Chapter 1181: Uniting the Dragon
Emperor Song He led Chen Ping'an to a Great Li Class-A secret vault, saying that the court had long prepared a congratulatory gift for him.
Xiao Mo and Xie Gou, the two offerings from Fallen Mountain, no longer concealed their traces. Following behind the two of them—one at the Fourteen Realm, one at the Ascension Realm—acting as bodyguards, Song He felt a strange mix of emotions. For him to have such treatment—if one looked through the history books of all Haoran nations, how often could an emperor's retinue boast such high cultivation? Extremely rare.
The key to the door was Chen Ping'an's jade token. When he opened the door to the "Sword Room," in an instant, the room dazzled with a riot of treasures. The room was filled with radiant sword light. On tables and multi-tiered shelves, high and low, were placed many miniature boxes made of immortal wood and jade, each containing a sword pellet. Beside each box was a small booklet that detailed the origins of those flying swords.
Each sword pellet contained Dao intent, and the various colors of sword light had long impregnated the boxes like a patina. Especially those jade "sword sheaths," which constantly emitted light, creating a magnificent scene of multi-colored splendor within the room.
The air within the room was thick with sword qi, to the point that Song He felt a chill that penetrated his bones. It was truly like falling into an ice cavern. He tucked his hands into his sleeves. Xie Gou's eyes were already glued to the treasures, touching this one, peering at that one, distinguishing only between "like" and "like more." If she had known such a place existed, and if she hadn't come to know the Mountain Lord, and had just "happened to pass by" the Great Li dynasty's treasury… hehe.
Xiao Mo, however, helped dispel the chill for Song He.
Song He immediately thanked Mr. Xiao Mo, who smiled and said, "You're welcome, Your Majesty."
Approaching a "gourd vine" frame, Song He smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, you may pick a few Sword-Nurturing Gourds at will."
Crafted from a whole piece of ancient jade from the old Grand River's Dragon Palace treasury, it was shaped like a gourd vine, festooned with Sword-Nurturing Gourds of various colors.
There were over a hundred Sword-Nurturing Gourds of varying qualities. These were all war trophies seized during the Great Li Iron Cavalry's southern campaigns and battles against the wasteland demons. Nearly half were severely damaged. Of the remaining half that were intact, half were of low rank. Earth Immortal sword cultivators would dream of owning them, but for Upper Five Realm sword cultivators, they were somewhat mediocre.
Song He explained, "Mr. Cui once had an idea for the Great Li dynasty to personally establish a sword cultivation sect. The rough framework was to dismantle Zhengyang Mountain, borrow people from Wind and Thunder Garden, and recruit a batch of sword immortals from Northern Julu Continent as nominal offerings. Wei Jin, Song Xu, Yuan Huajing, Yuan Bai—they would all be members of the Ancestral Hall. It was just delayed, and eventually came to nothing."
Xie Gou suddenly understood. "No wonder the Great Li built a bridge across the sea back then, connecting Vase Bottle Continent and Northern Julu Continent to form a single landmass. Was it to channel the sword qi fortune southward?"
"Mr. Cui's plans were grander than that idea."
Song He shook his head and smiled. "If Vice-Chief Xie were to look at the maps of the two continents and invert them, you would find that our Vase Bottle Continent and Northern Julu Continent, joined by that bridge, form the largest Sword-Nurturing Gourd between heaven and earth."
"The smaller 'upper gourd' nurtures a sword whose blade is the Grand River Water Sword, and whose hilt is the Book-Scroll Lake."
"The larger 'lower gourd' is Northern Julu Continent, whose sword blade is the dragon vein of Middle Strip Mountain, and whose hilt is the Wood Garment Mountain and Ghost Realm Valley border, forming a pattern of 'earth dragon issuing pulse into the sea.'"
"Since this Sword-Nurturing Gourd is the largest in the world, the two flying swords it nurtures should match its scale. As for the person wielding the sword, they would be stationed at the Imitation Jade Capital. The ancient sage of Book-Scroll Lake and Mr. Cui would each wield the Grand River Water Sword and the Dragon Vein Mountain Sword respectively, specifically targeting those Ascension Realm demons fond of playing tricks. Earlier, the flying swords of the Imitation Jade Capital killing enemies was merely a layer of misdirection."
"Back then, our Great Li dynasty made long-term plans to deal with the wasteland demons. Mr. Cui intended from the start to fight and retreat to the north of Vase Bottle Continent, making a final stand at this Great Li capital. Among the nine secret plots were gathering sword immortals from various sides, establishing a sword cultivation sect, forging the two-continent Sword-Nurturing Gourd and the mountain-water dual swords, and blowing up both Old Dragon City and the old Southern Marchmount to bury countless wasteland demons—these were just one of them."
Xie Gou listened, exclaiming in awe repeatedly.
Xiao Mo was also shocked beyond words.
To be honest, as an ancient Daoist who had personally experienced that battle to ascend the heavens ten thousand years ago, he found it very difficult to hold later so-called wars in high regard.
Xie Gou glanced at her Mountain Lord. Knowing the Embroidered Tiger's heavens-spanning schemes now, when she looked back at that Great Li human Ascension painting, it didn't seem so remarkable anymore? Xie Gou recalled the Mountain Lord's earlier analogy, that self-mockery—how vivid. He said the Embroidered Tiger looked on coldly and said, "That's it?" Truly fitting for fellow disciples of the same school.
No wonder Chief Zhou said that if he had the help of Mr. Cui and City Lord Zheng, he too could achieve great feats.
Chen Ping'an's focus was a bit different.
People used to their utmost, objects used to their best, state resources used to their fullest. Clear boundaries, clear rewards and punishments, with precedents to follow. For instance, when the old emperor of Qiu Kingdom secretly colluded with demons, General Su Gaoshan directly broke into the imperial palace without a word, drew his blade, and cut off his head. Cui Chan could tolerate enough mistakes, including the various filth of human nature, even directly using the many base tendencies of human nature, allowing events to clash like metal and stone, ultimately subtly stirring the awe-inspiring spirit of sages and heroes within people's hearts.
For example, Old Patriarch Pang Yun of the Jade Boat School, no matter how much he cravenly clung to life and coveted fame and profit, still had to stay at the Grand River battlefield near the companion capital Luojing for a full three years before returning to the mountain. As for his junior nephew Fu Xian meddling in the internal chaos of Qiu Kingdom, Pang Yun was utterly contemptuous. Even if the Great Li had indeed lacked the Embroidered Tiger's presence in recent years, it wasn't something a small Qiu Kingdom could contend with. Truly not knowing their place.
On one hand, the Great Li dynasty permitted anything not forbidden by law, willing to give opportunities to try and err. But at the same time, during the process of promotion, they constantly corrected mistakes.
Song He's original intention was for Chen Ping'an to take the gourd vine frame and those Dragon-Slaying Stones directly.
In the end, Chen Ping'an took two Sword-Nurturing Gourds of decent rank from the top of the gourd vine frame, to nurture his destined flying swords "Northern Dipper" and "Green Duckweed" respectively.
In the corner of the sword room were also some Dragon-Slaying Stones, originating from the Pear Blossom Bead Cave Heaven. Chen Ping'an then selected two Dragon-Slaying Stones about the size of plinth bases, and had Xiao Mo cut each into two pieces, placing them inside three Sword-Nurturing Gourds, old and new, including the Jiang Gourd.
Song He felt a bit disappointed. As he himself said, he wasn't afraid of Chen Ping'an taking too much, but of him taking too little, especially not taking at all.
Fortunately, Chen Ping'an didn't say something like "borrow."
So Song He settled for the next best thing, letting Xiao Mo and Xie Gou each choose sword pellets or Dragon-Slaying Stones for themselves.
Xiao Mo smiled and declined the emperor's kindness. Xie Gou, with her usual "if you're polite to me, then I'll be impolite with you" temperament, picked two small Dragon-Slaying Stones on the spot. Not taking them for free, Xie Gou rubbed her sable cap and solemnly guaranteed to Emperor Song He that in the future, she would definitely select a personal disciple within the Great Li dynasty.
Song He smiled and went to the top of the gourd vine frame, took down a bright red Sword-Nurturing Gourd, and handed it to the sable-capped girl. "A preliminary wish for Vice-Chief Xie's successful disciple-taking."
He had noticed earlier that her gaze had lingered longingly on this item.
Xie Gou regretted deeply. If only she had said "one or two" instead. She shifted her gaze, glancing again at the gourd vine frame a couple of times.
Song He wasn't stingy, nor did he care about the ownership of one Sword-Nurturing Gourd. Leaving it there would just gather dust. Better to just give it to Bai Jing.
Xie Gou, however, was stopped by Xiao Mo, who reached out and pressed her sable cap, reminding her, "Know when to stop!"
She had to block the emperor, who had already started to move, and patted her chest to guarantee, "Your Majesty, I can see that we are both heroes and heroines who have read many books yet act decisively. In the future, if you take a disliking to any cultivator from another continent, just send me word. I guarantee to handle things beautifully and cleanly—stab him half to death or all the way—just pass the word!"
Song He was in high spirits hearing such bandit-like talk.
Chen Ping'an walked alone to a table. Inside three crystal-clear white jade boxes were three sword pellets, but only one booklet. He flipped through it casually, formed a plan, and tucked the jade box and booklet into his sleeve. He said, "Your Majesty, what I took earlier was for personal benefit. These are for official business. Because Fu Qing will soon return to the Xiaoyun dynasty, I plan to find her some helpers and make some preparations."
Song He smiled. "The National Teacher may handle it as he sees fit."
With this matter settled, Song He prepared to take his leave.
Chen Ping'an suddenly suggested they go together to the Seal Room. Song He didn't understand why, but treated it as a walk.
This room was filled with seals collected by the Great Li dynasty from various countries of Vase Bottle Continent. For the countries south of the Grand River, if they were newly established, it was fine—they could just make new seals. But those countries that had restored their rule under the banner of inheriting legitimacy were in a more awkward position. Besides remaking their own seals over the years, they had been repeatedly negotiating with the Great Li Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial, hoping to have these "dynastic" seals returned.
After all, even if they recast new seals according to the established regulations, the old seals stored by the Great Li would retain, or rather intercept, a portion of the state's destiny and dragon fortune. The impact on national fortune might not be too great, but the problem was that it would persist forever, like an old land deed that had never been officially transferred at the yamen.
In principle, since the Great Li had allowed the southern parts of Vase Bottle Continent to restore their states as agreed, the Song clan of Great Li should return these seals. But Cui Chan had once stated in a small court session, "As for these things—whether to return them, or when—let's discuss it later."
As a result, the person sitting in the imperial study's chair had changed, but there was still no resolution. It became a messy account.
Minister of Rites Zhao Duanjin could pretend ignorance, but the Court of State Ceremonial's director Yan Yongfeng had been harassed into a headache for over a year. His predecessor, Zhangsun Mao, had conveniently left for the Transmission Office, and had now transferred to become Minister of Personnel. Alright, today after the small court session adjourned, the nine chief ministers walked back to the Thousand Step Corridor. Zhangsun Mao proactively walked up to Yan Yongfeng, and the Minister smiled and reminded him, "Director Yan, that matter of the various states' seals—don't delay it! Whether to return them or not, we need a plan. It's not a big deal, but we can't exactly hold a full court debate over it, can we?"
Yan Yongfeng was short and sturdy, with slightly dark skin. Hearing this, his face turned even darker.
Thinking of those little bastards in his Court of State Ceremonial, who were still happily celebrating Elder Zhangsun Mao's promotion to Heavenly Official, always thinking that their court was half her mother's home for the old minister… that in the future, even if not partial, a bit of care within the rules would be reasonable… Yan Yongfeng wanted to call those whelps to his presence and curse them bloody.
Opening the door, Song He felt especially refreshed.
Xie Gou clicked her tongue. "Such heavy dragon qi, almost ready to manifest into spirits, isn't it?"
Xiao Mo nodded. In his vision, the room was filled with shelves stacked with various seals. Thin threads floated up, some slender like rice seedlings in the wind, some with thick fortune like little snakes in the fields, raising their heads. Each country's pile of seals faced off like hostile neighbors. Listening carefully, Xiao Mo could hear a faint hissing sound in the room, like snakes flicking their tongues, rising and falling.
For vast dynasties like the old Zhu Ying and Bai Shuang, since their state fortunes were severed, the dragon qi was thick but not high, like giant snakes coiled low, listless. Some small states displayed fortune in the shape of small flood dragons or juvenile chi dragons—slender but high.
Chen Ping'an opened the door but was the last to step over the threshold. When he entered the room, those dragon fortunes representing the nation's destiny immediately retracted back into the seals, temporarily hiding, as if every household had shut their doors tight.
Seeing this, Xie Gou couldn't help but laugh heartily.
Her Mountain Lord was like a local bully accustomed to oppressing the countryside, or an arrogant young master who had just taken to the streets to molest women and commit outrages.
Chen Ping'an tucked his hands into his sleeves, deliberately suppressing his aura. But those snake and dragon fortunes still refused to show themselves.
These extraordinary beings were naturally close to Song He, the legitimate Great Li emperor ruling a continent, yet also in awe of him.
But toward Chen Ping'an, who had succeeded Cui Chan as the Great Li National Teacher, they were filled with hostility and immense fear.
Additionally, because Chen Ping'an had once "entered a covenant" with the true dragon king Zhu, their fear was compounded.
Even though Vase Bottle Continent was the smallest of the nine Haoran continents, it was still known as the continent of a hundred states.
The total number of seals from various states exceeded a thousand. Some great dynasties had only five or six seals, while some small states had as many as thirty.
The greater the dignity of a person, the greater the dignity that should be given.
So Chen Ping'an spoke, "Your Majesty, our Great Li now has three choices. The first is to immediately destroy all obsolete old seals of states established in the south, and return those seals belonging to restored states. This is the most benevolent and righteous act."
Part of the seal fortunes seemed amnestied, leaping with joy, while those of old Zhu Ying and Bai Shuang dimmed gloomily.
"The second is to refine them all, completely merging them into the Great Li's dragon fortune to strengthen itself. This would yield the greatest profit for Great Li."
When Chen Ping'an said this, the entire room began to boil like water, uniting in opposition. They left the jade seals, shaking wildly.
Xiao Mo frowned slightly, swept his divine sense, and immediately it was like pouring cold water—those various state fortunes withdrew back into the seals.
Song He smiled. "May I ask Mr. Chen what the third choice is?"
Chen Ping'an said, "Still refining them, but different from the second. It would help them make a clean break from the previous dynasty's fortune. At the same time, like refining true gold in a great fire, we see if there's a chance to gather them together and form a 'qi fortune human form' of pure essence, secretly acting as the guardian of the Great Li Song clan."
"But doing so means the Great Li dynasty must treat it well, must treat it with courtesy. This is the rule of the Dao's ebb and flow. It's not about giving special treatment to those sitting on dragon thrones in the south; the Great Li dynasty certainly doesn't need to indulge them. Rather, Great Li must show more goodwill to the people of the southern mountains and rivers of Vase Bottle Continent."
"Whether it can condense a human form or not, once the Great Li dynasty issues a state decree, I believe the astronomical observatories of the newly established states will each sense this phenomenon of returning to the original owner. No verbal agreement is needed, nor any written contract. As for the restored courts inheriting legitimacy, regardless of size, no matter what the emperors, kings, generals, and ministers think, the dragon and serpent fortunes entrenched in each capital city will remember this goodwill from the Great Li Song clan. This act is neither saintly nor heroic—it's simply pragmatic."
Song He didn't hesitate. "United, both benefit. Let's choose that."
National Teacher Chen Ping'an proposed, and Great Li Emperor Song He seconded.
One's words followed the law, the other's mouth held heaven's mandate.
The room first erupted into clamor, then fell silent, and finally burst forth with dazzling light. There were strange signs of over a hundred rivers converging into one line.
Joining into a waterway.
Xiao Mo nodded inwardly, full of admiration.
Xie Gou "wow"ed again. Her Mountain Lord's possessions were growing increasingly numerous. Truly fitting for the Embroidered Tiger's junior brother.
But Xie Gou had a moment of realization. Some words she had never taken seriously or cared to heed before now drifted leisurely to the surface of her mind.
They, the ancient great demons who had slumbered for ten thousand years, with Xiao Mo's admission that he was among the top three in both offense and defense, had still been chased around by Bai Jing back then, forced to hide in Fallen Treasure Beach.
According to Bixiao Cave Lord, because of Bai Jing's exceptional talent and overly heavy killing intent, she had actually incurred heaven's disfavor.
Even someone as high-visioned as Zhi Ci, when he looked at Bai Jing, was willing to regard her as one of the finest Daoists in the world.
And given Bai Jing's long series of actions in ancient times—killing people and seizing goods, stealing Dao names, seizing treasures, severing traditions—she had incurred heaven's disfavor?
But early on, beside a tree, Bai Jing had once heard the Dao. That young Daoist had advised her, "Sow less grievances, and you won't incur heaven's punishment."
Xie Gou rubbed her chin, lost in thought. Indeed, she should seriously consider the matter of merging with the Dao. The debts owed to heaven and earth couldn't be avoided by hiding.
When Chen Ping'an and the others left this room, there was an extra being behind them—neither human nor immortal, neither god nor ghost.
Tall and slender, androgynous, with disheveled hair and exquisite features, dressed in yellow robes, barefoot, skin like curdled fat, with double pupils.
When it spoke, its voice was soft, and within its eyes, extremely fine golden threads swam. It had an extraordinary aura of nobility, and its Dao aura was extremely domineering.
The two sides agreed that it could not take a single step outside the Great Li capital.
It chose a name and a Dao title for itself: Song Yunjian, Dao title "Yingning."
Unexpectedly, there was such an unexpected joy. Emperor Song He returned to the imperial study.
Song Yunjian followed Chen Ping'an and the others back to the National Teacher's Residence, with extraordinary bearing, looking around proudly.
When he lingered for a moment under the peach tree, approaching the Grain in Ear season, it actually bloomed with a tree of golden peach blossoms.
Xiao Mo returned to Fallen Mountain, needing to go into seclusion for a period to stabilize his new realm.
Xie Gou stayed at the National Teacher's Residence, continuing as a bodyguard. With nothing much to do, she flipped through the travel books that Sister Rong Yu had procured for her.
Fu Qing still patrolled the courtyard on schedule, ignoring the strange figure named Song Yunjian standing under the peach tree.
Chen Ping'an sat alone in the study. The two green Sword-Nurturing Gourds he had just acquired—one stamped with ancient seal script reading "Qingcheng Mountain," the other with "Chaozhen Palace" engraved on the bottom.
The former came from Golden Armor Continent, the latter from the Wasteland Heaven.
Chen Ping'an remembered something and used his mind to ask Xie Gou, "Dog, when you were wandering in Northern Julu Continent, did you go to that Water Sutra Mountain?"
Xie Gou was sitting on a chair in Rong Yu's room, leaning back, feet on the table, reading a book. She replied, "Yes, of course I did. Those illusions and layers of mountain-water restrictions set up in that forbidden area weren't clever at all—very clumsy. From time to time, a blue treasure light would shoot up into the sky, very conspicuous."
"At first glance, I thought it was the gourd vine personally planted by the Dao Ancestor, so I snuck over. Ha, lucky that Confucian sage guarding the sky curtain was there at the time. In the old days, I would have pulled it out and run."
"That would have been extremely awkward. Later finding out about our tangled mountain relationships with Water Sutra Mountain—wouldn't that be like the flood washing over the Dragon King's temple? Not only would I have to return the gourd vine, but I would have to apologize and make amends, and even implicate our mountain's gate style and be misunderstood."
Chen Ping'an smiled upon hearing this. "Want me to reserve a Sword-Nurturing Gourd for you from Water Sutra Mountain?"
Xie Gou shook her head. "No need. Something happening fifteen or sixteen hundred years from now? With my temper, staring at it eagerly, I can't wait that long."
Chen Ping'an asked, "It takes that long?"
Xie Gou said casually, "If you're willing to throw money at it, I suppose you could shorten it to seven or eight hundred years. But the profit from selling the gourds would be far less, and it would also affect the quantity and quality of those gourds, which is very uneconomical. All things grow according to their own principles. Interfering with the heavenly Dao through human means—isn't that just pulling up seedlings to help them grow?"
Chen Ping'an was puzzled. "You can clearly see the harvest years of the Sword-Nurturing Gourds and the specific quantities?"
Xie Gou was even more puzzled. "Huh?"
Chen Ping'an decided not to discuss this matter with her further.
That gourd vine of Shao Yunyan's had successfully produced eight Sword-Nurturing Gourds. One was given to Chen Ping'an as a congratulatory gift for Fallen Mountain becoming a sect-level establishment.
The last one, also the best quality, Shao Yunyan sold to the Ascension Realm sword cultivator Bai Chang, reportedly for a sky-high price.
But for a once-in-a-lifetime deal like this, no matter what high price Shao Yunyan asked, as long as he was willing to sell, Sword Immortal Bai Chang had to be grateful.
Bai Chang naturally understood Shao Yunyan's intention—he hoped she would take extra care of that Water Sutra Mountain. Bai Chang was well aware of this; there was no need to make any verbal promises.
Before Inverted Mountain was taken back by Yu Dou, Shao Yunyan, who had built that Spring Banner Studio precisely to plant this gourd vine, had foreseen the coming great war. He had long since sent Liu Jinglong and Lu Sui, who had traveled together on the Sword Qi Great Wall, to take the gourd vine—of immortal military rank—back to Water Sutra Mountain in their homeland of Northern Julu Continent, selecting a feng shui treasure site to transplant it. If nurtured properly, perhaps in the next millennium, the gourd vine would bear a new string of Sword-Nurturing Gourd embryos.
Such a treasure among treasures, called immortal military rank only because that was the highest rank possible.
So Bai Chang, having bought that Sword-Nurturing Gourd, personally made a trip to Water Sutra Mountain to see the gourd vine with her own eyes, and pre-ordered one.
Later, after Fiery Dragon True Person successfully merged with the Dao, he also took time to visit Water Sutra Mountain Notes and pre-ordered a Sword-Nurturing Gourd for Prostrate Peak.
Thus, this gourd vine had truly returned to its hometown, settled firmly, and taken root.
Through a thousand years of painstaking management, Shao Yunyan had sold a total of eight Sword-Nurturing Gourds, representing eight substantial mountain goodwill ties.
Aside from Fallen Mountain and Bai Chang, the other six buyers were all long-famous old sword immortals of the Haoran world.
So Chen Ping'an entrusted Shao Yunyan with a task, handing him a piece of paper listing heavenly treasures and earth-shattering treasures related to "literary fortune," asking him to help purchase them, regardless of price.
He had long been considering Nuan Shu's "walking the river to transform into a flood dragon." But Nuan Shu's roots in the Dao were different from Chen Lingjun, who came from the Yujiang water snake. Nuan Shu was formed by the pure sun Lu Yan drawing talismans on beams to protect books in the past.
Previously, he had gone to great lengths to buy books, borrow calligraphy, and then refine characters. He was extremely meticulous, making requests to, for example, Zhongyue Jin Qing and the former Qiantang governor Cao Yong, all to forge a water fortune river. Combined with the talismans Lu Yan gave Nuan Shu, Chen Ping'an believed he had made thorough preparations. He was just waiting for the day Nuan Shu herself said she wanted to break through, and he would help her "walk the river" once. Naturally different from Chen Lingjun walking the waterway in the Northern Julu Continent Grand River—Nuan Shu's river walk, from start to finish, if there was even the slightest hitch, it would count as a failure for him, the Mountain Lord!
But after that fight with Jiang She, even though he accepted the other losses to his Dao, this matter alone infuriated Chen Ping'an until his liver hurt.
He couldn't help but utter a curse.
Fortunately, no one was around.
But he forgot about Song Yunjian, with the Dao title "Yingning," who was in the courtyard. He was obviously quite surprised.
Chen Ping'an called Rong Yu and Fu Qing, saying that the National Teacher's Residence would soon have a few more people. He also had them send word for Yuan Huajing and Song Xu to come here. At the same time, he gave Fu Qing a sealed letter to be sent to Gu Can at the Blessing Shaking Sect on Quanjiao Mountain, Blessing Shaking Continent.
Inside the golden, bald little man's slanted satchel, besides having shaken out Yu Shiwu and the others, there was also a Sword-Nurturing Gourd he had accompanied for many years. Currently, the "Jiang Gourd" was nurturing two flying swords: First Day and Fifteen.
Now, his human body's world was in chaotic obscurity. Although he had barely managed to "open an aperture like heaven's single eye," just maintaining this phenomenon was extremely difficult. Splitting off a mustard seed-sized grain of attention had to be done with extra caution. Something he had long been skilled at—refining objects—first required practice before he dared attempt to refine the two new and old National Teacher seals.
Yu Shiwu and the others, responsible for building the various illusionary realms, had naturally been able to detect that terrifying phenomenon of the realm returning to chaos. Not to mention Dou Kou, who was still pondering how to escape this cage, how unwilling she was—at that time, even Yu Shiwu felt despair. Only Xiao Xing remained calm, utterly unafraid, placing life and death aside. She just sat on that divine path staircase, her expression relaxed, lightly tapping her knees with her hands, humming a folk tune softly, waiting for heaven and earth to shatter.
Chen Ping'an flicked his sleeve, shaking Yu Shiwu and the others out of his sleeve-world miniature realm.
They each had their own feelings. Yu Shiwu took a deep breath and began to survey the surroundings—a study.
The cook, Yu Qing, subconsciously raised her hand to block the light, murmuring, "Finally see the light of day again."
Xian Zao and the sword cultivator Dou Kou exchanged a glance, each suspicious. Could it be that the Hidden Official had finally shown mercy for once, and they were being let out for air?
Only Xiao Xing moved first, without any restraint. Fortunately, she didn't step directly out the door into the courtyard.
Chen Ping'an had intended to ask where Luo Fumei was, but after a moment's thought, he had Xie Gou go and bring her directly here.
Yuan Huajing and Song Xu had just arrived at the National Teacher's Residence when Xie Gou quickly grabbed Luo Fumei from a ferry boat.
Luo Fumei was dizzy and disoriented, arriving in this unfamiliar courtyard, only to find a beautiful woman with narrow, slender eyes standing under a peach tree.
Everyone stood inside the study.
Chen Ping'an first introduced Fu Qing's identity, then said, "Song Xu, Yuan Huajing, and Luo Fumei, you will accompany Fu Qing to the Xiaoyun dynasty, get in touch with Su Lang, and help Fu Qing restore the state's fortune and ascend the throne as emperor. At the same time, you are responsible, together with Zhao Yao from the Ministry of Punishments, for investigating and assessing the Great Li spies and deep agents in a dozen or so surrounding countries. Then eliminate those characters who dare to play both sides. For specific handling, follow the Ministry of Punishments' regulations."
The Xiaoyun dynasty inherited roughly seven or eight tenths of the old Bai Shuang dynasty's territory, but the Spirit Flying Temple within old Bai Shuang's borders was not within Xiaoyun now. Spirit Flying Temple had first been upgraded from a temple to a palace, becoming a sect-level immortal family, then Celestial Lord Cao Rong—one of Lu Shen's direct disciples—left the mountain to travel far, and in the sea region between Northern Julu Continent and Ai'ai Continent, he broke into the Ascension Realm.
This caused deep regret among the Xiaoyun dynasty, both at court and among the common people.
Chen Ping'an looked at Song Xu and said, "If you need more hands to take south, pick whoever you want yourselves. Han Zhoujin and the others are also for you to arrange and assign. I will write you an order from the National Teacher's Residence; the Ministry of War and Ministry of Punishments will release the personnel. By the way, there is a spy named Huang Jie in the Qiu Kingdom capital. The Ministry of Punishments' Examination and Grinding Department has already interrogated him. He was indeed trained by Liu Wenjin of Qiu Kingdom. Take him along, and permit him to atone for his crimes by good deeds."
Not long ago, upon orders from the Ministry of Punishments, Su Lang had established a martial arts sect in the companion capital of the Xiaoyun dynasty, which was the old capital of the Bai Shuang dynasty. For now, it had little reputation.
Song Xu nodded.
Luo Fumei had just obtained a Third-Class Offering plaque from the Great Li Ministry of Punishments, but hadn't expected to have work so soon. While excited, she had a small regret—she hadn't yet officially reported for duty at the Ministry.
Fu Qing seemed about to speak, but hesitated.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Fu Qing, when you get there, you can first make a trip to the Southern Marchmount. You might even catch that grand Night Roaming Feast."
Fu Qing's eyes reddened, and she nodded silently.
Chen Ping'an said to Luo Fumei, "You can also select a few people from the Law-Keeping lineage within Fox Kingdom to take south. But remember, if any mistakes occur, the Ministry of Punishments will impose heavier, not lighter, penalties. Yuan Huajing, pass this word directly to Zhao Yao."
Luo Fumei's eyes lit up, her fighting spirit soaring.
After Fu Qing and the others left the study, Chen Ping'an looked at Yu Shiwu and the rest.
Yu Shiwu had already been removed from the True Martial Mountain's gold and jade registry.
The demon's true name was Xiao Xing, Dao title "Youren," green dharma robe named "Da Mao."
The cook from the Ma residence in Yongjia County, Yu Qing, was actually Cherry Green Robe, an alias of Gongsun Lingling.
Wasteland sword cultivator, Dou Kou. Guanghan City Snow Frost Department, Xian Zao.
Chen Ping'an said to Gongsun Lingling, "I've met Liu Taozhi and the others. There is a possibility for you to restore your identity."
Gongsun Lingling's cold expression vanished, replaced by utter disbelief.
Chen Ping'an said, "Xiao Pu of the Bamboo Basket Hall still owes me a not insignificant favor. Later, I'll arrange for you to meet."
The Hidden Justicers, who were expert in assassination and concealed identity, were divided into three lineages. The Western Mountain Sword Hermits were almost all sword cultivators. The Cherry Green Robes were all women. There was also another branch, nicknamed the Menders, the Bowl-Sawing Men, who served as officials in various countries' courts across the Haoran world outside Vase Bottle Continent.
Tears suddenly welled up in Gongsun Lingling's eyes. After a moment, with a complex expression, she clasped her fists toward the desk but said nothing.
Chen Ping'an nodded. "For now, you will all help out here. Rong Yu, you arrange their tasks."
Rong Yu smiled and accepted the order.
Then he had Rong Yu notify the Ministry of Punishments to investigate Wei Yueshan of the Green Mist Peak on Zhengyang Mountain. He and Liu Wenjin were both from the same county, Fragrant Flower County.
Chen Ping'an had borrowed a person from Gu Can's Blessing Shaking Sect.
Like Gongsun Lingling, she was an offering of the Ma clan of Yongjia County, an old woman at the Nascent Soul realm, alias Pu Liu, real name Xu Fu.
She, along with Huang Lie, Shen Ke, and others, had already established a sect in Golden Pear Continent, considered a branch of the Blessing Shaking Sect.
Gu Can naturally didn't care one way or the other. People like Xu Fu were dispensable—if they died outside, he wouldn't even bother to collect the corpse.
Xu Fu knew this clearly and felt no bitterness whatsoever. Now, this old woman's Dao heart was firm—not out of conceit, nor boast.
Before leaving, Gu Can specifically called her over for a brief chat. He told her to rebuild her temple in Vase Bottle Continent, restore her tradition. The day she broke through her realm in seclusion, the Blessing Shaking Sect would recognize that sect as a branch. If she couldn't break into the Upper Five Realms, she might as well not return to Blessing Shaking Sect for the rest of her life.
Old Patriarch Pang Yun of the Jade Boat School was a fake Nascent Soul, but she was a genuine Nascent Soul old immortal.
She had attempted seclusion twice, both extremely dangerous, and had never succeeded in breaking through.
Mentioning Xu Fu alone might not catch anyone's attention, but if her Dao title "Iron Bracelet" was announced, around the old Bai Shuang dynasty, everyone knew her.
Thirty to fifty years ago, a Nascent Soul realm in Vase Bottle Continent could walk sideways.
Li Tuanjing of Wind and Thunder Garden, Fu Qi of Old Dragon City, Zhu Huang of Zhengyang Mountain, the River-Cutting True Lord of Book-Scroll Lake, the head of the Xu clan of Pure Wind City… these people were all at the Nascent Soul realm back then.
Xu Fu had somehow learned the true tradition of Spirit Flying Temple. After her second failed seclusion, she entertained a vain hope of seeking a chance there. Naturally, she was looked down upon by Celestial One Cao; he wouldn't even meet her. But Xu Fu didn't dare to be presumptuous. After hitting a wall and being shut out there, the old woman certainly didn't dare to hold a grudge.
Instead, before leaving the mountain, she voluntarily apologized, "I am a foolish and obtuse person. I overstepped my bounds by setting foot in this treasure land and disturbing the Celestial One's cultivation."
If Xu Fu came forward to "support the dragon" for Fu Qing, wouldn't those surviving elders from the previous dynasty cry tears of joy? How many dynasties in Vase Bottle Continent could be described by historians as "governing with excessive leniency"?
Chen Ping'an wrote a personal letter, but did not send it directly from the National Teacher's Residence. Instead, he had Fallen Mountain send it by flying sword to Qi Tingji at the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, inviting him to the Great Li capital.
Zhangsun Mao filled the vacancy as Minister of Personnel. With the Ministry of Personnel as the lead, and the Transmission Office and Censorate as support, he immediately began preparations for the Great Li's new round of evaluation and assessment, held according to precedent in the Year of the Child, Dragon, and Monkey.
Early one morning, Chen Ping'an stood smiling at his door, looking at Lin Shouyi, who stood outside with an awkward expression.
It turned out that Lin Shouyi had sent a secret letter to his father, who was the chief official of the Timber and Collection Academy in Hong Province, roughly explaining the situation.
Lin Zhengcheng quickly sent back a family letter, telling Lin Shouyi to move immediately to the National Teacher's Office. There, he was to study for the imperial examinations while getting familiar with government procedures… In the letter, he also wrote about various overt and covert ways and rules of officialdom. From the tone, if Lin Shouyi failed the exams, he shouldn't expect a second letter. Regardless, this was the first time a family letter had such a large amount of text. Lin Shouyi had no choice but to steel himself and come to the National Teacher's Residence.
Since it was an official residence, naturally there was lodging.
Rong Yu noticed that when private meals were prepared, roughly about the time Lin Shouyi showed up, the National Teacher's manner of speech and expression were different.
Qi Tingji received the secret letter and rode his sword across the sea. Chen Ping'an had, of course, already informed the Imitation Jade Capital. Qi Tingji landed, went straight to the outskirts of the Great Li capital, submitted his papers, and walked on foot to the Thousand Step Corridor. Pedestrians stared at him all along the way—not because they recognized Qi Tingji's identity, but because this "young man" was exceptionally handsome.
Xie Gou led Old Sword Immortal Qi to the back courtyard, then busied herself with her own writing. Qi Tingji merely glanced at Song Yunjian.
Song Yunjian squinted and smiled.
Entering the study, Chen Ping'an had already brought two chairs; they each sat down.
Qi Tingji hadn't expected Chen Ping'an to propose going together to Ascension City in the Five Colors Heaven.
Qi Tingji smiled. "Has the Hidden Official already reported this to the Confucian Temple?"
Chen Ping'an nodded and smiled. "The Confucian Temple agreed, but we need to deduct a portion of merits."
Qi Tingji said, "No problem."
Calling Xie Gou, they reached the sky curtain and went to the Five Colors Heaven, but didn't head straight to Ascension City. Instead, their figures descended in the north.