Chapter 1189: Tomorrow
The Liuxia Boat set off, traveling thousands of miles in an instant, leaving a long trail on the sea of clouds like a carpenter's ink line.
Since they were in a hurry, Liu Tui didn't mind the spiritual energy consumption and pushed the Liuxia Boat to its maximum speed.
Chen Ping'an knocked on the door of the cabin. Ning Yao opened it, holding a book in her hand. Chen Ping'an glanced at the cover—it was a public-case novel of the storytelling genre.
Ning Yao said she wanted to see Chen Ping'an's current condition. Chen Ping'an held his breath, opened the layers of prohibitions, and bared the heart of his personal world.
She condensed a mustard-seed of mind spirit and carefully examined Chen Ping'an's heart-image world. Amidst the chaos, signs of the primal chaos breaking open appeared. In the sky, a huge hole manifested in the thick cyan clouds, like a god opening an eye. The "sight" within that gaze revealed an infinite heavenly light pouring down onto the human world, magnificent like a sun that was constantly melting.
A massive tornado drawing in the cyan sky kept circling around the golden foundations that were constantly melting, falling, solidifying, and growing thicker and taller. This land tornado, infused with spiritual energy, Dao resonance, fist techniques, and sword intent, spun tirelessly across the earth with a lonely posture like a seeker of kindred spirits. It carried a vast, ancient aura, heavy and silent, like an ancient shaman who stood tall and mighty, circling a youthful divine platform named "Eternity," wanting to sing loudly to entertain the gods but ultimately falling silent.
Standing together on a solitary peak that Chen Ping'an had temporarily conjured in a corner of this world, Ning Yao gazed at the strange sight in the center of the world.
After a long silence, Ning Yao asked about the ascension method of the Peach Talisman Mountain's Daoist Ding and the Great Li Mountains and Rivers Dao Verification Map.
Chen Ping'an naturally told her everything without reservation.
Ning Yao only said the ideas were very good, and then said nothing more.
Chen Ping'an waved his sleeve. At the golden "platform" in the central area, another strange phenomenon arose. A thought was like a pebble thrown into water, causing splashes. The "splashes" were the three characters "Luo Po Mountain." The golden characters flashed and disappeared, falling back onto the platform like raindrops into a pond. But soon, a golden thread suddenly "rose" like an immortal's figure, arcing through the air and ascending to the cyan sky, as if human heart and heavenly heart were touching. It touched and fell, the golden thread turning into a silver ray returning to the human world. The white color spread across the earth, and in a hazy blur, a Luo Po Mountain stood. Then, following memory, he "constructed" Huaihuang County, Piyun Mountain, the Great Li Capital, Shujian Lake, Hongzhu Town, the Caiyi Kingdom's Yanzi Prefecture, Laolong City, Zhengyang Mountain, Xianyou County, the Central Great River... up to the recently visited Qiu Kingdom Capital. A chaotic, night-like map of Bottle Gourd Continent, with towns, Daoist grounds, mountains and rivers, lit up like lamps one by one. Each point of light would correspond to one of Chen Ping'an's spirit mansions in the future.
In each place, various figures sat, lifelike, with different expressions and vastly different heights.
This was Chen Ping'an's painstaking effort, exhausting his spirit, a unique interpretation of "Heaven and Earth creation, Dao exists at the point of sight."
Ning Yao swept a glance and saw that the number of lights was about three hundred "locations" short of finding the total of over eleven hundred human acupoints. She asked, "Next, you'll use cyan talisman paper to create several tough avatars to simultaneously project your spirit to tour more than three hundred places at once, to complete this ascension and harmonization map? How long will this process take? One year? Ten years?"
Chen Ping'an said, "First, I'll do a rough tour to complete the number. It won't take much time. If I release the nine talisman avatars at once, I estimate half a year should be enough. At that moment, I should have a rough idea whether I can attain the Dao. If I have a sixty percent chance, I'll go into seclusion, first open the face, then dot the eyes, striving to ascend. If I feel the odds aren't good, not even sixty percent, I'll refine further. I'll travel the landscape on foot in person, tour the untouched areas of Bottle Gourd Continent, and also 'gild' the important places I've already visited."
Ning Yao asked, "Will the freshly added new people and scenes count just by seeing them?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "New and old batches of people, places, and scenes—just seeing them is useless. Such visualization lacks the bones. The heart-image world constructed from that is just a shaky airborne pavilion. It's easy for the landscape to change color, shifting from lush green mountains and waters to fine-line ink drawings. The river of time here can wash it a few times, and it'll become as blurry as an illegible inscription. So I need an invisible line to connect many people and locations. That thread is the seal of the new Great Li National Teacher stamped on various official documents and state letters. For example, Mei County Deputy General Huang Meixian will soon be promoted to a state general. The National Teacher's seal is primary, with the seals of the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of War as secondary. When the three seals are stamped together, I will have an ethereal yet real connection between heaven and human with Huang Meixian and that state's military destiny. The same applies to civil officials' promotions. Especially when I personally preside over the Great Li court's restructuring—merging several states into one—that is an extension of the National Teacher's authority, like what the mountain world calls Dao transformation."
Ning Yao nodded. "If there's a road to walk, don't fear the dark."
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Hit the nail on the head."
Ning Yao remembered something and asked puzzledly, "Why do you still keep that red string?"
The red string of fate between her and Chen Ping'an—she had long ago asked the Great Sword Immortal to cut the end tied to her. But for some reason, Chen Ping'an had refused to cut his end, keeping it to this day.
Chen Ping'an smiled. "Just consider it keeping a memento."
Of the thirty-six colored glaze fragments obtained from the division of spoils, Chen Ping'an kept only the largest and the smallest, for emergencies. For example, the former was reserved in advance for Zhang Jiazhen. As for the latter, when he traveled the Haoran World in the future, he believed there would always be someone fated to receive it.
The remaining colored glaze fragments were all refined by Chen Ping'an into "two" pure golden bodies.
Chen Ping'an shook his sleeve, and the two golden bodies turned into golden lights flying into the distance, manifesting in the east and west of the world.
One was a young Daoist in a purple-gold crown and feathered robe, going by the alias "Mr. Ren," with the Dao name "Qi Xie."
The Daoist had no face. He carried a wooden sword on his back, held an iron mace in his hand, and had a talisman seal at his waist. It was as if Chen Ping'an had pinched a clay figurine and casually erased its facial features. Beside the faceless young Taoist hung a set of multicolored armor radiating treasure light, a replica of the armor worn by Wu Shuangjiang's Dharma form.
His attire was extremely ornate.
The other was a pure martial artist whose appearance was between a youth and a young man. This was the Chen Ping'an who had earlier left the city wall first to confront Li Zhen. This was probably the version of himself that Chen Ping'an considered most fitting for the word "vigor."
White-robed and barefoot, his hair loosely held by a jade hairpin, exceptionally simple.
Two ancestral temples rose from the ground. Looking at the plaques, the names each got bigger: "Daoist Ground" and "Martial Temple."
Chen Ping'an pointed into the distance, his expression vibrant. "That previous literary destiny river refined from millions of characters is basically wasted. Never mind, starting over will only make it more stable, with higher quality and better appearance. Nuan Shu will later ride this literary great river, ensuring perfect timing, location, and harmony."
Since no outsiders were present, and perhaps because he was in a relaxed mood, in this world that seemed to have only him and her, quiet but not lonely, Chen Ping'an, like Xie Gou, started tapping his feet and swinging his arms on his own. Who learned from whom? Maybe they both learned from the green-clad little child.
Showing Ning Yao that interlocking ascension map, Chen Ping'an was cautious, deep, and restrained.
When he talked about Nuan Shu's future river journey, he was proud and elated.
Ning Yao asked, "Why did you still choose to accept the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect?"
Even though Qi Tingji had acted on his own and put him in a difficult position, Chen Ping'an's personality made it easy for him to renege.
Chen Ping'an explained, "It's the same logic as consolidating the western mountains of my hometown: either don't go near half, or take everything. When I founded the sub-sect in Tongye Continent, I was aiming for that great river and to fill a geographical gap. I had no intention of taking advantage to become a continent's Dao master. As for now..."
"Not only am I willing to accept the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, but I also want to hastily build another sub-sect, to catch up with the Peach Talisman Mountain's Talisman Yu Xuan, and become the largest ancestral hall in the Haoran World—the sect with the most sword immortals."
"When Chen Ping'an only has a single sect-level Luo Po Mountain, all kinds of baseless speculation and rumors fly like willow catkins."
"When I possess two sects, there are still cold sneers, dragging the Sword Qi Great Wall into it too. I still can't stop the scheming villains lurking in the shadows."
Chen Ping'an crouched down, grabbed a handful of soil, and habitually kneaded it gently, looking ahead.
"When I possess a Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, everyone will fear me. Those certain peak-level figures hiding in the dark, staring balefully at me and Luo Po Mountain, and at you and Ascension City—if they still want to test my strength, they'll first have to weigh their own."
"One day, Luo Po Mountain will be like Peach Talisman Mountain, with a pattern of one mountain and three sects. Then, when Luo Po Mountain lifts its seclusion and opens its gates, sword cultivators from all continents will flock to join. Those who feared me before will also respect me—both fear and respect. When they mention the Sword Qi Great Wall and the Great Li Dynasty, they'll have to watch their tone."
Chen Ping'an was silent for a moment, murmured, "I want to push this world upward. I want to try."
----
Liu Tui found Qi Tingji and didn't bother asking about how the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect had changed sect leaders. He only consulted Qi Tingji on one matter. Liu Tui said he wanted to gift half of the Baici Cave Heaven to Luo Po Mountain, counting it as two immortal artifacts to double the congratulatory gift and then some.
Liu Tui was simply too lazy to trouble himself finding someone to negotiate the sale of an immortal artifact.
Even Qi Tingji was shocked. The Baici Cave Heaven was the ancestral property of Tianyao Village, just like Bixiao Mountain—the very foundation of their Dao.
Qi Tingji thought for a moment. He didn't give an immediate answer but asked with a smile, "Jiang Shangzhi is Luo Po Mountain's chief offering. He's already pretty lavish, and he's the head of the Jade Gui Sect's Jiang clan. He still doesn't dare to give half of the Jiang clan's Yunku Blessed Land deed to Chen Ping'an. Liu Tui, tell me, what are you thinking?"
Liu Tui said, "Simple: either don't get on the gambling table. Once you're on, bet hard."
Qi Tingji shook his head, noncommittal.
Though they were friends, their styles were completely different. Liu Tui was a typical early bloomer. Whenever he traveled outside the mountain, he didn't hide his ambition—sharp and aggressive, with prickly eyes. Qi Tingji, though known for thunderous sword strikes on the battlefield, was at least mild-mannered in his everyday dealings.
Liu Tui said, "My luck has been pretty good in recent years. First, you saved me from dying in Jinjia Continent. I hid in the Baici Cave Heaven for seclusion. Originally, I was just healing my wounds—I didn't dare hope to attain the ascension realm. But I still made it. As for the ownership of Bixiao Mountain, from the founding ancestors to me, the suspense has lasted thousands of years. Every generation was afraid they'd wake up one day to find the entire ancestral mountain had flown away, making the whole world laugh. How about it? The Bixiao Cave Lord opened his golden mouth and nodded! If not now, when?"
Qi Tingji said, "Since you've made up your mind, go talk to Chen Ping'an yourself."
Liu Tui said, "I'll find an opportunity to have a private chat."
Otherwise, with Ning Yao, Xiao Mo, Bai Jing, Lu Zhi... all present, Liu Tui really felt the pressure.
Qi Tingji teased, "Not afraid of being called a sycophant?"
Liu Tui chuckled, "I'm already a toady. A true small man, so why would I fear someone reminding me?"
Qi Tingji was left speechless. Perhaps Liu Tui was the type of person: deficient in private virtue, but not lacking in public righteousness.
Liu Tui sighed out of nowhere, "Too bad his Dao partner is her."
Otherwise, he could have elevated his friend Jing Hao's seniority.
Liu Tui asked through mind voice, "If they were on opposite sides, both pure sword cultivators at the fourth realm, who would win, who would die?"
Qi Tingji shook his head, unable to answer. Ning Yao's realm advancement was too fast to determine how high her sword technique had reached.
Inside the water pavilion of Hua Qinggong's, Nie Cuie, who was unaware that she had almost twice made her master gain seniority, was feeling uncomfortable.
It was because that sable-capped girl kept staring at her with a silly grin. Nie Cuie, unsure of Xie Gou's temperament, just endured it.
Yan Houdao had bought ten "Carefree Talismans" that Xie Gou claimed were bestowed by divine beings.
Xie Gou, bold and generous, sold them at half price, only charging Yan Sword Immortal five Guyu coins.
Tian Xian, out of curiosity and by nature, directly asked Xie Gou about her Dao age and realm.
Xie Gou rubbed her chin. "How to calculate my real Dao age—that's a tough one."
If she counted the ten thousand years she slept, and was only at the ascension realm now, it would make her look stupid, on par with Liu Tui and Qing Tong, and even inferior—unlucky!
Seeing Xie Gou's troubled expression, Tian Xian decided not to press further. But Xie Gou suddenly exclaimed, "Eh!" and pointed at a large golden-scaled fish swimming around the beams. "That fish is really weird! It's spitting out a book!"
Hua Qinggong's mind shook. Following Xie Gou's finger, he saw that indeed, the golden fish—formed from the residual Dao resonance left by the founding ancestor—was slowly spitting out a golden Dao book shining with treasure light. With a gentle curl of its whisker, the fish pushed the remarkably high-quality book toward the pavilion. Hua Qinggong instinctively reached out to take it, but the Dao book drifted to Nie Cuie instead.
Hua Qinggong withdrew his hand, a little embarrassed. Nie Cuie was even more embarrassed. What was this?
Looking at the title of the Dao book, written in ancient seal script: "Full Moon Treasure Declaration."
Hua Qinggong exclaimed in awe, "It must be a handwritten text from an ancient true person. 'Full Moon' corresponds to 'Full Soul'—this is your opportunity, Nie Cuie. Don't hesitate! Accept the book quickly!"
The terms "ancient golden immortal" and "ancient true person" carried considerable weight.
Ancient golden immortals who opened cave dwellings and passed down lineages. Ancient true persons who used great mountains as their Daoist grounds.
Over ten thousand years, with the passing of ages, ancient golden immortals were no longer seen. The ancient true persons who dwelled on land were also like divine dragons, ever-changing in their cloud-and-water lives. Occasionally, a true transmission would appear—such were first-class immortal opportunities.
Xie Gou encouraged with her gaze, "Full Soul friend, just take the book. As the second offering of Luo Po Mountain, my sword technique is quite exquisite. I am fully capable of protecting you during this opportunity."
Nie Cuie carefully took the Dao book. It was very heavy. In her heart lake, a clear female immortal's voice sounded, roughly telling Nie Cuie the origin of the book, telling her to act properly and carry out the Way of Heaven.
Xie Gou suddenly widened her eyes and pointed outside again. "Another one! There's more!"
On a lotus flower, tall and elegant with a bud about to bloom, the flower gradually opened. A flying sword gleamed brightly. Upon closer inspection, the flying sword was itself a sword manual, but the characters flowed like lightning, extremely fast, with a mighty thunderous sound. Hua Qinggong and the others tried to see it clearly, but immediately their eyes dazzled and their Dao hearts wavered. Only Tian Xian, looking intently, seemed to gain something effortlessly.
Xie Gou urged again, "Heaven gives, if you don't take, you'll suffer the consequence. Tian Xian, opportunity knocks but once! Hurry up and receive the sword!"
Tian Xian nodded. She tentatively beckoned, and the flying sword flashed, darting into her sleeve. It flew happily in her heart lake, and the thousands of originally jumbled characters arranged themselves and eventually formed a complete sword manual.
Tian Xian focused her spirit and saw the title of the manual: "Yuqing String Moon Sword Art." In her heart lake, ripples formed as a female immortal's voice, unseen but heard, issued a decree: she must master this sword and surely slay demons and banish evil.
Xie Gou was full of envy, clicking her tongue in wonder. "Such opportunities coming one after another! You several friends really should become closer, swear an oath of sisterhood."
Hua Qinggong was happy for Nie Cuie and Tian Xian, but inside, he couldn't help feeling disappointed. After all, this was his own Daoist ground, and yet he alone gained nothing.
Could it be that the ancestor was dissatisfied with his inferior aptitude? But soon, Hua Qinggong steadied his Dao heart. Yes—longevity techniques, life-and-death formulas, Dao-attaining methods—how could one be bound by sectarian views? The ancestor's actions were open and upright. That was likely what it meant to be a Heavenly Being who attained the Dao, a golden immortal transcending the mundane?
In that instant, Hua Qinggong recalled many "family precepts" from the ancestral hall concerning aspirations and intentions, as well as the murals within the You Sheng Hall, and certain questions left by the Lingfu Ancestor for later generations. Countless thoughts surged into his heart lake like a tide, leaving him in a daze.
"Life and death: Heaven and Earth bestow nature; Dao heart follows form; utmost sincerity harmonizes with Heaven; fortune is about to come."
"A Dao learner—what is the pivot of the Dao?"
Xie Gou smiled. Since Hua Qinggong had such a Dao heart, how could he lack good fortune? There was no need for her to meddle with mysterious tricks. Just a little help would make everything work out naturally—truly "seeing the wind and moon arrive."
Presumably, the Hua ancestor who ascended here was deep in Dao power, leaving a rich blessing for the family.
Here it came.
Dao hearts mutually attuned; the Daoist ground changed color.
The characters on the couplets and plaques began to detach on their own. The golden threads wove together, slowly conjuring a blurry female form.
Hua Qinggong was first startled, then tears streamed down. He rushed out of the pavilion, prostrated himself, announced his name, and paid homage to the ancestor.
Xie Gou let out a "wow" and said softly, "This is true spirit flight—the ancestor manifests."
The woman was only a wisp of Hua Lingfu's residual Dao resonance. She first had Hua Qinggong rise, then looked at the sable-capped girl and spoke a secret message: "Sword Immortal senior understands righteousness deeply."
Xie Gou pouted. "Not really. I just 'attained the Dao' too much, and if I didn't do some 'scattering the Dao,' I feared I'd be struck by heavenly punishment."
Hua Lingfu smiled. "This method of harmonization is unheard of to me. Truly refreshing."
Xie Gou shrugged it off. Harmonization? Far from it. Then she led Nie Cuie and the others out of the Daoist ground, letting Hua Lingfu teach Hua Qinggong the talisman-sword method.
In a quiet room, Xiao Mo stood on the viewing platform. Mei Dandang was still there, pestering him with questions.
Xiao Mo patiently answered while keeping an eye on the commotion at the water pavilion. When Hua Lingfu appeared, he immediately withdrew his divine sense.
Xie Gou swaggered over. Seeing that Mei Dandang was still bothering her Xiao Mo, she got annoyed. "Mei Big Sword Immortal, you have a master too!"
Mei Dandang's skin wasn't thin. "My master told me to consult much with Sir Xiao Mo. If Sir Xiao Mo doesn't drive me away, I won't leave."
Xie Gou gave a thumbs up. "Better than Gan Yiban."
Xie Gou glanced sidelong at Mei Dandang, then looked at Xiao Mo and complained, "Why be so considerate to him?"
Xiao Mo said, "He's too weak."
Mei Dandang was speechless.
Xie Gou's eyes darted quickly. "Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo, where's the mountain master? I have something—I acted first and want to report after."
Xiao Mo frowned. "What?"
Xie Gou looked sheepish. "Ha, meddling."
It turned out that on her own initiative, using an ancient secret method, she had effortlessly and secretly brought over fifty female ghosts out of the Five-Colored World.
Xiao Mo glared. "Nonsense! Do you really think the rules of the Confucian Temple are just decorations? No matter how well you hide them, Ascension City suddenly lost more than fifty women. How many days can this be hidden from the Confucian Temple?"
Xie Gou, sounding sickly, said, "What now? It's already done."
The old cook said it well: the worst thing in life is "understanding the principles." Zhong Diyi's reasoning wasn't bad either—when freeloading, "since you're already here."
Xiao Mo fell into thought. This matter seemed minor but was actually quite troublesome.
Xie Gou said, "Xiao Mo, lend me your Mountain Walking Staff. I'll carry it on my back and go to the mountain master to confess and beg punishment."
Xiao Mo laughed angrily. "The young master has business with the mountain mistress. Wait a bit."
Hearing that, Xie Gou's eyes lit up, and she turned to eavesdrop.
But Xiao Mo grabbed her by the back of the collar and pulled her back to the table, making her sit still.
Mei Dandang seemed to want to speak but hesitated.
Xie Gou glared. "If you've got something to say, say it."
Mei Dandang asked through mind voice, "Just how strong is Ning Yao?"
Not only Liu Tui was curious about this; Mei Dandang, originally from the Barbaric World, was also curious, and the group of private swordsmen from the Sword Qi Great Wall like Gao Shuang were even more curious.
Xie Gou looked at him with pity. "A fourth-realm pure sword cultivator, plus being number one in the world—what do you think?"
Before leaving the Night Boat, Zheng Juzhong had told Xie Gou a truth.
"If the battlefield were in the Five-Colored World, Ning Yao could actually solo-kill Jiang She at the fourth realm."
Since it came from Zheng Juzhong, Xie Gou had no choice but to believe it.
Over there, Ning Yao and Chen Ping'an withdrew their mustard-seed mind spirits.
The public-case novel in Ning Yao's hand had a slightly supernatural tone. In recent years, it had become somewhat famous in the mortal world of Tongye Continent. Chen Ping'an had never been much interested in such things. He remembered that back then, Zhang Lu, the sword immortal guarding the Inverted Suspension Mountain, and the Dao boy Jiang Yunsheng seemed to like reading those romanticized martial arts adventures. Two true upper-fifth-realm cultivators, reading the fictional grudges of the jianghu imagined by sour literati, and finding them fascinating—that was a strange thing. When Zhu Lian left the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, just after arriving in Tongye Continent, he bought a bunch of smutty romance novels. Back then, Pei Qian was still a little charcoal. With a good memory, she glanced at them and remembered the titles and would recite them every day, exposing Zhu Lian's secrets. Wei Xian was on Pei Qian's side at the time, saying Zhu Lian was ugly and causing trouble. Pei Qian laughed hysterically.
Chen Ping'an said, "Suppose—I'm just supposing—that a private sword cultivator from the Sword Qi Great Wall is hiding in Bottle Gourd Continent. Guess who it could be?"
Ning Yao thought for a moment and said, "Gao Mian."
Chen Ping'an was genuinely shocked. "You can guess that?"
Ning Yao retorted, "What's so hard about that?"
Chen Ping'an was dubious. "Not hard? Are you sure Qi Tingji didn't tip you off in advance?"
If it wasn't a leak from Qi Tingji, Chen Ping'an would never have guessed that there was a "private sword" from the Sword Qi Great Wall in Bottle Gourd Continent.
It was exactly the person Ning Yao guessed: the founding ancestor of the Invincible Fist Gang, Gao Mian.
Gao Mian was certainly a pseudonym. But Chen Ping'an had read and annotated all the secret archives of the Summer Retreat Palace and Winter Refuge Palace, and he had found no clue about "Gao Mian."
Ning Yao continued flipping through the book and explained casually. "First, since you were asking, he must still be alive. If he were dead, you wouldn't make jokes about such things or bring it up as casual chat. Second, his fame in Bottle Gourd Continent must be considerable, or you wouldn't use such a question to stump an outsider like me. Third, since he left the Sword Qi Great Wall through accumulated military merit, his killing power must be high. In your Bottle Gourd Continent, how many upper-fifth realm cultivators have appeared in the last thousand years? Gao Mian fell from the upper-fifth three times. Who else would I guess? Liu Laocheng of Shujian Lake? Or Qi Zhen of the Shengao Sect?"
Chen Ping'an rubbed his chin. "So there were that many obvious clues."
Ning Yao didn't look up, said with a grin, "So it's not that I'm smart; it's that you're stupid."
Chen Ping'an had to change the subject. "That Sword Nourishment Gourd given as a congratulatory gift by Sword Immortal Shao to Luo Po Mountain hasn't been named yet. Its grade is too high. I can't figure out who to give it to. Who do you think is more suitable?"
Pei Qian and Guo Zhujiu were both his personal disciples. Chai Wu had reached the upper-fifth realm, and Luo Po Mountain should prepare a congratulatory gift, right? Sun Chunwang was Ning Yao's future direct disciple... They all needed that gourd. It seemed anyone could refine it.
Ning Yao said, "Keep it for yourself."
Chen Ping'an rubbed his cheeks and said nothing.
Ning Yao said, "It seems Xie Gou secretly brought out over fifty women. The Confucian Temple hasn't noticed yet."
Chen Ping'an said to Xie Gou and Xiao Mo through mind voice, "Doggy, immediately get off the boat and go to Shujian Lake. Temporarily settle them at Zeng Ye's Five Island Sect. Then we'll meet at the Cunzhuang Ferry near the great river. I need to find someone there. Xiao Mo, go to the Heavenly Barrier and explain the situation, saying we accept the punishment."
Xie Gou asked tentatively, "Mountain Master, Xiaomi Li said it well: if you're angry, don't hold it back. I'll accept punishment too. But dock my pay, don't demote me."
Chen Ping'an wasn't that upset initially, but when Xie Gou said that, he could barely hold back his anger. Just as he was about to speak, Xie Gou, already tipped off by Xiao Mo's glance, flashed her sword light and instantly shot away from the Liuxia Boat, speeding toward Bottle Gourd Continent like wind and lightning. Xiao Mo ascended to the Heavenly Barrier.
Chen Ping'an clicked his tongue.
Ning Yao continued reading.
Chen Ping'an asked, "How do Chen Li's Dao achievements compare with Qi Shou and Pang Yuanji?"
Ning Yao said, "Their destiny and luck are about the same. With similar foundations and differing fortune timing, you won't see much difference in thirty to fifty years. Let them each endure three to five hundred years, and it'll become clear."
Among the younger generation of sword cultivators, Chen Li, nicknamed the Little Hidden Official, was undeniably the best in realm, talent, and military merit.
So those scattered across the nine continents of Haoran—youths from places like Yedu and Xuezhou—liked to treat Chen Li as their imaginary rival, always wanting to compete with her.
Bai Xuan, Sun Chunwang, and the other children were a bit younger than Chen Li, but they still belonged to the same generation back home.
Chen Li's realm advancement was very fast. She was already at the golden core bottleneck at a young age. Not long ago, she entered seclusion in a secret realm at Fuping Sword Lake and hadn't come out yet.
Li Cai was personally protecting her seclusion. After her realm fell, she had lost interest in practicing sword and Dao. Li Cai had already announced that once her first disciple Rong Chang reached the upper-fifth realm, she would step down. She now focused more on her direct disciples Sui Jingcheng, Chen Li, and Gao Youqing.
Like Xie Songhua and Song Pin, these female sword immortals who went to the Sword Qi Great Wall all used aggressive methods in slaying demons, each one fiercer than the last.
Chen Ping'an had privately compiled a booklet detailing the growth process of Chen Li and the others.
Since he had been the one to propose they settle in the Haoran World, he felt responsible for tracking their development.
Luo Po Mountain always liked to tease him, the mountain master, as an absent-minded, hands-off manager.
Like dandelion seeds scattered by the wind to distant lands, they may not be home for now, but they must not sink.
The Liuxia Boat crossed the ocean and entered the land of Bottle Gourd Continent, sailing along the great river deep into the continent's interior. Near the Huangni Slope Ferry, Chen Ping'an told Liu Tui and the others to go directly to the Great Li capital. He and Ning Yao got off the boat and headed to the Cunzhuang Ferry. According to intelligence from the Ministry of Justice, after stepping down from his gang leader position, Gao Mian had been living in seclusion there recently and had just taken a disciple.
The Great Li court's four sword boats had finished their inspection of vassal states but didn't return to dock. Instead, along with over sixty Great Li military ferries, they were about to head south.
Tomorrow was Grain in Ear.