# Chapter 1116: Gathering All Mountains into One Mountain
It was raining that day, each person holding an umbrella, talking nonstop, laughing and conversing at length.
Zhu Lian had stolen some leisure time from his busy schedule to come to the mountain gate archway, wanting to personally offer a few words of congratulations to Old Immortal Jia.
Old Immortal Jia frequently came to the foot of the mountain, wanting to exchange a few intimate words with the hardworking and meritorious Immortal Wei the Daoist priest.
To meet someone was to consider them a bosom friend within the Four Seas; upon seeing someone, they would call each other brothers. But deep friendship and long acquaintance were ultimately ordinary.
Zhu Lian, the old cook, and Old Immortal Jia were not that kind of people. Theirs was a great friendship accumulated day by day, year after year. It was the kind of flavor that comes from slow simmering over a gentle flame, where a small drink reveals true feelings. Now Luopo Mountain had two cross-continent ferry boats. One was the Wind Kite ferry boat that Mountain Lord Chen had "bought" from the Xuanmi Dynasty in the Central Earth through his own abilities, and one was a brand new "Lightning Chariot" purchased from the Yao Clan of Daquan in Tongye Continent. And Jia Sheng, who had not long ago become the second manager of the Wind Kite ferry boat, was going to be promoted. Because before the Mountain Lord entered seclusion, he had decided to let Old Immortal Jia be the general manager of the Lightning Chariot ferry boat. As for choosing the person responsible for guarding the cross-continent ferry boat, Jia Sheng was allowed to pick himself.
Old Immortal Jia understood the implication: their mountain was about to make a move against the lower sect.
As a lecturer already serving at that academy of the Qingping Sword Sect, Old Immortal Jia naturally could put aside this old face.
Zhu Lian said Old Immortal Jia would be busy. Jia Sheng sighed deeply, saying, "What busyness is this for me? Compared to the Mountain Lord and Old Master Zhu, this is just lending a hand to those who are truly exhausted."
"Having me do this and that—is this putting a burden on my shoulders? No, the Mountain Lord is putting the burden on his own shoulders."
"If something is done wrong, given the Mountain Lord's temperament and magnanimity, he naturally won't blame others, only himself."
Talking heart-to-heart with Old Immortal Jia was always relaxed and pleasant.
They talked happily, and when it came time to part reluctantly, Zhu Lian told Old Immortal Jia to drop by the Sword Worshipping Platform sometime.
Jia Sheng hesitated—he had long wanted to visit that place, but worried about disturbing the time of that venerable elder Gantang, who was using it to refine his sword and cultivate the Dao.
Zhu Lian smiled and said he wouldn't.
So Old Immortal Jia rode the wind back to Qilong Alley, prepared some wine and pastries, and then walked into the mountain on foot, heading for the Sword Worshipping Platform.
But he was told that the old deaf man, recently nicknamed Gan Yiban, had gone to Tiaoyu Mountain to give lectures and teachings. When he would return was hard to say.
Old Immortal Jia then stood under the eaves, calm and unhurried, sheltering from the rain while waiting for someone.
Earlier, Mountain Lord Chen had strolled around Tiaoyu Mountain with the Right Protector, saying that he owed many debts of gratitude and writing debts, without any exaggeration.
At the Sword Room on Jise Peak, several flying sword messages of unknown origin arrived almost every day. Nuanshu was responsible for collecting the letters daily and handing them to Mr. Zhu. All sorts of invitations and handwritten notes had accumulated into several large baskets.
When Chen Ping'an finally entered seclusion, Zhu Lian still followed the viewpoint he had previously proposed: even if Luopo Mountain was regarded by the outside world as cold and aloof, the Mountain Lord still only needed to uphold one principle—only reputation and authority cannot be lent to others. For those correspondents with whom there was no karmic connection, Zhu Lian would set them aside, with no exceptions. At most, he would glance at them and then file them away, recording them in a ledger. When many letters were opened, the contents were varied. There were invitations for Mountain Lord Chen to participate in celebrations, to inscribe plaques for private studies or famous pavilions. If Mountain Lord Chen truly had no time to bestow a piece of calligraphy, could they collect characters from the two seal-print collections "Hundred Sword Immortals" and "? Sword Immortals"? There were also requests for Mr. Chen to grace elegant gatherings and poetry societies with his presence, and some sent collections of essays hoping that Chen Ping'an would write prefaces or correct the content in his spare time. There were even more inexplicable family and sect private matters, or commentaries on current affairs and state governance, requesting that Chen Yin Guan step forward and speak some words of justice. For those that required a reply, Zhu Lian would ghostwrite, imitating the Mountain Lord's tone and handwriting, which was easy—a small matter.
But for certain letters, such as those directly signed from Padi Peak or Shuijing Mountain, Zhu Lian still needed to reply on behalf of the Mountain Lord, explaining things a bit.
Zhu Lian's return letters were generally tactful and elegant in wording, often beginning with things like "Upon receiving your letter, I am filled with shame and gratitude."
"The True Person's favor, regarding the matter of inscribing characters, I dare not presume."
"Regarding the re-engraving of the two seal-print collections, I would not wish to bring disaster upon pear and jujube trees [i.e., waste wood on poor printing]. This junior truly finds it hard to agree. Ungrateful as I am, I have let down your kindness, both guilty and grateful."
"Regrettably entangled in mundane affairs, I cannot break away to see for myself. The landscapes written in the sect leader's letter are each word a pearl; my heart yearns for them, but I can only journey in my dreams."
"Your esteemed sect's excessive affection leaves me both fearful and grateful... hastily replying, the writing is not worthy."
She wouldn't shortchange herself. Xie Gou fetched a few plates of fermented bean curd and pickled vegetables from Mr. Zhu's kitchen, then cooked herself a pot of steaming rice porridge. Rice porridge is the most nourishing thing in the world, after all. That day, Wei Bo had important matters to discuss and needed to personally visit the Fuyaolu private cultivation ground. As a result, he was blocked by the sable-hatted young woman with flushed cheeks, holding a bowl of porridge. She crouched in the corridor, mumbling that her Mountain Lord was in seclusion and wouldn't see anyone.
It wasn't that he minded being included in that "anyone," but Wei Bo found it very strange: "Did he really go into seclusion?"
Xie Gou nodded, helping to clarify: "It's really not him being lazy, pulling the same old trick of playing the hands-off manager. Our Mountain Lord is taking this seclusion very seriously, very solemnly, very ceremoniously."
Wei Bo showed a troubled expression. Xie Gou immediately perked up, lifted her chin, tapped the white bowl lightly with her chopsticks, and said proudly, "If there's something to say, tell me. I'll pass the message for you later. I am, after all, the second-seat venerable elder. Besides the Five Big Shots of Luopo Mountain, my status is the highest and my official hat is the biggest."
Wei Bo shook his head with a smile, "This matter requires telling Chen Ping'an in person. It's fine, it's not that urgent. I'll come back here in ten days. During this time, if Chen Ping'an comes out of seclusion, Second-Seat Xie, tell him to take a trip to Piyun Mountain."
Xie Gou said, "Ten days or a month—can't say for sure now."
Wei Bo smiled, "No matter. Then I'll come check in every ten days."
Xie Gou asked doubtfully, "What's the matter, worth the dignified Night Wandering Divine Lord coming so frequently?"
Wei Bo thought for a moment, then said, "Alright, you can pass the message. Tell him there's a matter. His Majesty the Emperor was too embarrassed to speak directly, so he asked me to be the envoy. Since he agreed to participate in the ceremony recently, the Emperor is afraid that your Mountain Lord might not take the new Grand Preceptor's first appearance at court seriously enough. Although the imperial court doesn't intend to make a big show of it, and certainly won't use this matter to stir up trouble, if he goes to the capital's imperial palace one day without informing anyone, just attending the morning court and leaving immediately after showing his face, that seems a bit unreasonable. So His Majesty's wish is that he display a bit of pomp and circumstance."
Xie Gou said helplessly, "Just this? The Night Wandering Divine Lord is acting as a messenger?"
Wei Bo smiled faintly, "Anyway, the message has been delivered. How to handle it is up to Mountain Lord Chen's own will."
Xie Gou tried to detain him, "Leaving already, Divine Lord? Not going to chat a bit more? Standing here as a door god is terribly boring."
Being called "Night Wandering Divine Lord" over and over by the sable-hatted young woman gave Wei Bo a headache, and he really didn't want to stay long.
Suddenly, Xie Gou communicated via heart voice: "I casually flipped through the annual chronicle booklet of Konghou. It recorded a Quanjiao Mountain Daoist named Cui Chengxian. He came here before, sat at the foot of the mountain for half a day, and I didn't detect anything unusual at all. The level of cultivation he displayed didn't match his tone of speech at all. I've been to Quanjiao Mountain in Fuyao Continent. It's quite strange, not something an ordinary Daoist could guard. You're the Northern Peak Divine Lord. Did you not sense anything abnormal before?"
Wei Bo slightly frowned, shaking his head, "I didn't notice either."
If there had been any unusual movement, Wei Bo would have fixed his attention on the mountain gate area immediately. Since he hadn't stirred his mind, there were only two possibilities. Either this visitor's Daoist practice was too shallow, and he was spouting nonsense at the mountain gate without thinking. Or his realm was very high, able to conceal his cultivation extremely well, making both him and Bai Jing overlook it. The strangest thing was that these days, if a Flying Ascension cultivator wanted to cross continents and travel to Bottle Gourd Continent, they had to report to the imitation Jade Capital in the sky above the Great Li auxiliary capital. If the assumption was that this person was a reclusive immortal who didn't reveal his true nature, and he could stay at the mountain gate of Luopo Mountain for so long, that would show his uncommonness even more.
Without needing Xie Gou's reminder, Wei Bo dispersed his divine consciousness. After a moment, "A rough inspection of the Northern Peak territory reveals no trace of this person for now."
Xie Gou likewise held her breath and concentrated her mind, "seeing" just now the vast mountains and rivers of the Northern Peak, as if a golden dragon was roaming freely, patrolling its territory at lightning speed. Because the Divine Lord's thoughts moved too quickly, the mountains and rivers of the continent's Northern Peak wove a large net of divine consciousness golden light. Such commotion, except for Flying Ascension cultivators, Qi Practitioners were completely unaware, but it couldn't be hidden from the other Four Peak Divine Lords.
But Xie Gou obviously didn't trust the effect of this innate divine ability of Wei Bo's. She put down her bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and said, "If you trust me, I can attach myself to your divine consciousness and investigate again."
Wei Bo nodded, "Let's try again."
Both were high in the Dao, so only a few words were needed. Wei Bo used a secret method to temporarily grant Xie Gou the Divine Lord's authority to jointly patrol the Northern Peak.
Xie Gou soon complained, "Don't use that point-to-surface method. The speed of searching the mountains and rivers is too slow. Are you looking down on me? Just spread your divine consciousness, as far as it can go."
Wei Bo looked at her. Xie Gou nodded, confident, "Not to boast, but our sword cultivators' physical bodies and soul essences are exceptionally robust. Today I must let the Night Wandering Divine Lord see something impressive."
In an instant, starting from Fuyaolu, countless golden light threads threw out arcs, landing on the far and near territories of the Northern Peak, radiating from points to surfaces, crisscrossing.
This golden net became even denser.
Wei Bo withdrew his divine power. Xie Gou straightened her sable hat, "Either he's hiding deep, or he ran fast. Definitely not someone to be taken lightly."
Wei Bo said, "Since the other party dared to appear openly at the mountain gate and talked with Jia Sheng for so long, it's unlikely to be some malicious, sinister character."
For those on the mountain who cultivate the Dao, whether male or female, if they hold a high position, they easily attract attention and invite the curiosity and prying of various people.
Take Mi Yu, for example. On Tongye Continent, even without leaving the boat, he had attracted so many women at the ferry port to fall in love at first sight, all developing feelings of admiration.
Wei Bo thought that Xie Gou might say something more, but he saw the sable-hatted young woman puff out her cheeks and blink her eyes.
As if giving a look that said: Night Wandering Divine Lord, why aren't you leaving yet? Changed your mind, decided to chat a bit more?
Wei Bo turned his head to look at the tightly shut bamboo house. After thinking for a moment, he was about to take his leave and return to his study via earth-shrinking magic, when he heard a retching sound.
Wei Bo quickly turned to look and saw Xie Gou with her back to him, holding the bowl, having vomited into it.
The sable-hatted young woman raised the back of her hand to wipe the corner of her mouth. She didn't turn around to explain, probably feeling embarrassed for the first time?
Wei Bo, being considerate, pretended nothing had happened and was about to return to Piyun Mountain, when he saw Xie Gou lift her head and "down it in one gulp."
This time it was Wei Bo, who had a cleanliness fetish, who almost couldn't help retching on the spot.
Xie Gou smacked her lips, muttering about every grain being hard-earned, and how it's hard to go from luxury to frugality. She turned around and laughed, "Night Wandering Divine Lord, just remembered there's something I need to discuss with you."
Wei Bo smiled awkwardly, "No rush."
The "Night Wandering Divine Lord" title didn't seem to matter anymore.
Xie Gou said, "It's important, can't be delayed."
Wei Bo sighed softly in his heart, sat down on the steps, and said, "Let's hear it."
What Xie Gou said next was indeed not a small matter. First, she talked about the transaction between Zhenwu Mountain and Luopo Mountain. This meant that Dragon Ridge Mountain, recorded as "A-Jia Six Mountain" in the Great Li secret records, as long as Fengxue Temple and Longquan Sword Sect agreed, could be formally transferred to Luopo Mountain's name. As for the Great Li Song Clan, they were probably afraid that Mountain Lord Chen wouldn't open his mouth. Wei Bo understood immediately and said he would help speak to Fengxue Temple and Ruan Qiong about it. Then came Luopo Mountain's long-premeditated mountain-purchasing enterprise. Similarly, the one most eager to see this through was the Great Li Dynasty, even more anxious than Luopo Mountain.
When Lizhu Cave Heaven took root and settled, the mountains west of the town, including Piyun Mountain, totaled sixty-two.
Since Longquan Sword Sect had proactively vacated territory for Luopo Mountain, there were still a dozen or so major and minor immortal sects left, stubbornly refusing to move.
Ruan Qiong was the Great Li Dynasty's chief venerable elder, a guest of honor for two generations of Song emperors. Even he needed to "avoid suspicion" to this extent. It truly couldn't help but make those dozen-plus sects think too much and worry.
They really couldn't bear to relocate. To have a piece of fat in their mouths and not even chew it a few times before having to spit it out—no one would be willing.
They neither wanted to make a losing or even loss-making deal, nor did they want their lack of tact to sour their relationship with the behemoth Luopo Mountain and be held a grudge.
But they also lacked Ruan Qiong's status or Liu Xianyang's face to get Divine Lord Wei to personally help move their mountains.
Anyone with eyes could see that Luopo Mountain's dominance in the new Chuzhou was an inevitable trend of the mortal world. Who could tolerate others snoring beside their bed? It was a surging tide, and trying to stop it with a mantis arm was impossible. Back then, Wei Bo had relocated seven mountains including Shenxiu Mountain, purchasing them in two batches—three first, then four later. Among the second batch of four mountains was Zhuhai Peak, renamed from the old Cast Mountain and designated as Xu Xiaoqiao's cultivation ground, and Youyi Peak, where the new sect leader, Sword Immortal Liu, sat. That Aoyubei was formally leased to the Pearl Hairpin Island by Luopo Mountain in black and white. The two parties had long formed an alliance. Liu Chongrun, who had migrated here from Shujian Lake, was said to have met Mountain Lord Chen in a time of crisis. Liu Chongrun and that group of female cultivators naturally had no such concerns.
As for Yidai Peak, which belonged to Huangliang Sect's lower mountain, its relationship with Luopo Mountain was also extremely harmonious. A girl in a pink skirt often brought local specialties to the mountain. Such treatment was something others envied but couldn't obtain.
So when Tiaoyu Mountain and Fuyaolu were both taken into Luopo Mountain's fold, the owners of the remaining mountains in new Chuzhou immediately sensed the wind and began making inquiries and asking about prices.
Some sects remaining in Chuzhou had already repeatedly communicated with the upper mountain via flying sword messages. Each was burning with anxiety: "You at Luopo Mountain, take the initiative to name a price! Come talk to us!"
Once during a meeting at the Jise Peak Patriarch Hall, Mountain Lord Chen's intention was to strive to occupy half of the mountain peaks within the next hundred years.
In this process of gradually gathering all mountains into one, Luopo Mountain naturally couldn't engage in forced buying. The prices had to be fair and satisfactory for all parties.
Xie Gou said seriously, "Don't misunderstand. Our Luopo Mountain is a proper establishment. We don't bully others. When doing business, we spend what we should. There's only markup, never discounts."
Wei Bo smiled, "It's not just about money."
Xie Gou said, "Bartering treasures for mountains is also acceptable. The pile of magical treasures and spiritual artifacts in Luopo Mountain's treasury can all be converted into immortal coins. Additionally, we can help find mountains elsewhere. Generally, it's a transaction method of one part immortal coins plus several treasures plus one mountain. We're not afraid of the other party asking for a sky-high price, just afraid they won't open their mouths."
"The Mountain Lord even said that for some immortal estates whose backgrounds have been thoroughly investigated by the Northern Peak Divine Lord's Office, we could invite a member of the Jise Peak Patriarch Hall to become an honorary guest elder."
"In the future, we could also send two to three Dao-seeds to study at Tiaoyu Mountain, learning superior immortal techniques. More than that wouldn't be allowed. The transmission of the Dao must be treated with caution. The words 'hearing the Dao' cannot be taken lightly. Of course, in that case, the mountain price would be calculated separately."
Wei Bo nodded frequently. But when he heard "superior immortal techniques," he couldn't help but feel puzzled. What Dao techniques was Tiaoyu Mountain going to transmit? Those few Daoists from Taofu Mountain—if they were to transmit true techniques, that probably wouldn't be appropriate. As for Chen Ping'an, who had studied a hodgepodge, he could indeed pick and choose a few techniques to teach others like selecting vegetables. But the problem was that Chen Ping'an didn't really care about those sixteen people cultivating the Dao or martial arts on Tiaoyu Mountain. Instead, he intentionally kept a distance. However, the old cook had defended the Mountain Lord with one sentence: "This is called paying attention without distraction."
Xie Gou laughed, "Gan Yiban, before entering the Sword Qi Great Wall, still had a few decent techniques to rely on. Having him personally teach others—there are no mountain taboos against that."
"Besides, I have a few crude, elementary techniques that are the sort of advanced Qi-gathering methods that those below Earth Immortal dream of. Not to boast, but they are the most stable methods for climbing the mountain. Like rice porridge, they nourish the stomach and benefit the soul. The only flaw is high talent requirements and a high threshold for cultivation. That's why I, as the second-seat venerable elder, can cooperate with Gan Yiban. Geniuses have geniuses' cultivation methods, mediocre talents have mediocre talents' mountain-climbing methods, haha. The two complement each other, covering everyone. No one who comes feels they're at a loss."
Wei Bo smiled, "In that case, it's negotiable. In fact, after Chen Ping'an becomes Grand Preceptor, if the Great Li court announces the news to the continent, it might be even easier to negotiate."
Business would still be business, but it would be a bit underhanded.
Xie Gou's eyes lit up. She curled her lip, "Right, that's what I said too. But our Mountain Lord doesn't want to do business that way. What can I, as the second-seat, do about it?"
Wei Bo recalled a saying and asked with a smile, "By the way, wasn't it the Four Big Shots of Luopo Mountain? How did it become Five Big Shots on your end?"
Because of Xiao Mili, Wei Bo was very familiar with the affairs of Luopo Mountain.
Those four illustrious "high officials and nobles," "mountain chancellors and ministers," were respectively Zhu Lian, Changming, Wei Wenlong, and Jiang Shangzhen.
Xie Gou looked at Wei Bo.
Wei Bo was puzzled, completely confused.
Xie Gou explained quietly, "Among the Four Big Shots, there was a behind-the-scenes contributor missing. When I heard that, I got angry, and the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. So I took the liberty of adding the Night Wandering Divine Lord. Xiao Mili thought this was a pretty good idea and expressed agreement, no objections. What, hasn't Xiao Mili gone to Piyun Mountain to report the good news to the Night Wandering Divine Lord?"
Wei Bo maintained his smile, "Thank you very much."
Earlier, Wei Bo had found this saying interesting. Now it turned out he himself was the joke?
The sable-hatted young woman waved her hand grandly, "No need to thank me. Don't mention it. I happen to have a favor to ask. May I trouble Divine Lord Wei to act as a matchmaker?"
Wei Bo chuckled. Good heavens, this was asking him to return good for evil, huh?
Xie Gou lowered her voice and said, "Thanks to the Mountain Lord not abandoning me, I joined the mountain late and suddenly became prominent, occupying a high position. I'm worried I won't win over the masses, so I racked my brains and finally came up with a remedy."
Wei Bo's already strained smile grew even stiffer.
He was thoroughly sickened by her pretentious, sour words.
To hell with coming to Fuyaolu to check in. Let Chen Ping'an roll himself over to Piyun Mountain to talk about that matter.
But Xie Gou, completely self-absorbed, began speaking with great enthusiasm, calculating her little scheme: "Now Luopo Mountain's two neighbors, Fuyaolu and Tiaoyu Mountain, have both become vassal peaks. Only Tiandu Peak, just a few steps away, seems a bit lonely, pitiful. I wanted to secretly buy it, without telling our Mountain Lord or my Xiao Mo. 'Ask the woodcutter when going up the mountain, ask the fisherman when entering the water'—this custom, this courtesy, I still understand."
Wei Bo remained silent.
The neighboring Tiandu Peak covered a very wide area, only slightly inferior to Luopo Mountain. But such a large mountain peak had only a dozen or so Qi Practitioners, and not even a single Golden Core among them.
The sect on Tiandu Peak was not well-known in southern Bottle Gourd Continent, with roughly the same foundation as Huangliang Sect.
There was said to be an Nascent Soul ancestor who had been in seclusion for many years. The current sect leader was a Golden Core Earth Immortal, guarding the mountain, along with a few supposedly talented disciples with Earth Immortal potential.
Except for the sect leader being a genuine Golden Core, which couldn't be faked, the other two claims were either rumors or "supposedlys."
Xie Gou continued, "Back then, to acquire Tiandu Peak probably wouldn't have cost more than ten Gold Essence Coins. Of course, we'd need to calculate based on current market prices—multiply by ten, then by five. Five hundred Grain Rain coins, enough?"
Wei Bo said, "The buyer of Tiandu Peak isn't concerned about money."
Regarding the nominal owner of Tiandu Peak and the true behind-the-scenes master, Piyun Mountain couldn't divulge secrets. Chen Ping'an also had an unspoken understanding, never putting Wei Bo in a difficult position over such matters.
Xie Gou still wouldn't give up, "Is it completely unconcerned about money, or just not very concerned?"
Wei Bo said, "From start to finish, that side never intended to make a single copper coin from Tiandu Peak."
Xie Gou said helplessly, "If they won't talk about money, it's hard to discuss."
In the Barbaric World, it was different. The kind who sat down and talked about money were the hard ones to deal with.
Wei Bo was cryptic, "The ownership of Tiandu Peak really can only be discussed after Chen Ping'an becomes the Great Li Grand Preceptor."
Xie Gou was dejected. The other mountains, she didn't really fancy. Earlier, there was an outsider who claimed his Daoist name was "Collapsed True Lord." He was filthy rich, visiting everyone. He had a verifiable Tongye Continent registry identity. He had offered an irresistible high price to those twelve sects. He was even willing to pay a large deposit first. Anyone interested could take the deposit. He directly threw a money pouch on the table—inside were Grain Rain Coins! That Collapsed True Lord even swore that if they regretted it later, regardless of who backed out, business was business, friendship remained, and they didn't have to return the deposit.
If they were worried about being tricked, they could get the Huaihuang County household office to witness and sign a draft contract first.
In the world, was there such a way of doing business, not treating money like money? You should be called Benevolent True Lord, right? But the problem was, he dared to buy, but they didn't dare to sell. First, when money and goods exchanged hands and the deed was formally transferred, both parties needed to meet with the Great Li Ministry of Revenue. What if someone resold the mountain at a high price, and then that Collapsed True Lord started causing trouble? If any problem occurred, don't expect that a big bag of immortal coins would still be warm in hand before they had to go apologize to Luopo Mountain or explain themselves to the Great Li Ministry of Punishment. For example, what if this so-called Tongye Continent buyer was actually the money pouch of some peak cultivator, having obtained some inside information, wanting to buy the mountain at a "low price" first, and then bargain with Mountain Lord Chen face-to-face?
Everyone was speculating. Could it be an act of spite by some old sword immortal from Zhengyang Mountain? You erect a stele on our border, we'll buy a mountain next to your house, deliberately disgusting Luopo Mountain?
Or could it be the Phoenix City Fu Clan throwing money around, trying to use this to mend relations with Mountain Lord Chen?
Regardless of the outside speculation, Chief Zhou's sincere money-hurling move was soon temporarily stopped by the Mountain Lord.
As a result, those sects that chose to wait and see and didn't accept the deposit regretted it. Those that took the money also felt guilty.
After all, Luopo Mountain now had a lower sect. Qingping Sword Sect had taken away quite a few members of the Jise Peak Patriarch Hall, and they had announced a twenty-year mountain closure.
The "gathering of mountains into one" matter was indeed not set in stone.
Besides Mountain Lord Chen himself knowing in his heart, for the rest, whether all the western mountains would "fall into the Chen family" was still uncertain.
Xie Gou said casually, "That Longquan Sword Sect that moved away seems quite formidable. Looking at its aura, it's not inferior to the Five Peaks."
On the Longquan Sword Sect side, Ruan Qiong, as the last sage guarding Lizhu Cave Heaven, had first chosen Shenxiu Mountain, Tiaodeng Mountain, and Hengshuo Peak. Later, he bought four more mountains—three for his direct disciples Dong Gu, Xu Xiaoqiao, and Xie Ling, and reserved one, Youyi Peak, for Liu Xianyang, who was "temporarily lent to the Chunru Chen Clan."
Wei Bo nodded, "The senior disciple Dong Gu managed to break through to Jade Core. Xu Xiaoqiao had separate opportunities. Her occupation of Zhuhai Peak was the key opportunity to her Dao. That long-browed one, with deep fortune, first went into seclusion and broke into the Upper Five Realms. Not long after coming out, with the help of that immortal-grade exquisite pagoda, he had another rain enlightenment. By sacrificing that supreme treasure, he could naturally extract merit from rainwater. Like the courtyard wells in town, where four waters return to the hall, but actually he had opened a single Dao channel as a ditch, channeling water into his own home. He might become an Immortal before Liu Xianyang."
Wei Bo had a very good relationship with both Ruan Qiong and Liu Xianyang, the consecutive sect leaders. Even Chen Ping'an didn't know that Ruan Qiong often privately invited Wei Bo to Longquan Sword Sect for drinks—their connection was extraordinary. So when Wei Bo talked about these insider matters, it was almost like chatting about family affairs. Besides, everyone on the continent already knew what kind of relationship Liu Xianyang and Chen Ping'an had.
Xie Gou laughed, "Xie Ling's ultimate Dao achievement definitely can't compare to Liu Xianyang. Far off."
Wei Bo said, "This is just the view of you few at the mountain peak. Below Flying Ascension, everything seems insignificant. Sixty years ago on Bottle Gourd Continent, even having one more Jade Core was a major event, let alone an Immortal."
Xie Gou suddenly asked, "In that Dragon-Slaying Campaign, was it the old man Yang at the medicine shop who started the thread? Chen Qingliu and he, one in the light, one in the dark, orthodox and intercalary, interweaving in a framework."
Wei Bo was silent for a moment, then said, "The departed have departed. To honor the deceased, let's not discuss this."
Xie Gou said helplessly, "You people have so many rules."
Wei Bo smiled, "You'll get used to it."
Old man Yang was not only one of the twelve high-ranking deities, but also the male Earth Immortal ancestor who controlled a Flying Ascension Platform.
So his attitude towards the true dragons who had betrayed the ancient Heavenly Court was predictable.
Mountain scheming always liked to lay clues like grass snakes in the grey line, stretching for thousands of miles, hiding deadly intent. In the ancient Shu region, a group of famous mountains had been gathered and relocated to where the true dragon fell, becoming today's western mountains.
Lü Dongbin, a Pure Yang Immortal who was himself a page from the old almanac, had once clarified matters for Chen Ping'an. Thinking back to ancient times, Chen Qingliu, who rose abruptly, had his ancient sword-forging place in a cave heaven called Kuocang.
The bamboo house and the corridor outside the door seemed close at hand, but were actually worlds apart.
Before Wei Bo returned to Piyun Mountain, he mentioned one more thing: "It was a suggestion personally given by the Great Li Emperor. The imperial court will take out five bags of Five-Colored Soil as one of the congratulatory gifts for Chen Ping'an's appointment as Grand Preceptor. We several Mountain Lords received the news and were pulled by the Emperor into a dedicated imperial study meeting. We all felt there was no problem. But as for the amount of Five-Colored Soil in each bag, the Emperor didn't make any hard requirements. Anyway, Mountain Lord Tong has already had someone hand over one bag of Five-Colored Soil to the Great Li Ministry of Rites. It's no small amount, a grand gesture. Even I might not be willing to take out so much at once. No wonder Jin Qing muttered a few words, wondering if you had prearranged with Mountain Lord Chen to have old Tong help inflate the price."
The Mountain Lord inside the house had taken the ordinary cultivation path of matching Five Elements life-bound objects. Many years ago, thanks to his student Cui Dongshan's help, he had obtained five bags of soil. But at that time, the quality of the Five-Colored Soil wasn't very high. The Five Peaks of Bottle Gourd Continent each naturally have one of the five colors of soil. When Wei Bo and the others advanced from national Mountain Lords to continental Mountain Lords, and then were promoted to Divine Lords, the quality of the Five-Colored Soil rose accordingly.
Xie Gou laughed, "This Emperor is quite shrewd, knows how to manage. He's clearly being generous with others' assets. Why doesn't he take out a pile of Gold Essence Coins from the national treasury?"
Wei Bo seemed to want to say something, but after thinking it over, he decided to speak plainly, "His Majesty hinted to me that after your Mountain Lord assumes the Grand Preceptor position, the several secret treasuries of the Great Li will be freely available for the new Grand Preceptor to take whatever he wants."
Xie Gou's eyes lit up. She gasped, rubbed her hands together, and said, "A man of great talent and bold vision, a good person! We're compatible, we're compatible! Does the Great Li Song Clan still need a royal venerable elder? I missed the early gathering and can't be the chief, but I can be the second-seat!"
Wei Bo asked with a smile, "Really?"
Xie Gou said tentatively, "Mr. Wei, we're on the same side. You can't help outsiders trap your own people."
Wei Bo chuckled, "If Miss Xie doesn't want to take it seriously, then forget it."
When there's nothing to do, he's "Wei Night Wanderer"; when there's business to discuss, he's "Mr. Wei"! Good customs at Luopo Mountain, every single one of them. No one knows who they picked up this bad habit from.
Xie Gou urged, "Brother Wei, what's the verdict? Give me a definite answer."
Wei Bo made a surprised sound. Not only did his footing become unsteady, but the bamboo corridor under their feet softened like mud.
It seemed as if the entire Fuyaolu was floating like a thin piece of paper.
But this extraordinary phenomenon flashed and vanished.
As for the sable-hatted young woman, she lightly stamped her foot, helping to dispel this ripple of Dao aura, as if she had long been accustomed to it.
Wei Bo communicated via heart voice, "This is?"
Xie Gou grinned, only replying with one word via heart voice, "The Dao."
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Note 1, Chapter 993 "Beauty in the Mountains"
Note 2, Chapter 985 "The Closed-Door Disciple"