Chapter 1156: Heaven Works in Our Favor

Chapter 1156: Heaven Works in Our Favor

The young Daoist squatted beside the long bench, looking at the courtyard well, rubbing his cheeks.

For no apparent reason, Xianwei suddenly had the feeling that heaven was working in their favor, that such a human world existed.

In the backyard of the Yang Family Medicine Shop, the woodshed was piled high with old, worn-out junk that had gone untended for too long, making it look chaotic and disorderly.

Old Man Yang had designated all the items in this room as belonging to Li Huai, but Li Huai hadn't taken them. He didn't want the house to become emptier and emptier after the old man passed away. Li Huai had wanted Chen Ping'an to help move them away, whether to look after them on his behalf or take whatever he fancied, but Chen Ping'an wouldn't dare.

Sunlight streamed through the window, and there was no trace of mustiness in the room. Zheng Dafeng stood in a daze for a moment, lost in thought.

Zheng Dafeng stamped his foot, tucked a thin booklet from the shelf into his bosom, and went out to borrow three flatbed carts. He would let Xianwei order his apprentice around—free labor, why not use it?

Xianwei took a yellow imperial talisman paper folded into the shape of a flying bird from his sleeve, murmured an incantation, chanted the oral formula silently, and blew a breath of air. Spiritual light flickered, and after softly muttering a few words, he released the talisman bird. It flapped its wings and leaped out from the courtyard, sending Lin Feijing to rendezvous here.

Zheng Dafeng exclaimed in admiration, "Folding paper into a crane, fluttering off into the distance, spouting true words to report news. Brother Xianwei, you still have the nerve to say you're not a living immortal?"

Xianwei blushed slightly. Lin Feijing soon arrived at the Yang Family Shop. In the front courtyard, Shi Lingshan didn't stop Zheng Dafeng from "moving house"; instead, he helped move the various large and small old items.

No matter what, Zheng Dafeng was still his senior brother. He was a bit ugly, had a foul mouth, but his heart wasn't bad.

During this time, Zheng Dafeng didn't forget to run to the kitchen and swipe a few tea eggs. It's hard to guard against a thief in the family, and Shi Lingshan couldn't be bothered to argue.

Finally, Zheng Dafeng went too far and asked Shi Lingshan if he could take the worthless old long bench as well. After all, there was still some empty space on Xianwei the Daoist's cart, and if he tied it up with hemp rope, the items would be more stable.

Zheng Dafeng had thought Shi Lingshan would curse him out, but unexpectedly, the other man nodded, glanced at the young Daoist, and said, "You can move it away."

When something is unusual, there must be a trick. Zheng Dafeng felt a bit nervous and looked at Shi Lingshan, who mentally transmitted a straightforward message: "No comment."

Pushing the cart toward the western mountains, Zheng Dafeng's heart pounded like thunder; he couldn't help but be extremely nervous.

Leaving aside the long bench, the little booklet in his bosom seemed more like a catalogue. Old Man Yang had used black, red, and green ink to write down the names of numerous artifacts, recording neither any methods of crafting or unsealing them nor their historical origins—truly stingy with his ink.

Fortunately, he had still divided them into three categories: Dao, Dharma, and Technique, each with three ranks. Among them, there were two Dao artifacts, both bronze vessels: one small tripod in good condition, and one bronze tree that was dilapidated and broken in many places. Additionally, there were twelve Dharma artifacts and fifty-six Technique artifacts.

Though Zheng Dafeng looked cheerful at the moment, he had actually started to regret it as soon as he took the booklet. By the time he left the medicine shop and had only taken a few steps pushing the cart, he was already sick with regret. Of course, he knew his master doted most on that little brat Li Huai, but he had still underestimated the degree of his master's affection skipping a generation.

They passed by the old house of Li Huai's family, located at the westernmost edge of the town, and since Pearl Mountain was the closest of the western mountains to the town, they were practically neighbors.

Li Liu, who held a river of time and was the jianghu sovereign in charge of all water-born spirits. Wang Zhu, the only true dragon in the world.

Heaven never seals off all exits. Perhaps that gentleman San Shan Jiu Hou had never intended to completely wipe out the "heaven-loathèd" flood dragon from the start. He had deliberately left a way out; otherwise, this candidate for one of the Ten Greats of the ancient world wouldn't have just built Fulu Street and Taoye Lane and left the rest of the formations to Wang Min, an unregistered disciple.

But Wang Zhu and Li Liu had almost no interaction. Who to blame? Blame heaven for not working in their favor, or the human world for having too many shortcuts and forks in the road?

Entering the mountains, the winding paths were filled with the rumbling of cart wheels.

The bottles and jars in several large packages clinked against each other, like a group of children in a bad mood, arguing and fighting at the same time.

Lin Feijing said in surprise, "Master, there's such thick fog in the mountains today."

It was as if they were immortals riding clouds. Zheng Dafeng chuckled, "Looking at flowers through a mist, a hazy beauty, it makes the heart light and free. Even our farts smell sweet right now."

But despite his nonsense, Zheng Dafeng knew full well that this was because Liu Xiang had repeatedly issued "Sealing and Correcting Imperial Edicts."

Zheng Dafeng lowered his voice and said, "Brother Xianwei, with so many items, how about we each pick a few that catch our fancy? Even porters get paid, and it'll be between heaven and earth, you and me... Hey, Brother Lin is here too."

Xianwei sighed helplessly, "Brother Zheng Dafeng, I still have a bit of integrity in my dealings with the world."

That said, Zheng Dafeng and Xianwei seemed to read each other's minds and both looked at Lin Feijing.

Lin Feijing had always respected his teacher and the Way, keeping his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart.

Unlike Xianwei, who didn't even have a private register, Lin Feijing was a properly orthodox talent for cultivation.

He genuinely felt that his master's words held deep meaning, and his actions were natural. In contrast, he himself was too contrived.

Zheng Dafeng tentatively asked, "Since everyone gets a share if they see it, it should be your fate. Brother Lin, have you taken a fancy to any items?"

Lin Feijing shook his head. "Mr. Zheng is joking."

Zheng Dafeng still wasn't giving up, wanting to drag Lin Feijing into it as well. "For you to call me Mr. Zheng, I should reciprocate and give you a few things."

Lin Feijing refused to nod, convinced in his heart that this was a test of his Dao heart from his master.

On the top of Jiling Peak, the ancestral mountain of Luopo Mountain, the host and guest stood by the railing, gazing at the land and rivers below.

Wei Bo was the first to take his leave and depart.

Suddenly, a flash of sword light. Zhu Lian reached out and grabbed the transmitting flying sword. After reading the secret letter's contents, he handed it to Zheng Juzhong. "It's from the Nine True Immortal Lodge in the Central Earth Divine Continent. Yun Miao wrote on the envelope 'To be opened by Mountain Lord Chen,' but the content is all about how grateful he is to Mr. Zheng."

Zheng Juzhong waved his hand. "No need to read."

Zhu Lian put away the secret letter, unable to suppress a smile. "This Yun Miao is quite a character."

Simultaneously, a flying sword message arrived at Wei Bo's Piyun Mountain and Luopo Mountain.

It was from the head of the Wei clan in Taoye Lane, Wei Benyuan—or rather, the Daoist Wang Min who had returned to his original form. He had sent a letter to the old residence, roughly stating that he was willing to voluntarily offer the domain of the Immortal Tombs to the court. The Wei clan was one of the great landowners of the former Lizhu Cave Heaven; for example, the Li family of Fulu Street held the deeds to Old Porcelain Mountain, and the Lu clan still occupied vast lands along both banks of the Longxu River and Tiefu River.

Wang Min didn't explain the reasons to the court, but the Great Li Ministry of Revenue and His Majesty the Emperor were both well aware that this was an advance gift from the Wei clan.

A good thing.

The mountain streams were lovely, the clouds and mist fresh. Chatting along the way was quite enjoyable.

Without Xianwei, Zheng Dafeng wouldn't have dared to take matters into his own hands so casually.

Passing Tiandu Peak, they reached Luopo Mountain, where they saw Cen Yuanji taking a rare rest at the foot of the mountain, sitting alone at a table in a daze.

Today, the fog was exceptionally thick, coming from the south. When it reached this point, it seemed to exhaust itself climbing halfway up the mountain and gradually condensed into a cotton-like sea of clouds.

Zheng Dafeng let go of the cart handles, telling the master and disciple from Xianwei's group to first move the items into the residence. He himself went to sit at the table, crossed his legs, rubbed his arms, and teased, "Master Cen, are you really comfortable leaving everything over there entirely to Grandmaster Wen? Aren't you afraid he'll lead the disciples astray?"

Nowadays, Cen Yuanji and Zheng Dafeng were both fist-teaching masters at Yingyu Peak of Jumping Fish Mountain. Ever since Wen Zixi appeared and refused to leave, Zheng Dafeng often simply let Wen Zixi take charge of teaching martial arts, and the group of teenagers recognized his authority. Especially since Chen Ping'an himself had appeared at the Yingyu Peak training ground last time, those once arrogant children had become completely well-behaved. Moreover, Wen Zixi was already quite famous in the mountains of Baoping Continent.

As Zheng Dafeng put it, "You're only learning boxing now, so you have the chance to hear a few pointers from Pei Qian and encounter a grandmaster like Wen Zixi. Once you finish your training and go out to roam the jianghu, let alone reaching the Stopping Realm—just meeting a Mountain Summit Realm martial artist on the road will be as hard as climbing to heaven. If you're lucky, you might encounter one or two Far Traveling Realm martial artists."

Cen Yuanji said, "There's nothing to worry about."

Zheng Dafeng seemed to be making conversation. "I heard that a great Central Earth demon who underwent sword liberation by Bai You's sword, a Flying Ascension perfected cultivator, went by the alias Zhou Hu, with the Dao name 'Meizheng.' His true form is debated—some say he's a scorpion spirit, others a fox. Remarkably, even under the noses of the sages at the Confucian Temple in the Central Earth Divine Continent, he could be considered a local overlord. Deep underground, he has an extremely strange ferry port, rumored to connect with the Yellow Springs. His destined artifact is a pipa. In terms of Dao age, he's even older than Guo Outing of Iron Tree Mountain. You know the saying in the Haoran World: 'Demons, fiends, ghosts, monsters'? The 'fiend' refers to Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City, the 'ghost' refers to Yang Qiangu of the Back Mountains in Fuyang Continent, the 'monster' refers to the Green Mountain Goddess of Bamboo Sea Cave Heaven, and the leading 'demon' is this Fellow Daoist Meizheng."

Cen Yuanji asked suspiciously, "What are you telling me this for?"

She was a pure martial artist—she had nothing at all to do with these mystical matters.

Zheng Dafeng stared straight at Cen Yuanji. "How is it not related?"

Cen Yuanji frowned. "If you have something to say, say it directly. Don't play riddles with me."

Zheng Dafeng said, "The Daoist method of corpse liberation is ultimately inferior, not the true path to longevity. Relying on external forces for corpse liberation is even lower, so the requirements for 'external force' are higher. Zhou Hu is extremely arrogant, looking down on everyone. For the thunder liberation method, of course, he would seek out the Dragon Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master—the obvious and only choice. Unfortunately, there was no karmic relationship between them. Zhou Hu wasn't willing to bow his head, and the Heavenly Master might not be willing to bear that karma."

"Water liberation—he could barely seek out Lady Dan Dan of Lushui Pit, but Lady Dan Dan's Dao power was inferior to Zhou Hu's, making the success of corpse liberation too unlikely. He might end up unable to preserve his immortal corpse shell, degenerate into a ghost immortal with no hope for the Great Way, and remain discontented. If he chose fire liberation, of course, he would have to find the boss of the North Julu Continent. Originally, this method would best suit his own Great Way, with the least loss of Dao power. The problem is, coincidentally, Zhou Hu happened to have an old grudge with the Fire Dragon True Man. Zhou Hu was just seeking a corpse liberation, not courting death. What if the Fire Dragon True Man agreed verbally but thought to himself, 'Coming right to my doorstep, are you?'..."

"Or mountain liberation—how could he find the elusive San Shan Jiu Hou? Zhou Hu also lacked the courage to disturb this highly respected, all-powerful predecessor."

"As for sword liberation, that's even more of a luxury."

Seeking immortals overseas, even if Zhou Hu luckily found that solitary island far out at sea, he was destined never to meet the Proudest Under Heaven.

"But such is the irony of the world: you can wear out iron shoes searching in vain, yet achieve something without any effort at all."

"Zhou Hu got his wish and finally underwent sword liberation."

Cen Yuanji just assumed Zheng Dafeng was showing off some random knowledge he'd heard, and let him ramble on like a street storyteller.

Zheng Dafeng laughed. "It's only because you are in this mountain that you cannot see its true face."

Cen Yuanji noticed that Zheng Dafeng's gaze was becoming improper, so she stood up and headed toward Jumping Fish Mountain.

As she walked, she was completely unaware that a golden light had appeared at her brow, spreading across her entire face in an instant. The next moment, Cen Yuanji radiated vitality, trailing thousands of golden threads behind her. Then those ethereal rays of light, woven into a blurry human form, separated from Cen Yuanji. The clear light was pure, and in an instant, meridians, energy palaces, bones, flesh, dharma robes, ornaments... all materialized.

Turning around, she was now a woman.

Not only was she plump and smooth, but her facial beauty was beyond description.

It was the great demon Zhou Hu, temporarily residing in Cen Yuanji's soul.

Only by receiving a dharma decree from Mr. Zheng at the mountaintop did he dare to appear in such an exceptional manner.

Zheng Dafeng was not at all surprised. He opened his palm toward her and said lazily, "Have a seat. The Daoist Xianwei and Little Mi Li are busy, so I'll entertain you, Fellow Daoist Meizheng."

Zhou Hu sat down at the table, her bearing graceful.

Zheng Dafeng handed her a tea egg. "Fellow Daoist, give it a try? Market flavor, cheap and good."

Zhou Hu shook her head.

For instance, Zheng Dan had already gone to the Nine True Immortal Lodge to deliver a sword strike, to help Yun Miao's Dao partner, the immortal-level ghost Wei Zi, overcome tribulation through military liberation. Wei Zi had accepted Mr. Zheng's suggestion—great wealth came from great risk. Even as a female ghost, she chose to attempt form-raising ascension during a rainy daytime.

Zheng Dafeng gently tapped the tea egg on the table and started peeling it, asking casually, "Over the years, using Cen Yuanji's eyes and ears, what are your thoughts on this mountain?"

Zhou Hu had no interest in speaking.

Zheng Dafeng smiled. "Looking at this mountain is like reading a book—too many embellishments, too little substance. Will you tire of it after a while?"

Zhou Hu remained silent.

Zheng Dafeng asked curiously, "Could it be that the rumors on the mountain are all nonsense? Is Fellow Daoist Meizheng not that kind of self-opinionated, unruly mountain summit cultivator?"

Zhou Hu narrowed her eyes. "Unruly?"

Zheng Dafeng gulped down a peeled tea egg and said apologetically, "My slip of the tongue."

If I hadn't slipped, would you have spoken?

Zhou Hu said, "You were wrong about one thing. It's not that Dragon Tiger Mountain and I have no karmic relationship. In my early years, I traveled with the previous Heavenly Master on the Path of Darkness, jointly hunting down a ferocious ghost creature with high Dao power. The old Heavenly Master sought justice; I was avenging a personal grievance."

Zheng Dafeng suddenly realized. "So that's it. Such a secret matter."

Zhou Hu sighed. "Although we didn't succeed, we found kindred spirits. When we parted, he promised me..."

Zheng Dafeng quickly interjected, "Not fearing criticism, you would become Dao partners?"

Zhou Hu looked coldly at this brash man.

Zheng Dafeng said sheepishly, "Go on with your story."

Zhou Hu said, "If my merging with the Dao failed, he was willing to help. I could go to the Dragon Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master's residence."

Zheng Dafeng nodded. "Noble."

Zhou Hu said, "The old Heavenly Master followed the Ritual Sage to the heavens beyond and never returned to the Haoran World. This matter was shelved, and I prefer not to mention it more."

Zheng Dafeng had a strange expression. "If nothing unexpected happened, Dragon Tiger Mountain entrusted this matter to the Fire Dragon True Man, an external Grand Heavenly Master. Thus, thunder liberation, fire liberation, and water liberation—the old true man is known as the triple pinnacle—he uses these three liberations to pass through three tribulations. I believe the effect is no less than Bai You's sword strike for military liberation. I suspect the old Heavenly Master had his own considerations and deductions and didn't reveal the truth, but he believed the Fire Dragon True Man would certainly take the initiative to visit, fight you, and you would lose but not die, successfully undergo military liberation, leaving behind an immortal shell to repay your debts to heaven and earth... In the end, the result is the same: Fellow Daoist Meizheng would thus escape tribulation, roam the human world freely, leave the underground, and see the light of day again."

Zhou Hu suddenly looked up toward Zheng Juzhong at the mountaintop, an angry expression on her face.

If she had known this earlier, why would she have gone to the trouble of making a master-servant contract with Zheng Juzhong?!

But Zheng Juzhong acted as if he didn't see it, clearly unwilling to offer even a word of explanation.

Zhou Hu ground her teeth, stood up, and a surge of majestic Dao power stirred. The fog at the mountain foot boiled up.

Zheng Dafeng also looked up at the mountaintop, at those immortals above the clouds.

White Emperor City already had Zheng Dan, the gatekeeper who failed to merge with the Dao. Would they now take in Zhou Hu, who was in the same situation?

It was truly hard to imagine what a cultivator who had reached Zheng Juzhong's level could do next. Rebel against heaven?

Zheng Dafeng took out another tea egg and tapped it lightly on the table. The strange phenomenon in the mountains dissipated.

Zhou Hu steadied her Dao heart, slowly withdrew her gaze, and gave Zheng Dafeng, the first gatekeeper of Luopo Mountain, a meaningful look.

Zheng Dafeng lowered his head, unhurriedly peeling the eggshell, and said with a self-satisfied smile, "After watching you all for so long, I can't just let it be for nothing. There's a bit of boasting I've been wanting to say to you."

Zhou Hu sat back down on the bench and said calmly, "I'm all ears."

Zheng Dafeng was overjoyed. He spat into his palm, lifted his bottom, leaned forward, and moved toward her ear.

Is there no limit to vulgarity?! Zhou Hu was incredulous, utterly disgusted. She waved her sleeve and roughly knocked away Zheng Dafeng's hand.

Xianwei, who was carefully moving things, saw this and clicked his tongue in amazement.

At the mountaintop, Lu Shen asked doubtfully, "Clearly a proper person, why pretend to be vulgar?"

He had already given the Earth Mirror chapter to Zheng Juzhong. Before giving the book, he was in agony; after giving it, he had resigned himself to fate and felt relieved.

He had to admit that Zheng Dafeng was indeed a strange man.

But Liu Xiang had no interest in answering such questions. He just smiled at Zheng Juzhong. "To go to such lengths, scheming like this just to target one person—doesn't seem like your style."

Zheng Juzhong said, "Since I promised Cui Chan to take care of Luopo Mountain, I always need to plan ahead and do things early."

Liu Xiang asked, "What will you do with Zhou Hu next?"

Zheng Juzhong said, "She's of no great use for now. She'll remain a planted piece."

Liu Xiang smiled wryly.

At the mountain foot, Zheng Dafeng had peeled most of the tea egg, then stopped. He set it on the table, pointed at it, and said, "Yolk, egg white, shell."

Zhou Hu was at a loss.

Seeing that she didn't catch on, Zheng Dafeng explained, "The three each have their boundaries, each forming their own world."

Zhou Hu sneered. Pretending to be mystical, making things obscure?

Out of the corner of his eye, Zheng Dafeng saw the young Daoist at the residence doorway making faces at him. He continued, "Language is just a tool to help us understand the world—no different in essence from a farmer's hoe or a towman's rope on the shore. Conversation, learning, cultivation—all lack nothing in words. But language cannot fully explain every 'Dao' of heaven and earth, nor does it depict the complete picture of heaven and earth."

"So we need to rely on imagination to fill the gaps."

"After all, many times, text becomes an obstacle. Hence, 'to speak is to miss the mark,' 'only to be felt, not expressed in words,' 'a flash of understanding between hearts,' 'comprehension different from the words themselves. Unnamable scenes, indescribable realms, meanings that leave one wordless, the spark of inspiration between lightning and flint... The Dao Ancestor knew it best—didn't he say, 'Forced to name it Dao'? If even the Dao Ancestor was like that, what can you do?"

"Earth yellow, heaven blue and white. Language is the earth; imagination is the sky. Together, they form what we call 'heaven and earth' in our eyes and hearts."

"Language. Imagination. And the final shell—the barrier between the fourteenth and fifteenth realms."

Hearing this, Zhou Hu looked at Zheng Dafeng with new eyes. "You can't judge a person by appearances."

Zheng Dafeng's smile was strained.

At the doorway, Lin Feijing heard it and just heard it.

Xianwei, however, had some fresh insights, frowning and smiling by turns.

The palm-law enforcer Changming walked down the stairs with Zhu Lian. Zheng Dafeng turned and teased, "Nervous?"

Changming smiled. "Not really."

Zheng Dafeng asked curiously, "And our lively official of the roster?"

Changming said, "He said he accidentally twisted his ankle and went to get some dog plaster."

Zheng Dafeng burst out laughing. He waved at Zhu Lian. "Old cook, why aren't you keeping the guests company?"

Zhu Lian said with narrowed eyes, "Different paths, no common ground. We couldn't pee in the same pot. I'm not a prostitute, and they don't pay for a night."

Zheng Dafeng laughed and scolded, "Vulgar!"

Liu Xiang smiled slightly. "Grace lies within."

On the night boat, in the streets of Lingxi City, no one's mood was light. It was Liu Xianyang's banter that kept the atmosphere from being too heavy.

The girl in the sable hat with red cheeks put her hands on her hips and said confidently, "The fortune-teller said I have a wife's bearing!"

Make money with big hands, spend money stingily, good fortune. Manage the household, raise children!

Privately, when she went to the palm-law enforcer Changming, Xie Gou was extremely obsequious, especially sycophant.

Every time they met, she'd call her "Sister Lingchun" and say, "How about we pick an auspicious time to become sworn sisters?"

Liu Xianyang couldn't help but ask Xie Gou curiously, "Does currying favor with Palm-Law Changming actually work?" Xie Gou replied firmly, "It really works!"

Xie Gou was very busy in the mountains, with great expectations for life. First, become Dao partners with Xiao Mo, then after the banquet, hurry to the wedding chamber. Second, become a fourteenth-realm pure sword cultivator, then gather all her Dao techniques into one, forge them into a single furnace, and go further to become a strong fourteenth realm. She also wanted to become a high-ranking official, move her seat in the Jise Peak Ancestral Hall forward, and earn big money...

In the western mountains, on the northern road, a group of pampered out-of-town rich young masters and noble daughters hired porters and sat in sedan chairs cushioned with cotton bedding. Rocking and swaying, they entered the mountains from the state city, planning to "pretend to pass by" Luopo Mountain. But suddenly, a thick, heavy fog rose among the mountains and waters, making it impossible to see beyond ten feet. Everyone marveled, feeling the immortal aura was ethereal, like a mirage. Truly worthy of being Chen the Sword Immortal's place of enlightenment—so miraculous!

In the human world, all over the great mountains and rivers, lively and vibrant, billions of living beings—heaven works in their favor.

Liu Xiang asked, "Back then, at the covered bridge, the one who finally spoke and said, 'Three times is enough, stop when it's right'—was that the one?"

Zheng Juzhong nodded. "It was the Dao Ancestor."

Lu Shen felt a chill in his heart.

Lu Shen mentally transmitted, "Is Huang Zhen's future Great Dao achievement very high?"

It could already be determined that Zheng Juzhong borrowed the book from him to deal with Huang Zhen, and Zheng Juzhong needed to ensure absolute success.

For Zheng Juzhong to go to such lengths, the future Huang Zhen must be extremely troublesome.

Liu Xiang said, "At the bottom of Leize Lake in the Azure World, that man wasted many years. He had already lost all hope, but then he stumbled upon an unreasonable great opportunity. As for him methodically and silently becoming a fourteenth-realm pure sword cultivator, that's secondary."

Lu Shen sighed deeply. The fourteenth realm, a sword cultivator—was Huang Zhen Chen Ping'an's greatest obstacle in the human world?

Liu Xiang smiled. "As for more truths, is it appropriate to speak?"

Zheng Juzhong said, "Since things have come to this, there's nothing that can't be said."

Liu Xiang revealed the hidden truth: "Huang Zhen's intentions are deep. Taking advantage of the critical moment when Chen Ping'an was confronting Jiang She, he pretended to launch a sneak attack, unleashing continuous sword strikes. If it stopped there, Huang Zhen wouldn't be too troublesome. He would also pretend to be defeated, his body destroyed and his Dao vanquished. Because Huang Zhen wanted to obtain a sword liberation from Chen Ping'an, break through the barrier of the Great Way, and thereby ascend to a pseudo-fifteenth realm. When that moment arrives, that will be the real time for Huang Zhen to duel swords with Chen Ping'an."

Lu Shen's Dao heart shook. A pseudo-fifteenth-realm pure sword cultivator?!

Outside the heavens.

The New Heavenly Court.

She raised her arm and summoned a cypress boat as large as the entire desolate world, slowly approaching the golden arch bridge. As it docked, the prow touched the long bridge, and the brilliant ripples it stirred, seen by the Qi refiners of the human world's astronomy bureau, appeared as an astonishing spectacle.

Zhou Mi watched her board the boat and depart.

At an extreme distance, billions of silver, minute objects stretched endlessly in waves. They seemed like some strange phenomenon within the boundless void, wandering far away. But she gave them a sidelong glance, reached out to grab a great sun, and casually hurled it, instantly grinding the latter into powder.

At the summit of Jiling Peak, Liu Xiang, who had been looking up at the sky, withdrew his gaze and asked, "When do you plan to deliver the sword and slay Huang Zhen?"

Lu Shen's eyelids twitched slightly. He knew he should have followed that Wei Boyou's example, made up some excuse, and gone back home.

Liu Xiang asked again, "Do you need to wait until he has a new flying sword?"

Difei Mountain, Gao Gu. Difei Mountain, female sword cultivator Gao Qiong from the Xu County, Yingchuan Prefecture, Nanshan State, Ruzhou. Lingjing Temple in neighboring Changshe County, resident Daoist Chang Geng, young Chen Cong. Xu Mian of Qingni Cave Heaven, whose childhood character-divination gave him the name "Ping'an". The resentful Zhu Lu. The Sword Qi Great Wall's ritual official Lin Jiangxian, true name Yan Kingdom. Yang Qing of Shoushan Pavilion, versed in divination. The Dragon Daoist who sent Huang Zhen to the bottom of Leize Lake. Yang Zheng, who would go on a sightseeing trip to Yingchuan Prefecture and cross paths with the young man at the Daoist temple... They were like the peaks of a continuous mountain range.

Yu Dou seemed to have seen this thread, but for some reason, he did not intervene.

Of course, even if Yu Dou saw through it and intervened, it wouldn't matter to Zheng Juzhong.

Liu Xiang was clearly still patiently waiting for the answer.

Zheng Juzhong said, "Now."