Chapter 1139: Stories Are a Double-Edged Sword

Chapter 1139: Stories Are a Double-Edged Sword

Chen Ping'an brought the First Patriarch of the Military School into his Heart-Phase Heaven and Earth, while at the same time giving Yu Shiwu a brief explanation of the situation. Yu Shiwu agreed readily, immediately consenting, having made up his mind to resign himself to fate.

The man laughed. "Sword Immortal Chen is showing quite a bit of sincerity, aren't you? Aren't you afraid that you've invited a thief into your home, and that I'll strip this place of all its fortune? There are still two places where you've set up illusion techniques, hiding them from the light, aren't there?"

Chen Ping'an remained silent. The man looked around at the various fantasy realms, each like an ornate birdcage, and said dismissively, "Qi Practitioners these days have so many tricks. They spend their entire lives chasing after the small and abandoning the great, setting the word 'Dao' aside and just spinning around the word 'technique'. No wonder they call themselves Earth Immortals just after forming a golden core."

Chen Ping'an made no comment, simply playing the listener.

The man asked, "Do you know how to grant true Dao life to those paper figures?"

Chen Ping'an shook his head. "I dare not try it lightly."

The man said, "If your heart is too soft, you shouldn't be the one in charge. Since you've taken the top seat, don't expect to be benevolent to everyone, or else you'll easily end up doing the thing where you save one and kill ten thousand. Acquired human hearts each have their own scale—set right and wrong aside—but innate human nature is more or less the same. Either way, it's easy to lead to regret. This is the experienced advice of someone who's been through it. Remember to think it over carefully, don't let it pass you by lightly."

Chen Ping'an nodded. "I'll keep it in mind."

"I'm quite introverted, usually very quiet," the man said, raising his arm and rotating it a few times, the joints and bones faintly vibrating. Killing a Fourteenth Realm Dao official of Green Obscurity wasn't a small matter—it wasn't possible without paying some price. He chuckled, "I just heard that you're extremely fond of nagging and lecturing about principles, like an old woman's foot bindings. Since the guest follows the host's pleasure, I'm catering to your taste."

Chen Ping'an said, "Sure, whatever you say."

The man suddenly asked, "Is it because you know my identity and cultivation level that you're being so careful and patient?"

Chen Ping'an said, "Human nature. Out of a hundred people, I'm just one of the ninety-nine."

The man nodded. "Only the remaining one would have heroic spirit and not stand on ceremony. I've seen many such Daoists from various races in the past."

Chen Ping'an added, "I have patience listening to anyone."

The man reached out and pressed on the white jade railing of the bridge. "Dao friend Bixiao asked me to pass some words to you."

Chen Ping'an said curiously, "Please, go ahead."

The man said, "When your words carry little weight, it's foolish to lecture about principles, but at least you have courage. Once you're in a high position, if you keep nagging, it'll easily become annoying, with suspicion that you're getting a bargain and then acting smug. Dao friend Bixiao wants you to think more about it, and not let principles lead you around by the nose."

Chen Ping'an said, "I appreciate the sentiment."

The man laughed. "Just appreciate the sentiment, but not the understanding? Sword Immortal Chen's implication is that you accept the goodwill but don't agree with the reasoning? No matter, I'm just passing the message. I won't go back to Bixiao and gossip, spoiling your impression."

Chen Ping'an answered evasively, "I'm finally starting to understand a little why, back in the day, when Senior raised his arm in call, the whole world would gather to answer."

The man laughed heartily. "Flattery will get you everywhere. You've got a unique skill in chatting with people, kid. 'A good man doesn't brag about his past glory'—if you say something like 'a glorious defeat' as a consolation, to me that's still an insult. Earlier, when I was catching up with Dao friend Bixiao, that stinky Daoist said I'm not the best at Dao cultivation or martial arts. What I'm truly strongest at is the art of 'drawing pancakes'—the best in the world. He had already said enough to make a pleasant visit from start to finish, with a harmonious atmosphere and both host and guest happy. But that stinky Daoist just had to add a superfluous line at the end."

"Pity those starving people who ate the drawn pancakes."

Yu Shiwu arrived at this place. On the bridge, he saw that burly man laughing heartily, and couldn't help but feel uneasy in his heart. He was currently only at the Nascent Soul realm, and facing this legendary "one master of the three teachings’ family"—that "master of the family"—his Dao heart was churning violently. Even though Yu Shiwu tried his utmost to stabilize his Dao heart, it was futile. Just standing face-to-face with this man was already causing Yu Shiwu's soul to seem on the verge of leaving his body.

The man was quite surprised. "Back then, I accepted defeat in a gamble and was forced to undergo dissolution of the body. I let myself be jointly executed—my old friend got my head, and the rest was divided among four nameless nobodies who shared my corpse. A total of five portions of martial destiny, creating five later corpse guards. You, kid, alone got three portions. How did you end up so pathetic? Your body and soul are both so soft and weak—do you fall over at the slightest breeze? If it had been that new Fourteenth Realm of Green Obscurity, with two more portions added, then this time when I visited to catch up, I wouldn't have been able to take back the original items so easily."

Chen Ping'an understood in his heart. That still-unknown new Fourteenth Realm, the reason the First Patriarch of the Military School had sought him out and then killed him, was indeed not simply because of verbal offense.

The man shook his head. "Actually, your cultivation bone structure is barely passable, but your Dao heart is too weak. You're the kind of person who, knowing the sky might fall, just lies down early to wait for death. A hundred-jin strong man who can't carry a hundred-jin burden."

Yu Shiwu smiled bitterly. This Military School founder's words seemed to be about the same as what Chen Ping'an had said earlier.

The man said, "In terms of resilience and spirit, you're not even comparable to Chen Ping'an."

Yu Shiwu had nothing to say. Chen Ping'an could only shrug helplessly.

After all, the man's seniority was high, and he'd been locked up for ten thousand years, just released from his sentence. Let him talk a bit more.

According to their previous agreement, the First Patriarch of the Military School would take back the three portions of martial destiny from Yu Shiwu, but had to ensure he didn't harm Yu Shiwu's soul or memory. As for his physical body, he would try to preserve it as much as possible; if it was difficult, he wouldn't force it.

The man smiled. "Kid, your name's Yu Shiwu, right? You're going to have to suffer some physical pain. Can you take it?"

Yu Shiwu's scalp went numb. Sensing something was wrong, he subconsciously turned to look at Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an felt helpless. What are you looking at me for? Can I take this on for you?

The man clicked his tongue. "I think this kid is as weak as a woman. Later, when I retrieve the martial destiny, the commotion in the human body's heaven and earth won't be too big, but it won't be too small either. Don't let it be that you can't handle it and your Dao heart collapses on the spot, making me break our agreement. Sword Immortal Chen, let me say something unpleasant upfront. If Yu Shiwu's soul disperses, who's responsible? I do have a divine ability called 'Bridge Building' that can guide and transfer consciousness. One Immortal Realm, one Nascent Soul—conservatively, Sword Immortal Chen can at least help Yu Shiwu bear two-thirds of the sensation."

Chen Ping'an was dumbfounded. Even the thoughts of a speck of consciousness within his own Heart-Phase Heaven and Earth could be overheard?

Yu Shiwu had already started cupping his fists in thanks, not giving Sword Immortal Chen any chance to refuse. "I'm extremely grateful. Thank you here."

Chen Ping'an stared at Yu Shiwu, only moving his lips slightly, seemingly saying nothing.

Yu Shiwu could read it—it was cursing. All he had to do was pretend not to understand.

The man raised his hand, hooked two fingers, and drew a thumb-thick golden thread from between Yu Shiwu's brows. With a flick of his fingers, he tossed it over to Chen Ping'an, then warned, "Are you both ready?"

Although Yu Shiwu was terrified, he still performed the steps of the Big Dipper, stamped his feet, and formed a Dao hand seal. He held his breath and concentrated, quietly mobilizing spiritual energy throughout his body to protect the key energy mansions.

Chen Ping'an shifted his right foot, opened his stance, assumed a fist posture, and closed his eyes to gather his spirit.

But there was no movement for a long time. Yu Shiwu naturally didn't dare to ask. Chen Ping'an, however, spoke up: "Senior, what are you waiting for?"

The man let out a loud laugh, took a big stride forward, and in an instant arrived in front of Yu Shiwu. He raised his foot and swept horizontally, breaking Yu Shiwu's body in half at the waist.

Then the man's hand struck like a blade, chopping down on Yu Shiwu's neck in a flash. His head flew high into the air.

The man casually waved his hand, and the head dropped off the bridge into the river water below.

He then reached out and pressed down on the shoulders of Yu Shiwu's headless body, and forcefully tore off both arms.

Although Yu Shiwu had been forcibly body-dissolved, strangely enough, his head didn't sink in the water but floated along on the surface, drifting with the waves.

Eh? Not painful at all? Was this fist technique called "Bridge Building"? A Dao technique? Either way, what a great divine ability! Too wonderful for words.

The man sent out his Yang Spirit. Though it appeared to be only a ten-foot golden body, it was incomparably robust and condensed—truly the literal meaning of... "Final Realm"!

This golden-bodied Yang Spirit grabbed Yu Shiwu's torso and two arms, chewed them up on the spot, devoured them raw, swallowing skin, bone, flesh, and blood entirely, wasting not a single bit of meat residue.

The man stood up, let out a burp, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his hand. In an instant, the Yang Spirit returned to its place, and he finally resumed a complete true body.

Behind him, the Dao manifested a blinding circle of golden light. What had been two arcs that didn't quite form a circle was now completed into a full ring, thanks to the three just-filled segments.

All Five Worlds resonated in unison between heaven and earth. Ten thousand years of silence finally welcomed a thunderous echo.

Chen Ping'an's Heart-Phase Heaven and Earth—how could it withstand such a violent impact of vast Dao resonance? Countless invisible barriers cracked and shattered with crisp sounds like breaking porcelain. The boundless azure sky exploded completely, the yellow earth cracked for ten thousand miles like a spiderweb, a thousand rivers changed course in an instant, mountains and rivers sank, seawater flooded in, more than a dozen parasol leaves that hadn't even warmed up yet turned to ash—a tragic sight. Chen Ping'an, standing only a few steps away from the man, had his eardrums shattered, blood seeping from the corners of his eyes. His body swayed, skin split open all over. If Chen Ping'an hadn't temporarily "invited the spirit" of his true body here, right now it wouldn't be Yu Shiwu whose Dao heart had collapsed and soul scattered, but rather the generous host who had "invited the thief" into his home.

The man said with a smile, "If the foundation isn't solid, you need great courage to tear it all down and start over. Only those who can break and then establish are true heroes."

Chen Ping'an clenched his teeth and said shakily, "You have to pay me a huge sum of immortal money!"

The man ignored him, just beckoned with a hand to summon Yu Shiwu's head back onto the bridge. The lower half of the body, which had fallen to the ground, stood up on its own. Between the head and the lower body, countless golden threads spread out, connecting up and down. In an instant, they wove the rough outlines of the five viscera and six bowels. The arms naturally grew back—this was not just some Immortal technique of growing flesh from white bones. Especially a pure golden heart—each beat brought a wave of Dao resonance flowing through the entire body, a skeleton temporarily skinless, exactly what Daoists call "golden branches and jade leaves"...

The man laughed. "You managed the three portions of martial destiny all these years, kid. You have your merits, though no credit. Since you don't have the good fortune to be a martial artist, we'll lower our expectations a bit. I'll give you a chance at Immortal Dao fate."

Seeing Chen Ping'an's miserable state, Yu Shiwu's conscience finally pricked him. The man guessed Yu Shiwu's thoughts and sneered. "What I give—do you think you can just choose not to accept? If you don't believe me, try it. In a few days, after you casually break into the Upper Five Realms, see if you can strip away this opportunity. If you can, that's your skill."

The man glanced sideways at Chen Ping'an. "If you were a pure martial artist, your gains would be double what Yu Shiwu got. Even if you were also a Daoist, I could pass on a few more techniques to you. But since you're a 'scholar', that's a different story. 'Good deeds have good rewards'—who wouldn't want to be that kind of good person? Since you took this on, you have to be prepared to lose a hand or a foot. You consider yourself a scholar, fond of reasoning with heaven and earth—if you don't pay a price, how can that work?"

Chen Ping'an said nothing, just let out a long breath. His eyes gradually turned golden. A tug-of-war within his Dao heart was no longer the hard-won equilibrium it had been, showing signs of "failure when close to completion".

The entire realm took on a pure golden hue—this was Dao transformation.

Seeing this eerie scene, the man was completely unfazed. Ten thousand years ago, what great spectacles hadn't he seen? Besides, in those ancient years, several truly grand events—he had either been a participant or the instigator.

The man flicked his wrist, and a weapon appeared in his hand.

As soon as this object appeared, a Night Travel Ship sank directly to the bottom of the sea, like a ball of cotton weighing down iron.

In Green Obscurity, that Lotus Goddess Temple built underwater—ten thousand years ago, the Dao Ancestor himself had set up a formation, using a great river's watery destiny to suppress martial destiny while imprisoning a divine weapon: a long spear named "Break Formation".

The man lightly stamped his foot on the ground, raised his arm, pointed the spear tip at Chen Ping'an with his golden eyes, and smiled. "Hurry up and manifest a true body close to Dao perfection. I've been waiting for this moment. Killing that new Fourteenth Realm was just a warm-up, an appetizer. What I really want to kill is you. The half number one of Luopo Mountain!"

"The moment I set foot here, the river of time has already reversed course. Now water vortexes have appeared where time has frozen. Let's see who can save you. Who can save you?"

Reversing time—a Dao technique so profound that even the Dao Ancestor, leaving Green Obscurity, could only reverse the river of time for one continent of Haoran, and that continent had to have few Fourteenth Realm cultivators sitting there.

But just taking an Immortal Realm swordsman and walking backward along the river of time for a short while—for the First Patriarch of the Military School, who had just recovered most of his power, it was not difficult.

"When the certain place is filled in, it'll be 'close the door and beat the dog'. Then it's my turn to ascend, walk the Heavenly Court again. Dao Ancestor and the others still owe old debts. I, however, am an exception. Killing Zhou Mi—who else but me?"

As the First Patriarch spoke, within Chen Ping'an's Heart-Phase Heaven and Earth, yet another realm was sealed off, one of blazing fire. "The maker of birdcages ends up as a bird in a cage."

Beyond the heavens, among the Seven Luminaries, the First Patriarch had been imprisoned in the ancient star called "Great Fire"—Mars. The star appeared crimson. In various human kingdoms, the astronomical bureaus had to watch this star, which governed warfare, year after year. Historically, many emperors' and kings' "Edicts of Self-Blame" were at least superficially triggered by unusual celestial phenomena from Mars. Common folk didn't quite understand the severity of such an edict. To put it simply, the "Son of Heaven" was essentially announcing to heaven and earth that he was unworthy of his position, like a... bastard child.

The First Patriarch of the Military School smiled. "The art of war: attack the mind and attack the city. Combine the orthodox with the unorthodox to achieve victory. Using it here, against you, couldn't be more fitting."

One spear thrust pierced through several of Chen Ping'an's dharma robes, stabbed into his heart. The spear's momentum carried deep afterward, the spear tip exiting through his back in an instant.

The man gently twisted his wrist, stirring the shredded heart, and quipped, "Your mind's a mess now, kid. Thinking it over, it seems I shouldn't have struck at you so hastily? Well, since you called me 'Senior' a few times, I'll teach you for free a principle learned by countless ancient Dao seekers with their lives: Some things have no principle to speak of. Lecturing about principles is itself without principle."

Chen Ping'an stood motionless, just looking down at the ancient seal script on the spear shaft. It seemed to be the qi circulation chapter of a complete Dao book?

The man clicked his tongue in wonder. "As expected of a mindless deity, and a high-ranking one at that. Unless the golden body is completely shattered, the divine path broken, and incense severed, leaving you without a source, you remain unharmed. Coupled with two seamlessly integrated natal flying swords—how did you end up raising such a... monster? Give you more Dao power and more killing moves, let you run wild—how terrifying would that be? No wonder Zouzi was determined to keep an eye on you, and the moment he caught a handle, he'd make you fall into eternal damnation."

The man's gaze was complex, his words laden with deep meaning, as if hard to determine praise or blame. "Chen Ping'an, oh Chen Ping'an, you know too well how to cherish yourself."

Yu Shiwu gritted his teeth, wanting to intervene.

But with just a glance from the man, Yu Shiwu turned into a pile of ashes, vanishing silently between heaven and earth.

The next moment, the ashes seemed to reignite, a spark of flame re-gathering into a mass. Yu Shiwu re-formed his body by the riverside, wanting to charge onto the bridge again. His soul scattered again, then re-gathered, and again he made his futile attempt to shake a tree...

Chen Ping'an shook his head at Yu Shiwu, signaling he needn't waste his effort—just keep himself safe for now.

Among the few demon-race Qi Practitioners detained here, only Xiao Xing tried to approach the bridge. The man flicked his finger from afar, and with a loud bang, her flesh and blood instantly shattered.

Additionally, the female sword immortal Doukou and the female immortal Xianzao were watching from a distance near the divine path steps. Given their circumstances and their relationship with the Hidden Censor, not adding fuel to the fire was already prudent.

The woman using the alias Yu Qing tried to secretly contact that "young Daoist" wearing a lotus crown, but failed. So she didn't want to put herself in danger; she stayed by the water, gazing at the long bridge from afar.

Because the First Patriarch had drawn a boundary and set up a formation isolating the heaven and earth, a voice couldn't break through the door, echoing outside as if circling around.

It was Liu Xianyang's furious roar, calling the Military School founder by his true name, "Jiang She, do you think I'm dead?! Stop now!"

Chen Ping'an wanted to send a message to Liu Xianyang by heart voice, but the heart-voice words were forced to manifest as a string of text, which seemed to hit a wall and shatter, scattering as golden light.

The man, composed as ever, laughed. "Kid Liu, as a sword immortal, using a woman to threaten others—isn't that a bit low?"

Liu Xianyang immediately put on his unruly attitude. "You bastard! Is this how a guest behaves? Have some shame! Your Grandpa Liu didn't read many books, and he's got a bad temper. You dare kill Chen Ping'an, and I dare kill your Dao partner."

The man wasn't particularly nervous. His Dao partner wasn't weak in cultivation—perhaps lacking in killing power, but her survival skills were top-notch. He was just a bit puzzled. Strange—Bai Jing and the others shouldn't have known what was happening here.

Even Ascension Realm cultivators were kept in the dark. How had Liu Xianyang, only at the Earth Immortal realm, seen through the truth?

Xiao Mo was Chen Ping'an's death-sworn. Bai Jing was supposed to follow her husband—whatever that meant? The two sword immortals had jointly set up a formation to keep Jiang She from knowing the real situation there.

"He made a good friend, after all."

Jiang She's expression was unreadable. "You should go study for a few days. Let him focus on practicing the sword."

The man rubbed his chin. Liu Xianyang was young and reckless—that was somewhat understandable. But if Bai Jing and Xiao Mo were in league with him... this wasn't over.

At Lingxi City's Rainbow Bridge corridor, Bai Jing was the most awkward—caught in the middle, pleasing nobody. She pulled her sable hat down over her ears, pretending to know nothing—a rare occurrence for her.

Just now, Liu Xianyang had inexplicably flown into a rage, drawn his sword on the spot, laid it on the woman's shoulder, and spat out a threat: "Jiang She has murderous intent. I can't break the formation for now, so I'll have to borrow your head as a door-knocker."

Xiao Mo remained impassive, silently gathering qi, preparing to draw and deliver one sword stroke.

I don't care who you are.

That was his style ten thousand years ago, and there was even less reason to break the habit now.

Xie Gou had her back to them, muttering to herself.

The woman showed no trace of fear; instead, she smiled broadly. She raised two fingers and moved the sword on her shoulder closer to her neck. "When fighting at the mountain peak, exchanging techniques, a hair's breadth can lead to a thousand miles of error. Later, when Sword Immortal Liu swings his sword and cuts off my head, and takes it to see that man, don't lose the flower hairpin in my topknot. It's the token of love between him and me."

Liu Xianyang squinted and smiled. "Respect for the dead? That's negotiable."

Both sword intent and killing heart were no act.

The woman asked curiously, "The name Jiang She is a taboo across several worlds. Logically, you shouldn't have known it."

Liu Xianyang laughed. "Mountain Daoists—who doesn't have a few hidden tricks? Like your Cicada Slough technique. It was quite troublesome for me to pursue."

The woman feigned surprise. "You even know such secrets? Is your teacher the First Sage or Little Sage?"

Liu Xianyang said, "This world—it's not like your time ten thousand years ago. Knowledge is everywhere. Knowing a little more isn't strange. As for sword techniques, it's all about figuring things out."

Xie Gou muttered gloomily, "Wuyan, don't take this lightly. Liu Xianyang's swordsmanship is very strange. The Dao doesn't belong to the techniques."

Xie Gou said, "Brother Liu, we're all friends. But there's also the order of first come, first served."

Liu Xianyang smiled. "I understand. As long as Bai Jing doesn't take sides today, Xie Gou and I will still be friends from now on."

Only then did the woman, Wuyan, rein in her carefree mood and sigh. "I do miss those days."

Ten thousand years ago, wandering Daoists on the human earth, each bearing Dao qi like scattered sparks of light—most of them were just this carefree in their grudges and enmities.

Meeting on the road, if words didn't match, if Daos didn't align, they'd either part ways or fight to the death—all very straightforward. If they hit it off, a few words could entrust their lives.

Jiang She withdrew the long spear, twirled it, casually dispersing the remaining divine path aura. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Jiang She, Dao title Primordial Spirit. My wife is Wuyan, Dao title Land Immortal. She has a good relationship with Bai Jing, which began with their Dao titles—they became friends after a fight."

The hole in Chen Ping'an's chest mended itself. His golden eyes stared fixedly at this First Patriarch, whose aura had completely changed. He smiled. "Then let me also introduce myself to Senior. Surname Chen, given name Ping'an. Ancestral home in Dali Longquan. My Dao field is Luopo Mountain. Aliases: Cao Mo, Dou Yi, Chen Haoren. I've prepared a Dao title 'Undefeatable Hand' to use when I roam other Jianghu later."

Jiang She smiled. Was this the divine nature at work, or was this kid naturally this lively? Jiang She glanced sideways at a spot. "Two secret realms—even the resting place of this Dao external body is fully exposed. Your trump card has been forced out, yet you still have the leisure to protect that Dao field? Huh? A proper Daoist? Judging by the flow of Dao qi, a disciple or grand-disciple of Yu Xuan's lineage?"

"Trusted by another, loyal to their cause."

Chen Ping'an held his left hand behind his back, right hand clenched into a fist, fingers rubbing gently in his palm. "Besides, my instinct tells me it hasn't reached the point where I need to risk my life."

"When a lion fights a rabbit, it uses all its strength. No need to cut meat with a blunt knife, gradually weakening the enemy. If Senior really wanted to kill me, he would strike in one blow, succeed quickly, and leave."

"Senior, this realm has been torn apart by your 'Dao integration'. You've seen enough of my Dao heart. Now, can we open the window and speak plainly?"

Having finally recovered all his martial destiny, the man was spirited. He muttered to himself, "Xiu Hu Cui Chan, you saved me a lot of trouble. Much obliged!"

Inside the main hall's temple of Haoran's Military School ancestral court, that surnamed Jiang, occupying the main seat of the Martial Temple and consuming incense and faith for nearly ten thousand years, was actually not so easy to deal with.

He couldn't just fight his way up the mountain and tear down that Martial Temple.

Bai Jing had intentionally or unintentionally not explained to that young sword immortal named Liu Xianyang why, ten thousand years ago, the Fourteenth Realm Daoists of the human world were so profoundly powerful. The mystery was only in the four words "incense Dao fruit."

Nowadays, with human hearts impure, the incense offered in various temples was almost solely for oneself. How could there be any purity? How could ten thousand threads of curling incense gather into one thread and form supreme Dao fruits?

This First Patriarch of the Military School, Jiang She, now had a somewhat delicate relationship with the Martial Temple and the ancestral court.

In a sense, Jiang She had been sidelined. The world's martial destiny was given in name but not in reality.

This was a dam to prevent a flood. To ensure that when the ten-thousand-year prison term was up and Jiang She emerged, he wouldn't immediately have complete control over... half the human world.

Jiang She wasn't petty enough to complain about that. He just grumbled inwardly. If he had been in the place of the Three Teachings patriarchs, facing the same situation back then, he would have eliminated the root of trouble entirely. What "merits don't cancel demerits"? Locking him up for ten thousand years? Just kill him completely, remove the threat forever.

As for the two portions in Green Obscurity, the Jade Capital—to be precise, Second Seat Yu Dou—had not obstructed the matter.

Knowing he had come to their territory, Yu Dou never even appeared from start to finish. He just went about his business with those historical famous generals and "Dao officials."

Yu Dou had instead notified the Lotus Goddess Temple in advance, effectively issuing a Jade Capital decree, unambiguous in meaning: the items should rightfully return to their owner. If they refused to hand them over, they should bear the consequences.

If Yu Dou had appeared three thousand years earlier, the ten heroes of ancient times and the four candidates might have gained at least one more candidate.

Back then, the so-called candidates—such as Little Sage and the Master Sanshan Jiuhou—it wasn't that their Dao power was insufficient. Rather, some things were first come, first served, first claim, first possession. This thing was called "human merit."

And those ten who ranked among the heroes—there was no rank among them. Back then, no one really cared about that. Those who attained the Dao—die if they must, why fret about this?

Thinking of this, Jiang She gloated, "Why did you have to provoke Yu Dou? What were you thinking? Relying on your status, acting on impulse, like an egg against a stone—was it fun?"

Chen Ping'an said calmly, "Those outside the game don't discuss the board. A true gentleman watches the game without speaking."

Jiang She smiled. "This inquiry of the sword is very much anticipated. I'll wait and see."

Chen Ping'an asked, "You're not going to take care of this?"

Jiang She retorted, "Is it not the most natural thing for a host to entertain his guests? Does the guest need to help clear the table and clean up the leftovers?"

Chen Ping'an said expressionlessly, "That sounds very reasonable."

Jiang She said, "Enough idle talk. Let's go somewhere else to continue. Besides this transaction, there's another important matter to discuss."

It seems this First Patriarch was determined to dismiss the host, who had expended so much material effort and painstaking work, with the light word "break and re-establish."

Jiang She waved his sleeve, and Xiao Xing returned to her original form, still shaken. Chen Ping'an nodded to her. Xiao Xing grinned—could he sleep with Yu Qing?

Ignoring her, Chen Ping'an withdrew a mustard-seed of consciousness and one true body, retreated from his Heart-Phase Heaven and Earth, and returned to the clean room in Lingxi City on the Night Travel Ship.

Jiang She and Chen Ping'an, almost simultaneously, told their respective Dao partners and close friends that it was fine.

The woman, Wuyan, smiled, tapping the sword tip with her fingers. "Sword Immortal Liu?"

He withdrew his long sword, cupped his fists, and said with a roguish grin, "Senior, many apologies for the offense."

The woman asked, "Can your swordsmanship really break the Cicada Slough technique?"

Liu Xianyang laughed heartily. "Blowing a cowhide without a draft—don't take it seriously if you can help it."

Xie Gou said, "Trace back to the source, go upstream, wait by the tree stump, hide in advance, one sword strike, catch you off guard, can't defend, and then—mercy killing."

Liu Xianyang acted startled. "Gouzi, you showing off your idioms here?"

The woman pondered for a moment, puzzled. "Gouzi?"

Since there was no actual fight, Xie Gou was relieved. Hands on hips, she said smugly, "That's the nickname given by our Alliance Leader Guo. Back then, Little Mili and Daoist Jingqing and the others were all shocked beyond words, as if struck by lightning. So you can imagine how both affectionate and imposing it is!"

Xiao Mo smiled. "Should we all go sit with the young master?"

Xie Gou started looking for excuses and reasons.

Fortunately, Liu Xianyang said lazily, "I'm not going to join the fun. I've used 'Senior' too many times today. It's too draining. I need to catch up on sleep—a bit of a nap."

Xie Gou nodded vigorously. "Together, together!"

Liu Xianyang winked. Xie Gou suddenly realized and quickly added, "Xiao Mo, don't misunderstand! Brother Liu and I are innocent..."

Xiao Mo said helplessly, "What on earth are you going on about?"

Wuyan smiled knowingly. It seemed Bai Jing was about to succeed.

One of the twelve cities on the Night Travel Ship, Lingxi City, had a very fitting name.

Jiang She sat down again and inexplicably asked, "Dao techniques can be borrowed. Can the heart be borrowed?"

Chen Ping'an was in a bad mood and said irritably, "Sorry, Senior. After I recover from my injuries, I'll spar with you in mysteries."

Jiang She, lounging lazily, patted the armrest lightly and said, "I heard that Chen Qingliu has murderous intent toward you? First, Zhou Mi almost smashed your mountain, then not long ago a Fourteenth Realm candidate from the Netherworld Ghost Nation was determined to kill you, and another sneaky Fourteenth Realm has ambushed you several times. Feifei obtained guidance from Baize and just broke into the Fourteenth Realm. Count it yourself—you're only at the Earth Immortal level, and yet how many powerful enemies who want you dead have you stirred up?"

Dao friend Bixiao certainly had sharp ears and eyes.

Chen Ping'an said, "Confronting the Dragon-Slayer at the Water Mansion—this kind of mountain Dao dispute is like an arrow on a bowstring; it must be shot."

A Dao dispute left no retreat; there was no way to yield. Whoever lost or won, lived or died—no one could blame anyone else.

Jiang She shook his head. "Then you've underestimated this Dragon-Slayer's magnanimity. As Bixiao predicted, the most intelligent and the extremely intelligent—they think about things and solve problems in similar styles. Often, they cannot become true friends."

"At the root, he feels that he has a bit of affinity with your Luopo Mountain, some incense-fire connection, and he thinks your youthful opportunities resemble his own. So he wants you, this hard-luck young man, in this chaotic era that no one can stop, to step back, stay out of it, watch the fire from across the river for a few hundred years. With your current foundation in both Dao cultivation and martial arts, and the resources you've accumulated, even if you were reduced to a ghost after dissolution, in three to five hundred years, whether it's fame or tangible benefits, what should be yours will still be yours. It's far easier than taking risks, living in uncertainty, damaging your Dao heart, advancing three steps and retreating two, or advancing two and retreating three."

Chen Ping'an frowned in thought.

Jiang She laughed. "The outside world thinks you've been pushed into a certain position by various circumstances. For example, Qi Jingchun had hopes for Wang Zhu, and as his junior, you have to protect her, so you have to stand in front of Chen Qingliu. There are many such things—you know them better than I do. But my view is different from most. I think that you, on the contrary, are very free."

Chen Ping'an, with drooping eyelids and hands tucked in his sleeves, was badly injured and naturally lacking in energy. Hearing the last sentence, he raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Words from a kindred spirit."

Jiang She said, "Now do you understand why I said that sentence?"

Chen Ping'an nodded. "That sentence is as good as a bowl for holding wine."

The bowl is there. As for the wine, that's probably our respective lives and stories.

A person who truly knows how to love themselves will never be a selfish person.

A drunkard who craves wine and a person who appreciates good wine—they are seemingly the same but different.

Only Xiao Mo went to that room, called out "Young master," didn't even glance at Jiang She, and picked a chair to sit by the door.

Jiang She laughed. "Dao friend, you've slept your fill. After waking up, did you have another fight with Little Sage? Don't be a coward!"

Xiao Mo ignored him, just sat upright and closed his eyes to rest. Jiang She had been a friend to many back then, often drinking and discussing Dao with Grotto Master Bixiao. On one visit to Luobao Beach, besides drinking, they also needed to talk business. It is said that this fellow, now dressed in a yellow hat and green shoes, had just left Luobao Beach's Dao field and said to Grotto Master Bixiao, "That Little Sage—no matter how good he is at fighting, at best he's still just a man. Who's afraid of him?!"

Wuyan also sauntered over. Liu Xianyang, still uneasy, appeared out of thin air.

So only Xie Gou actually went to find a clay pot stall in Lingxi City, thinking about whether to pack a portion for Xiao Mo.

Chen Ping'an asked, "What matter do you want to discuss?"

Jiang She gave his Dao partner a meaningful look.

Wuyan stared at him angrily. "Are you a man or not?!"

Jiang She looked embarrassed. "How should I put this?"

He should have talked about this first, then retrieved the martial destiny.

Xiao Mo said, "You two—if you haven't figured out how to say it, then don't say it. Come back when you've thought it through, and don't disturb the young master."

Jiang She felt unusually choked.

Liu Xianyang said helplessly, "Alright, alright—staring at each other like this isn't going to solve anything. Let me start. Jiang She and Wuyan once had a dearly beloved daughter whom they doted on excessively. She was an excellent Dao cultivation seedling, a very young Earth Immortal with outstanding aptitude, auspiciously promising Dao prospects. Although she had lofty ambitions, she had a gentle personality in dealing with people—probably a hundred times better than Jiang She. During the battle to ascend to heaven, Jiang She and the others entrusted their daughter to their good friend Bai Jing to look after."

Wuyan grew more curious. This young Sword Immortal seemed very familiar with those forgotten bits of ancient history?

Chen Ping'an asked, "Did something go wrong in that battle?"

Bai Jing was the first Qi Practitioner to ascend to heaven on a certain path. Had she gotten carried away in the killing and completely forgotten to take care of that woman?

Xiao Mo recalled something and shook his head. "The problem wasn't in that most perilous ascension battle, but in the subsequent infighting. I'm not clear on the specific details and process. I only know that she perished—Dao extinguished, gone missing. Bai Jing was badly injured in the process and suffered significant damage to her Dao foundation."

Jiang She said, "If only some of those old demon races had died earlier, the matter of chewing up true bodies to supplement Dao power wouldn't have fallen to Zhou Mi. Fortunately, an old undying named 'Chusheng'—'Initial Ascension'—is still alive. That Dao title shouldn't have been inherited by him through opportunism. It should have changed hands long ago. I hear he's now doing very well in the Wastelands—very good! Very good!"

Wuyan said sorrowfully, softly, "Her soul and spirit were already shattered. Fortunately, a monk intervened and helped gather them together."

Chen Ping'an asked expressionlessly, "Her reincarnation is Pei Qian, right?"

Jiang She, the Military School founder, had once led a large group of sword immortals and demon-race cultivators in a massive battle against the Three Teachings patriarchs—another earth-shattering event.

Their first encounter was at the Observing Dao Temple on the East Sea, inside the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, in the capital of Nanyuan Kingdom. The local "Heavenly Lord" was Grotto Master Bixiao, of demon origin. Moreover, Old Grotto Master had a decent relationship with Xiao Mo and Jiang She. Pei Qian at a young age could see through people's hearts, and once even saw through the formation divine ability of the Taiping Mountain's founder. (Note, Chapter 358 "Crossing the Mountain via Bridge")

In fact, Old Grotto Master had intentionally reversed the reality of that sun hanging high in the blessed land, with his own arrangement. Just refer to Fox Town on the border of Daquan Dynasty in Tongye Continent. Once, Ninth Lady teased verbally and exposed Little Charcoal's trick in front of Chen Ping'an. The woman was full of admiration for young Pei Qian, saying the little girl could really spin a tale, claiming to be a princess who had fallen among the people from the capital, even fooling several very experienced constables into escorting Pei Qian back to the inn swaggeringly...

The Water Goddess of Mai River also noticed Pei Qian's unusualness. At the Sword Qi Great Wall, the female Sword Immortal Zhou Cheng felt joy upon seeing Little Charcoal, took a liking to her, and gave her opportunities. Additionally, on the city wall, Pei Qian felt that looking at the old Sword Immortal any longer would make her eyes hurt. (Note, Chapter 609 "Afraid It's All a Dream")

Jiang She's expression was strange, as if he wanted to say something but held back.

Wuyan said, "According to Grotto Master Bixiao's explanation, our daughter's soul was handed over to Haoran's Literary Temple by the monk for safekeeping. It was a painstaking effort to prevent Jiang She and me from reappearing, stirring up trouble, and starting another war. Grotto Master Bixiao said something probably meant as consolation: 'Yesterday's various matters are like yesterday's death; today's various matters are like today's life.' He also said that the Literary Temple handled this matter very honorably. Old Scholar was taking a huge risk. If Chen Ping'an hadn't become the Chen Ping'an of today, and Pei Qian hadn't become the Pei Qian of today, we might have missed out."

At this, the woman asked tentatively, "Mr. Chen, should we call her over?"

Chen Ping'an's gaze was dark.

Liu Xianyang was not unfamiliar with this expression. It was precisely because it was rare that he remembered it so well. If the conversation continued like this, it might really turn into mutual enmity.

Wuyan also realized her misstep and apologized sheepishly, "Mainly we're both afraid to see her. We owe her too much. To this day, we don't even know what sentence to use as an opening line that wouldn't be wrong. Jiang She is rough and always clumsy with words. We discussed it all the way here, but in the end, we didn't come up with anything useful. We simply had no choice, and thought that with you as her master present, when Pei Qian comes, you could help ease the situation. At least we wouldn't say a few wrong words and ruin the relationship, with her never wanting to see us again."

Chen Ping'an nodded at the words, but his expression was dejected, his heart feeling empty.

These two were not the kind of parents who abandoned their daughter; it was just that circumstances had forced that change. Now they had come to claim kinship—by any logic, there was no problem.

He inexplicably recalled an old incident that Little Charcoal had once narrated offhandedly: a story from years ago about famine, escape, nights, and steamed buns. Pei Qian had told it very casually.

Chen Ping'an's heart felt blocked.

He knew perfectly well that their coming now was something beyond their control, something they had no choice about. Yet he still couldn't help blaming them for coming so late.

Knowing he was completely unreasonable, Chen Ping'an grew even more dejected. He didn't know what to say, as if he didn't even have the strength to speak another word.

Liu Xianyang suddenly said, "That's not right!"

Chen Ping'an looked up blankly.

Liu Xianyang smiled coldly. "Chen Ping'an's mind is a mess right now, but I advise you two: don't play clever games. If you don't make things clear today, if you don't give the complete truth, you will definitely regret it!"

Jiang She took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and said solemnly, "Back then, our daughter was at the bottleneck of Earth Immortal. To break through the realm and pass the heart barrier, she needed to sever a thread of pure evil thoughts to truly achieve and ascend. I was jointly dismembered, my Dao partner killed, my close friend Bai Jing was already severely damaged in her Dao foundation at the time. She tried her utmost but still couldn't save her. Our daughter encountered that calamity. If not for that monk's great divine power to retain her, there would have been no possibility of reincarnation. However, that came at a cost: an ancient Daoist's human nature, good and evil, each holding an end, was torn apart. In the end, it became two parts of human nature, both pure—one a large portion, the other a very small portion."

Chen Ping'an raised his head, muttering, "What large and small, what more and less—aren't they both in one person?"

Chen Ping'an said to himself, "I understand now. When I first met Pei Qian, the one she wanted to kill was actually her own good. So your daughter is both the skinny little charcoal-like orphan Pei Qian and the well-fed little girl. If they were combined, they would be the daughter you once had."

Jiang She nodded. "Now it's like we have two daughters. The one whose temper is more like the old days—we've already met her in Grotto Master Bixiao's Lotus Flower Blessed Land."

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Wuyan plucked up courage to say, "We love both daughters very much. Jiang She now prefers Pei Qian a bit more, but he just won't admit it."

Chen Ping'an reached out and gripped the chair armrest tightly. Softly, he said, "Pei Qian is a beggar, not an abandoned child. She is not some scum on the path of Dao cultivation that can be thrown away at will. She is not an orphan. She met me. She has a master. She has a home."

Jiang She wanted to say something, but the woman beside him panicked and quickly stopped him, grabbing his arm.

Chen Ping'an also looked up at him.

Jiang She held back his temper and kept silent.

Chen Ping'an was silent for a moment, then said, "Let me think about how to tell Pei Qian about this. I'll try to give you an answer before we dock and disembark."

Jiang She nodded, cupping his fists. "Sincerely grateful."

Wuyan made a Daoist bow. "Extremely grateful."

They left the room together. Liu Xianyang and Xiao Mo also left. Finding the sable-hat girl at a street stall, Liu Xianyang slapped Xie Gou on the back of the head, laughing and scolding, "Eat, eat, eat—that's all you know. Boss, two more servings, extra spicy!"

Chen Ping'an sat alone in the room. Light streamed through the window. His hands tucked in his sleeves, he stared blankly at those rays of light and specks of dust.

If Pei Qian was indeed their daughter, that would certainly be a very good thing.

No matter how awkward Chen Ping'an felt about it, it was something to be happy about.

But the thought of Pei Qian's "Dao origin"... Chen Ping'an just...

He leaned back against the chair, lightly pounded his chest—it felt stuffy.

He had once promised Pei Qian that the good and the bad, whether praise or scolding, reminders or advice, as her master, he would never lie to her.

So how should he tell her? Make it seem light and easy, tell her not to worry? Or, exceptionally, gloss over the heavy parts and skip the deep parts?

A person with a good memory—that is a double-edged sword. Chen Ping'an and Pei Qian, master and disciple, both happened to be people with very good memories.

Some of Pei Qian's words from her childhood still lingered vividly in Chen Ping'an's memory, word for word.

Thinking back to those days, on a journey far from home, Little Charcoal said "Wow!" and then giggled, "Dad, a good person like you—if I ever go out alone in the future, where would I find another?"

The wandering swordsman, who had inexplicably become "Dad," laughed and said nothing, just let her call him whatever.

Sorrow comes knocking at the door regardless of the owner's age. Even a little girl has her little sorrows.

"Not long ago, on the ferry, I was stuck staring, couldn't go play at the dock. So I secretly had a thought: when I grow up and master peerless sword techniques, I'll come to Dad and say, 'Dad, give me a horse, and I'll go roam the jianghu!' But then I thought again—horses are probably expensive, Dad might not be willing to give me one. So a donkey would do, even a mule! The jianghu out there is waiting for me! Howling for me!"

The little girl put on an air of world-weary wisdom, sighing, "Now I don't want to go to the jianghu anymore. It's boring. All bad people, or at least not very good people."

He didn't brush off the child's naive words. "But didn't you meet me in the jianghu? Right?"

At that time, the big and small ones dangled their legs together, carefree. Today was fine. Whatever tomorrow was, let it be.

He remembered that Pei Qian said something very childlike: "But I don't want to meet anyone else anymore."

At this moment, Chen Ping'an instinctively wanted to drink, but thought better of it. He reached for his tobacco pipe but stopped again.

Remembering he still had some sunflower seeds, he pulled a handful from his sleeve, bent over, leaned forward, cupped them in one hand, and started cracking them one by one.

In Lingxi City, a shabby old scholar stood on tiptoe, looking around. With keen eyes, he immediately spotted a place and strode toward the street stall, calling out, "What a coincidence! Let's share a table!" Familiar with the routine, he plopped down on the long bench, raised his arm and waved, smiling at the stall owner, "Give me a mild clay pot. If it's too spicy, I won't pay, you know."

Chen Ping'an vaguely heard someone by the door of the outside world ask, "Dad, cracking seeds?"