Chapter 1161: Afraid of Off-Topic Remarks
Chen Lingjun bid farewell to Wei Yeyou and said he was returning to the mountain, claiming he needed to help Zhong Diyi order dishes at Old Chef's place. Unexpectedly, that friend surnamed Meizheng followed along. How strange—didn't this woman know her own realm? Or was it that she had used some kind of mundane divine ability to see his "true appearance," and was coveting the fact that he was even more handsome than Wei Yeyou's current skin, plotting some improper deed? Damn it, her taste was actually quite good, but her methods were truly wild!
Chen Lingjun's expression was awkward. Before casting a water technique, he turned to look at her. "Friend, no need to see me off."
Zhou Hu smiled. "Patriarch Jingqing, to be honest, I'll soon be a qi refiner at Tiaoyu Mountain's Huaying Peak. We're going the same way."
Chen Lingjun was skeptical. "Weren't you a registered female official serving in some bureau at Piyun Mountain?"
Zhou Hu said, "I was. But I begged Divine Lord Wei to put in a good word, so I could go to Tiaoyu Mountain to build a thatched hut and cultivate."
Chen Lingjun breathed a sigh of relief and laughed heartily. "A good thing! Congratulations, and welcome. Since we're family now, you don't need to call me Patriarch Jingqing anymore; just call me friend. As for him, it's best to call him Wei Yeyou."
While riding the clouds and wind, Chen Lingjun remembered the matter Wei Bo had mentioned. He began to count on his fingers: Fuyao Lu was his master's private dojo; Xianghuo Mountain had been given to the Immortal Captain and his disciple; Baijian Terrace was only for swordsmen to visit; Zhaodu Gang was a place for scholars to read; Yunzi's cave dwelling was at Huimeng Mountain; Huanghu Mountain was Hongxia's water palace... As for that silly girl Nuanshu, she would most likely choose between Caiyun Peak and Xiancao Mountain.
The green-robed youth and Zhou Hu each harbored their own thoughts as they returned to Luopo Mountain.
Just then, they saw Mr. Liu chatting idly with Immortal Captain at the foot of the mountain. Chen Lingjun immediately dispersed the water technique and crept over stealthily.
Zhou Hu, intentionally or not, changed his flight path, landing outside the mountain and walking slowly toward the mountain gate.
It was unclear what they had been discussing, but Immortal Captain seemed greatly relieved. He asked softly, "Mr. Liu, when you were young, did you also walk the path?"
Liu Xiang smiled without speaking.
Zhou Hu held his breath and concentrated, yet his Dao heart still trembled.
He saw Chen Lingjun quietly standing behind Immortal Captain. Suddenly, his hands lightly clapped the Taoist's cheeks. "Hahaha, which path?!"
---
As soon as Qi Tingji left, several of the top Sword Sect Eighteen disciples, including Wu Manyan, hurried over to join the excitement. Upon learning that Lu Zhi was now firmly at the Flying Ascension realm, Wu Manyan was radiant with energy—her Sect from today onward would have two Flying Ascension experts! He Qiusheng was mature and steady, merely offering a few words of congratulations. Huang Long, with his square face and big ears, punched the air vigorously and shouted in excitement.
Madam Tuoyan had returned to the awning earlier than them, mainly afraid that a few of those forbidden books would be seen by the younger generation.
The ponytailed girl Wu Manyan wore a Azure Pupil dharma robe. Among the younger generation, she had the best talent for practicing the sword.
Madam Tuoyan reached out and pinched the sleeve of Wu Manyan's dharma robe, smiling gently. "Girl, you have good talent and good fortune. In the future, the Jade Pu realm will definitely not escape you."
The dharma robe on Wu Manyan was called "Azure Pupil." It was originally given to her by Lu Zhi. Its rank was not low; it was a half-immortal artifact. But it had been severely damaged. The expense and time were secondary—the main issue was that repairing it was too troublesome, like having a pig's head but not knowing which temple gate to knock on. Just as Lu Zhi was worrying about it, Zheng Juzhong came calling. During the "confrontation" between the two worlds, Zheng Juzhong had displayed astonishing methods and had already secured the first victory for Haoran. On his way through South Bodhi Continent, he visited the Dragon-Tusks Sword Sect. At that time, he was accompanied by a "maidservant"—the female immortal with the Dao name Yuanhu, master of the Golden Green City in the Barren Wastes.
While the female immortal of Golden Green City was mending the Azure Pupil dharma robe, Zheng Juzhong had a private conversation with Lu Zhi.
Not only was the Azure Pupil dharma robe restored to new, but its rank was elevated a small step, and several types of spell arts were added to it—truly icing on the cake.
Of course, it was the girl's good fortune.
But the greatest opportunity lay in who had arranged for Immortal Yuanhu to perform the repair.
However, Wu Manyan's mind was simple, focused on practicing the sword, and she wasn't yet clear on the intricacies involved here.
In the future, when she traveled abroad, if Wu Manyan wore this Azure Pupil dharma robe and encountered a powerful enemy in another continent or another world, and if she fell into a desperate situation where the reputation of the Dragon-Tusks Sword Sect couldn't intimidate them, and even her master Qi Tingji's name held insufficient weight—then what about Bai Di City's Zheng Juzhong?
Wu Manyan shook her head. "How is the Jade Pu realm enough? In the future, when I reach Ascension City, I won't even qualify for the title 'Sword Immortal.'"
Madam Tuoyan extended a finger and poked the girl's forehead, laughing. "Do you know how old Patriarch Qi, Mr. Lu, and the other top ten peak sword immortals of the city were when they reached the Immortal realm? You want to be a hundred-year-old sword immortal? And a sword immortal of the Sword Qi Great Wall at that? You're dreaming."
Wu Manyan grinned. "What if the dream comes true?"
Madam Tuoyan sighed. "Such a pretty girl, don't laugh like that."
Wu Manyan made a face.
He Qiusheng withdrew his sidelong glance and asked, "That group of sword immortals inside the Green Neon Blessing Land—who exactly are they?"
Madam Tuoyan quickly raised a finger to her lips for silence.
Lu Zhi said, "Most of them were private swordsmen from the Sword Qi Great Wall. During the great war, they were each unleashing their swords deep in the Barren Wastes; they weren't idle. The Colorful World still has a few years before its gate opens again, so they've settled here. However, there are also two abducted demonic sword cultivators among them. When you meet them later, be careful with your words. But if they aren't careful with their words, I will remind them."
Madam Tuoyan asked via telepathy, "Mr. Lu, why are we swapping the blessing land with Tianyao Town? Shao Yunyan has a lot of complaints. He insists the Patriarch give a concrete explanation, and he's very blunt. If the reason isn't sufficient, he'll be the first to object. The Patriarch told him to ask you for the reason."
The Green Neon Blessing Land gifted to the Dragon-Tusks Sword Sect by the Confucian Temple had a thick Dao aura. What was most mysterious was that the abundant spiritual qi of heaven and earth naturally gathered in several landscapes, making them most suitable for earth immortals to open dojos. Additionally, there were many heavenly treasures and earthly rarities. Among medium-grade blessing lands, it was extremely outstanding. In contrast, the Hanging Bow Blessing Land that should have belonged to Tianyao Town was, based on Patriarch Qi's general introduction, clearly inferior.
Could this be a typical example of a human favor transaction in the mountain world?
Lu Zhi said, "It was the suggestion of Sect Leader Lu. Patriarch Qi took it seriously, and coincidentally, Liu Tui of Tianyao Town was more than willing."
Madam Tuoyan, of course, was immensely grateful to that Sect Leader Lu in her heart.
It was a pity they had never met.
Moreover, Sect Leader Lu had also given Mr. Lu that long, narrow wooden box—a cave heaven dojo that contained a mustard seed within a mustard seed. Yet inside, there were no living beings, only eight long swords floating within. They were named by the old master: Autumn Water, Swimming Duck, Deliberate, Chisel Opening, Southern Darkness, Wandering Blade, Cicada Shell, and Mountain Wood... Truly enviable. Madam Tuoyan couldn't help but speculate: both named Lu, could Lu Zhi be connected to the Yin-Yang family Lu clan of the Central Continent? For this reason, Madam Tuoyan specially went to ask Shao Yunyan and Qi Tingji. Neither spoke, but both gave the same look of disdain—one thought she had too much time on her hands and was overthinking things, the other thought she was grasping at shadows.
Putting aside her thoughts, Madam Tuoyan smiled radiantly. "Shao Yunyan was busy day and night, burning the midnight oil, searching through ancient books, carefully verifying geography, working for a full month. Then the Patriarch said one sentence, and it all went down the drain."
That was why Shao Yunyan opposed swapping the blessing land. He had already arranged which of the seven or eight cave dwellings would be opened into dojos by whom.
They talked about Sect Leader Lu. Thinking of that "swindler," He Qiusheng felt complicated. The boy had chatted quite a bit with Lu Chen before.
Lu Zhi turned to look at a small boat on the sea.
Madam Tuoyan asked softly, "A guest arriving by sea?"
Lu Zhi said, "He may not necessarily come ashore."
Madam Tuoyan didn't bother asking about the identity.
Anyway, when it came to socializing and hosting guests, there was Sword Immortal Shao. Surely no one would be bold enough to come here and challenge to a sword duel.
After Zheng Juzhong, Lu Chen had also visited the Dragon-Tusks Sword Sect.
When they met, Lu Chen directly asked Lu Zhi, "Did City Lord Zheng come here?"
Lu Zhi's behavior at that time was... not like Lu Zhi.
So Lu Chen grinned and told her not to be nervous, stating that he would not be an enemy of Zheng Juzhong. The explanation he gave was that he saw Wu Manyan's Azure Pupil dharma robe, which bore traces of Golden Green City.
Lu Zhi suddenly said, "It seems like the time has come to take on a few disciples."
Madam Tuoyan was stunned.
On the Sword Qi Great Wall, Lu Zhi had never accepted disciples. After she returned to Haoran, she had never harbored any intention of taking disciples either.
Lu Zhi said with a headache, "Teaching disciples, like being a private tutor, passing on the Dao, imparting knowledge, and resolving doubts—that's really not my forte."
Madam Tuoyan said, "Then I'll give Shao Yunyan a heads-up and have him reserve a few of the best seedling immortals for you?"
The top-tier seedling immortals in the mountain world required both talent and character, neither of which could be lacking.
Lu Zhi shook her head. "Just pick young sword cultivators of average talent; I'm afraid of leading promising students astray. After you've finished your evaluations, I'll select a few from among those sword cultivators that the sect could either keep or let go, and take them as my personal disciples."
Madam Tuoyan held her forehead, speechless.
Wu Manyan laughed. "I'm tempted to change masters myself."
He Qiusheng immediately warned, "Senior Sister, don't talk nonsense."
Earlier, at the Parrot Island Ferry Crossing, she had declared that after she reached the Upper Five Realms, she wanted to challenge the Hidden Officer to a sword duel.
As a result, within a few days of returning to the sect, He Qiusheng had earned the nickname "Calf." Who gave him the nickname didn't need to be guessed.
Huang Long said in a low voice, "I have the same idea. I could be the senior apprentice brother."
Huang Long came from Fuyang Continent and was a wild cultivator, famous for his tough life. Shao Yunyan praised him highly, saying the boy was very much like the Hidden Officer.
He Qiusheng said, "Whatever."
Huang Long muttered, "Senior Brother only has eyes for Senior Sister, huh?"
He Qiusheng blushed with anger. "If you've got the guts, say it louder!"
Huang Long declared loudly, "Brother He secretly likes Senior Sister Wu—any fool can see that."
He Qiusheng's face turned crimson.
Wu Manyan smiled sweetly. "Junior Brother Huang, are you jealous? Jealous of whom? That's the question."
Now it was Huang Long's turn to be unable to defend himself. Madam Tuoyan laughed uncontrollably. At that moment, a sword light shot out to sea to welcome a guest.
Madam Tuoyan let out a surprised sound. "Who is it that can make Shao Yunyan go out to exchange pleasantries?"
Lu Zhi said, "The one with the Dao name Xiancha, Sect Leader Lu's unregistered senior disciple."
Madam Tuoyan's expression turned awkward. Sect Leader Lu—she dreamed of meeting him. As for that old boatman, she would rather die than get involved.
Shao Yunyan met the old boatman holding a bamboo pole. His etiquette was thorough; he didn't lack any of the necessary pleasantries and small talk.
Qi Tingji had just told Shao Yunyan via telepathy to try his best not to let Gu Qingsong come ashore; if there was business, they could discuss it at sea.
As a result, Shao Yunyan had barely exchanged a few words with him when he regretted it and began inwardly cursing Qi Tingji for being unscrupulous.
The old boatman's first words hit him like a thunderbolt, scolding him so much that Shao Yunyan didn't know how to respond.
"Don't give me all this hypocritical nonsense. I thought you sword cultivators of the Dragon-Tusks Sword Sect, with your roots in the Sword Qi Great Wall, would have a different atmosphere from the Haoran immortal residences. But no, you're all the same. 'Friend'? What 'friend'? You, Shao Yunyan, have the nerve to call me a friend? Just because we're both at the Jade Pu realm?"
"Even if it were unrequited love, that would be one thing. But this is clearly a mutual, beautiful marriage. Why won't Sword Immortal Shao cherish it? You're not a Jade Pu of the Sword Qi Great Wall, squatting by the roadside drinking at the Second Boss's tavern. A Jade Pu realm sword immortal in Haoran is pretty precious, isn't it? And you're still such a coward? In my opinion, that lovesick woman at Shuijing Mountain—having to put up with a useless coward like you—is truly pitiable."
"Shao Yunyan, is your ancestral home really Beiju Continent, not Aiai Continent? Have you checked your genealogy carefully? Don't go worshipping the wrong ancestors..."
Shao Yunyan kept a straight face, not saying a word, pretending to be deaf and dumb.
With the Patriarch pulling stunts, swapping blessing lands without prior notice, Shao Yunyan was already in a bad mood. Adding this string of heart-piercing remarks from the old boatman, Shao Yunyan's face turned ashen. By the looks of it, it wouldn't end anytime soon.
Qi Tingji was clever; he simply didn't see Xiancha at all.
Earlier, the old boatman had said a few words to him and then stopped.
How could heroes like Dong San'geng and Chen Xi fail to leave the battlefield, yet you come back intact to Haoran? Is it because Patriarch Qi's sword technique is the highest? How strange—not having merged with the Dao, not being a Fourteen- realm sword immortal—could it be that you intend to break through two realms at once?
The old boatman waved his hand at Shao Yunyan. "Don't just stand there. This visit, I'm not here to see you. Go on back to being your heartless, faithless man."
Shao Yunyan, who had been pushed out by Qi Tingji to take the heat, angrily turned around and flew away on his sword. As for who the old boatman was looking for and who he was cursing, it was none of his business.
Qi Tingji always acted swiftly and decisively. He began preparations for relocating the Green Neon Blessing Land.
At that moment, a group of sword cultivators appeared on the mountain peak with astonishing momentum.
Xiancha looked up and saw them, clicking his tongue in wonder. "Quite the formation."
Trying to scare me? As if I was raised on scares?
Shao Yunyan flew on his sword to the awning area, vexed to no end, his expression gloomy.
Madam Tuoyan inquired via telepathy, "Why did they come? Wasn't it agreed they would show their faces when the branch sect on Fuyang Continent was established?"
Shao Yunyan said grumpily, "Doesn't matter."
Gao Shuang, Immortal realm. Guo Du, Jade Pu realm sword cultivator. His Dao partner, Ling Xun, was a Barren Wastes sword cultivator; she was also at the Jade Pu realm. This time, accompanying Guo Du to "visit" Haoran, she seemed to be following her husband. Jin Gao, Jade Pu realm, born on Taixiang Street; his family had been on good terms with the Qi clan for generations. The female sword cultivator Zhu Su, born on Xuanhu Street, had served as a guest elder of the Qi family and was of the same clan as the sword cultivator Zhu An, who belonged to the former Hidden Officer lineage. Huang Ling, another Immortal realm; loved wine; his sword "Three Caves" had a great background. He and the Jade Pu realm sword cultivator Xuan Yang each owned private mansions for sword immortals outside the city: Diamond Slope and White Hair Nunnery. The female sword cultivator Mei Kan, Jade Pu realm. Her disciple, using the alias Mei Dangdang and the Dao name Zhenze, was a Barren Wastes sword cultivator at the Immortal realm. He had reached the Immortal realm at just over two hundred years old.
These nine honored guests and guest elders were either immortals or Jade Pu, all pure sword cultivators who had fought their way to the Upper Five Realms from piles of corpses.
Therefore, those hundred-odd unregistered disciples who joined the Dragon-Tusks Sword Sect—if they could stay and practice the sword—would surely have no lack of good fortune.
Add to that Qi Tingji and Lu Zhi at the Flying Ascension realm, and Shao Yunyan and Madam Tuoyan at the Jade Pu realm.
And if a few more private swordsmen from the Barren Wastes could come to Haoren?
Madam Tuoyan covered her mouth and laughed. "Why sulk? Couldn't you talk back?"
Shao Yunyan glared. "Then you go try?"
Madam Tuoyan burst into laughter, holding her stomach. "No, no, I wouldn't dare!"
At sea, the old boatman clicked his tongue in wonder. "Old Patriarch Qi is truly remarkable. Besides having the second-best sword technique on the Sword Qi Great Wall, his talent for winning people over is also not weak."
"No wonder he couldn't be bothered to see me. Now I have no hard feelings. After all, if I had even half of Old Sword Immortal Qi's assets, saying even a single superfluous word to a Jade Pu realm cultivator would be beneath me."
These sword cultivators on the mountaintop had also learned the refined speech of Haoran. Mei Dangdang asked doubtfully, "Master, who is this guy? His mouth sure is foul."
Was he raised in a cesspool? His words stank so much.
Wasn't it said that qi refiners in Haoran were all skilled at networking and slippery?
Mei Kan had suffered from love wounds in her homeland. After accumulating enough battle merits, she had visited Haoran and traveled for a few years before going to the Barren Wastes. So Mei Kan knew the famous old boatman very well. She warned via telepathy, "Whatever you do, don't talk to him."
Gao Shuang smiled. "Friend Xiancha, I've heard of your great name."
"State your name and realm."
Xiancha raised an eyebrow. "If you're also Jade Pu realm, I'll boldly chat with you a bit. If you're a lofty Immortal, then I'm not worthy of speaking with you. This novel principle I just learned from Old Sword Immortal Qi, your Patriarch."
Shao Yunyan sighed deeply, his head aching.
He waved his sleeve, creating a misty veil of water to prevent the local sword cultivators just arriving at the mountain from hearing these words.
Gao Shuang stated his name but deliberately downplayed himself, saying he was only Jade Pu. He was somewhat curious, wanting to see what this "chat a bit" entailed.
Xiancha pondered for a moment, then nodded. "I've heard of some deeds. From a poor family, low-born, but became a private swordsman of the Sword Qi Great Wall as a youth. Killed quite a few demons across realms, fought his way up to Jade Pu, then went to the Barren Wastes."
Gao Shuang was momentarily speechless.
The old boatman gave a thumbs-up. "Indeed, a true hero. Not bad. You should be the Patriarch. If I were Qi Tingji, I'd voluntarily abdicate in your favor."
Gao Shuang paused for a long moment, then said helplessly, "You're talking about Huang Ling."
Xiancha fake-realized, "Ah, then I misremembered. I got it wrong. I only know of Grand Sword Immortal Gao; I don't know any Gao Shuang of the Jade Pu realm."
Beside them, Huang Ling no longer dared to speak.
Xiancha looked at the silent Huang Ling. "My relationship with that old Feng is so-so; we've only had a drink together. If he were here today, I believe he'd say this too: Sword cultivator Huang Ling has not disgraced his sword 'Three Caves.'"
The previous owner of "Three Caves" was surnamed Feng, who called himself the Old Man of Peace. The sword's inscription read: "Sun and Moon traverse the sky; the old master of the Divine Continent." He was extremely famous in Haoran. Like the Celestial Masters of Dragon Tiger Mountain, he would descend the mountain and do only one thing: slay demons and vanquish evil. Places like Lu Shui Pit, Tie Shu Mountain, and the ferry of the great demon Zhou Hu of Central Continent—Luo? The old sword immortal, who always styled himself a swordsman, had visited them all. Suffice it to say that the threads wound around the sword's hilt were the highest-ranking demon-binding rope in the world.
If the talk had stopped there, it wouldn't be Gu Qingsong. Just as Huang Ling was about to speak, the old boatman said, "I still say that you should be the Patriarch. Next time your Ancestral Hall discusses matters, you can have a good talk about it."
Huang Ling had no choice but to continue playing dumb.
Qi Tingji warned via telepathy, "Old Gu, you can curse about anything, but there's one thing I advise you not to mess with."
"Bullshit!"
Xiancha sneered coldly. "Whether it's you or the Hidden Officer, that's their own business. I'm an outsider—why would I talk about that?"
Among the private swordsmen of the Sword Qi Great Wall, only Xing Yun and Liu Shui chose to go to the Green Moss Sword Sect where the last Hidden Officer resided.
Of course, before them, there was Mi Yu, who had stayed at the Summer Palace.
Xing Yun and Liu Shui had contacted Gao Shuang, Xuan Yang, and others, but none of them ultimately chose the Green Moss Sword Sect. Each had their own reasons and justifications. For example, Mei Kan truly liked the plum blossoms here, and her disciple was a Barren Wastes demon; and the Green Moss Sword Sect was still on Fuyang Continent.
Xiancha just felt a bit sorry for that kid surnamed Chen. This group of sword cultivators was not just about having high realms—each of them carried a portion of sword Dao luck. Gathered together, they could bring a mysterious and profound amount of Daoist fortune to the sect.
Chen Ping'an shouldn't have let them go.
He was still young, still too thin-skinned.
But as Xiancha himself said, this was the sect's own internal affair, and outsiders shouldn't comment.
Lu Zhi stood up, frowning. "Friend Xiancha, please get to the point."
Xiancha was unusually easygoing with Lu Zhi. Sure enough, he spoke clearly: "Lu Zhi, I heard you don't have any personal disciples yet?"
Lu Zhi nodded.
Xiancha pointed to the girl at the bow of the boat. "Perfect timing. I'm helping her pick a teacher."
Madam Tuoyan was puzzled. "Did I hear that right?"
Wu Manyan was radiant, muttering to herself, "It's this kind of adventure that truly makes a hero."
One must practice swords like Chen Hidden Officer, walk the jianghu like the old boatman—only then could one be called a sword immortal!
Lu Zhi looked at the girl. What a coincidence—she had just been thinking of taking a disciple, and one appears?
Lu Zhi transformed into a rainbow and landed by the boat. She asked, "Of the dragon clan?"
Xiancha said, "Her name is Cheng Sancai. She's from Dragon Trench."
Lu Zhi smiled. "What do you think? Can I be your master?"
Cheng Sancai nodded vigorously. "More than willing."
Lu Zhi asked curiously, "Why?"
Cheng Sancai answered honestly, "Because Old Gu doesn't dare to curse you."
The old boatman immediately protested, "What kind of talk is that? I'm a quiet person; I don't just curse anyone."
Lu Zhi laughed heartily. "Good. From today on, you are my disciple."
The girl knelt, kowtowed three times, and said, "Disciple Cheng Sancai pays respects to Master."
Lu Zhi crouched down to help the girl up.
Unexpectedly, the girl thumped her head on the ground three more times, mumbling, "Master, don't rush. Let me knock a few more."
Once the master-disciple bond was established and Cheng Sancai stood up, Lu Zhi asked with a smile, "Are you a sword cultivator?"
Cheng Sancai said without hesitation, "No!"
Although a bit surprised, Lu Zhi had no objection. She nodded. "That's fine. Take it slow."
The old boatman suddenly tapped the water with his bamboo pole, then asked timidly, "Did my master come here?"
Lu Zhi nodded. "He came. He didn't talk about you."
The old boatman smiled bitterly. This woman was unkind; why rub salt in the wound.
Whether it was going out to sea to seek immortals or boating on a lake, when the mind was like the bright moon, one might rise in the night on the boat, draped in clothes, quietly reciting the elegy of fragrant grasses and beauties, afraid even dragons might hear.
For cultivators, no matter how high the realm, if they couldn't let go of their hearts, they were ultimately wandering, homeless souls.
Lu Zhi and Xiancha talked about some of Lu Chen's deeds at the Dragon-Tusks Sword Sect.
The last time Lu Chen had rushed to the Dragon-Tusks Sword Sect, he had three main purposes.
First, Qi Tingji had purchased three Jade Pivot City Sword-Washing Talismans from him, which allowed Lu Zhi to use a great talisman to wash her flying sword, "Big Dipper."
Sect Leader Lu was afraid that Old Sword Immortal Qi would use the talismans for personal gain and secretly use the Sword-Washing Talismans.
Secondly, he wanted to get a few more looks at the sword box. Without the sword box, the Viewing Thousand Swords Study seemed to lack its centerpiece, losing much of its luster.
As for the sword box itself being a treasure of immortal rank, Lu Chen didn't care much.
Besides South Flower City, which was notoriously poor, the Four Cities and Twelve Pavilions of the White Jade Capital had so many treasures in their collections that they couldn't be counted. Occasionally, some ancient artifact would gain intelligence and grow legs, walking off two, three, four, or five pieces—nothing surprising.
That was a minor matter.
The truly important matter was that Lu Chen needed to act as a mediator for the White Jade Capital, inviting Lu Zhi to refine swords at Jade Pivot City on behalf of others.
This had been instructed by the Dao Ancestor himself.
Qi Tingji very much hoped Lu Zhi could go to the White Jade Capital to cultivate. He had persuaded her twice, even going so far as to say some straightforward, "bottom-line" words: "You can leave the sect register and change your affiliation."
There was certainly some selfishness involved. At the Divine Firmament City of the White Jade Capital, there was already a group of sword cultivators from the Sword Qi Great Wall. Additionally, the Penal Officer Hao Su had also gone there to cultivate. Qi Tingji also wanted Lu Zhi to enter the White Jade Capital, to help him and the sect forge a connection with the Azure Sun World.
When a Taoist's realm was high, the world and human society felt small.
Qi Tingji, who aspired to merge with the Dao, had some thoughts about the Azure Sun World.
But more than that, Qi Tingji genuinely hoped that Lu Zhi could forge a sword path uniquely her own.
One that could surpass Qi Tingji's own Dao achievements.
It was said that only by reaching the Fourteen Realms did one truly understand the significance of the cultivator's cherished phrase "consummation of merits and virtues."
Lu Zhi's talent, opportunity, character, and life experience were all clear and unblemished. She was worthy of that expectation.
Qi Tingji was not the kind of person who willingly opened his heart to others. On the Sword Qi Great Wall, he had a completely different personality from Dong San'geng, and different from Chen Xi as well. At most, he had a bit of friendship with Nalan Shuowei. Qi Tingji knew full well that the Great Sword Immortal didn't think highly of him. But it didn't matter—with different rice grains, there are a hundred kinds of people; each could walk their own path.
Qi Tingji's feelings toward Lu Zhi were, of course, not romantic. Pure appreciation, envy, and even occasional jealousy.
That there could be such a person in heaven and earth, doing such things.
The Dao Ancestor himself had sent word—why wouldn't you go, Lu Zhi?
The native sword cultivators of the Sword Qi Great Wall had never had any prejudice against the Azure Sun World or the White Jade Capital. Their impression of it was far better than their impression of Haoran.
In the Azure Sun World, over the past ten thousand years, how many Taoists had been invited by the Dao Ancestor to cultivate at the White Jade Capital?
Even Yu Dou and Lu Chen were just substitute disciples taken on by the Great Heavenly Lord Kou Ming on behalf of his master. As for the last disciple, the young man with the Dao name Shan Qing, he was also taken on by Lu Chen imitating his senior elder brother's substitute master-taking.
Lu Zhi's two life-bound flying swords were one visible and one hidden: "Hold Simplicity" and "Big Dipper," the latter never having been used to kill enemies in battle.
The first had two life-bound divine abilities, both deeply connected to the Daoist tradition. As for the hugely lethal, almost unimaginable flying sword "Big Dipper," one only needed to know the phrase "Big Dipper decrees death" to send chills down an enemy's spine.
What Lu Zhi sought was only to have her name inscribed on the city wall.
Thinking back to the long-ago thirteenth battle between the Sword Qi Great Wall and the Barren Wastes World.
Lu Zhi had gone to the Great Sword Immortal and asked him to assign her a Flying Ascension great demon.
The Great Sword Immortal said the match-up list would depend on the result of the "rock-paper-scissors" competition between the Yin-Yang family Lu clan of Central Continent and the Barren Wastes.
On the demon side, the one who eventually faced Lu Zhi in battle was a demon sword cultivator at the Immortal realm.
When Lu Zhi went to discuss the matter with the Great Sword Immortal, Qi Tingji happened to be nearby.
The young Hidden Officer believed Lu Zhi's future sword Dao achievements might be higher than Qi Tingji's. Lu Chen believed it wasn't "might"; it was "definitely."
Among the current immortals, the one who had opened the fewest cave mansions was Lu Zhi—and no one came close.
Some mere Cave Dwelling realm cultivators might have opened more mansions than Lu Zhi.
The sword case contained eight Daoist Dharma swords, each capable of passing on a sword pulse.
If Lu Zhi could refine all of those swords and place them in her newly opened life-bound spiritual mansions, wouldn't that be a match made in heaven?
Later, when she went to cultivate at the White Jade Capital, it would be the most natural thing in the world.
From the very start, when he gave away the sword case, Sect Leader Lu, who was calculating, certainly wouldn't take it back.
After hearing about these seemingly bland matters, the old boatman fell silent for a long time. "Master is always the same."
Lu Zhi didn't know how to console others.
Cheng Sancai, however, knew that the old boatman often acted like this during meals—advice was useless.
Xiancha snapped out of it, his expression returning to normal. He lifted his bamboo pole. "I won't keep being an eyesore here."
Ancient sayings explain all truths. Common adages narrate the joys and sorrows of the human world.
But for some people and some things, whether it's mistakes or missed opportunities, it's like a jug of wine: when you drink it, the taste seems ordinary, but you never expected the aftertaste to hit so hard.
Those wines you've drunk, the ones you bend over and stick your fingers down your throat to vomit but still can't bring up—those are probably the regrets you can't share with others.
What's truly frightening is that all the sorrow in our limited, infinite lives might just be a few off-topic remarks.
Xiancha said to the girl, "Since you've acknowledged a master, be a good disciple. Have a good beginning and a good end. Don't end up like me..."
The girl looked at the old boatman, whose face was scrunched up. She hesitated, then said, "Old Gu, take care from now on. Watch your mouth. There are plenty of injustices in the world; you can't set them all straight just by cursing."
Xiancha's expression softened a little, and he laughed as he scolded her. "Smelly girl."
Cheng Sancai said softly, "I wish you success in that matter."
Xiancha nodded. "I'll take your kind words."
"Old Gu, I'm really going now." The girl, who had been beaming a moment ago, suddenly burst into tears.
Xiancha sighed and said quietly, "Little girl, cultivating in the mountains, especially in a strict sect-level immortal residence, is not the same as the unfettered life of a wild cultivator."
"In learning the Dao, there must be a character of 'reverence' in your heart. In doing things, there must be a character of 'fear' in your heart. In dealing with people, there must be a character of 'sincerity' in your actions."
"These principles are somewhat profound. With my own intelligence, I couldn't have thought them up even if I cracked my head open. Today we part, and since you've acknowledged a master, it's worth celebrating. I have nothing to give you, so I'll give you these three characters."
"With this beginning to set the stage, those sword cultivators who always have their heads in the clouds won't dare to look down on you too much. But if you want them to think highly of you, you still need to work hard yourself—cherish your blessings, be diligent in cultivating the Dao."
"I understand!"
"Leave the pots and pans behind!"
---
In the courtyard of the mountain dwelling, no one else was around. Zhu Lian, for once, removed the old man's mask, revealing his true face. He lay on a rattan chair, waving a fan, his eyes closed in repose. No one knew what he was thinking.