Chapter 1: A Youth's Wanderings

Chapter 1: A Youth's Wanderings

As soon as Chen Ping'an arrived at Jise Peak of Luopo Mountain, he woke up. He was in the Ancestral Hall's White Jade Square. Ning Yao helped him steady himself, and they stood together, leaning on the railing.

The moonlight was tranquil, the green mountains seemed to drip with emerald, and the clouds and mist billowed like spread cotton. Perhaps under the influence of his state of mind, it felt as if the human world had never been so peaceful.

Ning Yao had intentionally chosen not to stop at Jiling Peak. She asked through heart voice, "What happened just now?"

As if he had slept too deeply, Chen Ping'an's mind was still groggy. He reached up and rubbed his eyes, then said, "In a daze, I seemed to see many extraordinary people."

Ning Yao mistakenly thought it was the several Heavenly-Earth Communications that had allowed Chen Ping'an to glimpse truths akin to the "Dao" or "Ancestral Lands." Curious, she asked, "What do you mean?"

Chen Ping'an shook his head. "And you? How are you?"

Ning Yao stopped pressing him and rolled her eyes. "What do you think?"

Chen Ping'an said softly, "I think I could drink two wedding feasts in a row."

Ning Yao blushed slightly.

Chen Ping'an reached out and gently rubbed the frown lines between her brows, asking with concern, "Are you okay?"

Ning Yao said, "It's fine. At worst, I'll have to re-cultivate and nourish myself for a few decades."

Chen Ping'an asked softly, "How are Xiao Mo and Xie Gou?"

Ning Yao replied, "They're okay. On the surface, Xie Gou looks worse off. Three rounds of 'Dispersing the Dao' scattered more than thirty ancient Dao veins, and she fell to the Nascent Soul stage."

"Actually, Xiao Mo lost more. His lifebound flying sword 'Lotus Thread' and the celestial star it guided were both shattered. It will be hard for him to return to the Fourteen Realm."

"On the other hand, Xie Gou saw the Great Dao amid gains and losses."

"Cui Dongshan failed to stop Jiang Shangzhen. He still sacrificed that willow leaf, and it shattered too."

Hearing this, Chen Ping'an vigorously rubbed his cheeks. Was this what it truly meant to share in a grand undertaking?

Ning Yao waited a moment, but there was no follow-up. She had to ask suspiciously, "No 'It's all my fault'?"

Chen Ping'an's expression was refreshed, his eyes bright. He laughed and said, "This can't be blamed on me. Who told them to have me as their mountain master?"

He couldn't help but chuckle and add sarcastically, "Our Hall Master Wu is truly a landlord who reaps rewards rain or shine. Choosing a path to integrate with the Dao certainly requires great insight."

One of his swords, the Night-Wandering Sword, which was forged from the tip of the Great White Sword and the Dragon Lord's Dharma robe, had been destroyed.

Another sword, "Duckweed," which was born from half a segment of the Sword Qi Great Wall and bore inscriptions like "Thunder Pool" on the city battlements, was also gone.

But it seemed that for those two swords, this outcome was for the best. Earlier, when Chen Ping'an had offered his sword, he had sensed two mysterious "inspirations." A portion of the sword intent from each sword had naturally gone into First and Fifteen.

His lifebound flying sword "Big Dipper" had lost its connection to the celestial star. He estimated that he would need to travel beyond the heavens in the future. It was unclear how long it would take to return to the Ascension stage.

Hearing voices below the cliff, Chen Ping'an leaned over the railing and stuck his head out to look. Down by a dark green pool, four or five "woodcutters" were eating a late-night snack on a large rock: bamboo rice with pickled vegetables. They appeared to be gathering firewood in the mountains, bundling dry branches to carry down, but in reality, they were there to cut down a type of green bamboo unique to Luopo Mountain, and to collect a bag of pebbles from the stream. The green bamboo could be woven into small baskets or polished into fan ribs, and the colorful pebbles, though not the kind of divine objects favored by immortals, could be secretly sold in the prefectural city by ordinary people for a decent sum.

In recent years, the western mountains had undergone a transformation. The young people among the townsfolk who had sold their ancestral homes and moved to the prefectural city had mostly squandered their inheritance. This forced many elderly to return to their old trades—either becoming kiln workers at the Dragon Kiln, or gathering herbs in the mountains, or working the land. Especially after immortals came to live on Luopo Mountain, someone discovered the pool and stream below Jise Peak, like an inconspicuous treasure bowl. From time to time, they would disguise themselves as woodcutters and go into the mountains to "pick up money" on round trips.

Ning Yao asked doubtfully, "Has it been like this all these years? Don't you manage it?"

Chen Ping'an shook his head with a smile. "At first, Chen Lingjun wanted to scare them off. But then he found that they were quite measured. They never summoned friends or came in large numbers. For years, it's been the same familiar faces, with at most two or three younger family members joining. So we just let it be."

That was certainly true, but there was more to it. Back then, the "mountain master" had noticed a thin, dark boy in coarse clothes among the group. Probably his first time doing this kind of petty thievery, he walked along the stream in winter, palms sweating with nervousness. Every time his woodcutter's knife chopped a green bamboo, he would glance around anxiously, as if each sound of cutting was announcing to the "landlord" of this mountain, "I'm here to steal!" The boy's flustered and awkward manner drew laughter from the older folks and adults.

That pool, which was rumored to be mysterious, looked in daylight like something out of a strange tale—golden and green light shimmering, grotesque and colorful, somewhat resembling a "Dragon Pool" described in ghost stories.

Water overflowed from the pool, and over the long years, it had carved a stream channel. During heavy summer rains, the stream would swell, like a yellow dragon breaking through the gorge. According to the records of the Huaihuang County Gazetteer, it was called "Taiping Stream." Like a bolt of white silk dividing the green mountains, the stream did not merge with the Dragon Tail River. It wound around the fields beyond the mountains. At dawn in early winter each year, a white vapor would stretch across the water, like a silver dragon. Eventually, it flowed into the Tiefu River.

Chen Ping'an withdrew his gaze, put his hands in his sleeves, took a deep breath, and said joyfully, "I'm now a grand cultivator of the First Realm, standing tall!"

Ning Yao laughed angrily. "Standing at the foot of the mountain in the Lower Five Realms, and you're proud of that?"

Chen Ping'an said, "A youth learns the method of climbing mountains—what's there to fear? Besides, my martial realm is still intact."

Ning Yao, as Xie Gou had teased, was not good at comforting others. She could only say softly, "Rest well so you can cultivate well."

Chen Ping'an reached out and took Ning Yao's hand. "Pick a time, and let's walk the path from when we first entered the mountains, from start to finish."

Ning Yao smiled. "Fine. But this time, there's no money for you to earn."

Chen Ping'an had entered the mountains far more times than an average kiln worker. Summer was better than winter, because he could escape the heat. Whenever he was drenched in sweat, he would wring his clothes and lay them on a rock to dry, eating dry rations alone, hiding in the shade of a tree by the water, his straw shoes dipped in the stream. Was it bitter? Was it free?

They walked together along the mountain path between Jise Peak and Jiling Peak until they reached the steps. On the way, Ning Yao asked about one thing: "Will the Daoist Priest Immortal Guard still watch the gate from now on?" Chen Ping'an said he thought it was no longer necessary. In fact, he could take his disciple to a private Daoist temple by Incense Fire Mountain to build a thatched hut and cultivate. But he wasn't sure what Immortal Guard himself was thinking, or whether he would stay at the mountain gate.

Chen Ping'an looked up at the night sky, where the moon had again taken its place. Soon it would be the fifth day of the fifth month.

There weren't many people on the steps.

Cui Dongshan and Jiang Shangzhen, one in white robes and one in blue, stood with Wei Yeyou, who also acted like he belonged there.

Guo Zhujiu and Pei Qian stood together. The green-clad child and the pink-dressed girl shielded the black-clad little girl in the middle...

Xiao Mo's expression was gentle. Xie Gou, making faces, tried to affectionately take his arm, but he reached out and pressed down on her marten hat.

In fact, neither Huaying Peak nor Yingyu Peak had any idea what had happened, and even Piyun Mountain was baffled. So Wei Po had come to ask for an explanation.

But the old scholar had already informed everyone: don't ask too many questions. At least hold back for now. The green mountains remain, the rivers flow long—nothing needs to be rushed.

Zhu Lian, at the old scholar's suggestion and persuasion, had re-applied two layers of face mask.

The Earth Branch lineage from Great Li happened to be "passing through" this mountain, and Wei Po invited them to stay at his Divine Lord's residence. Zhou Haijing and the others, however, had no intention of going to Piyun Mountain. They asked Night Wandering Divine Lord to relay a few words to Mr. Chen: they had met Wu Zhou, and the conversation went well. She had returned to the Qingming Heavenly Realm to recover. If Mr. Chen ever visited the Qingming Heavenly Realm, he could seek her out to reminisce. Her Daoist temple was in the smallest prefecture, and he could simply call her name.

Chen Ping'an bowed to his teacher. The old scholar lightly supported his accomplished disciple's arm, then patted the shoulder of his last disciple. He smiled and said, "Finally, you can be a bit freer."

The old scholar whispered, "At the Confucian Temple in the Central Earth, Master Han is flying into a rage, cursing left and right. That Vice Cult Leader already went personally to the Great Sash Dynasty with a black face."

Teacher and student walked ahead together. Chen Ping'an hunched slightly, whispering with his teacher. The old scholar nodded sometimes, shook his head sometimes, and they both laughed.

At the adjacent Heavenly Capital Peak, Lu Shen had returned to this Daoist temple from the Central Earth Divine Continent. The person standing beside him had changed—no longer Zou Zi, but Liu Xiang.

Lu Shen had kept his word. Together with the Confucian Temple's classicist Xi Ping, he had performed a Daoist enactment, hoping to assist Chen Ping'an. Unfortunately, the effect was minimal, and Lu Shen's realm had fallen. If not for Xi Ping bearing more of the "divine path" suppression, it wouldn't have just been a fall to the Immortal realm—Lu Shen might not have even returned to the human world. It seemed that this Yin-Yang philosopher, head of the Lu family, would have to stay at the Heavenly Capital Peak Daoist temple for much longer.

Chen Ping'an stopped and looked at them, his smile radiant. "Save me some of the late-night snack. I need to go to the capital to finish things there. Don't start eating without me. I need to have my final say, just this once. What do you all think?"

The Law-Keeper Longevity smiled. "It's not exactly a one-man show, is it? Right, everyone?"

Zhu Lian, hunched over with his hands behind his back, chuckled and grunted in agreement.

Little Mi Li was dazed and happy. She simply lightly grasped one sleeve of her good mountain master.

The white-haired child was excited, raising his arm and shouting, "The Hidden Official Ancestor has spoken! Whoever dares to disobey must step over my corpse!"

Xie Gou slapped the white-haired child on the head. "Alliance Leader Guo, Kong Hou's words are unpleasant. Why not expel him from the registry?"

Guo Zhujiu nodded. "Expel from the sect, effective immediately."

The white-haired child was stunned, heartbroken. "No way! I'm absolutely loyal to the Hidden Official Ancestor and Alliance Leader Guo, as clear as the sun and moon! Deputy Leader Xie, have you forgotten our bond from paving roads, building bridges, and reclaiming wasteland?"

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Let's put him on probation."

Guo Zhujiu narrowed her eyes with a smile. Xie Gou muttered, "Lucky dog." The white-haired child was about to raise his arm and pour out his heartfelt words to the Hidden Official Ancestor, but he saw Cui Dongshan raise his hand with a smug expression, as if to say, "Go ahead, show your acting skills." The white-haired child immediately stopped, his eyes rolling as he thought about how to recover his dignity.

Chen Ping'an thought for a moment and suggested, "Since there are many people tonight, how about we wait until I return from the capital, have the late-night snack together, and then, while we're full and happy, strike while the iron is hot and hold an Ancestral Hall meeting overnight? Besides, Little Mi Li, Chen Lingjun, and Zhong Qianming are about to go on a journey tomorrow. We should at least make some plans."

Naturally, there were no objections.

At the Sword Worship Platform, only Qi Tingji, Mi Yu, and Zhu Su—three sword cultivators—had come to Jiling Peak.

Chen Ping'an apologized to Zhu Su, whose two retreats had to make way for his interruptions.

Zhu Su looked helpless and asked cautiously, "Sect Leader, in the near future?"

Chen Ping'an, embarrassed, said, "Just go into seclusion."

Zhu Su didn't stand on ceremony with the sect leader and said bluntly, "If it happens again, I really won't have the confidence for seclusion. I wouldn't even dare to think about breaking through."

Ning Yao said, "Just go into seclusion by the lake. I'll guard you."

Zhu Su suddenly smiled. "Ning Yao, I was waiting for you to say that."

With the Hidden Official's track record, even Qi Tingji's protection wouldn't be reliable. Only with Ning Yao present did Zhu Su feel reassured.

Chen Ping'an joked, "Old Sword Immortal Qi, you don't have to 'leave empty-handed.' Why not keep a nominal position at the Dragon-Elephant Sword Sect, like as an honored guest? Otherwise, our top combat strength seems a bit lacking."

Qi Tingji laughed. "If I can one day reach the Fourteen Realm, I'll take the title. Otherwise, I won't just fill a seat—I can't afford the shame."

Cui Dongshan seized the opportunity to say, "Teacher, our Chief Zhou wants a promotion. He wants to be the Deputy Mountain Master. He says only then would he dare to concurrently serve as the sect leader of the Book-Script Lake branch."

Chen Ping'an said, "That's fine. The vacant position of Chief Honored Guest of Luopo Mountain can be reserved for Old Sword Immortal Qi."

The Law-Keeper Longevity said, "In tonight's Ancestral Hall meeting at Jise Peak, we can settle this matter. Chief Zhou changes his status. For the vacated chief position, we'll first add Old Sword Immortal Qi's name, as a wish for his entry into the Fourteen Realm."

Qi Tingji waved his hand. "Don't force me onto the shelf. I'm not falling for that."

Chen Ping'an smiled. "Let's give the Chief Honored Guest position to Xie Vice Chief instead."

Xie Gou rubbed her marten hat, cleared her throat to moisten her voice, and said, "Arranging the seats like this is quite fitting."

Then Chen Ping'an asked Wei Po for help. He insisted that Xiao Mo and Xie Gou not follow, and he earnestly requested that his teacher stay at the mountain. Only after the old scholar stroked his beard and nodded did Chen Ping'an go to the capital alone.

But he didn't go directly to Old Oriole Lake. Instead, he went to Azure Mystery Cave in the capital's outskirts.

This area's scenery was quiet and secluded, at a moderate distance. Too far would be a real journey; too close would be crowded. Then it wouldn't be people viewing the scenery, but the scenery viewing people. So, relatives of capital nobles often came here for outings. One could often see seven or eight oil-green palanquins, with official ladies leisurely roaming the mountains. Especially in midsummer, the ancient trees along the paths, with their dripping green shade and high, dense shadows, made even the noon sun seem green. If one could find an open spot to set up a tent and cool off, one could gaze into the distance at the capital's outline, with a cool breeze at one's back and deep woods filtering golden light.

But outside Azure Mystery Cave, near the Ape Trample Path, there were few human traces.

Yellow Flower God poked his head out of the bronze tripod again. In the dead of night, with moonlight like water, he felt it was a good time to slip away.

But he felt a chill on his back. Turning around, Yellow Flower God saw a man in blue robes with his hands in his sleeves. The latter said, "Fellow Daoist, you have quite the leisurely mood, taking a bath this late at night."

Seeing that this man's qi was weak, not at all like someone with profound Dao power, but having just suffered a bitter lesson at the hands of Gu Can, Yellow Flower God forced himself to be good-tempered. He asked, "Your name, fellow Daoist?"

Chen Ping'an said, "Fellow Daoist Chinese Tallow, tell me roughly the process. Start from the moment you saw Gu Can. I'm not interested in what happened before."

Yellow Flower God understood in his heart: this must be that person.

He dared not hide anything and quickly recounted the whole story. It turned out that Gu Can and Zheng Juzhong's conversation had not been concealed from "Fellow Daoist Chinese Tallow," who was "boiling in the pot." Yellow Flower God had listened with lingering fear, truly afraid that Gu Can would silence him. Afterwards, Gu Can was inexplicably forced to his death by a few words from Zheng Juzhong. After that, Yellow Flower God wanted to leave this place of trouble. As for the bronze tripod, he also wanted to take it away... Then a plain-looking man hurriedly flew over on his sword and asked him some questions. Yellow Flower God told the truth. It was roughly about the master and disciple falling out because of that man named Chen; Gu Can ended up committing suicide, leaving behind some harsh words like a final testament to the human world...

After that, Yellow Flower God saw that sword cultivator seemed to fall asleep. When he woke up, he soon had a nosebleed. Then he started dozing again, his body swaying, blood oozing from all seven orifices. And then he continued...

Yellow Flower God couldn't discern the reason for this bizarre behavior. He only felt that this sword cultivator was also a ruthless person.

But at that time, Yellow Flower God had already guessed the sword cultivator's identity: the "Liu, Chen, Gu" among the younger generation of Pearlescent Cave Heaven.

As he explained, he carefully observed the young National Teacher's expression. Unfortunately, the other party's face was expressionless, so Yellow Flower God could not use it to gauge his true character or mental state.

Earlier, Yellow Flower God had barely endured a boiling by the Samadhi True Fire, managing to shift the tripod lid off and drop it to the ground. Now crouching inside the tripod, he poked his head out.

But he saw the man in blue nudge the lid with his toe, sending it flying upward. He caught it and was about to cover Yellow Flower God's head...

Yellow Flower God pretended not to recognize the man, but his inner panic was genuine. He said with a panicked expression, "Fellow Daoist, what are you doing?!"

Chen Ping'an pressed the lid down and said, "I waited for a long time, and you didn't come out. So I thought you might be using some strange method to cultivate the Dao..."

Yellow Flower God immediately reached out and pressed his palm firmly against the lid, racking his brains for an explanation. "Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand. I certainly intend to come out. This cultivation method is somewhat..."

Fortunately, the other party finished his sentence, "Depends on the time?"

Yellow Flower God said as if enlightened, "Yes! Your insight is remarkable, fellow Daoist. As you said, if the time passes, the effort will yield half the result."

Chen Ping'an let go of his hand. "You are Yellow Flower God, right? Now you're freeloading off Tian Hujun at Su Lin Island in Book-Script Lake?"

Yellow Flower God's face was awkward. He held the lid with both hands and nodded. "I'm the one who makes a fool of myself. Can't hide it from National Teacher Chen."

Chen Ping'an said, "Just wait here. If your teacher Gu Can shows up, that's best. If he doesn't, don't come out. If you don't believe me, go ahead and try."

Yellow Flower God said bitterly, "Why must National Teacher Chen bother with a loose cultivator like me?"

Chen Ping'an smiled slightly. "Do you know how many Wild Jade Realm wild cultivators there were in Book-Script Lake back then? If I don't bother with you, who should I bother with? Tian Hujun?"

Yellow Flower God's face was mournful. He shouldn't have come to Great Li's capital to join the excitement. As for that "teacher" Gu Can, deep down Yellow Flower God still wasn't willing to admit defeat. But facing this man, he truly had no intention of competing. Neither in schemes, nor cultivation, nor methods could he win.

Chen Ping'an ignored Yellow Flower God and walked to the cliff's edge, gazing at the Great Li capital in the night. The best place in the nation, the most densely populated area, was naturally dazzling with lights.

The human world had not yet truly welcomed a peaceful era. In the five heavens, it might even become more chaotic. But right and wrong were both the freedom of the human world.

He subconsciously reached for the wine gourd that had served as his gourd for many years, only to remember that it had been destroyed in that Heavenly-Earth Communication. Chen Ping'an felt a pang of heartache, but not exactly regret.

Thirty years have drifted by, neither letters nor swords achieved. Wishing to buy osmanthus flowers and share wine on a boat, it no longer resembles a youth's wanderings.

But for those who cultivate in the mountains, looking at the long term, thirty years, three hundred years, or even three thousand years—when the later period looks back at the earlier one, isn't it still a new "youth's wandering"?

His heart stirred slightly. Chen Ping'an looked up at the sky. A dazzling sword light paused briefly, as if recognizing the road, then suddenly sped up and arrived at Bottle Gourd Continent.

Yellow Flower God silently prayed to all gods and ancestors. Perhaps even more than the man in blue, he hoped Gu Can would return alive to Azure Mystery Cave.

Liu Xianyang appeared here. He sat down heavily on the ground, shook his sleeves, and shook out a misty shadow. Then he stood up and strode over, wrapping his arm around Chen Ping'an's neck. "You like playing the hero all by yourself, huh?!"

Wow, that was strong. He was using lethal force. Chen Ping'an quickly patted Liu Xianyang's arm and reminded him, "Choke me to death, and who'll be your best man at the wedding?"

The misty shadow, lacking a suitable flesh body for his soul to reside in, was none other than Gu Can. He said irritably, "Without the great hero who eliminates evil for the people, the gallant who goes to his death alone, I can still be the best man. If worst comes to worst, I'll have Liu Xianyang put a spirit tablet with my name on the table during the wedding, use the joyful red of Liu's wedding to offset the white of my funeral..."

Liu Xianyang laughed heartily. This was the first time he'd heard Gu Can stand with him to gang up on Chen Ping'an. It seemed he was quite angry.

Chen Ping'an raised his palm and rubbed his chin but didn't retort.

Gu Can's own momentum weakened, and he eventually shut up.

Yellow Flower God remained standing in the tripod, not daring to interrupt. Now he regretted not putting the lid back properly. He just prayed that these three fellow townsmen and close friends would forget all about him, and that Gu Can would forget to take the bronze tripod away...

Liu Xianyang was still laughing.

Chen Ping'an smiled slightly. "We'll definitely attend the wedding together in two days."

"And in the future, when we attack the wasteland on a grand scale, you can join too—tentatively."

"As for the personal grudge of challenging the Jade Capital, that depends on your cultivation realms at the time. We'll talk about it later."

Now that the real "great heavenly threat," Zhou Mi, had been eliminated, many of the previous arrangements were just waste paper.

From now on, roughly speaking, it would be small journeys around Bottle Gourd Continent, major journeys through the Righteous Qi Heavenly Realm, raising cultivation levels, and preparing for a future visit to the Qingming Heavenly Realm.

Liu Xianyang said arrogantly, "I definitely have no problems at all. But Sect Leader Gu, with his inferior talent and now in this state, can probably only stand somewhere cheering and clapping like Fellow Daoist Chinese Tallow."

Yellow Flower God forced a smile. You're all people who do great deeds and establish great merits. Why drag me into this? It's so pointless.

Liu Xianyang turned and asked with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Chinese Tallow, do you need me to add some water to your tripod and throw in some firewood?"

Yellow Flower God's body stiffened, and he shook his head.

Chen Ping'an glanced at Yellow Flower God. The Gu Can-like misty shadow was also eyeing his student out of the corner of his eye.

Liu Xianyang laughed. "Hard to be human, easy to be a dead ghost."

Yellow Flower God, his scalp tingling, promised, "I'll return to Book-Script Lake immediately, live as a proper human, and wholeheartedly pursue the Dao."

Liu Xianyang sighed, patted Chen Ping'an on the shoulder, and said, "That's how it is. Take it slow."

Gu Can finally thought of a way to recover face. He asked directly, "So what about you and Ning Yao? Are you going to drag it out like this forever?"

Chen Ping'an glared. "What nonsense are you talking?"

Liu Xianyang laughed. "How is it nonsense? It's hometown custom—you only get married after the eldest brother, then the second brother, then the third. Gu Can's impatient."

Gu Can said, "Go away, you."

Chen Ping'an remembered something. "My teacher said this time's Three Teachings Debate has only one topic. I'm not participating. If you're interested, I can get you spots."

Liu Xianyang was curious. "What's the topic?"

Gu Can said calmly, "'End of Dharma.'"

Liu Xianyang nodded. "Just as I thought."

Gu Can made a spitting sound.

Liu Xianyang asked, "Chen Ping'an, the Fox Kingdom is all yours. Do you have any spare fox-skin beauty talismans? I could stuff Gu Can's soul into one. Then he could serve tea and snacks like a maid. The image... Hmm, no, that's a waste of talent. Gu Can could even dress up as a bridesmaid..."

Gu Can started cursing Liu Xianyang's ancestors for eighteen generations. Liu Xianyang grinned, not because it was harsh, but because he thought little Snot's skills had regressed.

Chen Ping'an said, "You two go back to the Dragon Spring Sword Sect first. I need to go to the Great Li capital. Apart from Zhu Lian the chef, I've also invited Old Immortal Jia to help you out there."

Liu Xianyang clapped and praised, "At least you have some conscience! All first-rate elite troops!"

Zhu Lian's cooking was second to none. Old Immortal Jia was an expert on all sorts of folk customs and rules.

Chen Ping'an lightly tapped his toes, performing the martial master's technique of covering ground far away, as if deliberately staying close to the mortal world. His figure was as agile as a bird flitting among the branches of the wilderness.

---

Deep in the Wasteland.

Ever since the two heavens were linked by those Guixu passages, the seasons, weather, and daylight hours of the Righteous Qi and Wasteland had been getting closer year by year.

Above the frontline, Chen Qingliu had unleashed his lifebound flying sword, along with Bai Ze and Zheng Juzhong's Yin Spirit.

Xie Shiji stared at the Dao couple Fei Ran and Gui Ke.

The Second Sage had received the Ritual Sage's heart message, instructing him to return to the Central Earth Confucian Temple for a meeting. But the Second Sage did not immediately go back. He just looked at Bai Ze, who was detained in the river of time.

To put it harshly and realistically, the human world not only had no Zhou Mi, but also no Three Teachings Patriarchs and Zhi Ci. Even the "turn" of the world's first Daoist had given humanity a fleeting glimpse, and his entire Dao power had returned to heaven and earth. Therefore, for people like Lu Chen, Yu Dou, Yao Qing and others, even if they reached the fake Fifteenth Realm, it meant they had absolutely no possibility of the "Fifteenth Realm." Fei Ran had given up the path of a pure sword cultivator. The fastest to break through, Ning Yao, after driving—or rather "commanding"—the entire Five-Colored Heavenly Realm to deliver that sword strike, would relatively stably return to her old realm within a hundred years. Wu Zhou of the Qingming realm had injured her Dao foundation. The old temple master had not made a move at all amid the bright moonlight, consistent with the usual style of the Blue Sky Cavern Master at the Fallen Treasure Shoal—it was due to his Dao foundation...

After this new and more magnificent "rainstorm," it was believed that more new Fourteen Realms and Ascension Realms would emerge in the human world. Even if they were less solid, the realms themselves were genuine. As long as one could step onto a big stage, steadily advancing year by year, tempering their realm and consolidating their power...

Judging by the current situation, Bai Ze had the greatest chance of becoming a Fifteenth Realm existence.

The Second Sage had already decided to make each mountain and river section of the Wasteland sink one by one.

If the Wasteland demon race didn't remember the lesson, no reasoning would work with them. Once they truly felt the pain, the Righteous Qi Heavenly Realm wouldn't need to reason with them—they would understand on their own.

In the previous various crossings and councils, there was a very strange characteristic. Whether within the Confucian Temple or among mountain cultivators, generally speaking, the older people were more radical, while the younger people were more conservative and steady. Among these two groups, the Second Sage, who oversaw the Wasteland, and the old scholar, who managed the Righteous Qi Confucian Temple's affairs, had special statuses, so they didn't easily speak. But now, the situation—and of course, their mindsets—were different.

If it came to a trade-off.

Today, if it meant trading away Bai Ze, the Second Sage would have no hesitation. Let me do it!

Sensing the change in the Second Sage's mindset, or rather the killing intent that had almost solidified, Bai Ze became even more dispirited. Indeed, as Zheng Juzhong had said, he was too weak.

He had the realm and talent, but his Dao heart was soft and fragile. It was like... Heaven bestowed him a meal, giving him a big pot of rice, but Bai Ze always held a bowl and only ate one bowl.

Zheng Juzhong's Yang Spirit told Gui Ke the truth through heart voice: she was one of Zhou Mi's original biggest hidden schemes.

Zhou Mi would retrieve his three corpses he had previously severed, then simultaneously seize her Dao body, and integrate with the entire Wasteland.

This was only Zhou Mi's first step. If he succeeded, no matter how strong the Righteous Qi Heavenly Realm's offensive, they couldn't really destroy the entire Wasteland mountains and rivers. Even if the Wasteland's Dao lineage existed in name only, and the Righteous Qi Heavenly Realm occupied most of the Wasteland's territory, as long as Zhou Mi remained, the Wasteland would be nominal to the Righteous Qi but not actual. Moreover, Zhou Mi would not let the situation develop to that point. He would persuade Bai Ze to yield the Dao to him... Gui Ke listened with a pounding heart. She asked Fei Ran. Fei Ran thought for a moment and nodded, acknowledging Mr. Zheng's conjecture. He said that Lord Bai Ze would most likely be persuaded by Zhou Mi. For the sake of the Wasteland's or the demon race's Dao lineage not being extinguished, he would allow the latter to... eat him, chew him up whole!

Bai Ze suddenly looked emotionally complicated and turned to look at the nominal lord of the Wasteland, the sword cultivator Fei Ran.

Fei Ran quickly shook his head and signaled to Lord Bai Ze: I won't eat you. I absolutely dare not eat you.

He didn't want to become a target for everyone. He had just married Gui Ke, and Fei Ran had no desire to fall into an encirclement: two Zheng Juzhongs, Chen Qingliu, the Second Sage... and possibly more.

Look, now there was even an extra former Hidden Official of the Sword Qi Great Wall, Xiao Xun!

Only one braid remained on the "little black-robed girl." At this moment, she appeared at the Hall of Heroic Spirits Daoist temple together with Zheng Juzhong's Yin Spirit. No need to guess—they were already allies!

Gui Ke felt fear and nestled against Fei Ran. Fei Ran said softly, "Don't be afraid. At worst, we surrender. The more I think about it, the more I feel that guy was right back then: surrender, and you lose only half."

Gui Ke was stunned, then couldn't help but laugh.

Fei Ran smiled. "But we still have to fight a few tough battles first. What if the Righteous Qi is just an embroidered pillow that looks fierce?"

And what if, for example, Zheng Juzhong chose to stand with the Wasteland?

Bai Ze felt bewildered again. How vast were the four directions of heaven and earth, yet where was his foothold? Little Master, how can you teach me?

At the Jade Capital's Lingbao City, Pang Ding sat on a meditation cushion in a secret Daoist temple. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and said fiercely, "He didn't die even after this?!"

This would be very troublesome.

After all, all of Pang Ding's schemes were based on the premise that after helping him become a god and complete the "Heavenly-Earth Communication," he would have to—and would be destined to—die, with his body and Dao extinguished.

In the Wasteland, there were also secluded landscapes like paradise. Cliff faces were carved into plank paths, and below was a roaring river. The peaks on the opposite bank were covered in blooming flowers.

Zheng Juzhong walked in front. The female sword cultivator Liu Bai quickened her pace and asked softly, "Mr. Zheng, has our master really already..."

Zheng Juzhong nodded. "Zhou Mi absolutely has no possibility of lingering on or being ridiculed by anyone."

She murmured, "For us, is it good or bad?"

Zheng Juzhong said, "If you care about the Wasteland, it's bad. If you're more selfish and can just stay alive, it's a great blessing."

Zhou Qinggao, walking side by side with Shou Chen on the plank path, asked, "Mr. Zheng, will I still have a chance to review the chess game face to face with Chen Ping'an?"

Zheng Juzhong said, "It's possible."

Zhou Mi had placed Shou Chen and the others in an unnamed cave dwelling in the "southeastern corner" of the Wasteland, which had profound implications. What he sought was the heaven tilting northwest and the earth sinking southeast.

If that Heavenly-Earth Communication ended in mutual destruction, the Daoist luck would automatically incline toward this place. This was in itself an extremely resilient blue Daoist trajectory in the human world, a trend of the "Dao." What Zhou Mi gambled on was that the Three Teachings Patriarchs, Zhi Ci, the Ritual Sage, and the Confucian Temple would have no remaining strength to break this future path he had reserved for the human world in an instant.

But unfortunately, the human world still had a Zheng Juzhong.

To be precise, three Fourteen Realm Zheng Juzhongs. Since he had blocked the door, it meant that the Ritual Sage and the Confucian Temple already knew about this matter.

So Zhou Mi simply refused to sit at this losing gambling table. He would never be a mangy dog doomed to defeat.

As the senior disciple, the sword immortal Shou Chen naturally had the most complicated feelings. This Ascension Realm sword cultivator felt an emptiness.

In the old days on the battlefield of the Sword Qi Great Wall, there was the saying "South Shou Chen, North Hidden Official."

Shou Chen no longer had his former ambition, nor was he disheartened. At this moment, his mood was adrift.

Zheng Juzhong had several cloth bags hanging from his waist, containing soil and ores from all over the Wasteland.

The Wasteland's poverty was only in celestial spiritual energy and immortal money. Everything else should have been abundant, but great cultivators looked down on it, and others could not obtain it.

Local people had built wooden bridges. Below a bridge, the surging river constrained by the cliffs splashed countless droplets of water. The mountains were covered in snow like white blossoms. In the old days, under the illumination of the three full moons of the Wasteland, it must have been extremely beautiful.

Zheng Juzhong was the first to step onto the creaking, swaying wooden bridge.

Perhaps for heaven and earth, all of us are just embarking on a youth's wandering through the human world.