Chapter 1109: From Now On, This Mountain Bears the Surname Chen

Chapter 1109: From Now On, This Mountain Bears the Surname Chen

Since there were already more than one cross-continent ferry, surely there must be some progress on the Dragon-Slaying Stone?

Boarding the ferry "Dragon-Serpent Trail" and gazing into the distance from a high vantage point, Mountain Lord Chen inadvertently caught sight of that Dragon Ridge Mountain.

Some proposal from Sword Immortal Mi probably shouldn't have been brought up when there were many people around. Serving as the chief of a subordinate sect—was that really such a grievance?

Li Muzhou was the current sect leader of the Meridian Observatory.

When the Daoist priest arrived, he was at the Nascent Soul stage and hadn't even reached a bottleneck, yet by the time he left, he had already advanced to Jade Pure. Earlier, while in the study of Immortal Wei, the gatekeeper of Fallen Mountain, Li Muzhou felt as if a single phrase had revealed a heavenly secret to him. His state of mind opened up, like a heavy rain washing away dust, or clouds parting to reveal the sun. The momentum was unstoppable, and the layer upon layer barriers on his path of cultivation, like mountains and bamboo joints, shattered with a booming sound.

By the time Li Muzhou emerged from his state of inner contemplation and came back to his senses, he had already broken through to the next realm... and without any impediment. The refreshed Daoist carefully examined his mind again and indeed found no obstacles.

Li Muzhou immediately stood up from his chair, feeling that a thousand words in his heart were all burdens. He could only make a most solemn Daoist bow of salute, like a Daoist priest devoutly worshipping... a towering Dao mountain that stood between heaven and earth.

This completely bewildered the Daoist priest Immortal Wei.

Daoist Li, even if you don't know the answer to that folded paper question and can't respond, you don't need to feel so guilty.

And more importantly, why are your eyes turning red?

After thinking it over, Immortal Wei could only come up with an answer that barely convinced himself: as expected from a properly ordained Daoist priest from a renowned sect! So many formalities! Even apologies were this ceremoniously heavy.

Immortal Wei wanted to return the bow of salute to Li Muzhou. After all, he was the gatekeeper of Fallen Mountain, the new mountain lord of that Incense Fire Mountain, and had also taken on a disciple. With heavier responsibilities on his shoulders and more identities to uphold, he certainly couldn't lack in formalities.

Unexpectedly, the mountain lord suddenly appeared in the study and reached out to hold Immortal Wei's arm, the meaning clear enough—Immortal Wei need not return the salute.

If not for becoming the sect leader of Meridian Observatory, with its heavy administrative affairs, Li Muzhou might have been the Daoist most wanting to stay.

This Fallen Mountain, with its peculiar but not strange atmosphere, made Li Muzhou feel an incredibly natural affinity. Earlier, when Chen Ping'an accompanied Li Muzhou out of the residence, the rain outside had already stopped. Li Muzhou even forgot to take his oil-paper umbrella. Immortal Wei, being mindful, picked up the umbrella and ran to the door, calling out to stop Daoist Li. However, Chen Ping'an turned around and smiled, saying, "Consider it a small token of gratitude from Daoist Li. Just keep it."

Immortal Wei had no choice but to accept it.

Li Muzhou looked somewhat embarrassed and quietly explained to Mountain Lord Chen, "That umbrella was just an ordinary object."

Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "That's perfect. The gift is light but the sentiment is heavy. Immortal Wei now has his own mountain, not too close to here, requiring considerable walking. On rainy days, it will come in handy on the road."

Li Muzhou seemed to want to say something more but held back, only because his breakthrough to a higher realm was truly too mystical.

Chen Ping'an, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, offered an explanation that was either very forced or very reasonable: "For cultivators, the accumulation of Dao power happens in the ordinary. Reading by lamplight until the rooster crows, unaware that dawn has broken across the world."

Li Muzhou nodded and smiled gently, "Regardless, Mr. Chen's Fallen Mountain truly is a blessed land for this humble Daoist. Whenever I have the chance in the future, I will visit often. If I come too frequently, I hope Mr. Chen won't grow tired of me."

Chen Ping'an replied, "Since it can become a blessed land for Daoist Li's cultivation, it must be because the vegetation here is naturally close to you. If even the plants are like this, how much more so the people?"

Li Muzhou asked, "What about over at the residence?"

Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "Daoist Li can show yourself now."

Li Muzhou walked out of the residence, made a bow of salute to Chen Ping'an, and headed up the mountain alone.

Chen Ping'an walked toward the table where, it turned out, Martial Ancestor Wen hadn't waited for Pei Qian but had instead encountered Bai Xuan, who had been "waiting by the tree stump for a hare." Bai Xuan was trying to persuade Wen Zixi to sign and seal a certain booklet.

"Don't you want to spar with Pei Qian? Join us! Many hands make light work. With Brother Wen's strong support, dealing with a Pei Qian in the future will be no problem."

Wen Zixi was completely baffled, utterly unable to understand what was going on in the mind of this child who was drinking goji berry tea from a pot and had invited him to join the group upon first meeting. When he saw the middle-aged man in the blue long gown, Wen Zixi stood up, his expression strange, his body tense. He cupped his fists and said, "Wen Zixi of Spirit Flight Palace pays respects to Sword Immortal Chen. On that Mount Joy Union, this junior was reckless and ignorant, and I offended you greatly."

Chen Ping'an smiled faintly. "There's no offense to speak of. Stepping back, even if you did offend me, it doesn't matter much. After all, we're not from the same family. At worst, we can just keep to ourselves—well water and river water don't mix. Outside of Fallen Mountain and Spirit Flight Palace, running into each other again would be harder than climbing to the sky. But do you still not know who that person is, even now?"

Wen Zixi asked in confusion, "Are you referring to the person who was drinking with Sword Immortal Chen at the same table?"

Chen Ping'an said, "Otherwise?"

Wen Zixi's mind was now completely occupied by the grandmaster Pei Qian, almost to the point of having a mental demon. He couldn't spare any thought for that loose-tongued bastard. If possible, he really wanted to give him a big slap.

Chen Ping'an laughed. "Wen Zixi, think carefully. 'If this poor Daoist was your master's ancestral master, then this Daoist master would be your ancestral master's master'—can just anyone say that?"

In an instant, Wen Zixi felt as if struck by five thunders and lightning. He was dumbfounded. Could it be the ancestral master portrait hanging at the highest point in the Dao Palace Ancestral Hall? That Grand Master Lu of the White Jade Capital, wearing the lotus crown?!

Wen Zixi was covered in tears. Facing the direction of Mount Joy Union, he performed the great rite of three kneelings and nine prostrations, sobbing uncontrollably, his voice trembling: "Wen Zixi of Spirit Flight Palace pays respects to the Supreme Ancestral Master, pays respects to Grand Master Lu!"

The lineage of Lu Chen indeed valued honoring one's master and respecting the Dao. There was no question about it. From Xian Cha, who cursed heaven and earth and dared to curse anyone except his own master; to Celestial Lord Cao Rong, who was tricked by his master and delayed in ascending for a long time without any complaint; to his grand-disciple Xiang Jun; and even to Zhao Fuyang, who was expelled from the sect but still acknowledged Lu Chen as his ancestor; and to the true man Cheng Qian, who was willing to fight to the death over Zhao Fuyang's Daoist robes being overstepping... and of course, the proud Wen Zixi standing before him.

Bai Xuan asked through mental voice, "Master Cao, what's going on with this guy? I should state upfront, I didn't say anything. On my honor, I only invited him to secure a place on the hero roster."

Chen Ping'an explained, "It has nothing to do with you. He's been wanting to meet someone, but when he finally saw that person, he didn't recognize him. He missed the opportunity, and it's hard to say if he'll ever get another chance to meet him in this lifetime."

Bai Xuan nodded. "That makes him a man of true feeling. Such a fine hero deserves a spot on the hero roster."

Chen Ping'an extended his hand. "Let me have a look at that booklet."

Bai Xuan was thrilled, hopping with joy. "Master Cao, you want to put your name down too? Then it's settled!"

Chen Ping'an gave Bai Xuan a knock on the head, making him cover his head with both hands. Chen laughed in exasperation, "Do you know that when Pei Qian was your age, even when I spoke to her and tried to teach her a principle, she had to think it through several times."

Ever the one to be himself, Bai Xuan asked tentatively, "Master Cao, is there a possibility that once Pei Qian's fist technique realm gets high enough, she doesn't want to use her brain anymore?"

Chen Ping'an rubbed his brow, reached out, and pressed down on Bai Xuan's head, laughing. "Brave, indeed."

After Wen Zixi stood up, his expression had returned to normal.

Chen Ping'an said, "If Immortal Wen isn't in too much of a hurry to leave, go wait by Jumping Fish Mountain. Pei Qian will show up soon to spar with you a couple of times."

Wen Zixi, now a completely different person, said, "I wouldn't dare call it a spar. I just hope Grandmaster Pei can offer some guidance."

Chen Ping'an said, "You are certainly a martial arts prodigy, but you are not a pure martial artist."

Wen Zixi fell silent.

Chen Ping'an smiled. "If you are truly sincere about learning fist techniques, then going up the mountain will be easy, but coming down might not be."

Wen Zixi said, "I am already mentally prepared."

Chen Ping'an pointed toward Jumping Fish Mountain. "Pei Qian is already waiting for you at the foot of the mountain."

Wen Zixi cupped his fists in farewell and then sprinted off, creating quite a commotion. A series of sounds like rolling thunder echoed across the ground.

Bai Xuan exclaimed in admiration, "To dare challenge Pei Qian alone—truly respectable and admirable. Worthy of my making an exception and recording his name first."

Pei Qian had traveled so far through the martial world with her master that there was an unspoken understanding between them. For instance, earlier when Zhou Haijing wanted to spar, Chen Ping'an had said, "Don't take the outcome too seriously, but don't take it too lightly either." The meaning was that she should take the exchange seriously but not let it harm their relationship. Today, Chen Ping'an's words to Pei Qian were reversed in order, but the meaning was still easy to understand—essentially, just don't kill anyone.

When Wen Zixi arrived at the foot of Jumping Fish Mountain, he just cupped his fists and was about to speak.

Pei Qian only said, "Same realm."

In the blink of an eye, her fist was already upon him.

Wen Zixi had no time to defend himself, let alone counterattack. Pei Qian struck him on the neck and knocked him down with a single punch. Instantly, Wen Zixi's eyes were bloodshot, and the blood and qi in his body surged like a bursting dam.

Pei Qian then lightly stomped her foot, and Wen Zixi, who was lying on the ground with blood seeping from his seven orifices, was bounced upright. Pei Qian approached him and, with a flick of her toe, sent him flying up the mountain to the practice arena.

Going up the mountain was indeed easy.

Suddenly, a person fell from the sky.

It startled the six martial arts practitioners greatly.

Wen Zixi lay on the muddy ground of the practice arena, struggling to get up several times without success. He vomited a large mouthful of blood but felt his qi and blood flow more freely. Opening his eyes, he saw the vast clear sky. How comfortable!

If he couldn't withstand two punches from Pei Qian at the same realm, he wouldn't come down the mountain!

Cen Yuanji only glanced at him and shouted, "Continue walking the stakes!"

A man sitting on a bench picking at his feet hurriedly called out, "Friend who fell from the sky, don't come here trying to scam medicine fees!"

From that day on, Jumping Fish Mountain had one more martial arts grandmaster who received one punch from Pei Qian every single day.

Then he would negotiate the price with Master Zheng, soak in a medicinal bath—prices varied daily depending on the market—and Wen Zixi didn't bother haggling. He just told Master Zheng to put it all on his tab.

The six who originally thought learning martial arts at Jumping Fish Mountain was quite hard now witnessed a Far Traveling Realm grandmaster collapse to the ground every day, lie still and quiet for a while, then stagger to his feet, clothes soaked in blood, leaving bloody footprints with every step... In light of this, learning martial arts didn't seem so hard anymore.

Pei Qian came to deliver her "feeding punches" at irregular times. If she taught in the morning, Wen Zixi preferred that. After taking one punch and feeling like his whole body had fallen apart, he would go soak in a steaming medicinal bath, change into clean clothes, and sit refreshed on a small stool, chatting with Master Zheng, watching the young boys and girls practice their fists. It was good—a full day. If Pei Qian only came in the evening to deliver her "feeding punches," Wen Zixi would be on edge for most of the day, sitting listlessly on the stool, unable to muster any energy. He didn't dare make requests to Pei Qian. Fortunately, Master Zheng was generous enough to help negotiate with Pei Qian, setting the daily sparring at a fixed time in the morning, during the Snake hour. As compensation, Wen Zixi would also lend a hand to Master Zheng and Master Cen, teaching the six children a few stance frameworks and fist techniques. Over time, he acquired the title of "Master Wen." With the company of the "never-judge-a-book-by-its-cover" Master Zheng, who joined in the banter and tall tales, Wen Zixi didn't find this life of mountain fist practice and teaching particularly dull.

Two fellows in Fallen Mountain who knew how to enjoy life lay back in reclining chairs. One, a sword immortal, was eating sunflower seeds. The other, a grandmaster, was consuming longan.

"Brother Zhong, you seem idle every day. That's not quite right, is it? I heard that the swordsman Cao Ni has already reached the Golden Body realm as a martial artist. And He Qizhou is no weakling either. Are you giving up the title of the best in the Blessed Land?"

"Brother Mi, I'll go check out Jumping Fish Mountain tomorrow or the day after. I heard from Little Millet that there's a new Far Traveling Realm martial artist named Wen Zixi over there. I'll go have a go at him."

"Brother Zhong, if I remember correctly, you said the same thing the day before yesterday—that you were going to test Zheng Dafeng's skills and see what the former gatekeeper was made of."

"This morning, the old chef's noodle toppings didn't taste as good as yesterday's. Am I being too picky, or did the old chef not put his heart into it today and just half-heartedly served us brothers?"

"Brother Zhong, help me think of a reliable way to delay my departure date to Tongye Continent."

"Go to the Sword Worship Platform and pick a fight with that old deaf man. If you get injured, you can stay to recover."

"The old deaf man might not agree to that."

"Brother Mi is at least the chief guest elder of the subordinate sect. Even when sitting in the council of the Jise Peak Ancestral Hall, your seat is still quite prominent. Although the old deaf man has a higher realm, he's ultimately just a regular guest elder of our Fallen Mountain. An official one rank higher can crush a man to death. Besides, you two are practically from the same hometown. How could he not give you that face? That would be really bad at interpersonal relationships."

"Oh? That makes sense! Brother Zhong, what do you fancy for tonight's late-night snack?"

"Worrying about that."

"Don't worry! Think quickly. Little Millet told me in private that the strength of the old chef's skills is directly linked to how demanding we are."

"Excellent! If that's the case, I'll throw my face to the wind and make sure everyone enjoys more culinary delights."

Ultimately, the Daoist priests who chose to stay in Fallen Mountain became four because of a last-minute change of heart by Liang Chaoguan.

Liang Chaoguan was certainly very intimidated by that Mountain Lord Chen. But when the young Daoist thought about the fearsome reputation of his uncle-master "Ye Chushi," he felt even more uneasy. This was a case of choosing the lesser of two evils.

It wasn't that Liang Chaoguan was cowardly. In fact, there were many Daoist priests in Talisman Mountain and the Sudden School who were in awe of Ye Dan. Although Ye Dan's "registered origin" was the Second Wait Peak of Talisman Mountain, and her Daoist temple was at the back mountain of Second Wait Peak, Ye Dan was also one of the high merit officers of the Sudden School. The reason she embodied the strengths of both Dao lineages involved a profoundly mysterious cause-and-effect related to going up the mountain. If not for the calamity Ye Dan had suffered at the Sword Qi Great Wall—an inescapable fate determined by destiny—someone with Ye Dan's aptitude and bone structure, surely destined for immortality, would long ago have become the peak lord of Second Wait Peak. The protector who should have sought a thread of opportunity to help her escape that calamity was none other than the Daoist partner of Tong Meng, the founding patriarch of the Sudden School and one of Yu Xuan's six orthodox disciples. However, in her efforts to save Ye Dan on the battlefield, she damaged the very foundation of her own Dao and soon departed the world through military emancipation. Her reincarnated self in this life was the female Daoist Wen Xia, whom Ye Dan personally brought back to the mountain to renew her immortal fate.

Feeling guilty toward the Sudden School, Ye Dan only retained her Daoist registration at the Golden Jade Register of Second Wait Peak. Then, relying on her own Dao power and accumulated merits, she transferred to the Sudden School, gradually rising to the rank of high merit officer. Additionally, she concurrently served as one of the specially established Dao officials in the Ancestral Hall of Talisman Mountain, responsible for investigating the merits and faults of Daoist priests across the mountain.

There were even some rumors that early on, Yu Xuan had privately sought out Ye Dan, asking if she had any intention of becoming the disciplinary Daoist priest of the Talisman Mountain Ancestral Hall. She said no.

Outside rumors claimed that Ye Dan's reason was that her Dao conduct was too low to bear such a great responsibility.

But in truth, there were none of these superfluous words. From beginning to end, Ye Dan only said two words to the ancestral master Yu Xuan: "I won't."

Over on Jumping Fish Mountain, there were merely six seeds of Dao learning, but the Dao transmitters included the second-seat guest elder of Fallen Mountain, Xie Gou; the registered guest elder Gan Tang, who had been pressed into service for a few days; and four Daoist high masters from the Central Earth Divine Continent who had moved here from Gathering Spirit Peak. Six people entered the mountain for cultivation, and there were six masters helping to transmit the Dao.

Didn't this mean a one-to-one ratio between those learning and those transmitting?!

What was commonly called "personal transmission" in the mountains usually involved one master teaching several orthodox disciples. When had there ever been such a rare and unattainable special treatment, the kind one wouldn't even dare dream of?!

This made the six people learning the Dao at Jumping Fish Mountain each feel...

The first to come to Jumping Fish Mountain as a master was the young woman in a sable hat. She called herself by the Daoist name Baijing and claimed to have once hacked to death several King Seat great demons... No one could believe such a thing; everyone harbored doubts.

Presumably, on the battlefield of the Sword Qi Great Wall, on one day she had remotely sacrificed a flying sword toward a King Seat great demon, and the next day she had cast a spell from afar at another King Seat great demon—and that counted as "having hacked one to death"?

Regarding the matter of Dao transmission, Xie Gou had little patience. Often, when they raised questions, this Guest Elder Xie, who always liked to put the word "second-seat" in front of her title, would stare blankly at someone, both parties looking at each other, and the latter wouldn't know whether his question was too profound or too shallow. Later, Xie Gou felt that their previous paths of Dao learning were too unsightly, so she casually tossed out several methods of qi breathing and cave dwelling transportation—six in total, just enough to cover six categories—and told them to study them well without being picky. She said she would examine their progress after some time, first determine their approximate aptitude for learning different Dao methods, and then decide how to tailor the transmission for them and give them special tutoring.

The six didn't understand. No matter how good their aptitudes were, no matter how much they were called geniuses of Dao cultivation, they were ultimately just those who stood out like a crane among chickens in some country of Bottle Gourd Continent.

How could they know the significance of the Daoist name "Baijing"? How could they know that this young woman in the sable hat was, in the ancient earth, the undisputed "dragon among cranes" in a flock of Daoist "cranes"?

Regardless, in the minds of the six, at least for now, this Master Xie's attainments in Dao cultivation seemed, on the contrary, inferior to those of Gan Tang, the "regular guest elder" who came later. At least Master Gan was willing to answer questions; all doubts could be explained one by one, and the explanations were extremely precise, hitting the mark...

The old deaf man suffered in silence like a mute eating bitter herbs, occasionally cautiously looking toward the distant Senior Baijing. The latter would smile and nod, throwing either an encouraging or a gratified look, indicating that his teaching was not bad.

This made the old deaf man worry that he, merely a stopgap worker, might end up becoming a permanent laborer.

He came from the ancestral court of Talisman Mountain and was the chief disciple of Yang Xuanbao of Crane Back Peak, a fragrant child at the Nascent Soul stage. In terms of seniority, he was a grandchild generation of the talisman master Yu Xuan, which was already as high as one could go. Then there was Lu Biyu of Flying Immortal Palace, a second-generation disciple of Celestial Lord Xue Zhisui. Bai Feng, an orthodox disciple of Mei Zhen, the sect leader of the Sudden School. And Liang Chaoguan of First Wait Peak of Talisman Mountain. Three young Golden Core earth immortals, among whom Liang Chaoguan was also a sword cultivator. Back when he formed his pill at the second grade, he simultaneously nurtured a lifebound flying sword. At the moment of pill formation and sword emergence, his surrounding qi formed a single circle, and the flying sword turned with the qi. Within the heaven and earth of Liang Chaoguan's own body, auspicious signs of a complete cycle of the moon's phases occurred. This even made the ancestral Daoist book "Mixed Yuan Eight Scenery Sword Scripture," enshrined in the Ancestral Hall of First Wait Peak, "stir restlessly," as if paying homage or offering congratulations.

His master immediately reported this great joyous news to the Ancestral Hall, which is why Liang Chaoguan was qualified to visit the Cloud Dream Cave Heaven. He and Xiang Tong of Crane Back Peak had always found each other disagreeable. One thought the other was someone who rested on his laurels, appearing with his eyes always on top of his head. The other thought that the former had deviated from the path of talismans because his aptitude for Dao cultivation was too ordinary, becoming some kind of sword cultivator with no future prospects. If not for this trip to Fallen Mountain, since they hated the sight of each other, it would have been better not to meet. The territory of Talisman Mountain was vast, with over twenty peaks and more than three hundred Daoist temples and palaces. The number of Daoist priests was, as one could imagine, immense. At the two immortal family ferry crossings, how many Daoist priests, once meeting someone today, would never know when they might meet again. Yet now they had to live together day and night, seeing each other every time they looked up.

Bai Xuan received guidance from Guo Zhujiu and went into seclusion without telling anyone. "Seclusion" simply meant closing the door to his room and sitting down on a meditation cushion.

The seclusion to break through realms took Bai Xuan only the time it takes to burn an incense stick. When he emerged, he was already a Dragon Gate Realm sword cultivator full of spirit and abundant sword intent.

A lifebound flying sword circled endlessly around Bai Xuan, like thousands of strands of white clouds wrapping around a towering mountain, almost giving the impression of floating clouds carrying the mountain through the azure sky.

Bai Xuan flicked his sleeve, recited the word "retract," and the flying sword returned to the space between his eyebrows.

Hearing the commotion outside his door, Bai Xuan immediately became displeased. Who did they think he was?

Did they think his seclusion might not succeed and he needed protection? Or did they think that since he had become a mere Dragon Gate Realm cultivator, they needed to offer him congratulations?

What bad habits! Fallen Mountain shouldn't let you people corrupt our customs with this kind of vain pretense. Old Master Bai won't indulge you!

He was just about to let loose a mouthful of venom, planning to step out the door and curse everyone he saw. But when Bai Xuan turned his head and saw Master Cao also there, sitting on a bamboo chair under the eaves of his own house, Bai Xuan immediately rubbed his hands together, forcing a brilliant smile onto his face, and trotted over to the fellow in the blue long gown and cloth shoes who was smoking a dry pipe. Abruptly stopping in front of him, Bai Xuan said, "Master Cao, your worry was unnecessary."

Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "This seclusion took half an incense stick longer than I anticipated. Keep up the good work next time."

Little Millet sat to one side, hugging the golden carrying pole and green bamboo staff in her arms, clapping her hands silently with all her might. "Impressive, impressive."

Chen Ping'an stood up, put the dry pipe into his sleeve, waved away the smoke, and said with a smile, "Old deaf man, there are now enough hands for the Dao transmission at Jumping Fish Mountain. You can stop going there. Too many masters passing on their teachings can actually make it difficult for the learners to know where to start—biting off more than they can chew. Of course, if you're particularly interested in teaching, you can also go take a look over there. In short, this matter is not compulsory; it's entirely up to your personal preference."

The old deaf man was as relieved as if pardoned. His previously bitter, furrowed old face gradually relaxed.

Unexpectedly, Senior Baijing cast a sidelong glance at him. Trying to run?!

You may be a regular guest elder, not of high status, but you have quite the airs. Do you still want to learn a few sword techniques from me and Xiao Mo? Do you know how difficult it was in ancient times to obtain even a sentence or two of true transmission?

How many awakened qi cultivators of the demon race, in those days, were willing to serve as gatekeepers for caves or mountain-protecting guest elders for a hundred or several hundred years, just to hear Dao techniques from some accomplished cultivator?

The old deaf man realized he had boarded a pirate ship. He had no choice but to pretend to ponder the matter. Then, changing his tune at the last moment, he said, "Mountain Lord, I believe that when doing something, it's best to see it through from beginning to end. I won't go to Jumping Fish Mountain every day, to avoid interfering with the other masters' teaching. But going occasionally to take a look and offer a few pointers is not too difficult and should be done."

Chen Ping'an looked troubled and said considerately, "This won't interfere with Guest Elder Gan Tang's personal cultivation, will it?"

The old deaf man glanced at the young Hidden Officer. The Hidden Officer gave no definite hint, so he had to choose the option that would make the fewest mistakes. "No. Since I've become a guest elder of Fallen Mountain, I should do what I can."

It was like a strict, seasoned master asking a lazy apprentice, "Son, you've been cultivating so diligently, staying up late to complete Daoist coursework—surely you're not harming your spirit? Take good care of your health."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "As long as the intent is there. As for the Dao transmission at Jumping Fish Mountain, doing it in a rough-and-ready manner is sufficient."

The old deaf man forced a smile on his face. You've said all the nice words. Rough-and-ready for me? That means I'm the one being careless?

This Fallen Mountain was truly not a place for an honest man. It really wasn't a place for people.

As soon as that fellow surnamed Chen left, the old deaf man saw Senior Baijing's displeased expression.

The old deaf man was bitter inside. What had he said wrong again?

Before leaving the Sword Worship Platform, Chen Ping'an said through mental voice, smiling, "When Xiao Mo returns to the mountain, the two of you, more or less, find the time to teach Guest Elder Gan Tang one or two superior sword techniques suitable for him."

Xie Gou said reluctantly, "That old deaf man isn't even worthy of Xiao Mo personally teaching him sword techniques. I, on the other hand, might pick a day when I'm in a good mood and teach him two chicken-rib sword techniques."

This time, it was the Mountain Lord's turn to cast a sidelong glance at the second-seat elder.

Xie Gou had no choice but to explain sincerely, "Mountain Lord, think about it—one sword technique for two cultivators! When one hears the Dao, there are three kinds of scholars. Can it really be the same?"

"What is a chicken rib to me is Gan Tang's supreme treasure."

"Rest assured, he will be extremely grateful then. Damn it, if it were me, just being able to casually teach a few children for a few days, spout a few cartloads of nonsense, and in exchange learn two... even just one superior sword technique that Bai Jing thinks highly of, I would be willing to crawl from this Sword Worship Platform to Jumping Fish Mountain. Mountain Lord, to be honest with you, back then my heart for seeking the Dao was extremely firm. Once my heart was set on a direction, I would advance without looking back..."

Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "I believe everything you said before. It was sincerely spoken. But just this last sentence—you don't need to gild the lily. Xiao Mo occasionally chats with me about some past events. That so-called Dao-seeking mind of yours isn't just that you're now the ancestral master of the mountain and wilderness wild cultivators? You killed a few, obtained a few secret manuals, learned them, waited to ambush the next batch, and if you heard a Daoist name that sounded pleasant to the ear, you took them all under your wing."

Xie Gou said with embarrassment, "Xiao Mo really tells you everything, doesn't he?"

Chen Ping'an said, "No wonder Mr. Zheng holds you in such high regard. He must see you as a predecessor on the same path."

Xie Gou asked cautiously, "City Lord Zheng often engages in robbery, murder, and the obliteration of corpses and traces?"

Chen Ping'an laughed. "Not quite that. It's more subtle, more in line with the rules. After all, this is the Haoran World. If it were the Barren Wilderness, it would be hard to say."

No worse than Zhou Mi?

Xie Gou said, "If the Mountain Lord hadn't spoken up to intercede, neither I nor Xiao Mo would have been likely to teach sword techniques to Gan Tang."

Chen Ping'an asked curiously, "Why?"

Xie Gou grinned. "Xiao Mo doesn't like weaklings like this old deaf man."

Xiao Mo didn't like him, so she didn't like him either.

Chen Ping'an said, "You wouldn't know, but according to the secret records of the Summer Resort Palace, this fellow Daoist Dragon Sound once performed some heroic deeds when he was young. The old deaf man doesn't want to open this jar of aged wine and invite people to drink from it. As an outsider, I shouldn't step in and do it for him."

A cross-continent ferry named "Dragon-Serpent Trail" that came to Ox Horn Ferry and refused to leave had been lent to Fallen Mountain for free for a hundred years. It was like a meat pie falling from the sky, delivered right to their mouths.

Jiang Shangzhen had thoroughly inspected the ferry and shook his head. A fly in the ointment.

Even if Old True Man Yu showed more sincerity and was willing to proactively give dozens of main blueprints and hundreds of appendix blueprints to Fallen Mountain, once they reached Chen Ping'an's hands, they would probably be just a pile of waste paper.

The reason was simple. Even just the individual talismans that needed to be deciphered by Chen Ping'an, roughly calculated, numbered over three hundred and sixty.

There were an extremely large number of talisman boats in the world.

This one could be called the "ancestor" of all talisman boats.

When Jiang Shangzhen was young, he once asked Old Man Xun a very naive question: why not make the secret Dao techniques of the Ancestral Hall public so that all registered cultivators in the sect could learn them?

The old man just patted the young man's head and brushed off the question with one vague sentence: "When you're in charge one day, you'll understand that willingness and permission are two different things."

At the village school, there was a new Master Jiang who said he would substitute for Mr. Chen for a while. No one knew what Master Jiang said to a certain sharp-tongued woman when he visited her home, but the next day, a child who had withdrawn from the village school to attend another village's elementary school came bouncing back to class. No longer having to travel far to school every day, this child was overjoyed.

Generally speaking, among the dozen or so village school children, some preferred Master Jiang, while others preferred Mr. Chen.

Daoist Ding returned to Fallen Mountain alone, his expression complex.

He had heard that Mr. Chen was in seclusion at Fuyao Foot. Fortunately, before going into seclusion, the Mountain Lord had left a message with Little Millet: when Daoist Ding returned, he should go to Fuyao Foot to find him for a discussion of the Dao.

Indeed, Chen Ping'an was in seclusion, refining his sword.

Xie Gou was still guarding his seclusion.

So now Xie Gou was increasingly dissatisfied with that old deaf man. Squatting in the latrine without shitting. If he kept up this half-hearted work, she would strip him of even his "regular guest elder" title.

However, before this seclusion, the Mountain Lord had said that there would naturally be someone willing to replace Guest Elder Gan Tang, and the number of Dao-transmitting masters at Jumping Fish Mountain would still be made up to six.

Was it this Daoist priest before her?

Xie Gou asked, "Coming back again—what do you want?"

Speaking in an ornate manner—who couldn't do that?

Daoist Ding asked through mental voice, "Would this junior's conversation with Senior disturb Mr. Chen's seclusion?"

Xie Gou shook her head with a smile. "No. Though separated by a hair's breadth, it's like two different worlds. With your level of cultivation, you couldn't disturb our Mountain Lord's sword refining even if you tried."

Daoist Ding then took off his boots, sat down in the corridor, his head drooping listlessly, somewhat dejected. "This junior can no longer distinguish between the terms 'Jade Pure' and 'Immortal' anymore."

It was while riding Celestial Lord Xue's talisman boat and participating in a post-mortem with the other Daoist priests that Daoist Ding suddenly woke up with a start—he was an Immortal Realm cultivator! Where was this "Jade Pure, beware of the sun and moon shortening one's life" nonsense?

Xie Gou suddenly understood. "I think our Mountain Lord has taken a liking to you and wants to polish you a bit more, little ox-nose Daoist priest. Seeing that you weren't catching on, he found a reason to have you return to the mountain. It's a good thing. Don't keep a bitter face about it."

Xie Gou's implication was very simple: Don't be ungrateful and fail to distinguish good from bad, or you might end up getting chopped.

Inside the house, Mountain Lord Chen had been ambushed for the second time while refining his sword the day before yesterday. The first time, a shocking blood groove had been cut into his neck. "Shocking" not because of how exaggerated the wound was, but because the fourteenth-realm master hiding deep in the shadows had been able to ignore Fallen Mountain's protective mountain array and the layer upon layer restrictions of Fuyao Foot, leaving not a trace of evidence, and had inflicted this level of injury on a martial artist at the Return to Truth first layer of the Ultimate Realm. The second time, the attacker struck even more viciously, ripping open a wound on Chen Ping'an's back that exposed the bone while his mind was immersed in sword refining. This made Xie Gou, who was guarding the seclusion, gnash her teeth in anger. Fortunately, Chen Ping'an once again gave up on sword refining, maintaining his composure without the slightest hint of discouragement. He opened the door, sat in the corridor, and chatted casually with Xie Gou for a while.

It was fortunate that Chen Ping'an had the "Caged Sparrow."

Otherwise, the consequences of abandoning the seclusion midway would have been significant. At the very least, spiritual energy would leak from his body. In severe cases, he might lose some Dao qi or have decades of Dao conduct shaved off.

Just consider the matter of spiritual energy dissipation. Since ancient times, it has always been easier to release than to retrieve. Every spell or divine ability unleashed is like spending money from a savings jar. Separating the turbid and pure qi from heaven and earth requires qi cultivators to carefully extract them bit by bit like unraveling silk from a cocoon. Those of higher realms naturally find it relatively easier. But for qi cultivators in the lower five realms, even this single task consumes immeasurable time and effort. Without family traditions or guidance from enlightened masters, without spirit artifacts or magical implements passed down from their sect, lacking the geographical advantage of an immortal mansion Daoist temple and lacking human harmony, they are bound to encounter obstacles everywhere. Cultivation goes poorly, with bottlenecks at every realm. Even more terrifying is taking the wrong path. Just consider cultivating a lifebound object. Registered cultivators have established sequences of cultivation. Where are the mountain-and-wilderness wild cultivators supposed to "hear the Dao"? If they have a master to teach them, that's "true transmission in one sentence." Without a guide, it's ten thousand layers of bewildering obstacles, the ghost-pacing that consumes time—but that's not even the most terrifying thing. The most terrifying is to stray onto a wrong path, a road of no return, a dead end. A registered cultivator might be able to bear scrapping a candidate lifebound object and still have a substitute. But for a "wild dog scratching for food" mountain-and-wilderness wild cultivator, it could mean the complete severance of their Dao path.

This is why every sect-level Daoist temple would set up at least one mountain-protecting grand array. Different Dao lineages and veins had arrays for each peak as well, layer upon layer reinforcing, all for the purpose of storing wind and gathering water, concentrating spiritual energy, and invisibly purifying the heaven and earth of turbid and baleful qi. Know that the operation of all grand arrays requires the consumption of immortal money. Multiply this expenditure by the number of years, and the amount becomes enormous. This leads to another crucial question: Can the mountain-protecting grand array absorb the surrounding heaven and earth's spiritual energy? If the answer is yes, then how large is the "surrounding" area? Historically, almost all sects have made different choices, and all inevitably face this issue that is not suitable for public discussion.

Generally speaking, between two sects, how could the distance be only ten thousand miles? It's to avoid "conflict," like rivers competing for waterways.

Fallen Mountain's choice was extremely conservative. It only sealed in the spiritual energy to prevent leakage, without using the grand array to "swallow mountains and rivers." Back in the day, the Dragon Spring Sword Sect, also located in Chuzhou territory, did the same. Yet even so, because the two sects were geographically too close, like the saying "one mountain cannot tolerate two tigers," the Dragon Spring Sword Sect was "forced" to relocate. In the eyes of the outside world, Ruan Qiong, the chief guest elder of the Great Li Imperial Family, had to proactively "make way" for the young Hidden Officer of the Sword Qi Great Wall, forced to avoid his sharp edge.

Mountain Lord Wei Po personally helped with the relocation of the mountain peaks. The Great Li Song Clan mediated and also offered Ruan Qiong compensation, allocating a large piece of territory in the former Northern March region of Great Li to the Dragon Spring Sword Sect.

In the eyes of other cultivators in Bottle Gourd Continent, all this was perfectly reasonable. There were even many rumors with great detail, saying that the Mountain Lord Chen, who had been transformed by a twist of fate, had once tried to find a foothold in a blacksmith's shop as a youth. But Ruan Qiong, who had his eyes on the top, looked down on him, felt the impoverished youth had no aptitude for cultivation, and absolutely refused to accept Chen Ping'an as a personal disciple. The latter, disheartened, worked as a menial laborer for just a few days before Ruan Qiong drove him away.

At some point, several sayings began circulating in secret in Bottle Gourd Continent: "Taking disciples should not be like Ruan Qiong," "Ruan the Chief Sees People with Unerring Accuracy," "Ruan the Sword Immortal Lets the Big Catch Get Away."

These witty sayings were all told to Chen Ping'an personally by Liu Xianyang.

At the time, Chen Ping'an held back for a long time before asking what Master Ruan thought of these sayings.

Liu Xianyang thought seriously for a moment and said that Ruan the blacksmith was expressionless, his heart unruffled... probably.

An explanation? How could Chen Ping'an explain such a thing? Explain to Master Ruan? Or explain to those bastards on Bottle Gourd Continent spreading rumors?

Don't let me catch you gossiping bastards face to face, or your dog heads won't be safe!

Daoist Ding asked cautiously, "Senior, is your Daoist age very long?"

Xie Gou twitched the corner of her mouth. "I slept for a very, very, very long time. Missed many, many, many things. Can't really count it as real Daoist age. Why? If I'm older and at a higher realm than you, would you feel better?"

Daoist Ding shook his head. "This junior would not think that way. Cultivation is one's own business."

Xie Gou then extended this young Daoist's statement, "In my view, a Daoist priest whose eyes are too fixed on immediate affairs and matters at hand, whose mind sees at most his own future prospects, and who doesn't give much thought to the great Dao of heaven and earth outside his own person—that person can hardly be called a Daoist."

"It's not that one must be a good-hearted person, nor that one must roll around in the vast red dust, going through life after life. It's just that nowadays, the Daoist religion, the Dao family, the Dao techniques, the Daoist priests—from the Dao Ancestor down to the founding masters of various schools and sects, plus those readily available Daoist texts and classics—all require disciples and grandchildren to accumulate external merits. Some Daoists have even proposed concepts of eight hundred or three thousand merits. The Dao lineages have split into thousands of branches, each with its own ebb and flow, honor and decline. But since everyone views one thing the same way and holds the same view, it's naturally because this thing can yield benefits. As for the real meaning I want to convey—do you understand or not?"

Daoist Ding nodded. "Junior understands Senior's meaning."

Xie Gou snorted in derision. "Don't pretend to understand when you don't, and try to fool me."

Daoist Ding said, "How would I dare?"

Xie Gou said casually, "The reason I'm willing to shoot the breeze with you for a bit is that I find you somewhat similar to the Daoists of the ancient human world—relatively speaking."

"Back then, they regarded the matter of cultivating the Dao as more important than life itself. Enduring humiliation, bearing heavy burdens, sparing no hardship—you cannot imagine what that was like. If someone could hear a sentence or two of true Dao transmission from a senior cultivator, some would prostrate themselves on the ground, wailing bitterly, without the slightest concealment, bowing to thank the master for transmitting the Dao, bowing to thank heaven and earth for nurturing virtue, and bowing to their own Dao heart for never having disgraced the path they had walked to get there."

"You people are not like that. You're not pure enough. You don't truly cry when you cry, and you don't truly laugh when you laugh. You have a hundred worries and a thousand calculations, and you do everything as if you're making a deal with someone, without even realizing it."

Hearing this, Daoist Ding's eyes lit up, his mind swayed, and he felt a longing.

Xie Gou glanced at the young Daoist priest. Truly promising material.

Daoist Ding thought seriously for a moment, as if suddenly understanding something. He raised his arm, extended a palm upright, and gently shook it. "If there were sages of the past worthy of being called virtuous who divided heaven and earth into yin and yang, temporarily naming them 'good' and 'evil,' the great Dao is rugged and difficult to verify and not easily obtained. Some who walk the path of good die young, while some who walk the path of evil can reach great heights. This matter is the greatest obstruction to vision, blinding later generations of Dao learners. But those who bother to keep count will know that among the former, many succeed, while among the latter, many fail. Beginners in Dao learning, with fledgling wings not yet full-grown, who dares to claim they are definitely the one to reach the summit? Therefore, to be cautious, one needs to walk the former path. Over time, those who first heard the Dao on the path will unconsciously become the protectors of those who follow behind. When there are further legal lineages established on the path, and new schools arise by the wayside, the Dao becomes greater, the path becomes wider. With many traveling together on the same path, they can journey to the mountaintop together, marching heavenward in a mighty throng. Cultivators with pure Dao hearts, greatly refining some old site—if a hundred cannot do it, then what of a thousand? If a thousand is not enough, then let ten thousand unite in heart! If we Daoists can truly do this, with united hearts for ten thousand years—in numbers, in momentum, in Dao lineages—we would surpass the battle to ascend to heaven from ten thousand years ago. Either break and refine it, transforming city into city, or cover and encompass that ruined Heavenly Court—how could this be a vain hope? Why should the Three Teaching Patriarchs worry for ten thousand years? Why should they scatter the Dao?!"

Xie Gou put on a stern face and gave a slight hum, nodding gently.

This young Daoist can actually think that far. I myself hadn't thought of all that.

His brain is much better than Yuan Jucai's.

No wonder the Mountain Lord looks favorably upon him. Could it be that he wants to poach him?

That would work. This little ox-nose Daoist priest is more than qualified to be a regular guest elder of Fallen Mountain.

A flawless, unsullied green-robed Dharma image—the sword immortal turned into a rainbow light and shot out of the house. His wide sleeves fluttered, his aura vast and hazy, gleaming with glazed radiance.

In an instant, he had already traveled over a hundred miles of landscape. Daoist Ding heard the lingering echoes of Mr. Chen's smiling voice in his ears: "Wait a moment. Quick trip, quick return."

Daoist Ding asked, "What was that?"

Was Mr. Chen practicing some kind of secret art?

Xie Gou curled her lip. "Since he no longer has the path of yin spirit projection available, he finds a similar method. A living person can't let himself be suffocated by urine, can he?"

Daoist Ding exclaimed in heartfelt admiration, "When a myriad of mountains block the way, carving one's own path—that's the kind of person Mr. Chen is."

Xie Gou nodded. "Young Daoist, you suit Fallen Mountain better than that old deaf man."

Daoist Ding was shocked. "You mean that old deaf man, one of the Ten Sword Immortals of the Sword Qi Great Wall?"

Xie Gou rubbed her cheeks. The old deaf man was that famous? But here he puts on an act of being humble and respectful toward his seniors, like a spineless bird. Could it be that this regular guest elder is insincere in his heart?

Xie Gou remembered something. "Why does our Mountain Lord keep pressing you on the matter of 'not seeking help from Yu Xuan'? Do you have some unspeakable difficulty, some deep pain, that prevents you from seeking Yu Xuan's guidance?"

Daoist Ding hesitated for a moment, but chose to speak honestly about this matter. "I prefer not to ask for help from others. Of course, that's very difficult to achieve completely, so I settled for the next best thing. At the beginning of my cultivation, I set myself a framework. For example, if I encountered obstacles on the path upward, I could seek help from Feather Transformation Mountain only once. I used this chance before forming my pill, borrowing over two hundred thousand talismans from the Talisman City for my Daoist temple in the Tai Geng Blessed Land. I also allowed myself to seek help from Ancestral Master Yu once in my lifetime, to break through the Nascent Soul stage bottleneck. Since I could bypass mental demons, I planned to use this opportunity before my seclusion to certify my ascension and soar to immortality."

Xie Gou said, "That's very good. It's not about dying for face, refusing to ask for anything, but being cautious about asking. By that logic, it was our Mountain Lord being a busybody, poking his nose where it doesn't belong."

Daoist Ding shook his head. "Senior misunderstands Mr. Chen. His intention is actually deeper. He was very affirmative about my two hundred years of wandering cultivation life and gave me much praise. But Mr. Chen also gave me one evaluation that hit the nail on the head, leaving me drenched in sweat on the spot—one that will benefit me for life."

Xie Gou wasn't going to stand on ceremony with him. "Let's hear that evaluation."

Daoist Ding took a deep breath and slowly said, "Mr. Chen said I have never truly despaired, never truly walked into a dead end where seeking heaven, earth, people, and myself were all useless. So he told me to think hard: when the day comes that I find myself in that situation, what should I do, what would I think, and how would I look back on the path I had walked in this life?"

Xie Gou rubbed her sable hat. "You're not stupid. Do you have an answer now?"

Daoist Ding said, "No answer yet. But I have a few new ideas now, using multiple positive and negative arguments to verify a final thesis."

Xie Gou laughed. "For example?"

Daoist Ding smiled. "For example, if the River of Time could flow backward, when Ancestral Master Yu was at Fill Gold Peak of Talisman Mountain, I wouldn't limit myself to asking once. I would have rolled up my bedding and lodged outside his door, asking at least one question daily. Another example: if Ancestral Master Yu were in the celestial river beyond heaven, when I returned to Feather Transformation Mountain, I would definitely bring a stack of protective talismans with me and go to the outer heavens. That way, I could both seek guidance from Ancestral Master Yu on some questions and gaze down at the human world from amidst the resplendent starry river—two birds with one stone."

Xie Gou nodded. "Now you understand. That 'seeking' our Mountain Lord talked about and the 'seeking' in your heart were never the same concept to begin with."

Daoist Ding nodded vigorously and said solemnly, "Indeed it is so. When Daoist Ding was rigidly fixated on 'seeking from others,' Mr. Chen was teaching me 'seeking the Dao.' Mr. Chen transmitted to me the two words 'questioning the heart,' which was his way of teaching me 'questioning the Dao.' In my mind, this is what mountain transmission and the salvific teaching of high true cultivators—giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him to fish—is all about. Nothing more, nothing less!"

Xie Gou said quietly, "Is there a possibility—I'm just saying it's possible—that our Mountain Lord didn't think that far either?"

Daoist Ding said categorically, "Absolutely impossible!"

Xie Gou found this very strange. Are you an ordained Daoist priest of Fallen Mountain or something, to be so biased toward Chen Ping'an?

Seeing that the senior's expression was ambiguous, Daoist Ding looked bewildered and asked tentatively, "Could it be?"

Xie Gou's expression was awkward. Putting on airs, she lectured, "Young Daoist, if your mind is unsettled, how can you dare to speak of proving the Dao outside the Dao? Our Mountain Lord's well-intentioned efforts in transmitting the Dao to you have been greatly diminished."

Daoist Ding smiled knowingly, tucked his hands into his sleeves, shrank his neck, and basked in the warm sunlight. "Fallen Mountain is truly a wonderful place. Without one realizing it, it has ensnared people's hearts."

Xie Gou burst out laughing. "If you want to betray... leave Feather Transformation Mountain, it's not difficult. While I don't need to guard the Mountain Lord's seclusion, I can make a quick trip to the outer heavens, see Yu Xuan, put in a good word for you, and get permission for you to stay in Fallen Mountain for cultivation. After a few decades or a hundred years, when you've reached the Ascension Realm, you can return to Feather Transformation Mountain. Reinstating your Daoist credentials then won't be a problem. If you keep a guest elder status here at Fallen Mountain, Yu Xuan's Talisman Mountain will have gained an Ascension Realm cultivator for free. What a steal!"

Daoist Ding's face was full of bitterness. "The matter of enrolling and expelling names from the Ancestral Hall register is not a game. Senior is joking. I absolutely cannot do such a thing."

Acts of heresy and rebellion—Daoist Ding truly could not bring himself to do them. His body would observe the rules; his heart would be free—this was the path Daoist Ding wanted to walk.

Xie Gou said lazily, "A two-hundred-year-old earth immortal—that was not common even in our era. You can stay here a few more days, try to get on familiar terms with my Xiao Mo. He has a very good relationship with that Azure Void Cave Lord of Fallen Treasure Beach. Later, when you've certified your ascension and have the ability to travel through the Azure Underworld on your own, just say you're Xiao Mo's Daoist friend... No, you can't say it that way. The Azure Void Cave Lord has a petty heart, and hearing that opening line, he might just stuff you into his sleeve. Change it up—say you're Xiao Mo's half-generation junior. The Azure Void Cave Lord might be willing to chat with you about some Dao techniques then."

Daoist Ding had roughly guessed the true "Daoist age" of this young woman in the sable hat.

No wonder she could say she could go to the outer heavens whenever she wanted, see their Ancestral Master Yu whenever she liked, speak without any taboos about any subject, and discuss the old temple master of the Viewing Dao Temple in the Eastern Sea with such casual ease.

Daoist Ding couldn't help but ask curiously, "Was Senior's Daoist partner a contemporary qi cultivator from the same era as Senior?"

Xie Gou grinned. "Among the Ten Greats of the ancient human world, plus four alternates—fourteen in total—Xiao Mo and I have crossed swords with half of them."

Daoist Ding had never heard of any "Ten Greats of the World" before.

Even though this was the first time he had heard of this, when "ancient" and "the world" were put together, Daoist Ding knew very well how significant it was. He simply couldn't imagine the realms of those fourteen.

Daoist Ding asked through mental voice, "Senior, could you tell me who they are?"

Xie Gou waved her hand. "I can speak of it, but you cannot hear it."

Daoist Ding tried a roundabout question. "May I ask, was that old great sword immortal one of the Ten Greats of the ancient world?"

Xie Gou shook her head. "Chen Qingdu was only one of the alternates at the time. His speed of learning the sword wasn't fast enough. He belonged to that rare type who accumulated thickly and then burst forth, taking steady steps at every stage."

Daoist Ding asked again, "What about Ritual Saint?"

Xie Gou laughed. "Still one of the alternates."

Daoist Ding gathered his courage. "What about the Three Teaching Patriarchs? Could it be..."

Xie Gou turned her head and looked at him.

Daoist Ding knew he had thought wrong.

The Three Teaching Patriarchs were among the Ten Greats.

The four alternates of the Ten Greats of the World had no order of precedence among them.

Sword cultivator Chen Qingdu, the old great sword immortal of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Little Master Yu Ke, later the Haoran Ritual Saint, who created writing and cut off the connection between heaven and earth.

Bai Ze, who was originally the most likely to become the common ancestor of all demonic tribes under heaven.

The talisman ancestor and talisman patriarch Sanshan Jiuhou, whose Daoist temple was on Tai Mountain, one of the five sacred mountains of ancient times.

Bai Jing had personally witnessed the detailed scene of Sanshan Jiuhou transmitting the Dao in the human world.

As for Chen Qingdu, at that time he was still a young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a square face. He wasn't handsome in appearance. In terms of looks alone, compared to the temple of Old Blind Man's Shrine, he was several hundred Chen Ping'ans worse. By the time the battle to ascend to heaven ended, the Azure Void Cave Lord, who had stayed at Fallen Treasure Beach and refused to exert himself, relied on his not-inconsiderable Dao techniques, followed the example of the Shrine's master, forcibly claimed a large piece of the human world as his own, refined it into a Daoist temple, and supposedly named it Caizhou? Then he named an entire prefecture the Viewing Dao Temple? This ended up angering the Dao Ancestor.

Xie Gou laughed and asked, "Everyone says Yu Xuan has a monopoly on the word 'talisman.' So why did he choose to unite with the Dao in the outer heavens? You, as Yu Xuan's disciple's disciple, have you never thought about the reason?"

Daoist Ding nodded. "I've thought about it, but I haven't figured it out."

Xie Gou said, "What's there to figure out? Naturally, there were already Daoists occupying the path on the Dao."

Daoist Ding pointed at the sky. "What this junior is puzzled about is, since that senior's Dao conduct was so high and he had already succeeded in uniting with the Dao, why didn't he simply go to the outer heavens and refine stars into talismans?"

"He did so. If he hadn't, wouldn't you latercomers and juniors have no path to walk? What's this about 'heaven never seals off all paths'? Stifled in a jar for ten thousand years without a breath of fresh air."

Xie Gou laughed. "Blame heaven and blame others—you'd just suffer yourselves."

In fact, it wasn't just Yu Xuan who had opened up new territory through this, allowing him to take his hundred-foot pole a step further. Even Wei She of the Snowy Shore had once benefited from Sanshan Jiuhou proactively making way, which gave him a sliver of opportunity to unite with the Dao at the fourteenth realm. Unfortunately, that Wei She, who styled himself "Master of Thirty-Seven Peaks," couldn't rise to the occasion. His Dao power was insufficient, and he missed the mark by a single move.

Hearing Xie Gou's explanation, Daoist Ding had an epiphany. There really were Daoists willing to proactively make way for later generations! There was one more high person in his heart!

Daoist Ding stood up, walked down the steps, bowed to the heavens in salute, and offered distant reverence to that talisman senior whose name and Daoist title he still didn't know.

Xie Gou remembered something else, found it immensely amusing, and the more she thought about it, the funnier it seemed. She couldn't help but laugh out loud. Lying in the corridor, swinging her crossed leg, she called out, "Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo, come home quickly."

Daoist Ding asked, "May I ask on which mountain peak Senior's Daoist temple is located?"

Since he had made up his mind to stay here for a longer time, Daoist Ding wanted to have more contact with this senior. Even if he didn't ask about Dao techniques, it would be good to ask more about the old history from ten thousand years ago.

Xie Gou rolled her eyes. "I don't have a proper Daoist temple. Our Fallen Mountain has never held a formal peak-inauguration ceremony. Since Xiao Mo doesn't have his own mountain peak, I go where he goes, so of course I don't have one either. Probably the first to receive this honor will be that Daoist priest guarding the mountain gate at the foot. The other Nascent Soul cultivators will have their ceremonies later. Our Mountain Lord is very thoughtful."

Daoist Ding was speechless.

The old deaf man of the Sword Qi Great Wall, this senior before him, plus her Daoist partner.

Mr. Chen's Fallen Mountain, which has only just received the sect-level name, seems to have... quite a crowd of great cultivators standing at its summit.

True Martial Mountain.

The originally sunlit world was dim and indistinct, as if covered by layers of clouds shrouding the mountaintop.

Outside the mountain, a majestic green-robed Dharma image with a sword on its back walked through the void toward the mountain.

When he reached the outside of the mountain gate archway of True Martial Mountain, the sword immortal's height had already become the same as an ordinary person.

Like a spirit god wandering the human world at night, shrinking the earth's mountains and rivers, unconstrained by any magical laws, with unlimited time and space.

Within the mountain, a middle-aged ancestral master walked out of the main hall and personally descended the mountain to receive the guest.

A reunion after so many years seemed like it was just yesterday, vivid before the eyes.

When the two met, it was like unrolling a painting whose ink had not yet dried.

This middle-aged man, whose appearance and temperament seemed unchanged in the slightest, was even dressed the same as he had been back then. He carried a sword on his back and had talismans hanging at his waist.

He was the military practitioner who had brought Ma Kuxuan out of the Pearl Bead Cave Heaven. He was nominally Ma Kuxuan's Dao transmitter, but in secret was his protector. They had the formal relationship of master and disciple.

As if standing within a time scroll painting, journeying hand in hand through old places, the man looked around and smiled, "Lifelike, hard to tell true from false. A straw-sandaled youth who once struggled just to stay alive has developed such means. Now that the Sword Immortal Chen, who has paid his respects to Zhengyang Mountain, can say a few more words."

Without any intention of trivializing the matter, he actually took the initiative to reveal the "wedge" of that year's conversation, without even waiting for Chen Ping'an to remind him.

Within the scroll painting, the location was the Immortal Grave outside the small town. The man had spoken his reasoning to the youth.

"You have no qualifications to bargain. Nod if you agree, and continue to remain silent if you don't. If you think it's unfair, if you're unwilling, and if you manage to survive from under the old ape's hand, then after you leave the small town, you can come to True Martial Mountain to find me and demand what you think is justice."

There was no indignation on the youth's face. His eyes were bright. He only replied, "If I have the chance, I will."

The "Ma Kuxuan" who was an outsider at the time clearly wanted to say something too, but was immediately silenced by the man with one sentence: "Dead people have even less right to make threats to the living."

At this moment, Chen Ping'an's gaze was more on Ning Yao, and also on that barefoot, mud-splattered youth holding a short blade. No matter how he looked at it, he and Ning Yao were a match made in heaven. Slowly withdrawing his gaze, Chen Ping'an made the figures in the painting temporarily exit. He walked with his hands in his sleeves through this Immortal Grave, which had not yet been turned into a shrine by the Great Li dynasty, and smiled. "Senior's words back then—listening with my gut, I could tell there was no malice toward me. But to be honest, I didn't understand the principle at first. On subsequent journeys far and wide, I pondered it repeatedly, chewing it over, and eventually extracted quite a bit of aftertaste."

The man walked beside him and said openly, "At most, I held no hostility toward you. As for having any goodwill, that's a stretch. Back then, I was just afraid that because you were young, and especially because the young lady you admired was watching, you might easily get hot-headed and act on impulse. Before you truly grew up, you might ruin your future by falling right here, leading to deeper enmity between us. For a certain ancestor of True Martial Mountain to make things difficult for a younger generation on his own turf—that wouldn't sound good if word got out."

Indeed, he had very early noticed that Chen Ping'an had the intent of fist techniques on his body.

Chen Ping'an continued as if talking to himself, "Senior is a military practitioner who has mastered both heart and strength. Thus, when you're within the mountain looking out, as an upper-five-realm immortal looking at a mortal Chen Ping'an, there is naturally no malice either. Unless you're on a battlefield, you wouldn't feel hostility toward anyone. The Immortal Grave where I crossed moves with Ma Kuxuan was not Senior's battlefield, so there was no killing intent whatsoever, let alone any murderous intention. I wouldn't even hesitate to say that if I hadn't beaten Ma Kuxuan, but Ma Kuxuan had defeated me, and he had wanted to kill me then, Senior would have stopped him just the same."

The man nodded. "I would have stopped you from killing him, and I would have stopped him from killing you. Having some bias toward Ma Kuxuan is due to my position within the sect. But not being overly partial to him is a result of my personal character—I cannot bring myself to use despicable means."

Having said this, the man's expression turned strange. "Coming here with such momentum, bringing up old matters—surely you haven't come to demand an explanation? It can't be that you've come to thank me, can it?"

Chen Ping'an continued to speak to himself. "But I wonder if Senior has realized one thing: Huan Shu still harbors an intangible malice without being aware of it."

For the first time being addressed directly by his given name, the man restrained his smile. "I would be glad to hear the details. Enlighten me."

Not seeing the true face of heaven and earth, only because one is within the mortal world.

From the look of things, Sword Immortal Chen intends to observe the courtesies first before resorting to arms?!

Huan Shu, however, found Chen Ping'an just smiling back at him, implying that since the answer was within himself, he should be the one to untie the bell.

Chen Ping'an, meanwhile, was thinking rapidly. Huan Shu's seniority in True Martial Mountain was not low. He was said to be a junior fellow apprentice to the current mountain lord, Yue Ding. But aside from Huan Shu's record within True Martial Mountain, his background and origins were a complete fog. Even the Great Li intelligence network had no record of him, only a concise annotation: "This person comes from the Central Earth Military Ancestral Court." Because he had a good senior fellow apprentice, and because he had met the First Ancestor of the Military again, and because True Martial Mountain had a Yu Shiwu... His thoughts extended far beyond just roaming ten thousand miles. Combined with Chen Ping'an's choice to imprison his divinity by "forgetting" key terms, people, and events, he often only temporarily remembered certain things when he saw or heard a key word that served as a key to open a door. So what he thought of at this moment included Wu Shuangjiang of the Year-End Palace, and extending further, Wei She of the Snowy Shore, who had once been dealt with by Wu Shuangjiang... These were like a string of "fish catches" pulled up, and his thoughts, tangled and overgrown like wildfire spreading across the plains, were completely uncontrollable. Chen Ping'an could only think of them as they came and had to once again cut off each thought individually.

Huan Shu suddenly understood. "I see. So that's it. The malice in human speech can indeed be divided into three types. The first type, such as the abusive language of the marketplace, is the most superficial. The second type is more subtle, needing no effort in the content of the speech or the choice of words, but is a kind of looking down and belittling of a lower or much lower stratum by a higher one. Mountain Lord Chen's earlier evaluation was still too polite. When I, this military practitioner of True Martial Mountain, spoke those words to Chen Ping'an of Mud Vase Alley, I was in this very state. The third type is indeed hidden and difficult to recognize! Because it already comes from... the intangible malice of the partial world in which Huan Shu finds himself toward the partial world in which Chen Ping'an finds himself. At this point between us, believe it or not, speech is no longer necessary. Without a single word being spoken, there is a world of difference between heaven and earth, and good and evil are made clear."

It came from speech. It came from the stratum of the speaker. It came from the entire world.

The man kept murmuring to himself, falling into a mysterious state of self-interrogation. "Is the Dao within me? Is the Dao within you? Is the great Dao in the stainless azure sky, or in the muddy yellow earth..."

Unbeknownst to him, by the time Huan Shu came back to his senses, Chen Ping'an had already withdrawn his array and the two were standing at the mountain gate.

Chen Ping'an waited for Huan Shu to emerge from that state, then prepared to turn and leave.

Chen Ping'an could clearly distinguish between Ma Kuxuan and Ma Lanhua, so how could he fail to distinguish between him and Ma Kuxuan, or between Ma Kuxuan and True Martial Mountain and the transmitter Huan Shu? Moreover, before Ma Kuxuan descended from the mountain, he had proactively withdrawn his name from True Martial Mountain's register. For a person like Ma Kuxuan, who always liked to shit and not wipe his ass—such a contrary person—to be willing to act so abnormally, it showed that Ma Kuxuan actually had feelings for this sect and for his master Huan Shu.

Huan Shu asked, "Has Mountain Lord Chen finished speaking his principles? Are you going?"

"Otherwise? Back then, Huan Shu didn't talk much either—just a few sentences, eighty-four characters in total."

Chen Ping'an asked in return, "Now that I'm at a higher realm than you and my fist is harder, I've spoken a few more words, a total of two hundred and sixty-four characters, forcing you to patiently listen to me finish."

Even if we step back ten thousand steps, if I didn't think this way but thought otherwise, if I were determined to dredge up old scores and demand justice from you—could the current Huan Shu of True Martial Mountain give Chen Ping'an what he asked for?

That being the case, since the reminiscing was over, he had come with satisfaction and joy, and would return with satisfaction and joy.

Unexpectedly, Huan Shu said, "No rush to leave. The mountain lord has been waiting for you to visit as a guest for a long time."

Chen Ping'an's smile was ambiguous. "Not trying to shut the door and beat the dog, are you?"

Huan Shu gave a silent laugh and shook his head. Without keeping him in suspense, he explained, "That mountain lord of mine, who is also my grand-disciple, wants to discuss a vulgar matter of money with Mountain Lord Chen."

Now it was Chen Ping'an's turn to be greatly surprised. Your seniority is this high?

Don't tell me you're a figure whose true body statue is qualified to enjoy incense offerings in the eastern and western wings of the Central Earth Military Ancestral Court?

No wonder the person who went to the Pearl Bead Cave Heaven to retrieve the military sect's token among the Three Teachings and One School was this man, not the current mountain lords of True Martial Mountain or Wind Snow Temple.

Huan Shu laughed. "You know Ma Kuxuan's nature. You two are from the same hometown, so don't you know him well? If his seniority within the sect were any higher, it would be even more chaotic."

Although Bottle Gourd Continent was the smallest of the nine continents of Haoran, it was the only "big continent" that housed two military ancestral courts at the same time.

The mountain lord of Wind Snow Temple was a sword immortal who liked to ride his flying sword, looking like a child with deep eyes and very strong Dao aura.

The mountain lord of True Martial Mountain was named Yue Ding, a man of medium build and unremarkable appearance.

Yue Ding appeared at the foot of the mountain, cupped his fists in salute, and said with a smile, "Greetings, Mountain Lord Chen. Greetings, Grand-Uncle-Master Huan."

Chen Ping'an looked at Huan Shu.

Huan Shu glared at Yue Ding.

Yue Ding knew he had slipped up. It was just that he had first seen Grand-Uncle-Master and Chen Ping'an chatting very congenially, so he thought there was no need to hide his true seniority anymore.

Huan Shu said, "I've brought the person. I'll be going to the Ancestral Hall now. Whether something comes up or not, don't disturb me for now."

Yue Ding bowed again. "I obey your decree. I respectfully see Grand-Uncle-Master back to the hall to tend the lamps and add oil."

Over by the mountain gate archway, a young female cultivator had also arrived. Her bearing was somewhat similar to Yue Ding's.

Chen Ping'an didn't move to ascend the mountain. He asked, "Mountain Lord Yue, what matter do you wish to discuss? I need to return to my mountain immediately to receive guests, so I won't stay long."

Yue Ding said, "Mountain Lord Chen himself is a sword immortal, and Fallen Mountain has a subordinate sect that is a sword Dao sect."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "Fellow Daoist Snow Ape is widely experienced."

Yue Ding found himself momentarily unable to respond to this statement.

The woman by the mountain gate couldn't help but laugh.

Mountain Lord Chen certainly had a sense of humor, spouting such nonsense with a straight face like that.

Nowadays, not just in Bottle Gourd Continent, but throughout the entire Haoran World, who didn't know that the young Hidden Officer, soon after returning to his hometown, had successively founded both a main and a subordinate sect?

If this counted as "widely experienced," then when she later got to talk a bit more and showed her mastery of the lore of both Fallen Mountain and the Sword Qi Great Wall, wouldn't she be someone who had thoroughly mastered the heavens and the earth?

It seemed some rumors from the mountaintops were true: the young Hidden Officer, while stationed at the Summer Resort Palace over the years, had accumulated a basketful of flying swords filled with sarcasm.

Chen Ping'an looked straight ahead, acting as if he hadn't heard.

Yue Ding said helplessly, "Don't be rude."

Chen Ping'an smiled faintly. "Cultivating the Dao in the mountains requires true temperament. That's much better than scheming in one's stomach. In terms of family education and formalities, just let nature stretch and flourish, and it will naturally grow. This is the stuff of cultivation seedlings."

Yue Ding smiled and nodded.

The woman sighed inwardly. In reality, she was much older.

Yue Ding said seriously, "Limited by natural talent and acquired learning, I haven't been particularly outstanding, and I've been stuck at this Jade Pure stage for many years. However, being able to touch the bottleneck of the Jade Pure stage wasn't due to the accumulation of my own Dao power. I have to thank a certain spring that lingered unusually long. Through this fortune, the speed of refining my flying sword was more than twice as effective. Added to this, over the years, I've been cutting a piece of Dragon-Slaying Stone from Dragon Ridge Mountain to continuously hone my sword edge day and night. Finally, I have signs of entering seclusion. So before going into seclusion, even if Mountain Lord Chen hadn't come to visit True Martial Mountain, I would have gone to Fallen Mountain to speak of this matter and express my gratitude."

Chen Ping'an's expression relaxed. He was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I see. Sword Immortal Yue is very thoughtful."

The current mountain lord of True Martial Mountain, Yue Ding, had the Daoist name "Snow Ape." He was both a military practitioner and a sword cultivator. Rumor had it that his lifebound flying sword was named "Flower-Trust Wind."

Regarding the matter of flower-trusting, there were two methods of division in the world: twelve flower-trust winds, or twenty-four varieties. The former had fewer numbers but greater significance, while the latter seemed numerically larger but was actually a relatively narrower path.

According to Yue Ding's account, his flying sword "Flower-Trust Wind's" lifebound divine ability was related to the latter.

Yue Ding continued, "Our True Martial Mountain is willing to put forward half of the Dragon Ridge Mountain whetstones to do business with Fallen Mountain. To be honest, if we calculate Great Li's Dragon Ridge Mountain share belonging to True Martial Mountain on a scale of ten