Chapter 1188: Matters of Longevity, People of Peace

Chapter 1188: Matters of Longevity, People of Peace

The ancestral mountain of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect was named Zhu Jing. The earth and rocks there were a vivid red, and in morning and evening, crimson mists often coiled like dragons overlooking the sea from the mountains. The remaining continuous peaks stood tall like slender green bamboo, and from the summits emerged thirty-six types of cloud vapors, conjuring various mirage-like phenomena. Misty, ethereal palaces and pavilions drew water transport day and night. Waves crashed against the cliffs, stirring up foam like flying snow. What a sight: a jade mountain of clouds and waters, where all phenomena were guests, the cosmos floated day and night, and the sound of home echoed.

Chen Ping'an walked quickly up to Liu Tui and his group, cupping his hands in a smile. "We meet again since parting at Quanjiao Mountain."

Liu Tui and the others returned the greeting, addressing him as Hidden Officer, Mountain Lord, and Chen the Sword Immortal—all titles were used.

Many unfamiliar faces put away their playful glances or the aloof attitudes they had shown toward Liu Tui and his party, turning to face these visitors along with Chen Ping'an. As for polite pleasantries, they were skipped; their friendship wasn't that close.

Qi Tingji had not deliberately concealed the existence of these private swords from Liu Tui, but this was the first time they had actually met face to face. When Liu Tui last visited the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect for its sect celebration, Gao Shuang, Zhu Su, and the others had not yet come to the All Under Heaven world. They had stayed in the Suspended Bow Blessed Land since then, and even Wu Manyan and her group had only recently, thanks to that old boatman, gotten to see these sword immortals' true forms.

Liu Tui hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not use his heart voice. He spoke openly, "The ownership of Bixiao Mountain has been confirmed. The heart of Tianyao Township, which had been suspended in anxiety for thousands of years, can finally settle down along with this ancestral mountain. This is a debt of gratitude as great as rebirth. It's not just me, Liu Tui, who owes you, Hidden Officer Chen—our founding patriarch and all the successive patriarchs owe it, as does the entire orthodox lineage of Tianyao Township."

"From now on, as long as I, Liu Tui, am still the sect master, the Tianyao Township and the lower sect of Liuxia Continent, totaling over twenty-seven hundred registered cultivators, are at your command without a second word. As long as it's not rebellion against the Literary Temple, rest assured, wherever you point, Hidden Officer Chen, we will strike."

"These words may sound like empty rhetoric, but from my side, Liu Tui, they are not in the slightest bit false. Sect Master Qi can vouch for me."

Qi Tingji smiled and nodded. "Chen the Guest Elder, Qi Tingji can act as guarantor for Liu Tui. Among the three western continents, there's a saying that is quite popular: what Liu Tui says can be directly used as banknotes."

Chen Ping'an laughed. "How would I, a junior, dare to casually command Tianyao Township? If I truly have a request, we'll discuss it properly."

Liu Tui felt a small doubt. What was this about 'sect master' and 'guest elder'? When had Qi Tingji become a guest elder of Fallen Mountain?

Nie Cuie was startled by Liu Tui's words. What did he mean by 'anything except rebellion is fine'? And what was that strange phrasing about settling Bixiao Mountain, the ancestral mountain of Tianyao Township, as if it were falling into a bag?

Jing Hao was familiar with the old history of Bixiao Mountain but deliberately did not reveal the celestial secrets to Nie Cuie or Gao Geng. Such secrets were better left unknown. For example, Qinggong Mountain was similarly only rented out, and apart from the verbal transmission between the two mountain lords, no third person could possibly know.

What made Liu Tui uncomfortable was that he clearly understood the level of the people standing on the observation deck: Ning Yao, Qi Tingji, Lu Zhi. And then there was the person who had just been on land and delivered two sword strikes toward the sea, along with the girl in a marten hat beside him—she too looked like a very powerful and fierce sword immortal.

Liu Tui was extremely perceptive about 'fellow travelers' in terms of conduct. The girl in the marten hat with the strange name—her gaze, demeanor, and especially the subtle intonation of her speech—were all vividly clear to him. He knew for sure that among these sword immortals, she was the most ruthless in action, and her swordsmanship was at least on par with Qi Tingji's.

In his youth, Liu Tui had had an opportunity to learn an ancient physiognomy technique: discerning a person by listening to their voice.

This 'Xie Gou' was definitely someone who would eat people without spitting out bones.

'Summit' cultivators often speak loosely. Even within the 'summit' level, there were three grades and nine classes. For example, a strong flying ascender versus a weak flying ascender—a single word's difference was not measurable by mere miles.

He looked down on the new flying ascender of Tianyu Cave Heaven, Shu Nanyuan. Did he think that someone like Lu Zhi, who bore the title of 'pure sword cultivator' as a flying ascender, would look up to him, Liu Tui of Tianyao Township?

Nie Cuie felt terribly out of place. She was even more mismatched than Liu Tui. Suppressed by an intangible aura, her Dao heart felt stagnant. Besides her insufficient realm, it was more because she was not a sword cultivator, and this place had far too many sword cultivators.

After all, she was a young Jade Realm cultivator who had heard the word 'genius' so often since childhood that it had worn out her ears. She was also a high disciple of an old flying ascender like Jing Hao, a regional lord of the continent. Yet standing in the square outside the founder's hall of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, Nie Cuie didn't even feel like opening her mouth to speak.

Fortunately, she finally saw that a figure as domineering as Liu Tui could also 'eat humble pie.' Greatly surprised, she felt a surge of relief. Her mind was filled with one thought: 'Liu Tui, even you have a day like this?'

On the other hand, the three sword cultivators, including Hua Qinggong, despite their moderate realms, vaguely sensed a resonance of Dao techniques. Aside from being a little restrained, they were not overly uncomfortable. After all, at Quanjiao Mountain, they had fought side by side with that group of sword immortals like Song Pin.

The three sword cultivators, meeting the young Hidden Officer and Sword Immortal Ning Yao again, all felt a subtle new sensation. They thought Ning Yao's Dao strength had deepened, and Chen Ping'an seemed even more casual?

As for Nie Cuie's journey with Qinggong Mountain, it was not entirely to accompany her friend Hua Qinggong on pleasure trips or to try her luck at Bixiao Mountain in Tianyao Township. Rather, at Quanjiao Mountain, her master had given her a decree: roughly meaning she should travel with Hua Qinggong and see if there was a chance to go together to Bottle Gourd Continent to visit Fallen Mountain. Her junior brother Gao Geng had made a few friends there, quite extraordinary. Once there, she was to be sparing with words, speak little, and pay special attention to a green-clad boy with the Dao name Jing Qing. If fate allowed them to meet in a certain mountain, she was to invite him to visit Qinggong Mountain, saying that their old friend Jing of Qinggong Mountain extended a warm invitation, and missed the early morning drinks. Furthermore, she was not to add any superfluous actions, especially not to underestimate or slight this Daoist friend Jing Qing...

In short, her master's words were obscure, strange, and circuitous, quite unlike his usual decisive style. What was this about having an early morning drink together? Some kind of mountain code or trick? Something unusual always indicated a demon. Nie Cuie dared not be the least bit careless. She had been thinking it over the whole way, repeatedly pondering, and concluded: when she arrived at Fallen Mountain—no, when she landed in Bottle Gourd Continent—she would simply uphold the principle of 'reverence.' Seek no merit but avoid fault, be kind to all, and that should be fine.

Liu Tui felt a bit embarrassed, so he used his heart voice to say, "Even if I have to sell everything, within the next decade, Tianyao Township will scrape together a treasure of immortal soldier rank to make up for the Hidden Officer's opening mountain gift."

The reason the Liuxia Boat was moving so slowly was that Liu Tui had been busy with this matter, secretly contacting acquainted Daoist friends on various continents to see if there was a way to purchase an immortal soldier. He had even prepared to lease out part of the White Porcelain Cave Heaven. Liu Tui had thought that if he could secure an immortal soldier during the journey, he could be a bit more assertive when they arrived at Fallen Mountain.

But unfortunately, these days, every summit immortal on every continent was eager to ascend. Who wasn't scrambling to seek the Dao, trying to advance further? If they could have an immortal soldier attuned to their life, at best they could refine it as a natal object, or failing that, as a foundation for their Dao field, adding twenty to thirty percent confidence in achieving the Dao. So it was indeed not a good time to acquire an immortal soldier; they were already rare, and the prices were inflated.

In fact, at the Fallen Treasure Shoal there were still two or three rare treasures that, by rank, were undoubtedly ancient immortal soldiers, and they still had no owner. But Liu Tui dared not act on that. He was afraid that as soon as Tianyao Township started digging for treasure, Cave Lord Bixiao would send down a decree, reprimanding Tianyao Township and holding Liu Tui accountable.

'The poor Daoist just gave you a Bixiao Mountain and the Fallen Treasure Shoal, and Tianyao Township starts playing the prodigal, liking to be generous at others' expense? Since this is how you guard the mountain and shoal, Liu Tui, bring all the ancestral hall portraits and spirit tablets and come to the Viewing Dao Temple for a talk...'

Chen Ping'an did not explicitly accept or refuse the offer of an immortal soldier. He just said politely, "Too kind."

Liu Tui understood the subtle hint. He knew that whether it was 'too kind' or not, the true principle was that 'courtesy never hurts.' Buying an immortal soldier was indeed a headache now, but the worry was temporary, while the protective talisman would last millennia. Liu Tui knew the priorities.

You, Jing the old man of Qinggong Mountain, have Chen Qingliu, with the Dao name 'Green Emperor,' as your backing. Now, doesn't Liu Tui and Tianyao Township also have one?

The reason the conversation had not been in heart voices was that Liu Tui deliberately said it for those who were paying attention, like Nie Cuie and Hua Qinggong beside him.

Chen Ping'an pointed to Xiao Mo beside him. "I dare not take the credit. The one who truly helped Tianyao Township say a good word to the old temple master was our Xiao Mo. He and the old temple master are old friends with a deep bond. If I had gone to the Viewing Dao Temple, I wouldn't have been any help. I'd probably have made things worse. Being turned away at the door would have been a good outcome."

Liu Tui was inwardly shocked. Friends with Cave Lord Bixiao? And 'deep bond' at that?

Earlier, out among the human world, starting from the sea, crossing the world, a sword light of infinite meaning—the one who delivered the sword was not Ning Yao? But this courteous 'young' sword cultivator?

Xiao Mo's expression was normal. He used his heart voice to say, "Earlier, on your orders, I visited Bright Moon Brilliant Radiance alone. At the wine table in the temple, Daoist Bixiao made it clear: he also used Tianyao Township's hand to perform both wealth and Dharma charity across the three continents. The treasures he deliberately left behind at the Fallen Treasure Shoal back then—Tianyao Township was able not to be greedy, allowing foreign cultivators to take them away as fated. Over a hundred minor Dao lineages have since branched out and flourished across the territory of the three continents. It was no easy feat. The successive patriarchs of Tianyao Township have proven their Dao heart is usable. So giving a mountain and a shoal to Tianyao Township is a matter of reciprocating courtesy. You, Liu Tui, need not feel guilty; just take them. But then again, if Tianyao Township had done things badly over the years and lost its virtue at the end, Daoist Bixiao would have had a different speech. Liu Tui, would you like to hear it?"

Liu Tui felt as if the old temple master himself were standing there. He quickly straightened his robe, made hand seals, and took a solemn stance. Steeling himself, he said, "This junior is willing to listen to the teachings of Cave Lord Bixiao."

He didn't really want to hear it, but could he refuse? Well, at least it would confirm whether his guess was correct.

"It's not really a teaching," Xiao Mo transmitted. "'Let both the old and new sect masters of Tianyao Township come to the temple gate for a few words.'"

Liu Tui was stunned into silence.

Only then did Qi Tingji smile and explain to them, "During the ancestral hall meeting just now, I have already stepped down as sect master, retaining only the position of guest elder. Chen Ping'an has taken the position of sect master, Shao Yunyan is deputy sect master. There have been some other changes in positions. I won't go into details. Hua Qinggong is now a registered guest elder of the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, while Yan Houdao and Tian Xian are even offering masters of the Green Duckweed Sword Sect. They are all our own people."

Liu Tui and the others were greatly surprised and started offering congratulations again.

Qi Tingji continued, "If you hadn't happened to pass by, we would have already set out for the Great Li capital to attend a celebration of Sect Master Chen. On the day of Mang Zhong, Chen the Sect Master will officially take the title of Great Li National Teacher."

Even Liu Tui was numbed by now. The group offered congratulations again—they had to.

Chen Ping'an turned to look at Shao Yunyan, Gao Shuang, and the others, smiling as he said, "It's just as the old saying goes: 'Arriving early is not as good as arriving at the right time.' Guest Elder Hua has a high enough realm and is also fated to bond with our Dragon Elephant Sword Sect. Deputy Sect Master Shao, High Overseer Gao, and Wealth God Zhu—what do you think? How about..."

Gao Shuang had no particular thoughts; he was still preoccupied with how to convince Huang Ling to change his identity. But Shao Yunyan and Zhu Su exchanged a few heart-voice comments and both felt it was no problem. So Hua Qinggong was transformed from a guest elder into an offering master.

Hua Qinggong had originally thought merely obtaining a guest elder position at the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect was enough. Now there was such a good thing?

Yan Houdao and Tian Xian, an earth immortal couple, had originally set out on this trip to register their names on the Green Duckweed Sword Sect's genealogy as nominal offering masters. After the entire Ruicheng Dragon King Hall, especially the branch of the Fanshi Princess Temple where Patriarch Hong was, learned of this, they gave full support and even asked Yan Houdao to make sure he invited the young Hidden Officer to visit Ruicheng and the Fanshi Princess Temple.

Xie Gou had a good impression of the little girl Tian Xian. She wasn't the least bit timid when facing trouble. She thought back to Wang Jia—back then, the entire Fuyao Continent thought he was a flying ascender realm? Tian Xian was only a golden core, yet she dared to provoke him face to face. When she eventually entered the upper five realms, she'd probably cut down a flying ascender! She had the right temperament, a good affinity. She had to find a chance to teach her one or two sword techniques.

Yan Houdao tentatively explained the situation, and Chen Ping'an nodded with a smile. "No problem. I've long planned to tour the various continents of the All Under Heaven world. I will definitely come to visit when the time comes, but I can't set a specific date yet."

Yan Houdao sighed with relief and laughed. "If Mr. Chen arrives in Ruicheng early, we can finish the tasks assigned by the hall master and Patriarch Hong sooner. If you come late, we can meet our patriarchs who are usually in long seclusion and rarely appear. Either way, it's good."

Xiao Mo smiled knowingly. That was a well-spoken line that showed skill.

But Xie Gou's attention, besides being on 'little girl' Tian Xian, was more on Nie Cuie. Fortunately, Nie Cuie had a young girl's appearance. When she noticed Xie Gou's gaze, she just assumed the girl in the marten hat was curious about some mountain sayings or something, and didn't think much of it.

The more Xie Gou looked at her, the more she felt that the creation of heaven and earth was somewhat partial. Xie Gou marveled inwardly: 'Wow, this Nie Cuie is really good-looking. Standing there, she's like a vertical scroll painting of a beauty. No matter how you look, it's pleasing to the eye and a feast for the eyes.'

Nie Cuie was indeed a born beauty, to the point that when she went out she had to use two layers of disguising techniques to deliberately reduce her allure.

Song Pin, who was equally famous as Nie Cuie, was also pretty, of course. But this female sword immortal had a cold expression, distant brows and eyes, and carried the sword 'Fuyao' on her back, keeping people at a distance. Song Pin was at a disadvantage in comparison; she wasn't as voluptuous and alluring as Nie Cuie, who stirred the heart. If Nie Cuie learned that ancient divine ability to seduce from her, wouldn't that be something?

If she taught the Dao and Nie Cuie succeeded by chance, just standing in a crowd, she could silently refine the gazes and hearts of others, all turning them into nourishment for her own great Dao. Wouldn't her Dao power shoot up? Should she teach or not?

It wasn't as simple as teaching swordsmanship; it involved the inheritance of an entire ancient lineage. Xie Gou still had to be careful.

Earlier, on the Liuxia Boat, Nie Cuie had concealed her hand in her sleeve, secretly pinching a Qinggong Mountain secret hand seal to test the toughness of that crystalline mirror surface. The spiritual energy condensed by the hand seal took the form of a tiny, translucent, emerald-green spirit snake. It suddenly darted into the water, growing in size among the blue waves. The snake, as thick as a bucket, was as fast as lightning. With a light tap—as if bowing its head—it silently struck the sword-qi mirror surface on the seafloor. Instantly, ripples spread in concentric circles, layer upon layer radiating outward, dazzling and beautiful, like a mural. With just that tap, the moment it touched, it suffered the backlash of the sword qi there. The emerald qi snake burst apart with a bang, and the mirror surface was completely unharmed.

When Liu Tui steered the Liuxia Boat to shore, Nie Cuie looked back at the sea. The sword qi had carved a chasm into the ocean. The water on both sides was blocked by the long-lasting sword qi and could not close. Then, when Nie Cuie followed Liu Tui through the mountain gate arch and flew to the observation deck of the ancestral mountain, leaning on the railing to look out, she found that the sword qi had still not dissipated. The chasm in the sea remained, a startling sight.

Nie Cuie found it unbelievable. What realm of sword cultivator could have such profound Dao power?

At the time, she was nervous, wondering if Old Sword Immortal Qi had been sparring with that 'youth'?

Earlier, she had only seen the silhouette of the sword receiver on the sea, who seemed to be a sword immortal in the form of a youth. Now he stood beside a young cultivator in a yellow hat holding a green bamboo staff. That 'youth' was blushing, his eyes sparkling, as if listening to a lecture. Next to them was a girl in a marten hat with flushed cheeks. She looked a bit cute and naive, hopping up and down, shaking her arms and swinging her hands?

As for the sword deliverer on the shore, each sword strike was more vast in sword qi than the last, causing her vision to blur. What she saw seemed as if the whole world of heaven, earth, clouds, and water was shaking. Nie Cuie dared not use any divine abilities to probe, afraid of violating taboo and ruining the task her master had given her. This trip would then be a waste, and she would have no merit at all.

Nie Cuie was disturbed and uncertain—could the sword deliverer not be Old Sword Immortal Qi, but this young man in a yellow hat?

She was cautiously observing Xiao Mo and the girl in the marten hat.

Xie Gou was also scrutinizing this beauty with the Dao name 'Man Po'.

Xie Gou used her heart voice to ask, "Xiao Mo, what do you think of Nie Cuie's cultivation aptitude?"

Xiao Mo replied, "Not bad."

Xie Gou pressed, "Then do you think she's better or worse than that little girl from the fox kingdom, the one with no Dao name yet called Qiu Qing?"

Xiao Mo frowned slightly, roughly guessing Xie Gou's thoughts, and immediately denied, "Daoist Man Po is not from the fox clan, and she's Jing Hao's personal disciple. Are you thinking of teaching her fox clan divine abilities? How many mountain taboos does that violate? Count them yourself. Is it appropriate?"

Among the ancient Daoists, there had been a fox clan leader, peerlessly seductive, who could charm the mortal world. She had two Dao names: 'The Lesser Thief' and 'Disastrous Water.' Outside her Dao field of Green Hill, she had also gathered followers and caused a huge commotion at a place called Mizhi, which was now near Yeluo River. Xiao Mo, after awakening at Bright Moon Brilliant Radiance, and especially after reuniting with Xie Gou in Bottle Gourd Continent, had been wondering: why hadn't this celestial fox reappeared to go see Bai Ze with Xie Gou and the others?

Xie Gou grinned, "That stinky fox, that wanton hussy, that wicked woman. Back then, not long after I ascended, she blocked my path and tried to seduce me."

Xiao Mo asked doubtfully, "You two have such a great Dao enmity?"

Xie Gou rubbed her marten hat, looking aggrieved. "It's true. The situation was dangerous, terrifying."

Xiao Mo thought for a moment, then said, "Find some time. We'll report to the young master, and also inform the Middle-Earth Literary Temple and Lord Bai Ze that it's a personal grudge, not involving any outsiders. We'll go to the Wildlands and find her."

After some casual chat, it was time to set off.

First, they had to send Dong Bude and the group of private swords to the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect's private immortal ferry. They were not in a hurry to fly; they would just walk down the mountain.

Xie Gou's counterfeit Three Mountain Talismans required visualizing the three mountains to be activated. The distances between islands in the sea were often great, not suitable for a long journey. On the way, it was easy to have problems—at best, they could get lost, sword cultivators falling into the sea and becoming drenched chickens; at worst, their souls could be damaged by the impact of water calamities. If some direction-blind ones ended up in Tongye Continent or North Kuru Continent, delaying the celebration, that would be a real mess.

Then Liu Tui delivered a Liuxia Boat—just when they needed a pillow to sleep on, someone brought one.

"Carefree spirit roaming for a thousand years, envisioned mountains majestic."

On the way down the mountain, the girl in the marten hat raised her arm, two fingers together, and imitating the opera style she had just learned from a makeshift troupe in the market, she told others that the Three Mountain Talisman was of no ordinary quality. Earlier, on the steps of the Ascension City, and before leaving Ascension City, during two 'stall clearances,' one hand paying, one hand delivering goods, neat and tidy, Xie Gou had sold 'some' Three Mountain Talismans to Qi Shou, who was a prison official. She still had two stacks left. She thought she was experienced in business; if she put out too much at once, they wouldn't seem as priceless.

Xie Gou wiggled her two fingers and spoke slowly, "Therefore, this talisman is called the Leisurely Talisman. A peculiar person of great merit and virtue from early years, whom I met by chance on the road. Seeing my firm determination to learn the Dao, he tested me repeatedly and finally agreed to teach me this superior immortal talisman. On parting, the divine man repeatedly urged me to promote this talisman and not use it recklessly for crooked ways, but to walk the right path and accumulate good deeds..."

Xiao Mo listened with a headache. Apart from the talisman being counterfeit, not a single word of hers was true.

After carefully asking about the methods and effects of using the talismans, Hua Qinggong and Nie Cuie were quite tempted, and Liu Tui was even more tempted. But when he asked the price and it was only a Guyu coin, Liu Tui began to hesitate. So cheap—was there a trap?

If that 'Xiao Mo' were selling the talismans, Liu Tui would have bought them all without a second word. But this 'Xie Gou' was hawking so hard, and Liu Tui felt there was something fishy.

Qi Tingji casually asked with a smile, "Should we call Xie Songhua, Situ Jiyu, and the others to join the ceremony?"

Chen Ping'an shook his head. "Everyone is very busy. It's not necessary to travel across continents. The journey alone is not easy."

Ning Yao said, "Actually, we could have a good gathering. Since City Lord Qi, Xiao Mo, Doggy, and the others are all here, not just those children, but also Zhu Jiu and the others, they could ask all their sword-training problems in one go. It's a rare opportunity. Perhaps a casual sentence or two could be better than years of misunderstanding in their solitary training."

Xiao Mo nodded in agreement. "Young master, Mountain Lord Madam's consideration is more thorough."

Xie Gou bobbed her head like a chick pecking rice. "I am an absolutely top-notch hand at teaching swordsmanship! The great master, the head honcho—I'm not living on a false reputation."

Chen Ping'an shook his head. "Let's skip the capital celebration this time. We'll wait until the next joint discussion of the three sects."

Ning Yao nodded.

Ever since that sword duel, Mei Dandang had made up his mind to cling to Mr. Xiao Mo.

In the earlier sparring, the first sword Xiao Mo delivered was suppressed to the consummate immortal realm, and the second sword was only flying ascension.

Moreover, Xiao Mo had measured Mei Dandang's immortal realm foundation with the first sword and held back a lot.

Mei Dandang still couldn't take it at all. Xiao Mo couldn't be bothered to deliver a third sword. See what kind of fourteen realms' Dao scenery? See it with his life?

When Mei Dandang returned to the observation deck, he stayed by Mr. Xiao Mo's side, refusing to move. Xiao Mo spoke bluntly, saying his foundation was good but he had too many wrong paths, listing a series of details that needed adjusting. When speaking about the Dao and discussing the sword, Xiao Mo's aura underwent a complete transformation, unrelated to Dao qi or sword intent. When sword cultivators talked about swords, it was no joke.

Xie Gou also casually added a few 'words of gold and jade' on the side. Mei Dandang gained insights from their words, his emotions stirred.

Chen Ping'an listened to a few words but didn't understand much, or he understood but couldn't do it. Any simple principle Xiao Mo or Xie Gou mentioned would involve detailed studies like the flow, rising and falling, and circulation of sword qi through dozens of qi apertures, and the speed and subtlety of sword qi had to vary from person to person and from place to place. Looking at Ning Yao and Lu Zhi, they could both join in and offer different views.

Mei the Great Sword Immortal was also quite lacking in perception. He even asked the Hidden Officer if he had any lofty insights. Chen Ping'an smiled faintly, gritted his back teeth, and said no.

But Xie Gou secretly tipped him off: Mei Dandang was even more impressed by the Hidden Officer's unfathomable depth. Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded. 'Insightful.'

For this group of new private swords from Ascension City, whether it was the overall direction or details, they had already been carefully reminded at two places: Ascension City and the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect's ancestral hall. Chen Ping'an had no more instructions, just telling them to be extremely careful when out alone, not to be too eager for quick success. Neither he nor Ascension City had any assessment in mind. They should just treat this as a red-dust training journey, going where fate leads. If they encountered an insurmountable difficulty or a tough opponent, don't think of anything else. Remember one thing: don't bear the burden alone. Feel free to call in helpers to gang up on them.

He saw them all the way to the immortal ferry named 'Cool Clear Place.' Later today, two cross-continent ferry boats would pass by in succession, heading to Fuyao Continent and the Central Earth Divine Continent. Dong Bude didn't need to choose; she just had to fly alone on her sword to the Rain Dragon Sect.

Just now, Ning Yao and Lu Zhi had talked to Dong Bude about something—what it was, no one knew.

Liu Tui used his divine ability to move the Liuxia Boat over here, and Qi Tingji and the others boarded the boat together.

Liu Tui had originally intended to visit Bottle Gourd Continent anyway. Hua Qinggong had no reason not to go along. Nie Cuie had accompanied him halfway across Fuyao Continent; Hua Qinggong couldn't just abandon her once they reached South Bodhisattva Continent. Besides, Hua Qinggong also wanted to see the Great Li Dynasty in Bottle Gourd Continent. Moreover, Piyun Mountain was right next door to the young Hidden Officer's Fallen Mountain. Lord Wei's night tour feast—who in the All Under Heaven world hadn't heard of it?

'If there is no moon on this night, this year's autumn is wasted.' That refers to the Mid-Autumn Festival—how could one not see the reunion moon? By the same logic, when in Bottle Gourd Continent, one must visit the former Lizhu Cave Heaven and see Piyun Mountain, known as the best night tour feast under heaven, to make the trip worthwhile.

Hua Qinggong's ancestral home was in Guo Prefecture. Her clan's ancestor had been a great flying ascender cultivator, a female Daoist of complete merit. According to the orthodox historical records of the Literary Temple, 'The female Daoist of Guo Prefecture, Hua Lingfu, drew talismans at the Blessing Holy Palace and ascended as a rainbow in broad daylight' was confirmed beyond doubt. Unfortunately, over the past two thousand years, none of the clan's descendants had inherited the Dao Dharma lineage or studied the great path of talismans. Hua Qinggong carried a broken cave heaven as her Dao field, named 'Water Hall,' which was the place where that female ancestor had achieved the Dao and ascended.

Re-boarding the boat, Hua Qinggong opened the restrictions of the Water Hall in her room, revealing this unusually precious Dao field. Not only did she invite Nie Cuie and a few others, but also the girl in the marten hat, who called her 'Sister Hua.' Near a pavilion in the Water Hall, abundant water transport, dense spiritual energy, and golden fish painted with talismans swam in the air, gently circling the pavilion pillars, wagging their heads and tails, with lotus flowers and leaves standing as if in water... They felt as if they were inside an underwater crystal palace.

Xie Gou stood outside the pavilion, hands on her hips.

A couplet: 'Combing hair, knocking teeth, laying hands, washing feet—matters of longevity; planting flowers, reading, farming fields, weaving cloth—people of peace.' The horizontal plaque read: 'When the Wind and Moon Come.'

Chen Ping'an did not hurry to board the Liuxia Boat. He stayed behind with Fan Dache and Dong Bude to chat a bit more.

He made an appointment with them: after they chose a foothold on some continent, they should visit the National Teacher's Mansion in the Great Li capital. A Nurturing Sword Gourd and a sum of immortal money were their 'salary' as secret offering masters of the Great Li Ministry of Justice. They could keep the sword gourd for themselves. As for the immortal money, they could use it to buy Dharma treasures and spiritual artifacts from the Great Li national treasury. Chen Ping'an would inform Vice Minister Zhao Yao, who was in charge of the ministry, in advance. This guy had been to Ascension City; he was one of their own. He and Chen Ping'an would mark the prices privately, and they could choose according to their own affinity and what they needed for sword refining. This matter had to go through the Great Li small court meeting process and would be recorded in the books, so they couldn't be too blatant. They understood. If there were any extra items they liked, they could just speak up and not worry about whether it was a bargain. As National Teacher, Chen Ping'an would cover the cost out of his own pocket.

Fan Dache suddenly spoke up. "Hidden Officer, can I change my mind and also go to some continent for training?"

Chen Ping'an laughed. "Good."

That was Fan Dache's personality—once he made a decision, he hesitated again.

Chen Ping'an smiled wryly. "If you don't toast me when we sit at the table, does that mean I can't drink?"

A female sword cultivator said with a grin, "Hidden Officer, if I say a few words to you with my heart voice, can Ning Yao hear them?"

Chen Ping'an was on high alert. It wasn't really about whether Ning Yao could hear. The Dragon Gate realm female sword cultivator, however, ignored that. With a normal expression and calm tone, she first mentioned the name of an old friend, then said that her friend often frequented a wine shop, etc.

Chen Ping'an was silent for a moment, then finally said, "The All Under Heaven world is, after all, not the Sword Qi Great Wall. The red dust rolls on, flowers are thick, willows are dense, wealth and honor, fame and fortune are shackles. Whether it's good or not, you will all certainly experience it firsthand. Don't be too afraid, and don't just retreat. Walk right through the lively places. I only hope that you often look back at the road you came from, and occasionally reflect on what it means to be a pure sword cultivator. I believe you will all gain something. The mountains and waters are far and wide. Take care a thousand times. We'll meet again."