person.
No wonder Mountain Master Chen had told him to chat more with Daoist Xian Wei.
Xian Wei felt guilty. It was rare to have a serious Daoist high person sitting in his study. He wondered if he should ask for advice at the corners he had folded, full of confusion.
Too low knowledge; too hard cultivation.
For scholars, living in the capital is not easy. For cultivators, living in the mountains is also hard.
Xian Wei hesitated but finally mustered the courage to point to a folded page, read a few sentences, and tentatively asked, "Daoist Li, what does this passage mean?"
In his ear, Li Muzhou heard the words; in his eyes, he stared at the book. But in his heart, he thought, is Daoist Xian Wei implying something?
Testing his knowledge?
Li Muzhou, who originally thought that passage was simple and easy to understand, suddenly felt uncertain. Could there be hidden meaning beyond the words, arcane beyond the arcane?
When Xian Wei saw this Daoist high-rank true man from the Classic View Temple encountering such a sentence and having to consider it seriously,
The Daoist Xian Wei felt a wave of sorrow. Yes, yes! Reading and cultivating is indeed very hard!
Li Muzhou thought it over. He couldn't keep silent. Just as he was about to speak, Xian Wei sat on a chair beside him, elbow on the desk, cheek in hand. The young Daoist with a wooden hairpin seemed to look at the open book, but also seemed to be wandering a million miles—like talking to Daoist Lu, or like talking to himself—"Mr. Zhu said he heard a method from a scholar, in five words: 'Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa.' Roughly meaning we should 'Guan,' read more books; 'Shi,' travel more, walk the path; 'Yin,' listen more to what others say and want to say, not just talk to ourselves; and finally have the compassionate heart of Pu Sa, then we are truly cultivating."
It was as if a Dao learner had heard the Dao, and the gate to truth suddenly burst open.
Daoist Li Muzhou instantly entered a state of forgetting both self and world, a state of pure concentration.
Outside the sky, Yu Xuan insisted on rubbing Old Scholar's shoulders, and Old Scholar adamantly refused. The two stubborn old men pushed each other back and forth. After a few rounds, it was unclear who first lost control of their strength, and the other followed suit, not knowing his own strength. It went back and forth, looking like they were about to really start fighting.
Old Scholar suddenly stopped, tugged at his beard and frowned, "Yu Xuan, what do you think would make you and Fallen Mountain become enemies?"
Yu Xuan smiled, "Are you worried something like that ghost creature's sneak attack will happen? That one or two Daoists will die suddenly on Fallen Mountain? Rest assured, I would never make it difficult for Daoist Chen. First, I personally selected these Daoists. Second, I secretly placed a large talisman on each of them, both as a protective charm and a hidden tracking talisman. If anyone thinks they can take advantage and use underhanded tricks, don't blame me for following the clue and paying a visit. Besides, Daoist Chen is always cautious; otherwise, Bai Jing wouldn't be sitting on the rooftop."
"Old Brother Yu, you have so many outposts on your mountain, it's normal that you can't manage them all. That said, no wonder Xian Cha scolded you a bit earlier. Not entirely unjustified?"
"Five sect heads, almost more than one hand can count. Classic View Temple is the poorest, but its sect style is the best. Isn't that strange, isn't that mysterious?"
"You have unified the Dao here in the river of stars, of course it's what everyone expects. Everyone admires it. Bai Ye said he owes you a favor, and he will repay it for sure. But it would be best if he never repays it."
"So you reached the fourteenth realm. The Central Earth Literary Temple should send a congratulatory gift, as a formality. Old Brother Yu, guess what? Everyone got together, thought it over, but couldn't decide. Give too much, you might think it's chicken ribs, and maybe feel you owe the Literary Temple a favor. Give too little, and some mountain, some palace, some sect might think we bookworms at the Literary Temple who eat cold pork head meat are a bunch of poor scholars. Honestly, we're worried too."
Yu Xuan tugged on his beard, his old face wrinkled, "Old Scholar, give me a straight answer. If you do this, I'll feel very empty."
"You are Daoists. Daoists certainly live in Daoist temples or reside in Dao fields, right?"
"Old Scholar, Xun Qing! Don't make me curse like a shrew. I, Yu Xuan, also have a temper!"
"Why are you getting anxious? Arguing? Old Yu, I'll give you one more chance to speak properly!"
"Ah, Old Scholar, I'm just worried that something might go wrong at Gathering Spirit Peak. My heart is burning, so I speak without thinking. Sorry."
"How dare you. Since you no longer treat me as a friend, Real Person Yu, you've hurt my heart today. I won't treat you as a brother either. Call me Old Scholar, call me Wen Sheng!"
"Let's say that one thousand gold essence copper coins half-lent, half-given to Fallen Mountain, and the five hundred lent to Daoist Chen—this debt is on you, Old Scholar, how about it?"
"Old Brother Yu, if you're going to talk like this, I'll climb up the pole and treat you like a real brother! Excellent. It's never been that talking about money hurts feelings, and borrowing money means losing a friend. Where else do you find a relationship like ours where talking about money deepens feelings? Old Brother Yu, do you have any wine? I need to down a few. My learning is limited; I can't think of more sincere words."
"Brother Xun, let's skip the wine."
"To be honest, I discussed with Second Sage over and over and finally came up with a gift. We plan to send you two plaques. Ritual Sage agrees, so it passes the Literary Temple discussion. One plaque, with the two big characters 'Dao Field,' you can place it wherever you like, even if not at Tian Jin Peak. The other plaque writes 'Dao Temple,' still put it wherever you want. The Literary Temple only sends it, not caring where you place it."
Yu Xuan was surprised, "The Literary Temple is willing to give such a heavy gift?"
Old Scholar sneered, "Who do you think started it?"
Yu Xuan sighed long and admiringly, "Daoist Chen is indeed generous, honest, but a little lacking in cunning."
His six direct disciples.
Yang Xuanbao of Crane Back Peak on Tao Fu Mountain was once Yu Xuan's first disciple, then died and reincarnated, returning to the mountain to continue cultivating, taking up two slots.
Gou Daoist of Classic View Temple, Element of the Ghost Immortal Mountain Master of Feather Mountain. Xue Zhisui of Flying Immortal Palace. And Tong Meng of the Sudden Arrival Sect, the master of the current sect leader Mei Zhen, who has been in seclusion for a hundred years.
Of course, now Yu Xuan has a hidden little disciple, but he temporarily lets Classic View Temple teach him the Dao, since it's not suitable to bring him to the river of stars to cultivate together.
Setting the mind first before passing on the Dao and techniques has always been Yu Xuan's principle for taking disciples.
Having intentionally let Xue Zhisui "protect the Dao", as Chen Ping'an said, in Yu Xuan's view, it was precisely this direct disciple, the Dao gate Heavenly Lord, who needed the most polishing of the Dao heart.
That entire Flying Immortal Palace was too stagnant.
Every time Yu Xuan visited Flying Immortal Palace, there were very few Daoists who dared to look up at him.
He was neither inspecting nor sightseeing; he sincerely hoped that as he walked the path, a Daoist would take the initiative to ask about the Dao. If not asking about the Dao, a few casual chats would do.
There had been Daoists like that before, though they were nervous and incoherent, asking less than profound questions, but Yu Xuan enjoyed it and patiently answered them in detail.
But at some point, the number of Daoists who dared to speak when meeting founder Yu Xuan began to decrease. Last time he went to Flying Immortal Palace, not a single one spoke.
Yu Xuan could certainly stop and call over a Daoist who was bowing from afar without a word, but he preferred that on any mountain path in Flying Immortal Palace, a Daoist would come forward and speak.
Yu Xuan said, "Old Scholar, now can I chat with Daoist Chen for a bit?"
Though he couldn't see the scenes on Fallen Mountain, with the talismans in place, he could sense the state of their Dao hearts.
If a certain Daoist's heart had truly decayed to an extreme, Yu Xuan would have the chance to intervene and save them.
When Old Scholar removed that layer of grand Dao barrier,
Outside the sky, Yu Xuan sent a heartfelt message,
"Daoist Chen's hospitality is sincere."
In the mountain, Chen Ping'an replied,
"Daoist Yu's intention is painstaking."
Yu Xuan was relieved, stroked his beard and smiled. One thousand gold essence copper coins definitely weren't wasted. In the long run, he had gained, and gained a lot!
But unexpectedly, that Daoist Chen asked with a smile, "They only had one negation and then another, getting a very preliminary affirmation. Senior Yu did send five hundred gold essence copper coins, and I never want others to lose money in business with me. Do you need this junior to go with the flow, strike while the iron is hot? Generally, after the wedge, turning over the first chapter of the main text, it should enter the middle section, and finally the closing…"
Yu Xuan hastily said, "No need, no need. Daoist Chen is busy with seclusion now. Better not to spend more mind and energy. A wedge and an opening are enough…"
Chen Ping'an smiled, "Senior, rest assured. Next, I'll only hone them through events, not affecting their Dao hearts too much. First, I'll show them scenes of war beyond mountain duels, then craft assassinations tailored to each. For example, putting them in Chen Ping'an's shoes facing the encirclement of the Jia Shen Account sword cultivators…"
Yu Xuan tentatively said, "Daoist Chen, why trouble yourself so much…"
Eh?
Heart sound sank like a stone ox into the sea.
Yu Xuan started pulling his beard again, worrying.
Actually, it was the same approach as when Cui Cheng in the bamboo tower taught punches for Chen Ping'an and Pei Qian.
First, make them unable to retreat, back them into a corner, with no room to maneuver.
For example, Daoist Ding was extremely proud of his cultivation talent and scholarly wisdom. So destroy everything and rebuild it.
If the same method were executed by a Flying Ascension cultivator, the effect would be greatly diminished.
This group of Daoists still had plenty of room to retreat. To be defeated by someone else, they could say it was due to their young Dao age.
Chen Ping'an, as an outsider, whether because the bystander sees clearly or due to his insight, might understand the five sects better than they do.
From Yu Xuan to Gou Daoist, to Zhao Wenmin, to Li Muzhou.
Just like Chen Ping'an himself, when it came to the sixteen people who had just entered Fish Jumping Mountain, he lacked patience—a lot of patience.
Of course, this was related to Chen Ping'an's current situation. But to put it bluntly, even if Chen Ping'an hadn't fought Ma Kuxuan or been ambushed by that fourteenth-realm candidate ghost, he still wouldn't have been able to personally teach and demonstrate punches, or even visit Fish Jumping Mountain often. At most, he would stand by the railing on Fu Yao Slope, which he had set up as his private Dao arena, to watch the cultivation progress of those sixteen from afar, determine their character and conduct through some details, and meet with Zheng Dafeng and Cen Yuanji regularly to check for gaps and oversights.
A single Fish Jumping Mountain, temporarily gaining sixteen people. When the Great Li dynasty sends the second batch of sword cultivator seeds? Or if the Green Ping Sword Sect is not established on Tongye Continent? Or when the twenty-year mountain closure ends and all vassal peaks of Fallen Mountain open one after another, with Nascent Soul cultivators or Far Traveling martial artists in charge, and these peak masters gain more direct disciples and grand-disciples…
He can't manage it all.
Chen Ping'an only learns from Zheng Juzhong, but he is not Zheng Juzhong.
So Yu Xuan's painstaking intentions resonated with Chen Ping'an. Today's troubles for Yu Xuan are precisely the inevitability for Fallen Mountain and Green Ping Sword Sect in the future.
Small sects worry about the gap between generations, the lack of incense on the ancestral altar. They want more disciples, more money, more heavenly treasures, more spiritual tools, more Daoist scriptures.
Large sects worry about the mixture of good and bad among disciples, the tediousness of the Dao arena, the difficulty of balancing, the scattered hearts, fear that the good seedlings might take a wrong step, stray from the true path.
Yu Xuan needed Chen Ping'an to be the villain, the whetstone to polish the Dao hearts of his descendants.
Chen Ping'an tacitly accepted this difficult task. Old Real Man Yu spent money to buy Dao hearts, and wasn't Chen Ping'an also doing a rehearsal and practice to prepare for the future?
And he didn't have to spend money.
In Chen Ping'an's eyes, these Daoists, noble in status and worthy of the title "immortal seedlings", were mostly… young people.
The Daoist Tian Gong of the Sudden Arrival Sect was willing to be the first to tear off the mask for Gou Daoist of Classic View Temple. Good or not? Chen Ping'an almost gave him a thumbs up.
That Wen Xia thought Chen Ping'an's style was annoying and nauseating… Good or not? Chen Ping'an felt that was absolutely correct. Her thinking that way was wonderful!
There were also a group of young Daoists sitting there, as if waiting to see whether the famous Mountain Master Chen truly had the skills to match his stories and feats.
Deep down, Chen Ping'an not only didn't mind, but felt that their attitude should be exactly like that.
Of course, the incense boy was a different matter.
Daoist Ding was also an exception, and especially Heavenly Lord "Night Duty" Xue Zhisui. The Flying Immortal Palace lineage had too many rules.
Rules certainly must exist; without rules, there is no order. But too many rules can go beyond the limit. The Daoist nature, if bound too much, can hardly stretch.
When body and mind cannot stretch, how can one achieve the union of heaven and man?
Generally speaking, this discussion of the Dao—Chen Ping'an was essentially correcting mistakes, carving jade. And making the good even better.
Calling it "passing on the Dao" wasn't quite right; Chen Ping'an wasn't thick-skinned enough for that. Letting them see what "the danger of the martial world" truly means—that was the real deal, and he was more than up to the task.
Yu Xuan could teach one tree to bloom five flowers, could teach most Daoists to uphold rectitude, but he might not have the energy to teach every single "grand-disciple's incense boy" or "Daoist Ding from Tai Geng Blessed Land".
Chen Ping'an, an outsider, might be able to teach the incense boy right in front of him. Daoist Ding—but he might not be able to teach a "Classic View Temple" or a "Gou Daoist".
Yu Xuan gave a test paper, and the correct answer was public. Chen Ping'an just needed to provide a detailed solution.
Daoist Yu, Daoist Chen.
Addressing each other as "Daoist" was not just polite.
One trusted the other, and the other was confident to be worthy.
Again "awakening", Heavenly Lord Xue, who had been watching from the sidelines with Chen Ping'an, was the first to stand up and perform a salute.
Even the incense boy stood up this time and honestly performed a salute, though he still made harsh words, though with a bit of bluster, "Still not convinced."
The most unconvinced was the incense boy of Crane Back Peak on Tao Fu Mountain. There were also Bai Feng of the Sudden Arrival Sect, who now got a headache just thinking about talismans, and Lu Biyu of Flying Immortal Palace, who wanted to learn more from Mountain Master Chen. These three Daoists were willing to stay on Fallen Mountain.
The teachers at Fish Jumping Mountain wouldn't lack, then.
Cen Yuanji teaching others punches is learning punches herself.
Similarly, you helping to teach is your own cultivation.
Can't beat a host who has the advantage of time, place, and people. Teaching a few children whose highest realm is Observation Sea? Surely that's a piece of cake?
That day, Chen Ping'an personally escorted the other Daoists heading home to Ox Horn Ferry, allowing them a close look at that "Dragon Snake Trace" ferry. Chen Ping'an exclaimed in wonder, saying it would be self-deception to claim he wasn't a bit envious.
Chen Ping'an actually gave them a Daoist salute, and smiled, "The Dao is in the magnificent tower, the Dao is in the tiles. The Dao is in talismans, the Dao is beyond talismans. We seekers of the Dao must treasure and cherish it."
Nü Guan Wen Xia of Er Hou Peak plucked up courage and tentatively asked, "Mr. Chen, could I start a Mirror Flower Water Moon broadcast?"
The group of Daoists saw Mountain Master Chen suddenly look as if facing a great enemy.
Chen Ping'an said with a smile, "No need. There will be opportunities for face-to-face talks when you pass by my sect's Dao arena in the future."
Repay kindness with enmity, ruin my Dao heart?!
Wen Xia felt a slight regret.
The little girl in black stood quietly, saying nothing.
Little Mi Li seemed to neither hear nor see anything.
Ye Dan, whether using some talisman technique or teleporting across continents, appeared out of thin air at Ox Horn Ferry, looking at the blue-clad man. After identifying him, she said calmly, "The Grandmaster recently sent a decree, leasing this 'Dragon Snake Trace' cross-continent ferry to Fallen Mountain for free for a hundred years."
Chen Ping'an pretended to be calm and nodded, "Fallen Mountain thanks Tao Fu Mountain."
Ye Dan smiled, "I should also thank Sword Immortal Chen."
Chen Ping'an knew what he meant and said truthfully, "Helping you get revenge unintentionally was just a side effect. Daoist, no need to thank me."
Wen Xia was still at a loss.
Ye Dan's smile grew wider, "Indeed, reputation travels far. Hidden Official Chen has quite the authority."
Chen Ping'an smiled but said nothing.
Ye Dan's arrival was surprising enough. When she appeared and spoke in riddles with Chen Ping'an, it was even stranger.
When had Ye Dan of the Sudden Arrival Sect ever smiled and laughed with anyone?
Several Daoists groaned inwardly. Could this be another illusion? Damn Mountain Master Chen, is it ever going to end? Still testing our Dao hearts?!
One carefree young Daoist, feeling he couldn't take it anymore, lay directly on the ground, thinking, "Let's see what you can do, Chen Ping'an. My Dao heart is now calm as an ancient well!"
Ye Dan frowned, "Is that Liang Chaoguan of Yi Hou Peak? What are you doing? Where are your manners?"
Liang Chaoguan chuckled, crossed his legs, "Mountain Master Chen, next time I go to the Sudden Arrival Sect and see the real Ye Shishu…"
Chen Ping'an reminded him with a smile, "You are seeing the real one now. If you have something to say, say it directly."
Xue Zhisui said helplessly, "Get up quickly. Mountain Master Chen is not faking."
Liang Chaoguan looked at Heavenly Lord Xue, then at the dignified and imposing Ye Shishu, and finally at Chen Ping'an. He got up in one motion, brushed off the dust, silently saluted to Ye Shishu, and strode toward the ferry.
Chen Ping'an kindly reminded, "Forgot? The 'Dragon Snake Trace' has been leased to Fallen Mountain."
Liang Chaoguan said loudly, "I didn't forget. I plan to stay on Fallen Mountain and get some training."
Without a cross-continent ferry, it wouldn't stop Heavenly Lord Xue; he could produce a talisman boat sufficient for cross-continent travel.
Fortunately, Ye Dan also returned with the Daoists to Central Earth Divine Continent.
She had a very rare colorful short whip at her waist, engraved with "Made by Hu Gong at Ancient Western Mountain" and the words "Chase the Sea".
Jiang Shangzhen sent a heartfelt message, "Mi Yu, you've been to the Summer Retreat. Do you know why the Mountain Master is so… wary of this Ye Dan?"
Mi Yu hesitated, then answered mentally, "When I was idle in the Summer Retreat, I liked browsing archives, and I know the inside story. In addition to being a Daoist, Ye Dan is also a sword cultivator. She once went to the Great Wall of Swords, but on her first battle, she was severely injured by Hui Ting, a sword cultivator from the Red Leaf Sword Sect, using 'Lipstick and Powder'. Ye Dan apparently also implicated a senior guardian from her sect. So she once swore that whoever could kill her enemy—if it was a man, she would become his Dao partner; if a woman, she would serve as a maid for a hundred years. No wonder our Hidden Official is terrified when he sees Ye Dan. If she insists on fulfilling her vow and refuses to leave Fallen Mountain, what can he do?"
Jiang Shangzhen suddenly understood, "So the Earth-Shortening Whip is here, but it can't shorten lovesickness."
Mi Yu said, "If it were us? Would that be a problem?"
Jiang Shangzhen smiled, "This is where we fall far short of the Mountain Master. A man's greatest elegance is to be pure and focused, so that all women desire him—yet cannot obtain him, and also cannot obtain him."
Mi Yu admired him deeply. Chief Zhou's words truly struck a chord.
Chen Ping'an said, "When Xiao Mo comes back, you sword immortals, along with Pei Qian, accompany me on a trip to the Great Li capital."
Pei Qian, Jiang Shangzhen, Mi Yu—one martial artist at the limit realm, two sword immortals at the Celestial realm.
Xiao Mo, Xie Gou, Old Deafie—that's three more sword immortals at the Flying Ascension realm.
The new Great Li State Preceptor Chen Ping'an was about to appear in the court hall for the first time.