Chapter 1118: Passing the Imperial Examination
Xie Gou asked tentatively, "Should I go and invite the Mountain Lord over?"
The old temple abbot said, "My poor Daoist doesn't have that much face."
Xie Gou grumbled, "We're all family, why are you saying such angry words? Can't have that."
At Fallen Mountain, Xie Gou had learned many expressions from Little Mi Li.
The old temple abbot said, "Matters of secluded cultivation are serious business, not to be taken lightly."
Only then did Xie Gou feel reassured.
In the ancient days, this Daoist, who "once out of the cave, had no match under heaven, and when he could spare someone, he would not spare them," was known throughout the human world for loving to brew wine, besides that.
Furthermore, how high the Dao magic of the Azure Sky Cave Lord was, that was how small his heart was, and how well he held grudges. It was a thunderous and illustrious reputation!
But Xiao Mo disagreed with this claim, whispering intimately to his Dao partner Xie Gou, saying that this Azure Sky Daoist friend was a rare magnanimous Daoist in the human world.
Of course, the beginning and end of this sentence were absolutely true; it was only the middle paragraph that Xie Gou had added herself, and she then insisted the chronicle official must record it, with an underline!
The old temple abbot said, "As for the specific process of the two sword challenges, you can ask Xiao Mo about it later."
Xie Gou asked tentatively, "How specific?"
The old temple abbot smiled, "Heavenly talent, witnessing the Dao through presence, it's not something only you can do. Xiao Mo isn't bad either, right?"
Xie Gou nodded, reached out, and hooked her finger.
The old temple abbot sneered, "Making a guest take the initiative to bring out wine—is this the way Fallen Mountain treats its guests?"
Xie Gou, now quite sharp in speech and action, having learned many interpersonal skills at Fallen Mountain, said, "Leave aside the position of second seat offering, consider me temporarily as Bai Jing."
The old temple abbot remained unmoved.
Xie Gou was helpless. Azure Sky Daoist friend really didn't treat her like a sister-in-law.
As Old Mr. Zhu said so well, living in seclusion in the mountains to prolong life, always accompanied by books, flowers, moonlight, and fine wine.
The sable-capped girl pulled two jars of wine from her sleeve, helped remove the clay seals, and casually tossed them to the Azure Sky Cave Lord.
The old temple abbot took out two flower goblets and pushed one to Bai Jing. Xie Gou filled the ornate wine cup to the brim with wine and warned, "Let's get this straight first. If I say something wrong later, I'll take full responsibility. It all comes at me. Our Mountain Lord is in secluded cultivation, so don't you dare barge in recklessly."
The old temple abbot said, "I know your drinking habits well."
So he absolutely dared not bring out wine to invite her to drink.
Xie Gou blushed, her momentum weakened considerably, and she muttered quietly, "Wine emboldens a coward."
The old temple abbot tilted his chin in a certain direction, "If you're a coward, what does that make him?" Xie Gou was annoyed. Would he ever stop? Always beating around the bush about our Mountain Lord... The sable-capped girl slapped the table, raised her glass, "Come, Azure Sky Daoist friend, haven't seen you in ten thousand years, still lively and kicking. Good, very good. No more nonsense, bottoms up!"
The old temple abbot raised his glass and drained it with Bai Jing.
After the battle on the Night Boat, Chen Ping'an had been boldly speculating and meticulously seeking verification through every possible means, treating the fourteenth realm Wu Shuangjiang as his hypothetical enemy.
Before that, his hypothetical enemy was the sword immortal Pei Min. That time outside the Heavenly Palace Temple in Tongye Prefecture, Chen Ping'an had suffered a relatively heavy defeat and had also lost a replica sword.
Pei Min, like Bai Jing, was a perfected flying realm sword cultivator, possessing four life-bound flying swords. He was also one of Lu Tai's two masters.
Lu Tai, being a sword cultivator yet afraid of heights, was all thanks to Pei Min.
Because of warnings from Lu Chen and Wu Shuangjiang, Chen Ping'an now had to be wary of that female Daoist titled "Great Yin," Wu Zhou. This veteran fourteenth realm of the Azure Firmament World had already set her sights on Chen Ping'an's "Execution Blade" and "Punishment Sword." Having entered the realm of "human form but heavenly void," Chen Ping'an had seen Wu Zhou once during the meeting by the Confucian Temple riverbank. She was strikingly impressive, someone whose actions were even more decisive than sword cultivators. This meant that the moment Wu Zhou decided to act, it would be like a lion using all its strength against a rabbit. She would never be ambiguous. In the rain-curtain battle at Heavenly Palace Temple, after all, Pei Min hadn't had much killing intent. Chen Ping'an didn't think that Wu Zhou, who needed to refine objects to supplement her Dao, would be deterred by his various identities.
Last time, during a sneak attack by a fourteenth realm candidate ghost entity at Alchemy View Temple, it proved that Chen Ping'an's preparations were indeed necessary.
After the three founders dissolved their Dao, peak cultivators no longer held back as much.
One of Chen Ping'an's trump cards was three azure-colored pages and a life-preserving talisman involving the long river of time, which he had obtained from Mr. Qi. The talismans were drawn by Yu Xuan.
However, the Sword Bearer had warned Chen Ping'an that having these time talismans was still not a perfect plan. For example, against Chen Qingliu, the dragon-slayer who had returned to the fourteenth realm, it would be quite troublesome.
Unless he held the great talisman personally refined by the Dao Ancestor, that would be the perfect countermeasure. It would allow a Qi refiner below the fourteenth realm to gain an extra "life," a life for preserving the Dao, not just life itself.
The old temple abbot raised his sleeve, counted on his fingers, and turned to look toward Fuyang Creek. He sneered, "With so many clues, some obvious, some hidden, all pointing to one place, right under your nose. Yet you insist on pretending not to see. How many sword techniques in the world dare to claim they 'can reach the divine'?
The sable-capped girl immediately pricked up her ears, waiting for more.
Chen Lingjun had already slipped away.
The green-clad child, making a quick escape, felt this mountain path was too long. Whether sprinting, flying with the wind, or even using the earth-shrinking method, there was no end in sight.
The old temple abbot asked, "Bai Jing Daoist friend, have you seen the sword talisman?"
Xie Gou nodded and used a term from the antiques trade, "A wide-open, genuine article."
The old temple abbot asked, "Didn't this ancient sword technique move you?"
Xie Gou rolled her eyes, "For me, it's still a chicken rib."
The old temple abbot continued, "What about Fallen Mountain, especially the Green Ping Sword Sect?"
Xie Gou played dumb, "I'm just an offering, I don't think about this."
To complete a sword technique, five or six sword talismans were needed.
Provided, of course, that the sword technique content stored in each talisman did not repeat.
Such items could not be copied or inscribed. The sword technique and sword talisman coexisted with the Dao. She had probably left three copies.
The old temple abbot said, "Procrastinating, not straightforward. On the Dao path, a few ripples from male-female love count for nothing. Deliberately avoiding it like this just confirms the guilt of 'no silver here.'"
Xie Gou glared, "Azure Sky Daoist friend, if you talk like that, I'll..."
The old Daoist smiled, "Oh?"
Xie Gou rare submitted once, "Then I won't second the motion."
Just today, she had accepted a nominal direct disciple. Great day, so she wouldn't argue with this stinky Daoist.
Back when Fallen Mountain was still unknown, in the western mountain territory, to fly by wind required carrying a sword talisman specially forged by Dragon Spring Sword Sect. This was a rule set by Ruan Qiong.
Back then, Chang Ming had returned to Fallen Mountain before Chen Ping'an. She had bought the most sword talismans, hanging so many at her waist each time she traveled that they looked like the key ring of the little housekeeper, Nuan Shu.
At that time, Chang Ming hadn't thought much about it. She had plenty of resources, the sword talismans looked nice, and the price wasn't expensive. Chang Ming wanted to buy more to give to her young master when he returned, which he could then distribute to members of the Jise Peak Ancestral Hall.
Actually, Dragon Spring Sword Sect had a rule that each person could only buy one sword talisman. But back then, Chang Ming was very close to Miss Ruan, who often went to Riding Dragon Alley to buy pastries.
Moreover, Chang Ming was honest. Every time she spent money to buy sword talismans, she paid a higher price each time. The key was that the currency she used was her own self-cast golden essence copper coins.
So even if Ruan Qiong knew about this, he rarely said anything.
The other expert who had collected a large number of sword talismans was, of course, the wealthy Chief Zhou Jiang.
Every day when he opened his eyes, oh dear, how had the divine money in his account increased again? Worrying to death, how to spend it?
Having found a loophole, Jiang Shangzhen, who was addicted to collecting sword talismans, specially hired people to help him buy sword talismans from Dragon Spring Sword Sect.
As Ruan Qiong's first disciple, Dong Gu, being a spirit creature by origin, had a good impression of Fallen Mountain and turned a blind eye to this.
Now, Yang Zhi, who had gone to Tongye Prefecture to help dig the great river, this old royal throne great demon, possessed an ancient divine ability that even Xie Gou coveted.
For Yang Zhi, who cultivated water-based life-bound techniques, it was a chicken rib, but for sword cultivator Bai Jing, it was a great tonic.
Xie Gou had wanted to cut down Yang Zhi for quite some time.
Who would dislike having too many "Dao titles"?
Yang Zhi had never mentioned to anyone that, before attaining the Dao, she had been unfortunately caught up in a great war. She had witnessed one of the five supreme beings of ancient times in a terrifying battlefield littered with bones.
Thus, her Dao title "Yang Zhi" (Admiration) and her alias "Jing Xing" (Noble Conduct), now used as an offering in the Daquan Yao clan, originated from that first encounter in ancient times, where the disparity was immense.
That supreme being, who had left his throne and approached Yang Zhi, bent down, reached out, and pressed her head, likening her to an ugly crawling insect.
For some reason, this being, whose "majestic fire virtue commands the admiration of all spirits, dwelling high on the throne, boiling mountains and seas," not only refrained from refining a demon cultivator of water techniques but instead taught Yang Zhi a divine ability.
In the Chongyang Temple of Yuxuan Kingdom's capital, there was an old Daoist who had not yet recalled his former life, self-titled "Huilu" (God of Fire).
Even earlier, Feng Yi had lodged at the Fire God Temple in the Great Li capital.
Back and forth, which of these figures had the Mountain Lord Chen not met and spoken with face to face?
As for individual people and matters, you can ignore them, brush them off as not being smart enough.
But when they're all connected, are you still going to play dumb?
That stone bridge between the Huaying Peak and Yingyu Peak of Jumping Fish Mountain, with waterfalls cascading and rainbows spanning across. It appeared not early, not late, but precisely when you and Little Mi Li passed by. Was it a coincidence?
Huanghu Mountain and that Returning Sword Lake, formed by the relocation of Dragon Spring Sword Sect, were like a silent reunion of mountains and waters.
Doesn't it also correspond to a gift sent by someone in his early years? On the green bamboo slip, who had written the line "Mountains and waters shall meet again"?
The more you think it has nothing to do with love, the more guilty you feel.
The joint distant journey, the sword opening of the Barren Wastes, and the dangerous sword challenge against the great demon prime culprit of the Crescent Moon Mountain.
That eldest disciple of the Crescent Moon Mountain Grand Ancestor, whose life-bound flying sword "Resounding Image," combined part of the divine abilities of the twelve high-level spirits "Imaginer" and "Echoer."
What the young Hidden Guardian saw there seemed like encountering a heart demon: first, a golden literary gallstone gifted to a sword-carrying youth back then, and the city god Shen Wen, questioning the accountant's refusal to kill at the Book and Bamboo Lake.
There was also the appearance of the white-robed monk who once subdued the heart monkey on the mountain wall, implying a questioning of the "no error" realm diligently pursued in the past.
And Qi Jingchun. A woman in blue. "She" had no intention of blocking the way; it seemed she just wanted an answer to something Dong Shuijing had once asked Chen Ping'an.
At that time, Dong Shuijing's question roughly meant: The Inverted Mountain in a foreign land is so far, while the Divine Show Mountain in the hometown is so near. If one's mind has no distracting thoughts, why avoid going to one while going to the other?
The old temple abbot shook his sleeves, dispersing some Dao resonance. He clicked his tongue, "Merely an immortal realm, yet he dared to stop Chen Qingliu from delivering a decapitating sword strike. He really doesn't take Daoist competition seriously."
Xie Gou grinned, "The skilled are bold, nothing but a false alarm."
The old temple abbot curled his lip, "If it weren't for the predecessors planting trees for later generations to enjoy shade, given Lord Qingzhu's usual temperament, if you block his path, who wouldn't he kill?"
For example, Yu Yue, a jade pure realm sword cultivator, dared to kill Qiu Zhi, who was highly anticipated by the Jade Gui Sect.
Xiao Mo, a flying ascension realm sword cultivator, could not do such a thing. If Xiao Mo couldn't, then Chen Ping'an was even more out of the question.
For cultivation people, multiple identities are both talismans and burdens.
Just like in the mundane marketplace, at the bottom level of the martial world, the capable fear the ruthless, and the ruthless fear the reckless.
Often, those with status die at the hands of reckless greenhorns without status. Walking on the road, they get inexplicably stabbed to death.
Xie Gou said, "That's not how the logic works. If it weren't like this, given our Mountain Lord's consistently cautious style, he might not have even bothered to wade into troubled waters."
The old temple abbot smiled, "Are you trying to trip me up here?"
Xie Gou laughed on the outside, but inwardly grumbled profusely.
How strange. Where did the Azure Sky Cave Lord get such a temper? Our Mountain Lord had experienced a trial in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, one old and one young, one host and one guest; it was said they got along quite well.
Seeing that black-clothed little girl running like a spinning wheel, the old Daoist, though not smiling on his face, softened his tone considerably, "Little Mi Li, you're here."
As for that white-haired child named Kong Hou, she naturally dared not come.
Little Mi Li came with a mission. She ran to the table, took off her slanted cloth bag, and pulled out melon seeds and dried fish, "Elder Immortal, it's been a while since you visited."
The old temple abbot, being quite particular, smiled and asked, "How many days is 'a while'?"
Little Mi Li didn't need to calculate much; she immediately reported an exact number of days. Apparently, she often thought fondly of this kind and amiable elder immortal.
A smile spread across the old temple abbot's face as he nodded gently, "You're thoughtful."
Xie Gou gained new respect for Little Mi Li.
Our Fallen Mountain Right Protector is so formidable! She can even entertain guests like this? In ancient times, when the Azure Sky Cave Lord left the Falling Treasure Shoal and walked the mortal world alone, he was notoriously known for giving no one face. A disagreement would lead to an unsparing killing blow; at most, before acting, he would say, "Giving you face, eh?"
Little Mi Li scratched her face, her eyes darting, hesitating on how to speak. The old temple abbot read her thoughts and said via heart voice, "Tell that Sui Chu Palace celestial, Tian Ran, about someone's puppet, Xu Jun. He has entered the fourteenth realm, so naturally, there is a Dao feedback. Especially with Fei Ran from the Barren Wastes and Gui Ke becoming Dao partners in heart and mind, the Dao of heaven and earth of one world is thus perfectly matched. This is something that hasn't happened in ten thousand years, with immense assistance and abundant Dao benefit, as one can imagine. So someone's dissolution is real, but dying is impossible."
"The military strategists act in interlocking steps, building their camp step by step. It's all within someone's calculations. After Liu Xianyang and She Yue marry on the fifth of May this year, and then your Mountain Lord and Ning Yao, the number one in the Five-Hued World, become Dao partners, and so on. With enough accumulation, believe that in not too many years, someone can effortlessly, while lying comfortably, return to their peak."
Little Mi Li silently memorized every word, planning to report the military intelligence to the chronicle official later.
Xie Gou was astounded, "So Kong Hou's Dao partner has such a sharp mind? No wonder our chronicle official usually doesn't like to use his brain."
The old temple abbot said, "Times are different. In the past ten thousand years, Qi refiners' Dao power hasn't increased, but their mental power has improved a lot. This Dao partner of his has plenty of hidden tricks."
Xie Gou suddenly asked, "That 'True Invincible'—he won't really kick the bucket, will he?"
The old temple abbot looked at her askance.
The Yu Dou, seated at the White Jade Capital, and the Yu Dou who had left the White Jade Capital with his sword—could they be the same?
Xie Gou said, "Oh," meaning he wasn't dead. What a pity.
The old temple abbot said, "Gao Gu's final Dao lecture at the Huayang Palace in the Lung Mountain had content that seemed to be Dao techniques taught to the fifth-realm Daoists, but in fact, it had deep meaning. The better one's cultivation aptitude, the more one should listen." So, that Daoist titled "Great Mountain," Gao Gu, was recognized as the number one alchemist in the Azure Firmament World. The lecture had three parts: one on the similarities and differences between immortals' and mortals' souls. Two on why the human body is precious, how the three hundred and sixty-five qi mansions become a long bridge of immortality, detailing the positioning, opening, and exquisite configuration of the regal inner mountain within the human microcosm, and how to achieve the optimal solution. Three on Lu Chen's "Explanation of Swords" and "On the Equality of Things"—where their Dao was lofty and how their techniques could be applied.
At that time, there were many listeners in the mountain, and through the illusion of mirror flowers and water moon, Daoists from the fourteen prefectures of the Azure Firmament World could all hear the Dao.
But they didn't know at the time that Gao Gu's appearance this time was both a transmission of the Dao and a testament.
With the old temple abbot's vision and realm, even he had gained something while hiding among the crowd.
Xie Gou's eyes lit up, radiant. What did "the better the aptitude" mean? Too subtle, Azure Sky Daoist friend. Just say my name directly!
Just when she was thinking about sleep, someone handed her a pillow. Xie Gou was worrying about how to teach Chai Wu.
The old temple abbot pulled a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to the awkward-looking sable-capped girl, warning, "Keep it safe."
"Got it!" Xie Gou leaned forward, lowered her head with utmost respect, and accepted the jade slip with both hands.
The old temple abbot's eyelids twitched. After only a few days in Fallen Mountain, she's already like this?
After obtaining it, Xie Gou casually tossed the jade slip into her sleeve.
The old temple abbot said via heart voice, "Tell your Mountain Lord Chen to stop learning divination. His identity and circumstances are special, and his talent in this area is too poor. He can't get accurate readings; it's meaningless."
Xie Gou spoke without thinking, "Can't get accurate readings? If he calculates good or bad luck and then interprets the result inversely, isn't that also a form of accuracy? To take a step back, at worst, it's a reference point, a variation of the exhaustive method. Eliminate the 'one' first, and it's not a waste of effort. How is it entirely meaningless? Azure Sky Daoist friend, that's not..."
She was about to say "not using your brain," but considering the old Daoist's friendship with Xiao Mo, she decided to drop it. Better not let Azure Sky give her a grudge and speak ill of her later to Xiao Mo.
The old temple abbot remained silent. Bai Jing's mind was truly sharp. For Xiao Mo and her to become Dao partners, neither was shortchanged; it was a rare good match.
But her current appearance and Bai Jing's true form—wasn't the difference too stark?
Xie Gou felt sheepish. She had only been speaking up for her Mountain Lord out of loyalty.
The old temple abbot glanced somewhere, "Chen great Daoist friend, is this your version of 'focus without distraction'? Is this how you conduct secluded cultivation?"
At Fuyang Creek, in that Dao field, after a lengthy silence—probably trying to muster a response that was both stable and sincere—a voice came, "Senior, this is called closing the door and trusting the process; one can both guard the spirit and let it roam."
The old temple abbot snorted, stood up. Little Mi Li immediately followed suit.
Xie Gou burped, still sitting cross-legged on the bench. She clasped her fists and shook them slightly, a farewell gesture to Azure Sky Daoist friend.
The old temple abbot took out a scroll, tossed it to Xie Gou, "Take the opportunity to give it to the chicken soup monk. Consider it an advance wish for his disciple's successful Dao merging."
Xie Gou, true to form, showed no reserve with Azure Sky Daoist friend. She opened the scroll on the spot: a painting with only six ink bamboo stalks, much white space.
Two collector's seals were stamped: a white relief saying "Six Roots Pure" and a fine-line vermilion seal reading "Thus Have I Seen."
Xie Gou rolled up the scroll, lifted her arm, and tossed it into her sleeve. She looked up and asked, "Can you change the gift, Daoist friend?"
The old temple abbot asked, "Can't sleep with Xiao Mo, so you want to become a nun?"
The sable-capped girl quickly turned her head and spat, "Pei pei pei!" She glared at the stinky Daoist, "What are you saying? Are you cursing me? Believe me or not, I won't let Xiao Mo go drink with you in the future!"
The old temple abbot chuckled.
His tall figure vanished in a flash.
Inside the Dao field, the man in the Dao crown, Chen Ping'an, sat on the Night Wandering Sword. With one hand, he pinched the crimson dharma robe with two fingers, and with the other, he held his belly, laughing heartily, "Haha, Chen great Daoist friend."
Chen Ping'an still sat with eyes closed, ignoring him.
The Dao-crowned man rubbed the corners of his eyes, suppressing his laughter, and asked, "When you reach two realms higher in the future, will you still pay such respect to seniors?"
Chen Ping'an said calmly, "Even at the fourteenth realm, one must respect elders even more."
The Dao-crowned man went back to his serious work.
About half an hour later.
True enough, here he came.
The imposing old Daoist appeared silently in the primal void realm.
Chen Ping'an stood up and made a Daoist bow.
When Chen Ping'an straightened up, the old temple abbot waved his hand, "Don't bother. My poor Daoist didn't come to Fallen Mountain for bows."
Chen Ping'an was momentarily speechless.
Without wasting a single word with this Chen great Daoist friend, the old temple abbot got straight to the point: "I'll be touring here for a bit. Not a big problem. Pay more attention, and check for any gaps yourself."
As he spoke, the old temple abbot tossed Chen Ping'an a random-shaped seal as big as a strong man's fist. "This item is rare; only one remains in the world. Carve it into a pair of plain seals first. The leftover material will be your carving fee."
"Belonging to the Green Jasper City under the White Jade Capital's jurisdiction, in Bing Province, the Azure Divine Dynasty, there's a sword cultivator named Fu Xuanjie. Young, good aptitude. He's long been your admirer, especially after witnessing your style of Dao transmission at the Great Wood Observing Temple. He's completely sincerely convinced. After carving a pair of plain seals, for one of them, the side inscription will be the Dao Ancestor's three thousand words; the white relief seal bottom will be engraved with 'Where the spirit arrives, nothing is impossible.' For the other, the side inscription can be whatever you want. Even making up a few of your best doggerel poems is fine."
Chen Ping'an had already beckoned the broken sword tip between his two fingers, using it as a carving tool.
He sat on a meditation cushion with a low table in front of him, a single incense burner emitting curling smoke.
The table held some close-distance items and small-space items, along with a pile of Daoist books and more than ten talismans.
Chen Ping'an's "carving" movements were extremely sluggish, indicating the material was even tougher than sword whetstone.
Chen Ping'an looked up and asked, "It'll take a while, Senior. Can you wait? Or should I have Xie Gou take it to the Azure Firmament World?"
The old temple abbot said calmly, "The Confucian Temple and the White Jade Capital can't rush me. The former needs to track the trajectories of two ferry boats, and the latter can't attend to my comings and goings for now."
Chen Ping'an said nothing, his expression as usual, continuing to lower his head, carefully "carving the stone."
Obviously, in the old temple abbot's eyes, the Confucian Temple was only Li Sheng, and the White Jade Capital was only Yu Dou.
Chen Ping'an was completely focused. Every carving stroke was measured several times. Carving a random-shaped plain seal, first cleaving the jade, he wouldn't dare cut corners under the old temple abbot's watchful gaze.
With nothing to do, the old temple abbot grabbed a copy of the "True Dragon Scripture" and flipped directly to the last two pages, which were entirely blank.
He lightly breathed on the pages, then with two fingers together, dispelled all restrictions, revealing two talismans and several hundred characters of commentary.
Coincidentally, one of the talismans was named "Long Bridge of Immortality," roughly one of the three teachings of Gao Gu's transmission.
A cultivator's Long Bridge of Immortality is essentially the string that connects the 565 bodily qi mansions.
Born with it in the human body, it is the Dao foundation for Qi refiners.
Drawing any great talisman in the world is exceedingly difficult. The more powerful the talisman's effect, the more it demands an "equivalent" result.
Not only does it consume vast amounts of heaven and earth spiritual energy, but it also sacrifices years of one's own Dao cultivation. Furthermore, it requires the depletion of the drafter's merits and fortune.
Chen Ping'an's carving became more reckless, gradually forming the rough shape of the plain seal. He took a break, rubbed his wrist, and asked, "Can these methods of mine withstand Wu Zhou's ambush?"
The old temple abbot didn't answer immediately. He first picked up a talisman from the table and smiled. "Qing Tong, that waste who tries to learn everything but masters nothing—his only passable aptitude is in learning talismans. Learning that 'Suddenly Talisman' from Old Man Lu took him probably two or three hundred years, and even then, he only achieved a rough 'spiritual likeness.' But Old Man Lu himself learned it from his master's 'Ten Thousand Year Bridge,' which was already a second-rate original. Qing Tong's imitation was another layer of distortion, and now at your hand, it's passed through again. Ha."
The old temple abbot then grabbed a "True Form Talisman" originally created by the Yin-Yang Family of the Central Plains. He nodded, "Even if Wu Zhou personally descends on the Hao Ran World, with those messy methods of yours, plus this slightly interesting 'Corpse Severing Talisman,' once activated, it will be indistinguishable from your real body. It can substitute for death. Use three in a row, combined with the 'Suddenly Talisman,' drop one realm—enough to survive until someone comes to rescue you. Your life will be safe. Provided Wu Zhou only comes for treasure, not to kill, and also doesn't want to be caught by the Little Master and sent to the Merit Forest of the Confucian Temple to eat prison rations."
Chen Ping'an asked, "Is it possible that Wu Zhou could break through six talismans in a row?"
The old temple abbot laughed, "What do you think? Does Wu Zhou have that much leisure to play hide-and-seek with you?"
Chen Ping'an continued working.
The old temple abbot grabbed three more talismans placed side by side on the table. "Old Man Lu's 'Moon-Chasing Talisman,' Wu Shuangjiang's 'Jade Axe Talisman,' plus this 'Daylight Ascension Treasure Seal.' Tsk tsk, treat a man with new eyes after three days. The mud-legged youth of yesteryear can now help others transmit and protect the Dao. With such a heavy investment and the use of 'Descending True Green Talismans,' you're thinking of combining these three talismans into a layered formation, to help that little Daoist attain ascension after perfecting his merit?"
Chen Ping'an didn't look up, just smiled, "Entrusted by someone, loyal to their affairs."
The old temple abbot asked, "Why not learn the 'Quan Talisman' of the Three Mountains and Nine Marquises?"
Chen Ping'an said helplessly, "Can't learn it."
The old temple abbot shook his head.
Clearly, he held a different opinion.
Chen Ping'an understood immediately and asked, "Back when Senior Li Er taught boxing, he had a novel saying. He said the human body has 639 muscles, which are the mountains and dragon veins of heaven and earth. The more openings a pure martial artist..."
The old temple abbot interrupted, "Don't prattle on to me about these martial arts tricks. Figure them out yourself, and stop trying to verify anything with me from now on."
After that, Chen Ping'an carved in silence. The two long strip-shaped plain seals were finally finished. There was still quite a bit of leftover material.
The old temple abbot nodded, "You can carve the characters and sign the seals now."
Chen Ping'an hesitated, then told the truth, "The three thousand words must be done in one breath, with continuous spirit. I can't carve them; I'm not confident at the moment."
The old temple abbot clicked his tongue, "My poor Daoist doesn't bow, so you won't carve? Mountain Lord Chen truly doesn't hold grudges overnight."
Chen Ping'an was helpless. Who knew the jade material would be so hard? Sweat was pouring down his back; that wasn't fake.
The old temple abbot laughed, "You can keep this seal for now. Next time you go to the Azure Firmament World, go to the Azure Dragon Dynasty and give it to Fu Xuanjie yourself."
Chen Ping'an was relieved. He dared not recklessly carve the three thousand words. As for the other plain seal's side inscription with doggerel, why be nervous? If he carved a bit wrong, it would be called "freehand style"!
The old temple abbot said, "You can decide the number of words for the side inscription, or even not carve one at all. But the signature seal, Fu Xuanjie has a requirement. And I must take it away today."
Chen Ping'an was speechless for a moment, then after a silence, asked, "What is the inscription?"
The old temple abbot stroked his beard and smiled, "Simple. Just one sentence."
Chen Ping'an quickly said, "Can I just buy this seal from you, Senior?"
The old temple abbot asked, "Are you sure you can afford it?"
Chen Ping'an whispered, "Can I pay on credit?"
The old temple abbot retorted, "What do you think?"
Chen Ping'an wanted to say, "I think it's absolutely fine."
The old temple abbot squinted, stroking his beard and smiling.
Chen Ping'an felt powerless. "What sentence?"
He missed Xiao Mo more than ever. If Xiao Mo were here, it would be fine.
The old temple abbot slowly said, "'Fu Xuanjie of the Azure Firmament World and Chen Ping'an of the Haoran World were born on the same day, same month, same year.'"
Chen Ping'an's scalp tingled. He silently raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead. His heart was weary.
There was no need to ask. Fu Xuanjie was definitely a woman.
He had suffered losses from Gao Jun and Zhong Qian before.
Chen Ping'an asked tentatively, "Can we change it? Make the inscription shorter? Like 'Both are sword cultivators'?"
The old temple abbot smiled, "How about my poor Daoist just stay here for a few more days? Mountain Lord Chen protects the Dao for others, and my poor Daoist will protect the Dao for you. Wouldn't that be a fine tale on the mountains?"
Chen Ping'an's face darkened.
The old temple abbot smiled, "Then change it."
Chen Ping'an, as if pardoned.
The old temple abbot said, "Change it to 'Fu Xuanjie of the Azure Firmament World and Chen Ping'an of the Haoran World are both sword cultivators, born on the same day, same month, same year.'"
Chen Ping'an fell backward, his feet propped up on the table.
Do whatever you want. I'm done with this.
Earlier, when he saw Yu Xuan in the bright moon above the sea, Chen Ping'an had asked Old True Man for three talismans that could conceal his form and each house a strand of spirit.
This was asking about the Dao from the Dao itself. Yu Xuan casually drew three miniature talismans and three "Night Boat" treasure seals, all given as gifts to Chen Daoist friend. But Yu Xuan reminded Chen Ping'an that these spirit-housing talismans—their concealment of whereabouts was relative. Chen Ping'an was now at the immortal realm. If he split his spirit, it would be equivalent to an earth immortal guarding a mountain Dao field, but that could only fool jade pure realm cultivators.
Actually, Yu Xuan had prepared many such talismans, but for Chen Daoist friend, the Old True Man had to show off his talisman skills!
At that time, Yu Xuan didn't ask where Chen Ping'an's three strands of spirit were going.
This was another reason the old temple abbot had mocked Mountain Lord Chen for being so "serious" in his secluded cultivation.
Three "miniature" green-clad men, riding three mustard-seed-sized "Night Boats," set off separately: one to the Rain Dragon Sect in the South Sea, one to the middle of the great river in Tongye Prefecture, and one to the Qionglin Sect in North Juzhou.
Upon reaching the Rain Dragon Sect's territory, Chen Ping'an didn't drive the boat ashore. Instead, he patiently waited near the ancestral mountain island. He spotted several fishing lines as thick as well mouths—some lower-five-realm Qi refiners fishing there. Their fishing technique? Street vendor level, roughly the same standard as Liu Xiang from the Big Sui River. After waiting a long time, he finally found a "leviathan" sea fish that had taken the bait. Just before the Qi refiner lifted the rod, a "Night Boat" shot toward the fish's mouth like wind and thunder, instantly drilling into its belly.
Damn it.
It turned out the sea fish had already taken the bait, shaken the hook, and was gone, but there was no movement on the shore.
The green-clad little man cursed and had to leave again, piloting the boat in the water, waiting for the next sea fish to bite, before that wretch on shore could fish it out by luck. That "expert" on shore, who had missed his catch, was, in hindsight, seemingly casually lifting his rod. Although it was empty, he was both excited and deeply disappointed. He even shamelessly repeated to his companions, "It must be a fish of at least a hundred catties!"
Listening to the conversation on shore, Chen Ping'an had already memorized the guy's name—He Bu Ruo.
After a long wait, even someone as patient as Chen Ping'an was almost ready to just drive the boat ashore.
Previously, he had always felt that only if a cultivator or pure martial artist fished without any magic, divine abilities, or true qi methods, could they be considered like-minded and truly enjoyable...
Finally, he seized the opportunity to hide inside a stupid fish's belly and get caught by that expert He Bu Ruo. But this guy thought the fish was too small and threw it back into the sea...
That scoundrel muttered something like, "Go call your elders, ancestors, and relatives."
He Zongshi, are you messing with me? Are you not a Willow Tendon realm expert but an immortal realm one?
Fortunately, one of He Zongshi's fellow Qi refiners caught a fish and casually tossed it into a creel.
As for He Zongshi, in the end, he begged a few fishes from his friends and put them in his own creel.
Following the bouncing creel all the way, Chen Ping'an was thrown into a water vat, with talk of having a feast at night, inviting friends to drink some wine.
These few were low-realm, outer sect cultivators of the Rain Dragon Sect. But since the sect now had few people, they had accommodations equivalent to former core disciples' treatment.
After landing, Chen Ping'an sensed the protective mountain formation ripple twice. It seemed that after the reconstruction of the Rain Dragon Sect, they had spent a lot of money and finally restarted the formation according to the blueprints.
A new sect's constant welcoming of guests was common, often considered a chore by ordinary upper-five-realm cultivators, but Nalan Caihuan thrived on it.
The discipline, Yun Qian, was initially worried that Nalan Caihuan would be annoyed, afraid that an unhappy sect master might swap identities with the discipline. Having never liked socializing and banquets, Yun Qian had even prepared to help fend off guests, letting Nalan Caihuan focus on practicing swords.
But Nalan Caihuan told Yun Qian to go away. If you, the discipline, meet the esteemed guests and finish the conversation in two sentences, then sit down staring at each other, who is the host and who needs to entertain? You'd make the guests rack their brains to find topics you could talk about just to avoid an awkward silence. Besides, those who come knocking aren't just guests—they're money!
The Sword Qi Great Wall was not short on handsome men and was full of beautiful women. Nalan Caihuan was among the best. Her natural beauty was outstanding, and with exquisite adornment, she became even more alluring.
The total number of dresses and cosmetics Yun Qian had used in her entire life probably didn't exceed what Nalan Caihuan changed in a single month.
Today's Ancestral Hall meeting mainly discussed whether to establish a sea market at the ruins of the Jasper Island, and also about various immortal islands and small sects far from the Rain Dragon Sect applying to become its vassals—how to screen their qualifications for merit-based admission.
Nalan Zongzhu wore courtly attire popular in a certain Central Plains dynasty, with a green jade hairpin in her bun, the tip delicately carved into a lifelike bright red dragonfly.
Now the Ancestral Hall was divided into old and new camps, two factions.
Nalan Caihuan, as an "outsider," had taken over the Rain Dragon Sect, bringing with her a substantial "dowry": six earth immortal Qi refiners, three sword cultivators, and three ghostly entities.
In fact, a jade pure realm sword cultivator herself, Nalan Caihuan publicly claimed to be only at the Nascent Soul bottleneck. Only the discipline Yun Qian knew the truth. If not for these "in-law" confidants Nalan Caihuan had brought, the Rain Dragon Sect rebuilt under Yun Qian would have been in a pitiful state. Even including its vassal sects, the total number of registered Qi refiners barely reached a hundred. Initially, the Ancestral Hall only had one Nascent Soul cultivator and four golden cores. Especially that old Nascent Soul offering from the former Jasper Island, who had moved to occupy Feather Transformation Island. This guy named Tian Su, when Yun Qian first found him, actually proposed to become her Dao partner, saying they could stop dividing the sect and jointly strengthen it. If she felt it was beneath her dignity, a few nights of cloud and rain would suffice. It was only because Yun Qian was weak-willed and in a difficult situation that she didn't respond harshly. Any other jade pure realm sect leader would have either killed him on the spot for such reckless behavior or expelled him.
That was why Nalan Caihuan later described Yun Qian as having "paper-like" cultivation and "bamboo-splint" realm.
Yun Qian wasn't annoyed. Nalan Zongzhu spoke the truth. Her Dao practice was purely about cultivation; her combat skills in sparring or life-and-death battles were indeed terrible. Moreover, Nalan Caihuan had once said something strange: Yun Qian shouldn't feel inferior. In combat, she wasn't as weak as she imagined. Just once, twice, three times, with more experience, you, Yun Qian, would definitely become a master in this field, a grandmaster rarely seen, able to fight an immortal realm cultivator as a jade pure realm without falling behind.
Yun Qian heard this but didn't take it to heart, taking it only as a few words of comfort.
Nalan Caihuan sat in the central sect master's seat, yawning, listening to the meeting below without much energy.
The discipline Yun Qian and the head of the Treasure Trove were discussing matters.
Tian Su and the others, the "meritorious ones," were either celebrating newly taken concubines or acquiring several beautiful maids.
These were offerings from certain sects hoping to join the Rain Dragon Sect: gifts of money or women, or both.
Nalan Caihuan glanced at the fourth-in-command, Chief Offering Tian Su, who was sitting upright, on high alert, not daring to look sideways.
Now the old lecher was completely subdued.
Because not long ago, the new sect master Nalan Caihuan had graced Feather Transformation Island with her presence. Without even a greeting, the old Nascent Soul, rushing to welcome her, took a sword strike.
Nalan Caihuan asked, "Do you understand?"
The old Nascent Soul steadied himself, thought for a moment, and silently nodded.
Nalan Caihuan asked again, "I'll give you a chance. Do you want to withdraw from the Rain Dragon Sect's register?"
The old Nascent Soul asked if that meant leaving alive with a whole skin or dying out of the register with his name erased.
Nalan Caihuan said nothing.
The old Nascent Soul said he would stay in the Rain Dragon Sect for a hundred years, without pay. He didn't pledge loyalty or utter grand words. Nalan Caihuan couldn't be fooled.
Finally, Nalan Caihuan smiled and warned him that if he ever drooled at Discipline Yun again during Ancestral Hall meetings and tried to stare down her collar, she would chop off all three of his legs.
The old Nascent Soul only said he absolutely wouldn't dare.
Nalan Caihuan laughed heartily, saying there was no need to guarantee anything to her; it was just a casual sword strike. Better swear to that thing in your pants that you won't get it chopped off to feed the fish.
At that time, the former discipline of Jasper Island, who had also fled with Tian Su, could only stand by. Silent and still.
As a mere golden core, he dared not speak a word for his master—half a word would kill himself, and the unspoken half would harm his master.
After Nalan Caihuan left on her flying sword, a full quarter-hour passed, and the golden core still saw his master unmoving. He asked with a heart voice, "Master?"
Tian Su said nothing.
His master's composure was good—always calm, unflappable in the face of danger. No wonder he was a Nascent Soul bottleneck overlord.
The golden core asked, "Are all sword cultivators over there like that?"
Tian Su coughed a few times and smiled, "Not all."
"In cunning and daring, the managers of cross-continental boats are all exceedingly clever, weathered through many storms. Even they were no match for that guy in terms of cunning, and he was even more ruthless."
It was said that back at the Spring Bunting Shop, the first to die wasn't one of the troublemaking boat owners or managers, but almost a female sword immortal who was supposed to be one of their own from the Sword Qi Great Wall.
And that female sword immortal was Nalan Caihuan, the new sect master who had nearly killed the old Nascent Soul with a single sword.
Seeing his disciple standing dumbfounded, Tian Su sighed. "Zhao Cun, don't stand there like a fool. Your master is badly injured. Give me a hand."
The golden core quickly bowed and bent down, extending his arm to support his master back to his residence.
After leaving the dock and nearing the residence, Tian Su's face suddenly filled with resentment, and he couldn't help but whisper, "Nalan, that slut. Ruined my good plans!"
The golden core was startled and quickly warned, "Master, be careful."
The old Nascent Soul sighed deeply, his face full of disappointment. He murmured, "Zhao Cun, you know that your master cultivates both water and fire techniques. But what you don't know is that Discipline Yun Qian might have learned a forbidden secret technique of the Rain Dragon Sect. If I could dual cultivate with her, I might break through the Nascent Soul bottleneck that has remained immovable for over a hundred years. Otherwise, why would I come here? With Jasper Island gone, I could go to Tongye Prefecture, not just be a constrained chief offering—I could establish my own sect, become the national teacher of some dynasty. Wouldn't that be more carefree?"
Earlier, that sword light had seemed to directly target the Rain Dragon Sect without hesitation. Whether matched to the name Nalan Caihuan or the sword she delivered today, both person and affairs fit the style.
In reality, Nalan Caihuan, hidden in a small patch of clouds, squinted her eyes and thought for a moment. She could roughly confirm that Tian Su was just a lecherous, reckless fellow. A few flirtatious words had scared Yun Qian, that foolish woman, who didn't even think to take it seriously.
Nalan Caihuan didn't trust this old Nascent Soul who had come back.
Not that he feared death—fearful Qi refiners were abundant in the Haoran World, and he wasn't special.
Everyone gets up early and works hard. Each lives their own life.
But secretly colluding with the beasts of the Barren Wastes—that was Nalan Caihuan's bottom line.
The Ancestral Hall meeting ended. The conclusions were predetermined; who dared to disagree?
Nalan Caihuan kicked off her boots, sat cross-legged on the chair, and kept only Discipline Yun Qian.
Seeing that the sect master was silent, Yun Qian sat with her, in a daze.
Lost in thought, silent for a long time, Nalan Caihuan recalled something, "Have you heard of the 'Righteous Man' and the 'Western Mountain Sword Recluse' tradition?"
Yun Qian shook her head. Never heard of it.
Nalan Caihuan frowned. "Back in Gold Armor Prefecture, a sword cultivator found me, trying to recruit me."
She gave Yun Qian a rough introduction to what the Righteous Man and the Western Mountain Sword Recluse did. Anyway, Yun Qian, this woman, always had a kind of simple-minded good fortune.
After listening, Yun Qian was puzzled. "It sounds very good. A profitable business—exchange information, mutual benefit. Why didn't the sect master agree at the time?"
Even if she didn't understand business, she knew one crude principle: new money sources often came from a piece of news.
Nalan Caihuan sneered. "I'm a merchant reeking of money. No matter who I do business with, I only recognize one principle: any benefit must be paid for with an equivalent price. If it's not counted in money, then it will be settled in human debts. The advantage I take from someone today can easily become a loss I have to repay tomorrow. The less they talk about money, the more uneasy I am."
"So I asked them why they didn't go to Qi Tingji and Lu Zhi."
"The other party said it was meaningless. I expressed understanding verbally, but inside I was cursing. Good, you think I'm low-realm and easy to fool, right? Or if you default later, you think I can do nothing?"
"Then I asked if they had approached Mi Yu. That person was honest enough to say not yet, but maybe one day they would directly find that young Hidden Guardian."
At this point, Nalan Caihuan grinned and looked at her own discipline, the most thin-skinned one. But she found Yun Qian sizing her up with an amused look.
Nalan Caihuan got angry. Good, Discipline Yun Qian had even learned to provoke her on matters of men and women.
Yun Qian smiled. "Nalan Zongzhu, do you still like him?"
Nalan Caihuan gritted her teeth. "Like? What's the use of liking that kind of embroidered pillow, useless both in bed and out?"
Yun Qian was taken aback.
Nalan Caihuan waved her hand. "I haven't been under the sheets with him. That's just a rumor I heard."
Nalan Caihuan and Mi Yu were from the same generation of sword cultivators, roughly the same age. That was troublesome.
If she were a few decades or a century younger than Mi Yu, it might have been better. By then, the nickname "Embroidered Pillow" Mi was widespread.
To be smitten with Mi Yu would at most be wanting his face, craving his body.
But Nalan Caihuan was different. She was always one or two realms lower than Mi Yu, never catching up.
Until Mi Yu slowly crawled into the jade pure realm, Nalan Caihuan was still at the Nascent Soul realm when she left the Inverted Mountain.
After arriving in the Haoran World, Nalan Caihuan finally reached the jade pure realm. But soon she heard that Mi Yu had broken through again and become a sword immortal.
Back at the Spring Bunting Shop, Mi Yu had set up a makeshift accounting table at the door, acting as a gatekeeper every day doing nothing. He had no airs with Wei Wenlong, who was then only a small golden core. In the summer palace, against those young sword cultivators skilled at sarcasm, Mi Yu adopted a strategy: if they said ten words, and he replied one, he lost. But toward Nalan Caihuan, Sword Immortal Mi was always cold-faced, putting on airs. When they were together day in and day out, he wouldn't even glance at her. When it came to serious matters like auditing accounts, Mi Yu would still frown and deliberately ignore her. That made Nalan Caihuan feel better. But the problem was, in those matters, he was very serious and would even actively consult her... How could Nalan Caihuan not gnash her teeth? That heartless thing really didn't take her seriously.
On the Sword Qi Great Wall back then, the ones who scolded Mi Yu the most, the fiercest, and without reservation, were definitely women, not men. Nalan Caihuan was ruthless with her sword on the battlefield, and she scolded Mi Yu relentlessly.
It was said that the nickname "Embroidered Pillow" Mi was first coined by Nalan Caihuan. Don't you love lying drunk on clouds and mist? You're nothing but an embroidered pillow.
This was probably what they called "unrequited love." Since love couldn't be obtained, love turned to hate and resentment.
No matter how proud Nalan Caihuan was, she had to admit that she had once modeled her swordsmanship after Mi Yu.
And she wasn't the only one. The younger sword cultivators of that generation, male and female alike, almost all liked to imitate Mi Yu's way of delivering sword strikes.
"Mi Lan Yao of the two earth immortal realms has a unique sword immortal charm."
That was said by the old sword immortal Chen Xi himself.
Among the listeners at the time was Nalan Shao Wei.
Of course, Nalan Shao Wei took it to heart. Moreover, Mi Yu's achievements in killing demons with his sword were undisputed. And Mi Yu had an older brother, Mi Hu, who was already a sword immortal.
This match seemed perfect on all fronts. A perfect couple? Both Mi Yu and Nalan Caihuan had talent and beauty.
Nalan Caihuan shook her head, not wanting to think about these annoyances.
Yun Qian took her leave and left.
Nalan Caihuan grinned, "Yun Qian, if you want to enter the immortal realm, I have a suggestion."
Yun Qian had already flown out of the Ancestral Hall, her figure graceful, her robes billowing in the wind, flowing like water and clouds.
The Rain Dragon Sect was located in the South Sea waters.
It had no master-servant relationship with the South Sea Water Lord's Mansion. The Water Lord, Li Ye Hou, titled "Bright Moon," had not visited the Rain Dragon Sect in person but had sent the ceremonial official, a goddess, to come here.
Within the East Sea Water Lord's Mansion, Nalan Caihuan had some connections. Back then, claiming to be a registered Qi refiner of the Inverted Mountain's Water Essence Palace, she had partnered with a female cultivator named Gong Yan from Fuyang Prefecture, nickname A Wu, to do business.
Now Gong Yan had risen to prominence, becoming the head of the School Department of the East Sea Water Lord's Mansion. In the officialdom of the Haoran World's mountains and waters, this was a top-tier prestigious post, very noble.
The key was that Gong Yan also concurrently held a position in the Inspectorate. Before retiring and yielding to the worthy, Gong Yan was a big shot with both nominal and real power.
Yun Qian was increasingly certain that making Nalan Caihuan sect master had been the wisest decision.
Nalan Caihuan only read merchant books and account books, not much else. She felt that a single word perfectly described Gong Yan, the widely recognized "beauty" of Fuyang Prefecture: full.
Now looking at her own discipline, a slender beauty who would arouse one's pity even in women, she thought Yun Qian and Gong Yan... hehehe.
Shao Yunyan and the tipsy-faced woman were nominal guest elders of the Rain Dragon Sect, the kind who received no pay.
Doing business, tallying accounts—Nalan Caihuan considered herself third on the Sword Qi Great Wall, and no one dared to claim second.
Who was first? How did the Spring Bunting Shop and the Mei Hua Garden disappear? That guy rolled everything away, down to a single straw mat!
The little accountant of the Sword Worshiping Platform, Nalan Yudie, by seniority, should call Nalan Caihuan "great-grandmaster." Little as she was, she had already learned to do business with Father Hidden Guardian. Little Mi Li and the Conglomerate had shares in several main financial channels of Fallen Mountain.
Although the amounts were small, to be able to trade with that guy...
Nalan Caihuan admired her deeply. The future pillar of the family!
Back then, Nalan Caihuan received orders from the young Hidden Guardian, roughly equivalent to "receiving a decree from the Summer Palace."
Nalan Caihuan left the Inverted Mountain with great fanfare for Fuyang Prefecture, temporarily taking over a leaderless Mountain and Water Grotto. During that time, she met a good business partner, a female cultivator named Gong Yan, a jade pure realm.
She emptied the Mountain and Water Grotto's assets, not just the treasuries and secret realms—even the twenty-plus chairs in the Ancestral Hall didn't escape. Even those custom-made spittoons on the mountain and the toilets for female cultivators were sold off by Nalan Caihuan, all converted into real gold, silver, and divine money!
Making money? No shame in that.
Nalan Caihuan also met a Confucian gentleman from the literary academy who was responsible for auditing the Mountain and Water Grotto's finances at the time. It was none other than Gao Xuandu, now the vice-mountain chief of the Laiyuan Academy.
She didn't keep all the profits; she only took a 20% commission. Even so, it was quite a sum.
So she was still very motivated.
After that, Nalan Caihuan went to Gold Armor Prefecture and Flowing Xia Prefecture. Wherever she went, she could do business. Now, not counting her private savings, she had six small-space items and two close-distance items on hand!
After leaving the Ancestral Hall, Yun Qian didn't have the heart to cultivate or refine Qi. She began to take a walk on the ancestral mountain.
As the ancestral mountain of the Rain Dragon Sect, it was said to be two islands facing each other. But even a single island would have a larger area than many small kingdoms' capitals.
Earlier, Nalan Caihuan had taken the liberty of accepting a personal disciple for her.
It was a young man holding a jade tablet. The apprenticeship gift Nalan Caihuan handed over was a jade tablet in the shape of a "safe journey" plaque.
One side was engraved in seal script with four characters: "Sword Qi Great Wall," and the other side in regular script: "Haoran World."
On the Sword Qi Great Wall side, there were also small-seal engravings of "Hidden Guardian" and a tiny regular-script number.
Since it was an apprenticeship gift, this "safe journey plaque" was now Yun Qian's possession.
Yun Qian had a habit of subconsciously frowning lightly, always so sentimental and melancholic.
Back when she came to this meeting by chance from the Water Essence Palace, the road was not so lonely. Previously, she used to hide from people; now it's hard to meet anyone.
Her senior sister, the sect master who had once driven her to the Inverted Mountain to oversee the Water Essence Palace, had lost to her despised junior sister Yun Qian in only one matter.
Besides the founding patriarch and a restoration patriarch who had signed a covenant with the Dragon Trench, no one for a thousand years had managed to learn the Rain Dragon Sect's "Fur-Lined Warm Tents, Cloud and Rain Realm." It was indeed a forbidden secret, passed down orally to only two or three carefully selected individuals per generation. If one didn't learn it within a year, the memory would be erased.
Actually, the founding patriarch had established a rule: whoever became sect master in the future, if that person couldn't cultivate this technique, then whoever learned it could immediately assume the sect master position.
But Yun Qian found it difficult to speak of it. And her senior sister was unwilling to abdicate.
So the two senior-junior sisters tacitly agreed: one pretended not to have learned it, the other pretended she hadn't.
Yun Qian sighed softly. The sea breeze brushed her face, tousling her hair. Her dharma robe was blown aside, and the already stunning woman now had her curves even more pronounced. Although the sect had few people, because Nalan Caihuan was sect master, most of the new registered Qi refiners were from Yun Qian's direct lineage from the Water Essence Palace. Having practiced at the Inverted Mountain, they were more worldly than the Rain Dragon Sect's ancestral mountain cultivators. When they chatted idly about the tales of the Sword Qi Great Wall, they could talk for hours. Some unverified gossip was also told with great detail, as if they had seen it firsthand. They loved ranking sword immortals' seats, often arguing red-faced, each refusing to yield.
Some also talked about that young Hidden Guardian. Those with good aptitude mocked their average-aptitude peers, saying, "On the road, traveling the jianghu, are you learning from the young Hidden Guardian, suppressing by ten realms?"
Those with poor aptitude genuinely felt cultivation was hard and the work was tough. When they couldn't persist, they'd think of the Hidden Guardian in women's clothes, walking out of the Summer Palace to the battlefield to kill demons.
In a trance, Yun Qian reached up to tidy the strands of hair at her temples.
She snapped back to reality and quickly waved her sleeve to dispel those signs of cloud and rain.
The Rain Dragon Sect—new sect master, new discipline, new offerings, new registers—was all about a new atmosphere.
But there were still a few old faces. Just as one dynasty replaces another, the old core members, including Tian Su and Zhao Cun, the master-disciple earth immortals, were now sidelined.
About a thousand miles northeast of the Rain Dragon Sect, there was a largest vassal island called Feather Immortal Island. The name supposedly came from an ascetic monk who had ascended to immortality here in history. The cultivators of Feather Transformation Island had believed this for centuries; their elders said so, and their elders' elders said so too. But in truth, none of the younger registered Qi refiners believed this story. Even those who told it didn't believe it themselves, let alone outsiders.
Feather Transformation Island was lucky. After the Jade Capital Master Yu withdrew the Inverted Mountain and the demon tribe of the Barren Wastes broke through the Sword Qi Great Wall to invade the Haoran World, perhaps truly blessed by that ascending immortal, Feather Transformation Island was only occupied by a great demon as a private residence. When the demon tide surged in and then receded, the cultivators who had hidden their spirit tablets and fled the island returned to find that things were still somewhat usable. This was a stark contrast to the nearby Jasper Island, which had been completely destroyed and reduced to ruins.
As for the island master being replaced by Tian Su, that was a minor matter in comparison. During such chaotic times when even flying ascension cultivators fell one after another, those who couldn't even reach the threshold of the upper-five-realm in a lifetime felt fortunate just to survive, escape disaster, and return to their old mountain gate. This was the best among bad outcomes.
Thinking back to when the sect was at its peak, the Rain Dragon Sect once had twenty-seven vassal islands outside its ancestral mountain. Each affiliated immortal mansion and sect that paid tribute had its own dock. But the size of each dock, measured by how many talisman boats it could accommodate simultaneously, had a quota set by the Rain Dragon Sect, adjustable every decade. It was said that each offering with a relatively higher seat in the Ancestral Hall controlled the "life-and-death power" over one or two immortal island docks, not included in their salary, euphemistically called "ice tribute."
So the Rain Dragon Sect didn't need cross-continental boats; they just did business with those boats and made big money by collecting rent.
The entire sect, like a bureaucracy, including the ancestral mountain, vassal registered cultivators, immortal relatives, servants, and laborers, totaled over thirty thousand people. They were divided into twenty-two ranks within the Rain Dragon Sect, a mix of immortals and mortals, each with their own aspirations.
Near Feather Transformation Island was that jade-like island, rich in a kind of immortal tourmaline. If you could buy and sell it, you could make a profit. If the local sect hadn't strictly controlled production with long-term plans, they would have already made a fortune.
This Jasper Island had been the top immortal mansion among the Rain Dragon Sect's vassals. But when the demon tide rushed into the Haoran World like a plague of locusts, they stripped Jasper Island bare. When the old Nascent Soul Tian Su returned with his disciples and grand-disciples, they had to move to the neighboring Feather Transformation Island. That island's sect, to their credit, was happy to be a subordinate sect leader leaning on a large tree.
Zhao Cun, the golden core cultivator and former discipline of Jasper Island, as the beloved disciple of his master, looked at the ruins with the deepest regret. If only they had known, they might as well have opened up the mountain and mined recklessly.
Tian Su, who had been recuperating from his injuries in seclusion, came out of his Dao field. For some reason, the old Nascent Soul felt irritable and decided to take a walk.
Sensing his master's aura, the newly appointed sect leader Zhao Cun quickly approached, not daring to neglect his master.
The master and disciple ascended the Feather Transformation Platform at the mountain peak. Looking down, Tian Su gazed toward the Dragon Trench.
The Rain Dragon Sect and the Dragon Trench had been, since ancient times, mountain neighbors at just the right distance—not too close, not too far.
Too close, and they'd compete for territory and spiritual energy. Too far, and they wouldn't be neighbors at all.
A close neighbor was better than a distant relative. And because their Daos complemented each other, their relationship had always been good. Flood dragons that went to the South Brahmaputra Continent to distribute rain and clouds often exhausted themselves on the return journey and fell into the sea—what sailors called "tired dragons falling into the sea." The Qi refiners of the Rain Dragon Sect would give them a hand, helping to channel water veins and push them back to the Dragon Trench. In return, the Rain Dragon Sect received a quota of core disciples each year, who, holding official passes, could go deep into the Dragon Trench to cultivate water techniques there.
Zhao Cun asked quietly, "Master, is something troubling you?"
As soon as he spoke, he felt it was a stupid question.
Master had almost been chopped up by that woman not long ago, and earlier, disheartened, he had stepped down as sect leader. If his master wasn't troubled, his cultivation of maintaining a calm spirit wasn't that good—he was just mindless.
It seemed his own mind cultivation was still lacking. Faced with the overbearing Nalan Caihuan, he had already lost his composure.
Tian Su said via heart voice, "Nothing troubling. Master was just remembering a young man who seemed incredibly lucky yet just a bit short of luck—a pitiful wretch who thought he was too high and mighty, who once believed he was destined for greatness."
Zhao Cun hesitated. "Master means that Rain Dragon Sect core disciple, Fu Ke?"
Fu Ke had been acknowledged as the most talented, most fortunate, and youngest golden core earth immortal in the Rain Dragon Sect's history. Of course, the kid's luck with women was even more impressive.
After all, he had the potential to become the Rain Dragon Sect's first male sect master.
Surrounded by beautiful women, enjoying all the pleasures! Any Rain Dragon Sect female core disciple, heh. And there were two!
Tian Su smiled. "He was full of confidence in his own future, or rather ambition. He looked down on Su Jia, the immortal of Zheng Yang Mountain, considering her a 'ground chicken.' He thought he could hold Luo Zhenyi and Situ Weiran of the Sword Qi Great Wall in his arms at the same time."
Zhao Cun was stunned. "That kid is crazy?"
In the Rain Dragon Sect, you, Fu Ke, could fool around. But on the Sword Qi Great Wall, you're nothing.
As for how his master knew such secrets—whether Fu Ke had told him or not—Zhao Cun wasn't curious and didn't pry.
Tian Su struggled to calm the waves in his heart. The old Nascent Soul's hands were tucked in his sleeves, fingers rubbing together. What fell from his fingertips were ashes of calamity, like annual weeds, impossible to eradicate.
Fu Ke, that kid, had had a heartfelt thought back then, half right: "It's a pity the beasts of the Barren Wastes are too useless."
Then his master said something that sent a chill down Zhao Cun's spine. He looked around nervously.
Tian Su, hands in his sleeves, said calmly, "Since you've come to visit Feather Transformation Island, a guest is a guest. There's no need to hide, Daoist friend."
The world fell silent. Zhao Cun trembled with fear. Moments later, he was terrified to find his master Tian Su "ascending" like a rising immortal, his body turning into a white rainbow and vanishing in an instant. Then a man in a blue robe with a jade hairpin stepped out from a moon phase shimmering with precious light, directly onto the Feather Transformation Platform. He said to himself, "It seems he's not the Daoist from Quanjiao Mountain. But he's most likely one of the twenty. No wonder he didn't dare see me. 'Tian Su'? Could he be the founding patriarch of the Rain Dragon Sect? What do you think, Sect Leader Zhao?"
Zhao Cun was bewildered, his heart filled with terror. This unknown immortal with such divine powers—to be honest, I think I know nothing at all.
Central Plains Divine Continent, Mountain and Sea Sect.
As the old saying goes, dogs guard the night, roosters herald the dawn.
The cock crows at the break of day, urging the new bride in the world to dress up properly.
Early morning.
A little girl clutched the treasured oilpaper umbrella she carried with her all year round.
Walking to the seaside, under the clear sky, she stopped at her usual spot. She still opened the umbrella, curling up as if sheltering from the rain.
Looking out, she could see Vase Prefecture. Even if she couldn't see it, her hometown was over there.
The little girl muttered to herself.
Her name was Chenghua (Umbrella), which she said she had chosen herself.
First, the sect master Nalan Xianxiu, who always had a tobacco pipe at her waist, came over and sat down, puffing clouds of smoke.
As for this Mountain and Sea Sect master's beauty, someone had described it as: "A woman's beauty—ten thousand words are contained in this very body."
So Nalan Xianxiu was naturally an extremely beautiful woman.
After her came the ghost girl Feicui, in the form of a young girl. Back then, she had forcefully gone into secluded cultivation, trying to reach the immortal realm, but failed her tribulation and had to be reborn as a ghost.
Maybe the only advantage was that her previous appearance wasn't great. Now she was much younger and prettier.
Chenghua came from the old Northern March territory of the Great Li Dynasty in Vase Prefecture, a diligent little spirit creature who considered herself the most hardworking and proper of spirits.
One morning, she was loitering on a mountain road when a woman in blue with a braid encountered her.
After that, the little spirit creature followed that woman, who loved pastries and always seemed listless.
The little girl put away the oilpaper umbrella, used it like a hammer, and swung it vigorously, muttering to herself.
"Rumble rumble, Old Man Twirls the Hammer, Mars Adds the Charcoal Chips, heave ho heave ho, Rain Master Wind Uncle Join the Battle, Thunder Lord Lightning Mother Lend a Hand, crackling crackling boom boom..."
Chenghua often recited this. The two listeners nearby were long used to it.
If you took out the onomatopoeia the little girl added herself, the several hundred words were actually a sword-forging technique.
"Lord Mountain Deity farts, the noise is just like thunder, kills a whole string of little spirits, sets up a barbecue stall to sell some money, changes money to buy pastries..."
Feicui found it amusing and asked, "Chenghua, you're full of inspiration today. Is that a new song you made up?"
The little girl stopped her movements and said angrily, "Someone taught me. I've been reciting for ages. She said if I couldn't memorize it, she'd eat me. Not enough to satisfy her hunger, but enough to pick her teeth."
Feicui smiled and asked, "Chenghua, why aren't you tying up scarecrows today?"
The little girl said impatiently, "Forgot to bring them."
Nalan Xianxiu smiled and said, "The one involved doesn't even care, and you, a little girl she picked up, are feeling indignant for her?"
The little girl put her hands on her hips, her cheeks puffed out. "Just wait. When I meet that bad guy, I'll give him a good punch."
Feicui suppressed a laugh.
Nalan Xianxiu said, "Oh? You saw him before. Why didn't you throw a punch?"
The little girl looked puzzled. "What?"
Nalan Xianxiu smiled. "Nothing."
North Juzhou, Qingliang Sect. Under the eaves, He Xiaoliang sat idle.
Her plan to calculate breaking through Bai Chang's secluded cultivation had failed. In a carefully laid ambush sword challenge, if not for that pure sun Daoist stepping in, facing flying ascension Bai Chang, He Xiaoliang would have had difficulty escaping unharmed.
In such matters, He Xiaoliang had truly provoked Bai Chang. In mountain struggles that could sever someone's Dao path, the names of her master Lu Chen, the White Jade Capital's headmaster, weren't enough to scare people.
Even if Bai Chang had killed He Xiaoliang on the spot, it would have been He Xiaoliang's own doing, her predestined blade-and-soldier tribulation.
Even the usually lazy Master Lu, willing to break precedent for his disciple once, wouldn't have much to say or do.
Not long ago, a sword light fell straight down and chopped off He Xiaoliang's wrist.
Reattaching the severed wrist took He Xiaoliang considerable time, consuming no small amount of rare treasures.
After all, it was the sword light of a fourteenth-realm sword cultivator.
Both recent events had been unfavorable.
Yet He Xiaoliang showed no sign of dejection, and the lack of pretense was genuine.
Under the eaves hung a string of wind chimes, which in the breeze seemed to be tinkling "Bore, bore."
There were three female disciples, with Dao names Qingya, Dajiao, and Ganji.
They gathered together, idling away the time with their master.
The young female Daoist Ganji always felt her master was biased. Her Dao name was bad enough, but the apprenticeship gift back then was also sloppy.
For her two senior sisters, there had been that seven-colored elk or a close-distance item. But for her, the master had only given a few tangerines not even worth a cent in the market!
First seen at Qingya, again on the Dajiao Mountain ferry, and yet again by the sea in North Juzhou.
On a brand-new cross-continental ferry, the new chief manager Jia Sheng had brought along Sword Immortal Mi, the chief offering of the sub-sect.
Generally, a ferry needed a Nascent Soul cultivator overseeing it, and if a jade pure realm could be had, even better.
Old Immortal Jia was blind in his eyes but bright in his heart, with sharp insight. According to the old cook, if Daoist Jia had gone to cultivate in government offices, he could easily become one of those officials who clock in and sign documents every day.
Of course, with Jia's current realm, he had already cultivated the Eye of the Heart.
Thus, Old Immortal Jia set a feast, and emboldened by wine, asked Chief Mi if he was interested in protecting the ferry in the future.
Mi Yu was immediately energized. How could he not be interested? He definitely was. On the boat, he could also start the mirror flowers and water moon.
Jia Sheng said this ferry wasn't going to North Juzhou but would follow a route through South Brahmaputra Continent, the Rain Dragon Sect's Dragon Trench, and Fuyang Prefecture.
Mi Yu paused, thought it over, and found it quite good.
Just as Heavenly Master Zhao had returned to Dragon Tiger Mountain.
The Fire Dragon True Person also returned from the Barren Wastes to North Juzhou, breaking routine by sealing his mountain, having the Daoists and acolytes move to other peaks.
To show the solemnity of this secluded cultivation, he took a meditation cushion from his disciple Zhang Shanfeng's room. He sat on it, then immediately went to another room to find a jug of wine.
Some matters of personal cultivation were hard to explain to the younger generation.
In crowded marketplaces, he felt deathly silence; in the quiet seclusion of valleys, it felt like noise.
Since his Dao name was Fire Dragon True Person, and he was a Heavenly Master of the previous generation from Dragon Tiger Mountain, it was only natural that he mastered fire techniques and thunder techniques.
In fact, the Old True Person was peerless in three techniques: fire, thunder, and water.
The great sun hung in the sky, shining on the mortal world. But in the Old True Person's eyes, it was a downpour of "fire rain."
The Dao above, the Dao below.
My Dao is complete.
The Bai Ai Continent had only recently gained two fourteenth-realm cultivators, and they dared to compete with Old Man for the word "North"?
If you have the guts, let's duel.
A letter was sent down the mountain to the upper sect, signed Lu Baixiang.
The old cook pinched his nose and opened the letter.
The Divine Lord of the Middle March Purple Lightning Mountain, Jin Qing, though his relationships with Wei Yeyou and Mountain Lord Chen were average, he had a very good relationship with Lu Baixiang, whose register was at Fallen Mountain.
Lu Baixiang's two personal disciples, the siblings Yuan Bao and Yuan Lai, already had their own sects over there.
But Zhu Lian didn't expect Lu Baixiang to be so thick-skinned. He wrote that he had taken in a new batch of disciples and invited the Mountain Lord to come, to casually teach a few good punches.
Zhu Lian wrote back directly: First ask Divine Lord Jin whether the Mountain Lord should bring gifts when he arrives in Purple Lightning Mountain territory and whether he will attend the Middle March Night Tour Banquet, which is famous for producing disciples who excel over the master...
In Fallen Mountain, on the Assembly Spirit Peak Road.
That guard dog named Han Lu, the Left Protector of Riding Dragon Alley, had never taken a form. It just wandered the town streets and the mountain every day.
Today, it accompanied the Right Protector on the patrol. The black-clad little girl with a slanted cloth bag performed a lively "Demonic Sword Technique."
She had heard from Pei Qian that there was a very invincible sect in the jianghu called the "Heaven Bridge Sect."
Its greatest skill was that as soon as you threw a punch and set out an empty bowl, coins would rain down with a clatter.
The new sect leader? That would be this Protector!
Pei Qian had taught Mi Li both the Demonic Sword Technique and the Peerless Fist Art, praising her as a genius with minor achievements in both fist technique and swordsmanship.
Bouncing along, walking fast, lifting her knees high, striking her boots with her fists, spinning like a top, sinking her breath to her elixir field, humming and hawing.
Loudly reciting the verses from her secret manual: "Fingers like a needle, fist sweeps a wide swath, punch out like an arrow, withdraw fist like a flying sword... Coins come into my bowl!"
The Left Protector silently left.
On Jise Peak's mountain path. A black-clad little girl and a white-haired child, about the same height.
The white-haired child shouted at the top of his lungs, his face flushed, arms raised, "Ancestral Hidden Guardian, take a puff of dry tobacco, boundless dharma power! Ancestral Hidden Guardian, have a sip of wine, sword art reaches the heavens!"
Mi Li gave a thumbs-up.
Oho oho, that rhymes quite well.
While the Hidden Guardian isn't around, the chronicle official hurriedly shows loyalty.
What? Why not show loyalty when the Hidden Guardian is present? Good question! That's not loyalty; that's bootlicking! Not the deed of a stalwart hero like us.
Right, Right Protector?
Late spring, grass grows, orioles fly, mountain flowers are in full bloom. They come to a quiet place, with osman